Reborn with A Simulation Coin!

Harry was striding toward him, a warm smile on his face. As he got closer, his expression shifted to one of mild apology.

"I'm sorry you had to see that," he said, gesturing toward the earlier commotion. "Mr. Henry and the others may be used to it, so their methods can seem a little... rough. Please, don't take it personally."

His tone was genuine, as though he feared Sean might be angry. "I'll have a word with them. I'll make sure we reach a solution that works for you."

Sean, momentarily caught off guard, quickly regained his composure and his expression softened.

"It's understandable," he said calmly. "When you're in a new place, and you need the locals to cooperate, it's always going to be challenging. A few obstacles are to be expected."

"I don't mind," he added with a slight nod.

Harry smiled in response, though inwardly he was a little skeptical. He had been watching Sean closely, noticing the tension in his posture and the subtle changes in his expression. If Sean said he didn't mind, Harry wasn't sure he believed him.

"You have a big heart," Harry commented, offering a polite compliment.

He had intended to stay a little longer, but after noticing the impatience on Sean's face, he decided to cut to the chase.

"The lords are hesitant to cooperate with you," Harry continued. "It might be due to personal concerns or maybe because of Lord Thorn's influence. But regardless of the reasons, I want you to know that I'm willing to follow your lead. Whatever you ask, I will do my best to make it happen."

His face was serious, and his voice firm with conviction. "We all want to solve this plague. I believe we can work through this together."

Having expressed his loyalty, Harry gave a brief nod before taking his leave. He had come to establish rapport and show his support, and now that he had done that, there was no point in overstaying his welcome, especially if it risked irritating Sean.

Once Harry was gone, Sean stood alone for a moment, staring at the spot where Harry had disappeared. He seemed deep in thought before he finally began walking toward his residence.

It wasn't long before Earl Thorn approached, appearing to have the same idea as Harry.

The following morning, Earl Thorn called for another meeting, gathering all the lords together once more. Somehow, he had managed to convince the other five, including Henry, to sit down and discuss things. Though their faces still betrayed reluctance, at least they were now in the same room, willing to listen.

The spacious conference hall was set with a large round table, around which eight knight lords, including Harry, were seated. All eyes were on Sean as he stood at the front of the room, preparing to explain the situation.

"The plague isn't an accident," Sean began, his voice steady. "A normal plague wouldn't reanimate the dead and turn them into corpse beasts. The reason this is happening is due to the influence of the soul beast's aura."

"Soul Beast?" A voice from the crowd broke the silence, clearly puzzled. "What exactly is that?"

"A terrifying creature that feeds on life force and spreads an aura of death wherever it goes," Sean explained. "They're usually born in places where a large number of lives are lost all at once."

He paused, letting his words sink in. "In places like battlefields, where countless lives are sacrificed, Soul Beasts can form."

The room fell silent, and a few of the lords exchanged uneasy glances. The pieces were beginning to fall into place.

The region they were in had been ravaged by years of war, with hundreds of thousands of soldiers, civilians, and slaves dying in the conflict. The battlefield near the Black Forest alone had seen catastrophic losses. It seemed that the conditions Sean described were eerily fitting.

"Soul Beasts feed on enormous amounts of life force," Sean continued. "Once they form, they instinctively spread their aura to any area where life is abundant. This aura is toxic to the living."

He paused to let the gravity of his words settle. "Those with weak resistance can die just from exposure to the aura. Others, more resistant, may still be infected, and when they die, they rise again as corpse beasts, spreading the curse further."

"The corpse beasts carry the same deadly aura, and as they multiply, they continue to spread the Soul Beast's breath, feeding off the life force of anyone nearby."

Sean spoke deliberately, laying out the creature's deadly cycle.

As he finished, the room grew heavy with realization. The plague they had been struggling with wasn't just some random sickness, it was the result of a monstrous force, a Soul Beast, lurking in their midst.

Though some still harbored doubts, the details Sean provided were too precise, too aligned with their own experiences. It was hard to dismiss.

"So, our next task is to kill the Soul Beast?" someone asked. "If we do that, will the land recover?"

Sean nodded, but his answer was more complicated than expected. "It's not that simple, but yes, killing the Soul Beast is crucial."

"As long as we eliminate it, the aura will begin to fade. Afterward, we'll need to clean up the remaining corpse beasts, and things will start to heal."

Henry's expression was grim as he spoke up. "Then why are we still waiting? We find this Soul Beast and kill it."

"That's easier said than done," Sean replied. "Soul Beasts are elusive. They prefer to hide in dark corners and usually only move under the cover of night. They're incredibly hard to track."

A quiet understanding settled over the group. Fighting the Soul Beasts might not be the hardest part of the mission, the real challenge would be locating them in the first place.

Sean broke the silence. "That's where I come in," he said, meeting the eyes of the lords. "To track down the Soul Beast, I need to study the corpse beasts. If you help me capture a few, I can conduct research. From there, I'll be able to gather vital information and pinpoint the Soul Beast's likely location."

The room was filled with a murmur of uncertainty as the lords exchanged glances. The plan was clear, but the challenge ahead was daunting. Catching a corpse beast wasn't an easy task.

At first, when the region was just beginning to recover from the war, these creatures were more concentrated near villages and towns, making them easier to find. But over time, as things started to settle, the beasts followed their instincts and scattered into more remote areas.

This region, in particular, was known for its sparse population. Capturing a large number of corpse beasts in such an expansive, underpopulated place was a difficult challenge.

But just when it seemed like all hope was lost, someone spoke up.

"Actually," Harry said, drawing attention. "I've recently captured a group of corpse beasts in my manor, and they're still alive."

He looked at Sean with a hopeful expression. "If you don't mind, I can send them over to you."

Sean's eyes brightened at once.

"Oh?" he said, intrigued. He turned to Harry with a nod of approval. "That would be perfect."

He paused for a moment, then added, "As long as there are enough corpse beasts for research, I should be able to locate the Soul Beast's approximate position within two weeks."

Soon after, the meeting ended, but to Harry's surprise, Sean didn't wait for him to deliver the beasts. Instead, he chose to accompany Harry to the manor to see them firsthand.

The reason for this was simple: time.

Harry's estate wasn't close to Thorn City, it was at least a three or four-day journey away. If Harry were to go back, arrange for the beasts to be transported, and then return to Thorn City, the entire process could take a week or more.

With the situation growing more urgent by the day, Sean decided it was better to go with Harry right away and get started as soon as possible.

Harry, of course, was pleased. He had been hoping to get closer to Sean, to learn more about magic and wizards. Now that Sean was willingly coming to his manor, it was the perfect opportunity.

However, Harry was surprised to find that he wasn't the only one tagging along. Along with Sean was David Thorn, Earl Thorn's most favored child.

David, a young, talented knight, was well-known in Thorn City. Officially, he had come to study under Sean, but Harry suspected his true aim was the same as his own: to forge connections with the powerful wizard.

From the way Earl Thorn had sent his son to accompany Sean, it was clear that Sean's importance was even greater than Harry had realized. David's presence only reinforced that.

Harry didn't mind David, though. Despite his reputation as a genius knight, the young man's behavior was more like that of a typical, somewhat clumsy youth, slow and a bit awkward in his movements. Still, he had a good nature, and Harry didn't mind having him along.

The three of them traveled together, and after three long days, they finally reached Harry's estate.

Before them stretched a neat, well-organized field, with rows of wheat and other vegetables planted across the land. Nearby, a group of workers toiled away with simple farm tools. While the scene was still marked by the desolation of war, it felt far more peaceful and welcoming than the barren lands they had passed through.

David, looking around at the landscape, couldn't help but comment, "Mr. Harry, your territory looks quite nice."

He paused, glancing at the people working in the fields. "Are these your subordinates?"