Chapter 106
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 106
Chapter Title: Making a Hero
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Chapter 106.
The deceased was Yurick Belins, head of the Viscount Belins family.
“I remember him. He visited the family and the Golden Turtle Merchant Guild a few times.”
Anyone trying to do business within the Empire was likely to get involved with the Fallenbergs, directly or indirectly.
After a copper mine was discovered in his territory, Yurick Belins had established a merchant guild to sell it himself and had hoped to use the Fallenberg distribution network.
“Everyone, stand back!”
“Make way!”
The city guard rushed over, pushing back the crowd that had gathered.
Some of them attended to the body while others entered the hotel.
“Could it be suicide?”
“As far as I know, Viscount Belins had no reason to kill himself. I heard a mage he was sponsoring is presenting their research at this conference.”
“Then murder?”
“To murder someone in a Vienderk city during the Continental Academic Conference is tantamount to declaring war on the Vienderk family.”
It was an act that didn't just tarnish Vienderk’s honor but trampled it underfoot. Especially if the victim was a nobleman.
“An accident, perhaps?”
“That seems to be the most likely possibility. I did catch a faint whiff of alcohol along with the smell of the Viscount’s blood.”
Drunk enough to fall out of a window. One or two bottles wouldn't be enough for that.
“From this moment on, no one is allowed to leave the hotel!”
“Hey, that’s…!”
“Your cooperation is requested.”
Additional guards arrived and immediately sealed the hotel, preventing anyone inside from leaving.
Pernyan and Hyde discreetly slipped away from the hotel to avoid being trapped.
“What will you do?”
“A man who had no reason to die is dead. Something isn’t right…”
Could it be the work of the Vile Breed? But what would they gain from killing a single nobleman?
“…First, I’ll meet with Aint and Aria, then I’ll think.”
He already knew where the two were staying. An unremarkable inn on the outskirts of the city.
Entering the first-floor dining hall, he saw Aria and Aint having a meal.
“Oh, Senior! You’re here!”
Aria, her long ears twitching once, spotted Pernyan and waved.
“Why is this fool covering his face in a restaurant?”
Pernyan sat down next to Aint, who was eating pasta with his robe’s hood pulled up.
“He says he doesn’t want to reveal his identity unnecessarily.”
“What an absurd reason.”
“Absurd? The thought of getting entangled with other nobles just because I’m an Armian is sickening. At least, not yet.”
“Shouldn’t you first worry about whether they can even recognize you?”
“…They wouldn’t recognize me?”
“The fact that you think they would is what’s truly amazing.”
From the moment they were stripped of the imperial throne, the Armians had secluded themselves within their family estate, cutting off all contact with the outside world.
Naturally, few people would recognize the face of Aint Armian, a descendant of that family.
He had briefly become a topic of conversation upon enrolling in the academy, but it was, quite literally, brief.
While he was well-known within the academy, most people had only heard rumors; few had seen Aint in person.
“Besides, it’s not as if you or the Armian bloodline have any distinct physical features.”
Blond hair and brown eyes. This continent was overflowing with blondes and people with brown eyes.
“The surest proof of an Armian is the Aura of Light, but if the time comes to draw out your aura, it means you’re in a situation where such things don’t matter.”
“That’s true. But are you sure no one will recognize me?”
“The Vienderks will, of course. And the high-ranking nobles who took an interest in the Armians.”
“Now you’re telling me something different…”
Aint, who had been about to take off his robe, hesitated.
“Well, I can’t be certain either. More importantly, don’t you think wearing a deep hood in a place where everyone else is walking around normally is more likely to arouse suspicion?”
“Ugh.”
In the end, Aint took off his robe. At least within the dining hall, no one seemed to pay him any particular attention.
“You look well. Seems you’ve been enjoying the festival.”
“Yes, it’s been nice.”
“But about the clues regarding the Vile Breed…?”
Aint lowered his voice.
“The trail of the Vile Breed led here.”
“So, what kind of…?”
“That’s what we need to find out now. What they’re aiming for at the presentation.”
In truth, Pernyan didn't know for sure either.
According to the original story, they would have summoned a demon during the presentation.
But Pernyan’s intervention had prevented that, and he had no idea what the Vile Breed would do now.
With the demon summoning thwarted, it was uncertain whether they would simply give up and do nothing this time, or if they would try something else.
The reason Pernyan had bothered to bring Aint along was that he couldn't completely rule out the latter possibility.
With the existence of the Vile Breed already exposed to the world, the Continental Academic Conference, where many powerful figures were gathered, could be their chance for a decisive move.
‘However, now that the demon summoning has been disrupted, there’s no reason for them to be fixated on the presentation.’
He had to consider that as well.
“When you say presentation, you mean the mages’ presentations, right? The highlight of the conference. If they cause a scene there, it would certainly send a huge shock across the continent. The number of powerful people gathered there is not just one or two… a person…?”
“Aaaaaah!”
“Someone’s dead!”
Just as Aria stopped talking, screams erupted from all over.
Pernyan quickly looked out the window behind him. There was another body on the main street.
And that wasn't all.
“Everyone, halt! We are sealing this building from this moment on!”
“Stop!”
City guards were visible in every direction.
And the faint scent of blood wafted through the air.
The death of Viscount Yurick Belins was only the beginning.
* * *
【The 198th Continental Academic Conference Becomes a Festival of Blood.】
【11 Royals and Nobles Assassinated in a Vienderk City!】
【People Tremble in Fear, What Was Vienderk Doing…?】
【Esrin Loses a Princess. ‘Vienderk Must Be Held Accountable.’ Prince Ferrant Esrin of Esrin Enraged.】
【A Mass Assassination in Vienderk Territory. Who is the Culprit?】
【Lives Vanished in a Single Night. Is Vienderk Safe?】
The next day, the newspapers were filled with sensational reports about the previous day’s assassination incident.
A staggering eleven people. They were nobles of the Empire, nobles of the kingdoms, and even royalty.
As the fury of their families pierced the heavens, the Vienderks scrambled to respond.
They mobilized a large force to immediately lock down the city and began searching for the culprits. It was said the Duke himself was on his way.
“How do you think the Duke will respond?”
This was no ordinary matter.
A mass murder had occurred in his own territory. The victims were all nobles, including royalty.
Since figures from other nations were mixed in with those from the Empire, there was a high probability of it escalating into a diplomatic incident, and the Empire would not remain silent either.
If he failed to handle this properly, if he couldn't find a culprit that everyone could accept and beg for forgiveness, there was no telling what might happen.
“Are you asking that question knowing how long it’s been since I left the estate?”
“I was just curious.”
A heavy silence fell.
Professor Rosalia lit a cigarette, and Pernyan had an attendant order him a coffee.
“Where is your attendant?”
“I sent him to the merchant guild on a small errand.”
Hyde had gone to gather information on who the dead were, how they died, and who their associates were.
Pernyan rose from his seat.
“I’ll be back shortly.”
“Are you even able to leave?”
“If you would help me, Professor.”
No matter how tight the lockdown, it would be difficult to stop the heir of another Elector family, especially if the Duke himself wasn't present.
And if a direct descendant of the Vienderk line was with him, all the better.
“That much is certainly possible, but wouldn’t it be better to lie low in a situation like this?”
“I intend to make my own preparations.”
“You’re going to solve it?”
“I will if I can, but it’s not my place to do so.”
“You’re going to get Aint.”
“That’s right.”
“Ludger doesn’t seem to look upon you kindly.”
“I don’t care.”
“Really?”
Pernyan shook his head.
“No. But you know what’s more important right now, don’t you?”
“Indeed. For scoundrels bold enough to pull something like this in Vienderk territory, this won’t end easily. Armian will be the finest blade.”
With Professor Rosalia’s help, Pernyan was granted a brief leave. Arriving at the inn where Aint and Aria were staying, he called for them.
“Aint, it’s time for you to step up.”
“Me?”
“If my prediction is correct, this is the work of the Vile Breed.”
It wasn't a guess or an assumption. It was a certainty.
“They tried to summon a demon at the presentation through Professor Rosalia, but they were stopped. When that failed, they orchestrated this.”
“You told me about that, but is it really the Vile Breed?”
“Do you think the Vienderks were lax in their security?”
No. The answer was clear just by looking at the city hall, which was guarded by some of the most skilled knights in the Vienderk domain.
The number of city guards had more than doubled, and their caliber was far beyond that of ordinary soldiers.
Inspections were thorough, and the identities of those entering were verified as much as possible. They had done their best.
If someone still managed to get through and carry out assassinations, there was only one answer. The Vile Breed.
“The Vile Breed have received the power of demons, so they possess many extraordinary abilities. Without that, would this incident even be possible?”
“……”
“Eleven people, Aint. Even if an Elector family went all out, they couldn’t assassinate eleven nobles in a single day in a city that the Vienderks were determined to protect.”
Of course, if they were truly determined, it might be a different story, but since no Elector family would do such a thing, that left only the Vile Breed.
“Would even the Vile Breed be capable of that?”
“The elf next to you doesn’t even know what she did during the break. Thanks to being foolishly mind-controlled by the Vile Breed.”
“Why are you suddenly bringing me into this?”
Aria, who had been blindsided, cried out.
“If Jace hadn’t healed Aria, she probably still wouldn’t know she’d been mind-controlled. The Vile Breed have such methods.”
The attendants accompanying them would undoubtedly have high loyalty, making it difficult to coerce them into betrayal.
But with mind control, it was a completely different story.
That was why he said only the Vile Breed were capable of it.
“What if they mind-controlled the close aides, servants, and maids of the deceased to carry out the assassinations discreetly?”
“…That’s horrifying.”
“That’s why the Vienderks are likely aware of this fact. Otherwise, there’s no other explanation.”
The Vienderks were no fools. They would have naturally arrived at the same conclusion as Pernyan.
“…If the Vienderks already know, is there really a need for me to step in?”
“You must. The war against demons is your symbol, is it not?”
More accurately, it was the Armian family’s.
“All you have to do is prove it. Prove that this is the work of the Vile Breed.”
“You mean find the demonic energy.”
“Yes.”
“And after that?”
“After that…”
Pernyan hesitated.
‘Isn’t it a little too soon?’
Aint had yet to accomplish anything of note.
He didn't have his own faction within the academy, he hadn't restored the Armian family's power to any degree, nor was his own martial prowess strong enough to slap a Royal Knight.
‘But this incident is what makes Aint’s name known throughout the continent.’
If things followed the Prophecy Book, it was Aint who would minimize the damage by defeating the summoned demon in front of countless royals, nobles, and powerful figures.
Revealing Aint now wouldn't change the grand scheme of things.
‘And if I, Ruina, Aria, and Verian support him from behind.’
Two Elector families, a former Elector family, and the family closest to becoming an Elector in the Empire.
No one would dare to trample on Aint.
Because he would make it so.
“A hero.”
“Pardon?”
Pernyan murmured softly.
“You will become a hero.”
“…I don’t think I understand.”
“I will make you a hero. The hope of humanity to stand against the demons.”
Pernyan gripped Aint’s shoulders and growled.
“Crafting an image is one of the things I do best.”
It was a crucial task, like figuring out how to sell a product.
“You can look forward to it. When this is all over, there won’t be a single person on this continent who doesn’t know your name.”
From this moment on, Pernyan intended to go all out in marketing the product known as Aint.