Chapter 166
Chapter: 166
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 166
>Chapter Title: Initiation Ceremony (1)
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>After the Holy Emperor made his appearance, the main banquet of the birthday celebration came to a smooth close.
Word had it that for some reason, the man had bestowed his blessings with far more care and a much more relaxed demeanor than the previous year.
By the time the event wrapped up, the storm had fully subsided as well, allowing the distinguished guests to depart in great satisfaction, none the wiser to any anomalies.
Seongjin, who had returned to the Pearl Palace a little later than planned after checking on Logan, gave instructions to Dasha, who had come with her investigation report.
“Wrap up the probe into the trading company here.”
The Milo Merchant Company was not all that large-scale, and the basic accounting records along with personnel details on the key figures had already been reviewed.
As expected, nothing major had cropped up in the initial sweep. Even if they did have ties to the Dark Cult, they wouldn’t be foolish enough to leave a paper trail.
In that case, heading straight to Sigismund Territory for an on-site investigation would be the better play.
If they could nab some decisive evidence there, they could return to the capital, file charges with the Heresy Tribunal, and launch a seizure and search. A thorough shake-down like that was bound to turn up something eventually.
“So, you’re off to the North now, Your Highness?”
“Yeah. I’m traveling back with the Grand Prince.”
“I’ll accompany you in secret.”
That would be a huge help.
Seongjin entertained the thought for a moment before shaking his head.
He’d heard Sigismund Territory was a cold, remote backwater. Far too harsh an environment for a lone informant to roam freely.
What was more, the group already included seasoned aura users like Marquis Masin and Captain Bruno. Trying to make contact without them noticing? She’d probably end up with her nerves frayed in real time.
“Dasha’s too valuable an asset to work that hard.”
What made her think he’d be sticking around forever, anyway? Expecting round-the-clock stakeouts? The workload was excessive, and the efficiency would be abysmal.
At his words, Dasha’s face took on a complicated expression—equal parts pleased and troubled.
“That’s just what informants do, milord.”
“Truth be told, there’s more for you to look into here in the capital.”
Seongjin had been planning to ask her to shift her focus to the republican factions operating covertly in the capital from here on.
Seeing Logan moping right up to the end had stirred a sense of urgency in him—he needed to do something, fast.
If they picked out a decent group and got the guy to start sponsoring it directly, wouldn’t that chip away at his baseless guilt complex bit by bit?
And if they could plant the idea among the Ortonans that he was an ally or supporter rather than the crown prince of an enemy state, that would be ideal.
The [Blue Republican Revolutionary Front]—the one Mores had backed for years—seemed perfect. With an established history of sponsorship, tacking on another prince shouldn’t raise too many eyebrows.
[What if they refuse?]
To the Demon King’s question, Seongjin replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
‘Then we cut off their funding completely.’
Not just his own contributions, either. He’d dig up every single one of their funding sources, squeeze them, and blackmail as needed! If they still balked after that? Heh heh heh.
The Demon King shuddered at Seongjin’s wicked cackle.
[Do you actually plan to help the Second Prince rebuild his country? You really think crushing the hopes of people trying to lift it up is the way to go?]
What was this Demon King blabbering about, getting all worked up for no reason?
Any group that ignored or antagonized Logan couldn’t possibly have motives that pure.
[…This Logan simp’s got a serious illness. Serious.]
Why was he picking a fight now?
In any event, there were plenty of other groups in the running. He’d only recently learned as much, but the empire apparently teemed with more anti-regime outfits than he’d imagined.
The Holy Emperor had to know about them—why let them slide?
“It’s policy not to crack down too harshly on groups that keep a low profile underground.”
“Oh? Is that so?”
It was astonishing that the empire ran so stably with seditious factions stirring the pot beneath the surface.
And one more surprise: the groups Mores had sponsored turned out to be surprisingly solid outfits compared to the rest.
Take the [Blue Republican Revolutionary Front], for instance. It drew not just Ortonan refugees but hordes of young ideologues and writers, all actively engaged.
The writers, in particular, stood out as unparalleled.
The young blood of Ortona, having tasted the vigor of republican life even briefly, poured their passion and ideals unsparingly into literature.
Thanks to their tireless writing, their works had even begun circulating in mainstream social gatherings as of late.
As a result, Ortona had taken on an almost mythical aura among the capital’s youth—a dreamland, an ideal realm.
‘And the Adelheit Plague Society’s supposed to be one of the better ones among the plague groups…’
That left him curious about the last one, the Golden Truth Academy.
Lost in these thoughts, Seongjin noticed Dasha watching him before she ventured cautiously,
“Your Highness, regarding the republican group investigations—if it pleases you, why not entrust them to one of my fellow informants?”
“Fellow?”
“Yes.”
Seongjin blinked. She wasn’t the type to hand off her work lightly.
“He’s reliable and highly capable. He’s been looking into these groups for quite some time, from what I understand. We even drew on his help for this latest report.”
“Oh? Who is he?”
“He’s exclusive to another branch of the Holy family, so I can’t disclose his identity…”
Something clicked.
“He’s Logan’s informant, isn’t he?”
“…Yes, that’s right.”
Dasha’s eyes went wide before she nodded.
Of course. Logan would have been investigating them on his own. Why wouldn’t he?
‘Handing it off entirely to them would definitely be the most efficient move.’
Seongjin was convinced.
But the Dasha he knew wouldn’t suggest outsourcing unless…
“…You’ve got something else you want to do, don’t you, Dasha?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
She met his gaze squarely and said,
“Please allow me to accompany you all the way to Sigismund Territory.”
“It’ll be rough going for you.”
“If I may be so bold, that’s the duty of an exclusive informant. There are Monkey Tower operatives in Sigismund Territory too, so I can count on their assistance.”
“…”
“I beg you. Permit me to fulfill my role.”
Seongjin stared at the back of Dasha’s head as she bowed politely.
He could have just settled for a half-measure.
*-No, you can’t just dump all the burdens on your friends and colleagues like that and close your eyes peacefully.*
Some people simply couldn’t abide falling short of their own exacting standards.
“Alright then. Works for me. Having your help would make things a lot smoother.”
Seongjin nodded.
Relieved, Dasha broke into a smile.
Little did she know the prince had no intention of investigating the territory itself—he planned to start by shaking down the count’s family.
* * *
The scheme of Greed and Propagation ended in abject failure.
It had been a masterstroke aimed at the birthday celebration’s vulnerability, but against all odds, the Holy Emperor had responded to two archdemons with leisurely poise despite the shortfall in karma.
To make matters worse, an unforeseen wildcard had barged in through the Rift, pelting them with hundreds, thousands of soul bombs until their soul incarnations were utterly shredded without a trace.
The two demon lords barely escaped through the Rift back to their contractors’ bodies. Propagation, however, continued paying dearly for his underestimation even afterward.
“Uwaaaaa!”
Black smoke billowed from the young man’s arm. The tenacious flames that had clung to Propagation in the Rift had followed him here, now torching his contractor.
“Tch. Can’t even deal with a single soul attack? Pathetic display.”
At Greed’s rebuke, Propagation twisted his face and protested his innocence.
“No, this is seriously weird! It won’t go out!”
As he said, Propagation had spent the entire night trying to corral the flames with his powers.
Yet for some inscrutable reason, the crimson blaze refused to be quenched. It had fully devoured his contractor’s right arm and was now creeping slyly past the shoulder.
The slow-burning agony was bad enough, but what in blazes was this fire that even an archdemon’s authority couldn’t suppress?
‘Don’t tell me I’m getting reverse-summoned like this?’
Propagation broke out in a cold sweat.
Without a new contractor immediately, reverse-summoning back to Delcross was inevitable for him. And until the cult performed a fresh ritual, returning to this world would be out of the question.
It was right then.
“What brings you to the contact point at this hour, Lord of Greed? And who might that be…?”
Someone approached them, inquiring. Romain, the man in the half-mask.
Black demonic aura poured menacingly from the demons’ bodies, but he drew near undaunted and asked,
“What’s the matter with him?”
Propagation glared at him ferociously.
Trailing behind Romain was an elderly man in priestly robes—unmistakably one of Propagation’s baptized brethren.
“What have you done to a member of my cult, you worthless puppet scum?”
The old man’s eyes were already vacant, reason fled. Romain glanced back at him and shrugged.
“He was paralyzed with fear, so I merely eased his mind a touch. Looks like the right call now. Considering what’s to come, demanding he keep his wits would be cruel, wouldn’t it?”
“What?”
“You need him anyway, don’t you? Seems you’ve got no other options.”
Romain’s gaze settled on Propagation’s smoldering shoulder, where black smoke billowed, as he added,
“I gladly offer my [Puppet] in service to a great lord.”
Propagation’s eyes bulged. How dare he speak of yielding a human bound to him!
Reflecting his foul mood, the demonic aura rising from his body grew all the more vicious. Yet Romain didn’t so much as flinch under the imperious stare.
After glaring at him a moment longer, Propagation finally sighed and grumbled.
“Argh. I prefer fresh, young flesh… You’re supposed to plant saplings with seedlings!”
In any case, Romain was right—he had no other choice.
Roar!
The instant Propagation transferred to the old priest, his former contractor’s body went up in crimson flames. The authority suppressing them had vanished entirely.
Moments later, Propagation’s previous contractor collapsed as a handful of ash onto the floor.
Greed, who had watched the scene in silence, finally raised his impassive gaze to meet Romain’s.
“Most timely, Romain. Surely you desire recompense for this—we know you do.”
The lips beneath the half-mask curved into a long arc.
“Indeed. I’ve come to hear of the [Prepared One], Lord of Greed. Straight from the great lords who made him ready—you yourselves.”
* * *
>The final morning of the birthday celebration.
Seongjin stood with Logan in the training grounds of the St. Marthias Knight Order. Sisle had been summoned by the knight commander.
Her initiation into the order was scheduled right after the event ended. This was ostensibly a rehearsal.
But what kind of rehearsal did they expect to run on a training ground with a clueless child in tow?
‘Obvious, isn’t it?’
The knights stood arrayed, exuding an intimidating air. The squires swung their flails with exaggerated motions and guttural yells.
It was plain as day—they all aimed to cow the saintess in advance. After all, a mere 12-year-old girl was about to become their superior.
Sisle, blissfully oblivious to the hostile atmosphere, held the flail a knight had handed her with an excited expression.
Seongjin watched an inquisitor preen as he lectured Sisle on proper flail technique, then spoke up.
“Hey.”
“Yeah?”
“Didn’t you say you’d help out with the monster task force while you’re in the capital?”
“That’s right.”
As if yesterday’s turmoil had been a lie, Logan was his usual upright self. Seongjin glanced sidelong at him and made his pitch.
“Then how about tagging along to investigate Sigismund Territory? Fresh air, and we can multitask.”
Leave this guy alone, and who knew how deep he’d drill? Might strike oil.
But at the suggestion, Logan stared at him blankly before suddenly bursting into laughter.
“That won’t fly, Seongjin. When the subjugation force passed near Sigismund Territory, the border count was uneasy about me even lingering in the area. If I showed up, the task force would get booted from the territory on the spot.”
If they were that wary of Logan, famed for his potent holy power, it had to mean the territory was rotten with secrets.
As Seongjin fell silent, Logan turned his gaze to Sisle and continued.
“Sorry if I worried you. As the elder here, I showed a poor example yesterday.”
“Who’s the elder?”
“I’m at least ten years older than you. I was seventy, remember?”
Seongjin’s jaw dropped.
Everyone knew when General Gael had died—yet this guy was still clinging to that nonsense?
Pretending not to notice Seongjin’s incredulous stare, Logan pressed on.
“And as you can see, Sisle could use some more specialized guidance. I’ll stay behind and teach her. Looks like she’s about to kill someone soon.”
“Huh?”
Logan wasn’t wrong.
Crunch! Crack!
Through the flattened plate armor, the pale faces of the St. Marthias knight order members came into view.
The little saintess tucked away her savage spiked flail and flashed them a guileless smile.
“Aiming at a dummy in armor instead of a person makes it feel less heavy. If I hit like this, it won’t kill, right?”
No, it will! They’ll absolutely die!
Seongjin smirked, half-hearing the inquisitors’ silent inner screams.
Enjoy the rehearsal.
Let’s see how they handle a martial arts prodigy who never tires, no matter what.