Chapter 268
Chapter 268
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: One Empire, Three Legends (27)
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“Damn it all!”
Clang!
“Insolent fool! Ungrateful wretch! How dare you, how dare you treat me like this!!!”
Crash!
Deep into the night. In a private room of an upscale tavern that catered exclusively to nobles, even in the servants’ district.
A man thoroughly drunk was hurling everything he could grab, rampaging like a madman.
“Uh... Lord Naidim? You seem to have had a bit too much. Perhaps it’s time to head home.”
“What? Go home? Are you, a mere servant, daring to scorn a noble of the capital? Go home, go home, you say!!”
Crash!
The staff member at the upscale tavern, ‘The Lion’s Rest,’ quietly excused himself from the customer who was beside himself with rage. It wasn’t the first time he’d dealt with a noble throwing such a tantrum. Once they calmed down a bit, he’d just bring in a pretty young thing to serve drinks and bill the family for it.
The private room fell silent. With no more targets for his outburst, the noble, Kepplack Naidim, began snarling at empty air.
“How dare they, how dare they rely on that pathetic little cult! Back in my grandfather’s day, those so-called holy laborers were treated as cheaply as mercenaries! And yet they rejected my invitation, cast aside the right hand of the First Prince!”
No matter how he thought about it, it made no sense. He had approached them with a gentlemanly demeanor that never lost the authority of being a close aide to the First Prince, even offering a lowly priest from some foreign backwater the chance to serve at His Highness’s side.
Not only had they coldly spurned an opportunity worth a fortune, but they’d even had a mage douse him with water to chase him out!
Recalling the humiliation from that morning, he couldn’t stay sane.
Gulp—gulp—
“Kuheuk—! It makes no sense. No sense at all...”
Sure, he was a magnanimous and enlightened young noble. He could accept the rudeness of country bumpkins who were too ignorant to grasp the authority of an imperial noble, especially one residing in the capital.
But no matter how he racked his brain, the treatment he’d received after that humiliation was utterly incomprehensible.
“How dare they show such unbecoming behavior to a guest who could become a saint!”
“Ah, Father! It wasn’t my fault! Look at me! Those lunatics dared to attack an imperial noble with magic—”
“Silence! How dare you raise your voice in a place of safety! I can no longer tolerate your disgrace. You are confined—no social gatherings for the time being. Reflect on your ignorant actions!”
“N-No, that can’t be. Your Highness! Didn’t you praise my loyalty? Your Highness, let me speak with Your Highness! Your Highness!!!!”
He’d been pitifully dragged out by the knights who served his father—and whom he would serve in the future. There had been the First Prince’s close aides, numerous noble peers his age, and even the noble ladies he fancied.
Dragged out like a pig to the slaughter.
“...It makes no sense. His Highness wouldn’t discard me. There must be something. Something... something...”
『For example, a plot by someone jealous of you.』
Thud!
Naidim toppled from his chair at the sudden voice. He looked around, but no one was there. This was a private room on the third floor of ‘The Lion’s Rest,’ an upscale tavern frequented by nobles like him. Security was tight, and the door was firmly shut.
“W-Who’s there?”
『Over here.』
A shadow. Emerging by lifting the curtain over a solidly walled section was a tall man in pitch-black clothes, his face cold and ruthless.
“W-Who... How dare you appear before me, heir to the viscountcy of Kepplack... h-how dare you...”
『Don’t you find it strange? His Highness, who cherished you like his own hand, suddenly turning against you. Slander heaped on you, who did nothing wrong. And this rushed exile.』
Naidim, who had been backing away from the intruder, stopped at the man’s eerie voice tickling his chest.
“It’s... strange. Definitely... Yes. Father was rushing to get me out of there as if something was chasing him...”
『You seem like a clever man. Of course, His Highness trusted you with tasks, so it’s only natural. Then use that clever head. What do you think is really happening?』
Under the man’s eerie yet sweet words, a drunken Naidim’s sloppy deductions spilled out.
“I-I completed the First Prince’s mission perfectly. But I didn’t even see His Highness—instead, I was rebuked in front of Father and other patriots, and chased out.”
『Exactly.』
“His Highness didn’t even know I’d returned! That’s why he didn’t come to see me, someone as good as his own limb!”
『Good. Keep going.』
“S-Someone cut off the news. Someone jealous of His Highness’s favor toward me blocked the way! Th-That’s it! That has to be it! Nothing else explains it!”
Clap. Clap. Clap.
Naidim, venting his frustration, turned at the sound of applause from the man, whose face was expressionless as a wax doll.
『Indeed. Remarkable insight. Piercing straight to the truth. Reliable.』
“You... who are you? Why tell me this...?”
『Oh? I didn’t tell you—you realized it yourself, didn’t you? Kepplack Naidim. Loyal and clever vassal of His Highness the Prince.』
The man stepped forward into the dim light of the private room and lightly bowed. The eerie voice that had flowed along the walls grew clear, proving to Naidim that this was no dream.
“Forgive my lack of courtesy to your blue blood. I am one who swore never to place anything above myself except the imperial family.”
“Th-The Shadow of the Imperial Family! But I heard it was just a rumor, not a real organization...”
“Wouldn’t it be easier for them to act if it was?”
“True...”
Naidim, seeing the rumored confidant of the imperial family—who handled all the dirty work—nodded frantically.
[True my ass. The Emperor’s still alive and kicking—why would his shadow stick to some other guy? Is this idiot for real?]
‘He’s an idiot, that’s why I came to use him.’
Naturally, the man was Professor in disguise as some murky figure.
A fake face that Hide had draped over his own. Modeled roughly after a mercenary from Turan, it was just a layer over his face and couldn’t mimic expressions, but the thoroughly drunk Naidim just took it as a stoic guy.
[Uh... let’s see. Next line...]
‘Read it! You usually read my mind before I even speak!’
[Hehe. It’s different when it’s stuck inside versus controlling the body. Too much sensory input.]
Professor could stretch or shrink his body or fully transform into a monster, but altering build and voice was still Hide’s specialty. Thus, Hide was at the forefront, controlling the body now.
[Let’s see...]
Hide began acting out the lines Professor fed him from within, doing his best.
“To cut to the chase. There’s a spy in the First Prince’s service.”
“A sp... spy?”
“Yes. Lunatics close to him, culling the loyal and leaving only flatterers and fools to keep His Highness from the throne that’s rightfully his. They targeted you—the one who could greatly aid him.”
“Y-Yes! Exactly! I did nothing wrong! I knew something was off when they gave me such harsh confinement! So, who? Ashwalt? Vinzarko? Gelid?”
“I don’t know who. That’s why I’ve come to you.”
The man—Hide, disguised as someone shady—handed Naidim a few sheets of worn stationery.
“Though exiled, you’re still the First Prince’s right hand, his most loyal servant. He trusts you with this vital task.”
“If it’s vital...”
“Rooting out the spy gnawing at His Highness from within. Stay quiet during confinement, and it’ll lift soon. Then you can attend His Highness’s gatherings again. Find the spies among them and write their names here. We’ll deal with them.”
“Spies... w-wouldn’t that be dangerous?”
“Dangerous. But equally important. In this situation, only you, Kepplack Naidim, can do it. When His Highness ascends, he’ll never forget your name.”
“Only I can... for His Highness, o-oh...”
The eyes of the young, naive noble lit up with visions of his rosy future. Working in the empire’s shadows alongside the Emperor’s rumored shadow, aiding the prince. After perilous missions, the prince ascends, and there he stands in elegant black attire, receiving appointment at his side...
“I-I’ll do it! Just find them and write here?”
“Exce— ahem! Y-Yes. Special stationery used by us shadows. Write the contents, fold twice, and it flies to us without a name. Then, I leave it to you. In the name of the First Prince, glory to the empire.”
“G-Glory to the empire.”
Swish—
The tall man vanished behind the curtain as silently as he’d appeared. A breeze fluttered it, but he was already gone without a trace.
That mysterious exit finally planted conviction in the young noble.
“The Shadow of the Imperial Family. I, Kepplack Naidim... Yes, only I can do it. A task befitting my station!”
Sober as if his drunkenness had evaporated, Naidim bolted from the tavern toward his mansion. No time to call a carriage—he raced on foot, his mind racing with names of nobles who’d slighted him.
[Wow, that idiot talk was hard to stomach. Ears so thin they’re just a trace? How does he listen so well?]
‘Drunk, and originally an idiot. The atmosphere worked too. Time to move on. Plenty more fools left.’
Rattle.
Professor, having smoothly replaced the neatly cut wall section with his claw, turned his gaze to the paper from the Church of Light’s capital parish.
=========
Kepplack Naidim: Servants’ district, tavern ‘The Lion’s Yawn,’ 3rd floor private room.
Gilad Lutton: Outside capital, canyon. Illegal herb/narcotics salon, Cave basement level 2. Rightmost room.
Arishiela Demacalo: Premier brothel in the holy city, Night Light Night. Exact location unknown. Frequently uses the elf male brothel.
Gaili Dolores
Futeks Malo
Kora Diminus
.
.
.
.
=========
“I wouldn’t know about the imperial shadow, but we know the Church’s shadow well enough.”
Sharper and faster than Haunuman.
Professor admired the capital parish’s preparedness—they’d had black attire ready in his size before he even mentioned heading out on covert ops.
‘His Holiness said the saint might use it...’
‘The archbishop? Ah, Bishop Haunuman reported. I’ll make good use of it.’
‘May Light’s guidance be with you...’
While he’d changed and chatted with Hide, the church folks had scraped together locations and profiles of every noble visiting the inn that day.
[So, what’re you gonna do with those ‘pebbles’?]
‘What else? Throw ’em. Stir up chaos. Breed infighting.’
[....With those idiots? Think it’ll work?]
‘Of course. In normal hands, it’s a pebble toss. In mine? Trebuchet.’
What the church shadow had provided, accustomed to such plots.
At first glance invisible, but revealing seals when infused with mana: stationery from the Second Prince, Third Prince, and various other royals.
Fools like Naidim wouldn’t know, but true imperial confidants used it to counter plots. Infuse mana wrong, and it burns to ash in magical flames—high-end enchanted paper.
‘That guy’s no good at secrecy or spy-hunting. He’ll slink around thinking he’s hidden and get caught quick.’
Those annoyed by such fools would be sharp nobles with their heads screwed on right.
Spot a list of names on paper from the enemy camp’s secret comms?
Panic over nonexistent spies. Accused families deny vehemently. Rifts form, cracks appear in greed-forged alliances...
‘Flush the snake. Beat the grass to find it. Chaos all three factions, and whoever’s pulling strings from behind reveals themselves. Witch or otherwise. Starting point.’
Of course, no expectation of 100% success. Even if the witch moved as hoped, it’d be a relayed order across five or six hands.
Pure disruption. A ‘light’ jab, like what they’d done to him.
‘Lucilla’s results coming too—combine and poke as we go.’
Beat the grass till the snake bolts—or smash it to pulp.
First, sow maximum chaos among them for any lead.
That night, about thirty nobles received visits from the ‘Shadow of the Imperial Family,’ each dreaming of glory and plotting their secret ops.
****
The next morning.
Professor returned around dawn and recounted their proud exploits to the group, who’d stayed up all night waiting anxiously.
“Just one day. No, barely half a day plus a bit of peace... Was that such a hard request!?”
And he got an earful.
“No, Lucilla, things changed! It’s not just the witch humiliating nobles—lives are at stake!”
“Then approach more cautiously, carefully! Yes! I admit I underestimated a high church figure’s political position! But you handled it well! Showing political savvy by casting out discarded fools—that sends the message! They’d have made serious contact treating you as a noble backed by the Church of Light, not just a saint!”
“If it was planned... they won’t come?”
“How can they meet outsiders now!?”
Splash!
Lucilla unfurled the notice Idraasil had torn down while scouting the city busily that morning, as usual.
“What the hell did you whisper to that crazy bitch to make her get a three-generation hanging for attempted poisoning! Treason plots? Rebellion? Imperial blasphemy? What in the world is going on!!!?”
“Uh... um...”
[As expected. Didn’t think 100% would stick.]
‘Damn.’
Didn’t expect effects this strong.
The pebble he’d hurled hard punched through the catcher’s glove and chest, smashing the outfield fence.
Lady Arishiela, rumored to have poisoned a thorn-in-her-side lady’s teacup, then screamed she was a spy when caught.
Gilad Lutton, high on drugs, drew a blade before the Third Prince, raving he’d serve as his shadow, got nabbed shouting ‘Third Prince controls the shadows! He’s the next emperor!’—dragged off for imperial blasphemy.
Several others got nabbed before dawn for similar antics, hauled away before the day was out.
[That guy didn’t get caught?]
‘Eh, nearly blackout drunk. Probably nursing a hangover, groaning and passed out. Good—our planted fool survived nicely.’
[Yep. Watching these ‘spies’ get nabbed? He’ll believe us hook, line, and sinker.]
‘Ehehehe!’
[Kuhihihi!]
Lucilla griped that noble society was too shaken for natural approaches, but Professor was thrilled.
“Anyway, my side’s wrapped. Lucilla, how’d yours go?”
“Hmm... Smooth enough, I suppose. But... weird. Capital nobles seemed... idiotic? Distracted? Not like them to be so dull, but... strangely... uh... can’t put it right. Just off. Parted amicably, got invites including our whole party, but too easy—suspiciously so.”
“...That’s weird. The fools who came to me aren’t special idiots—just empire average?”
“No, not that kind of weird... Argh, I don’t know! Uncanny! Yes! Uncanny valley!”
“Uncanny...”
A seed of unease sprouted in Professor’s chest at Lucilla’s words. The empire rolled on fine—no massacres, executions, plagues.
About to fetch yesterday’s noble list on a hunch—
“Gruk. I got something to say.”
Notum, who’d sat quietly with a grave face all morning, raised her hand.
“Notum? What?”
“Yesterday. Wandered with ancestor ghosts. Found this in capital.”
Notum pulled out what looked like animal hide, bone fragments, soaked in what seemed her blood.
“Ugh, Notum!”
“Sorry, redhead. Urgent. Sealed with what was nearby.”
“Sealed?”
“Gruk. Seal. Ancestor spirit did it. Right into my hand.”
Her uncharacteristically serious demeanor shifted the group from levity to focus on the lump.
Peeling back bloodied hide and crust, atop her thick troll finger...
A unique scent—not nose, but straight to brain. Rich, sweet.
“...A flower?”
“Notum... where did you get that?”
“Found it.”
The moment the seal released, its beauty emerged—the thing that had paled Aldrich.
“Curse flower... Where, how did you get it?”
“Say three times. Found it. Street. Alley. Market. Roads.”
Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud.
Four more bundles tumbled from Notum’s back pocket, sealed identically.
“Found it. So many just lying around. Capital scary. Don’t wanna stay.”
Five in the hours she’d wandered.
Deep purple, wafting sweet scent. Forgotten by many, but to those who remembered, repulsive as rotting flesh.
Purple halo flower. Aka, curse flower.
In the past undead uprising, the catalyst that painted the world purple.
“Fascinating. Differs slightly from what Mother and village elders described. In Carnelan, heard it’s fist-sized round bulb with three black dots in triangle...”
“Has to be. Catalysts must hide before manifestation. Known curse flower ID is finding bulbs. Blooming, scenting... means manifestation possible anytime. Now.”
“...What?”
Wherever it ended, the capital was primed for the witch’s sacrifice ritual.
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