Chapter 50 - The Heavenly Demon Scramble (1)
“Welcome, Saintess of the Radain Holy Nation. You must have endured quite a journey to come this far.”
The leader of the imperial investigation team managed to greet her with proper courtesy despite her effectively arriving unannounced. Yet it was only natural that his gaze unconsciously drifted toward Auriel with unspoken questions—‘How did she even know to come here?’
“May Juten guide the lost souls.”
Having come all this way, the Saintess had no intention of wasting time with formalities. After a brief greeting, she immediately cut to the chase.
“While I was on pilgrimage away from the Holy Nation, an urgent message reached me not long ago.”
“And the contents of this urgent message were…?”
“A divine revelation from Juten. It foretold the appearance of one who commands plants as limbs in the southern continent.”
A barely perceptible flinch from the investigation leader.
The Saintess didn’t miss his reaction.
Simultaneously, she became certain she had come to the right place.
“Acting upon Juten’s will, I hurried to the region where demons were said to appear. Near this academy, I sensed the residual traces of corrupted mana unique to demons, which led me here.”
“…I see.”
Yet the investigation leader remained guarded.
“The content of the revelation you mentioned… does seem to align with reality. As you said, a Fallen Angel descended upon this academy several days ago.”
“Is that truly the case?!”
“Yes. But as you can see, the situation has been resolved. The empire successfully repelled and sealed the Fallen Angel.”
“That is fortunate… but could you share the detailed circumstances of the incident?”
Yet the Saintess already knew he wouldn’t answer—and true to her expectations, he slowly shook his head.
It was only natural.
Though the Radain Holy Nation and the Arkesia Empire were allied nations, they remained distinct sovereign states divided by borders. And for any nation, all matters concerning demons were treated as classified intelligence.
While it was true that demons and corrupted monsters threatened the safety of those living in affected regions, the magic cores and byproducts obtained from defeating them were invaluable resources that required strict national control.
Thus, even with the Saintess personally arriving, the empire couldn’t easily disclose state secrets.
“…I see. Then let me rephrase my question. Has the empire completely neutralized the threat posed by the Fallen Angel?”
“Yes. I can affirm that.”
At his answer, the Saintess smiled.
A radiant smile.
So dazzling that even the investigation leader—who had been engaged in a subtle battle of nerves with her—and his silent aide behind him momentarily forgot their duties and flushed.
“Then that is a relief.”
Without hesitation, she rose from her seat.
“Are you leaving already?”
“Knowing that the demonic threat has been eliminated is satisfaction enough.”
She exited the academy’s temporary headquarters where the investigation team had been stationed.
“Let’s return, Emily.”
Emily, who had been waiting outside, silently followed.
As the two walked down the corridor in silence—
Swish—
For the briefest moment, Emily’s form flickered like a shadow behind Auriel.
Emily, who had been in stealth, dispelled her concealment while simultaneously swapping places with a summoned clone.
The motion flowed as naturally as running water.
An ordinary observer wouldn’t have noticed the substitution even if they’d been staring directly at Emily’s clone.
“How was it?”
“Two Fallen Angels descended this time.”
“Two at once…?”
Auriel paused mid-step, lost in thought.
“…Even for the empire, eliminating both with so little collateral damage would be impossible.”
“Correct.”
Emily’s lips twitched as if eager to say something.
“What is it, Emily?”
“Congratulations.”
“For what…?”
“You’ve finally found it.”
Emily pulled out a report from her coat.
“Confidential documents detailing the incident’s circumstances—retrieved from the investigation leader’s temporary office. Guess who’s credited with defeating the Fallen Angels?”
Auriel instantly understood who she meant and snatched the report from her hands.
Written there were the two characters she had been searching for all this time—‘Heavenly Demon.’
Clatter, clatter.
Inside the carriage, only Elaine and I sat together.
For a prisoner transport, it was a surprisingly decent carriage. Not as luxurious as the Herthe family’s, but—
“Please consider this a gesture of goodwill from the empire toward the Heavenly Demon.”
Elaine grinned, having noticed my appraisal of the carriage interior.
“Ahem.”
Slightly embarrassing.
“By the way, I haven’t properly introduced myself yet.”
I changed the subject.
“Allow me to reintroduce myself. Elaine Herthe, eldest daughter of Duke Herthe’s household and current captain of the Imperial Security Forces.”
“Ah. I see. Pleasure.”
“…”
“…”
“Forgive my forwardness, but isn’t this the part where the Heavenly Demon introduces himself…?”
“I was going to answer but got lazy. Since you’re dragging me off for investigation anyway, there’s no point wasting breath introducing myself twice.”
“Haha…”
Elaine gave a wry smile.
“You seem to hold considerable resentment toward us.”
“Wouldn’t you? After going through hell to kill two Fallen Angels, this is the thanks I get.”
“I fully understand your sentiments. However, please know this arrest is merely a performance to placate certain factions within the empire’s leadership who distrust you.”
That’s your problem, not mine.
Thinking this, I turned my gaze out the carriage window.
“…As I mentioned earlier, I am the eldest daughter of House Herthe. As you may know, Parmela and Beltane are my younger siblings.”
“Why bring up your family now?”
“I thought it might pass the time until we reach the security headquarters with topics you’d find interesting… unless you’d prefer not to?”
…I am a bit curious.
“Then I’ll continue. As widely known, our father—the current head—has publicly declared he will pass the family leadership to whichever child proves most qualified. Consequently, my siblings are currently competing for succession.”
“…By ‘siblings,’ you mean you’re not participating in this succession race?”
“I have no interest in such troublesome matters. I’m content serving the empire through my sword.”
Indeed, unlike her delicate-looking siblings, Elaine’s sturdy frame and disciplined movements betrayed rigorous training.
While it was difficult to gauge this world’s fighters by martial arts standards, she was undoubtedly a formidable warrior in her own right.
Unlike her siblings, she seemed uninterested in family politics, wholly dedicated to personal strength and loyalty to the state—a true martial purist.
“…Also, my relationship with Father is… somewhat strained. It’s been a while since I last interacted with the family.”
I’d already guessed as much.
During my time as Parmela’s attendant, Beltane’s name often came up in conversations, but neither Parmela nor the other servants ever mentioned the eldest daughter.
This was the first time I’d even heard her name.
Though curious about the estrangement, Elaine continued before I could ask.
“Do you know how the succession struggle between Parmela and Beltane is progressing?”
“Parmela holds public favor for mastering the Black Flame Art, while Beltane has his own supporters as an authority in magical engineering… That much I know.”
“I see. You’re well-informed.”
“But why ask me this?”
“You’ll understand in time.”
“…?”
“However… let me say this much: countless parties will soon compete to claim you, Heavenly Demon.”
The imperial palace stood at the heart of the Arkesia Empire’s capital.
Bookshelves, a desk, a reception table, and a sofa.
The crown prince’s office was surprisingly modest for his station.
In this modest office, the crown prince sat across from a middle-aged man at the table.
The man’s fiery red hair alone betrayed his origins.
“—This will please Parmela, Duke Herthe.”
After their lengthy discussion, the crown prince smiled wryly.
“Perhaps… though that child is unpredictable. She might resent it simply because it’s her father’s order.”
Badelon Herthe, head of House Herthe, stroked his thick red beard as he replied.
His massive frame and deep, resonant voice exuded intimidation.
“Thus, I’d like to prepare alternative plans should she fail.”
“So you came to me seeking information to recruit Theodor… the Heavenly Demon. Is that it?”
At the crown prince’s words, Badelon’s face flashed with a smile brimming with ambition and cunning.