Who Will Devour Me?
"—Might the two of you be feeling unwell?"
I stepped in to mediate between the two women growling at each other.
"No, Mikhail. We may look a little tired from our rather heated discussion regarding the cult's infiltration. Surely you wouldn't suggest we were fighting."
"O-of course not. It's merely that my nerves are a bit frayed. Hehe."
Arlea and Sophia answered in perfect unison, as if they had rehearsed it. My yandere sensors blared a warning that if this domestic drama continued any longer, I would be discovered as a dried squid snack.
"……The Second Prince, you say? I didn't expect the telegram about the special task force's personnel to arrive so soon."
Sophia spoke in a worried tone.
A jolt ran through me.
If it was the Second Prince, there was every reason to worry. He was a fanatic. If…… Ackres's memories returned as well?
I would not be seeing anything good. Forward or back, every move was a forced play.
Arlea chided her.
"The very fact that a cult infiltrated our academy is no ordinary matter, Professor Sophia. As I have said time and again."
"Have you ever heard of a case like this?"
"I have not. Not in my memory, that is."
Cult infiltration.
Something that had never happened in the previous world. If the rebel faction or other forces got involved, the scenario was already twisted beyond recognition.
Even escaping will be a struggle.
I chewed my lower lip.
The main trunk of the story was still holding for now. Currently on his way was the Second Prince, Ackres Kiessen—the protagonist of the first chapter, and no matter the route, a man of misfortune who died at the hands of a heroine or someone else.
If I can save him, that would be ideal.
My goal was to save him. Since Arlea and Sophia had become blind men who opened their eyes through regression, they might at least lend a helping hand to my plans.
Furthermore… there were advantages. I could resolve related problems before making contact with the other heroines. Block them in advance, or something of the sort.
Ackres may be a fanatic, but a prince is still a prince!
Even a ruined chaebol family lasts three generations, they say.
Barely managing to ignore Arlea and Sophia's bickering and sexual harassment in the reception room, Carlos by the door shouted.
"His Holiness the Holy Spear approaches!"
Holy Spear.
Imperial descendants were always bestowed with epithets.
True to the sacred spear, the Second Prince Ackres was deeply immersed in religion. Not merely devoted—a fanatic. And his faith in his own father was at an insane level.
The Holy Emperor Cult was a religion that worshipped the Emperor himself as a god. Looking back, I realized anew just what a genuine lunatic I had been.
"Ahem."
Ackres, seated across from me, was a giant of a man large enough to occupy an entire three-seater sofa. Good to see him after so long.
"It is lamentable that we cannot meet under better circumstances, Holy Spear of the North."
Erguis, seated in an armchair, bowed her head.
"Enough, Chancellor. The mere fact that demonic energy has tainted this grand sacred ground is enough to make my heart burst as we speak."
He gestured.
"Professors, please be seated as well."
"Ah, thank you."
"There is much to discuss. I hope you will prove to be people I can trust."
Ackres said this and snorted. His pupils trembled ever so slightly, as if he had just endured days of fierce battle. That look grew even more pronounced when he looked at me.
"You are Brother Mikhail? I have heard you are the last survivor of a traitorous house, a pilgrim, and a penitent."
"That is correct."
When I spoke, Ackres made the sign of the cross and prayed.
"In the name of the Holy Son, the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Father, I am grateful that you have looked after my unworthy sister so well. I am the Second Prince, Ackres Kantri Kiessen. You may call me Ackres freely."
As if anyone would call you freely. You were one of the empire's highest authorities.
And right now I was so tense I could die.
So firm and nice…… Oh, so this is what big brother's thighs feel like.
This side is softer.
Oh, I don't know what I'm supposed to do. Mheheheh.
………I'd prefer you drop that creepy laugh. Well, I do feel good, though. If I touch here, will he get ticklish? Ei!
My yandere wives had each claimed one of my thighs and were secretly groping them while firing off sexual harassment comments in their heads.
"Khuh."
"What's wrong?"
"Ah, it's nothing, Holy Spear. Just a bit of a headache."
I couldn't show it, so I simply laughed hohoho. Having two wives meant twice the number of people touching me. I was on the verge of letting out a whole stream of curses.
"After facing the special task force, that's only natural. According to the professor beside you, you nearly became contaminated by black magic."
Ackres said. Wait—nearly contaminated by black magic? Was that real?
"Th-that's correct, Your Highness the Prince."
Sophia bowed her head as she spoke. Damn it. That had just been something I threw out there.
"Hoh—— So it was real?"
I heard Arlea muttering. Clearly she hadn't expected that either. I let out a sharp snort.
"Can you… see the black magic?"
"I cannot see it myself, but there is one who possesses blessed eyes."
"The Saintess?"
The Saintess. If I met that woman right now, I was truly fucked.
As I broke out in a cold sweat, Ackres conveniently squared his shoulders.
"Of course, she was unable to accompany us to the academy this time. She is holding the northern front lines with the sisters of the central army. Our investigation team discovered this fact thanks to a relic imbued with the Holy Spirit."
"A holy relic…"
"Indeed, Brother. With such extensive knowledge, you would be perfect as a choir knight."
"Don't touch him. I've taken quite a liking to this knight."
At Ackres's words, Arlea hugged me tightly—growling like a fierce dog, with eyes that held no light at all. Eyes that resembled a corpse's.
How dare you touch him. Trying to send him to the north overflowing with monsters?
Arlea, grinding her teeth, glared with eyes thick with murderous intent.
"I apologize, little sister. Do you like this knight that much?"
"At the very least, he is someone I hold dear."
"You've always been intensely possessive of your things. It differs from the teachings of the Holy Emperor Cult, but since it stems from a good heart at least, I haven't particularly interfered. Keep watch so that he does not fall into corruption."
"Of course I will."
"Very well, let's leave it at that. We are not so close as to be neighbors. They said the wastrel had become a proper person, yet the essence remains the same."
Ackres furrowed his brow.
"I ask you again, Mikhail."
"Yes."
"In Brother's estimation, how many heretics do you guess have infiltrated?"
"Heretics, you say."
"Yes, heretics. Those monsters that must be purged from the continent. The Seven Deadly Sins that threaten the pilgrims."
As Ackres asked bloodthirstily, a servant poured tea before me—and did the same for the others.
"Thank you."
"Th-thank you."
Arlea and Sophia were silently glaring at Ackres. The tea was for changing the atmosphere. Even someone as unconcerned with outside gazes as him must have felt the odd tension.
"Drink first, then think."
"Thank you, Holy Spear."
"I told you to speak freely, Brother. Other brothers and sisters, please partake as well."
I have no intention of calling you Brother. I elegantly lifted the teacup.
The moment it touched my taste buds, a sharp, bitter taste hit me. Tea made from Truth Herb? My eyes snapped open.
Well, since they had nearly disgraced his parents, suspicion was only natural. Even if one passed the Holy Emperor Cult's character examination, the danger of corruption could not be ignored. There was a reason the inquisitors kept grilling only me so persistently.
Ackres continued his explanation.
"I hear the north enjoys drinking bitter tea like this. These tea leaves, discovered by the young lambs of our Holy Emperor Cult, were blessed by His Majesty the Great Emperor and left to rest for three days in the church basement."
I smiled faintly without changing my expression.
"I see."
"I heard that you toppled the heretics according to the teachings of the Holy Emperor Cult. Together with that mage and my sister."
"That is correct."
Both nodded silently. Ackres let out a sigh.
"How peculiar that is."
"In what way?"
"In every evaluation and piece of information. Since you hold the top seat of the martial arts college, it seems all the talents who would come to our Order of Saint Tatnan will have their spirits broken. I hear you mastered the Aura Blade in a short time."
Oh no no no—.
That talk again.
I was a complete stranger with no connection. And Aura Blade was something every knight used originally. Well, wasn't this a world where even a three-year-old could cast Meteor if they had the talent? I didn't want any rewards or anything, so please pass them on to the wives beside me.
That won't work for now, will it?
Even if the capital's information network was weak, there were priests and clergy of the Holy Emperor Cult. Churches were everywhere. There was a reason for the saying that daytime words were heard by the faithful, and nighttime words were heard through confession.
How nice it would be to live leisurely as a borrowed barley sack until I saw the true ending.
As I stared blankly at the ceiling, Ackres sighed.
"There seems to be a heretic dungeon in this vicinity. It pains me deeply to feel as though I am foisting the knight order's responsibilities onto my brother."
"I volunteer."
The expressions of the two sitting side by side filled with shock.
"For reference, only one companion is allowed this time, so I ask for your understanding."