Chapter 185
Chapter 185
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 185
Chapter Title: Artifact Earrings
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“…Wait, hold on. What the hell….”
“What do you mean? It’s that spell you mentioned. I’ve got your core tied up now, so if anything dangerous happens, I can just send you a signal. Happy now?”
“Ha… haha….”
Leo, clutching his chest and staring blankly at me, collapsed forward, forehead thudding against the table. He let out a chuckle as he muttered.
“You’re always full of surprises….”
Of course I am.
But….
I leaned in close to his ear and whispered.
“Why didn’t you block it?”
“…….”
“The future king personally takes my magic? I’m honored. Or was it, unlike what I felt, that you really couldn’t dodge it?”
Leo’s lips curled into a smirk at my words. He seemed a bit pissed off, but still found the situation so absurd that he let out a hollow laugh as he lifted his head.
“Is now the time? If we do this, I can only receive signals from you. That’s not enough for safety.”
“Now’s not the time? Keep in mind your core’s in the palm of my hand.”
“You won’t blow it up.”
“What makes you so sure?”
“You don’t seem like the type to ruin a friend’s life.”
“Hm.”
Fair point. Would I even be alive if I did that?
Regaining his composure, Leo said calmly.
“If you hated this situation, you should’ve given me some assurance. You had no choice, Nikolaus.”
I snorted the moment he said that name.
As if I didn’t know what this bastard was getting at.
Clap—
“Ugh!”
“Beating around the bush….”
I clapped my hands, then twisted them together like wringing out water.
“Wait, just a second…! Lucas!”
Leo clutched his core and hunched over. The twisting effect on the core must’ve hit him.
If persuasion wouldn’t work, he summons Nikolaus, huh.
I’d felt it with Adelbert too, but royals are surprisingly clumsy in personal relationships outside of official ones.
Of course, from the palace’s perspective, human capital is also palace and national property. I could understand on principle why Leo called Nikolaus and why he wanted to implant an artifact in me.
“Regretting taking it so easily now? Too bad, I’m not removing it. Just live with it.”
“…Haha….”
Leo spaced out laughing before murmuring softly.
“Why would I regret it?”
“…….”
For a split second, I held my breath. Even though it was a whisper without any force, it sent chills down my spine for some reason. With his body tilted and forehead against the table, I couldn’t see his expression properly.
Still, figuring out why it was chilling was easy enough.
Any other guy would’ve snapped back, but unfortunately, due to his magic obsession….
‘He’s so young and already lost his mind. What a shame.’
I pondered deeply what to do with this magic maniac before shaking my head. I picked up the box and tossed it to him.
Leo looked bewildered and glanced at me.
“What’re you doing? Hurry up and pierce it so we can finish.”
“…!”
I’d said earlier I understood why he called Nikolaus and wanted to implant the artifact.
He might look hazy because he’s my friend, but he’s definitely my superior and liege. Not fulfilling the demands we agreed on means this is actually a light punishment. Hell, if I break it down, it’s all beneficial to me—I almost felt sorry.
With that thought, I said to Leo, who was staring at me wide-eyed in shock.
“You seem clueless, but all accessories are removable.”
Leo stayed silent for a long moment before breaking into a bright grin.
He smiled so purely like a high schooler that I couldn’t even curse at the unexpected reaction. I just let out a hollow laugh.
“…Doesn’t matter to you, huh.”
“You won’t take it out.”
“I will.”
“You’re too lazy to bother.”
Spot on….
I fell silent.
His earlier innocent smile was gone; Leo spoke with that same cool tone from before, chuckling.
“No take-backs, Lucas.”
“Take-backs? Hurry up and finish so I can tell you my plan.”
At the word “plan,” Leo paused before regaining his composure.
Leo blew magic into the box, then picked up the needle inside.
“It’ll hurt a bit.”
He’s never pierced in real life, but now he’s doing it here.
Back then, people begged him hundreds of times to do it, and he ignored them.
I held my breath. I felt the needle pierce my earlobe.
Leo pulled out the needle and immediately inserted the artifact.
“…!”
I touched the area near my heart where the core was.
Even with just one side done, I felt a change.
Wittelsbach’s unique healing magic spread around the core. If I got a core check now, it’d probably grade a rank higher.
‘Oh.’
No matter how I look at it, this is way too good for me.
I felt a little bad for hitting him with violent magic.
But now I had leverage to threaten him, so no plans to remove the enslavement spell on him. Just live with it till you hit the grave. I might not be around then, but Luca would make good use of it. Hell, Luca might need it more than me.
Observing my reaction, Leo brought a new needle to my other ear.
Poke—
Didn’t know this.
Surprisingly, it makes a popping sound.
I shook my head once both ears were done.
“All set?”
“Yeah. We’re good.”
Leo backed away, inspecting the artifact in my ear.
Now I fully understood why he’d brought me here.
The pain was fleeting. The air here didn’t sting more or make my skin burn. Instead, his mana and my core were connecting more smoothly. Not intentional, probably, but it was like getting core treatment.
As if waiting for my reaction, Leo asked right away.
“How is it?”
“Feels like I came to the hospital. Perfect.”
“…….”
Leo gave me a look like he’d heard some old geezer’s response, then muttered something about shutting up.
Still, he seemed pretty satisfied for saying that. Lost in thought, Leo spoke with slightly crazed eyes.
“Would’ve been nice if you could use divine power too.”
“…….”
I didn’t ask what he planned to use it for. No need—he’d say the same damn thing anyway.
“Truth is, I brought this partly because of what I mentioned earlier. I didn’t put your blood or mana in this artifact, but you say it feels like a hospital visit… anyway. It blended right in, which isn’t normal. If you live like this long-term, maybe I can gather data on your core not rejecting my mana.”
“Hm.”
“And now I can guide you based on your core. I can sense its flow right now.”
“…Ah, yeah….”
Is this a good thing?
I flashed a rotten smile, and Leo tilted his head with a grin, as if asking what was up. He already seemed deep in training mode.
Then, after a long silence, he broke it.
“Lucas. From now on, we move together.”
“What?”
“I can’t think like you or Elias yet, but I’m prepared to follow your lead. Elias and Narke too.”
I stared at his face, lost in thought.
If my actions made it seem like I didn’t trust them, oh well. I had no intention of throwing these high schoolers into the meat grinder.
Sitting back comfortably works for me. Who’d hate that?
I don’t know what he thinks of me, but I’m not desperately trying to uphold justice or eradicate evil in this world. Never moved for that. Just handled what was right in front of me. So….
Leo continued.
“In the catacombs, you said you’d show me it’s okay to trust. Got it. So I’ll show you too.”
So I had no plans to make him do what wasn’t necessary yet.
My goals weren’t life-or-death values worth throwing a high schooler into peril for.
Making him Pleroma bait and trusting him were completely separate.
“I already trust you, Leo.”
“No, you don’t. And I never asked for permission anyway.”
I watched him quietly and nodded.
So, he’d prove it’s okay to trust, no matter what I say.
“…Got it. I understand.”
Leo smiled in response.
Like in the novel’s latter half, if they were ten years older, I’d have worked them hard. Kinda disappointing.
But plenty of ways to use them anyway.
Time to think about tomorrow.
I clapped to snap attention.
“Alright. Now….”
“Now, nothing. Go to bed.”
I stared at Leo, who said it with a grin.
“I’ll hear it tomorrow. Deal? It’s already one a.m. Get some sleep.”
Fine, whatever. Nothing urgent anyway.
I’d met the chairman just half a day ago. Don’t notice it here, but fatigue would hit once outside.
Reading my expression, Leo stood first and beckoned.
“Let’s go.”
* * *
Slept like a rock for the first time in ages.
How long had it been?
Thinking that, I opened my eyes to sunlight flooding the room.
“…!”
I bolted up and checked the clock.
‘…Nine?’
Am I crazy?
Training must’ve started ages ago.
Throwing on clothes haphazardly and bursting out the door, I ran into Narke wandering in his uniform.
“…Huh?”
“Lucas, you’re up. Why so rushed~?”
“Why’re you here?”
“Haha, our team skipped morning training. But did you have any nightmares?”
Come to think of it, after that insane ordeal, I slept nightmare-free.
Narke read my mind and shrugged it off.
“Whenever you were about to wake, Leo and I put you back under~”
“Yeah? Thanks.”
He didn’t pry why I kept waking, so he must’ve caught on.
He’d figured out late last time I hated warping.
Grateful he knew something happened but didn’t dig.
Narke studied my face, then tapped the artifact on his earlobe and grinned.
“Earrings suit you~ I’ve got one here too!”
Nothing new—every new human has one.
Narke stared at me and muttered.
“Want me to pierce the other one?”
“…No. Why you too….”
“Why me? Haha, the Papal Office gives artifacts to clergy. Anyway, honored you see it my way.”
Didn’t know what honored him, but at least he wasn’t stubborn like Leo.
And no magic obsession, so easier to talk to.
“Anyway, why skip training?”
“So you could sleep. Plus, I gotta take you to school.”
“Got it. Feel kinda bad.”
“Nah, the kids loved it~ Club stuff anyway, so they said match up at noon twice.”
They loved it?
‘What’s with discipline.’
By round three, only pro-level folks left….
I hadn’t hit awkward spots like round two in training. Everyone skilled, got the feel post-round two, so synced easy for results.
Anyway, had something to ask him, so solve it now with time.
“Narke. Can you check my baptism traces?”
Could’ve asked what, but Narke nodded readily.
I held out my hand.
—Those who believe and receive baptism shall gain salvation; those who do not believe shall be condemned.
Divine power flowed from Narke’s hand caressing mine.
He slapped my hand lightly and grinned.
“…Dunno what happened, but need a cleanse~ Can’t be born three times.”
‘…Good.’
One cleanse could still wipe the traces.
Chairman said I hadn’t even half-attended. Instinctively blocked Ludovica’s baptism, so no major issue.
“Narke. Can others detect it if they chant spells with divine power like you?”
“Hm, no.”
Narke stroked his chin and shook his head.
“You know I’m with the Doctrine of the Faith? Met the undersecretary at the cardinal ordination council. Like my insight authority, he has similar. Without that authority or unique ability, they can’t detect this.”
Yeah, no wonder it stems from the Inquisition. Avoid those folks, and even Pleroma baptism goes unnoticed.
One worry down.
He knew about the Pleroma baptism but didn’t pry.
Sweet or what.
“Then, Narke.”
“Yeah?”
“Morning’s free, so wanna head to school? You have my priest robes. Grab ’em?”
“Priest robes? For school?”
Narke’s eyes went wide.
* * *
Not wearing them now.
I stepped into school again as Nikolaus.
“Huh…!”
Some students spotting me recoiled visibly, then glanced and bolted.
‘Told them to keep it controlled.’
They’d report Nikolaus was here somewhere.
Anyway, I’d leave soon—no time to wait for them.
Leo, who’d guided me per school directions, spoke quietly once people vanished.
“Didn’t expect you up so soon, Excellency.”
No time to sleep more.
I unconsciously touched my ear, felt the perception disruption magic fade, and dropped my hand. Leo glanced away.
“Why come to the capital suddenly, Excellency? Didn’t visit His Majesty first.”
“Need evidence to prove the professor’s innocence, right? Gotta gather lots, so move fast.”
“I don’t know what info you have. Wanna know how the chairman uses his ability first.”
“Blood and consent. Those are the conditions for revelation. Any question, as long as you commune with him. Seems consent depth varies by target’s rank.”
“Hmm… blood.”
Leo frowned slightly, displeased.
“Low chance, but maybe invaded profs’ dorms and stole blood. If profs colluded, no need for revelation. Otherwise, where’d he get their blood?”
“Very unlikely indeed.”
“…That’s what I said…. So what do you think, Excellency?”
“You’ll see.”
Leo shrugged like “what?”
“If that’s it, shouldn’t we go to prosecution, not school? How’ll you find out here without the prof?”
“Even at prosecution, no immediate meet. And info needed isn’t just this.”
Next place right after, no time to wait for prof.
Guided by Leo, I entered the Faculty Management Office, pre-scheduled.
Knock. The director himself welcomed us.
“You’re here, Excellency Ernst. Been waiting.”
“Pleasure. Sorry for the short notice; thanks for agreeing so readily.”
“No trouble. Helping our school? Why refuse. Time was free anyway.”
He sat, clasping hands.
“So, what’re you curious about…?”
“Any staff health checks in the last month?”
“…!”
Leo eyed me.
The director, not expecting health checks, stared wide-eyed between us.
He’d assumed questions like ‘profs’ Pleroma ties?’
“…Health checks…?”
“Yes. Imperial Second Academy staff get mandatory annual summer checks. Recent ones? Not end of regular cycle.”
He checked calendar, pointed.
“Recently… three weeks ago, second week of January, irregular check. Haha, how’d you know? First irregular one.”
“…….”
“Second week January. Quite random.”
I nodded slowly, driving in the wedge.
“Mages need mana tests, right? How’re they done?”
He tilted head like “obvious?”
“Draw blood? Mana doesn’t infuse otherwise.”
“…….”
I smirked lightly.
The director just blinked confused between us.
A soft chuckle escaped Leo.