Chapter 29
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: 8. The Understander
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The meeting had ended. The warehouse fell silent once more.
The Blue Moon members dispersed to their posts, while Ludwig remained seated at the table, lost in thought.
That guy had left first right after the meeting, claiming he had business to attend to.
'Did he intentionally clear out?'
It wasn't mere suspicion—it was close to certainty.
'With his personality, it's hardly out of consideration.'
It felt more like an experiment.
Ludwig closed his eyes and mentally reconstructed the conversation from moments ago.
First: assassinating the Saintess.
Eliminating a future precog was strategically sound.
Assuming such an ability existed, it explained why Blue Moon had always been one step behind the Empire's moves.
With that power, any large-scale troop movements or major assaults would have been foreseen.
Second: the diversionary tactic.
While targeting the Saintess, open a trade channel with the kingdom on another front.
Resources, intelligence, safe transit routes—all of it.
Long-term, there was no better option.
That was exactly what they'd planned once the eyes on the north lifted.
Blue Moon was far too fragile to withstand a superpower like the Empire on its own.
'Everything makes perfect sense.'
The problem was that it was too perfect, which only bred unease.
'It feels like everything's unfolding exactly as he wants.'
Bella approached. Her expression was troubled too.
"Captain. Still mulling it over?"
"Yeah. The only way to verify truth is through the speaker's own words. And there's no shortage of ways to deceive with nothing but honesty."
Bella fell silent for a moment before continuing.
"The Orb of Truth didn't change, though. At least in that moment, he wasn't lying."
"Right. At least in that moment, he wasn't lying."
That was the issue.
Ludwig was well aware of the biggest flaw in both the orb and the contract.
'The contract is just a stopgap.'
The contract was merely to gauge his sincerity.
Anyone half-heartedly trying to back out would have shown aversion to it.
'Body Hijacking ability. He probably knows how to nullify the penalties too.'
Even if he was sincere about helping now, what good was that if he changed his mind tomorrow?
'Never dealt with his type before. Impossible to pin down.'
No convictions, no faith.
He'd do anything as long as it amused him.
Who could be more terrifying than that?
Other members began gathering around. They'd stayed quiet during the meeting.
One man spoke up. Martel, the intel analyst.
"Captain. Mind if I share my thoughts?"
"Go ahead."
"His plan is flawless. Too flawless. The Saintess's existence, the ability's flaws, ways to replenish lifespan... He pierced through in one go what we've failed to grasp for years."
Martel's eyes sharpened.
"That leaves two interpretations."
"One: he's a transcendent being genuinely trying to help us. Two: he already knew all this intel and prepared specifically for this exact moment."
The air grew heavy. Ludwig asked,
"Which do you think it is?"
"I think both."
Martel tapped the table with a finger.
"He's definitely helping us. Taking out Leonidas is proof enough. But at the same time... his ultimate goal might not be our victory."
Another member chimed in.
"So we're just pawns to him?"
"More than pawns, really. Essential elements for his entertainment. You know, like those antagonist characters in stories who block the protagonist's path."
"...Protagonist and antagonist, huh. Not as far-fetched as it sounds, and that's the problem. If he's using us for fun, he'll toss in even more elements, obviously."
Ludwig listened quietly to their exchange.
It all made sense. No gaps in explaining his actions.
Which highlighted the core remaining issue.
"But even if he has ulterior motives, we have no choice. We need his help to get through this."
"True... We know it, but we're still at his mercy."
'We're too dependent on him.'
Blue Moon had fought with its own strength.
The devil pact was a last resort in a do-or-die moment.
But now.
One guy shows up, and suddenly he's the center of every strategy.
'This is dangerous.'
Ludwig slowly opened his eyes.
The members around him watched, awaiting orders.
"Martel."
"Yes."
"Can you independently verify the kingdom contact he provided?"
Martel nodded.
"It'll take time, but yes. We still have some network left in the north."
"Do it without his eyes on you. Scout other routes too. This has to proceed independently, no involvement from him."
"Understood."
"And Bella. Verify the Saintess intel. Especially the human sacrifice candidates. Check if his conditions match, and if there's any other way."
"Got it."
Ludwig stood. His injured left arm throbbed, but he ignored it.
"He's a powerful ally, no doubt. His intel and abilities are crucial to us. But..."
Ludwig drew a deep breath.
"Don't trust him. Report to me first before any meetings. If unavoidable, at least two people. And leave word beforehand."
Body Hijacking.
Its conditions and true nature remained unclear.
'One thing's certain.'
The ability to fully replace the dead was far more dangerous than imaginable.
"He can hijack a dead person's body. A guy who does anything for fun wouldn't hesitate to wear one of ours and act the part."
Ludwig said this with an inward wry chuckle.
Even the devil pact hadn't been this risky.
'A monster worse than devils.'
"Avoid combat with him. Collect everything—his words, actions, tone, tendencies—and report back to me."
He knew this could drag them deeper into the mire.
But they needed him.
"Once the kingdom deal is sealed, that's when we uproot his influence from our structure."
One member asked,
"What if he doesn't take it lying down? He might see it as betrayal."
"No, it's just redefining the alliance. We leave room for that interpretation, but it won't give him grounds to rebel."
'And he probably saw this reaction coming.'
He'd blabbed far more than necessary.
'Like he wanted this confusion.'
The more he thought, the more ensnared he felt.
The members dispersed. Ludwig was alone in the warehouse again.
He walked to the window. Outside, darkness had fallen.
'So what do you really want?'
Amusement? On the surface, maybe.
But Ludwig sensed something deeper.
His eyes had betrayed more than mere play.
'Amusement isn't your true motive, at least not fully. You're painting a bigger picture. Right?'
"But it doesn't matter."
To survive and win, he'd use anything.
Even if it meant deceiving, swapping, or biting a devil.
That was a revolutionary's duty.
[Ugh... this guy's seriously creepy.]
That was the wooden doll's immediate reaction upon hearing my plan.
My plan was pretty straightforward.
The north had Blue Moon, plus Arbelia and Ceres.
Since I was heading to meet Blue Moon anyway, why not see Ceres too?
"Why not? It's been a while; a quick meetup would be nice. Everything cycles back to mutual benefit in the end."
[Bullshit.]
Before the reunion, I'd decided to switch bodies.
A black rift tore vertically through the air. Subspace.
I pulled out Ernst Walther's body from there.
Both legs crushed, one arm badly mangled.
"...!"
Ella clapped a hand over her mouth at the sight of Walther.
'...Is it that bad?'
I checked Walther's face. Burns, sure, but basically a kindly middle-aged man.
Not gross at all.
I shrugged and swapped in.
Awakened mana by drawing out latent potential, then slammed it into a regeneration formula.
'The burns are a charm point, so keep those and the fingers.'
This was a signature of sorts.
A marker so Ceres could recognize me even if I hid my face.
"Before offing the Saintess, it'd be a shame to just pop in and out, so let's hunt some devils first."
Even as I said it, my real intent was elsewhere.
Bring Ceres and Ella together naturally.
'Same age, shared trauma. They'll hit it off.'
I was absolutely convinced.