Chapter 181: Formal Meeting? (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 181: Formal Meeting? (4)
When I was called back into the interrogation room, the scene was different from before. Duke Jeyka sat there looking utterly drained, while Senior Loreliya’s face was flushed bright red.
“To be honest, I only came here on orders from the Imperial Family.”
I already knew that.
I suppose I should expect as much from the Empire. Thanks to video magic that was as good as—if not better than—the CCTVs of my past life, I had heard the entire conversation in real-time.
“They want you to keep the Imperial secrets you saw and heard… well, secret.”
I had heard that from outside too, but since Senior Loreliya didn’t seem to realize that, I simply nodded and replied.
“I see…”
“Yes. And I’d like to ask you more about that matter.”
“As long as it’s before the semester starts, I don’t mind.”
The conversation proceeded rapidly. Since I had already heard everything through the screen, there was no hesitation.
However.
“And finally, are you really not going to come?”
That one line from Senior Loreliya was something I hadn't heard while waiting.
“My father asked.”
As expected of a high noble, she threw it out there with utter shamelessness.
“Senior.”
“What is it, Junior?”
“Actually, this is an interrogation room. You can see everything inside from the outside.”
“……!”
“You’re being pathetic, daughter.”
Her face turning a deep shade of crimson, Senior Loreliya turned tail and fled.
After chasing Senior Loreliya out, the Duke and I discussed various matters.
“…There’s something like that in the basement?”
“Yes. I plan to go back down to deal with it.”
“……What is it you want?”
“First, your ancestor wants some modern magic books…”
We started with the story of the Great Demon remaining in the basement.
This wasn't just an issue for the Empire. On a small scale, it was a time bomb ticking inside the Academy. On a large scale, the moment it woke up, not just the Empire but the entire world could suffer.
That was why I intended to cooperate actively with the Empire this time.
“And as for what I want…”
“You’re looking out for yourself too?”
“Isn't that obvious?”
Business is business, after all. I had to get what I could.
“How about we speed up the Magic Sword Project?”
Since we had the Demon’s Blood obtained from the basement, it was about time to ramp up development.
“That’s possible as long as we have the materials. In fact, Derf mentioned that his work pace has been inconsistent and that he needs extra manpower.”
It seemed Old Man Derf had been working hard.
“I’ve decided to provide additional magical personnel and assign some of the people coming from the Dwarf Kingdom to Derf.”
As expected of the Empire, I liked their efficiency.
“However, will that be enough to handle the demon in the basement?”
“They said there’s no other way.”
Dilute the holy water made by the Saintess to slowly weaken it. Since the opponent was too powerful, we chose a method to kill it gradually without provoking it.
“…If Altear-nim judged it so, then so be it.”
The Duke also asked me to keep pretending I didn't know the reason why the Princess was hiding her identity. After stating a few more requests and the corresponding rewards, Duke Jeyka spoke one last time.
“By the way, do you really have no intention of coming?”
He didn't need to specify where.
“…There’s no reason for me to go, is there?”
“My daughter wants it so badly.”
“Are the branch families causing that much of a stir?”
“They are, rather.”
As if Senior’s lamentations were true, Duke Jeyka let out a deep sigh as he spoke of the branch families.
“It’s a bit awkward to say this, but the Jeyka bloodline is somewhat complicated. The influence of the branch families is at a level that cannot be ignored, even by the main family.”
Of course, most things went according to the main family’s will. However, they couldn't stop the branch families from having a legitimate say in major family affairs.
“Is Senior Loreliya’s engagement that significant?”
“She is the eldest daughter. Besides, there are no other children suitable to be the successor except for her.”
Originally, Prince Esid was supposed to take that spot. For Esid, who had already been pushed out of the imperial succession conflict, becoming a live-in son-in-law would have allowed his children to inherit House Jeyka.
House Jeyka would have solidified its power by having the Imperial bloodline as its successor. The Imperial Family, in turn, would have tightened its ties by sending its bloodline to House Jeyka, the leader of the Noble Faction.
It was a story where everyone would have been happy.
And then our dear Prince Esid, blinded by love, kicked all of that away.
Truly a RoFan male lead. He showed us exactly what romance is all about.
…The problem was that he still wasn't in a relationship even after doing all that.
“That’s why the collateral branches are starting to make their move. It’s quite troublesome for us as well.”
If someone from a collateral branch were to take the spot beside Senior Loreliya, they would gain the chance to become the main family instead of just a branch. Furthermore, that person’s family would grasp power on a different dimension from the other branches.
Considering the nature of nobles, it was a mouth-watering prospect.
“So, if you could just come once or twice and play the part reasonably well…”
“…I see you have your reasons.”
“Do you understand, then?”
“I understand, but I’m still not going.”
“……”
It was unfortunate for Senior Loreliya, but there was nothing to be gained by me, a noble of another country, unnecessarily meddling in the Empire’s politics.
Besides.
“Once we graduate from the Academy, that excuse will naturally disappear anyway, won't it?”
“I suppose so.”
I had about two and a half years left, but Senior Loreliya was a year above me. That meant she would graduate a year earlier, and after that, the fake relationship would naturally come to an end.
“Wouldn't it be better to just start preparing for that now?”
“It’s not that simple.”
Duke Jeyka let out a long sigh at my words and nodded as if resigned.
“But if you dislike it that much, there’s nothing I can do.”
For a Duke of the Empire, he gave up remarkably fast. But considering his and Senior Loreliya’s personalities, it wasn't strange for him to act this way.
Thus, my meeting with Duke Jeyka ended.
However, it wouldn't be long before I realized that this was a total backstab.
A short while after the misunderstanding with the Empire was cleared and I was safely released.
“……Whew.”
I couldn't help but steel myself in front of a place that felt far more stifling than any Imperial interrogation room just by looking at it.
“What brings you here, Brother?”
“……”
See?
Could anyone step into a place where someone exists that even my senses can barely detect without preparing themselves?
“Try making some noise when you move.”
“Weren't you already aware?”
They say you can't spit on a smiling face. At the words of the Heresy Inquisitor who approached with a bright grin, I let out a sigh and stated my purpose for coming here.
“Let’s do some work together.”
“Oh.”
With that one word, the Inquisitor’s atmosphere shifted. Her narrow eyes, which usually gave off a mastermind vibe, half-opened. The smile on her lips grew deeper, but what it contained wasn't a cleric’s benevolence—it was coldness.
“I’ve been waiting for those words.”
There was a hint of madness in her voice that made me regret coming, but what could I do?
They were the experts in this kind of work. The Empire had allowed them to stay at the Academy for this very reason. I decided to make full use of them.
“First, scrape together all the holy water you have.”
“Understood. I’ll even go and extort everything from the Imperial Cathedral.”
“……”
No, you don't have to go that far.
…I tried to say that, but thinking of the size of the demon I saw in the basement, the words wouldn't come out. No, rather.
“Go ahead and strip them clean.”
“Understood!”
With a stride far peppier than usual, moving as light and fast as a butterfly, the Inquisitor entered a bakery that didn't have a single customer—one of the Inquisitors' secret bases.
And then.
“Marian-nim?”
“What brings you here?”
“Grab your gear. It’s a holy war!”
“Ooh!”
“Finally!”
“……”
So her name was Marian. I just found out.
Wait, but.
“…I don't really plan on fighting.”
But I couldn't bring myself to ruin the mood of the Inquisitors, who were excitedly gathering all sorts of weapons. For now, I decided to let them enjoy the mood until we reached the underground dungeon.
“Hiek!”
At the sudden appearance of me and the Holy Kingdom’s Inquisitors, Junior Leah—no, Princess Nea—shrieked in terror.
“Bringing a mob for revenge!”
She was saying things that could easily be misunderstood. I had already been under a huge misunderstanding by the Empire recently.
“Should we bury her?”
“Exactly!”
I sighed at the words of Marian, the Inquisitor who was only fueling the fire.
“Why would we bury her?”
“We aren't?”
“…Ten-minute talking ban.”
Marian’s expression was full of discontent at my words, but we had already agreed to establish a clear hierarchy until this task was over. As if to show she wouldn't speak, she bit her lower lip with her upper lip and shut her mouth. Her puffed-out cheeks were the only thing expressing her dissatisfaction.
“……”
Princess Nea, who had been watching the situation, asked tentatively.
“Why are you here, Senior?”
It seemed she didn't want her identity revealed to others, as she tried to converse like a normal senior and junior. I played along.
“I came to get the key.”
“The key?”
At Princess Nea’s confused look, as if wondering why I was looking for that here, I told her our destination.
“I’m planning to go back down to the basement.”
Normally, I would have considered waiting until Daisy returned. But for some reason, I felt like the moment Daisy went down, the seal on the Great Demon would break for some plot reason, a dark mage would suddenly pop out from somewhere, and then a third demon would appear. So, I decided we should just handle it ourselves.
In fact, this was all thanks to Marian’s drive. Her initiative was beyond what an ordinary person like me could imagine. She had literally conscripted every drop of holy water from the Imperial Cathedral and nearby churches. Not stopping there, she had raided the Academy Director’s office and shaken down the Academy and the Imperial Family for their holy water as well.
The amount gathered was about twice what I had used before. Of course, it was just twice the volume. Compared to the high-purity holy water created by Daisy, the Saintess, the quality might be lower, but since we were going to dilute it anyway, this would be more than enough.
“Ah.”
Having heard the full explanation, Princess Nea realized what I meant by 'the key.'
“You mean you need me?”
“That’s right.”
“…A-Actually, I’m not going.”
She made a bourgeois remark about taking at least a month-long break—something a wage earner like me could never imagine—but it has been a long-standing tradition since the days of the Rift in my past life that tools don't have human rights.
“I already have permission.”
“Don't lie! No matter who you are, I… Huh?”
Princess Nea’s eyes widened as she saw the signature on the paper I held out.
“…His Majesty the Emperor?”
It was a document I received from Duke Jeyka, delegating full authority over this matter to me. Thanks to this, I had rented out the Academy library until the start of the semester, and I had been delegated the right to use the key to the Academy basement.
“L-Lies?!”
Realizing her human rights had been revoked, Princess Nea tried to flee, but she was already surrounded by female Inquisitors, including Marian.
“Take her.”
“T-This is ridiculous! Is nobody there?!”
Princess Nea resisted the approaching Inquisitors, but an Imperial decree had already been issued. If it hadn't, there was no way this many people could have approached the Imperial Princess without any friction.
“……”
Despair filled Princess Nea’s eyes as she realized the truth.
