Seed of Corruption
Seria tilted her head, her pink curls bouncing. “But when are we heading back to the imperial capital? After we take down the Third Legion? It really is a long way from the capital to Ashtar territory. I think it might actually be smarter to finish everything here before we go.”
“Hmm. Maybe.”
If I could choose, I’d rather stay buried here and take it easy. There isn’t much Atelina can teach me anyway. They have practicals with Galledo, but unless it’s the Empire’s official theory classes, I don’t need any of it. The nuns have their assassination guild, so they’ll keep up their military training regardless.
“We can always teleport back and forth. But Lady Olivia, there’s no real reason for you to stay in Atelina, is there?”
“True. Looking at how they’re teaching the students here, I feel like someone at my level would get fast-tracked straight to graduation.”
Thanks to my librarian credentials, I’d absorbed every piece of essential imperial knowledge from the library. I already knew most of the general education courses. I’d even learned proper social dancing—something the old me could never have imagined. I’d tried embroidery, of all things. The surprising part was how the other noble daughters kept asking me to teach them.
—Oh my, Lady Olivia. You’re truly remarkable.
—Embroidery as well? Honestly. Isn’t Prince Aslan such a fool?
—Could I possibly learn too? I want to make a gift for the knight I admire.
Every time, it felt strange. Like being recognized as a woman. It left a weird taste in my mouth.
“What about you?” I asked.
“I made a deal with imperial Atelina. I’m here to restore its damaged reputation.”
“Some transaction between the big shots, I’m sure.”
None of my business. Still, if things kept going like this, a collision between the Empire and the Four Heavenly Kings was inevitable—whether the Ashtar family got involved or not. We had to prepare for full-scale war.
“I’ll head out first. I might be late, so I need to contact the Magic Tower. While I’m at it, I’m planning to lift the teddy bear restrictions.”
Yeah. If she’d just released those damn bears earlier, I wouldn’t have had to deal with any of this hassle.
“Oh, while we’re on the subject of the Magic Tower—your relationship with me. Is that okay?”
“Oh my. Are you finally getting serious about us?”
That was so far off the mark I almost laughed. “No, not like that.”
“It’s fine. The Ashtars are a major house. Even if our families don’t get along, it’s only on the surface. Besides, mages are always competing anyway—Magic Tower versus Mage Division.”
“I heard the old fossils there are pretty closed-minded.”
“Being stubborn and the level at which I can persuade them are two different things.”
So the one currently sticking to my side counted as someone she could persuade. I nodded. “I see. Go on, then.”
“Yes!”
Seria left with a cheerful bounce in her step. Once she was gone, I pulled out the box I had set aside. I still hadn’t shown everything.
At the very bottom lay an old, worn notebook.
“Even if I take the magic tomes, maybe I should give the rest to the family head.”
After all, he probably missed his father. From his reaction, it was clear he hadn’t known the box even existed. Still, what Eldacrad left behind wasn’t limited to this. There were various ancient records. But these were the parts Seria would drool over, so I hadn’t handed them to her.
“Eldacrad even investigated the Four Heavenly Kings and the Demon King.”
Unlike a simple diary, these were his own researched and compiled writings about the existence of the Four Heavenly Kings. And I learned something new. During Eldacrad’s era, they had operated as a three-person system for a long time—until the Corrupted Saint took a seat. His records stated that the Four Heavenly Kings could be replaced at any time. That Seto would fill one of the positions. Eldacrad had already known a great deal even then. That was why he hadn’t fled from the Demon King’s castle.
Clanice created ‘fragments’ and implanted them into humans to artificially produce demons. I tracked Clanice’s base and captured the humans sacrificed to the fragments, but there I discovered what she had left behind.
The experimental records on the Demon King’s fragments state that, in theory, humans who fail to properly absorb a fragment will go berserk and die. If successful, the fragment draws out a person’s darkest aspects and corrupts them. The darkness merges with the existing personality, resulting in complete corruption. These fragments were apparently torn from the being known as the Demon King. Just what kind of existence is the Demon King?
Dangerous individuals are not limited to Clanice. Seto of Hell leads the demon legions. That one corrupts humans directly. And unlike Clanice, who fanatically worships the Demon King, he behaves as if he is commanding the Demon King himself.
Perhaps there exists something even greater above the Demon King. Seto is merely his servant, creating the entity called the Demon King for some larger purpose.
When Seto and I crossed spears, he said: “Those who fall and become demons were evil from the very beginning. I only draw out their true nature.”
It seemed to quote Clanice’s records, but even she wasn’t perfect. I’d have to take it with a grain of salt. At least when I absorbed the fragment, there had been no “dark part.” Thanks to what Jerato implanted, I had glimpsed hatred for humans and a fleeting urge to kill, but that was the extent of it.
From the start, I had always done whatever I wanted. Maybe that was why the darkness had never risen to tempt me.
These were crucial details. “If it’s Seto, he might know something.”
Among the Four Heavenly Kings, Seto was particularly annoying. His specialty was leading gargoyles, descending from the sky, and ambushing enemies. An opponent whose true nature remained unknown. He commanded the demon legions—the strongest force in the Demon King’s army. If he was the one directing things, then the Demon King itself might not even be a living being.
Then where did the Demon King come from? Hadn’t Seto been the one to corrupt Bernoa as well?
Eldacrad’s records couldn’t be carelessly spread. The Four Heavenly Kings must have erased most traces of them. These notes probably dated from around the time of his death.
I formed a mana sword in my hand again. Sure enough, the blade shed brilliant black dust. A sword containing the Authority of a Heavenly King. With some misdirection, I could probably conceal its effects.
It had been urgent at the time, but I regretted not trying to appeal to Eldacrad’s emotions. Seeing how he moved to save his granddaughter in the end, he might have regained his senses at the critical moment and broken free from control.
“No need to hand this over, right?”
It was something that should go to my father, but Grandfather had entrusted everything to me. Getting tangled up later because of records about fragments or demons would be annoying. There was no reason to pass it on.
I carefully stored the box in my subspace and hung the magic tome at my waist with the small metal chain attached to it.
“The urgent matter is the Third Legion.”
Dealing with them would let the Ashtars claim both revenge and honor. I could only hope my father made the wise choice.
Seria stood in the mansion’s rear garden and took out her communication crystal. She connected to the Magic Tower.
“Elder. It’s Seria.”
“It’s been a while. I heard you’re at Ashtar. How long do you intend to stay?”
If I say I’m joining the war, they’ll throw a fit.
A mage from the Magic Tower openly siding with Ashtar—who maintained their own Mage Division—and even participating in war would be unwelcome, even if the opponent was the demon race. For now, she decided to keep it hidden.
“It seems the Ashtar family head is planning for war. I believe I’ll need to observe the situation for a while.”
“So you’re staying there for the time being?”
“Not there—Lady Olivia!”
She had mentioned Olivia before.
“Olivia. A saint. Not bad. But isn’t the Mage Division stationed there? I heard the saint took an interest in mages before. You’re not there to join them, are you?”
Sharper than expected.
“Ah, that’s actually what I wanted to discuss.”
Seria explained how difficult it would be for Olivia to obtain official mage qualifications.
“Hmm, I see. Well, even though she has become a saint, it would be awkward for someone in her position to officially study magic.”
“Yes. It can’t be helped.”
“Understood. Still, since the saint is the daughter of Duke Ashtar, I’ll trust you to handle things well. But you must not come into conflict with the Mage Division. They’re insignificant, but clashing with Ashtar itself would be troublesome.”
“Yes. Ah, and about the teddy bear restrictions. Last time in the dungeon, I nearly got buried alive.”
“I’ll increase it tenfold.”
The teddy bear limit was lifted. The restriction was normally released outside the Empire anyway, but it was better to be certain.
“There’s one more thing I’d like to ask.”
“What is it?”
“It’s about human corruption. Specifically, becoming one of the Four Heavenly Kings through corruption.”
“Go on.”
She hadn’t mentioned this to Lady Olivia, but the Magic Tower’s archives contained records about the Four Heavenly Kings and corruption. The current elders had even faced some of the previous Heavenly Kings. There was a chance she could gain valuable information.
“From what I learned at the Tower, authorities are powers granted directly by the Demon King, which is how one becomes a Heavenly King. But if someone were to obtain an authority from a Heavenly King instead? For example, acquiring a weapon imbued with authority like Pector did—would that be possible?”
“Hmm. In theory, yes. It would depend on the method of bestowal. A normal human would likely find it difficult to accept. They would lack the necessary darkness to receive it. Of course, someone with powerful mana might endure it, but at most they could only possess it.”
Possess it? But Lady Olivia was actively using one.
“Is it possible to wield a Heavenly King’s authority without falling to corruption? To manifest and control it at will?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Pardon?”
“From the beginning, no one can use it. You might imitate the authority with magic, but the authority itself operates on a different concept. No matter how talented the mage, you cannot suppress it with mana, force it into submission, or command it.”
The words were unpleasant to hear. Yet she had to keep listening.
“In short, without corruption, the authority of a Heavenly King cannot be used.”
Seria’s breath caught. It made no sense. If that was true, then what was the current Olivia? Noel had been present, so she couldn’t have been corrupted by Berna. Besides, Olivia had said she wielded the authority herself. On the outside she was Olivia, but inside she was unmistakably Lord Noah. Yes. Perhaps this was something even the elders didn’t know. If the core of the woman was Noah, then maybe she could handle an authority after all.
Seria carefully set the communication crystal down. Nothing had been confirmed yet. Therefore—
“I’ll use this as an excuse to stay even closer to Lady Olivia.”
After all, if it was Lady Olivia, there was probably nothing to worry about. Honestly, she had no way of knowing how much of the original Olivia remained. That existence might be connected to corruption, but what was certain was that the current Lady Olivia held dominion over the body. If the current Olivia were to fall, it would likely be because of the lingering spirit of the first one. In that case, staying by her side would solve the problem.