Chapter 24
As expected, the Empire didn't just get surprised—it erupted in outrage. Not only had the chimera maker survived their massive purge operation, but it turned out he'd kidnapped the daughter of a meritorious duke and grand archmage. Once that came to light, fury spread like wildfire.
The emperor, upon learning the full story, immediately ordered a full investigation. Duke Eos, naturally, took the lead since it involved his own daughter.
The shocking results revealed that the chimera maker had brazenly set up a village on the academy outskirts, not far at all. It looked like any ordinary village, so even during routine population censuses, no one had noticed anything off.
Geographically close to the capital, academy, and magic detection sites—high-density population hubs—this explained how the string of Empire-wide kidnappings had gone undetected and where the victims were taken.
Moreover, examinations showed every villager bore traces of elite training, not to mention body parts like arms or legs replaced with something else. As these horrors leaked out, public terror skyrocketed.
The strangest discovery? The entire village had been wiped out. When the duke's knights arrived to rescue the princess, every enemy was already torn to shreds in gruesome fashion—like a raging beast had ripped them apart. Everyone who saw the carnage was left slack-jawed.
Given their heinous crimes, folks figured some vengeful soul had done the deed. But the real issue lurked in the underground lab.
There sat a massive facility crammed with kidnapped humans and monster parts used as materials. Restraint rooms behind giant iron doors and thick walls showed chimera traces—but not a single one remained. Investigators could only guess that the unidentified, finely minced corpses and bloodstains scattered everywhere had once been those chimeras.
Amid it all, one man's body lay at the lab's center—the mastermind behind the chimeras. Spotting him intact at first, they braced for combat. But with no reaction even after time passed, they checked closer: he'd died standing, like a puppet with its strings cut.
Or rather, almost dead. His eyes were lifeless, soul seemingly yanked out, yet his body moved normally. Like a marionette on invisible threads, it obeyed orders and answered questions like a doll.
A priest later examining him recoiled in horror. Despite the stench of blood and sin clinging to the villain, someone had annihilated only his soul. He couldn't hide his shock.
Slaughtering dozens of enhanced humans, overwhelming the Master-rank chimera maker, and even severing his soul? The duke inferred this perpetrator rivaled a Master—no, a Lord. He ordered an immediate trace.
But no clues identified the intruder. The sole witness, the princess, said the face was covered and the voice muffled—she had no idea who. The hunt for the presumed Aura Lord fizzled out.
Some initially suspected Count Helios, but he'd been holed up in his estate for years with ironclad alibis. The Empire went mad hunting its second Aura Lord.
And that second Aura Lord was currently...
"Here, quick. Ahh~"
"......"
...personally peeling and feeding fruit to the hospitalized princess.
"Mars. Dad called."
"......Your master?"
What the hell did he say this time?
Every message from the count hits like my first text from a girlfriend—heart pounding. Except it's terror, not butterflies. Sweaty palms, trembling body, the works.
"Yeah. He said you're not revealing your identity to him, so why show off? You picking a fight or what?"
"......"
Back when the former Aura Lord count taught me the sword, he had one plea: 'A healthy body houses a healthy mind.'
He'd drilled that into me during my childhood struggles with past-life memories and reality's gap—sword training for mind-body cultivation. Sure, "cultivation" often meant beatings.
Something about overwriting mental pain with physical agony. I legit thought I'd die some sessions.
Even creepier: he'd diagnose my meridians and pulses, then target only toxin-clogged spots. Pain hit hard, but my body got healthier daily.
His explanation? An Aura Lord-exclusive feat—infusing pure aura into fists like red-hot hammers forging iron, pounding out waste and smoothing energy flow. No bruises, so others chalked it up to training soreness. For a year, I endured dog-beating summers from the count.
'Well, it did make me a Lord...'
That "cultivation violence" perfected my body, then mind—enlightenment and Aura Lord status followed fast. Past-life baggage had blocked sword progress anyway, so I'm grateful. But scary is scary.
"He was joking. Said since you saved someone, he'd let this slide."
"R-Really...?"
"But next time, commit fully. Keep this up, and he'll out you officially—let the palace geezers nag you."
"......"
He nailed my ultimate nightmare. Master's still got it.
"Anyway, that's settled... Polo, you free?"
"Huh? No plans. Why?"
"We're in the same circle. Gotta visit the princess, right?"
I was curious if she was okay after I bolted hiding my identity. And worried she might've spilled to others...
"But can I even go...? I didn't notice her kidnapping at all..."
"How's that your fault? Blame the kidnappers. Plus, you alerted the duke fast—hired a private teleporter in a panic, right?"
Private space mages cost a month's groceries per jump. Space magic's finicky—needs rare talent, devours mana. Insanely pricey.
"Tell me the cost. My fault you spent it—I owe you."
"No way! You saved her. If I were stronger, I'd have helped directly. Glad I could at least do this..."
His family's not hurting for cash, but still—guilt. I dragged him into reporting it, multiple investigations as a witness...
"C'mon, let's go. She parted without a proper goodbye 'cause of that mess. She'll be thrilled to see you."
"Mm, okay. As a circle-mate, checking on her should be fine."
"Good thinking. She'll love us dropping by."
Us? Nah, just you, buddy.
Honestly, I worried bringing Polo. No intent, sure, but he didn't act during her kidnapping.
Without bugs or trackers, no way to know—but women prioritize feelings over logic, per books. 'You just stood there while I got nabbed? How could you!'—that kinda drama?
Thankfully, she greeted Polo with a smile. No betrayal or anger in her eyes. Her affection for him hadn't tanked—phew.
But then...
"Feed me."
"......Pardon?"
"Can't you see I'm the patient? Hurry up and feed me."
What the hell is this now?