Chapter 103
Chapter 103
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 103
Chapter Title: The Capable Second Prince
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Violet Magic Tower Master Yuna was lost in panic, spinning in circles like a lost chick. Her eyes were spinning too. Watching her was starting to make me dizzy.
"Wh-where, where did we get caught...?"
"If only we hadn't gotten caught at all."
Second Prince Irid let out a deep sigh, as if the ground might cave in.
"I know there... wasn't any malice. There probably wasn't... right?"
"Yes, there wasn't. Our Yuna is just a lonely girl who gets homesick easily. Come here, Yuna."
"Uwooo..."
I pulled the Tower Master into a hug and patted her back vigorously. She hadn't really wanted to stage a rebellion in Crown Hall; she just wanted to go on a date with me.
But seriously, where did we get caught? I'd never slacked on detecting magic power... This couldn't be a bluff, could it?
"Um, Your Highness. In my opinion... this is just fishing, you know? Like, they're trying to bait us. There's no evidence anyway, right?"
"No evidence?"
"Exactly. For starters, I can't detect our Tower Master at all. If I can't, no one else can either."
The Second Prince gave me a look that said, this is why geniuses are geniuses. But I was just stating the facts. If I can't do it, most others can't either.
Even if they'd somehow succeeded in observing the Tower Master, leaving evidence was a whole different story. Unless she let herself get caught, there was no way to even photograph her.
The Second Prince stroked his chin, then spoke after a brief moment of thought.
"If that's true, we can probably smooth this over. It all comes down to a battle of public opinion. But..."
"But?"
"The moment Violet Magic Tower Master shows herself publicly, the backlash will hit. Naturally, they'll have the justification to swing the narrative against us then."
So, we can't get caught from now on.
"It also means we can't use excessive force. If ascension-level power is used near Crown Hall, that'll be irrefutable evidence."
"......"
This was a pretty major restriction. We were currently chasing the tail of a Violet Magic Tower traitor, and the backbone of that pursuit was undoubtedly the Tower Master's combat prowess.
We had the reassurance that no matter what came up, the Tower Master could handle it, so we could charge in without a plan.
But things had changed. The instant the Tower Master used major power and confirmed suspicions that "Violet Magic Tower Master sneaked into Crown Hall," the Second Prince's faction would take a political bombing.
We might have to seriously consider halting the chase.
Sure, we could act like thugs and say whatever beating the Second Prince took was none of our business. But long-term, that would distance us from our goal of tracking the traitor.
As long as we cooperated with the Second Prince, we could borrow the help of the Imperial Defense Bureau intelligence group. And above all, Pingbalrez wouldn't get in trouble. If a friend caused a mess...
"Tower Master, let's play it safe. Pingbalrez got hurt too."
"...You're giving up the chase?"
"We're one slip away from Violet Magic Tower getting pushed back. How could we? There'll... definitely be another chance, so don't be too disappointed."
We'd already gained plenty. Turning suspicion of a traitor in Violet Magic Tower into certainty was a huge harvest. Now we could prepare.
"Then we'll handle it that way."
Second Prince Irid rose quietly, opening a drawer. It was packed with communication orbs.
He lined them up on the table and launched into a flurry of orders like a montage from an action movie.
"Spread a message demanding they stop the baseless slander first. To the Capital Knights, convey indirectly that we didn't bring the Tower Master, but even if we did, we have no intention of causing trouble."
Explanation (sort of).
"Redburn's trumpeter this time is Baron Perret? The one spreading rumors that I'll use the Tower Master for rebellion? Open the cabinet. We have dirt collected on him. Leak to high society why his fancy intelligence network missed his wife's affair."
Turn the attacker into a laughingstock.
"The merchant guild Redburn overlooked... Golden Kumquat Guild? Tell them to pull back. It's a peace offering."
Calm the raging Redburn Duke family.
"We have pre-identified plants, right? Leak counter-intel. We're truly in the dark."
Use spies to spread info.
"Send a letter to my sister. Ask her to issue a statement that imperial succession should stay fair and not cross lines. Outsiders think she's on bad terms with me, so they'll see it as her indirectly warning me. Then actually hold back operations. Make it look like I reined in after the warning."
Appeal innocence through staged harmony.
And more big and small commands.
He issued a storm of instructions for about ten minutes, then straightened up. The Tower Master and I clapped in admiration, eyes squeezed shut. Our empire's future was so bright we couldn't look directly at it.
The Second Prince looked especially cool today. He flipped his collar dashing-ly and looked down at us.
"To the interrogation room."
"Us?"
"...Don't we need to extract info from the black mages you caught?"
===============================================================
The interrogation room was fittingly soundproofed and tucked away in a dim basement. As we descended with the Second Prince in the lead, the Defense Bureau agents inside snapped to salutes.
"Ah, Your Highness."
One agent with fairly high rank approached. His face full of worry suggested things weren't going well.
"A problem?"
"...The magic engraved on his head is too intricate. No way to proceed. We've preserved it with 『Instant Freeze』 for now, but extracting info..."
"That's why I brought an expert. Thaw him."
"Yes, Your Highness. 『Thaw』."
The black mage's body, frozen like the last one in an ice age, began to thaw with a warm steam. I rolled up my sleeves and stepped forward confidently.
"...Violet Magic Tower Master isn't stepping up?"
"Ah, th-this kind of thing... yeah. He's better at it, Y-Your Highness..."
Let's breach from multiple angles. On one side, show illusions in his dreams to make him confess himself. On the other, poke at the constraints clinging beyond his mental barriers.
As external stimulus hit, the suicide trigger implanted in the black mage's brain started its countdown. 10 seconds. Even my detour approach triggered it immediately. Fine craftsmanship.
No wonder the agents couldn't extract anything.
This was the work of a veteran illusion mage. And my guess: same as the 『Big Brother』 creator. I could feel the distinctive structure, like a signature habit.
9 seconds.
Can I stop the suicide trigger?
No. It's woven to kill no matter what. Some parts aren't illusion magic but curses embedded directly into brain cells. To dispel would need several healing mages researching on-site.
Then extract all info before time runs out. I have time and mana to spare. Just roll my brain a bit faster.
"『Image Extraction』."
Link to the outside. The black mage's mental images floated in the air. Agents prepped recording orbs and notepads.
ZZZzt.
Noisy footage. Blurry images.
"Mirror, mirror. What's the info you most want to hide...?"
Images flashed by rapidly. Caves, clothing stores, hidden spaces in underground sewers... Grasping threads pulled roots, revealing black mage bases one by one.
4 seconds.
"Now, info on Violet Magic Tower?"
ZZZZzt-!!
Images shook unstably; fierce brain backlash. Touched another trigger.
Quiet on bases, but berserk on Violet Tower? What are they hiding?
3 seconds.
Won't let you escape. Even in death, spill everything. I deliberately jammed info into his head to slow him, then forced it open.
Thrust mana like an awl; the scattering image sharpened instantly.
Dark corridor. Black mage clung to the door crack, eavesdropping. Through the slight gap, four figures.
A woman with green-dyed hair.
A woman with pink hair so long it dragged the floor, covering her naked body.
A hulking man in a hood, face obscured.
And someone hiding their face with a mask.
-『Lamb』, is this really necessary?
-Yes. If it succeeds, we'll have... a puppet who reached ascension. We'll need some understanding from Crown Hall's 『Snare』, though.
-You know what happens if you fail.
-Of course. But this method's already verified...
Then, the masked 『Lamb』 drew a sigil with a finger. Cross in the sacrifice brand. This was Yuna's...
Crunch.
Image shattered.
Boom. Black mage's head burst like a butterfly.
I whipped my head at the mana surge beside me. Violet Magic Tower Master stared blankly at the vanished image, mana rising from her whole body.
Ching-!
Nearby agents drew weapons, blocking the Second Prince. Tension peaked; cold silence fell.
Yuna spoke quietly.
"Looks like... some stain I couldn't erase lingered."
"...I'm listening."
"Gotta erase it. Sorry. I-I know it's dangerous. I know I'm troubling you. But I can't yield. I have to erase it..."
Not a conversation. She was talking to herself.
I saw a little girl with a pistol in Yuna's form. I raised both hands, trying to calm her. She was panicking. Approach carefully.
"Don't think extreme. Now, breathe in slowly."
"...Hoo."
She's listening. Good.
"Inhale, inhale..."
"Hooo..."
"Inhale..."
"Hoo...?!"
Her hollow eyes flashed bewilderment: 'How long do I inhale?!' Human light returned. Now!
"Tackle!"
"Eek?!"
I heroically tackled the soft explosive, pinning it, and yelled to the prince.
"Your Highness! I subdued the rebel trying to assassinate you!!"
"Eh, ehhh...?!"
"I'll offer the Tower Master, so spare my life...!!"
"Hweh?!!"
Gag suppression success.
What was that hweh? I stretched the Tower Master's cheeks wildly. The Second Prince relaxed his shoulders, sensing it over, then apologized profusely.
The prince, sensing danger in "puppet at ascension," permitted continuing Violet Tower Master's investigation.
Better to stop a nuke being made in the capital than dodge smuggling charges.
Thus, our Crown Hall stay extended.
===============================================================
Redburn Duke's mansion, a massive five-story estate decked in red.
Family head Maximuse played chess with a masked figure.
The duke favored aggressive tactics. The masked one sacrificed pieces as traps. The match was even.
Clack. Clack.
The duke spoke.
"Is this really necessary, 『Lamb』?"
"What do you mean, 『Snare』?"
"I lost Viscount Dompel over this. Pawn-level piece, but a loss is a loss. Above all, my hypnosis intel net in Crown Hall is at risk."
"I made that for you. It didn't exist before, so no need to mourn its loss."
Clack. Duke's pawn fell.
"I'm asking if there's reason to go this far... to kill him. Investigated: genius. Talented educator too. But still a fledgling, not ascended."
"Aha."
"And... Violet Magic Tower. Illusion magic has limits. Physical power lack birthed her, but she's just one."
"『Snare』, he'll reach ascension someday."
Clack. Masked bishop fell. Duke's brow furrowed.
"Ascension isn't a word to toss lightly."
A realm only a handful on this vast continent could reach. Not for casual talk like pawns or knights.
Yet the masked one was confident.
"I'm certain. He's a genius who'll ascend without life's pain or despair. Kill him now."
"So... you dragged in Violet Tower Master too."
"She dotes on him. Rarely apart. To target him, physically separate them."
Thus, leaked clues intentionally. Assumed capture, planted Violet Tower Master's trauma in the brain.
All to eliminate the tower's genius mage.
The black mages' conspiracy spread from the shadows.