Chapter 98
Chapter 98
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 98
Chapter Title: Evidence (2)
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Alexander Apple had received word of the subjugation force in his own territory.
Only good news kept coming, so a smile never left Alexander Apple's lips.
“Leona, is it true that the subjugation keeps failing?”
“Yes. I received word from my sisters this morning.”
“Uhahaha, that’s delightful news.”
Leona possessed a communication magic tool that operated solely on black magic. Through it, she could steadily receive updates from the front lines.
According to the black mages, the subjugation force’s situation was utterly miserable.
They had charged in thinking it was just orcs, only to suffer heavy casualties from orc warriors.
The poison scattered in the castle had greatly sapped the knights’ stamina and morale.
Even those who recklessly rushed into the forest had been massacred by an ogre.
“Oliver, that fool—when do you think he’ll give up on the subjugation?”
“My sisters say it won’t be long. At most three days.”
“Excellent. Simply excellent.”
Leona’s prediction was spot on. Three days later, word arrived that a messenger had reached the capital.
*The criminal reports: The orcs’ resistance is too fierce, and an unidentified plague is spreading, causing heavy losses among the knights…*
The dispatch contained page after page defending himself, but it boiled down to one thing: the subjugation had failed.
“Uhahaha, kuhahaha!”
Upon hearing the news, Alexander Apple rejoiced loudly. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d laughed this long.
“That fool! He got ahead of himself with greed and failed in the end!”
“Your Excellency, congratulations. You’re finally about to achieve your goal.”
“It’s all thanks to you and your sisters! I’ll never forget this merit!”
Alexander Apple began preparations to depart for the capital.
He planned to rush there as soon as possible, criticize Oliver Apple’s failure, and boot him from the crown prince position.
“Will you come with me?”
“My sisters are returning… I should head to them first.”
“Then join them and come to the capital! I’ll be waiting!”
Leona left the territory a step ahead of Alexander Apple.
She headed to the location her sisters had mentioned via the communication magic tool.
The closer she got, the more anticipation swelled within Leona.
She had spent a long time with Noctis and Marina. They had shared joys and sorrows alike.
Having been apart from her sisters for so long, she planned to spend some time with them upon reuniting.
But when she arrived at the meeting spot, it wasn’t her sisters waiting for her.
“You’re right on time.”
Demian Haksen.
Leona’s mind reeled at the sudden appearance of the uninvited guest.
* * *
“You dug a trap.”
Leona said curtly. Demian Haksen remarked as if amazed.
“You’re smarter than I thought. And quite composed. I figured it’d take longer for you to figure it out.”
Leona drew in a deep breath. In truth, she was still shaken.
But she couldn’t show weakness with the enemy right in front of her. She feigned maximum composure.
“All the communications from my sisters up to now… were they all fake?”
“Sharp.”
At those words, Leona felt a wave of dizziness.
It meant she’d been dancing in the palm of the enemy’s hand from the start.
“How long have you known about our existence?”
“Quite a while.”
Demian said briefly. He didn’t seem inclined to elaborate, so Leona didn’t press further.
“Where are my sisters?”
“Want them back? Then answer my questions.”
Leona quietly bit her lip.
She had always been the one issuing threats. Being on the receiving end was a first.
“Ask anything. But you have to guarantee my sisters’ safety in return.”
“Disgusting.”
Demian said out of nowhere. Leona nodded.
“Seeing human scum like black mages play at caring for family makes me want to vomit.”
Despite Demian’s insults, Leona showed no reaction.
To live as a black mage, one had to grow numb to such mockery.
“What was your reason for approaching Alexander Apple?”
“To establish a base. So that my sisters and I could safely…”
“A base? Were you planning to set up a Pandemonium outpost in Apple Kingdom?”
At Demian’s words, Leona sighed inwardly.
She had assumed her sisters had been interrogated, but she hadn’t expected them to reveal that much.
“…Yes. We joined hands with Alexander Apple to create a Pandemonium outpost.”
“Lies.”
Demian stated flatly.
“Pandemonium was formed to topple the Empire. There have been cases of Pandemonium black mages showing themselves in other kingdoms, but never establishing outposts.”
Leona doubted her own ears at his words.
“How do you…”
“Besides, Pandemonium black mages always carve their mark in plain sight. But I don’t see one on you.”
A chill ran through Leona.
Pandemonium was an incredibly secretive organization. Paradoxically, that made it the most infamous yet least known group.
Yet the man before her knew far too much about Pandemonium with pinpoint accuracy.
“Shall I explain my reasoning? You’re not Pandemonium. Just a candidate.”
Even that was spot on. Leona’s chill deepened.
“To join Pandemonium, one must commit atrocities on that level. You orchestrated this whole thing to gain entry.”
“…How do you know so much about Pandemonium?”
“I ask the questions.”
Demian said firmly. Leona had no choice but to shut her mouth.
“When did you join hands with Alexander Apple?”
“…About five years ago.”
“How did you help Alexander Apple during that time?”
“Nothing major. We’d cause incidents, and he’d handle them.”
“Repeating that built up Alexander Apple’s power and influence.”
Demian Haksen nodded as if he’d expected as much.
“Why interfere with Prince Oliver’s subjugation?”
“Alexander Apple wanted the throne. He planned to use Oliver Apple’s failure to oust him from crown prince.”
Leona answered forthrightly. Her sisters had likely spilled everything anyway. No point racking her brains to hide it.
“I’ve answered plenty. Now release my sisters.”
“Thanks for your cooperation. Sorry, but I can’t grant that request.”
Leona let out a deep sigh. She hadn’t believed Demian anyway.
Even so, she’d answered to fish for information in her own way.
While responding, Leona had secretly spread black mana to check for others nearby.
She confirmed Demian was alone.
“With this much truth, we can definitely bring Alexander Apple down.”
“Who knows. Is that even possible?”
Leona released her black mana. Countless magic circles appeared beneath her feet.
“You don’t seem to value your sisters’ lives.”
“No guarantee you’d let them go even if I followed you. Better to kill you here and rescue them with my own power.”
The school Leona followed was the Destruction School.
Among black magic schools, it boasted the highest destructive power.
With a single gesture, she could reduce the man before her to a lump of charcoal.
“It’s a shame to kill you so easily… but the situation is urgent.”
Leona snapped her fingers. The magic circles on the ground began to glow.
That was when it happened.
A flash of light streaked from the sky, and a single blade came flying down, stabbing into the magic circles.
An explosion shattered the ground. The blast erased the magic circles.
“Kyaaak!”
Leona screamed involuntarily. Right after, someone landed where the sword had struck.
The moment she saw the man’s face, Leona cried out in shock.
“Liam Bluegreen!”
* * *
Though the orc horde had been wiped out, Demian hadn’t returned right away.
Using the black mages’ communication magic tool, he’d spread false reports to buy time.
All to corner Alexander Apple and the black mage at his side.
“You’ll need to go to Sir Liam Bluegreen yourself, Your Highness.”
“Trust me. I’ll convince Sir Liam.”
And when the moment came, he sent Oliver Apple to Liam Bluegreen.
“…Why is someone who should be leading the subjugation here?”
At first, Liam Bluegreen didn’t welcome the visit.
Even if it was the crown prince, he was Alexander Apple’s man. A private meeting like this could breed misunderstandings.
But as he listened to Oliver Apple’s account of the truth, his expression gradually changed.
“Don’t spout nonsense. Why would His Excellency Alexander do such things!”
Naturally, Liam Bluegreen didn’t believe Oliver Apple at first.
He hadn’t thought highly of Oliver Apple to begin with. He’d written him off as an irredeemable wastrel, abandoning all hope.
He, who cared only for Apple Kingdom’s future, had deemed minor procedural lapses acceptable.
That was why he’d turned to Alexander Apple instead.
He’d judged that Alexander could succeed the king and become a fine ruler, contributing to the kingdom’s greater prosperity.
So hearing that Alexander Apple had colluded with black mages to stir up incidents was impossible to believe.
“I figured you’d say that, so I brought proof.”
Oliver Apple had brought along the two captured black mages.
Liam Bluegreen paled at the black mana emanating from them.
“…These were with the orc horde?”
“If you doubt me, ask Sir Michael and the other knights.”
Conflict flickered across Liam Bluegreen’s face. He struggled to decide.
Oliver Apple relayed Demian’s final words.
“If you’re still undecided, come here. Then you’ll accept the truth.”
Oliver Apple told Liam Bluegreen the location where Demian Haksen waited.
When Liam Bluegreen arrived, Demian Haksen was in the midst of questioning Leona.
“When did you join hands with Alexander Apple?”
“…About five years ago.”
“How did you help Alexander Apple during that time?”
“Nothing major. We’d cause incidents, and he’d handle them.”
“Repeating that built up Alexander Apple’s power and influence.”
Liam Bluegreen felt dizzy listening to their exchange.
“It’s a shame to kill you so easily… but the situation is urgent.”
But dallying in conflict wasn’t an option. Liam Bluegreen hurriedly hurled his sword at the magic circles.
The mana-charged longsword pulverized the earth. The magic circles vanished, canceling the black magic.
Liam Bluegreen landed where his sword had struck. He pulled it free and turned to Demian.
“You sent His Highness to me to show me this?”
“Yes. Quite intriguing, wasn’t it?”
Liam Bluegreen wore a complicated expression at Demian’s words.
“First, let’s capture the black mage and talk.”
With that, Liam Bluegreen turned to the black mage. Her face twisted.
“Capture me? You think that’ll be easy?”
The black mage unleashed a torrent of black mana. In that instant, Liam Bluegreen’s form vanished, reappearing before her.
“…Guh!”
He seized her jaw. He dislocated it to prevent incantations. He crushed both hands to stop seals.
“Guhk! Guuuuh!”
The black mage writhed on the ground in agony. Liam Bluegreen struck her nape, knocking her out instantly.
“…What’s the next plan?”
Liam Bluegreen turned to Demian and asked. Demian nodded toward her as he replied.
“We head to the capital and hold Alexander Apple accountable.”