Chapter 113
Chapter 113
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 113
Chapter Title: Microwave Oven (2)
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In truth, no one knew exactly why the Empire—which boasted technology far superior to the current kingdom or Holy Nation—had fallen.
The most plausible theories boiled down to two.
One was that the continent had been laid waste by the aftermath of the Empire's own "dragon hunts."
Dragons, the very cradle of magic, turned against the Empire to survive and even allied with the Demon King's army. No amount of magnificent magitech could withstand that.
The second theory also involved the Demon King: after a long, grueling war rivaling the Great War, the nation had simply begun to decline.
The Empire's downfall was likely a combination of both factors, but I wanted to propose one more hypothesis here.
—The cod stew from the eastern Vassen region is simply divine!
—Try this mint tea as well. The marquis brought quite the haul to this party, haha!
—Hey, gentlemen over there! How about a beer? It's fermented from coca leaves—wakes you right up!
What if the hero summoned to stop the Demon King just clutched his neck at their bizarre eating habits and ended up holding his sword backward?
Or maybe they collapsed because they deserved to.
Future mages wept bloody tears over the total erasure of the Empire's great magical legacy, but honestly, it might have been better that way.
The heritage of a nation that served food like that at parties? I'd rather it stayed out of sight.
—Now, everyone, a toast to Marquis Elvin's birth! Let's drink!
—Cheers!!
—Cheers!!
I kept watching Erzebet amid the nobles chanting their horrific toast.
Fortunately, the general tastes of this world didn't stray too far from my expectations—she looked positively pained.
Not even the mages from the Magic Tower or the royal envoys digging for secrets in Uzet had managed it.
I was already starting to worry if she could pull it off.
"Lu, Louis... water, please..."
"Right away."
She staggered toward me after choking down what they called a rare southern fruit... on pizza, of all things.
I beckoned a passing waiter, who said they had no plain water due to high lime content in the groundwater—only sparkling.
"Here, water."
"Tha... urp! Cough, cough!"
Erzebet glared at me, eyes watering from the sting in her throat.
"That's all they had."
"Haa... Now I get why everyone who visited Scandale came back looking half-dead. More importantly, Louis."
"Yes?"
"How do you speak the imperial tongue so fluently?"
"It's a secret."
She hadn't even realized I was speaking it—it must have just sounded natural to her.
She gave me a slightly displeased look at how freely I kept secrets these days, but straightened up with a smile as a noble approached.
"Ah, Lady Erzebet. Sorry about earlier—I had no idea where your Penheim estate was."
"No worries, Viscount Berkel. Are there only one or two remote corners in this vast Empire?"
"Thank you for understanding. The marquis won't be joining us today, so let's enjoy a bit more. Here, a sandwich with grilled eggplant. The chef swears by it."
"Ugh... Th-thank you..."
Between slices of millet-laced wheat bread peeked a shy, mushy purple mass.
As she picked it up, juice squirted out, soaking the bread.
"Haha, good, isn't it? Simply superb!"
"Ugh... Y-yes... It's... deli...cious."
Erzebet moved her jaw as if time itself had frozen. Beside her, Viscount Berkel spotted me.
"Ah, the escort. Care for one?"
"Y-yes, Louis! Won't you have one too!? It's delicious!"
"......"
The princess perked up.
But I tilted my head as if I couldn't understand a word.
With my black hair and exotic looks, and Asetaria full of foreign mercenaries anyway, the viscount waved it off without suspicion.
"Ah, doesn't understand the language, eh."
"N-no way, Louis! Eat it quick! I'll even give you mine!!"
"......?"
"Never mind, milady. These frontier folk can't appreciate it—let's enjoy ourselves. This way!"
"Nooo! Louissss—!"
Seeing her suffer through the festival of agony amid the imperial nobles brought a smile to my face.
That night, Erzebet rushed to her hotel room and emptied her stomach repeatedly.
"You okay?"
—Don't talk to me—just leave! My stomach... urp!
"Want me to grab some medicine? Or holy water from a nearby temple..."
—P-please...!
Leaving her to have an earnest chat with the toilet from beyond the door, I stepped out into the cool night air.
Though not the imperial capital, Uzet was quite the metropolis, lit aglow by dazzling mana stone lamps that banished the night.
Women baring themselves beyond red lanterns, merchants hawking miscellaneous fish and meats in the markets.
Crowds around temples for prayer and arenas for gladiator bouts.
Observe closely, and you'd spot academy students and their escorts joyfully prowling the streets.
No shortage of entertainment here, but medicine first.
I bought a digestive remedy and holy water from a nearby apothecary.
Grabbed some cigarettes too, strolling back leisurely.
Passing salons buzzing with noble parties, carriages roaming the streets, and scholars deep in magical research, I spotted a familiar silhouette.
Heading toward the massive Uzet Grand Library, visible from anywhere in the city by just looking up—Liv.
"Hm hm~."
Her steps were so light she seemed to float, pulling a sandwich from a paper bag in one hand and slipping naturally into the library.
I'd heard security levels limited readable books severely.
She loved studying, so maybe just that much satisfied her.
"Here you go."
"Welcome, Baroness Liv."
But seeing her casually hand some paper to the guard suggested more than mere entry.
I followed discreetly, then wrapped an arm around her waist first thing.
"Baroness Liv?"
"Kyaa!? M-Master!?"
Her small scream echoed through the quiet library lobby.
Guards rushed over, but she waved them off, saying it was fine.
"You scared me..."
"What are you doing here?"
"Reading books, obviously."
"This late? What was that you showed the guard?"
"Th-that's..."
She trailed off, but I'd already mastered extracting the truth from Liv last night.
A gentle rub on her lower belly, and her face melted like a kitten caught by the scruff.
Too scared to moan in the library, she grabbed my hand and whispered in my ear.
"F-first, over there...! I'll tell you everything..."
In the library's small cafe corner.
We ordered coffee, cast a soundproof spell, and talked.
"Spill. Where's your escort, coming here this late?"
"I told him to amuse himself. No big dangers in Uzet."
"And that paper?"
"Here..."
She hesitated, then showed me.
The hero's privilege let me read any language effortlessly.
"This is...!"
"A permit. For confidential library materials."
"They said you can't enter at all. Where'd you get it?"
"Didn't get it—made it."
"How?"
Black market forgery with bribes?
If that worked, other mages would've tried long ago.
But her answer was something I never expected.
"I made it."
"You? Personally, Baroness?"
"Copied an original, but it's identical. Gets me in."
"How on earth..."
"Because this isn't reality."
A firm declaration.
Liv smiled softly, confidently.
"In a fictional world that doesn't exist, my unique magic is the greatest power."
"You entered Scandale aiming for this from the start."
"Not really? I took the exam because you said you'd be here escorting the princess."
"......"
A genius. Truly a genius.
With mind magic manipulating illusions freely, plus her inherited Phantasm Duke unique magic, Uzet's library was her playground.
"Can't go deepest in, though."
"Why not?"
"Grade 1 docs need the Emperor's seal, not a permit. I could fake it, but presenting it alerts the palace instantly—no approval on record, knights swarm in hours."
"They don't check everything else?"
"Thousands enter daily. Came at night when it's quiet. Awkward running into someone inside."
As I sipped coffee, marveling at her cleverness, Liv made a proposal.
"Master, if you have time, could you help me?"
"With what?"
"As you know, magic tomes are way harder to decipher than regular books. Even knowing runes, I can't grasp meanings as fast as you."
"So... go in together?"
"Yes. This time of night okay?"
No reason to refuse when our baroness asked.
Just one small request.
"Can you free up one evening?"
"Huh?"
"Something I want to give you."
"Ah...!"
She wouldn't say it, but working the canteen with Adella, Liv had noticed.
The ring only on her finger.
"Minus today, only six days left—tight on time..."
Her black hair gleamed faint purple under the lights as she bowed her head.
Fiddling with her bangs, she murmured.
"Yes... anytime you want..."
Caroline slipped into the confessional during the late-night mass, lighting a cigarette.
Soon, a priest opened the door opposite to hear confession—but was promptly chased off.
"Excuse me, parishioner. This is a no-smoking..."
"Scram."
"This is problematic. I could call the guards."
"Do it."
If jailed by guards, she'd call it divine will—spitting in the priest's face with a smile.
As the reluctant footsteps faded, Caroline exhaled thick smoke, staring at the Hela emblem carved on the sealed door.
"I get what you want. But why me?"
In the silent, dark booth, she questioned the goddess who'd given her revelation.
"I need reasons. Why choose me as your apostle? And why must I form a deep bond with that canteen owner?"
Arms crossed defiantly, legs folded, she demanded.
"Until you explain, I won't do a damn thing you want."
One drag, two drags—until the cigarette burned out.
She waited quietly.
But no revelation came.
No potted air-purifying plant fell, no door locked.
Instead, commotion outside—guards arriving?
Even as an inquisitor, had the god she'd followed her whole life been this petty—
Her heart sank bitterly then.
—I'll handle the guest. Everyone else, continue the service.
—S-Saintess, it's dangerous...!
The door opened.
"Hello?"
The Empire's saintess entered.