Chapter 425
Chapter 425
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 425
>Chapter Title: Like the Moonlight Itself
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……The reception room.
Aster and the other five archmages sat on the circularly arranged sofas, facing one another.
No, not five.
‘Baron Maroon left.’
Just four, then.
Of them, Kizystone and Kahazar—who were fitted with mana restraints—wore openly displeased expressions. Aster glanced at the pair before turning his gaze to the Hermits.
It was one of these Hermits who had first come to report Baron Maroon’s condition.
“First, I’d like to confirm one thing before we move on.”
“Please, speak.”
“What happens in a case like this? I mean…….”
“We took preliminary candidates from the challengers in preparation for such contingencies. The Hermits outside should have received word by now.”
“I see.”
What did this mean?
It meant the Sanctuary challenge would proceed without issue.
‘Good, then…….’
Having confirmed that much, Aster turned his eyes to the two criminals(?): Kizystone and Kahazar.
It wasn’t long before one of them spoke.
“For now, let’s hear what you have to say. First up…… Kizystone?”
“……Speak.”
Kizystone didn’t hide his irritation, as if even responding was a chore. But Aster pressed on regardless.
Why?
Because no great detective ever spared a criminal’s feelings.
For the record, Great Detective Aster operated on the principle of presumed guilt.
Anyway.
“Why did you kill him?”
“……Didn’t I say it already? It wasn’t me.”
“But you tried to, didn’t you?”
“Hah—yes, I did. But I didn’t succeed. He spat up blood and dropped dead on his own—what am I supposed to do about that? And if we’re nitpicking intent, there’s someone even more suspicious than me, isn’t there?”
“Kahazar did it?”
“Who knows? But that’s not the point right now. How many times do I have to say it? Salvatium is up to something.”
“Alright, I heard your claim loud and clear. But I have a few questions.”
If Baron Maroon had been a fake and a Decullan plant, it would’ve been reasonable for anyone—Decullan or not—to stay on guard.
But there were too many oddities to take it at face value.
First off.
Before moving to the reception room, the Hermits who had escorted Kizystone had belatedly entered the Sanctuary.
And their testimony……
“Baron Maroon didn’t use any forbidden magic, they say?”
“That’s…….”
“And even after death, traces of mana linger. What remained in Baron Maroon’s core was unmistakably mana. How do you explain that?”
“…….”
Kizystone fell silent.
He had no answer for that.
But the suspicions didn’t end there.
“And the compass. It looked like it needed activation earlier. Did your gut just tell you he was a forbidden mage the moment you saw him? How did you know Baron Maroon was one?”
“That was…… a coincidence.”
“A coincidence?”
“……Yes. The imperial order was to search any place where forbidden mages might be hiding. The Sanctuary mountains were one of them.”
“So, on the way to the Sanctuary, you casually searched for forbidden mages, the compass reacted, and the target turned out to be Baron Maroon?”
“That’s right. I confirmed it multiple times.”
“Well…… alright.”
Aster nodded there.
Frankly, his instincts told him Kizystone was telling the truth.
Why?
‘If not, he wouldn’t keep repeating such a flimsy story.’
Still, as mentioned, Great Detective Aster followed the principle of presumed guilt. Kizystone’s sincerity came through, but sincerity alone couldn’t clear any charges.
That aside……
‘I might need to factor in Salvatium’s involvement too?’
Villains always ignored such minor advice and met their end. Better safe than sorry.
Now, the next issue……
“Kahazar?”
“Tch, speak.”
“Why did you kill him?”
“Hah…….”
Kahazar let out a deep sigh at Aster’s question. Then, having observed the prior exchange between Aster and Kizystone, he calmly recited his prepared statement.
“I didn’t kill him. And I sensed no black mana at all. If you’re going to press me on that, shouldn’t you start with those Hermits? They were the first to check on Baron Maroon’s condition. And…….”
“I see. Got it.”
“……?”
“That’s enough. No need to say more.”
“What…….”
Kahazar stared at Aster in disbelief, but Aster just tilted his head at him.
“Why are your eyes so wide?”
“You’re not asking more?”
“Nothing left to ask.”
He meant it.
Kizystone had required digging into the details and circumstances, but Kahazar was just one of two suspects.
‘Even if he was covering for a forbidden mage…….’
No proof.
‘If he’s innocent…….’
Even less to go on.
……Anyway.
‘Mid-check.’
1. The Decullan mole is still unknown.
2. Salvatium might be involved?
3. Maybe both are innocent?
‘But if Salvatium’s involved, why? What’s their goal? Am I missing something?’
What was the Decullan mole up to? Staying put?
‘……I need more clues.’
Same situation.
Two problems.
‘Decullan and Salvatium.’
……It was right then, as his deliberations deepened, that the reception room door opened and a new figure appeared.
“Is this the place? ……Yeah, looks like it.”
A bald head, not powdered. White hair.
Imperial mage Parapus.
The seventh observer had arrived……
“……What’s all this about?”
Parapus voiced his confusion at the plainly tense atmosphere.
Baron Maroon lay there as if dead, while Kizystone and Kahazar sat opposed by the other three. Their presences were faintly subdued—either concealing their auras or bound by mana restraints……
Aster’s mouth opened right then.
“Parapus?”
“That’s me. And you are……?”
Aster stared him down. His cunning mind whirred with malice. A golden chance to eliminate one suspect.
Saaaaah—
A brutal wave of killing intent spread outward. Aster rose and fixed his gaze on Parapus.
The Hermits, of course, didn’t stay idle.
“Tower Lord, no force is permitted in the Sanctuary…….”
“I haven’t used any force yet.”
“…….”
Aster silenced the Hermits with a glance and eyed Parapus. Parapus returned the glare with clear displeasure.
“Tower Lord? You’re that rumored fellow? But what’s the meaning of this?”
“The meaning of this…….”
Aster curled his lips in amusement and glanced at one side of the reception room. At the end of that gaze lay Baron Maroon’s cold corpse.
After a quick look at the baron, Aster turned back to Parapus and continued.
“Baron Maroon already confessed everything.”
“What…….”
“Yeah, what was the scheme?”
Aster clasped his hands behind his back as he spoke. Then he hopped forward to close in on Parapus.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. And why is Baron Maroon in that state…….”
“How dare you!”
Aster barked, stepping closer to Parapus with a ferocious grin.
“Guess why Baron Maroon kicked the bucket?”
“…….”
“Cut the act. We heard it all. So, what were you planning? Better spill it—will be better for your health.”
What was this?
‘Advanced psychological warfare.’
A ploy to prove Parapus’s innocence.
What? But what if Baron Maroon was innocent?
Didn’t matter.
If he was hiding something—related to Baron Maroon or not—some guilt would show.
If nothing showed?
‘That works too.’
Win-win for Aster either way.
……But why?
‘Parapus seems innocent……?’
“……Ha, hahaha.”
Parapus let out a hollow laugh.
Aster furrowed his brow. His puzzled eyes took in Parapus. Just as Aster thought, ‘Why…… is he laughing?’, Parapus spoke.
“You fool…… tch.”
“……?”
Aster tilted his head.
Who’s the fool?
He followed the gaze—and Parapus was looking straight at Baron Maroon.
Meaning…… he’d called Baron Maroon the fool?
Confusing.
Very confusing…… but Parapus’s voice rang perfectly clear.
“Whatever that fool told you, let me say it’s all a misunderstanding. This old man hasn’t made any choices yet.”
“Choices?”
“You know, don’t you? Thanks to you, the outside’s abuzz with it.”
“What…… oh.”
Something clicked.
- I’ve always had bad blood with Decullan, but it seems they’re gunning for me here in the Sanctuary.
Yeah, that’s what had been going around.
But hold on.
That meant……?
“Let me clear it up once and for all. I never accepted Decullan’s offer, nor do I have any connection to that fool Baron Maroon. So…….”
“So?”
“I’d appreciate it if you didn’t treat me like this?”
Parapus finished there, patted Aster’s shoulder, and headed to an empty seat.
Aster watched him with trembling eyes.
‘……What?’
No idea.
Even Aster needed time to sort this out.
* * *
……Truth be told, it wasn’t even amusing happenstance.
Parapus’s confession.
Key factors…… the social preconceptions around ‘archmages’ and Parapus’s opportunistic nature.
Parapus’s sins were twofold.
……Overlooking that even archmages could stoop to base tricks unworthy of their name. And failing to trust his ‘partner’ Baron Maroon.
Caught in that bind and pressed by Aster, Parapus quickly scanned the room.
And decided.
‘……Time to wash my hands of this.’
He’d hoped to score big under Decullan’s shadow in his twilight years, but the situation was rotten.
Too many eyes.
“So the plan was…… after the Sanctuary challenge, you and Baron Maroon would lure me out and take me down?”
“How many times must I say it—this old man only got the request from Decullan, never agreed. Telling you this is a huge burden for me. But what can be done? Wrong must be righted.”
“What…….”
Aster’s eyes twitched as he stared at the shameless Parapus. How could a man be so brazen…….
‘Doesn’t the moon in his head feel ashamed?’
Alright, let’s sum it up.
‘The Decullan moles are…… two?’
1. Baron Maroon
2. Parapus
That seemed right.
An imperial mage like Parapus siding with Decullan was surprising, but after seeing that sly personality, it made sense.
‘Yeah, not all imperial mages are loyal.’
But wait.
Aster’s gaze flicked aside mid-thought. One unresolved issue remained.
‘……Baron Maroon? He’s the Decullan mole, right?’
Then……
- That man’s not Baron Maroon.
What about Kizystone, who’d pegged him as a forbidden mage?
……Right now, between Kizystone and Parapus.
One of them was lying.
‘Or both are telling the truth.’
Or both lying.
……Aster’s eyes gleamed once more with the light of uncovered sin. Like the moonlight itself.