Chapter 61

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Translator: Ace

Chapter: 61

Chapter Title: No More Tedious Reports

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One more reason why being a court mage was better than being a Senior Magic Investigator in the Magic Management Division dawned on Ian.

It was that he didn't have to write those incredibly annoying reports.

Racking his brains needlessly, formatting them properly, fussing over the font... Ugh, what a headache.

And why were the procedures so ridiculously complicated?

Well, all civil servant jobs were like that, but this one had procedures so convoluted it felt excessive even by those standards.

But as a court mage?

No need for any of that.

Just report directly to the higher-ups, and done.

"So, you're saying Court Mage Sienna was actually a demon?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

You really had to see it to believe it.

To think he'd risen to a position where he could speak directly to the emperor.

"I can hardly believe it."

The ministers nodded at the emperor's words. They all felt the same. Of all people, the court mage who had guarded the imperial palace closest to the emperor—a demon! And a lustful succubus at that!

"Th-then, those rumors about Lady Sienna seducing men... they were true?"

"Hey now, watch it. Lady Sienna? How dare you honor that vile demon with polite speech!"

"Ah, sorry. Old habits die hard."

The ministers murmured among themselves. Just as the emperor said, none of them could easily accept it.

How shocking must it have been for them to whisper like this right behind the emperor.

'They're plenty shocked.'

Ian understood. Even he had been stunned, so how much more for them?

'Who wouldn't be shocked by that.'

Every gaze, including the emperor's, was fixed on one spot: a headless corpse hanging in the center of the capital's grand plaza.

It was the former Court Mage Sienna. But no—it was a demon.

A demon's corpse.

"Hey, left arm! Nice one!"

A sudden voice. It was Astéon, grinning brightly, thumbs up, mouthing "good job."

'So... innocently cheerful. Nice to look at.'

To think that one would become the future emperor—it was hard to fathom.

"Lord Ian. How did you know Sienna was a demon?"

"Truth ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠be told, I didn't. But there were suspicious points."

"Suspicious points?"

"Yes. All the corrupted ones were special members of the magic research seminars hosted by Sienna."

"Hooh."

"That's when I grew suspicious and investigated. And... I got lucky and caught her by chance."

"I see. But correct yourself."

"Pardon?"

"It wasn't luck—it was skill. That's why you caught a demon. Unlike some others."

At the emperor's final words, the people in white robes coughed awkwardly. Priests of the Church of Light.

"Your Majesty, we..."

"Still, thank ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you. Thanks to the Church, we can hold this ritual."

"......"

"Though it would've been better if you'd been a bit quicker. Then the empire's prestige wouldn't have suffered like this."

The emperor's tone was even. But anyone could tell there were thorns in his words.

And rightly so. The ones meant to prevent demonic incursions had failed at their duty.

It was only natural for the emperor to be angry. No, the fact that he was rebuking them so mildly showed great restraint. If not for the Holy Kingdom, he might have beheaded the priests on the spot.

'You should've done your jobs. How do holy men miss a single demon?'

Sienna had become court mage at twenty-six, meaning she'd been in the palace over six years. In other words, a demon had lurked in the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠empire's heart for six years.

It had nearly fallen entirely into the demon's grasp.

'Lucky it was in human form. If it had been her true body, we couldn't have taken her down so easily.'

Succubi weren't inherently combat-strong, but they were still demons. All demons outmatched humans in battle. Even Ian would have had to fight fiercely.

Of course, with Lara, it wouldn't have come to that.

"Your Majesty, we have no excuses."

"It's fine. Rise. Does a noble soul who follows only the light need to bow to a mere human emperor like this?"

"......"

'Whoa. Listen to him go.'

Talk about laying into them.

They must be seriously pissed.

Even Great Archbishop Bellus was bowing his head like that.

Bellus looked genuinely remorseful.

For an archbishop to fail to detect a demon—understandable.

If he could, Ian wanted to comfort him like this:

'What can you do? It was a demon with a cursed artifact.'

The Veil of the Abyss. A treasure of Demon Lord Beelzebub that hid one's true nature. For a mere mid-to-low succubus to possess it.

But Ian couldn't tell the self-reproaching Bellus.

That would mean handing over the hard-won Veil of the Abyss to the Church of Light.

'Am I crazy? Giving away my item?'

It was just a shattered fragment, useless now, but still—no helping others.

Why should I?

Nope. This'll be alchemy material.

'Archbishop Bellus is a true man of faith, but the rest...'

Ian glanced at the priests behind Bellus. Heads bowed, but their expressions were visible.

Grinding teeth, glaring eyes—like they were saying, "Huh? Pissed off?"

'Embarrassed, huh? Well, getting chewed out in public like that—who wouldn't be mad? Especially you fine priests.'

Of course, the commoners couldn't hear these exalted ones' conversation.

"Lord Ian."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Thank you. Thanks to you, the empire's honor is intact."

Suddenly, the emperor approached and patted Ian's shoulder. Ian was flustered.

'Suddenly turning the arrows on me here?'

"You are the empire's hero. Awarding you the Starlight Medal might be the best decision I've made."

"You overpraise me."

Ian felt the ministers' gazes. Pure envy and jealousy.

He didn't mind them, but it was disconcerting.

For the emperor to praise him so openly in front of all the high officials.

'Your Majesty, isn't this too much favoritism in public?'

The intent was obvious, but what could he do?

And it wasn't unexpected.

"Now, rise, all of you. You have roles to play. Archbishop Bellus, proceed with the ritual."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

That was the end of the emperor's barbs. Emotions were one thing; a ruler shouldn't indulge them in official settings.

As if nothing had happened, the emperor exaggeratedly patted Bellus's shoulder in praise. The watching crowds erupted in cheers from afar.

Soon, the emperor took the podium, declared victory over the demon as the empire's triumph, then stepped down. Bellus then approached the altar.

The exorcism ritual began.

The exorcism was grand. The empire needed to show the masses they'd slain a demon.

Ian had expected that much, but not the aftermath.

"Oh my, who do we have here? If it isn't the hero mage!"

"Pardon? He-what?"

"The hero mage! Oh, what an honor to have you in our humble shop!"

Ian had just stopped by the market as usual.

To buy catalysts from the Alchemist Guild and grab some bread while at it.

But people were recognizing him left and right.

"No, please don't."

"Nonsense! How could we take money from a hero?"

"No, take the money."

"Absolutely not! Just take it—as a gift."

Apparently, rumors had spread that he was the demon-slaying hero.

'Hero my ass. Lara caught it.'

Ian felt awkward.

But what could he do?

Go around saying, "Actually, I didn't catch the demon—Lara did. Lara's the Fairy Queen I made, with a holy spirit soul that wields divine power..."? No way.

-Enjoy it.

Astéon's words came to mind.

Well, free stuff felt good.

"Master! You're back!"

"Yeah. No issues?"

"None. H-huff."

Back home, Kez was panting unusually hard.

"What were you doing to pant like that?"

"Pardon? Oh, nothing. Really."

Nothing? With eyes darting like that.

"Really?"

"......Sorry."

He'd been up to something.

"What are you plotting now?"

"How could I lie to you, Master? Yes, you're right."

Of course.

"But please don't ask."

"Why?"

"I want to surprise you."

"Oh? A surprise gift?"

"Exactly. I'm working hard to see you happy, so please wait!"

Ian crossed his arms.

Kez had been awfully busy lately.

Out of the mansion often.

Now that the cleaning golem handled chores and errands, it was fine, but still...

A bit lonely.

A surprise gift?

'A surprise. What's he up to?'

Intriguing.

How amazing must it be?

"I'll trust you."

"Yes!"

Best play dumb for now.

He asked to wait.

"More importantly, congratulations! I knew you'd pull it off!"

"Huh? On what?"

"Haha. As expected of Master. I, Kez, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠am in awe!"

Ian headed to his lab, leaving Kez babbling about demon-slaying hero nonsense.

The noble purge wasn't long ago, and now the capital buzzed with demon rumors.

But that wouldn't stop Ian's research.

'Time for research.'

The past few days' work was bearing fruit.

Ian closed his eyes. Dizzy. New knowledge flooded his mind.

'So collective soul network consciousness linking is on a whole other level from mere communication magic.'

A higher-dimensional concept: synchronizing disparate souls for direct soul-to-soul communication.

Even Ian, confident in magic anywhere, found this novel tech mind-bending.

'No mana cost, multi-to-multi links. Perfect.'

Best of all: undetectable.

No risk of anyone noticing communication. Utterly secure.

'Now even long-range comms inside the palace.'

Not for everyone—needed sync—but so what!

No more sneaking around for "Salary Lupin" antics!

'Let's test the skill.'

Use it right away.

'Who first?'

Creations: Ddol Ddoli, Lara, Arcbon, Kez.

'Been a while since I chatted with Arcbon.'

Arcbon felt like the eldest son.

Reliable, no worries.

Immortal, even better. Though he might feel neglected.

'Yeah. Chat with Arcbon.'

As he prepared the skill, Ian paused.

A great idea struck.

"Does it have to be living beings?"

Really?

'Target is souls, not life. So souls work too?'

The sudden thought.

No holding back—test it.

Mages and alchemists explored curiosities by instinct.

Eh?

It actually worked?

'Just testing...'

-Ahh, can you hear me?

-......

No response.

Failed?

'But it said link successful...'

-Wh-who... are you?

"Oh!"

-I-I don't know who you are, but... pl-please get me out of here. Sob!

Ian clenched his fist.

'Whoa. Jackpot!'

It felt like a massive discovery.