The Soul That Doesn't Belong
Nora was smiling faintly.
Even through the bars of the detention cell, her smile remained clear and bright.
She had delivered news about the children.
And about her father.
Nora glanced at the ring on my finger. You've obtained a treasure that cannot be touched. Yes, it was given to me by my father.
She raised her eyes and stared into the distant void. The light radiating from the ring cast deep shadows across her face. Did the warden say anything special? There will be no official statement from the Royal Magic Tower or the Marter family.
I thought so. Someone whose family's honor is the most important thing to them.
A faint shadow fell across Nora's face.
Instead, he gave me this ring and claimed it grants the power to ignore the Marter family's barrier.
She said it honestly.
I could tell the moment she saw my artifact ring; she knew I already knew.
Behind the bars, Nora fell silent.
Upon closer inspection, I saw her Adam's apple jerking violently.
After a long silence, she spoke. Why are you being so honest all of a sudden? It's reckless. That secret is known only to a few in our family—and even fewer in the Marter family. ...
This ring can enter the Marter family's hidden space and reach the Empire's primary security facilities.
So simply handing over an artifact could be seen as a violation of imperial security law. It's no ordinary gift.
Nora gave me a bitter smile at my words.
Her father had likely entrusted me with a solemn wish: protect Nora in his place.
Nora seemed to grasp the unspoken implication.
I leaned forward deeply toward her and asked, I have a question. Yes, please speak.
Nora answered slowly.
At the time, the soul in Noris's study room felt unfamiliar. Yes, its texture was different from the souls of people from the Gilorian Empire. Then those souls must all belong to heretics.
Nora fell silent for a moment, then spoke slowly. I don't know about that. But there is no special texture felt by souls of people from the Gilorian Empire. What texture is it? It's hard to describe... but perhaps a unique dry, gray texture.
I, who cannot perceive souls, could not understand Nora's explanation.
What mattered was her ability to identify heretics solely from souls—the most decisive one.
I pulled out my deepest fear and asked, Um... does the Marter family magic clan all possess this soul-identifying ability?
My heart began to race rapidly.
If every magician of the Marter family could identify the souls of living people...
If, after trapping souls with artifacts, I could identify heretics...
If that were true...
Regrettably...
I would gladly exterminate the Marter family.
No matter the means or methods, survival came first. No.
Nora answered calmly. Others cannot feel it. I only obtained this ability by chance.
She had gone on an expedition to the ancient dragon's lair with her father when she turned twelve for the Empire's secret project at the Royal Magic Tower.
After encountering an unknown being in the remains of an ancient dragon soul, she gained the ability. He called himself a 'being that is nothing.'
Nora's expression grew distant as she recalled the memory. What was that? I don't know. But he said he was a soul forever trapped between this world and another world, a being that is nothing.
At twelve years old, such philosophical expressions were hard to understand.
I just had the feeling of touching something I shouldn't have and the oppressive sense of hearing something I shouldn't have. For a while, I had nightmares about it.
After that, I could touch and see souls. The warden was afraid I'd be mistaken for a dark magician.
She gave a wry smile. But it was too late. In the end, I truly became a dark magician.
I looked at Nora.
A child born into a magic noble family, a dark magician branded as heretic, exiled from both the Gilorian Empire and other worlds.
I felt a similar situation somewhere.
Unfortunately, I now had no choice but to keep Nora in check.
I might have to eliminate her if necessary. However, I respect the warden's wishes. Magicians must not carelessly disclose unproven matters. My soul's ability has not been proven at all. And it doesn't even help with daily living. Just look at me now...
Nora seemed to choke on something and couldn't continue.
I lowered my gaze and said to her, All the children have been transferred to the Clovan City boarding school. I heard it from Frida. The inspector himself even registered as the guardian...
My current temporary guardian for the children was me, Zeo Blood. It's not difficult. You don't need to worry about tuition. A generous donor has agreed to sponsor it.
I didn't mention Demison's name.
But apparently it was from the principal, Frida. He was registered as a Demison Foundation scholarship student for the principal. Principal Frida said it would have been impossible without the inspector's connection.
Principal Frida, the one who talked a lot about trivial things. Thank you. I'll definitely repay this favor somehow.
Nora tried to bow her head again. Thank you later, after finding my husband's soul. That way, I can keep the promises I made. ...
Nora fell into a long silence.
On the day the event happened, when the Elfs Bone artifact broke, some elven women's souls were partially restored.
But only some.
There were still women who lost their souls and remained like hollow vessels, waiting for orders. But I... as you can see...
I was in a trapped state.
I changed my expression and said to Nora, There is a thing called sentencing negotiation.
* * *
Pre-sentencing negotiation system.
A negotiation system in which prosecutors, for investigative convenience, lower or adjust sentences in exchange for criminals or suspects admitting guilt or providing testimony.
A strange system in Korea, but widely used in the United States under the name plea bargain.
Statistics show that 90% of U.S. criminal cases are resolved through this system, with only the remaining 10% or less going to trial.
A system far from pursuing truth, only for judicial efficiency.
And here in the Gilorian Empire, truth-seeking is the top principle.
As a result, the pre-sentencing negotiation system is close to a defunct law.
Therefore, even prosecutors' staff and ordinary citizens may not know about it.
This is why a prosecutor suggesting it directly is admitting his own investigative ability is lacking.
From what I know, in the Gilorian Empire, this system has been used in only five cases or fewer in total.
I proposed it to her.
In exchange for admitting her crime and cooperating in the investigation, she could avoid detention.
I didn't care about reputation. Do you mean trading the truth?
Nora pointed out sharply.
But I answered calmly. There are thousands of victims outside right now. Most of them have lost all their property for life. I can't compensate with money, but there is no other way to compensate either. But that is a cowardly method. No. It's rather courageous. If I track the hidden funds Noris concealed and return them to the victims, wouldn't that be closer to justice?
Nora fell silent.
Her firmly closed lips represented her usual personality.
At that moment, the guard informed us that visiting time was over.
The next visitor would be waiting outside the door.
A familiar voice came from beyond the iron door. Hey, how the hell am I supposed to get there? Nora, that woman is already detained.
Clearly, the voice was oily—the auction host from Jacob Department Store. As long as you pay a sufficient bail, Noris-nim can be released. He said there's no need for such reckless acts, that's what I mean!
For some reason, the voice was very angry.
Nora, who was about to stand up under the guard's guidance, said to me, What do I do?
* * *
When I opened the door, a man in luxurious attire was sitting in a chair set up in the visiting room, loudly talking on the phone with someone.
The auction host.
Several women surrounded him as if trying to appease him. Noris-nim requested this. We must bring it back. Obedience is the only way and the answer.
Elven women who still hadn't found their souls.
Before visiting, I looked for the belongings I had left. Then, by chance, I overheard one word. If I go to the Hermitia Plain... I'm going to die...
Hermitia Plain.
The moment I heard the name, my ears perked up. You're sending me to die! To a place where monsters wander in the fields!
The man continued shouting his refusal, but from the women's appeasing tone, I sensed Noris's persistence.
There was clearly something.
Something that Noris was so obsessed with.
Something that had to be recovered no matter what, even by sending his subordinates.
Naturally, the next destination seemed to be the Hermitia Plain.
* * *
When traveling to Earth in the past, it was enough to carry a credit card, phone, and a little cash.
Overseas, add only a passport.
The rest could be done without, and if needed, I could obtain it locally.
But here, in the Gilorian Empire, it was different.
To leave the city and go on a long journey, detailed research into the destination was required in advance.
It wasn't just weather or transportation.
I had to check every geographical environment, ecological components, and any other risks from beginning to end.
Because information about regions other than a few major cities where people live in the Gilorian Empire was rarely distributed.
Only about 5% of the vast Gilorian continent was inhabited by people.
The rest of the land was so empty it could be said to be uninhabited. Think of it like Australia on Earth.
Near the borders outside the central region where cities were located, harsh weather made it impossible for people to live.
The northern Hertz Mountains were perpetually covered in blizzards.
The southern Hermitia Plain was famous for occasional but destructive typhoons.
So harsh that no one could survive there.
This time, I was going to the Hermitia Plain where typhoons raged.
People called this place the 'Land of Mourning.' Huh? You're going to the Land of Mourning?
I informed Marian and Piaget, the office staff, of my long-distance business trip plan.
I was debating whether to use vacation or treat it as official business, so I processed it as official business to receive some support from the Capital Defense Command. Senior, isn't that place famous as a monster-infested area?
Marian seemed to know. It is the dragon's tomb. It's guarding the ancient dragons that have fallen into eternal sleep.
Piaget, the office staff, said in a low voice, deliberately setting a mood. As expected, the master of conspiracy theories, Piaget. Dragon tomb? What dragon tomb?
Marian chuckled. Piaget, with a straight face, said, It's true. It's a place where primordial dragons go to end their lives. The endless storms are actually the final breath of dying dragons.
According to Piaget, the storms were so violent that time even flowed backward.
In fact, a hunter senior I knew went on a three-day journey and returned the day before departure. So, the imperial Empire research institute keeps this hunter exploration log secretly.
Piaget covered his mouth with his hand and emphasized it was absolute secret.
And he stood up from his chair. And after the storm passes, dense purple mist arises. If you encounter it, you must never get close. It is said to be a passage to another world.
Piaget made a gesture of waving the air with both hands to express the mist. What a real gossip collector. Where did you hear that?
Marian waved her hands. It's true. My cousin is in the border defense force. The defense force report came up, and it says that a border outpost base disappeared entirely... Enough!
Marian slammed the desk. Office staff, don't tell such stories. It scares me when I'm working overtime alone at night!
At that moment,
A gust of wind blew in from somewhere, and several sheets of paper fluttered down. Kyaa!
Marian screamed, and the door opened with a knock. Ah... um... this is not the office of inspector Zeo?
An employee from the Capital Defense Command administration office stood awkwardly holding the door open. It is, but... Ah, I thought it was the multi-level marketing office... Huh? No, no. Principal Frida sent me. For the Hermitia Plain business trip...
He handed me a sealed document and left.
I watched his retreating back and tore open the seal.
The moment I turned the first page, my eyes stopped at one place.
[Travel destination change request]
▷ Reason: Security level incident occurred in the region for the past 3 months.
▷ Detailed content will be delivered verbally.
Upgrading security level...
At that moment, the ring on my finger faintly glowed, as if urging something. Principal Piaget. Yes? ...Can I see that border defense report?