Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Snake Hunt (3)
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"We will now begin the hearing. Please take your seats."
The council chamber fell silent.
The ceiling bore stern portraits of past emperors, boasting four centuries of imperial history.
A silent reminder that one's ancestors watched from the heavens, demanding nothing but the truth.
Under that divine grace, hundreds of nobles who guided the empire had gathered.
But not all of them truly wished for the empire's survival.
From those who sought to dominate the world with their doctrines,
to those amassing talent to forge their ideal realm.
Each harboring grand ambitions, they gazed up at the silver-haired man on stage.
Yet he harbored no such deep desires.
Dreams of glory, wealth, or a beautiful spouse had long faded over the years.
Now, all he wanted was to live out this final playthrough free of worries.
"The Holy See will speak first."
At the council chair's declaration, Archbishop Calix Angard rose from his seat.
Applause poured in for the man renowned for his dignified image.
Moreover, Archbishop Sophia—who usually clashed with him—had joined forces for this day.
Their alliance drew every eye.
"Your Imperial Majesty, and esteemed guests. I thank you for granting Archbishop Calix of the Holy See this opportunity to speak."
His gentle voice paired with his handsome middle-aged features.
To anyone watching, I looked the child of Satan, while he seemed akin to the Holy Father.
"This incident is highly unusual—a tragedy where three bishops from our northern dioceses were murdered in succession."
"The faithful plunged into profound grief, and missionary work in the north has ground to a halt."
Archbishop Sophia chimed in with her support.
The words of the Holy Mother and Holy Father seized complete attention.
"I'm sure the council chair knows well how much charity work our church does for the people."
"We're simply worried about the orphans and elderly starving even now."
The Holy See did indeed run charity programs across its branches.
But I, who had regressed countless times, knew the truth.
They abducted talented street children under the guise of charity.
Brainwashing them—like Anje, Fred, and Nix—into private soldiers.
That was the filthy work these old men before me had done.
"We launched an investigation to catch the culprit and resume our activities."
"And in the process, Berryhill Prison Warden Derek Minster emerged as the prime suspect."
Our family had built its power through contract killings and loan sharking before buying our baronial title.
With me as the only Minster in the north, I made for an easy target.
"Everyone knows what the Minster family was up to before entering the capital."
"They were even implicated in the aphrodisiac wave. The Dexter and Decker brothers toyed with countless noble ladies."
True to form for those who preached to hundreds of thousands.
They tossed out sensational bait to captivate the masses.
"The Minsters have always been trouble. Our daughter nearly fell to their second son!"
"The youngest is no different. We should dismiss him and launch a full probe now!"
Voices rose from the gallery.
Likely parents whose daughters my brothers had harassed, and Holy See devotees.
"Silence, everyone. Let me summarize the archbishops' claims."
Fortunately, Camillia stepped in at the perfect moment.
She deftly cooled the heated atmosphere with her skill.
"Archbishop Calix, why did the deceased bishops investigate Derek Minster?"
"Berryhill Prison was the only facility with no ties to our church. We wanted to send priests to aid the prisoners' redemption."
Prisons were deeply linked to faith; their interest wasn't unusual.
"But given Berryhill's reputation for incidents, we investigated first."
"We can only wonder what dark secrets they hid to silence our well-meaning approach."
Archbishop Sophia spoke with a sorrowful voice, hand over her lips.
Her act swayed the gallery's hearts.
"Reveal the truth, Warden Derek!"
"What are you hiding?!"
Jeers rained down without end.
Riding the wave of resentment, Calix fired his final shot.
"You must properly disclose what orders your family gave you!"
The hearing chamber erupted in chaos.
Everyone pointed at me, demanding answers.
"……."
The emperor waited silently.
A few in the gallery—including women in academy uniforms—did the same.
They watched to see how I'd counter these religious manipulators of public sentiment.
"Silence, everyone. The respondent hasn't even spoken yet!"
Camillia Andalusia's cold voice rang out.
"Any further biased remarks from the gallery will face sanctions."
Those who knew her ruthless reputation fell silent at once, though their glares lingered.
Amid them, only the princess looked at me with pity.
She'd helped this far, but now it was up to my own abilities—her eyes said as much.
In response to her warmth, I bowed gracefully to the assembly.
Just like in my second playthrough, as prime minister steeped in politics and demagoguery.
If this place was a mud pit, I was the loach who turned it into a playground.
"I've heard the witnesses' opinions. You speak as if this is a courtroom and you're the victims."
"By strict definition, we are the victims."
As Calix countered, a deeper shadow fell over my face.
My mature air for a 21-year-old made even him flinch.
"Perhaps. If you were truly victims, this wouldn't be a hearing—it'd be a trial. Meaning, I'm neither culprit nor suspect yet."
The mood kept pushing me as the prime suspect.
I cut through the Holy See's sly incitement first.
"You've painted me as the killer from the start, but your only evidence is my family. Not a single flaw in me personally."
I approached the railing.
Stretching out both hands before all, I asked boldly.
"For the record, I'm infamous as the family castaway. No real support because I showed no talent."
My father's abandonment finally proved useful.
They'd kindly shoved me out of their filthy sewer.
"If you doubt it, I'll call the academy dean and my alumni as witnesses."
Thanks to the emperor's reprimand, the dean would tell the truth.
Plus, my alumni were already under my banner.
"Second, I'll refute why the bishops investigating me died."
I pulled out prepared documents.
Proof of the revolt at Holy See branches, brought by Fred and Nix.
"These are ledgers of corruption found in the dead bishops' offices. All exploited from the faithful."
Calix narrowed his eyes, staring at the papers I held.
Then his expression froze solid.
A mere frontier warden holding their church's internal files.
"When this came to light, revolts erupted in the branches. After devoting body and soul, betrayal like that—indescribable."
I stepped down from the respondent's seat and approached the princess.
I politely handed her the documents.
"I present these to Your Imperial Highness. Please judge their authenticity yourself."
"……These bear the pope's seal. No forgeries."
Standing tall on the dais, I continued.
"Holy See doctrine calls for stoning those who embezzle others' property."
I pointed at the archbishops.
Using their own canon law to bolster my credibility.
"The faithful punished their embezzling bishops accordingly. Yet the Holy See omits that, framing it as my doing."
Calix kept his expression blank.
But his fists were clenched tight.
"They used me to cover the revolts by devotees. Guilty or not, the press would savage the infamous Minsters."
The gallery rippled with murmurs.
Everyone but the two uniformed girls whispered in confusion over whose words rang true.
"Revolt? Preposterous. We never heard of it—how would you know? Bring solid proof!"
The archbishop finally shot to his feet.
I met his finger-pointing with the arrogance befitting my notorious nobility.
"And you? Got proof I killed the bishops? Is that why you called this hearing?"
I countered suspicion with suspicion.
They couldn't bring witnesses here either.
Dragging in Fred and Nix would expose those underground weapons they hid so desperately.
Right before the emperor, who watched us with a murderous glare.
"……."
As the archbishops' silence dragged, the gallery's mood shifted.
"What's going on? Revolt in the northern branches?"
"Come to think of it, all the churches burned. Who assassinates so noisily?"
Sophia glared fiercely at Calix.
Fix the mess in your territory—her look demanded.
Thus, Calix finally played his last card with a grim gaze.
"We have proof. Witnesses who'll testify you killed the bishops!"
Pre-planted fake witnesses.
Locals near the revolting branches, posed as eyewitnesses.
"They saw the assassin flee on the day the bishops died."
Two rustic men walked down the aisle into the chamber.
They showed no tension, as if brainwashed.
"These two aren't alone. More witnesses arrive soon—with even stronger testimony."
Calix bellowed triumphantly, victory assured.
He'd prepared droves to topple the warden, stake on his archbishopric.
Whether confession magic broke their brainwashing or interrogation dragged on, it didn't matter.
By then, I'd be ousted; retrieving Anje and Myoran would suffice.
His desperation was palpable.
"They're all coming soon. Your silver tongue ends here."
Madness flickered in the merciful archbishop's eyes.
The gallery sided with his bold stance, witnesses in tow.
"Witnesses, approach."
The princess calmly ordered them up.
They stood rigidly before the dais.
"Do you swear to speak only the truth before His Imperial Majesty?"
"……We swear."
Camillia stared intently into their eyes.
The reddened pupils.
Realizing they were brainwashed, she bit her lip.
Then she glared murderously at the archbishops' composed faces.
"Tell us what you saw. Be completely honest."
Calix smirked, arms outstretched.
He closed his eyes, anticipating the mud his puppets would stir.
But.
"I don't remember…… I saw the church burning, though……."
"Lots of people rioting, it seemed. They said the bishop deceived them."
The planted witnesses answered utterly contrary to orders.
"What……?"
The chamber descended into pandemonium.
The masses, who trusted the renowned archbishop, plunged into chaos.
No assassination—instead, a riot? Confusion reigned.
Yet amid it, two remained utterly calm.
Anje Renault, legs crossed in her academy uniform.
Her red eyes glowed crimson toward the witnesses.
"It seemed like a revolt."
"Yes, everyone was shouting they'd stone the bishop."
With each flick of the saintess's lips, the witnesses echoed her.
Brainwashing layered over brainwashing.
For the first time, not to kill,
but to help—she wielded her magic.
"Th-this can't be! More witnesses are coming!!"
Calix shouted desperately, pleading to the turning tide.
But no more arrived, no matter how long they waited.
The twin-tailed girl beside Anje.
Blood from the witnesses stained the sword hilt at her short-skirted side.
"Noisy. Worse than Heavenly Jade chattering beside me."
Myoran took a massive bite of her peach.
Sweet juice trickled down the girl whose body was a weapon.
"The witnesses defend the respondent instead, and no more are coming."
The noble council chair overseeing the hearing spoke.
The black-haired middle-aged man stepped down, standing beside the princess.
"Do you dare mock this chamber under His Majesty's gaze, Archbishops?"
He eyed Calix and Sophia.
The council chair too……
was Grand Elder Dark's plant for this hearing.
The two archbishops had boldly set out to hunt snakes.
Now they realized the hunted snake wasn't the warden—but themselves, who mocked their own doctrines.
"Derek Minster…… You dare steal our witnesses?"
The archbishops glared up at me murderously.
They pointed, accusing me of dirty tricks.
"That filthy bloodline never changes. Acting like this?"
I said nothing, gazing down coldly.
'What're they on about? They couldn't bring their own witnesses.'
Honestly, I had no clue what happened.
To fit the mood, I needed to look arrogant, so I kept my sinister glare.
This was the moment I first drew the world's eyes.