Chapter~34
“Shouldn’t it be someone more trustworthy? I haven’t even been in the knight order for a full year yet.”
Objectively speaking, giving a newcomer who had been in the knight order for less than a year such an important duty was ridiculous.
“Soon it will be a year. That’s enough time to observe your character and aptitude, isn’t it?”
“There are many who are more capable than I am. Please reconsider.”
“All those capable seniors recommended you.”
“….”
Those seniors, really…
“They also said you have considerable respect. You’ve achieved a lot in less than a year.”
The reason they recommended me was probably just that they didn’t feel like going themselves or didn’t want to work with the young marquis…
Even now, while they felt close to the vice commander, the knight commander—the young marquis—still seemed distant.
“Besides, you’ve kept the contract with me well, haven’t you? If we need to act in secret and keep silent, no one is more suited than you. I’ve also picked a few others, so don’t worry too much.”
“Yes, sir.”
I swallowed a sigh.
“The Verification Ceremony is scheduled for the end of April. Now it’s mid-March, so you’ll be with me for about a month and two weeks.”
“Will we alternate every day?”
“Yes, two knights will rotate with the Temple Knights. You and I will be a pair first. For smooth communication, we’ll meet frequently and discuss things.”
Just meeting once a week was already exhausting, and now I was supposed to see his face every day… Could I manage it?
“Since this is the protection of a relic, do not lose your focus.”
“Yes!”
I answered energetically. After all, one must obey the orders of their superior.
Clang!
A piece of pottery shattered on the floor under the man’s hand.
“So, the Verification Ceremony can’t be stopped?”
“That’s correct.”
Crash!
He stomped the fragments in frustration.
“Where did everything I gave go?!”
“Please calm yourself.”
A man, in stark contrast to him, spoke with extraordinary calm.
“For the purpose of proving the prince’s lineage, the Verification Ceremony must proceed.”
“Lineage? Hah, that lineage! What do you mean prove it? I…”
The Second Prince swallowed the rest of his words with difficulty. He still had the presence of mind to filter what he shouldn’t say aloud.
Still, the fact that he was angry did not change.
The black magician who glanced at his furious expression continued speaking.
“Your Highness, the results of the Verification Ceremony will come out as you desire.”
“Is that possible?”
“Yes. A little help is needed, but you won’t have to take responsibility.”
“Help….”
The Second Prince clicked his tongue thoughtfully.
“Use everything I have. If this fails, everything is over anyway.”
“Understood.”
“When the details of the plan are complete, report to me.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Go!”
The black magician bowed politely and then quietly disappeared from the room.
The prince, still glaring at where he vanished, punched a decoration in frustration.
Crash!
The noisy sounds of destruction filled the room again.
“Savage. This is why homunculi are…”
As he stepped outside, he deactivated the silent magic. Acting as if he were at his own home after briefly stopping by the marquis’s estate didn’t look very noble.
At that moment, Damia Cartier approached him.
“Are you okay? Any injuries…?”
“No. But I should contact that person.”
“That child?”
A hint of annoyance crossed Damia’s red eyes.
“I just don’t understand why Lord Teo is so concerned about that child.”
“Haha, he probably didn’t show any of his power in front of you, so that’s understandable.”
“Her sister too! Lord Teo’s subordinate told me! That child will be necessary! Could it be that he likes that child—”
“Damia, don’t worry.”
The man gently cupped her cheek.
“The one I care about is only you. The rest are merely keys for our future.”
“…Yes.”
Having judged rationally, he stepped back from her.
“…The room is ready. Your father is out, so no need to worry about him.”
“Please wait a moment. I’ll prepare and come shortly.”
He gave an adequate reply and disappeared.
Later, in a secluded corner of the marquis’s garden, he attempted to contact someone.
—What?
Despite the unpleasant expression on the communication device, he smiled faintly.
“You are aware that the Verification Ceremony is approaching, aren’t you?”
—Who cares? Whether the prince is royal or an artificial human, it doesn’t concern me.
“It’s a problem because support may be reduced otherwise.”
—And yet you’re using the marquis’s daughter to your advantage. Because of that, you monopolize the marquis’s support, don’t you?
His response was cold but accurate. He had indeed taken control of Damia Cartier, who managed the marquis’s internal affairs.
“Yes. Even if the marquis tries to push me out, it won’t succeed. That’s just the way it is. She’s at that level right now.”
—I know you’re provoking the marquis with this. Cunning guy.
“Haha, if we’re going to do it, it should be definite, right?”
A clicking sound came from the other side of the line.
—Right. If we do it, do it properly.
“Yes, properly. That’s why I need help. We’ll need a relic. As you know, the Temple’s security is strict.”
—You’re not planning to kill all the guards, right?
“Not allowed?”
—Don’t use methods that could harm her. Edenrosa’s duke’s guards are involved too, so eliminate the risk.
“Hmm…”
—The young marquis as well. Since her sister is too compassionate, she’ll probably try to save the young marquis. Just like last time.
It was a fortunate turn. The plan aligned perfectly, but he maintained a calm expression.
—Just so you know, if you touch her sister—
“Don’t worry. We’ll divert the attention of her and the young marquis elsewhere. No one will be seriously hurt.”
—Not bad.
“If you permit, just help by providing info on the interior layout and security personnel. Mutual aid, yes?”
—Fine. That much is possible. I’ll contact you later. End.
After that, the signal ended, yet he was still smiling.
“Does she still not know?”
If she did, Mabel wouldn’t have come out so calmly in this situation.
‘Some things were hidden on purpose.’
Fame, endings, clues, returns… Since realizing he was a character in the game, he had done everything to escape. Mabel might not know, but he did.
“Soon….”
And, according to his suspicions and the plan, she would soon approach the ‘ending.’
She would step closer to his, and their, desire.
He could pay any price for that—even the lives of everyone but himself.
A few days later.
In front of the Temple in the capital.
Watching the tense guards patrol, the young marquis said:
“Don’t get too nervous. If you do, your usual skills won’t come out properly.”
“Yes.”
I nodded, then asked, suddenly recalling something:
“Um… which relic is used for the Verification Ceremony?”
“The Heart of the Saint or the Prophet’s Needle. Either one will be used.”
“Ah… the Heart of the Saint… the Heart of the Saint?”
Isn’t that currently with Mephisto? Is it really in the Temple? Could it be a fake?
“Yes, the famous Heart of the Saint that speaks the truth. Because of its symbolism, the current consensus is to use the heart.”
“I see…”
The famous Heart of the Saint, currently with the leader of some dark faction? There’s no way it could be fake after seeing it work.
…Could it be that the Temple is storing a replica? And they don’t even know it’s fake?
“Thank you for telling me.”
A headache started to throb. I felt I needed to contact Mephisto.
