CHAPTER 42
After hearing Oswald’s words, Asilia returned with a troubled expression and lowered her gaze.
‘The final mission…’
She had hoped that having a predecessor with experience might provide at least a hint or clue.
But rather than information, all she was left with was growing unease.
“Is it really true that not a single person has returned alive?”
“Yes. But according to Oswald, none of them had done anything wrong to Tassion. In fact, they were even praised.”
Envy Tassion was a man who had everything.
He had no need to win favor from others or put on pretenses.
Which meant his words—“Return safely from your final mission”—were all sincere.
“What kind of mission is so dangerous? Is there not even a single lead?”
Asilia nodded. Still, if it couldn’t be avoided, she had no choice but to proceed.
There was only a week left.
In that time, she had to figure out who had cast the brainwashing spell and how to break it.
But the problem was that the brainwashing was far better hidden than she had expected.
“If I go poking around too much, they’ll get suspicious. And if that happens, our only option is to run.”
She hadn’t expected there to be absolutely no opening at all.
It was now certain that Revilla was brainwashing knights—but finding out who was responsible and how they were doing it was another matter entirely.
“At this rate, we won’t be able to do anything.”
Unless she moved more aggressively, there would be no point in having come to Revilla.
“B-Bad news!”
Asilia was lost in thought, her chin in her hand, when the office door burst open and a knight shouted.
“What’s going on?”
“A prisoner escaped! The one from Moria broke out!”
Asilia immediately stood up.
“Who helped him escape?”
“No one! I heard… Lord Tassion himself gave the order to bring him.”
“Lord Tassion?”
The knight stammered as he explained what he knew.
After Asilia had finished her interrogation, Adrian had remained calm for the most part.
But when Envy ordered him brought to the Wooden Door, he had suddenly knocked everyone out and escaped.
“Where did he ask for him to be brought?”
“The Wooden Door.”
“What business does he have there?”
Asilia furrowed her brow.
From what she had learned, the Wooden Door was a place used to enhance the brainwashing process.
Cretes had said as much, and she had sensed it too.
‘Why would he take Adrian to the Wooden Door… Don’t tell me…?’
Was it to brainwash him?
“Commander, what should we do?”
When Asilia didn’t respond, the knight asked again. Pretending to think, she slowly answered.
“Lock up the knights who were transporting Adrian De Mornick.”
“Excuse me?”
“There’s no guarantee they weren’t colluding with Moria.”
“N-No, you’re right.”
“Then imprison anyone who had any connection to him in Revilla. Block off all escape routes and close the castle gates. He might try to return to Moria.”
The knight gave a respectful nod and hurried out of the room.
“I’ll have to visit Tassion’s office.”
At this point, Envy Tassion was the most suspicious candidate for the person brainwashing the knights.
If she was wrong, she would surely be punished. But in a situation with no clues, suspicion must be followed.
“It’s dangerous.”
Cretes’ voice came out sharply, but Asilia gave a faint chuckle.
“Is there anything in Revilla that isn’t dangerous?”
“…”
“Now that Sir Mornick has escaped, we need to start planning how to return.”
She didn’t know how long Adrian could buy them time—being a skilled knight, he might manage three or four days.
Still, she couldn’t afford to just wait.
She had to move aggressively to gather information.
“I can’t even begin to guess what my wife is up to. Won’t you tell me what you plan to do? Hmm?”
Cretes stepped in and gently brushed her hair. He was frustrated he couldn’t get more involved.
“I’m planning to check Tassion’s room. Around this time, he should be meeting with the emperor. So… I’ll search his room.”
Even if someone caught her, she could come up with an excuse.
Those under brainwashing likely wouldn’t think to snoop around Tassion’s private space.
“In that case, I’ll keep Envy Tassion occupied.”
Asilia’s eyes widened.
“How?”
“I’ll simply mislead him on the way back to his room. There are mana stones all over the palace—distorting the flow a bit should do the trick.”
Cretes shrugged as if it was no big deal.
“You’re allowed to intervene this much?”
“Probably.”
“Are you sure?”
“Of course. You can repay me once we’re back in Moria.”
Cretes leaned in, trying to kiss her forehead—but Asilia stepped back.
“You’re using Isaiah’s face right now, you know.”
“Ah, right. That won’t do.”
Cretes stepped back with a regretful look.
“Until we meet again—safe and sound.”
He closed his eyes and flicked his fingers. Asilia immediately left the office.
Envy Tassion’s office wasn’t far from the audience chamber.
He was currently using the Crown Prince’s vacant office.
No one objected—it was granted by the Emperor, and there was no Crown Prince in Revilla now anyway.
Asilia arrived at the door and saw a knight standing guard.
‘He’s using the knights as his private guards?’
She hadn’t noticed before, having had no reason to visit this room. But to use soldiers for such personal matters…
“Sir Lestantis. Lord Tassion is currently away.”
“I know. He told me to wait in his office.”
“…Lord Tassion did?”
“Yes.”
The knight scratched his head nervously.
‘He must not normally let people into his office.’
Asilia crossed her arms and acted even more assertively.
“Is there a problem? Or shall I summon Lord Tassion to confirm I speak the truth?”
It was a show of offense. The low-ranking knight flinched and stepped aside.
“N-No, please go in!”
Asilia raised an eyebrow and entered.
Immediately, she felt as if she couldn’t breathe. A heavy, oppressive heat filled the room, suffocating.
But nothing seemed visibly strange.
She quickly scanned the room.
And then, a bitter chuckle escaped her lips.
“As expected.”
Exactly what she had predicted.
Adrian pulled his sore body up into a tree.
“Damn lunatics.”
He’d known many people in Revilla were unhinged, but not to this degree.
“To think they’d torture me again after that…”
After Asilia’s visit to the dungeon, they said they needed to be thorough—and tortured him even more.
They only stopped when Adrian, unable to endure anymore, shook his head and begged them to spare his life.
“They don’t trust anyone. No wonder knights keep dying here.”
He muttered, wrapping cloth around his wounds.
“Lord Tassion ordered him brought. Next time we meet, we’ll be good friends.”
“But… after all this torture, is that even possible?”
“Once he goes through Lord Tassion’s hands, anything is possible. I don’t know what he does—but people never hold a grudge after meeting him.”
“Tassion… so he’s the one doing the brainwashing.”
Adrian scratched his head, wincing when he touched a wound and gritted his teeth, hugging the tree to steady himself.
Thank the gods for the medicine Whymos had given him.
Without it, he might’ve been writhing in pain—or unconscious from shock.
“Still, why hasn’t anyone contacted me?”
He bit his nails.
Hiding from Revilla’s knights wasn’t too difficult.
But as time dragged on, his body was nearing its limit.
“Search this area too!”
“Damn it.”
Adrian cursed and climbed even higher into the tree.
[We’ve found you, Sir Mornick.]
At that moment, a voice he’d been waiting for rang out.
It was Runoa.
“How the hell can I hear her from this far? Do high priests have powers like this?”
As he muttered to himself, her voice came again:
[The divine relic is in the palace. Top floor. Most likely the audience chamber.]
“What do you mean most likely? I need an exact location…”
[Then please, return safely.]
“Wait, hold on! High Priestess Runoa?!”
No response.
Apparently, Runoa could transmit messages—but two-way conversation wasn’t possible.
“Ha… damn it…”
Adrian buried his face in his hands with a groan.
