CHAPTER 45….
Back when Envy had just risen to the position of royal strategist, he said—
If Jande would entrust everything to him, he would raise him to the same standing as the late emperor.
Half-doubting but swayed, Jande believed him.
After all, the previous Tassion who had served as strategist during the late emperor’s reign had been a remarkable figure.
“Envy Tassion… over and over, generation after generation, has been turning Revilla into his own. Making the emperor a puppet, brainwashing them, and bending them to his will.”
“For all that, you don’t seem to have been brainwashed yourself.”
“I almost was. There’s a limit to brainwashing magic. Those with strong mental fortitude can’t be ensnared, and even if they are, they break free quickly. Most of those branded as traitors and executed were like that.”
And those with such strong willpower were Envy Tassion’s favored prey.
Physically outstanding, and mentally strong—
Once broken in and trained, they became loyal hounds for life. And they also made fine ‘vessels.’
“Vessels?”
“None who bear the name Tassion are married. One day, a man appears out of nowhere claiming to be a Tassion heir.”
“……”
“And that heir is almost always someone everyone already knows. Sometimes it was a renowned knight, and at times even of royal blood. Yet everyone in the palace would forget who they’d been before becoming a Tassion.”
Cretes furrowed his brow.
A magic that overwrote existence itself—
Even in the magic empire of Whipholios, such sorcery was forbidden.
“If I didn’t know better, I’d think this place was Whipholios.”
“The body Envy Tassion wears now is old. He said he would soon transfer his memories and soul into a knight he has tested and verified several times.”
Suppressing a human’s mind was already taboo, but transferring memories and the soul as well—
That belonged to the domain of the gods, and was forbidden even there.
“I don’t know how he learned such a method. But… Emperor of Moria, god of death—you kept silent all this time even though we’ve held onto your divine relic for ages without returning it. You must have come here because of Sir Lestantis.”
“……”
“So—save that child.”
Jande rose from his seat and pointed to the curtain behind the golden throne.
In that instant, the force coiled around his head squeezed at his breath.
“Envy Tassion… intends to take the body of my daughter, Sir Lestantis.”
“…What?”
“The final mission… stop—kuh!”
Jande coughed up dark red blood.
If this much damage was done even with Cretes suppressing the force, it was easy to imagine how cruelly it toyed with Jande normally.
Cretes eased him back into the throne.
“Asillia seems to trust you quite a bit.”
“……”
“Hold on. You don’t want the one you call your daughter to remember you as a villain, do you?”
Leaving those words, Cretes gently closed Jande’s eyes—
Better to put him to sleep, sparing him the pain of consciousness.
“Ugh…!”
At once, another tearing pain ripped through Cretes’s chest.
“Damn it… I shouldn’t be worrying about others right now.”
If only he’d already recovered the relic, the pain would have been lessened. Unfortunately, there was still no word from Huimos.
Just as he moved toward the curtain, a familiar voice echoed in his mind.
[I’ve found it, Sir Monic.]
[The divine relic is in the imperial palace. Top floor—audience chamber.]
[So please, be sure to retrieve it and return.]
Hearing this, Cretes let out a dry laugh.
“So that’s the little trick you’ve been up to.”
Did they think a god’s relay message wouldn’t reach him?
“I guess staying quiet all this time has made them forget my stature.”
Smiling, Cretes tore down the curtain.
Riiiip!
At the same time, the barrier sealing the power within split apart.
Following behind Envy, Asillia swallowed dryly.
She had never known there was a space behind the audience room’s throne—but it was the stairs leading downward, and the ominous aura from below made her tense.
“The final mission is simple,” Envy said as they descended the long stairs and a door came into view.
When she swallowed nervously, he smiled and told her there was no need to be tense.
“Now, sit in that chair there. We’ll begin right away.”
“…I haven’t heard the details of the mission yet.”
Even so, Envy extended his hand as if to urge her to hurry and sit.
When she cautiously approached, he snapped his fingers lightly—
And an unseen force pulled her into the chair.
As she landed in it with a thump, Envy spoke.
“From now on, I’ll remove the brainwashing on you.”
It was like being struck by lightning.
Envy knew she was aware of the brainwashing?
How?
Before her questions could form, Envy continued.
“You entered my room.”
“……”
“I suspected something when the corridor kept repeating itself no matter how far I walked. You’ve been up to some adorable tricks.”
Envy grinned, showing his teeth—
As though he could read every thought in her head.
So it was deliberate after all.
Had he shown her the books about brainwashing on purpose?
But why?
Even as she tried to piece it together, there was no guessing what Envy wanted.
“How much—”
“How much do you know? Well… that your brainwashing is breaking, and that you’re trying to find out why?”
Envy was even polite enough to answer. When she still looked puzzled, he chuckled.
“They were all like you. The brainwashing broke, yet they still wished to serve Revilla loyally.”
He smiled in satisfaction.
He had known that sending her outside Revilla would loosen the brainwashing.
No—he had sent her out specifically to make it loosen.
“But you, and Sir Hisclear as well—you held yourselves together far better than I expected. Two such rare gems in one generation… I couldn’t be happier.”
“Are you saying… you deliberately broke our brainwashing just to watch us remain loyal to Revilla?”
Envy nodded.
“That’s not all.”
“…?”
“The final mission is to determine whether you are worthy to join the Tassions. Didn’t I tell you before?”
Asillia frowned.
“To join the Tassions… what do you mean by that?”
“Asillia, Asillia… I didn’t raise you to be so foolish. I told you—preparation for the next generation is necessary.”
His words were absurd.
If someone had the mental strength to overcome brainwashing, he would take their body and mind for himself.
And so the name Asillia would be remembered in Revilla for all time—
Only because her body would house someone else.
“The owner of this body was a fine knight, too. I didn’t care for the name, but keeping it was the least courtesy I could give after stealing the body.”
“……”
“You’ll be the second woman’s body I’ve taken. Not being a priest, there’s nothing you can’t do, right? They say the feeling is different during… night work.”
Envy licked his lips and smiled lecherously.
If she hadn’t known about brainwashing, would she have tried to understand his words?
She might have even thought, Enduring such things must be part of the trial.
But now, only one thought followed—
Filthy. Disgusting.
She wanted to spring from the chair and smash her fist into that face spewing such filth.
“Are you saying… if I fail this mission, Sir Hisclear will be next?”
“Even if you succeed, he’ll still have to face the final trial. If you fail, he’s next right away.”
“Why?”
“Why should only I change bodies? His Majesty the Emperor must have his young, healthy vessel as well.”
So this wasn’t the first time he’d done such a thing.
“Does His Majesty… know of this?”
“Of course. Naturally.”
Her strength was ebbing.
Sleep pressed down on her; Envy’s form doubled and tripled before her eyes.
“Now, Asillia Lestantis—once I break your brainwashing, your lost memories will return.”
“……”
“And even when faced with those memories, if you do not harm me—that will be your final mission.”
Envy smiled—
Like a devil.
