Chapter 139
The place I arrived at by carriage was the Rihelin District, on the outskirts of the Imperial Capital.
It was where I had first met Ria at the beginning of this year.
Looking at the scenery outside, I felt a wave of nostalgia.
After traveling for a while, the carriage finally stopped in front of the lodging I had reserved in advance.
When I stepped down from the carriage, two groups were waiting to greet me.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Lord van Astraea. I am Stomer Hesto, the branch manager of the Rihelin branch of the Cosmo Trading Company.”
One group consisted of members of the Cosmo Trading Company, loyal to Ria.
The other group—
“Greetings, Lord van Astraea. I am Peshinon Faere, dispatched under the orders of Her Highness the First Imperial Princess, Narsi Dominatio Azerum. Her Highness is awaiting you, so I shall escort you.”
They were envoys of Narsi, the very reason for this outing.
Since I hadn’t brought any luggage, I immediately followed the envoys to the estate where Narsi was staying.
My meeting with Narsi had been arranged in advance last month. I’d intended from the beginning to use her to bring down Beryl.
Compared to the gambling tournament, Narsi was dressed more simply today in a modest scarlet dress, her hair tied up. She greeted me while leisurely sipping tea.
“You’ve arrived, van Astraea.”
“Greetings, Your Highness, Princess Narsi.”
She gestured for me to sit and took another sip of tea.
As I sat on the sofa opposite her, a maid brought tea and quietly left.
Only Narsi and I remained in the room.
“I prepared some fine tea since I heard you were coming. I hope it suits your taste.”
“Thank you.”
It was green tea, its soft fragrance gently rising.
Narsi asked,
“How is life at the Academy these days? Exams are approaching, so you must be busy. I feel a bit guilty for taking your time.”
“It’s no trouble at all. If it’s to meet Your Highness, I wouldn’t regret even sacrificing my exam results.”
“That’s reassuring to hear.”
A brief silence followed.
Since I was the one who had requested this meeting, I should have led the conversation—but I couldn’t think of what to say.
Could I speak casually, like with Hazen or Castro? But she was a princess. Saying something improper might offend her deeply. Still, staying silent like this felt awkward too…
After some deliberation, I finally managed to bring up a topic.
“Have you been well, Your Highness?”
Narsi burst into laughter.
“You spoke so smoothly the last time we met, yet now you’re nothing but an ordinary boy.”
“My apologies.”
“There’s no need to apologize. At your age, being awkward is only natural. Honestly, after dealing with nothing but crafty schemers, it’s quite refreshing to meet someone as innocent as you.”
“Thank you for thinking so.”
Narsi chuckled softly again.
“So, since conversation is difficult for you, let’s move straight to the point. You need my help, do you not?”
“Yes.”
I had prepared various ways to persuade her, considering her status as a princess—but she had surprisingly given me her time without hesitation. I hadn’t even had a chance to explain my purpose yet.
“Let me say this beforehand, just in case. If you’re planning to make an absurd request, don’t. I’m only meeting you out of goodwill. You wouldn’t call me cold-hearted for refusing, would you?”
“Not at all. I am deeply grateful simply for the time you’ve given me, even without knowing the details.”
Narsi raised the corner of her lips.
“You’re showing the same expression as last time when you’re about to get to the point. Go on—speak.”
“In two weeks, Reina and Beryl Doubt will be getting married.”
Narsi startled and coughed. Thankfully, I had spoken when she wasn’t drinking, so she didn’t spit out her tea.
“W-What are you talking about? Marriage? Even I haven’t done that yet!”
…That’s what surprised you?
She muttered darkly, her expression turning grim, as if something had struck a nerve.
It seemed better not to listen too closely.
After exhaling and calming herself, she spoke again.
“So? Why are you telling me this? Don’t tell me you want me to stop the wedding.”
“That’s correct. If Reina sides with Beryl, wouldn’t that put you in a difficult position as well, Your Highness?”
“Hmph. A shallow tactic.”
Narsi sipped her tea calmly.
“Reina Serenia is indeed a talented individual. An appealing piece on the board, certainly—but nothing more. She is not indispensable. I see no necessity for me to move, nor do I have justification.”
“I will create the justification for you.”
I placed several prepared documents onto the table.
“What is this?”
“Information that will completely ruin Beryl Doubt. Not just bring him down—but uproot him entirely.”
Narsi examined the documents with suspicion.
Her eyes widened briefly in surprise—but only for a moment. After reading everything, she set them down.
“Beryl Doubt being a demonkin… Normally I would dismiss it as nonsense, but judging by these materials, it may not be entirely unfounded.”
“Then—”
“It’s not enough. With this alone, you won’t be able to corner Beryl. The perspective is interesting, but there are too many gaps.”
She drank her tea, concern filling her expression, and made a suggestion.
“You said the wedding is in two weeks, on the weekend?”
“Yes.”
“If we begin an investigation based on this information, we could certainly catch Beryl. However, gathering troops within two weeks won’t be easy. So why not give up on stopping the wedding and instead destroy Beryl thoroughly afterward?”
“There’s no need for you to provide troops. Just protecting Your Highness’s person would be sufficient. Besides, even a slight delay after the wedding would result in Reina’s death. Stopping the wedding is essential.”
“Why do you think that?”
“Reina has been under constant threat from Lost Paradise throughout this year. And Beryl belongs to Lost Paradise.”
“That is merely speculation. You cannot be certain Beryl is affiliated with Lost Paradise.”
“But—”
“That’s enough.”
Narsi set down her teacup.
“I will think this over. I’ll contact you by the end of this week at the latest. For now, you should return.”
It was a gentle refusal. I recognized it immediately, but didn’t push further.
“…Understood.”
I stood up, my expression stiff.
“Then I shall take my leave.”
“I’ll have a carriage prepared. Wait here.”
“No, thank you. I feel like… walking for a bit.”
“Very well.”
As I turned to leave, Narsi stopped me.
“Van Astraea. The world is not as cruel as you think. Misfortune may come often, but the worst rarely happens. So don’t worry too much. When the time comes, I promise to support you fully.”
Without replying, I bowed and left the room. After walking for quite some time and finally being alone, I allowed myself to smile in relief.
Good. Just as planned.
The documents I gave her weren’t perfect. As Narsi pointed out, they were intriguing but lacked a decisive blow.
That was why she responded exactly as I’d hoped—refusing in practice, but saying she’d think about it.
It was a white lie meant to spare my feelings. But with a tempting enough bait, it could always be turned into the truth.
What mattered began now.
Late at night.
I left the lodging dressed in a full stealth set.
The taverns that had been lively just moments ago were now closed, and silence hung over the streets.
Avoiding the sparse streetlights, I made my way to the back of the estate where I had met Narsi earlier that day.
Before entering, I hid atop a nearby building and surveyed the surroundings.
Despite the early hour, guards were stationed all over the estate.
Though I couldn’t judge precisely, they were likely at least full-fledged knights—the second rank of the knight order.
Still, with stealth skills, slipping past them wouldn’t be difficult.
The real problem was Anise’s location.
Her villa wasn’t an area that appeared in the game. I had grasped the overall layout earlier today, but I didn’t know where exactly she was.
Watching alone wouldn’t solve anything. I’d just have to move and adapt.
So I activated my stealth skill and the 1st-circle wind spell [Fall Delay], landing instantly on the estate’s roof. Moving downward from above, peering inside room by room, I soon found Narsi’s chamber.
A magical device on the table illuminated the room with a faint glow. Narsi sat on a single-seat sofa, holding several documents.
They were the materials I had given her.
She examined them again and again, her eyes filled with melancholy.
I had left only simple information—something one could grasp quickly. Yet she was still holding onto them even now.
A princess who had received elite education since childhood wouldn’t fail to understand such things. In fact, she’d grasped the contents the moment she first skimmed them.
So why was she still holding them?
Perhaps if I’d given just a bit more information, she would’ve agreed to help immediately.
Still, the fact that she was hesitating meant rejection was more likely. So, as planned, I opened the window and entered the room.
At that instant, a blade of mana-infused wind surged toward me.
Kiiiiing!
It was a sudden attack, but I knew who my opponent was, so I could read the pattern.
Letting the first strike graze me, I pulled out Moment Capture from my pocket, deflecting the spells and storing the one attack I couldn’t avoid into my sword.
At that moment, Narsi’s guard kicked the door open and rushed in.
“Who are you?!”
The woman holding a staff immediately cast a second spell. Swords of wind flew toward me.
In response, I pulled out my wand and used the 3rd-circle wind spell [Wind Sword], combined with [Mana Fusion].
While she created over a dozen blades, I formed only a single sword.
But her blades shattered in a single exchange, while mine flew straight through, grazing her cheek.
“Ghk!”
As she prepared another spell, I threw the dagger Piercing Root at her.
The dagger drank her blood and instantly grew, binding her tightly. Unable to stop her incantation, I took the attack head-on.
A heavy impact struck my side—but in exchange, I placed my blade against her throat.
Activating my voice-modulation skill, I spoke.
“Stop. I didn’t come here to cause a disturbance.”
“Don’t spout nonsense after breaking in at night!”
She struggled desperately, but Narsi stopped her.
“That’s enough, Kyren. His words aren’t entirely wrong.”
“But—!”
“If his first attack had failed, he could have harmed me at any time. And even now, isn’t he choosing to talk instead of killing you?”
“……”
Kyren finally stopped resisting, and I sheathed my sword as well.
“This makes things easier.”
“Remove that dagger too.”
“I’ll keep it as insurance.”
I walked over and sat on the sofa opposite where she’d been sitting. Narsi remained seated, visibly on guard.
“For what reason have you come to see me?”
“You met van Astraea earlier today. You spoke about Beryl Doubt.”
“……!”
“Before we get to the point, let me ask you one thing. If you could kill Beryl Doubt—would you?”
Narsi stared at me for a moment before answering.
“If he truly is a demonkin, then of course I would kill him.”
“So you’ve already discovered that he’s a demonkin.”
I pulled out a thick stack of documents and placed them on the table.
Thud.
Narsi asked,
“What is this?”
“Circumstantial evidence and proof that Beryl Doubt is a demonkin who contracted with a high-ranking demon.”
“All of this…?”
I nodded.
“I don’t know what van Astraea is planning, but follow his plan. In return, I’ll give you this information.”
“…Why should I?”
“Refusing? Fine. I’ll just find someone else.”
I instantly burned the stack of documents.
They turned to ashes in the blink of an eye, and Narsi looked shocked.
“What are you—!”
I stood and said,
“Hunting down Beryl Doubt brings many advantages. You eliminate a powerful rival while gaining the image of a righteous figure who purges evil. With a single act, you’d earn immense prestige—anyone would accept such an offer.”
“……”
Narsi bit her lip anxiously. Leaning against the window frame, I pulled out another stack of documents.
“Fortunately, I have one more copy. Will you let pride make you miss a golden opportunity? Or will you accept my proposal?”
After deep contemplation, she finally answered just as I pretended to put the documents away.
“…I accept your proposal.”
“Then the contract is sealed.”
I walked back to the table and set the documents down.
“If you verify even what’s written here, you’ll be able to drive Beryl out for good. Prepare accordingly.”
As I turned to leave, Narsi spoke.
“Let me make one thing clear. I accepted your proposal because it offers great benefits. Keep that in mind.”
“I will.”
At that moment, commotion arose nearby. It seemed people were gathering after hearing the noise.
Before leaving, I said to Narsi,
“I’ll say one last thing as well.”
Releasing killing intent infused with aura, I continued.
“If you fail to honor this contract, then on my next visit, I’ll take one of your heads. Make sure I never have to step foot here again.”
Using the 5th-circle spell [Fire Hand], I retrieved Piercing Root and added,
“You may pursue me if you wish—but you’ll gain nothing and only lose soldiers’ lives. I don’t recommend it.”
I leapt out the window and escaped the estate at full speed.
