Chapter 33
He strolled over at a leisurely pace and came to stand beside Katrina.
“And I hate violence.”
Lucifer said it casually, kicking the fallen knight at his feet as he spoke to Gilbert.
Katrina gave him a look of disbelief.
Who hates violence?
“Y-Your Excellency…! What is the meaning of this…!”
Gilbert looked flustered, glancing from his groaning knight to Lucifer. But the man before him was a Cardinal. Gilbert didn’t have the authority to question him outright.
“Lord Gilbert, do you know how terrified I was because of your violent behavior?”
“…”
“I was so scared I wanted to kill everyone.”
What kind of ridiculous logic was that?
Katrina wasn’t the only one thinking that. Everyone present likely shared her bewilderment.
“We could’ve resolved this peacefully, couldn’t we? Don’t you agree?”
Peacefully, he says. That word couldn’t be further from describing Lucifer.
Yet Katrina silently agreed.
If things continued like this, she wouldn’t be able to carry out the investigation.
Unlike her, Gilbert clearly looked nervous about Lucifer’s involvement. The man seemed to pick and choose who he sided with—how typical.
The Asius territory truly was the worst match for Katrina.
She had expected Gilbert to be uncooperative since he was one of Bertha’s people, but this went beyond her expectations.
“Is it really just about money?” she asked coldly.
Gilbert, shaken by Lucifer’s unexpected actions, tried to maintain a calm demeanor.
“…Our territory lacks the funds. We simply don’t have the budget for a mana examination!”
“Hm. That’s quite the dilemma,” Lucifer replied, tilting his head thoughtfully.
“Y-Yes, Your Excellency! Spending money on something like this would be stealing from our own people’s mouths!”
“I see.”
Katrina stared at Lucifer, dumbfounded.
Why was he agreeing with that?
“Then the temple will cover all costs for the mana tests.”
Lucifer announced it with a smile.
“So, Lord Gilbert, why don’t you return now?”
“…”
“Don’t get in the way.”
With that firm warning, Gilbert had no choice but to fall silent.
He quickly gathered his knights and withdrew.
“You alright, Katrina?”
Lucifer asked, gazing at her with concern.
But Katrina felt something was off.
There was no reason for him to help her. Hadn’t he been hoping she’d end up buried in some monastery?
What was he thinking?
“Damn it! Damn it!”
That wretched wench!
Stirring up trouble in my domain?
Gilbert couldn’t stomach the insult he’d suffered at Katrina’s hands. He stormed back, fuming.
He would not let her off so easily.
She was a castoff, abandoned by her own family!
And now Hildegard sent her here as a representative?
‘Laughable!’
Who would believe that?
She was supposed to be on her way to a monastery.
Did she really think she could leave here unscathed, with nothing to show for it?
‘Who does she think she’s fooling!’
Boiling with rage, Gilbert paced back and forth. But soon, reason returned, and a headache crept in.
A mana inspection…
Things were spiraling.
If that inspection continued, that truth might be revealed.
He grew anxious just thinking about it.
That must never come to light.
But with the investigation already in motion, it was only a matter of time.
Lucifer’s intervention had forced his hand—but he had to stop it somehow.
How could he make the investigation grind to a halt?
‘Didn’t they say Lucifer and Katrina Abiche weren’t on good terms?’
Gilbert was one of Duchess Bertha’s men.
Before Katrina had arrived, he’d received a letter from Bertha.
Katrina may have been sent by Lady Hildegard, but I don’t believe she’ll succeed. If she shows even a hint of progress, eliminate her immediately.
The letter continued, noting that Cardinal Lucifer disliked Katrina—and he might be useful if swayed.
‘Did the Duchess miscalculate?’
Today, Lucifer had helped Katrina—not him.
Just then—
“My lord, you need to see this!”
One of his attendants rushed to him, panting.
“What is it now?!”
“A letter arrived. You must read it immediately.”
Gilbert snatched the letter from his attendant and opened it.
And inside—
“Hahaha!”
He burst into laughter.
Katrina Abiche tried to follow the flute’s sound?
Now that was good news.
“So… my son suddenly went out in the middle of the night, and when I stopped him…”
“My sick father got up and tried to leave the house…”
“At first, I thought the man had just drunk too much!”
Katrina met with those who had been lured by the flute’s sound but had been saved by friends or family.
And all of them had one thing in common—they carried dark mana.
As I thought…
The culprit carrying the artifact was targeting only those with dark mana.
“Anyone with dark mana is automatically monitored by the temple, Katrina.”
“…”
“You’re aware of that, aren’t you?”
Lucifer said this as if savoring something amusing.
Katrina knew exactly what he was hinting at.
Does he think I have dark mana?
But she didn’t.
That’s what’s strange.
Could it be connected to the loss of her holy power?
Her case was so rare, no one could say for sure.
“Don’t you have anything better to do?”
She glared at Lucifer, who was trailing behind her like a duckling.
She had left the castle early in the morning to begin her investigation.
Somehow, Lucifer found her—and insisted on tagging along.
She assumed he had some official task.
But no, his entire day had been spent simply following her around.
“Miss Investigator, and you, good knight—would you like something to eat?”
As they rested on a stone wall in the village, several local women approached them.
“We just finished steaming some rice cakes. Please try them—they’re delicious!”
The women offered the treats with cheerful smiles.
Katrina accepted them with thanks.
Then came the inevitable question.
“So… what’s your relationship?”
“Oh, no relationship at all,” Katrina said nonchalantly while chewing. “We’re just here on an investigation.”
Lucifer, eating beside her, responded with the same detached tone.
“We are working together, but we’ve known each other since childhood. I’ve had a one-sided crush on her all this time.”
A beat of silence.
Even the villagers who asked without much thought were stunned.
“I’ve confessed a lot, but I’ve always been rejected.”
“…”
Sniff.
Lucifer wiped at his nose mournfully as he continued chewing.
“Oh my…”
“Poor thing…”
He really should’ve stopped talking, but of course he didn’t.
And suddenly, the women’s gazes toward Katrina turned judgmental.
“She must have high standards…”
“Not that high, though.”
“Maybe she’s got strange tastes…”
What the hell are they saying…?
Then, a young woman with a red face shyly approached Lucifer.
“Um… please take this.”
She handed him a note decorated with care—and ran off like the wind.
Lucifer blinked in confusion, holding the little letter.
“Oh my! That was Remia, wasn’t it? The prettiest girl in the village!”
“Miss, you’d better be careful not to lose your man!”
The women laughed heartily, handed them a few more rice cakes, and went on their way.
Katrina was left speechless.
Why does everyone think he’s my boyfriend?!
