Spirit of Acting (2)

<Side : Craise Seherablade>

『Martyr’s Moon – 11th Day (Morning)』

【Day 1 of Imperial Invasion】

“Excuse me, Spirit of Smoke. I am Patient Forbidden, Chief Physician of the Empire. May I come in for a moment?”

“Haa… Come in.”

–Creak…

The door opened, and a man with a haggard face entered.

A spotless white coat, and sparse gray hair. A man who, at a glance, could be seen as worn out.

“I apologize for the sudden visit early in the morning, Spirit of Smoke.”

He bowed slightly.

Watching the physician bow, Lily’s words, who had been talking to me just moments before and then disappeared, came to mind.

“Just a word of advice, humans are on a whole other level than they used to be. For example, they can dare to negotiate with someone like you, who has accumulated thousands of years of experience.”

Hah… I, who have lived for 3,000 years, have met all sorts of humans.

People who approached with feigned goodwill, people who approached with genuine sympathy, and even those who were irredeemable villains from the bone.

I, who have dealt with people of various purposes and personalities… There’s no way I would lose the initiative in a negotiation with a mere human.

If I were to lose it… that physician, Patient, would have to be holding all the evidence that reveals my secrets, secrets that he couldn’t possibly have found out through ordinary means, and he would have to have a complete grasp of my true goals…

“Hmph… So you do know. You said you were a physician? Either way, the reason you came to see me is to examine my condition. If that’s your purpose, it’s a waste of time, so go back.”

I ignore Patient, not even giving him a glance as I speak.

“As you know, I am a Spirit. An existence fundamentally different from humans. Human medical knowledge cannot be used to examine me. I, as a Spirit, know the ecology of Spirits best, so I can handle prenatal care and childbirth all by myself. You understand now, don’t you?”

But ignoring Lily’s words wouldn’t be a good choice either.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me. I can’t let a human who hasn’t even lived for 100 years interfere with it.

A declaration that leaves no room for argument. I hope he’ll just back down…

“I’m sorry… but I can’t do that. Spirit of Smoke. I have a duty to fulfill. I won’t escape punishment if I return empty-handed like this.”

Patient ignores my words and sits naturally on the edge of the bed with a smile.

That spot… is where Lily was sitting just now. Coincidence… perhaps?

No, no. It can’t be. It must be my imagination…

“Hmm… This thick smoke. I’ve heard it has the effect of blocking sound and absorbing shock… To think that mere smoke could have such power, you truly deserve to be called the Spirit of Smoke.”

“Excuse me…?”

What, what is this… How does a mere physician know the effects of my smoke?

The fact that I am the Spirit of Smoke is publicly known, and soldiers on the battlefield are familiar with my Demon Eye that fires off destructive blasts, but… very few people know about this barrier of mist that I don’t use in combat…

Except for the Emperor and his descendants… Ah, is that how it is?

That man. He’s clearly not from the Empire. He’s an outsider. For such a person to hold the position of Chief Physician, rather than just a physician, he would need tremendous connections, even before possessing formidable medical knowledge.

So, he knows about my smoke’s abilities because he heard it all from the Emperor. But… why?

There’s no benefit to revealing my abilities to an outsider… What’s his intention?

“It doesn’t change anything even if you say that. More than anything, that kind of conversation is harmful to the baby’s prenatal care… Please leave immediately. You don’t seem worth talking to any further.”

Still, my goal is only one thing. Until my grand plan is achieved, I will consider and eliminate even the slightest possibility.

This man is no ordinary person. It’s best to get him out of here quickly.

“A baby…? Hmm…”

However, Patient doesn’t even react to my words, only staring intently at my swollen belly.

“Physician… It’s impolite to stare at a pregnant woman’s belly like that. Do you have no basic manners?”

“No. It’s just that there’s something strange about it, Spirit of Smoke.”

Undeterred by my rebuke, Patient now looks directly at my face as he speaks.

“Before I was a physician, I majored in Creation Studies at the academy. And the first thing you learn in Creation Studies is ‘pregnancy.’ Starting from the birth of a new life that you can experience most closely, the goal of Creation Studies is to create life with your own hands.”

Creation Studies… That physician must have been taught under a goat playing school.

“That’s why there are so many unnatural aspects to your pregnancy compared to a normal woman’s pregnancy. Changes in the body according to the stage of pregnancy, the highs and lows of emotions, and so on…”

“Haa… You keep making me repeat myself, Physician Patient. I am a Spirit. No matter how broad your knowledge is, it is ultimately confined to the framework of a human. Therefore, comparing that medical knowledge to me on a one-to-one basis is meaningless.”

I dismiss the physician’s words and point out the contradiction.

At that moment, silence flows as if a subtle wall has formed between us.

“You are sharp as ever. As someone who has lived for so long that you are an indispensable part of the Empire’s history books, you are flawless.”

The physician raises both hands to signal his surrender, but…

His face doesn’t seem to reflect that sentiment at all. The relaxed atmosphere has vanished, and he’s looking at me head-on with a more serious gaze.

“Then, may I tell you the real story now?”

“I don’t need it. Do you think I haven’t met a single human who approached me hiding ulterior motives like you? I’ve seen it hundreds, no… thousands, tens of thousands of times.”

I make an overtly indifferent expression and issue an order to leave, but the physician occupies his seat as if he were a guardian spirit of this room and continues to speak.

“Aren’t you bound to the Emperor’s bloodline?”

Ah… Haa…?

What is that man suddenly babbling about out of nowhere?

This is a primordial contract that the Emperor wouldn’t even divulge to his own children… There’s no way he would have told a mere physician, who isn’t even a trusted subordinate.

No, perhaps this is even a ploy to shake my heart. He’s a truly… disgustingly cunning human.

If I show any reaction here, it would be tantamount to confirming the assumption.

“It seems there are such ominous rumors circulating outside. Unfortunately, I don’t know the truth about that either.”

“Haha. I suppose so. Well, what I just said was my own independent deduction. The previous Emperors only told me about your formidable Demon Eye that unleashes devastating blasts, or your feats of breaking sand dunes with a single swing of your blade.”

“Are you now trying to mock me with petty delusions, Physician? Assumptions that are not supported by solid evidence are no different from the rambling speeches of a possessed person. As a physician, shouldn’t you occasionally diagnose your own mental state?”

I don’t know what intentions he has… but this man still hasn’t revealed all his cards.

He’s surely trying to use me for his own absurd plan, but… he can’t intimidate me with reasons of that level. Absolutely…

“Before meeting you today, I read through all of the Empire’s vast history books. My eyes felt like they were going to wear out from looking at the characters that contained 3,000 years of history, but compared to the facts I found within, it was worth the price.”

“………”

“Among them, I discovered one oddity. In the 3,000-year history of the Empire, even though different people have ascended to the Throne several times due to rebellions, the Emperor’s bloodline always ends up occupying the Throne. Even in this period when Sultan killed the previous Emperor and seized the Throne, it may end with a member of the Imperial family sitting on the Throne before long.”

I still remain silent.

“It’s extremely rare for the leader of a group, whether it’s a village chief, a tribal leader, or even the king of a distant kingdom, to be of the same bloodline for a long time. It’s normal for leaders to change due to epidemics, rebellions, or other reasons, but only the Empire deviates from that flow.”

“Has the physician not considered that the history books themselves may be forged? You can’t guarantee that everything written in the books is true.”

“But history belongs to the victors. The Sirenid Imperial family, who have weathered countless storms and held the Emperor’s Throne, have become the masters of the Empire’s history.”

The physician’s sharp gaze intersects with mine.

“And… whenever the Sirenid Imperial family is restored, there are always plenty of anecdotes about you, Spirit. Also, during those periods, fairy tales and crafts depicting the exploits of the Spirit of Smoke were especially popular. Isn’t that a rather blatant appearance, too coincidental or manipulated?”

“I don’t know what you’re trying to say. I am an existence that has been with the Empire since its birth. It’s not at all suspicious that there are many works of art modeled after me. In my opinion, the physician seems to be forcibly nitpicking like a child throwing a tantrum.”

“Anyone could think that way. Values and thoughts differ from person to person. Well, to continue the story, I have a basis for drawing these conclusions.”

–Swoosh…

Physician Patient slowly stood up and held out one finger.

“The Spirit of Smoke, possessing overwhelming power. Only the Emperor’s bloodline can control such asymmetrical warfare capabilities. Every time the Emperor’s Throne was seized, you either helped or were used to reclaim it. You must have seen a lot of blood.”

“………”

“According to the testimonies of soldiers who went into battle with you, you always have a sad look on your face whenever you take the enemy’s head. Your heart must have been full of reluctance to take lives. But it is also the Emperor’s bloodline that forces you to shed blood. At this point, isn’t it quite convincing?”

“I’ll refute that, Physician. You’ve spoken so much that your lips must be tired, but those are facts that anyone can know without even reading the history books. In the first place, I don’t go to the battlefield unless it’s by the Emperor’s command. It’s a simple deduction that anyone close to the Emperor could make. If you were trying to deceive me with seemingly impressive words, you have failed spectacularly.”

Physician Patient didn’t change his expression even at my rebuttal. It seems he still has something that supports his opinion with conviction.

“Of course… I wouldn’t have come here on my own just to say these things. I’m wondering why you are pretending to be pregnant to avoid fighting, and why you’re doing this at this particular time when the Emperor is dead and only two members of the Emperor’s bloodline remain. Isn’t that a completely different pattern of behavior than before?”

The physician walks straight towards me. Even so, his mouth doesn’t stop.

“At this point in time, when the Emperor and his direct descendants, who could force your actions, have certainly perished, and even the Imperial family, who would continue the bloodline, have fallen, I think your actions are for one of three intentions.”

This time, Physician Patient holds up three fingers again and brings them in front of me.

“To enjoy freedom in the present world where there is no one to force your commands, or to take revenge on those who have manipulated you for thousands of years, or… neither of those, but to desire a quiet annihilation. What do you say? Spirit of Smoke.”

……I’ve been hit hard.

I never thought he would be hiding such an arrow. It’s a bit lacking, but he’s still grasped my true intentions. This man.

“Let me be direct. I have no intention of interfering with your wishes. Rather, I would like to help if possible. If you want, we can even make a pact. You can even set the penalty for violation as my life.”

Resolute eyes, a serious expression. My figure is reflected in his sparkling eyes that hide nothing.

Even to the point of offering a pact with his own life as collateral, such a confident posture.

He’s coming at me without giving me any room to back down…

“Haa……… Fine. Let’s hear the physician’s real purpose.”

That’s it. That’s it. If he’s dug this close to the truth and is speaking sincerely…

It wouldn’t hurt to listen to his story and then make a decision.

“Heh. Thank you, Spirit. Then let me tell you. My purpose is… to have you kill me and my daughter.”

“Excuse me……? K-Kill? You want me to kill you? You and your d-daughter…?”

“Ah, excuse me. To be precise, I just want you to pretend to kill us. In other words, let’s put on a performance.”

“What’s the intention?”

“Ahem… As for the intention… it’s simple. My daughter and I are planning to escape the Empire now. There are helpers for that, but I feel uneasy relying solely on them. So, I decided to make preparations on my side as well.”

Damn it… This person. He’s just scheming to use me as a means. He’s an infuriating man…!

“Why did you make such a decision? You were employed by the previous Emperor. Seeing as you’re still alive even after Sultan ascended to the Throne, you could still live prosperously in the Empire as Chief Physician. It’s truly puzzling.”

“Hmm……”

Physician Patient hesitated as if contemplating something, but then opened his mouth slowly as if he had made up his mind.

“It’s because the Empire is filled with such a strange energy. There’s something lurking behind Sultan, and it seems like it will destroy the Empire. At this rate, it will fall into ruin even faster than the Fragmented Kingdom. It’s too dangerous to be in such a place with my daughter.”

Something lurking…?

Could it be… the thing that Lily came and talked about earlier? The strange existence that even Miel was captivated by and made uneasy.

If not only the Divine Beast, but even humans are noticing it… it may already be deeply rooted and lurking within the Empire…

“Then what do I get in return? I don’t think you’re planning to just use me callously and then throw me away without a second thought. You’re an educated person, Physician Patient. Since I’m not of the Emperor’s bloodline, you have no right to force me, so I can’t move unless you pay the price.”

“Of course. I will make an offer that you, Spirit, can accept willingly, an offer you can’t refuse.”

Physician Patient, who had been close, went to the opposite side of the bed and spoke with his back to me.

“Before I was a physician, I was a scholar and a professor who conducted research related to the birth of new life. In the process, I obtained additional research results. Namely… eliminating the blood ties of a family.”

“Blood ties……? Are you talking about bloodlines?”

“Yes, that’s right. There’s one thing you’re worried about, Spirit. You’re pretending to be pregnant to buy time, but it’s also to wait for the Imperial family’s blood to be cut off. If a fallen member of the Imperial family were to continue the bloodline, your goal would be thwarted.”

He speaks as if he knows everything…

This is what Lily was talking about. Not only sitting at the same negotiating table, but even trying to dominate me…

“If you accept my offer, I will free you from the Imperial family’s Curse as soon as possible. I have already recruited one of the fallen members of the Imperial family, and it won’t be difficult to recruit the remaining one. I will completely eliminate the Imperial bloodline from their blood.”

“……Can you guarantee that? Can you truly promise that, Physician Patient…?”

“Of course, Spirit. I will definitely… fulfill your wish, Spirit. No matter what.”

Seeing his confident and relaxed smile, I was about to let out an awkward laugh…

At the same time, I thought of one ominous possibility. The fact that he recruited a member of the Emperor’s bloodline, and if he’s someone who majored in Creation Studies… the thought that it would also be possible to mass-produce members of the Emperor’s bloodline through them…

Have I been cornered…? Geez, I’ve become so lax.

“Okay. I understand. Physician Patient. I accept the offer.”

“Thank you for your generous acceptance, Spirit. Then, I will visit often in the future for further planning, so please wait comfortably…”

“Ah, just a moment. Then, may I ask for a small favor as well?”

“Gladly.”

If it’s confirmed that I’m going to disappear like this, there’s no need to continue this pregnancy… Then, it wouldn’t be right to abandon the person who helped me with the pregnancy charade.

Because if he disappeared irresponsibly, he would suffer in the underground prison forever until he died.

“Anyway, to fake the doctor’s death, we’re going to make a big fuss. In the meantime, could you also help that person in the underground prison… Mr. Gunther, escape?”

“That’s easy enough. I’ll take responsibility for his escape and take him with me. Then… I’ll see you next time. Spirit.”

–Creak… Thump…

Back in the room alone, it felt like a fierce battle of wits had collided several times, even though the conversation hadn’t lasted more than a few minutes.

“Human development is fast. It’s admirable.”

I felt humans evolving day by day, but it was the first time I had met such a highly intelligent human.

“And… someone else is lurking. What on earth is that being that has infiltrated deep into the Empire? For what reason… are they trying to shake the Empire?”

–

–

–

<Side : Patient Forbidden>

『Martyr’s Moon – 11th (Lunch)』

[Day 1 of Empire Invasion]

“Hoo… the negotiation was successful. Relying solely on Princess Ophelia for escape means putting a huge Shackle on me. I have to do this much.”

After a long conversation with the Spirit of Smoke, I succeeded in the negotiation and returned to my office, where I sat heavily in my chair.

Perhaps because I woke up early and did a lot of work, and my mouth was unnecessarily long, my eyes were starting to close even though it wasn’t even noon yet.

“Okay… I need to tell the Princess’s side that I’ve made a decision, and then get some sleep.”

I took out the Crystal Orb that allows me to talk to Princess Ophelia remotely, took it out of the hidden drawer, and poured Magical power into it.

Then, the opaque Crystal Orb sparkled, and I could see that communication was being connected somewhere, and I opened my mouth when I saw that it was connected.

“Princess Ophelia. This is Doctor Patient. Can you hear me?”

“Yes… Ah♡♡ Ha♡♡”

“Princess…? Can’t you hear me?”

I could hear the Princess’s voice from beyond the Crystal Orb… but there was a lot of noise mixed in with the sound, so I couldn’t understand it well.

“No, y-yes♡ Y-yes, I can hear you. Doctor Patient♡ Ha♡”

It sounded like there was a slightly panting voice mixed in… no, don’t bother thinking about it, just quickly tell her my opinion and rest…

“I will accept the Princess’s proposal. And the number of people accompanying me will be three in total, excluding my daughter… First of all, I will take the lead in getting out of the Empire…”

–Squeak…♡ Squeak♡♡

“Ah, I understand…♡ I, I express my respect for Doctor Patient’s wise decision… Ooh… Oho♡♡………”

“Ah… the communication is cut off.”

Before I could even finish my words, Princess Ophelia’s voice was covered in noise and completely cut off, and the Crystal Orb became opaque again, as if covered in fog.

“Really… unexpected things happen one after another, so I’m extremely tired.”

Still, I’ve done everything I need to do today, so no one will say anything if I give myself a reward called sleep.

Now, the moment I slowly close my eyelids and fall into a slumber…

–Thump…!!

“Father…!!! I’m here!”

“Ah, Arc…? Why all of a sudden at this hour…?”

Arc, who ran in through the door, hugged me.

“Ahaha… well, it’s not that, Father, you know the situation in the Empire well, right? A lot of the guard troops have been drafted for the Enhancement of Sexual perversion defenses and the installation of Soundproofing Magic, so there’s a huge shortage of personnel. Because of that, I told Sultan, and Sultan told me to temporarily hire some of the Imperial citizens and put them in the vacant departments…”

Sultan… is it that guy again?

“Here’s the list. He says to conduct health checkups on them. Um… thank you for your hard work from early in the morning. Father too…”

“Haha, not as much as you. Arc. Your father knows that you’re suffering.”

I stroked Arc’s head and unfolded the paper that Arc handed me.

There was a list of several Imperial citizens written on it, and on the very first page were the faces of two women.

“Samson, and Francis… I guess. I’m going to have to work again without rest…”

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