episode_0015

I entered Geurund Jajak’s study through the window. Unlike the outside, the boundaries within the mansion were not as strict. Taking out a small magic tool to illuminate, I calmly began searching for evidence of Geurund Jajak’s corruption.

Verdio Geurund. At this point, apart from his loyal followers and the Shurein Marquis, I might be the only one who knows detailed information about him. Geurund Jajak’s methods of making money were extremely malicious. To earn money, he exploited wars in other countries and territories. He not only took advantage of ongoing wars but also incited wars through manipulation during times of peace. The chaotic storm of war provided ample opportunity to amass great wealth. Food, weapons, weapon materials, magic stones, and more – he swept up goods around the areas where wars occurred, sniffing out the scent of money, and then sold them to competing buyers at higher prices, ensuring that no one emerged as a winner regardless of the outcome.

At times, it was for financial gain; at other times, it was for political purposes. He did not hesitate to supply weapons and food to the Empire’s enemies, causing border violations. He also didn’t hesitate to cruelly kill the nobles’ children and heirs to instigate war. Many nobles following the Shurein Marquis were among the victims. Therefore, if evidence of Geurund Jajak’s involvement in starting the war could be obtained, it would not only sever the Empress’s financial resources but also incite internal strife within the faction led by the Shurein Marquis. It would be considered to have at least a threefold effect, which would be significantly beneficial to the Empire’s security.

However, no relevant evidence seemed to be found no matter how much I searched. Even after meticulously rummaging through the piled documents on the desk, bookshelves, drawers, and nearby bookcases, nothing turned up. As expected, he seemed to be as meticulous as someone who had lived a life more than just plotting a rebellion. Considering how strict the boundaries outside the mansion were, I had thought there would be some information in the study. It seemed like I had made a mistake.

I hid my body in the darkness of the study and sent the materialized spirits to various parts of the mansion.

Somewhere in this vast mansion,

there would undoubtedly be a hidden place.

And there,

there would definitely be information about the countless misdeeds that have been committed.

The materialized spirits

passed through walls and floors as if seeping through them.

And before long,

the water spirit Aqua showed me exactly what she was seeing.

Though mana was rapidly depleting, it vividly played out in my mind as if I were seeing it firsthand.

There was a secret library in the mansion’s basement.

It contained at least dozens of bookshelves.

Information about all sorts of misdeeds was densely packed within.

I sent all three spirits there and thoroughly assessed the entrance location and guard forces.

There was only one entrance, and there were only two soldiers guarding it.

If approached stealthily, it seemed entirely feasible.

So, I swiftly made my way underground.

Whenever someone was nearby, the spirits informed me in advance.

Each time, by casting transparency, I could reach my destination in no time without any difficulty.

Apart from mana rapidly depleting whenever the spirits did something, there were no other issues.

Rendering the guards unconscious while leaning on their backs was as easy as yawning.

Thud! Flop!

I cautiously entered.

The interior of the library was pitch black.

It was so eerily silent that not a single sound could be heard.

So, I removed my hood and began searching for evidence of the most recent war I had incited.

Everything was neatly organized by year, so finding what I needed was not difficult at all.

The problem arose

while I was gathering the discovered data.

Shing!

A sharp, cold blade pierced through my abdomen.

Blood trickled down from the pointed end.

“Ugh-”

I hadn’t expected it at all.

It was an incredibly sudden attack.

For a moment, an intense pain rushed through me, making my head spin, but I managed to block my mouth with one hand.

“I thought it might be a rat, but I can’t believe it’s actually you.”

It was a languid voice exuding a sinister aura.

He seemed to be someone hired to guard this place.

It seemed as though he possessed an exceptional concealment ability, undetectable even by spirits. A considerable amount of mana emanated from behind. There was no doubt about it. He must be quite skilled. If I make a mistake, I might really end up dead. The only hope I could cling to was that at the moment when this unidentified man stabbed my abdomen with a knife, I must have been clearly off guard. The fact that he didn’t kill me immediately was evidence of that. And now, this man seemed completely unaware of the presence of spirits. If that’s the case, then I stand a chance. If I surprise him with a spirit at a moment when he hasn’t taken any precautions, I can easily kill him. However, this man was a mana user. Just like what I did to Glentino and the maid, it would be impossible to infuse a spirit into his body.

“But it’s interesting. This silver hair.” The man picked up a few strands of my hair with two fingers. Despite enduring excruciating pain from being pierced in the abdomen, I trembled forcibly, trying to hold back the shivers. With a seemingly drowsy voice, he toyed with his hand as if playing a prank on a lover. “It’s rare to find someone with such soft hair in the imperial capital. And if it’s a man of this height with silver hair…”

The comfortably spoken words suddenly diminished. And the silence that followed undoubtedly indicated that he had recalled an absurd figure in his mind. “Hey… who are you?” My guess was correct. He was currently envisioning the fetal prince in his mind. Even without looking at his face, I could tell. He must be making an absolutely incredulous expression. And in a few seconds, he would undoubtedly turn to face me. Of course, before that, he would draw his knife first. In this moment of confusion, it was definitely an opportunity that I couldn’t afford to miss. When the knife that was stuck in me trembled ever so slightly, I simultaneously moved three spirits. Swish! I forged the blade with wind, severing his wrist, covered his face with water to block his vision and breath, and simultaneously caused the ground beneath him to collapse deeply. “Gurgle!” His desperate scream only produced bubbles in the water.

Blood spurted from the cleanly severed forearm, and the fallen body writhed desperately in the face of imminent death. Then, I drew the sword that had been stuck. It wasn’t easy to pull it out myself, so eventually Wint helped me.

Swoosh!

After that, I returned the sword to the trembling man. Thankfully, I had killed the enemy, but my wounds were far from superficial. The bleeding from pulling out the sword was quite severe. For now, I only applied first aid with Aqu’s healing magic. I had already used up all my mana and a considerable amount of vitality, so there was nothing more I could do.

My head was spinning. As expected, summoning three spirits simultaneously was no ordinary feat. It consumed an incomparable amount of mana compared to a single spirit casting three spells. I felt like I might faint at any moment, but if I did, I would truly die. I bit my lip, tasting the bitter blood, and regained my composure. Fortunately, it seemed that my resistance to mana depletion had significantly increased due to consistent mana consumption.

I didn’t know how much more vitality I could expend in the future, but right now, I had no other choice. First of all, I had to escape from here, and before it was too late, I had to go to Elaine.

***

Elaine, the illegitimate child of Viscount Bart. She was lying on the bed under the faint moonlight streaming through the window, tossing and turning for hours just like last night. Sleep still eluded her. The words spoken by His Majesty the Emperor still lingered in her mind: “Marriage. You would make a suitable match for my son. What do you think?”

Marriage. To think that someone like herself, a mere illegitimate child of a viscount, would not be lacking as a partner for the prince. It was an unbelievable statement. However, it wasn’t the usual jesting of the servants. It was the Emperor of the Mersen Empire who had directly spoken those words. She couldn’t fathom how astonished she had been. It was far more shocking than the moment when that tremendous light had burst forth from her own hands. Then suddenly, on her face…

The dim darkness that could never be illuminated by the faint moonlight enveloped her. It was because of the words the empress, who possessed exceptional beauty far beyond her age, had spoken to her.

“Oh my, does that mean you’re a love child? Yet you sit here in such attire? You are truly an amusing one, aren’t you?”

“Haah….” A deep sigh escaped from Elaine’s lips. She knew her situation better than anyone else. It was herself. However, having others awaken her to such a fact was never a pleasant experience. It made her feel overwhelmingly embarrassed and humiliated. Consequently, whenever the empress’s face and voice came to mind, her mood rapidly turned melancholic.

She hadn’t wished to be born that way. Meeting her mother was certainly a joyous occasion, but if she could turn back time, she didn’t want to live as a pitiful love child, scrutinized and looked down upon by others. Thus, on one hand, despite knowing this, she also felt grateful to the emperor, who had regarded her favorably.

As for the crown prince… To be honest, she wasn’t sure. Since the day they first met at the Marquis’s estate, his face had been appearing more frequently in her thoughts. Each time, her body heated up, her heart raced, and she even felt short of breath. It seemed like her symptoms were worsening over time. Even this morning, while lost in thoughts about the crown prince, she had absentmindedly bumped into the Marquess’s wife while walking, only to be saved by Lady Katia, who suddenly appeared and took the slap meant for her.

Then suddenly, she recalled the words the crown prince had spoken in the carriage.

“You don’t need to pay attention to Her Highness’s words.”

She hadn’t desired marriage with the crown prince in the first place. It had been too sudden, and she knew it wasn’t appropriate. But when he denied the marriage, she couldn’t help feeling a sudden sinking feeling in her chest, leading to an inexplicable sense of disappointment and a suffocating feeling in her heart. Lost in these thoughts, she found herself covering her flushed face with the blanket that reached up to her head.

Thud! Suddenly, the sound of a window opening echoed.

“Could it be a thief?” A shiver ran down her spine.

In a situation I had never experienced before,

I was so afraid that I couldn’t even pull the covers down.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

After what felt like an eternity, trembling with fear, I cautiously lowered the covers.

Thud—

Something heavy collapsed onto the bed.

“Gyahh!”

Elaine was so startled.

So shocked, she covered her mouth with both hands and let out a muffled scream.