episode_0042

With the help of Count Ecarsi, Johan returned to his official duties in three days.

As soon as he returned to the zodiac, what he did was neither meet Francia nor rest.

“Was there an attack while checking the den?”

It was a report.

The captain’s office. Fedelian frowned. Was there anyone else targeting him besides himself? That was suspicious.

“Yes. I have the evidence.”

John placed one of the hyenas’ daggers on his desk in his office.

Pedelian, who had confirmed him, narrowed his eyes and watched him closely, then caressed his chin.

“A group of hyenas belonging to a specific family.”

As the crown prince, he couldn’t not know. The hyenas that high-ranking nobles often used were always a headache.

“Their daggers vary depending on their affiliation, but at least they are unified within the group. They are not easy to find, but they are better than nothing.”

It would be nice to know which clan the Bishui serve, but they are shrouded in mystery, and there are many of them.

It wasn’t easy to figure out which clan they served with just a knife. Of course, it was better than nothing.

“And this is it.”

John placed another rusted dagger on his desk in his office. It was the one the men had used during the first raid led by Cassis.

The crown prince’s eyes narrowed.

“What is this?”

“This isn’t the first time they’ve attacked.”

John added with a cold expression.

“On the day of the social party, I was attacked by the same guys as before on my way back.”

“… Are you talking about that time when you went back with the Perbache Special Magician?”

“Yes.”

Fedelian’s face darkened. He felt very uncomfortable when he remembered what had happened back then.

But that doesn’t mean I’m going to just let this go.

Because I knew you were involved with Francia.

“It’s obvious what that guy is after.”

Pedelian’s voice was low, but there was a cold anger in it. Johan met his gaze and raised the end of his words slightly.

“Yes. Like anyone else, you’re going after the Perbache Special Wizard. I’d be the biggest obstacle.”

“… … .”

The end of John’s words was sharp. Fedelian’s fingers tapped lightly on the desk. Anger was secretly rising in his fingertips.

“… I will investigate this matter myself.”

Fedelian nodded, trying to suppress his discomfort. He wasn’t particularly attracted to helping Johan, but with Francia involved, it was something he couldn’t avoid.

“Yes. Then I will go to the first public office.”

“1st Civil Service Officer?”

“I think I should also tell the First Public Service Officer this news.”

“… … .”

When Fedelian heard those words, the puzzle that had been vague in his mind began to fit together. He knew for sure who the culprit of this incident was.

“I see. That’s what it was.”

“Then that’s it.”

Leaving Fedelian slowly nodding his head, Johan greeted him politely and left the office.

As I was leaving the second civil service building, female officers approached me and spoke to me.

“Harsen Special Wizard!”

“Your expression is not good. What’s wrong?”

They were the officers who had always shown interest in him and shown him kindness. Yohan smiled lightly, his stiff expression loosening.

“No, I’m just a little tired from the last mission.”

His light smile alone took the female officers’ breath away, but they suppressed their desire to confess right away and continued the conversation.

“That’s right, I heard you stopped the flooding of the cave by yourself in the last mission!”

“Oh my, is that true? You are indeed a Harsen special wizard.”

It’s easy to suppress the flood of demons in the early stages, but that’s only when the non-combatants are gathered together.

Even though John was the most promising special magician in the Second Civil Service, it was not easy for him to suppress the flood of demons by himself.

“You’re really amazing!”

“Your reputation will go up because of this!”

The female officers kept praising John, snickering. Their actions were blatant attempts to gain his favor.

John, who knew him, smiled awkwardly.

“Thank you. But, I have something to do. Can I go now?”

“Oh, yes. Sorry for holding you back.”

“Take it easy!”

“That’s it.”

John bowed his head slightly in greeting and walked towards the first public office building.

As he entered the first public office, the knights and magicians stared at him intently.

It may be because of his appearance, but most of the curiosity came from the fact that the wizard John had won against the deputy commander of the first civil service.

“…Harsen Special Wizard.”

Shortly after entering the building, I was able to meet Cassis Lenokhonen. His expression was quite unpleasant, as if he had realized that his previous operation had failed.

“Special article by Lenokhonen. I received the gift you sent me a while ago.”

John smiled. It was a gentle smile, but his gaze was sharp.

Cassis’ face distorted slightly, but soon regained her composure.

“… I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

There was a subtle strength in his voice.

“I’m really surprised that you don’t really care. Haha.”

John’s words seemed to be innocuous on the surface, but he was clearly arguing with Cassis in an aristocratic tone.

“… … .”

Cassis wanted to pull out the sword hanging on her waist at that moment at the scratchy tone of her speech, but she had to suppress that desire with great effort.

“I don’t understand what you’re talking about. Look at the work. I don’t think we can communicate anymore, so I’ll go now.”

Cassis’ choice was evasion, because there was no benefit to talking to her now.

“I never thought I would see you stepping down like this. It’s really unexpected.”

However, John did not stop talking even as he looked at Cassis who had turned her back. It was the noble way of speaking that he had learned from the young ladies when he was a student at the academy.

“You seem so cautious, I can’t help but think this is not an ordinary matter. Is there something bothering you?”

The way he spoke, indirectly and gently scratching. Yohan had experienced this many times as a child, so he knew how annoying it was.

“… … .”

However, Cassis did not react. It was a wise choice. He probably knew that continuing the conversation here would not lead to anything better.

Watching his back as he left, Yohan shrugged and moved towards the first officer’s office.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

After knocking three times, I opened the door and entered, where I saw the head of the First Civil Service, Grand Duke Lenokhonen, whom I had seen before.

“… Harsen Special Wizard? What brings you here?”

Grand Duke Lenokhonen, who knew the name and face of the somewhat famous Johann, took off his magnifying glasses and squinted his eyes.

“There’s something you need to see.”

Despite the pressure from Grand Duke Lenokhonen, Johan strode over to the office and placed the hyenas’ dagger on the desk.

“This is… … .”

The Archduke’s face hardened coldly. There was nothing he did not know about this dagger. It was the dagger of the hyenas that served his family.

“I have been attacked twice by hyenas using this dagger. Once when I was with Princess Perbache, and once when I was scouting a den in the Ekarsi County.”

John added, raising one corner of his mouth meaningfully.

“As adults, the conduct of children is a mirror of the family. This is an excellent family, and I hope it continues to be like that in the future.”

What he said was simple. In everyday language, it meant, ‘Take good care of your son.’

“… … .”

Grand Duke Lenokhonen’s face turned cold as he looked at the dagger. But his fists were clenched. Blood was probably flowing out of his head.

“… I told you to be careful.”

Prince Lenokhonen’s voice was low, but there was a pressure that seemed to weigh down the room. A suffocating murderous intent.

“The culprit of this incident is clearly after Princess Perbache. But there is an obstacle, so he must have thought to deal with that first. Of course, the obstacle would be Princess Perbache and me, her lover.”

Even in the cool, heavy air, John did not flinch. Instead, he continued speaking provocatively.

“How interesting is it that someone who was thought to be upright is making mistakes one after another because of emotions? Truly, the heart is a law that transcends reason.”

The meaning of this saying was, ‘It’s really funny how he keeps doing foolish things because he’s blinded by women.’

“… I understand what you mean. Harsen Special Wizard, I will handle this matter myself. ”

Grand Duke Lenokhonen, trying to calm his rising anger, said, If this continues, his son will not be able to avoid imprisonment. That is why he, the Grand Duke, needed to deal with it himself.

“Unfortunately, that is impossible. I have already told His Highness the Crown Prince, no, the Second Public Service Commissioner. He said he would investigate it himself.”

However, John was quiet and thoughtless about this matter. He wanted to deal with Cassis, who was causing trouble without being able to distinguish between public and private matters, as quickly as possible.

Besides, I must not forget to avenge the knights who lost their lives in this incident.

Of course, if this matter became noisy, it would not have been so good for John either.

An excited Duke of Pervace might declare a territorial war, and given the great influence of the Grand Duke Lenokhonen family, a great commotion could erupt in the empire.

If we’re not careful, a civil war could break out.

“What a headache… … .”

Grand Duke Lenokhonen pressed two fingers to his temples, apparently suffering from a headache due to his son’s accident.

“… Well, I understand what you’re saying, so I guess I can go now.”

“Yes.”

John suppressed his urge to cheer and greeted her politely.

Click.

He came out of the first public official’s office and smiled faintly.

‘Is this the end for Cassis?’

It would be great if he went to prison, but unfortunately that is impossible, because the Lenokhonen family is behind him.

Still, you’ll lose a lot of power.

From now on, not only the hyenas, but even the Black Knights won’t be able to move.

The warlords who brought terror to the southern savages are also at an end.

* * *

The evening after the sun has set.

Francia returned to the mansion as soon as she got off work and strode into Johan’s room.

Sweat was beads on her forehead and her breathing was slightly labored.

“John!”

There was urgency in Francia’s voice.

“Ah, Francia. You’re here.”

However, in contrast to her worried expression, John was smiling leisurely.

Francia paused for a moment at his calm reaction, but her concern remained.

“What the hell happened? A flood of demons… … .”

Francia sat down carefully on his waist, suppressing her trembling fingertips and meeting Johan’s gaze.

“You don’t have to worry too much. The flood was suppressed early.”

He stroked Francia’s drooping hand. Her trembling fingertips calmed down a little at the touch of Johan’s hand.

“Look. Am I okay too?”

John opened his arms. Francia was gently touched in his arms. The warmth of his hands and the unblemished skin calmed her down.

“… Are you sure you’re okay?”

Francia looked at John’s neck and shoulders again, a faint worry forming in her eyes.

“Yes.”

John gently stroked Francia’s hair to ease her worries.

She turned her head shyly at him, then smiled and nodded.

“Really, I’m so glad.”

Francia rested her face on John’s arm, which was wrapped around her.

“I like it because it’s thick.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. I’m worried, but I have faith.”

“That’s fortunate.”

“… Does that mean I shouldn’t take risks?”

“I know.”

“You really know, right?”

Francia looked up at him, her cheeks puffed out at his half-hearted answer.

John looked at the discontent written on Francia’s face with affectionate eyes.

“I know everything. Francia’s feelings, her worries. It’s all because she likes me.”

As John stroked Francia’s head with a playful hand, she blushed in his arms and whispered shyly.

“I feel like I’m the only one who falls for it like this every time.”

“No way.”

“Does John like me too?”

“You’re saying the obvious.”

“Hoohoo.”

Francia let out her characteristic laugh and gently stroked Johan’s thigh with her fingertips. Her eyes sparkled softly.

“Tomorrow is a holiday… … .”

“That’s right.”

“Tonight… …I just want to think about John.”

Francia’s whispers became softer and softer. Her eyes glowed softly, and her fingertips reached out to him.

“What a coincidence. Me too.”

The moment their eyes met, Johan slowly cupped Francia’s face and gently kissed her lips.

“Ugh… !”

Her breathing was slightly trembling, and the air in the room was filled with warmth.