Ch.187Chapter 187 – Discovered

“Um, do I really just need to write one letter of recommendation? N-nothing else is needed?”

“Yes, that’s all I need…”

The feeling of suddenly becoming the secret power behind the Austro-Hungarian Empire, one of the great powers of the late 19th century, was quite peculiar.

“…really, that’s all I need, so please don’t do anything else.”

“D-do I not need to make a public declaration of support through an interview or something?”

“Your Majesty… no, Your Imperial Majesty. Please.”

Looking at the situation objectively, it wasn’t bad at all. Having the Emperor of the Austro-Hungarian Empire as my backer was quite something.

Moreover, she wasn’t the type to go crazy just from being involved with me.

Rather, she was one of the few dedicated types, like Silver Blaze when she’s not in heat.

“Please handle it cleanly and discreetly. Someone in your position surely knows where to draw the line, right?”

“Handle it cleanly… I understand. I-I’ll take responsibility and resolve it myself.”

“…That makes me nervous.”

If there’s one thing that concerns me, it’s that her affection and loyalty toward me are too intense.

I never thought she would have rejected all marriage proposals while waiting for me all this time.

Is she planning to marry the state like Queen Elizabeth or something?

“By the way, Adler. I’ve been working on a policy recently…”

“…Yes?”

As I was standing there lost in thought, a shy voice began to come through the receiver.

“I-I plan to grant noble titles to all mana users within the empire.”

“Is that so…?”

“St-starting with minor nobility at minimum… proving exceptional ability could earn one a count title… I’m pushing for legislation that would allow me to appoint higher ranks at my discretion.”

I had been slightly worried since everything I’d seen with my own eyes had been unreliable, but to think she was formulating such an excellent policy. As expected of imperial blood.

But why is she suddenly telling me this?

“So, Adler… would you perhaps consider becoming a citizen of the empire?”

“Pardon?”

“B-Britain only claims to favor mana users but doesn’t even grant them noble titles, right?”

Her following words immediately resolved my confusion.

“They do give knighthoods though, right? What was it called… Magician title?”

“Hmph. Th-that’s just an empty title, isn’t it? Few privileges but many responsibilities and duties…”

“…Hmm.”

“O-our Austro-Hungarian Empire is different from such unscrupulous nations! The legislation is expected to pass within months, so by the time you arrive, I can grant you a title immediately.”

The queen—no, empress—who had been speaking urgently through the receiver, paused to catch her breath before continuing in a shy voice.

“S-so… that means you could marry me, a member of the imperial family.”

“Huh?”

“A-a count title would be sufficient to become my consort. Of course, there might be some opposition since you’re a foreigner…”

“Well, obviously there would be.”

“Then I shall simply grant you a higher title.”

I take back what I thought earlier. The future of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, one of the great powers of the 19th century, looks bleak.

“Adler, this is a policy I’m pushing through for you, despite the opposition.”

‘Come to think of it, it wasn’t bright to begin with.’

“I-I now have the power and authority to be with you. S-so…”

But whether she knew my thoughts or not, she continued speaking.

“P-please put a leash on my neck again…”

Hearing those words made my head throb.

“I was happier being trampled by you like a dog than when I was hastily crowned emperor…”

“Please stop…”

“C-could you speak informally to me?”

As I mentioned earlier, the situation itself isn’t bad on the surface.

But the problem is that I’m already receiving considerable obsession from women who are quite capable.

Not only that, but people I don’t even remember seducing are constantly plotting to kidnap or kill me.

In such a situation, wouldn’t becoming a secret power make things too dangerous?

[Actually, your chances of being murdered, raped, or imprisoned are already 100%, so there’s nothing more to add.]

“…I see.”

My worries were short-lived as System’s clean explanation put my mind at ease.

Or should I say I’ve resigned myself to my fate?

“…Lilia.”

“Y-yes!”

“I’ll think about it, but for now, just handle what I asked you to do.”

Whatever the case, I wanted to end the call soon, so I spoke informally as she requested, and a melting voice came through the receiver.

“Yesss…♡”

“Sigh.”

I wonder how the citizens of the Austro-Hungarian Empire would react if they heard this voice?

“I-I’ll definitely take responsibility and complete it…!”

“…Right.”

“And I’ll have the title ready… whenever you come…”

A bad thought suddenly crossed my mind, and I hurriedly disconnected the mana stone from the receiver and slumped into my seat.

“…This is maddening.”

Honestly, part of me wants to throw everything away and just become a consort.

But not only do I not have much life left, I also had the feeling that if I went to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, I’d somehow get caught up in the Sarajevo incident, so I gave up on the idea.

[That’s not the real issue here.]

“…I know.”

In truth, it was never an option to begin with, since it was obvious I’d be torn apart by the world’s strongest beings before I could leave Britain.

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“I’m sure she’ll handle it well…”

As Adler sighed and got up from his seat, the memory of the recent conversation was already beginning to fade from his mind.

“…But she’s an emperor, so her ministers would stop her if she tried to cross the line.”

However, a few months later, that faded memory would inevitably resurface in his mind along with some rather shocking news in the newspaper.

“Surely nothing bad will happen…”

I’ll spare you the details, but.

[Do you still believe in this world?]

“…Don’t say such ominous things.”

Whatever the reason, it was undoubtedly a major incident that would change the future global landscape—involving the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the British Empire (which somehow got involved by orders of someone equivalent to a queen), the Korean Empire, and the Japanese Empire at the Second International Peace Conference.

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*Creeeeak…*

“…Hmm?”

Just as I was about to leave now that the negotiations were over, the mansion door suddenly opened and someone entered.

“Moran?”

It was none other than Celestia Moran, her face completely pale.

*Trembling*

“Did you catch a cold in such a short time?”

She was trembling terribly for some reason, so I tilted my head and asked, but she opened her mouth without making eye contact with me.

“I’m sorry, Master. I did wrong.”

“……?”

“I-I was right beside you… and made such an absurd mistake… it’s undeniably my fault.”

Suddenly, she knelt down and began to sob and beg.

“P-please give me a chance to make amends.”

*Slide…*

“Huh? Wait…”

Then, she suddenly pulled out a small knife from her pocket and brought it to her body.

“Wait, what are you doing?”

“…When I fail a mission, don’t I need to self-harm until I collapse from anemia to be forgiven?”

Shocked, I grabbed her hand and asked, only to receive such a terrifying answer.

“That’s not it. What kind of education did you receive growing up?”

“Th-then… am I unforgivable?”

When I hurriedly denied it, Moran’s voice began to tremble violently.

“…A hunting dog that can’t protect its master has no reason to exist, right?”

With those words, she hung her head low with a pale face.

“Hmm…”

“Then from now on, let’s not call you a hunting dog, but my adopted daughter instead.”

Unable to just watch her pitiful state, I carefully knelt in front of her to meet her eye level and began to voice something I had been contemplating for a while.

“…It might be strange for a villain like me to say this, but I don’t think I’m cut out for cruel roles.”

“………”

“So don’t feel burdened anymore and live comfortably.”

And then came silence.

“…Ugh.”

As she hung her head and trembled, a tear fell from her cheek, and then a sobbing voice was heard.

“…I don’t want to be a daughter.”

“Huh?”

Slightly taken aback by that unexpected statement, I asked again.

“Why, why don’t you want that?”

“…….”

“You need to tell me the reason so I can find a suitable alternative…”

*Whoosh!*

“…Oh?”

Once again, Moran vanished from before my eyes like a ninja.

“I just don’t understand kids these days…”

Feeling a sense of déjà vu reminiscent of yesterday’s situation, I scratched my head and quietly turned toward the half-open exit.

“…Don’t you agree, Miss Holmes?”

“……..”

Sharlotte Holmes was leaning there, emanating a dark aura, silently looking down at me.

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“You managed to find this place?”

“……..”

“I’m not sure if you followed me or deduced the background in such a short time, but you’re truly impressive, Miss Holmes.”

After staring at Sharlotte, who had been blocking the entrance for a while, Adler began to speak with a smile on his face.

“However, the situation is already over. J. Davenport has already left this place, and the documents the poor girl was trying to protect have lost their meaning.”

“………”

“This time, it’s my perfect victory, Miss Holmes.”

After finishing his words, Adler smiled brightly.

*Slide…*

“……?”

Sharlotte, who had been silently staring down at him, eventually pulled something out from her pocket.

“Since ancient times, a being’s ‘true name’ has held significant meaning in the art of sorcery.”

“What?”

“A name is the simplest yet most definitive concept that defines a person. It’s the minimum requirement needed to cast a spell.”

Suddenly, she began to say something completely out of the blue.

“What does that have to do with…”

“It’s also been mentioned as a demon’s weakness throughout history. Perhaps because sorcery and demons are closely intertwined?”

“……?”

“Of course, even knowing this, it’s difficult to actually use it. A demon wouldn’t carelessly reveal its name, would it?”

Adler’s expression, which had been puzzled at first, began to grow increasingly pale.

“In that sense, Joseon? The Korean Empire is truly a grateful nation. The range of surnames used is significantly narrower than in European countries.”

“Wait…”

“I’ve researched it, and apparently, knowing just the surname or given name allows one to exert about half the control. For a demon with virtually no weaknesses, that would be a tremendous penalty.”

Looking at him with a raised corner of her mouth, Sharlotte slowly began to flip through the documents she was holding.

“Written here are the surnames of those who passed the ‘Gwageo’ exam over the past few years, kindly provided in secret by a Korean Empire diplomat. By the way, this country seems to love keeping records? They even record things like this.”

“Wait a moment…”

“If you were a slave or commoner, you would have certainly been sold to nobles… so your surname is probably among these, isn’t it?”

At her voice mixed with laughter, Adler moved forward, sweating profusely.

“Park? Lee? Choi?”

“S-stop…”

“Not from the royal family, I see? Then Kwon? Yoon? Hong? Han?”

Just as he desperately tried to snatch the document before his surname could escape from Sharlotte’s lips.

“…Kim?”

“Gack.”

At that clear pronunciation from Sharlotte’s mouth, he gasped and collapsed face-first onto the floor.

“So it was Kim…….?”

Looking down at him, Sharlotte wore a cold smile.