Ch.193193. The Lion’s Fortress

●

“…Excuse me. Student Council President.”

“What.”

“Please, lighten up your expression.”

“I’ll consider it.”

Hmm.

It’s clear she has no intention of considering it at all.

Elia clutched her head with both hands as pain throbbed at her temples.

“…With anyone else it might be fine, but if you keep glaring at His Imperial Majesty like that, who knows what trouble you might get into.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“…”

Seriously.

If she’s keeping it in mind, I wish she’d stop shooting murderous glares at the Emperor and the Chancellor.

Looking closely, I can see her eyes are even bloodshot.

“…”

She’s genuinely terrifying.

“…It’s just a play. A play. Please stop getting so immersed in it.”

Elia said with a hint of reproach.

She had already heard that Darwood would deliberately make his entrance flanked by the Chancellor and Emperor to attract attention.

She hadn’t planned to come to the banquet since it wasn’t something she particularly wanted to see, but she couldn’t help following along because she was worried this person might cause trouble again.

‘…How times have changed.’

After receiving training from Authority, it’s truly encouraging that she can exert some “restraining power” over this person.

When they first met, she couldn’t even properly draw her sword and just froze up.

‘…Though, even so.’

While she was thinking this, Elnore dropped a statement.

“…Does that look like a mere play to you?”

“…”

Honestly, it does seem strangely mixed with sincerity.

Just look at how the Emperor and Chancellor are arguing about this and that even now, after Darwood has disappeared with Marquis Bogart.

“…That’s something we can worry about later, isn’t it?”

Elia deliberately changed the subject.

“Right now, it seems more important not to attract attention so we don’t get caught later.”

Elia said this while awkwardly fidgeting with the dress she was wearing.

In truth, she knew this kind of behavior wasn’t particularly appropriate.

Of course, someone of her status as a hero candidate or a Tristan noblewoman should know all the proper etiquette required at an imperial palace social gathering.

She didn’t want to make a bad impression here and face criticism later, but the outfit was so uncomfortable that she couldn’t help her unconscious fidgeting.

“…Weren’t you of common birth?”

“That’s what many people think, but I’m not exactly a commoner either.”

“…? Are you nobility, then?”

“Not exactly.”

Elnore blinked at her.

Her face showed complete incomprehension.

“If your family member is a knight in the Imperial Guard, you typically rise to quasi-noble status! You can’t own territory, but under imperial law, you can enjoy all noble privileges!”

“…”

Elia’s head whipped around.

There was a man there, smiling so broadly his eyes were nearly slits.

“Pleased to meet you, Elia Chrysanyx! This is our first time meeting in person!”

“…Who are you?”

Her voice was unusually sharp, quite unlike her typically friendly and sociable self.

Even Elnore stared at her with wide eyes.

“You may call me Marquis Bogart!”

“…”

Elia silently glared at him.

She was clearly trying to assess him, searching for information about her opponent.

Meanwhile, Marquis Bogart continued speaking.

“You look like you want to ask how I know about your brother!”

“…”

Of course, her face went blank for a moment upon hearing those words.

“But I won’t tell you, of course!”

“…”

She didn’t even have a chance to respond before those words followed.

Elia hardened her expression as she looked at him.

She felt a strange sense of discomfort.

It was odd enough that he suddenly appeared and started rambling on his own.

But beyond that.

‘…This familiar atmosphere.’

Almost like.

‘It’s similar to the teacher?’

His behavior seemed to pierce through all her thoughts.

That feeling of manipulating others to fit his own “plans.”

The sense that he “already knows everything” and controls the situation to his liking.

Since Darwood, this is the first person who has given her this feeling.

“Well, I could tell you something that might help you find your brother’s whereabouts.”

Marquis Bogart said, still wearing that broad smile.

“Are you interested?”

“…”

Elia silently glared at him.

He was abrupt in every way.

From his sudden appearance to the way he unexpectedly touched on her most sensitive issue.

The prospect of conversing with him gave her an extremely uncomfortable feeling.

But.

“…Pleased to meet you, Marquis Bogart. I haven’t even greeted you properly.”

Honestly.

“What do you mean by that?”

For her.

It seemed like she had no other choice but to say those words.

●

The Imperial Palace is an old building, boasting as many years as Elphante Academy.

“Ugh… hah…”

I climb the outer wall of the building with difficulty.

Originally, there should be a barrier preventing anyone from approaching, but I resolved that with a key I received from Bogart.

It was quite a sight to see the guard’s face turn pale when I showed it to him.

[So. Where exactly is this place?]

“As I said, it’s somewhere only you can enter.”

The area around the outer wall is like what would be a yellow police line in modern times.

It clearly expresses the intention of ‘No Entry!’

It means ‘this area is not currently in use.’

I jump over that and land squarely in the inner courtyard of the building.

[So why are we going to such a place? You said we’re looking for something useful?]

“You’ll see when we get there.”

I say this while quickly scanning the surroundings.

My eyes fall on an abandoned building that seems wrapped in a gloomy atmosphere.

[…This place.]

“Familiar, isn’t it?”

It’s a place we visited once before, when looking into Calivan’s memories.

The headquarters of the Guardians. Commonly known as the ‘Lion’s Fortress.’

[…]

Silence transmits through the Soul Linker.

Beyond the stillness, I can sense Calivan’s aura, suppressing something intensely.

It’s the distinctive atmosphere of someone weighed down by memories.

“…”

I don’t say anything either.

Just looking around, it’s easy to see that this person must have many unresolved grievances here.

A crumbling building. Weeds growing everywhere. Cobwebs blooming in every corner.

These were people who sacrificed themselves for their beliefs, to protect the Empire’s citizens.

No matter how you look at it, this doesn’t suit the dignity deserved by honorable fallen warriors.

Forgotten, abandoned, ignored by everyone.

That kind of place.

[…Why did we come here?]

“…I told you. There’s something only you can do.”

Saying that, I bring up a window before my eyes.

<Item Info>

[Soul Linker] [Exclusive Equipment]

[Enchant: Epic]

[Equipment inhabited by a great spirit. Increase synchronization rate to awaken the spirit’s consciousness.]

[Always imbued with magical power due to the influence of the great soul.]

[Current charged magic rate: 100%]

[Current synchronization rate: 40%]

I read through the window, checking the skill attached at the end.

■ [Guardian’s Soul] [Skill Grade: S]

[Guardians have been recognized by all as protectors of justice and morality since ancient times. Gain special stacks each time you subdue an individual with evil nature. When all stacks are filled, you can summon a soul to the mortal world for a certain period of time.]

[Available time: 5 minutes]

This is the skill I unlocked when raising this person’s synchronization rate.

Originally it was completely unusable, but after beating up those assassins in the second trial, it’s charged up to some extent.

<System Message>

[Do you want to use the ‘Guardian’s Soul’ skill?] [Y/N]

Without hesitation, I touch Y.

Simultaneously, someone’s body pops out from the Soul Linker.

To be precise, rather than a physical body, it looks more like a genie emerging from a magic lamp.

It has the distinct appearance of a spirit.

“Huh, what? What’s this?”

I see the confused Calivan looking down at his own body.

Orange hair identical to Elia’s. A large scar crossing his entire face.

And above all.

“…”

Why does he have to be so handsome, damn it.

While Elia is certainly a beauty who would never look out of place anywhere, this person is like the male version of that beauty.

Annoyingly so.

“…Hello, Calivan.”

My greeting voice is probably grumpy for that reason.

“What is this? How did you do this?”

“You can think of it as something similar to temporary necromancy. You should be able to interact with the material world to some extent.”

It’s similar to the state of a spirit realm magical beast.

He can directly touch or move things himself.

“Possession” is possible, to a limited extent.

“You should be able to ‘enter’ my body and move it to some degree.”

And, as far as I know.

There’s definitely an obstacle in this Lion’s Fortress that requires such an ability.

“…There’s something you need to do with that ability—”

As I say this and try to move forward.

I hear what sounds like someone gasping.

“…”

I start and look around, but nothing catches my eye.

Did I hear wrong?

“…What? What’s wrong?”

At Calivan’s materialized form’s question, I tilt my head.

“…Nothing. It’s nothing.”

Right. Logically, who would follow us all the way here?

Thinking that, I continue walking forward.

●

“…”

Elia covered her mouth and struggled to catch her breath.

‘Brother.’

Just now, she was so surprised that she hid without thinking.

She had immediately headed this way after Marquis Bogart told her to “look here,” but she never expected to see such a sight.

Calivan Chrysanyx.

Her only blood relative was just there.

‘…Necromancy?’

The art of summoning the souls of the dead.

Darwood just said he summoned Calivan through something “similar” to that.

That would mean.

Her brother.

‘…No. No way.’

Elia squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head.

Right now, she doesn’t know anything for certain.

It could be a way of summoning someone from far away in that form.

It’s better not to entertain such ominous thoughts.

‘…But still.’

What kind of relationship does Darwood have with her brother?

Why does he seem so close to the person she’s been desperately searching for?

And, most importantly.

“…”

Why didn’t he tell her about this?

Elia bit her lip hard.

And while she was thinking about this.

Suddenly, she heard Calivan’s voice.

“By the way, in this state, can other people besides you see me?”

“I… guess so? Why suddenly ask that?”

“No reason. So if I meet Elia, I could hit her?”

“…”

Darwood fell silent.

Elia, watching quietly, did the same.

“…What kind of random question is that? Is that something you say about family?”

“No, I really want to hit her, what can I do?”

At Darwood’s incredulous voice, Calivan scratched his head and continued.

“Wouldn’t you be angry if you saw your little sister lying about being engaged or whatever to seduce another man?”

As those words fell, Elia’s face rapidly flushed red.

“…Oh.”

She unconsciously let out a flustered voice.

In her mind, all the things she had done to “target” Darwood were flashing before her.

The crowning achievement among them would definitely be what Calivan mentioned.

-Teacher and I are actually engaged.

She remembers telling that lie when Darwood had lost his memories.

Since he regained his memories, he hadn’t said a word about the time he had amnesia, so she had been feeling relieved.

But.

That.

Her brother had seen it.

If that’s the case, there’s a high probability that Darwood also knows about it.

“…”

Elia swallowed hard.

Probably.

That means.

Her brother had been directly observing all her attempts to flirt with Darwood.

Including the engagement claims and everything else.

“…”

Elia stroked her chin with a serious expression.

Hmm.

So that’s how it is.

“…Should I die?”

The words came out with more sincerity than she expected.

●