Ch.195195. Teaching Assistant

●

In truth, it was quite an enjoyable social gathering from the Emperor’s perspective.

Due to the curse of hemolysis—a chronic illness consuming her body—the Emperor’s public appearances were quite limited.

Her recent personal attendance at the Hero Selection Trials was only possible due to the event’s importance; ordinarily, she should remain confined to the imperial palace, moving only according to her physician’s recommendations.

In that sense, despite being a place filled with dark-hearted schemers, simply being able to attend such an event was a pleasant experience for her.

The orchestra’s music, strong liquor, rich food, and the sound of people talking.

For someone whose exposure to all forms of stimulation was restricted, these things always brought her the novel pleasure of new experiences. How could she not appreciate them?

“Are you enjoying the party, Your Majesty?”

Well.

That’s how it had been until just a moment ago.

The gentle smile that had graced Cecilia XI’s face vanished at the sound of the voice beside her.

“Bogart.”

“I apologize for borrowing your new friend without permission.”

His tone was casual and familiar, as if addressing a friend, with no regard for proper etiquette.

Then he plopped down in the seat across from the Emperor without hesitation, clearly demonstrating his “informal” tendencies.

It might be possible to punish him for disrespect, but neither the Emperor nor Bogart seemed to care about such matters.

The core of the Council of Elders.

The leader of an imperial faction that had gathered “everyone” except the Chancellor’s faction and the Emperor’s faction.

Both Bogart himself and the Emperor knew that he possessed enough power that an open confrontation could splinter the entire Empire.

“This is a gift, Your Majesty. It must have been difficult for you to come this far.”

While the Emperor silently regarded Bogart, those words dropped casually.

“Breath of Mistletoe. A liquor considered a treasure from the far east of the Empire. At the very least, it should be sufficient to ease your pain.”

“…”

Though it appeared no different from wine on the surface, it clearly possessed a mysterious blue hue unlike ordinary alcohol.

The liquid flowing from the uncorked wine bottle slowly filled the glass placed before the Emperor.

“So.”

Bogart spoke in an even voice.

“When will you fight?”

“…”

“I mean civil war. I’m planning to start one soon.”

The Emperor’s expression twisted.

‘…What an extraordinarily mad man.’

She had already known that the movements of the Council of Elders, centered around this man, were concerning.

But she hadn’t expected him to reveal such intentions so calmly.

“Oh? Why do you look surprised?”

Bogart tilted his head and said.

“Didn’t you already know this?”

Cecilia XI’s face twitched.

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

“You must have sent Darwood Campbell with some listening device or something attached. You intended to use him as a chess piece from the beginning.”

“…”

“It’s not as if Your Majesty approached him with pure intentions either.”

Such words continued to fall upon the silent Cecilia.

“You crafted the scenario brilliantly. The pitiful Emperor. The wicked head of the Council of Elders plotting to devour the country. Anyone who didn’t know better would be completely fooled.”

“…”

“That man is particularly weak toward people who show him kindness first. Once he recognizes someone as part of his circle, he can’t help but protect them. That’s what you were aiming for, wasn’t it? Cunningly. Like digging into someone’s weakness.”

Despite maintaining a grinning expression on his face.

It was a series of abusive remarks.

Statements that could warrant hanging, far beyond mere disrespect, poured forth continuously.

“…While you’re just the same—a monster that moves for ‘purpose.'”

Cecilia XI offered no particular response.

Instead, she simply picked up the glass Bogart had brought, and drained it to the bottom.

Seeing this, Bogart spoke again.

“How brave you are, Your Majesty! Truly befitting the ruler of the Empire!”

“…”

What kind of reaction was this? As the Emperor narrowed her eyes at him, another sentence followed.

“To drink something offered by your political enemy without any suspicion—what would you have done if I had put deadly poison or something in it?”

“…Well.”

Cecilia XI sighed deeply and answered.

“Even you wouldn’t commit such a heinous act—”

“Lies.”

Before the Emperor could finish her sentence, those words dropped abruptly.

Bogart’s smile had disappeared from his face.

It was an expressionless face.

Except for the gleam in his eyes, which seemed to make the surrounding air heavy just by meeting them.

That gaze swept over the Emperor’s bare skin slightly visible outside her clothes.

More precisely, at what could be faintly observed beneath.

The blackened veins corrupted by the curse.

“Because you’d do anything if it could remove that curse, that’s why you drank it.”

“…”

Cecilia XI did not answer.

“Honestly, you didn’t care whether it contained poison or not, did you? Since you only have about a month left to live anyway.”

“…”

Until the end, the Emperor did not answer.

As if she didn’t even feel the need to deny it.

“…Thank you for the gift, Bogart.”

Instead, she only left those words as she rose from her seat.

“And let me give one piece of advice to our Emperor who is so concerned with self-preservation.”

As the Emperor turned her back and tried to leave, those words followed.

“Do you know what the biggest factor was that allowed the Council of Elders to grow so powerful, Your Majesty?”

“…Have a good evening.”

The Emperor ignored him and continued to walk away, but the other party showed no intention of stopping.

“The Red Night incident.”

“…”

“The imperial family’s response at that time was the worst. If the Tristan Dukedom hadn’t bowed their heads to the Guardians first, begging for help, who knows how much of the Empire the Red Demon would have burned.”

“…”

“Thanks to such absence of leadership, quite a few nobles lost faith in the imperial family. All those people sided with the Council of Elders.”

Apparently, he wasn’t going to let her go easily.

The Emperor inwardly sighed again.

“What are you trying to say, Bogart?”

“Nothing. I’m just truly curious how things will be different from then.”

Bogart continued with a smirk.

“A Red Night will come soon. Again. Much more… spectacularly than before.”

“…What?”

“If I were to start a civil war, it would probably be around that time. Previously—”

“…”

The Emperor’s expression went blank at the brazen declaration of rebellion.

“…”

He’s insane.

There was no other way to describe it.

To the Emperor who stood with a dumbfounded expression, Bogart gave a slight wink.

“I do hope you handle it well.”

Bogart said as he downed his wine.

It was an elegant gesture.

Undoubtedly.

A gesture only a clear-eyed madman could make.

●

[…So, why are you rushing out alone like you’re running away?]

Inside the carriage leaving the imperial palace, Calivan whispers those words.

Looking at me immediately grabbing a carriage and rushing out as soon as the social gathering ended, his words aren’t entirely wrong.

“There are various things to prepare… and not much time left before it starts.”

[But there are people who followed you all the way to the imperial palace because of you—]

He must be referring to Elnore and Elia.

Certainly, if I act alone like this without saying a word to them, I’ll probably get scolded later.

Still, I have my reasons.

“First of all, my schedule is tight. It’s too much to ask them to follow me through all of it…”

I need to visit Elphante Academy within two days and then immediately head to the Holy Empire.

First, I have one request for Walter, the dean of the Holy Department.

Second, I have business with Archbishop Luminol in the Holy Empire.

And even more than this busy schedule.

“…Elia has been strangely avoiding me.”

Since he’s the main protagonist in this main quest, I wanted to prepare him properly.

But he seems to be firmly refusing to meet me.

I don’t think I’ve done anything wrong, so why?

‘…It probably doesn’t matter much,’

The third trial isn’t really a trial in the strict sense.

Unlike the previous trials that involved terrifying activities like being shoved into dungeons or thrown into forests teeming with magical beasts, this one is literally just an ‘inspection.’

It’s simply a thorough examination to determine whether this person can touch the Holy Sword without dying.

There’s nothing I can really help with.

[…Well, it’s no wonder, since he saw that directly.]

“Excuse me?”

[He saw two things simultaneously—something that made him happy… and something that tore his heart apart. He’s probably not in his right mind. Just leave him be.]

“…”

I don’t really understand what he’s talking about.

As I tilt my head in confusion, Calivan smiles wryly and speaks as if telling me not to worry about it.

[So, what are you preparing this time?]

“…Well, there are various things to do.”

Archbishop Luminol has played all sorts of tricks on me throughout these trials.

I’m going to prepare revenge for that and a “stage” to use in the final trial.

Thinking this, I fiddle with the lion-headed breastplate in my possession.

Without his help, it would be quite difficult to drive this into the Red Demon.

[…]

“…What?”

I respond to his sullen silence with a question, having answered his inquiry sincerely.

Calivan replies with a voice full of dissatisfaction.

[Seeing how you deliberately answered the second question first, it seems you don’t want to talk about the first one. Right?]

“…”

[You’re probably planning to do something with my breastplate that you took from the imperial palace. If you’re going to see that Walter person or whoever, you’re trying to imbue it with something.]

“…”

[Tell me. What are you planning to do with my relic? What are you scheming that you don’t want to tell me about?]

“…”

They say a dog that spends three years in a classroom can recite poetry.

As the person who sticks closest to me, he thoroughly understands my tendencies.

Scary, so scary.

“…”

Truthfully, I’m reluctant to speak about it.

It feels like I’m making this person do something terrible.

Just as I applied Valkarsus and Calivan to the Soul Linker, the breastplate also needs someone to act as a “catalyst.” That’s necessary for me to use it as I intend.

The problem is the prerequisite condition for that.

< Item Info >

[ ▲ Tatiana Grachelle ] [ Processed ]

[ Specialty: Curse ]

[ Form: Spirit ]

[ Processing Options ]

▶ Subordinate as a familiar

▶ Apply as enhancement material to an item

▶ Resummon in complete form (Disappears after one use)

“…”

I sigh as I look at the window that appears before me.

“Um, Calivan.”

[Hmm?]

“…Have you ever trained a woman?”

A terrifying silence transmitted from within the Soul Linker.

I continue regardless.

“…I need to, you know, ‘educate’ her to use her.”

[…]

“I need your help.”

[…I’m noticing something anew.]

Calivan answered in a subdued voice.

[You really do seem to be moving further and further away from being human.]

“…I’m always cautious about the influence from the Seal of Fallen Sky—”

[No, I don’t think that’s the problem.]

“…”

[Even without that, you’re just not human.]

Stop saying such harsh things.

●