Ch.285285. This Again?

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In the Empire, the law is always strict.

Except for the Emperor who reigns above the law, the Empire conducts judicial procedures more rigorously than anywhere else in the entire Sera world.

Which means.

If someone attempted to harm the Emperor, even a person of Marquis rank would end up in this state.

“…”

I look at Bogart Marquis before me with undisguised pity.

It’s no exaggeration to say the man has been reduced to rags.

The traces of brutal torture covering his body are dizzying just to look at.

“My, isn’t this too much?”

“…”

“To end up like this when I spilled everything without needing to be tortured.”

Seeing him still smiling cheerfully despite his condition makes me think he’s truly something else.

I sigh and cut off the Bogart Marquis’s words.

“I heard you wanted to see me.”

That was the condition he set when voluntarily surrendering to the Empire.

He wanted to meet with me alone, even briefly, with no listening devices.

They likely agreed because he had no means to harm me anyway. I don’t particularly mind either.

“What did you call me for?”

“Soon, the Demonic Spire will contact you. It’s about that.”

“…What?”

“I’ve been threatening them quite a bit. I know a great many things they want to keep hidden. I’ve also extracted quite a lot of equipment from the Demonic Spire that was in Count Rebel’s territory. They’re probably itching to tear me apart right now.”

“…”

“But my position is too delicate for them to kill me as they please. I’m a high noble in the Empire, so problems could arise if they don’t dispose of me through proper procedures. And my crimes are too severe to just cleanly cut my throat. They’ll want to kill me as painfully as possible.”

“…”

“That’s where interests align. There are two groups that desperately want me dead, so the goal is to kill me horribly enough to satisfy both.”

Being used as a “research subject” by the Demonic Spire would likely be the conclusion drawn by both sides.

Such words poured endlessly from Bogart Marquis’s mouth.

And while saying all this, his face maintained that cheerful smile.

I stare at him blankly.

“And I’d like you to take on the role of ‘escorting’ me into the Demonic Spire to be used as such a research subject.”

“…”

“Someone has to do it anyway. Someone to bridge the Empire and the Demonic Spire. You’re perfect for it.”

“…”

“Although the Demonic Spire is an isolated group across the continent, they’re still run by people and can’t completely ignore the political dynamics of the dominant nations. If you, who has connections with both the Emperor and the Tribal Union’s Chief, push strongly, it would be possible to bring an outsider in. You’re also the person who contributed most to suppressing the incident I caused, and with that background—”

After staring blankly at him as he continued his endless stream of words.

“…You.”

I finally manage to form a sentence.

Throughout his speech, there was an uncanny intuition tickling my mind.

“This seems absurd, but.”

“Yes?”

“…Did you commit all this rebellion and everything else just for ‘that one thing’?”

For the sole purpose of pushing me into the Demonic Spire.

I get an overwhelming feeling that everything this man has done was part of a blueprint for this very purpose.

“Wow. Was I really that impressive?”

As Bogart Marquis mutters in apparent self-admiration, I point out a fact that makes me dizzy when I think about it.

“Almost no one died.”

“What?”

“For an Empire-wide rebellion against the Emperor, the death count can be counted on one hand.”

And even those weren’t killed by him, but were casualties from Count Nicholas who lost his mind and rampaged in the Imperial Palace.

Come to think of it.

Chapter 5, the Imperial Rebellion, is supposed to be the bloodiest chapter in all of Sera. It’s so bad that Elnore’s complete corruption route originally happens around here from killing too many people.

But.

For it to end this quickly, this briefly, this neatly.

Something is strange.

As if someone deliberately orchestrated the ‘flow’ to make it happen—

“That was your doing, not mine.”

“…Are you saying you planned all this knowing I would act that way?”

Of course, I did devise the best solution for the situation. I used every available means to end it most efficiently.

But.

All the actions of the Council of Elders feel like someone set the stage for me to ‘be able to act that way’—

“Well, does that erase the fact that I committed treason? People still died because of what I did.”

“…”

“The past is the past. Every action I’ve taken constitutes who I am. Such things come back eventually, even if you want to bury them.”

Bogart Marquis said this while still wearing that cheerful smile.

His usually narrowed eyes opened slightly.

Those deeply sunken eyes stared directly at me.

“…In my opinion, this is probably something you already know.”

“…”

“Have you ever thought that your inability to take the ‘final step’ with women might be because of that?”

My whole body flinches.

I unconsciously clench my fists.

“…Are you planning to major in psychology?”

“I’m just rambling. Feel free to ignore me!”

Bogart Marquis instantly returned to his usual expression, smiling cheerfully as he said that.

“…”

I look at him with complicated feelings.

Of course, since falling into this world, there have been quite a few people who defied my ‘expectations’.

But no one has given me such a strange feeling as this guy.

As if he sees through all my inner thoughts.

Not even the Luminary gave me this feeling.

“…I’ll think about what you said.”

As I say this and stand up, Bogart Marquis nods enthusiastically despite being tightly bound.

“Darwood Campbell.”

And just before I leave the room, that sentence calls me back.

“Elphante is about to go on break, right? Enjoy it.”

“…Thank you.”

“Though considering your situation, it might be difficult. Try to use contraception if you can.”

“…”

“Seeing Armin, parenting seems really tough. He used to have a smooth, glowing face when he was young, but now his hair is falling out and—”

Sir.

What on earth are you talking about?

●

[On break.]

[No entry. Especially Darwood Campbell.]

“…”

I glare at the sign hanging in front of the Chancellor’s office with a serious expression.

Usually, after such a major incident concludes, I should go to the Chancellor to chat and ask him to handle some of the aftermath. But he’s not even in his office now.

He must have noticed and fled.

‘…Well, this time it’s really understandable.’

It involves none other than His Majesty the Emperor. Several Elphante students were also at the center of the incident.

As the Chancellor of Elphante, it’s natural that he’d be summoned here and there without a moment’s rest.

‘…Well, I don’t have much to do for a while anyway.’

There’s still some time before I need to fulfill Bogart Marquis’s request, and even more time before Chapter 6 begins, which will revolve around Gideon whom I’ve “infiltrated.”

So, um, well.

“…”

No way.

It seems impossible, but…

Could I actually have free time without anyone interfering?

Such an absurd thing…!

“Ah, found you.”

—As if that could happen.

A voice that sends chills down my spine makes my arm hair stand on end.

It’s one of the people I’ve been trying to avoid since returning to Elphante from the Imperial Palace.

“You weren’t avoiding us, Professor. We were just giving you space.”

“…”

“This person is seriously mistaken. Do you think you could avoid us if you wanted to, Professor? We just left you alone for a bit so you could mentally prepare yourself.”

“…”

I stare at Elia Krisanax approaching me, unable to even move my lips.

“Well, don’t freeze up like that. I won’t eat you right now.”

[Did you hear that?]

‘What?’

[‘Right now’ she won’t eat you.]

‘…’

[You’re screwed. You know that?]

As my mind grows hazy from Calivan’s wickedly laughing voice, Elia thrusts something in front of me.

It’s a carefully sealed envelope. It probably contains a letter.

“You don’t have anything to do during the break anyway, right?”

“I was just feeling happy about that fact.”

“I see. Then be a little unhappy.”

“…”

Why has she become so merciless?

“Well, I think I’ll become gentle again once I see the results.”

“Results?”

“To see the result that you and I are inseparable, something needs to be growing in my belly—”

“Wow, what’s this? I’m so curious—!”

Before the crazy words can fully leave Elia’s mouth, I frantically tear open the envelope she handed me.

Scanning the letter that pops out, I first notice the large seal of the Margrave of Kendrid.

“…”

I feel anxious.

Quite a lot.

“It’s an invitation. To visit our territory.”

As she says, it’s an invitation.

Summoning me to the Kendrid Margraviate.

The northern territory where Elia’s adoptive father resides.

“…Why?”

“We can invite you, can’t we? Aren’t we close enough?”

“…No, I mean. Why?”

Why this timing of all times?

“No, you have to keep your promise. You agreed to visit our home once.”

“…”

“Since you went to the Student Council President’s home last time, now you should come to our territory. It’s only fair.”

“…Fair for what…?”

Elia shrugged as if I was asking something obvious.

“Opportunity.”

“…”

“Well, I suppose everyone will probably crowd in when they hear you’re coming… but that can’t be helped. Since it’s my hometown, I’ll have the home field advantage.”

“…”

“Oh, and don’t ask what opportunity I’m talking about in that frustrating way.”

Elia patted my shoulder with a bright smile.

“You know what I mean, don’t you, Professor?”

With those words, she walked away down the corridor, humming a tune.

“…”

Cold sweat begins to pour down my back.

[Idiot.]

“…”

[I told you to just give up, didn’t I?]

I don’t even have the energy to argue anymore.

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