Ch.48Yesterday’s Enemy

# Day Three of Imprisonment in Marquess Justitia’s Basement.

Irefi found me. Her promise to try to be with me wasn’t empty words; we spent a long time alone together in the basement.

Her beautiful voice now carried a sickly attachment that was gradually becoming more evident.

She wanted to talk. She spent hours trying to convince me how crucial and beneficial it would be to destroy the Netionpiece for my sake.

I informed her that regardless of its importance, destroying the Netionpiece was impossible. Irefi then denied reality with lifeless, empty eyes.

I must have unconsciously shown fear on my face, because she quickly smiled to reassure me. I was troubled, not knowing what expression I should show her.

Seeing my complex reaction, she leaned her body against mine. With the clanking sound of chains, her warm body pressed against me with weight.

She felt light.

Irefi spent an unknown amount of time in that position, leading our conversation. Her eerily calm manner of speaking made my throat burn with emotion, as I couldn’t bring myself to hate her despite the creepiness.

When the time came to part, Irefi said goodbye with a kiss like the one from that night. As excitement and passion traveled across our lips, I felt my mind going blank.

# Day Four of Imprisonment in Marquess Justitia’s Basement.

Today, Irefi once again looked at me with eyes full of sick affection.

I suddenly wondered about Miren’s well-being. With Irefi’s mind becoming increasingly corrupted, I worried that being near her was no longer safe.

Fortunately, Miren was currently staying at Duke Chester’s manor on the island. Apparently, she had made plans to play with the Chester twins for a few days… well, that was news to me.

But the timing is good. I felt somewhat relieved and smiled for the first time in a while. Meanwhile, Irefi made no effort to hide her discomfort, which was burdensome.

She said she was disappointed that my first question was about Miren’s well-being rather than her own. When I retorted that I was disappointed about being imprisoned like this, she fell silent.

It seems she can still distinguish basic logic even with her corrupted mind.

Today again, she leaned against me and shared trivial stories. Starting with today’s weather and ending with how her happiness grows day by day whenever she thinks of me.

I was completely exhausted and responded halfheartedly. Irefi seemed to like even that, looking at me with a face full of love.

Even while looking at her dazzling beauty, my thoughts were dominated by impressions vastly different from before.

Today’s farewell was again an intense kiss. After completing this passionate goodbye ritual, she turned away.

Irefi’s gait was extremely stable, yet somehow precarious.

# Day Five of Imprisonment in Marquess Justitia’s Basement.

Yesterday, after Irefi left, dozens of decisions and reversals tumbled back and forth in my mind.

I’m anxious. Suddenly, I wondered how long Irefi and I could continue in this relationship.

At the same time, an enormous fear approached like a solid, high wall.

How long could my disappearance be concealed?

The Emperor would send an imperial summons to see me. Whether for personal amusement or official business, he would certainly call for me.

Irefi might be able to smooth things over once or twice. But if these incidents pile up, even a fool would notice.

The Emperor would soon confront Irefi, and the current Irefi would never give me up.

Eventually, the Emperor would face a crossroads. Confrontation with Irefi, or concealment by mutual agreement?

The latter seems more convincing, but for the Emperor, it’s essentially the same as facing a powerful challenge to his authority.

If such immense power becomes uncontrollable, where would things go? In the worst case, there’s a real possibility that the future we once avoided could be recreated.

“Nepy.”

She called my name. Irefi, with her sick affection dissolved in blue lakes.

I remained silent, giving no answer. She puffed her cheeks and demanded a response.

When I kept my mouth shut, Irefi approached with a chilling presence. Instinctively, I squeezed my eyes shut, followed by the familiar sensation of her lips crashing into mine.

After the long kiss ended, she acted coquettishly.

“If you keep doing that, I want to open your mouth like this.”

“Irefi…”

It was as if her previous self had been completely erased.

As if the Irefi I knew had already gone on a journey somewhere.

I felt scared, bitter, and pained.

The Malice swirling around her, as if satisfied with this situation, was frustrating.

Today too, Irefi energetically led the conversation, trying to make me happy. The difference from before was that my responses were barely audible.

Irefi’s behavior—maintaining a pouty face while stubbornly continuing the conversation—was reminiscent of madness. No, I suspect that’s not incorrect.

How much time had passed?

Irefi said goodbye with a voice dripping with regret. Of course, it was a somewhat suggestive farewell connected by our lips.

At that moment, I looked into Irefi’s eyes.

On the surface of the blue lake, foggy with sick affection. Beneath it, I felt as if I had found her essence, settled like an abyss.

Perhaps during my imprisonment, I too had become mentally ill from encountering her pathological attitude.

Still, if what I saw wasn’t an illusion, if it wasn’t a fantasy caused by my desperation…

Irefi was definitely calling for help. Desperately screaming an unreachable scream toward someone.

Even while keeping in mind that this might be a hallucination or delusion of a mentally ill person, I finally made my decision.

# Day Six of Imprisonment in Marquess Justitia’s Basement.

Would Irefi come to see me today too? Of course she would have come down to the basement.

Then what kind of reaction would she show?

Seeing my corpse, with limbs intact but cold and stiff.

◇

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Mounds of dirt became dust particles scattered in the air. Something resembling broken planks fell belatedly with a dull sound.

Thud. Thud.

I checked whether my limbs were intact and if there were any damaged parts.

“Refreshing.”

It had been a while since I breathed outside air. The scent of seasonal flowers brushed my nose on the night breeze.

Looking in the direction of the wind, I could see the beautiful imperial garden displaying its splendor.

“I never dreamed I’d use it like this…”

I lowered my gaze to look at the hole under the scattered dirt. There was now a large, empty coffin holding nothing but emptiness.

To reveal the identity of the coffin, I need to recall the kidnapping incident with Charle.

At that time, I had agreed with the Emperor to bury “something” near the main palace for a secret contingency plan. And I kept this a secret from Irefi.

Yes. This was the cause of the argument with Irefi right before leaving for the Great Cavern, which we quickly reconciled.

Specifically, it was a coffin containing my severed right arm and clothes.

“I wasn’t sure, but this distance was possible after all.”

The ability to regenerate a body from a separated body part as an immortal. Then what is the range limit?

Initially, I buried it to travel between the Great Cavern and the imperial palace as if teleporting. But soon I realized there was some distance limitation and admitted I had done something pointless.

I never imagined that something I had abandoned would be used for this purpose later.

“Life is truly unpredictable. To think I’d use this because of Irefi’s rampage…”

Honestly, isn’t regenerating a body from just an arm fragment horrifying? That was simply why I kept it a secret from Irefi. It was a trivial reason, but a good decision.

Just then, a familiar voice came from behind.

“Oh, isn’t it Marquess Alteon?”

“Young Duke… or should I call you Commander Chester now?”

“Haha, that’s too generous a title. But I heard you were helping with work at Marquess Justitia’s manor. What brings you to the imperial palace?”

Ah, so that’s what was publicly known? It’s a reasonable excuse, but not a good reason.

Is it the dulling of cognitive abilities due to Malice? Or is there some other scheme…

‘No, the current Irefi can’t be understood through reason. Don’t dig too deep.’

I went straight to the point.

“If Irefi told you that, then Commander, you’ve heard a blatant lie.”

“…Pardon?”

He wouldn’t understand. His dumbfounded reaction makes sense.

“Let me be direct. Irefi has gone mad. I was imprisoned in the basement of her manor for five days.”

“M-mad?! The Justitia Commander? And imprisonment, what is that… that’s nonsense…”

Bartlant was clearly at a loss for words.

“…Let’s talk inside. Honestly, though it seems unlikely, I’m afraid of falling into Irefi’s sight.”

I glanced nervously in the direction of Marquess Justitia’s manor. Only then did Bartlant snap to attention and usher me in first.

“Ah, yes! I understand. Let’s talk in the commander’s office. I’ll inform His Majesty of your arrival at the palace, so please go ahead. I’ll follow shortly.”

“Understood.”

With those final words, I found my way to the commander’s office and opened the door.

Inside the commander’s office was the newly appointed deputy commander—Isgal Linter, finishing up paperwork. He greeted me with a bewildered expression.

He served tea and refreshments to me as I sat on the reception sofa, anxiously bouncing my leg. His skilled manners helped ease my tension a little.

Soon after, Bartlant and the Emperor entered. In an instant, Deputy Commander Isgal stood at attention while trying to contain his bulging eyes.

“Be at ease. It’s been a while since I’ve seen Marquess Alteon, since the hearing.”

“I’m glad to see you’re well.”

“From the looks of it, you haven’t been so fortunate.”

“Is it that obvious?”

“Extremely!”

The Emperor’s eye for emotions was still sharp. Meanwhile, Bartlant, the newly appointed guard commander, looked confused, unable to follow the context.

“I’ve heard the gist of it. That Marquess Justitia has gone mad, committed imprisonment—it’s hard to believe.”

“It’s true.”

“It certainly appears so, but could you explain?”

“Of course, Your Majesty.”

I detailed the information about Malice and Irefi’s current state. The Emperor and Isgal both wore serious expressions, but Bartlant still couldn’t follow the conversation.

Finally, Bartlant directly expressed his doubt.

“Excuse me, Marquess Alteon? I understand that Commander Justitia’s abilities are formidable. But are they truly so frightening that even someone like you would fear her?”

The Emperor answered his question.

“Young Duke, are you familiar with the Chainlich Phenomenon that occurred in the Arlan Kingdom eight years ago?”

“I recall it as a tragic incident where the Nelfrugia Knights, who went to provide ceremonial support, were annihilated.”

“The record states all but one person perished, which is not incorrect.”

The Emperor revealed the complete truth about the Chainlich Phenomenon from eight years ago. As he laid out the facts, Bartlant and Isgal’s expressions changed from disbelief to shock.

“I, I believe Commander Justitia is currently twenty-six years old. If we calculate backwards…?”

Deputy Commander Isgal answered Bartlant’s question.

“She would have been eighteen… My goodness, I’m not sure if I should be privy to such classified information.”

“I thoroughly understand why Your Majesty trusted her. All my statements at the hearing will remain my life’s greatest embarrassment…”

Bartlant hung his head dejectedly. In the solemn atmosphere, the Emperor spoke.

“I understand the situation. Leaving her unchecked or sending you back would only postpone disaster, which I agree with. Do you have any solution to this problem, Marquess?”

“…I don’t have any immediate solution. I even question whether there’s a way to restrain Irefi…”

At that moment, Isgal raised his hand and spoke as if stating the obvious.

“Um, if Commander Justitia could truly become a calamity for the empire, is there any reason to capture her?”

Bartlant questioned his meaning.

“What else should we do?”

“Execution, of course. With Marquess Alteon here, who suffered imprisonment, we have sufficient justification if we frame it properly.”

He passionately argued while looking at us with a shudder.

“On the day the rebels attacked the island, everyone witnessed a miracle. It was Commander Justitia’s sword strike. Imagine if that strike had been directed at the imperial palace and the island instead of the sky. Even if we succeeded in capturing her, there would be no way in the world to restrain her.”

“…”

Isgal’s plea brought silence to the gathering. Everyone had unconsciously realized it. There was nothing wrong with what he said.

His opinion was a greater cause that couldn’t be refuted.

But I alone kept my mouth shut for a different reason. Heat rose in my throat at his appeal, consumed by rationality.

Justification.

He says the fact that she imprisoned me is justification for executing Irefi. I can’t agree with that, yet I can’t refute it as wrong. My existence has become harmful to Irefi.

Execution.

Irefi, who hasn’t committed any crime yet, has already lost her life in someone’s mind. The reason was that she harbored the future of a destroyer. She became a criminal to be punished for the unclear future crime we thought we had already avoided.

Without realizing it, I was overcome with the urge to slam my tightly clenched fist on the table. Or perhaps I wanted to grab that man by the collar.

I set aside all evil desires and thought calmly.

‘The old man said removing Malice is impossible. But control is possible. Sorcery is proof of that.’

There are many unclear points about Irefi’s Malice, but perhaps it can be controlled.

But… is it really feasible? Isn’t it overly optimistic arrogance?

What if it’s impossible?

If adaptation over a long period is the only answer, like with the old man, then Irefi would have to live as a criminal for her entire life.

My head felt like it would explode with these pouring concerns.

They continued their discussion while I held my head in my hands.

“Deploying troops would be meaningless…”

“An asymmetric strike force including elite units…”

“Recruiting elites without Commander Justitia hearing about it…”

Damn, it’s too noisy to concentrate on organizing my thoughts. Or perhaps I’ve already organized them but am stubbornly trying to shake off every speck of dust.

“I… I…”

As I trailed off, trying to somehow extract time for a decision.

A voice that shouldn’t exist here was heard.

“Quite lively for such a serious situation. Except for one guy over there.”

Somehow, a mysterious intruder was casually sitting on the terrace. Their faces hardened at the sudden appearance of this stranger who had arrived without any warning.

Bartlant’s judgment was swift.

“Kuk!? Isgal! Protect His Majesty! Get out immediately and escort him to the knights’ headquarters!”

“Yes, Commander!”

“Hmm, that’s troublesome. I’d prefer to avoid commotion on this moonlit night.”

Crack, crack!

The door behind Isgal began to freeze from the bottom up. Though it appeared to be fragile frost at first glance, the reality was different.

It was closer to a technique with binding properties.

I had seen the same sight before. Too many times to count!

“Sealing frost…”

“So you recognize it.”

He nonchalantly walked from the terrace into the commander’s office.

I spoke the intruder’s name.

“Why are you here, Zikharun!”

To my outburst, Zikharun responded with the familiarity of an old friend.

“I came because I thought you might need help, Marquess Nepy Alteon. Or should I call you this?”

Zikharun twisted his lips and said:

“—A comrade in the same predicament.”