Ch.89The Final Stratagem – 2

A commotion spread through the crowd, incomparable to what had just occurred moments before.

Everyone here had experienced great turmoil from the recent demon invasion, so they couldn’t help but react sensitively to the claim that someone had ordered the invasion of the Empire.

“Keep talking! What are you waiting for?”

At Igor’s harsh command, the succubus pretended to tremble and began to lay out what was likely a pre-arranged plan.

She claimed to be a succubus who had infiltrated the imperial palace with the help of Laura, the insider, and had gradually expanded her influence within the Empire using Laura as her starting point.

She even went so far as to directly name the noble houses where she had exerted her influence.

‘She’s practically pushing them to kill those people.’

Her intention was obvious to anyone watching. She planned to use the enthralled nobles as bait.

Whatever the process had been, the fact that they were genuinely enthralled by the succubus was true. She clearly intended to have them killed along with Laura by framing them as having sworn loyalty to her.

Igor shouted triumphantly:

“Did you hear that, Laura? You were the root cause eating away at the Empire! Aren’t you ashamed of the Bellium bloodline, selling out the Empire for your own safety?”

“I heard it quite clearly. However, I feel no shame. It was nothing but lies not even worth refuting.”

Laura remained composed. She seemed to have somewhat recovered from the initial shock.

“We’ve obtained a confession, and you still claim it’s lies?”

“Why would I call a lie anything but a lie? It seems you’ve gone to great lengths to fabricate this story, and if you’ve coordinated your tales so meticulously, I’m beginning to wonder if you might be the real traitor.”

Laura sharply countered, striking at an unexpected angle. It was a reasonable suspicion given the circumstances.

If a succubus suddenly appeared and started freely divulging plans about things Laura had never done, it was natural to suspect the other party of being the traitor.

The only problem was the lack of evidence to support this suspicion.

“Have you forgotten that the Sword Saint himself proved my innocence?”

“I’m not entirely certain about their abilities, but one thing does make me curious. If, as you claim, they have been expanding my influence underground for years, why hasn’t a single person been discovered during all this time?”

“Because you concealed it thoroughly! With the power and position of the Crown Prince, what couldn’t you accomplish?”

Hearing this, Laura pulled up the corner of her mouth in a sneer.

“First, let me inform you that I have spent most of the past two years here at Bellium Academy. As you know, this place is constantly protected under the dragon’s guardianship. How could I possibly manage hundreds of nobles for years without being detected by the Empire’s investigation network while staying in such a place? I wonder what you think of Director Erestica.”

“Who knows! You might have utilized some unknown succubus ability that we’re not aware of!”

“That’s precisely what I was about to say. If succubi possess an ability that can hide nobles who frequent the imperial palace in the capital without a single one being discovered, couldn’t you also be benefiting from that same ability?”

Igor hesitated momentarily, caught by his own words.

If he denied the existence of such concealment methods, it would raise questions about how the enthralled nobles had avoided detection. If he confirmed it, the same method could potentially be applied to him as well.

“So you intend to lie until the end. Very well. Then I must ask someone else. Mira Crate!”

Unable to find a suitable rebuttal, Igor turned his gaze toward me. A chilling smile briefly crossed Laura’s face. She had noticed his evasion.

“You asked Professor Ingrid to disable the barrier! If not for the sacrifice of the holy knights, the entire Bellium Academy would have been covered in demonic energy! Surely no one would have survived! How do you explain this?”

It was quite a clever improvisation, whoever came up with it—portraying the barrier, which originally had no offensive function, as if the holy knights had prevented the academy’s destruction by stopping it.

Though it seemed they had paid a considerable price in lives for that “sacrifice.”

Before the invasion, there had been at least five hundred holy knights, but now barely ten remained. Whether they died by monsters or by their own hands, it was clearly an intentional sacrifice.

“However! I know that you were enthralled by the succubus and ordered to do such things! It must all be because of that traitor! I, Igor, swear that if you confess the truth now, your crimes will be considered with leniency!”

He seemed to be forcing me to choose between siding with Laura or with him, though I wondered where his confidence came from after being rejected earlier.

The answer had been decided long ago.

“I did it of my own will, you know? It was just an illusion-type barrier without any attack function, so what sacrifice are you talking about? I’m perfectly fine, so if you don’t believe me, ask the Sword Saint to verify.”

A pleased expression appeared on Laura’s face. In contrast, Igor’s expression was quite distorted.

“…I see. You’re still thoroughly enthralled. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you receive holy treatment as a top priority later.”

‘Wow, he still won’t give up?’

I was beginning to feel a sense of awe. After being shut down three times to his face, most would have given up by now. Did Astaroth have some kind of fit demanding I be captured alive no matter what?

“Questions still remain. According to your claim, what surrounded the academy was not demonic energy but a simple barrier. How did you know this? Something even the professors didn’t know?”

I had anticipated this question would come eventually. It was something both Ingrid and the other professors who were present would naturally wonder about. I just hadn’t expected to answer it in this situation.

I gave the answer I had prepared:

“It means I’m just that talented.”

However, it wasn’t exactly the same as what I had prepared.

“……”

At that outrageously arrogant response, even Igor was momentarily taken aback. The other students and teachers felt the same. Only Priscilla and Rosaria seemed to accept my answer.

Laura was different—she appeared quite satisfied with my response.

“A student who claims to be better than the professors of Bellium Academy… your confidence is excessive.”

One thing was certain: Igor ended his questioning there, as if he had nothing more to say. In truth, there probably wasn’t anything else to ask. At best, he could only threaten me to admit guilt.

And neither Laura nor I was the type to yield to threats.

“I ask you one last time, Laura Ercarenchiana. Do you still deny your crimes?”

“One must have committed something to affirm it. I cannot deny crimes I never committed. Unless you’re saying your entire accusation itself is wrong, which is another matter.”

As Igor’s expression began to darken again, I approached Laura and whispered the plan I had thought of into her ear. After hearing it, Laura gave me a curious look.

“If we follow your plan, is there any need for us to remain imprisoned?”

“I’m planning to clean up the church people too. They’ll be desperate to fabricate at least one more piece of evidence, and they’ll only mobilize the church if they think we’re safely locked up.”

“I suppose that’s true…”

Laura seemed to ponder something deeply before nodding with her characteristic smile. Then, as if doing us a favor, she spoke:

“While I absolutely did no such thing, since you’re suspicious, I should submit to an investigation. Do as you please.”

“…What are you suddenly plotting?”

It was an extremely abrupt change in attitude. Not only Igor, who had been questioning Laura until just now, but also the students and professors watching us looked bewildered. The Sword Saint was the same.

“I’m saying investigate to your heart’s content. Even if someone like you searched for a million years, you wouldn’t find even the smallest transgression.”

“……”

Though Igor still looked unsatisfied until the end, he seemed to feel he had achieved his goal and ordered the female knights beside him to take Laura to the imperial palace. The order included me as well.

“Where do you think you’re going!”

“I won’t run away, so let go.”

I shook off the female knight trying to grab me and approached Priscilla, who was glaring at Igor as if she wanted to kill him. Rosaria was in the middle of a heated argument with the church people.

“Mira…”

“This is how it turned out. I’m sorry, Priscilla.”

“Should I kill that bastard? I can do it right now if you give me permission.”

“No. I appreciate the thought.”

I stroked her head and pulled her into an embrace. Pretending to pat her back, I brought my lips to her ear and whispered:

“Wait just two nights. I’ll definitely return within that time.”

“…Two nights. Okay. I understand.”

“And tell Rosaria that she might need to act as a holy maiden candidate soon. I’ll need your help too, Priscilla.”

Nod, nod—Priscilla nodded more vigorously. After stroking her head one last time, I returned to Laura’s side. Her blood-red eyes were staring at me intently.

“Since the entrance ceremony, you two have seemed exceptionally close.”

“It’s a complicated situation.”

“I’ll take your word for it.”

We calmly boarded the carriage. The news would have been delivered by now, and they were probably busy fabricating new evidence, but that was fine. This was a battle I couldn’t lose.

It was time to fight with propaganda and fabrication.