episode_0062

“Then take care, Eric.”

“Yeah.”

It took considerable effort to calm down Cecilia, who had taken the red pill and now resembled a fanatic to outsiders, but we finally managed to outline our next steps.

“Oppa, I want you, Dave, and Cheryl to work together to gather evidence against the other corrupt members of the church. We’ll provide the details.”

“Huh? Why split up the team?”

“Nana and I are too recognizable. Walking around openly would be risky, and maintaining disguises would drain too much mana.”

“By that logic, my face is just as exposed.”

A rotten Grave is still a Grave. The fact that few know my face only applies within the Academy and the Empire. The targets we’re chasing already recognize the faces of most influential heirs.

Yet Cecilia quickly countered my argument.

“No, that shouldn’t be the case. Surprisingly, not many know what Eric looks like. Even among our own, more than half wouldn’t recognize you.”

“What?”

Nonsense. In the last world, how many opportunities slipped away because people recognized me?

“You haven’t yet committed atrocities outside the Academy, have you?”

Cecilia emphasized yet.

“People’s impressions are surprisingly influential. Even if someone knows your face, it wouldn’t be easy to connect the reckless young master you once were to who you are now.”

“But do you really think they’re that incompetent?”

“You’ve been dressing neatly lately, unlike during the first semester, right?”

“Well, yeah.”

As Chris said, I’d been keeping my appearance more refined compared to my first run or the early days of this semester. It was to prove I’d changed—but I hadn’t expected it to make me harder to recognize.

A perspective I never considered.

“Hehe, you didn’t think I dragged you around shopping just for fun, did you? I had a plan all along~.”

“Besides, Oppa, we’re not going there expecting to get caught. We investigate secretly, gather rumors discreetly, and finish them quietly.”

“What do you mean by ‘finish’?”

“Drop the formalities, senior. I’m just a junior now—scold me if I’m lacking.”

“But how could I—”

“I dislike repeating myself.”

“…So who do we investigate first?”

“Hmm, let’s see…”

After a pause, Cecilia flicked her fingers.

“I doubt we’ll be overheard, but better safe than sorry.”

“Who’s the target?”

“If we get caught, it won’t matter who we picked. Why bother asking?”

I clamped my mouth shut.

“Priest Gillis.”

“Gillis? He’s manageable, but… that manageable?”

Priest Gillis—a third-rank clergyman yet consumed by greed, accepting bribes like a glutton.

Well, in a few years, bribery won’t even register as a crime—but this is still an era where Imperial justice survives.

“Ah, I’ve heard rumors about Priest Gillis too,” Dave added quietly.

“Well, he’s always been flashy with his corruption. I’m sure you seniors have heard enough. Plus, exposing him wouldn’t backfire—he’s got no powerful allies protecting him.”

“And even if his bribery is exposed, finding someone who’d investigate him is a bonus.”

“Fine, fine. What about the rest of us? What are you doing in the meantime?”

“We’ll let you know separately. No need to fret—Cecilia already worked everything out. We’re not sending you in for direct investigation anyway.”

“Then what are you having us do?”

“Just observe Priest Gillis’ routine. Gathering decisive evidence risks exposure—it’s better to stick to surface-level investigation for long-term gains. Even if Oppa and the seniors ran around looking for evidence, you’d still be slower than us.”

I couldn’t argue.

“But ‘long-term’?”

“You don’t expect us to formally accuse a priest, do you? The Empire will handle the rest—the Church’s lost its self-restraining ability.”

“Yeah, the fact that rumors circulate about a high-ranking priest is weird enough.”

A mad pope, incompetent and corrupt bishops and cardinals, clergy devoid of faith—entrusting them to investigate bribery?

Like leaving meat to a cat… only to find it untouched.

They’d brush off students like us after lip service. Priest Gillis would be excommunicated or vanish, but for the Church, it’s just cutting off loose ends.

“So we support Lord Grave?”

“Yes. And Cheryl? One request.”

When Cecilia called, Cheryl slowly straightened up.

Had she been sleeping in that short span? Remarkable.

“Y…Yes? You called?”

“Cheryl, I need a favor.”

“A favor? Shoot.”

“You’re well-connected with the Academy’s newspaper club, right?”

“Huh? I know them, yeah. Why?”

“We need to disseminate what we find. The Empire handles investigations, but shouldn’t they know who did the groundwork?”

“What exactly do you mean by that?”

“The Empire’s investigation and our announcement are separate matters.”

I cut in while Dave looked baffled.

“Come on, no way. Elia would go that far?”

“And then some. This is the best chance to cement her position in the Imperial succession—she wouldn’t let it slip.”

“Cecilia’s right, Oppa. The Emperor and Church are already biting each other’s necks. While investigating Gillis, they’ll likely ransack the entire Church.”

That’s the problem. Higher-ups failing their duties is one thing, but gutting the Church entirely can wait.

No—if the Church collapses now, ordinary citizens will panic. It still serves as their psychological sanctuary.

But that’s only if Elia—no, the Empire—launches a full-scale purge.

“Really think Elia would push it that far? If it were me, I’d lay low even harder now.”

“Elia’s already making moves. Ever since you regained your senses.”

“……”

Is this my fault?

It might be narcissistic, but knowing Elia, it fits. Like Cecilia, like Chris—they’ve all gone overboard. At least Luciella seems sane, but I shouldn’t cling to that small mercy. She’s the trickiest anyway.

“Assuming worst-case scenario?”

“Exactly. You regaining your senses means—”

Cecilia glanced at Dave and Cheryl.

“—those who earn your favor gain the Grave family’s backing.”

My father, current head of House Grave, remains neutral in this succession. Even as the second most powerful house, his involvement would tilt the scales.

“Ah.”

Come to think of it, I haven’t seen Mother or Father this run—always traveling for inspections or diplomacy. Once this Church mess ends, maybe I should visit.

They haven’t seen me since I “recovered,” after all.

“At this point, even if Elia bows to her siblings, no one’s foolish enough to buy it. She has to keep running until officially crowned. And our assignment? A tantalizing achievement. If they shrug it off with formal thanks and rewards, well—we all know what that looks like.”

Dave nodded, but Cheryl yawned.

“Get to the point. How do you want me to use my newspaper contacts?”

“We need a PR battle. So they don’t steal our credit. Even if Elia would be a good Empress, we can’t just roll over.”

“Propaganda and fabrication? That’s our department. Just say the word.”

“No, nothing that extreme.”