episode_0146

“This… Looks like I’m in bigger trouble than I thought.”

Ethan said with a serious expression.

I had just finished explaining to Ethan what I had been through.

Why was I falsely accused, and why did I appear in the grave hiding my identity?

Even about the existence of the church, which is the cause, and its purpose.

So he must have understood.

How dangerous this situation is.

“War… … .”

When I first heard that rumor after coming out of the forest, my expression fell.

It had to be that way.

From my perspective, it was literally like the sound of the sky falling.

After leaving the academy after being falsely accused.

I was busy trying to stop the ‘Cult’s’ plan.

Although it wasn’t his intention, he freed Aguilem from the church by defeating Hamel, and just before that, he even dealt with the resurrected legendary monster Armianon.

But, a war broke out.

And that too, because the two empires were the main subjects.

“… I need information.”

Even in a situation where my head felt like it was going to turn gray, I didn’t stand still.

If the rumors were true, there was no time to be lost like this.

So Ethan and I started gathering information to see if the rumors were true.

He traveled to various places, listened to rumors, and even paid money to information dealers to purchase information.

And at the end of that process.

“… Damn.”

I was sure.

That war really broke out.

“It looks like Reinberg started it all.”

“… … .”

Hearing Ethan’s voice sound heavier than usual, my expression hardened.

As the saying goes, this war actually started from Reinberg.

It all started when Reinberg, who had shown a quiet appearance externally, suddenly began to put pressure on neighboring countries.

As a result, an ugly atmosphere was formed, and Cairn, the crown prince of Elbrendt, showed an overt discomfort in that atmosphere, sparking a full-fledged conflict between the two empires.

In other words, we can say that it was Reinberg who started the war.

‘… why?’

Doubts soared.

The targets of that question were Reinberg and Estelle.

It was a fact that there was no need to confirm that Estelle’s intentions would have been reflected in Reinberg’s sudden change.

Estelle is virtually the emperor of Reinberg, and it is natural for the empire to follow the emperor’s wishes.

No, Estelle’s influence within Reinberg is probably greater than that of the Emperor of Elbrendt.

Through the process of power struggle, it is safe to say that Reinberg’s power is concentrated in one person, Estelle.

Therefore, it must be considered impossible for Reinberg to act outside of her will.

In other words, it was correct to assume that Reinberg’s sudden sharp appearance was her will.

‘why… ?’

I could never guess the reason.

Perhaps other people were fearful of this situation, concerned, but not puzzled.

According to the world’s perception, Estelle is a bloodless and tearless tyrant who cannot even guess what she will do, and all the rumors about her are nothing but heinous things.

But I know.

That Estelle was never like that.

That she is a completely different person than the rumors say.

The woman I know is not the kind of person who will act meanly for no reason, just because she is upset.

Furthermore, I am not a person who prefers war… I think so.

There’s no way she doesn’t know how much death and damage war creates.

Therefore, I could not hide my doubts.

I can’t figure out why she did this.

She was even vaguely aware of the existence of the ‘Cult’.

Even if he didn’t know the details, he clearly knew that a group planning a war was working in secret.

Yet, she created this situation.

I was very curious about the reason.

“So, what are you going to do now?”

Ethan asked me with a very serious expression.

It was a type of expression that one could not see or expect from Ethan on a regular basis.

Perhaps it is because he is also aware of the seriousness of the situation.

‘how… la.’

After pondering Ethan’s question for a moment, I opened my mouth.

“… We have to stop it.”

It was as if the answer had been decided from the beginning.

War had to be prevented.

It wasn’t just because I was afraid of something the church was plotting.

It was because I knew how much damage war causes, how many lives it takes, and how many people’s lives are ruined.

War should not occur.

Even more so if it was a war involving both empires.

If it’s a problem… … .

“Is there a way to stop it?”

That was the problem.

How to prevent war.

“Are you going to break in and play a trick while the empires are fighting each other?”

“That’s… It won’t work.”

My current strength is definitely not normal.

I definitely have the power to change the course of the war if I want.

If Ethan can also help me, it is safe to say without exaggeration that it is a great strength.

But even we cannot fight the empire head-on.

Even if the two empires were opponents, it had to be considered impossible to stop them by force.

… No, maybe it’s possible.

If it were me now, and with the hero’s sword, I might be able to stop the fight for a moment by using force.

However, such a method inevitably involves sacrifice.

Therefore, it cannot be considered appropriate.

Since the denomination is working secretly in the first place, there is no way to sabotage it.

If so, what should you do?

“First of all… I need to meet Estelle.”

In order to stop a war that has already ignited, it is ultimately necessary to move those with the authority.

In this case, it would be the emperor of both empires or someone in an equivalent position.

Of course, there is no way I could meet the Emperor of Elbrent, so naturally my options are narrowed down to Estelle.

Also, I have a close relationship with Estelle.

“How?”

“… … .”

I thought about that question for a while.

No matter how much I have reached a new level, it is not easy to approach someone like the emperor of an empire.

The mere number and quality of the guards would be at a level beyond imagination, and the magical defenses would also be at an incredible level.

This would be even more so in a situation like this where the atmosphere has become ugly.

It must have been equipped with defenses that would not allow even a single ant to approach.

Considering that, there’s probably a high chance that I’ll be discovered or intercepted along the way.

then?

“… I need to reveal my identity.”

He secretly visits Estelle, approaches her by revealing his identity, and talks to her.

I thought that was the only way.

“Hmm… okay. It might be better to try it first.”

Ethan was in a corner thinking about something, but in the end he nodded his head vertically.

So, without even being able to properly control the fatigue we gained from the forest, we immediately set off on our way again.

The destination was, of course, the academy where Estelle was located.

It was not long after we embarked on our journey that we heard the news that the armies of both empires were gathering towards the academy.

***

Ferdion Academy.

A room on the top floor of an extravagant building that stands out among the many buildings there.

Inside a room so extravagant that it was hard to believe it existed inside an educational institution, a man was prostrating.

“The troops have been summoned as ordered.”

In the direction the man’s head was facing, there was a woman sitting.

Long, flowing silver hair that looks as if the starlight was spun into thread.

Skin as if it were carved from white jade, with no flaws at all.

And, in a room lit by faint moonlight, purple eyes emit a bright and dreamy glow.

She was a woman with such unrealistic beauty that one wondered if this was what angels in heaven looked like.

And the fact that the woman’s expression did not show any emotions further enhanced her unrealistic beauty.

The unrealistic atmosphere makes it seem more persuasive to say that it is a doll painstakingly created by God rather than a human being.

However.

She was clearly a living, breathing human being, not a doll.

“Good job.”

The woman responded to her subordinate’s report in a flat tone that was beautiful, matching her appearance, but devoid of the slightest emotion.

And then.

“Go out.”

An order to congratulate guests was immediately issued.

At the wedding invitation, the man immediately disappeared from the spot.

As if the being had disappeared from its place.

And, she was left alone in the room.

In a dark room with faint moonlight, in quiet silence, she sat there.

How much time passed in such silence that it seemed as if time had stopped.

Finally, the woman made her first move.

She raised her left hand, brought it in front of her face, and began to look intently at it.

No, more precisely, the ring on his left hand.

A ring made of an unknown metal and with a design that can never be called flashy.

Considering the woman’s status, it was not an item worth wearing.

The woman reached for the ring.

Then, he began stroking the ring with a careful hand.

That touch was infinitely soft and pathetic.

“… … .”

The action did not stop for a long time, until the moon in the sky began to tilt.