episode_0243

After accidentally attracting some attention with her appearance, Cerista, who had just treated MacHeart’s injury, led the debate on the truth of MacHeart and Edan’s statements under Seraphine’s guidance.

Edan claimed that MacHeart should be killed for using the power of the demons and threatening his life, while MacHeart argued that Edan was slandering him by claiming that he was a demon who wanted to kill him.

Of course, the truth could not be verified through their conversation alone, so what needed to be used here was one of the abilities of the Saint, the ‘Mirror of Truth.’

“If I use this, it will quickly reveal the true form of the demons disguised as humans.”

To be precise, MacHeart was still ‘human,’ so even if the Mirror of Truth was used, he would not transform into a demon.

One might ask if there was no evidence to prove that MacHeart was associated with the demons, but I had already thought about that.

From the start, dark magic had become so ingrained in MacHeart that it was almost inseparable from his true self, so if the true nature of dark magic was revealed through the Mirror of Truth, MacHeart’s true self would also be revealed.

“Cerista.”

“Yes, yes…!”

“Could you please use the Mirror of Truth, one of the Saint’s abilities, on MacHeart right now?”

“….”

“Cerista?”

“Yes, yes… I-I’ll try….”

Cerista, clearly flustered by Seraphine’s request, awkwardly nodded her head.

Knowing that she was a fake Saint, I could understand her reaction perfectly. And it was obvious that Cerista’s attempt to use the ‘Mirror of Truth’ alone would fail.

Since Cerista’s title was ‘fake Saint’ from the start, she couldn’t possibly use the abilities of the Saint. Perhaps in a few years, Cerista would reach a level where she could awaken as a Saint herself, but for now, it was not possible.

Currently, Cerista was still lacking in one of the qualifications of a Saint, pure faith. MacHeart and Seraphine probably knew this fact, hence their confident yet anxious expressions.

“In the actual game, Seraphine has never called Cerista ‘Saint’ until Cerista properly awakens.”

It was a small subplot that could be discovered around the third playthrough. When Seraphine called the protagonist, she would use the title of ‘Hero,’ but when she called Cerista, it was always ‘Cerista.’

And since MacHeart was already associated with the demons through Evelyn, he must have some information in that regard.

“Cough, huff…. cough, huff….”

“Cerista, are you still far off?”

“Yes, y-yes… Just, just a moment…. Oh, it’s been a while since I’ve used this so I’m nervous….”

I had planned to pretend to cast a spell and simultaneously create what she had done, but it seemed that Cerista found it difficult to even pretend.

From the start, her personality was such that she couldn’t tell a lie. Promoting such a sensitive girl as a Saint for years had turned her into such a timid character.

At this rate, not only would we fail to uncover MacHeart’s demon suspicion, but also Edan’s noble execution crime and Cerista’s fake Saint suspicion would all come to light one after another. So, I quietly approached Cerista from behind and gently grabbed her shoulder.

-Thud.

“Ugh! S-sorry….”

“Cerista, Saint, quietly.”

“Yes, yes…?”

“From now on, I will whisper the incantation for the ‘Mirror of Truth,’ so please follow along slowly.”

“Yes, I-I understand….”

“Do not respond individually. Others are watching.”

Serista had to remain a ‘holy maiden’ until she defeated the demon king. It was crucial that her identity as a fake holy maiden was not revealed.

“So that I don’t get screwed after graduating from the academy.”

It was a matter of great importance to me. The reason I had entered the academy was to live comfortably after graduation, and if that plan failed, there would be no reason for me to have entered the academy in the first place.

“Lilith, are you okay?”

“It seems like Lady Serista is nervous, so I will hold her for a moment, Princess Seraphine.”

“…Yes, please do so.”

Was the current Seraphine aware that Serista was a holy maiden, or was she unaware?

Regardless, since she had given her permission, I simply recited the incantation of the ‘Mirror of Truth’ into Serista’s ear.

“Strip off the false mask, break free from the illusion, and reach the Mirror of Truth.”

“Strip off the false mask, break free from the illusion…”

Even though she stumbled a bit in her speech, it didn’t matter. The power of the holy maiden was not easily disrupted by such minor errors. Even if Serista recited a completely different incantation, as long as I recited it correctly, the Mirror of Truth would activate, so it didn’t matter.

“When all illusions are revealed as false, you will face the truth of the world through your power.”

“When all illusions are revealed as false, through your power…”

Still, her diligent effort to follow along with the unfamiliar incantation was admirable.

Well, there was no harm in memorizing it from now on. After this incident, she would awaken as a true holy maiden.

With that thought in mind, the two of us slowly synchronized our incantations, and at the end of a long preparation, Serista’s final incantation quietly echoed through the backyard of the palace.

“When the Mirror of Truth is complete, all fantasies will become one whirlpool.”

-Confirmed!

As Serista’s final incantation was completed, the ‘Mirror of Truth’ I had created reflected MacHart’s image, and a small circular magic circle appeared in the air, enveloping MacHart’s figure in a white light.

About five seconds passed in this manner.

As the truth mirror, which had wrapped his body in light once, ended, his figure was revealed in the light.

…There were no visible horns, different colored skin, or demonic features in his appearance.

“…Is it over?”

“…”

“I don’t feel like anything has changed. I don’t feel like I have horns on my head or my skin color has changed.”

“…”

“If the holy maiden used the Mirror of Truth to simply cast a light spell on me, then you must have lied. Isn’t that right, Edan?”

MacHart, who casually stroked his own head, approached Edan with a relaxed expression. His expression clearly showed his conviction that he had not turned into a demon, and that the Mirror of Truth used by Serista was just a fake magic trick.

However, everyone except MacHart already knew in their minds that the Mirror of Truth had worked properly.

After all, the current MacHart was showing undeniable evidence of dark magic on his ‘face’.

“Execution by the royal family… or rather, it would be attempted execution. It might work out well for you.”

“…”

“Attempted execution is still a serious crime, but it’s better than actual execution. Even if your head is chopped off, can’t you protect your family and fiancé?”

“Of course, the Blackwood family will no longer be a noble family, and your fiancé will no longer be of noble status. Don’t worry, I will take good care of your fiancé once I have them in my hands…”

“…Who are you?! Wh-Where is Prince MacHeart?!”

“…What?”

MacHeart’s expression, which had been confident of his victory, momentarily stiffened as he heard the nobles who he thought were on his side criticizing him. He seemed taken aback by the accusations coming from the noble crowd that had supported him.

Unsure of the ‘face’ he was currently showing, MacHeart, with his usual confident stride, moved towards the crowd. However, as he approached, the crowd, including a young lady, recoiled with displeasure on their faces.

“What are you saying, miss? I am here like this. Lovely…”

“D-Don’t lie…!! Prince MacHeart… Prince MacHeart wouldn’t be a repulsive-looking commoner like you…!!”

“…Commoner?”

As MacHeart, whose private switch had been triggered, momentarily hesitated at the young lady’s words, the crowd that had gathered around him also began to hurl accusations at him.

“Where did you hide Prince MacHeart! Bring him back!”

“Don’t pretend to be Prince MacHeart with that face! It’s disgusting!”

“Don’t come any closer! Die!!”

“W-Wait… What are you talking about…?”

The noble ladies who had shown him favor until now, and even the young ladies who would die at his word, were now criticizing MacHeart harshly, leaving him unable to regain his composure. He was so shocked that he stumbled backward and nearly fell on his backside.

As the crowd began to murmur amongst themselves while looking at MacHeart’s face, one seemingly intelligent young lady approached him and muttered a response that seemed to hit close to the truth.

“Could it be that the real image revealed by the ‘mirror of truth’ is, could it be…”

With that one word from the unknown young lady, the crowd began to murmur amongst themselves while looking at MacHeart’s face, realizing that something was amiss. And as MacHeart realized this, a hand mirror fell in front of him.

“Brother MacHeart, would you like to take a look at your face?”

“….”

With a disdainful expression, Seraphine tossed the hand mirror towards MacHeart, who quietly picked it up.

In the hand mirror he held, only the face of a man who looked like he had been roughly molded out of clay was reflected back at him.