NOVEL NEXT Chapter 182
The royal investigation team couldn’t find me, but the heretical judge of the Holy Kingdom and the Executioner managed to come for me.
It’s not just that the Empire and the Holy Kingdom have different authorities; it was also because I, Leona, and the Flame Sovereign allowed it.
But that doesn’t mean I like the Executioner.
If anything, I could say I hate them.
These zealots with their thick skulls can’t hold a decent conversation.
Everything is the will of the heavens, everything is righteousness, and everything they do is justified, yet how do you reason with such nonsense?
It’d be easier and quicker and funnier to teach swordsmanship to a passing dog.
Even Luna, the saint of Pranecia, despised the Executioners.
Dressed in black, swarming together, they were as tenacious as cockroaches—she really had it out for them.
Still, I allowed it because I had something personal to investigate.
The barrier that had been spread over Anketin.
That was a barrier only the priests of Pranecia could set up.
The Cartel and Uje. First Prince Anton de Herman and the Demon Race.
And the suspicion that the Holy Kingdom might be behind them.
I want to believe it’s not true.
But in cases like this, the things you want to deny usually turn out to be true.
So I called for them.
I have something to verify before heading to the Holy Kingdom.
By the way, Mikel Dochef.
If it’s Dochef…
“Yes, Hero. I am James Dochef.”
Weren’t they the family of the knight who handed us two million sel and mother’s heirloom necklace?
“Should I call you Mikel… sir?”
“Please call me Mikel the Priest.”
Leona poked me in the side, but I brushed her hand away and spoke up.
“Then, Mikel the Priest… Do you have any ancestors who were heads of the knight order?”
Mikel blinked, astonished.
“…How did you know?”
Got it right.
“Uh… I read it in a book.”
“A book… you say?”
“Yes. A book. One of the scriptures left by our founding ancestor… It lists the names of heroes who had ventured into battle, and I… well, I think I read it there.”
Now Leona blinked, as if asking, ‘Such a book exists?’
I shamelessly nodded.
“Ahh… I see. A hero… a hero remembers my noble house. It’s an honor.”
How can I ever forget?
James Dochef—he’s the knight who gave us money and that necklace. In reality, his mother’s soul was held by a demon, and Luna and I spent three whole nights and days slaying demons to free that soul.
Honestly, I think Luna just got lucky, but remembering her expression back then, I doubt it was all just luck.
– We have to get her soul back within five days. If we delay any longer, she won’t enter heaven.
– No matter how many we kill, it’s never-ending! Exactly who among those countless demons has her?
– I don’t know. We’ll just kill them all and see what happens.
– While everyone else is having fun, why do we have to do this? If only you hadn’t gambled…!
– Didn’t I mention? Losing money was simply a divine plan to care for the Lamb of God. So stop whining and let’s get back to killing demons.
– Johan the Priest. That guy’s useless. Isn’t it just luck he got caught?
– Surely there’s a noble reason, in heaven’s eyes, for that too.
– …Right. Killing demons is always good. But, for goodness’ sake, at least attach the arm properly! It’s backward! It’s going to bend the wrong way!
– Oops, I was too focused on counting the coins… I’ll cut it off and reattach it quickly.
How did a family that once produced the head of the knight order fall into being a bunch of zealots?
…Could it be because Luna truly saved her mother’s soul?
Luna’s sins are deep…
“I would like to hear a bit more about that, but unfortunately, I’ve not come here in that capacity, so I’d like to postpone further discussions until later.”
Mikel said quite politely, placing his right hand over the symbol of Yurpia etched onto his left chest.
“All I’m saying by coming here and speaking is the will of the heavens—”
“Let’s skip the fluff and get to the point, shall we?”
Regardless, Leona, who sat with her legs crossed, tilted her head in response.
Leona also doesn’t like the Executioners.
I mean, is there even anyone who likes that mad zealot group other than themselves?
I can guarantee there isn’t.
But… if they’re going to be that way, wouldn’t it be better for them to just tell me directly? I wanted to say it, but I kept my mouth shut.
If I start messing around again, it feels like I’ll get hit hard…
…Well, getting hit is secondary.
That expression she made when she came to save me two days ago was enough to make me compliant.
I was just acting sick, worried that I’d get scolded, but the tears quietly streamed down Leona’s face, as she truly cared for me.
Worry, anger, self-blame, relief.
Looking at those mixed feelings in her tears, I couldn’t claim it was an act.
So I kept pretending to be hurt, and now I find myself in this situation.
Lying in the most distinguished temple in the kingdom, for two whole days in this supposedly royal-only hospital, while I’m feeling absolutely stifled.
I’m going to get up without fail tomorrow.
“…Understood.”
Mikel nodded hesitantly and then blinked before looking at me. His green eyes had a divine power quite unlike mana.
“Highborn Hero, Eliaernes Eustetia, Duchess. I will be asking you several questions now. Please answer only the truth, Duchess Eustetia.”
Eyes to distinguish truth from lies.
It’s not absolutely accurate. However, they say a clear lie can be detected.
I have no idea how it works.
Luna said truth and lies are told by the heavens, but I don’t even know if the gods exist, and if they did, I think they’d just whisper according to their whims.
What would they know about my insides, which neither my mom and dad know, nor do I sometimes?
“I’ll be answering. There’s nothing a 17-year-old should be interrogated about anyway.”
“The Demon Fist is the guardian of the Duchess of Eustetia—”
“Ugh.”
Leona’s, the Demon Fist’s, killing intent enveloped the room.
Mikel’s complexion turned pale. The stoic expression on his face cracked, and his already regular breaths became ragged.
An apple lying quietly turned black, and even though it wasn’t windy, the windows trembled.
“Demon Fist? Didn’t anyone warn you about what to be careful of before coming here? They surely must have.”
“…I misspoke.”
“There’s no next time.”
What does it mean that there’s no next time? Is he saying he’ll throw me out or kill me? I wanted to see what happens, but I hoped for the latter.
“I’ll hear you out now and return to the main topic. Leona Meganberta, are you claiming to be the guardian of Duchess Eustetia?”
“Yes. I’m her guardian, her protector, her mentor.”
“I understand there’s a Duchess present, but isn’t the guardian supposed to be her?”
“Right now, at this moment, in connection to this incident, I am the guardian. I have the consent and letters from Duchess Eustetia as well. You’re not expecting me to show them, are you?”
“I have to confirm.”
“Do you really need to?”
Leona’s mana subtly began to leak out.
Feeling that pressure, Mikel’s eyes started to flutter.
To be honest, showing the letters isn’t a problem. I genuinely have them.
Naturally, upon hearing about this incident through royal communications, my father said he would come right away.
I refused.
It’s vacation soon, and no matter how much of a duke he is, it would be unseemly for him to rush twice over his daughter, so I asked him to wait.
Still, he wouldn’t relent, and in the end…
We agreed that once vacation commenced, I’d drop by home and spend a whole day out with Dad…
…Either way, I have the letters.
But the reason he’s stubbornly sticking to this is just a battle of pride.
A scoundrel’s negotiation method, starting off by holding my head down before a proper investigation begins.
I wonder whom he learned that sickening and violent negotiation style from; it suits the name “Demon Fist” perfectly.
“I must confirm.”
“What if I say no?”
“Still, I must confirm. That is the will of the heavens and thus the will of Pranecia, and my mission.”
“Are you saying you’d like to see me dead just to confirm?”
“Yes.”
There was no hesitation in Mikel’s answer.
Seeing that made me click my tongue, and Leona openly clicked her tongue.
“Impressive.”
Then she tossed a wad of paper that had been at my head. It was a letter sealed with a cherry blossom stamp and some documents.
Mikel nodded just upon seeing that seal.
That special cherry blossom seal is something that no one in the world could replicate.
“I have confirmed it. Then, the questions will be directed at Duchess Eustetia, and I will hear the answers from Leona Meganberta.”
Thus, the charade of investigation began in the guise of conversation.
*
The questions held little weight.
They asked about the events surrounding the incident, the smell and atmosphere at the time, the flowing magical energy’s feel and color, the appearance of the Apostle of Gluttony, its cries, the types of attacks it executed, and the identity of the student who became the “seed” for the Apostle.
They also asked how I came to realize what it was, the process of the battle with the Apostle, the reasons for the mountain disappearing, how I killed the Apostle, and the whereabouts of the corpse that was the “seed,” and so on.
It was a simple process of confirming the already well-known facts in the world.
Though there were some suspicious questions mixed in, that was merely a nuance.
It was somewhat annoying and bothersome, but Leona’s answers never faltered.
There was no need to filter her responses, and she wanted to end this conversation quickly before I snapped and killed someone.
At least for now…
I didn’t feel like they had any intention to blame me, the Duchess Eustetia.
“Now for the last question.”
Mikel, who had been scribbling fervently, closed the notebook and stared at me intently.
“This is the last question, and since it’s the most important one, we hope that Duchess Eustetia can answer it.”
“I’ll answer—”
“I will.”
I shook my head while pulling at Leona’s sleeve.
I wasn’t acting rashly.
If I gave any answer at all, then I’d have the privilege of asking back and receiving an answer.
I may sometimes appear emotional, but I know when to play my cards.
Throughout my previous life and this one, I’ve been a rational, meticulous, and calculating individual.
Leona seemed to understand my reasoning, clicking her tongue in annoyance.
“Do as you wish. If it feels wrong, I’ll cut it off in the middle, just so you know.”
“Yes. Eliaernes Eustetia, Duchess. Among your classmates, is there a demon?”
“No, there isn’t.”
“Is there anyone who has made a deal with demons?”
“No, there isn’t.”
“Is there anyone who has contacted demons?”
I didn’t know how far the line of ‘contact’ was drawn.
If you count someone like Stella, who had a convoluted interaction with a demon, then yes, there’s her.
And perhaps Ophelia seems a bit fishy too…
Although, I would never admit to it.
“There isn’t—”
“False.”
Madness glimmered in Mikel’s eyes.
His tightly shut lips twisted, and he stepped closer with a strange curve in his gaze.
“Eliaernes Eustetia, Duchess. You are lying right now. You’ve told a lie to me, here in place where I stand on behalf of the heavens. Why? What are you hiding?”
“…What could I be hiding? What is that—”
“Yurasia Espirot. Stella Behrhaigen. Pina. Gailan. Silina de Herman. Fabiana de Herman. Ashtar van Chaser. Hurd van Chaser. Ophelia Bloomin. Who are they?”
“W-Wait, you’re being too thorough—”
“Don’t dodge my questions. Answer me. Who among them has had contact with demons? What did they do after that? A deal? A conversation? Did they schemed for some reason? For the heavens’ ruin?”
“Hey, Mikel the Priest. What you’re saying right now—”
“Duchess Eustetia. Are you pretending you’re blind and deaf to that? Are you covering up for your classmates? That would mean you’re backing demons up. Are you siding with them? Have you become an apostate? At this moment in my mind, the judgment has already been made that Eustetia has turned into a heresy.”
“Ha ha…”
A hollow laugh escaped my lips.
Leona’s killing intent surged. Her golden mana shattered all the windows. Just as Leona stood up from her seat—
Flash. The light of the deity shone brightly.
“Hey.”
Kablam—!
My fist slammed into the center of Mikel’s face.
I felt a clear sensation of bones shattering and teeth breaking beneath my knuckles.
“Cutting me off is fine. I understand if you suspect me and interrogate me; sure, I might give you that much.”
Mikel moved, placing his hand on the hilt of his sword. As I twisted my lips, I unleashed my mana, the light of the deity.
“But, you little shit…”
Crack. Mikel’s right hand shattered. His shinbone fractured, and his ankle twisted. Catching the falling Mikel by the hair, I locked eyes with him.
“Eustetia—”
The name left by Arisa.
“—must never be called heretical.”