274 – Morning Glory (2)
Exactly 30 minutes later.
Theo arrived in front of Isabella’s door on the top floor. A heavily armed Claire was standing in front of the door.
“Hello, Guardian Knight. “I came because I had an appointment with the saint.”
“Even if you don’t do that, you’re waiting.”
Claire’s expression was somewhat relaxed, unlike her usual blunt expression.
It looked like Amy eating something delicious.
“Go in.”
Kkiik.
When Claire opened the door, Theo came into the room.
“Oh, hello?”
Isabella, who was sitting upright on the sofa, gave her greeting.
Theo slightly bowed his head to her.
“Hello, senior Isabella. Sorry for being late at night. “I think it would be ambiguous to talk about it tomorrow.”
“Do you want to sit down first?”
“Yes.”
Theo sat on the sofa opposite Isabella.
After Isabella stared into space for a moment, she opened her mouth.
“······Yes. “What do you have to say at this time of night?”
“You said earlier that you were aware that our matriarch was in contact with impure forces.”
“Yes. It was like that. “Why is that?”
“As you may also know, the Northern Magic City is one of the bases of forces in contact with our family.”
“?”
Isabella opened her eyes wide.
‘······I didn’t know.’
I knew that Robert, the head of the Balderk family, was in contact with impure forces, but their base was here. I didn’t know it was a northern magic city.
But she Isabella didn’t say she didn’t know. It was a pretty shocking story, so she decided to listen to Theo’s story more before making a decision.
Isabella stood up from her seat.
“I think the story will be long. Shall we talk while drinking something?”
“Good.”
“Yes. But there is only one type of car. “It’s also like calling an employee at night.”
“Any tea that smells like mint and pine needles is fine.”
Isabella frowned.
“Oh my… Do you know that I am such a weirdo? “It’s kind of like a joke.”
“······There are people like that among the people around me. “I did it just in case.”
Professors Marie and Taylor flashed through Theo’s mind.
Isabella said, boiling water with magic at a table far away.
“Hmm. Because you are definitely unusual. “It’s not strange if there are unusual people around you.”
“I will take it as a compliment.”
“Yes, yes. Ah, it’s done.”
Isabella returned, holding a teacup in both hands.
Theo held the teacup in his hand and smelled the scent without being noticeable.
‘Is it an ordinary Americano?’
As a person who lives an upright lifestyle, she was bothered by drinking coffee at bedtime, but at this level, she welcomed it with both hands.
Whoop.
After taking a sip of coffee, Theo opened his mouth.
“Then I’ll say it again, senior.”
In order to get Isabella to join her in his plans, he began to tell her what he had prepared for her.
*
*
*
From Noble mtl dot com
Approximately 10 minutes later.
Isabella said to Theo.
“······It’s a story that’s a bit hard to believe. The reason the Balderk family raised Polaris’ taxes by a large amount in succession was to raise money to pay back to those bastards. The reason why the Balderk family is presumed to be doing this is to bring your mother back to life, Theo?”
“Yes.”
“······And they are a group that worships the Demon King and whose primary goal is to bring the Demon King down to this world?”
“That’s right.”
The final goal of [Turning White], As seen in this work, is to descend the devil into this world.
Theo told Isabella the truth.
Currently, Isabella seems to be unable to use [Mind Reading], But her ability will return someday.
‘Giving a different impression on the outside and inside is a minus.’
Even if your inner thoughts are read later, you should make them think, ‘He told a white lie back then.’
Isabella thought for a moment and said.
“Of course, the Baron I’ve seen so far, you are not a liar. But suddenly it’s the devil… Isn’t it so unrealistic? There isn’t really any evidence. Even during the era of the hero Ryuk, when demons were rampant, the Demon King never even showed himself.”
“That’s true.”
“Well, you probably know it to some extent, but the church is a mess internally. They are obsessed with keeping each other in check and preserving their positions. Of course, so do I. Anyway, what I want to say is that if I listen to your words and move the Holy Knights, but end up in vain, it will not end easily.”
Isabella looked at Theo intently.
To summarize what she said, she needed a clear basis for moving the Holy Knights.
The Holy Knights are not a unit under the direct control of a saint. However, if she moves her knights arbitrarily and does not gain much, she will not be deprived of her status as a saint, but her standing within the school will naturally be greatly reduced.
Theo took out her paper from [Ah Space Bag]. Then she handed it to Isabella.
“This is a transcription of the head of the family’s memo kept in the head’s office.”
Isabella took her note and read it quickly.
『······
The rumor that they were devil worshipers was true.
While I was thinking about investing, I received their invitation and visited deep inside the base located in the northern magic city.
It seemed like there was no contract with the devil, but his body felt strange.
The deepest part of the base. As soon as I stood in front of the door sealed with the ancient demon sealing technique and Go Circle magic, the blood in my veins began to heat up.
I couldn’t confirm what was inside it.
However, ‘something’ inside the door was clearly showing off its presence despite all the seals.
It was my first time experiencing this feeling. I’ve seen mid-level demons right in front of me, but it wasn’t like this.
Of course, that didn’t really matter to me now.
If only I could see Alessia again.
I can sell my soul even to the devil.
······』
Isabella was silent for a long time.
All kinds of thoughts were swirling in her head.
‘You’re crazy… If this document is true, the Balderk family could lose what they have achieved over hundreds of years in an instant.’
This document was equivalent to a confession of Robert’s crime.
Of course, this document may be false.
However, the probability of that happening is extremely slim.
What kind of idiot would expose evidence that his family could be wiped out overnight to a saint of the Lenimid Church, whose primary mission is to subdue demons?
Isabella, speechless, looked at Theo.
‘······Crazy guy. I knew the liver was big, but I never thought it would be this swollen. ‘What if I change my mind?’
Before I knew it, thoughts were flowing out of my mouth.
“······Why on earth are you doing this?”
“Because that’s my path.”
Isabella asked back.
“······Your path?”
“Not compromising with the devil and everything related to the devil. “That is my way.”
“······.”
Isabella stared into Theo’s eyes.
His eyes were straight. He didn’t waver one bit. I felt the madness of burning everything he had for his beliefs.
“······Ah.”
Isabella could no longer look at Theo.
For some reason, he seemed to be shining now.
‘Is it because you have such firm beliefs that you were chosen by [Demon Sword]?’
Is it because I have seen for too long a group of humans who live only for survival without any sense of purpose?
To Isabella, Theo was a human being she had never seen before.
I was curious about the path he would take.
And he wanted to walk that path together. Even if there is a risk of being burned by the light he emits.
Isabella muttered.
“······Yes. “Let’s walk together.”
“Thank you, senior. I have been thinking about the timing to mobilize the paladins. Would you like to hear about it? “I think it would be more efficient to mobilize the Paladins when their emotions are heightened and when things are dramatic.”
Isabella shook her head.
“Let’s talk tomorrow morning. Actually, it’s been a while since I went to sleep, so I’m very tired. “The event starts at 2pm, so you have plenty of time.”
“I understand, senior. Excuse me during the night. “Then let’s go.”
“······Yes. “See you in the morning.”
Tak.
Theo quietly closed the door and left.
Isabella, left alone in her room, hugged the sofa cushion.
“······Ha.”
I couldn’t sleep.
I woke up from the drowsiness I had been feeling because of Theo.
The reason she sent him away was because she was afraid of what kind of expression she would have now.
Sigh.
Isabella raised her head.
“······.”
Then I looked for a long time at the place where Theo had been sitting just a moment ago.
* * *
I returned straight to the room.
“······Ha.”
I was very tired after squeezing her head excessively in order to persuade Isabella and remember her words.
‘Well, I guess it was a good thing.’
In the end, I succeeded in attracting Isabella. If the results are good, the difficult process will also be considered good.
I changed my clothes and lay down on the bed.
At that time, Ney said.
─Hey. I saw you again. I can’t believe you hated the devil that much. A path that does not compromise with the devil and everything related to the devil… Ah, the path of a true hero.
─What are you saying, Nei? I don’t hate that devil. As I said before, I just need to be able to graduate from the academy safely. As long as I can graduate, there’s nothing I can’t do to make a contract with the devil.
─?!