Episode 27. Doubt I Can’t Let Go (Complete)
“Is that true?”
“Yes. It seems to be related to the demons.”
“However, there is no evidence that Chris is related to demons! Don’t you think that such a statement should at least be said with convincing proof?”
“Then, do you think the mana shown here can be obtained with a few days of training?”
I said while pointing to the surveillance magic screen. The amount of mana rising over Chris’s shoulder in the watch magic was similar to that of an A-class wizard.
“I will tell you clearly. There is only one case where mana is increased this way. Except when making a contract with the spirits. If you made a deal with the demons, the demons would come out.”
“Then Chris made a contract with the spirit.”
“The spirit that made the contract is the vice-captain of the Pandemonium 3 Corps.”
“…… Prause, there’s no point in continuing to pursue things for which there is no evidence. All I can see is trying to impeach Chris somehow.”
I wonder if it was a wrong choice after all.
Talking to Rufen, Chris’ father, didn’t seem like a good choice. So from now on, rather than persuading him, I intended to clarify my intentions.
“…… Then, if Chris proves his involvement with the demons, can he be killed without mercy?”
“What?”
“The imperial family is the face of the empire. As you are in a position of great importance, you must be careful in all your actions so as not to lose the trust of the people of the Empire, and you must be more transparent than anyone else. Am I wrong?”
“That’s true, but… ….”
Okay, no denial.
This makes it easier for me to speak.
“If such a person is related to the demons, do you think there is nothing wrong with him being executed? Calmly judge and speak rationally. Don’t think about family ties.”
“…… How can you hear a father saying he’s going to kill his son?”
Are you convinced in your head?
I can understand his feelings. He says he will kill his own child, but what kind of parent can tell him to kill him.
However, the current situation was not comfortable enough for him to understand the situation.
“Then you want to see the empire being eaten by demons?”
“So the proof… ….”
“I will bring the proof. If you’re convinced, don’t stop. Even if I kill him.”
“But…… !”
“What I am explaining to you is not to ask your permission. I did it because I wanted you to take care of things after I killed Chris.”
Even though he is a former emperor by name, it is now the second day since he succeeded.
Even if Chris had all the authority, not all of those who were under the Emperor had passed over to Chris. So it was best for him to let him deal with the situation.
“Now that you have heard the whole story, you have no choice. Just hope that Chris is not involved with the demons.”
That’s not going to happen.
I gave a unilateral notice and got up.
“…… When the time comes, I won’t think about justification. During the terms of the deal, I promised to protect the safety of the empire. I’m just trying to implement it. Surely you won’t object?”
Lufen was unilaterally beaten by my logic, and he fell silent.
“…… I want you to give me a chance to check first.”
“A chance to check?”
I’ll be watching with surveillance magic anyway, so I thought it would be okay to give it that much of a chance.
“Okay. Then be sure to check this out.”
I said pointing to the back of my hand.
“Check what pattern is engraved on the back of your hand. With that, you can tell whether or not you signed a spirit contract. By the way, as a result of asking the spirit kings, the answer was that Chris did not make a contract with any spirit.”
“…… I get it.”
“If there is a pattern on the back of the hand, it must be Lagor, a fallen spirit attached to the demons. It will be proof that it is related to the demons. From then on, we will move on our own.”
I got the promise. She had told Maria to record this conversation beforehand, so Lufen couldn’t take her back.
* * *
That evening.
Chris, exhausted from trying to figure out the increased duties since becoming emperor, pressed his forehead.
It was then.
Loofen opened the door and came in with a knock.
“Are you still working, Chris?”
“Ah, Obama…… Are you here?”
Chris gets up from his seat.
“Do you have a minute?”
“Of course. Sit.”
Chris pointed to the sofa with his hand. When Lufen sits on the sofa, he sits across from him.
“You seem to be trying hard to adapt.”
“Now that you have become emperor, shouldn’t you work harder? But why did you come all of a sudden?”
“I came to ask you something.”
‘I will ask… ….’
Knowing what to ask, Chris struggled to smile and said, “What?” Asked.
“Prause came to me today and said strange things. You might be related to the demons.”
“…… Am I talking to the demons?”
“Yes. He seems to have doubts about the sudden increase in mana.”
“I think it’s because I started mana training recently and the amount of mana increased… …. It’s all fuss. I have absolutely nothing to do with the demons.”
“Of course I believe. I believe…… Prause told me. Check the back of your hand.”
“The back of your hand…… ?”
Chris felt a cold sweat break out on his back. He intuitively thought that he shouldn’t show the pattern on the back of his hand.
‘I expected it, but what does it really have to do with demons? Not a spirit…… ? But why can’t I remember?’
It was just embarrassing for him, as he couldn’t figure out why Prause was trying to pursue him so persistently.
“Can you show me? If you show it, Prause will no longer doubt it.”
“Is that so?”
Chris hesitates, then reluctantly removes his glove to show the back of his hand. Seeing this, the Emperor made a surprised expression. With a trembling hand, he points to the back of Chris’s hand.
There was a burning wood pattern right there.
“What is that pattern…… !”
“I don’t know.”
“What? You don’t know?”
“I woke up last night and found this stuck in the back of my hand.”
“Is that true?”
“Really. Why would I lie!”
From noble mtl dot com
“… ….”
Lufen was silent for a long time with her confused face. She eventually sighs and gets up from her seat.
“Okay. You worked hard today, so go to sleep.”
“Yes.”
Loupen leaves Chris’ office.
‘I’m not sure either. I’m not sure if it’s related to the demons, but I can’t let her son die.’
* * *
I clicked my tongue as I watched the whole scene through the monitoring magic screen.
“What are you thinking, Lufen… ….”
“Master, there is a glowing scroll over there.”
At Maria’s words, I took out the delivery scroll. There, the writings written by the emperor were listed.
「I confirmed that there is something on the back of my hand that is different from the spirit contract pattern I know. But isn’t it unreasonable to conclude that this is related to the demons?」
‘Look at this bastard…… ?’
I realized that the emperor is still far away. Well, it can’t be helped because the child’s life depends on it.
When Iris sneaked up to me and saw the contents of the parchment, she frowned.
“Master, why don’t you just kill me? I don’t see any reason to give it a chance. Haven’t you already secured the evidence?”
I think so too. As long as it is related to the demons, excluding them without any frills may be the most refreshing and leave no anxiety.
However, a pattern alone cannot serve as evidence.
It was because the contract with the pattern was cut off the moment Chris died.
Of course, it was recorded with surveillance magic, but if the emperor creates public opinion for fabricating it, it will be useless as evidence.
Moreover, his status was a problem.
He was the current emperor. Assassination of the emperor could be interpreted as meaning ‘treason’.
I understand this worldview, and I can draw conclusions because I have the spirit kings by my side, but others may misunderstand that I killed Chris for no reason.
As soon as the people of the empire realize that I killed the emperor because I didn’t like it, my trust in the empire will hit rock bottom.
If that happens, the answer will be lost.
I was going to use a loopen to stop that, but when I heard that I had to kill my son, my heart seemed to shake.
“You don’t seem like a teacher who always had no hesitation when it comes to things related to demons.”
If he could see a happy ending just by raising the warrior well, he wouldn’t have intervened in politics or run around busily.
But this world won’t let me see a happy ending.
“What is his cause… ….”
“Tina, the reason Master doesn’t make the wrong choice is because he keeps thinking and thinking over and over again like this. Believe it this time as you believed it until now. Master is a person who looks forward and goes without anyone pushing him.”
Is he a person who goes forward looking?
Somehow, a bitter smile came out. It feels like going round and round.
「Do you think there was a different pattern on the back of the hand than those who signed a contract with the spirit? A deal is a deal. We will do just that.”
Tear the forward scroll without hesitation. Then the answer came right away.
「How about watching a little longer? Is there anything certain yet? Looking at it, I don’t seem to remember. Could it be that the demons did it by force?”
「If it’s a transaction, the demons might be able to make it happen unilaterally. But contracts are different. A contract must confirm the will of the contracting party.”
「Then why can’t you remember?」
「That’s because of Lagor’s power. You must have erased all your memories.”
「Is there evidence? Isn’t there any evidence? Nothing is certain, but killing unconditionally seems to be the only thought to make Se-ri the emperor!”
That bastard’s proof. That’s annoying.
「Even if you look at it that way, this is a decision. I can’t afford to wait for him to do something stupid.”
It will be too late then. It is best to prevent incidents before they happen.
As much as Lagor risked it, it was time to take a risk on this side as well. Even if the process is somewhat arduous.
Just as they were preparing to attack the imperial palace, the transmission scroll glowed.
「Prause, if you kill Chris just because of your heart without clear evidence, it’s like turning the Empire into an enemy. Even if you can’t be an opponent if you fight from the front, it will be difficult for you to live in the Empire. There, tax collectors will never be able to become emperors. Among the nobles, there is not a single person who does not know that you are a tax collector. If you think you’ve rebelled, the nobles who were your faction will turn their backs on you. Are you going to overdo it, knowing what the obvious outcome would be?”
I flinched.
Loupen knew exactly the risks I was taking. Are you really going to bury me in the Empire?
“…… Chris, you’re such a lucky guy. No, is it my fault for letting him make the emperor?”
「Okay. I’ll wait for Chris to do some nonsense. He’s looking forward to the day he’s beheaded.”
I sighed after writing it down on the delivery scroll.
“Are you okay?”
“It’s okay. It’s enough to know for sure that you signed with Lagor. What matters is how you respond.”
If I put off killing Chris for a while, the next thing I had to do was read the next demon’s move.
I would never have contacted Chris for no reason. You need to know why you contacted him.
Simply to control the empire?
If it was something like that, I wouldn’t have resolved the hallucination. You’ll have to stick around constantly to control the empire.
Of course, since the contract was in place, I could have approached Chris again. But in that case, you have to show yourself. That didn’t fit Lagor’s style.
So what are you aiming for?
I slowly went through the sequence of events again.