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Chapter 164
Once Comrades-in-Arms
Having heard the proclamation, Garnet muttered with a dubious expression.
"Joseph Faust......."
Anyone who heard that name and identity would show the same reaction as her.
"How does the Alte Order's High Priest end up following those who believe in the Void?"
The High Priest, being the Empire's state religion and the owner of the Cathedral, is elected through a rigorous process.
Е̃ nǔ m̂ а.і̂d̄
Joseph Faust was a person whose potential was even evaluated in that legitimate process.
"It's probably that Doppler bastard."
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The one who gave the answer to that question was Jed.
He was waiting for Ferda's instructions at the hideout where Garnet had settled in.
"Doppler?"
Garnet asked at his words.
Ẇёb no v̌ е̃ ľ E n ümà
"It's similar to a Doppelganger, but more tenacious. It transforms into that person, looking exactly, completely identical. I almost didn't recognize it."
"Does it copy mana and unique abilities too?"
"Probably not."
The last Doppler he'd seen was the Escolleia Academy Director.
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Only a shiny bald head floated in Jed's mind.
Garnet roughly pieced together the given information.
Еn u mа̊
"Let's say there's this Doppler thing you described. It's a new type of demon, and you said it carries out planned crimes?"
"Right."
"If it's planned, there's a high probability they recruited someone who uses divine power."
"A priest who uses divine power fell for a demon's scheme?"
"Just because divine power is high doesn't mean personality is the same. There are 500 people gunning for that position. Are all 500 of them devout Alte believers?"
"So they colluded with demons and ate up power?"
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
"Besides, if they're in a priest's position it's one thing, but if they're a Cathedral Bishop, there's no worry about being discovered."
Unlike priests who frequently use divine magic, bishops devote themselves to politics and administration.
The Cathedral Bishop is a central institution that monitors not just the capital but all dioceses, so they're a manager far removed from the clergy known to the world.
That means they rarely have occasion to use magic, and given Joseph Faust's standing, suspicions aren't raised lightly.
On top of that, since even physical characteristics are copied, just showing the characteristics unique to that person perfectly guarantees identity.
"So this time we have to infiltrate inside the Cathedral. Find evidence there that Joseph Faust is a demon follower or whatever."
Wẽ b̃n̄ӧv̀е l̃ Е n̊ üm̌а̂
"Hmm, if that's the case......."
"If that's the case?"
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"How much is the reward?"
Jed reflexively curled his fingers into a circle.
Garnet spoke as if fed up with that action.
"You're still calculating the reward now? You've earned quite a lot up until now, haven't you?"
Ẃ ě b̌ nо̌_vеl Е̄n u̇mă
"If I'd done that until a few days ago it would've been fine, but there's a leak."
"A leak?"
"That damn bitch demon Penelope secretly embezzled it and blew it all on entertainment."
"......."
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"Dead bitch."
Jed's appearance, clenching his fist tight.
Ӗ n ů m̄â
Garnet had known about Jed's greed for money since the old days.
During the mercenary corps days, she remembered a guy with sticky fingers who touched Jed's money getting his wrist cut off.
'That kind of guy leaves that demon alone.......'
Garnet glared with a displeased look.
At the stinging gaze, Jed flustered.
"Why, why are you looking at me like that?"
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"......Never mind."
Work comes first right now.
"I'll give the reward, so let's do the work first. The time we're buying right now is two hours. We have to find an item proving Joseph Faust is a demon follower within 1 hour."
"Any clues to track?"
"None. Getting a cross-section diagram is hard enough right now, and all we know is the guard shift change time. We'll position our people, but there'll be a lot of parts we have to handle improvisationally."
"Our Regent never does things the easy way."
W̆е bn̈ о̆v̌ёl Е́ n̈ um а̊
Jed sighed and took off the armor he was wearing.
He changed into attire befitting an Order believer.
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His conspicuous appearance was moderately concealed with makeup to look ordinary.
Thus, infiltration preparations were complete.
"Ah, right."
He didn't forget to grab a card left on the table.
Е̇n̊ǔm а
A card with a rabbit wearing a sparrow mask drawn on stiff paper.
It was something he made himself when he started using the name Barnie Swallows.
Seeing that card, Garnet reflexively frowned.
"Do you really have to do that useless crap?"
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Since Jed operated in the shadows, anonymity was important.
Garnet thought acting like a show might get his tail caught because of that behavior.
Ẃѐb n ȯ v el̂ Ёńu ḿ.а
"Of course I have to do it like this."
Jed's thinking was different.
"Barnie Swallows is an apostle of justice who punishes evil."
Because he's in the shadows, he must be bright—that was Jed's thinking.
Golden Parliament, Infirmary.
Ferda sat beside Consillus, watching his condition.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Due to aura reflux, even his life force had slowed, and being an elderly old man, his recovery was weak, showing little improvement.
'If Consillus dies...... does Arwen inherit that position?'
He had no son, but treated Arwen like a son and let him experience noble society.
Young blood, outstanding ability, and a fairly firm sense of values—he thought Arwen could sufficiently fill Consillus's void.
But that wasn't enough.
Right now, Consillus is the Far East's central point.
Ẁ е b ñov̀ еl̆ Еn̂u m̂á
Only Consillus can pull that off.
Ferda needed Consillus.
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"How is Count Consillus?"
An unexpected guest's voice was heard.
It was Valdemar.
"As you can see, he's stabilized."
Е̂ n ǔmá
"Right, he'll be fine. It was just aura reflux."
"You know it's not an epidemic."
"Of course. It'd be troublesome if you saw me as someone who'd be stupidly swayed by the instigators there."
Valdemar walked in and looked down at Consillus.
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"Consillus, you stupid bastard......."
He sighed, then pulled a bottle from his bosom and handed it to Ferda.
Еň ů m а́
A deep red liquid in a transparent bottle.
Recovery potion.
"Feed him. It's a recovery medicine made at Acad's workshop."
"......."
"That bastard may look clueless, but he's a recognized alchemist in this Empire. His skill is certain."
Ferda still didn't move his hand.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Valdemar understood the meaning and nodded.
"Hmm, if that's the case......."
Then Valdemar drew a dagger.
He slashed his own forearm.
Bright red blood flowed from his forearm.
Valdemar demonstratively dropped a drop of recovery potion there.
Е̇ nu̇ m̂a
The wound healed in an instant.
"There, is that proof enough?"
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"......Why go this far to prove it in order to help?"
It might convince someone else, but not Ferda.
Ferda couldn't understand Valdemar's actions.
If Ferda distrusted him, he could just not feed it—what was the reason to deliberately show proof?
Ё n u m̀ а̊ .îd̃
"I know the Far East and us don't have a good relationship right now. But we can't lose an important person over such a trivial thing."
Valdemar's eyes moved toward Consillus.
"Count Consillus was a patriot incomparable to anyone. In times like these, a patriot is a precious resource that can't be exchanged for anything. I won't let such a patriot be lost."
He'd shown that much sincerity, and the desire not to lose him was the same for Ferda.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
In the end, he poured the bottle Valdemar gave into Consillus's mouth.
Count Consillus's face, suffering from aura reflux, became peaceful.
W̄е́ b́ ǹ о v̈ е̌l Е̊ n̂u m а
He fell asleep as if fainting.
"I thought you were a rational person, as I saw."
Valdemar said.
"Honestly, the current situation is too bewildering."
"You set up the board and say that?"
"I thought Duke Urey was just throwing a tantrum. Losing a child clouds judgment and makes you see only what you want to see. That mostly doesn't become truth. But this time it's different. I didn't know you'd really kill the Urey Gongja."
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"......."
"At this rate, you'll be branded a black mage. Is that what you want?"
If he becomes a black mage, public opinion within the Empire will tilt toward distrusting the Far East.
Public opinion on the Far East will follow Ferda, completing the best conditions for internal strife.
Overwhelming power to smooth that over.
Grand Duke Valdemar Golt.
W̊е b̊n o̊v̊ ě l̂ Е́nũ m̊ а̄
"Please return."
Ferda gave his answer to that.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
"It's not good for an old man to wander around a place where it hasn't even been confirmed whether there's an epidemic or not."
When Ferda said that, Valdemar turned his steps.
"Think carefully."
Left alone again in the space, Ferda thought.
Еn̆ŭm̊а̃
'About 1 hour and 30 minutes left now.......'
Within that, he had to prove Joseph Faust, designated as Black, was a demon follower.
'Fully possible.'
Jed Swallow was a master thief who turned the Empire upside down.
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He's under Ferda.
He had a subordinate with outstanding ability, but there was one thing he overlooked.
Е̇ nũm̄ ǎ
"Regent Ferda."
That God terribly hates Ferda.
"We resume in 10 minutes. Please take your seats in the conference hall."
But Ferda didn't resent such a God.
Resenting something that doesn't exist is the sigh of fools.
* * *
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Golden Parliament.
For Valdemar, the Golden Parliament was his ground from which he could look down on the Arken Empire.
Sitting here, all humans are clearly visible.
Their petty expressions are clearly visible, and the disgusting faces they make when reality is revealed are very well seen too.
Who's a patriot, and who's a traitor selling the country.
"Grand Duke."
W ё b̀ n оv.ě l Ёn̂ ùḿа̇
Acad said carefully, listening closely.
"As you instructed, I've ordered the meeting to resume."
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"The Regent's side?"
"They say he's coming. What can he do? He can't run, and cornered like this, if he doesn't explain quickly, it'll be strangling his own neck......."
"Good job."
The epidemic commotion concluded with the conclusion that Count Consillus had a chronic disease.
Е n u ṁа̇. i d
'Now it's the sinner's turn again.'
The difference was that the joy and madness of the execution ground that had turned against Ferda had disappeared and become rational.
It was like giving a loach they'd caught a hole to escape through again.
But what can be done?
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Valdemar is a seasoned politician, and this is his home ground.
The opponent may be the Gongwang's consort, the Dragon's fiancé, but a rookie who's only been in this floor for 1 year.
Е̊ n̊û ḿ а̇ . іd̆
Even if eloquent, he naturally yields before imminent authority.
It's nearly impossible for Ferda to escape this crisis.
'Even Consillus, whom I used as a sturdy wall, can't attend this parliament.......'
The psychological pressure would be considerable.
'It should be that way.......'
Valdemar shifted his gaze to Ferda.
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'He doesn't look like someone cornered.'
If it's a bluff, he's the most outstanding person I've ever seen.
That bold appearance made his heart race.
'Truly a waste.'
Humans, the more you see them, the more their value drops, but Ferda, the more I see him, the more he catches my eye.
If he had patriotism in his heart,
Е̊ n u m̂а̂ . і d.
Or even just a little will to persuade Olivia.......
'A tragedy.'
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Valdemar subtly signaled Acad with a hand gesture.
"We'll reopen the session. Regarding the matter related to black magic, we......."
Acad's words didn't continue.
An aide carefully entered and was whispering something in Acad's ear.
W е̊ ḃn о v́ е l̃ En um.а
Acad's droopy eyes turned round.
"What? Why are they here......?"
"What's the matter?"
Sensing an unusual situation, Valdemar asked Acad.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Acad couldn't hide his bewilderment and relayed what he'd heard.
Valdemar felt the same.
Е̇.n_u̇m̄ ă
"Why on earth did that person come here?"
"I don't know."
"This is the Golden Parliament handling human affairs, so tell them they can't......."
"That won't work."
"Why?"
"They say it's a matter approved by the Grand Council......."
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The Grand Council sits above the Empire's laws.
Since they don't intervene recklessly no matter what happens, their authority and justification are absolute.
The Golden Parliament's excuses could be crushed.
Valdemar glanced at Ferda.
Even when accused of black magic, and until it was confirmed, he didn't waver at all.
'The reason he didn't waver so much was because he already had something to believe in.'
Еnüm̂ а. і d̃
He let out a hollow laugh and signaled Acad.
Acad conveyed the order to the aide and reopened the meeting.
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"I have a word. Originally, since results regarding black magic have come out, we planned to hear Regent Ferda's final argument. However, since Regent Ferda raised an objection to the incident of him handling black magic, a new witness will attend. The scheduled attendee is......."
A person even Imperial nobles rarely see.
No, a race.
"The Blue-Eyed Tower Master, Erika Iorga."
W̃е b̈ň о v̆ е̇l̀. Е̌ ñuma
The parliament doors opened, and five mages entered inside.
Blue long hair with glowing skin.
More brilliant than golden light, those who encountered the mystery couldn't take their eyes off.
Valdemar looked at Erika, then glanced at Ferda.
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Only after seeing his face did he know.
That even this moment was all planned.
Ẁ ё b̌ ñо̊ v́ еl̇ Е̂ n̊ u ḿ а
* * *
Ferda had expected they'd touch Urey Gongja's corpse.
And as expected, there was someone messing with Urey Gongja's corpse, and he could move as planned.
He'd explained their plan to Blue Eye in advance and requested cooperation, and they answered like this.
-If that's the case...... it's only right to help without even expecting reward.
Erika, who'd lost compatriots to demons and gone through dog-suffering, stepped up for anything related to demons.
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She even showed thoroughness by getting Blancaros's approval in the Absolute Neutral Zone, revealing the gravity of this situation.
'She becomes a different person when standing in a public position.'
As she must become the face of Water Phase, Iorga, you can feel she poured her heart into her image.
She stood on the podium and opened her mouth.
"Dear Imperial subjects."
A beautiful woman's voice, but with power behind it.
E num а̂
"I am the descendant of the Great Magic and Water Phase, Lord Iorga, and the Blue-Eyed Tower Master, Erika Iorga."
Erika spoke, appropriately displaying courtesy as an intellectual and dignity as a Tower Master.
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"As you know, I'm allied with Regent Ferda of the Far East Valdrova Grand Duchy, sharing technology under the name of Demon Land conquest. Recently, we even achieved the surprising result of successfully applying a magic circle that filters polluted water to magitech. Thanks to that, we were able to see great effect when the siege formation was formed."
Her eyes grew a notch fiercer.
"Yet at this position, instead of praising Regent Ferda, you're looking at him with eyes for an arch-traitor. Let me make one thing clear. He is a member dedicating himself to purifying this Serdes Continent, a person with no reason to become a sinner."
She condemned this atmosphere painting Ferda as a murderer.
Ẅ е́b̈n̂ о̊ve l Еǹ ů m̀а̃
Then Duke Urey opened his mouth.
"I sincerely thank and respect Tower Master Erika and all her members for their efforts. But if you shield him just because of an alliance, justice won't live."
Erika looked at Duke Urey.
No threatening feeling, just soft.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
"Duke Urey, I know well that you're a father who lost his child. But there's also the fact that you insulted a Dragon, isn't there?"
"I only heard from that one knight. In that ballroom with all those people, just one person."
W е̄b̈ n̈о̃ v̌ӗ ĺ Е̇ñ û ḿа
"A Dragon's business is exemplary punishment as principle. Do you know what that means?"
Cold.
It seemed like frost was sprinkled everywhere that voice reached.
"Just that word someone heard is enough to die."
Dragon Spawn.
Closer to a Dragon than anyone while being rational, her saying it directly gave it a different dimension of weight.
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"The one who didn't want to make this big and showed consideration was none other than Regent Ferda. So I think ending it at an appropriate line is desirable."
"Appropriate line, you say......."
Duke Urey trembled.
"You're telling me to let my son's killing...... pass by pretending not to see?"
A father with nothing left to lose, that's why he comes out so emotionally and boldly.
But at the same time, it was an action possible because she's a Blue Dragon.
Eńu m.à . і̆ d
Blue Dragons are intellectual; they must be rational.
"I think if Regent Ferda committed murder, and if he maintains his position as Gongwang, he should naturally receive punishment befitting it, by the Empire's laws."
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And Erika also dealt with it intellectually.
"But that's only within the premise that he's Duke Urey, your son."
"Are you saying that dead person...... isn't your son?"
Duke Urey reacted intensely.
Ŵе b́ n̂оv́ é l Е ň ǔm̀а̇
It looked like a trick to cover up this incident.
"That dead person is definitely my son! When transporting the corpse, I confirmed it was my son several times! The blue dot on his buttocks that he'd had since childhood was in that spot!"
"No. That alone is insufficient."
Erika tapped her lips with a fan as she spoke.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
"That physical characteristic is merely evidence, it cannot become truth."
"What meaning does the truth Tower Master speaks of have?"
Ěn u.ḿ а
She said.
"Chairman?"
"Yes."
"It's a somewhat impertinent request, but may I use Dead Man's Knock on Urey Gongja's body?"
Dead Man's Knock.
A 3rd Circle magic that temporarily resurrects a dead person's consciousness to extract information.
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If conditions are met, it's the perfect magic for finding truth.
But there's one most important problem,
"Th-that's black magic, isn't it?"
The fact that it's black magic.
"Are you saying Tower Master can use black magic?"
"Yes. It's content not recorded in publicly known books. But everyone who knows me knows. And I never hid it either."
Е̄n ù m̂ а.і d̄
Erika handled wisdom in the 12-Person Expedition.
Magic firepower was handled by Erdes, and she chose the method of increasing means to overcome difficulties by equipping as many tools as possible.
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Black magic was one of the tools Erika prepared.
"Absolutely not!"
Altesian High Priest, Joseph Faust, vehemently opposed.
"Black magic is a demon byproduct, impure darkness! As Alte's Apostle, it can never be tolerated within the Empire!"
Eṅu m̂ а
Then Erika asked.
"Even if used for truth, it's not allowed?"
"Of course. No black magic whatsoever can be tolerated within the Empire."
Joseph Faust came out firmly.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
People watching the Blue Dragon being defied so boldly got chills.
It's a hardliner's appearance, but closer to reckless ignorance of the situation.
Ě ṅŭm̀ а
Erika didn't take this emotionally either.
"Fine. If the Serdes Magic Society President also opposes, I'll gladly stop."
Her gaze turned to Erdes.
Erdes, who'd been watching for a while, had a displeased face.
They were looking at each other like they'd eat each other.
Maybe this plan would fail.
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-She'll help. She knows each other better than anyone.
She'd said this to Ferda, who lacked conviction.
"Use it."
At that thought, Erdes spoke.
Joseph was more surprised than Ferda.
"Use it, you say......."
Е̌ ṅūm̀ а̄
"Nothing complicated. She's saying use magic."
Even the audience who'd doubted suspiciously were startled hearing it again.
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"The Society President allows black magic use......."
"Is it because they're from the same expedition, turning a blind eye......?"
Joseph asked in bewilderment, sweating.
"What do you mean, Society President? You're tolerating black magic?"
Eṅ úma_
"No. Not that meaning."
"Making an exception just this once doesn't deviate from principle? As someone in the Society President position, consistency——."
"Ah, fucking loud."
She picked her ear and glared at Joseph.
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"Know why I hate black magic? It's because those bastards who sold their souls to demons do that shit. Later they even eat their own kids, become trash who don't recognize their own parents. You think our Erika got what she has by selling her own mother?"
"Still, this is......."
Е num_ӑ
"Shut up. You greenhorn who doesn't know what dog-like shit happened in the Dragon-Demon War, daring to talk back to me?"
Erdes stood up and glared at Joseph.
Joseph was crushed by that energy.
"I conversely can't understand why you oppose so much? This could reveal truth? You blindly believe nothing can hide under that great Alte's light? Or——."
"Assemblyman Roton."
Acad cut in.
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"Please refrain from mockery."
Erdes blew out her rising excitement through her nose.
Then she rested her chin on her hand and looked at Erika again.
The lingering resentment between them felt again.
"Use it. That's my opinion as Magic Society President."
But the comradeship of once having fought back-to-back.
W̄е b̊ ñо̇v е̂ l̈ Eṅu m̆.а̃
They brought Urey Gongja's corpse, placed in the autopsy room, to the witness stand.
Pure mana gathered in Erika's hand.
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The moment it drew a magic circle, the mana melted like dark tar.
That tar lump flowed into Urey Gongja's seven orifices.
-Euhuhuhuh......!
Black magic, Dead Man's Knock manifested, and the corpse awakened.
Ẅebnо̀ v̄e l E ǹ ü m.а̊
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