Examination
Akad stroked his chin as he asked,
"Regent Ferda, did you not say that the body had been buried? It should have begun decomposing by now. Would there still be any clues left to recover from it?"
Ferda had naturally prepared for that.
"Lord Yurei's body was buried, but it has been preserved in the exact condition it was in at the time of his death."
"Why did you cast preservation magic on it?"
"No matter how gravely he insulted my fiancée, he was still the precious son of another nation."
Ferda spoke as though to say that he was not foolish enough to overlook something so obvious.
In truth, had Duke Yurei not become a useful strategic card in this situation, Ferda had intended to return the body to him.
"If you investigate it, you should be able to identify the source."
He paused for a moment before continuing.
"And through this case, we may be able to uncover the true enemy hiding among us."
"What do you mean by the true enemy?"
Ferda cast the bait.
"The entity sowing chaos throughout the Empire in order to lead this continent to ruin."
Ferda argued that rather than fighting among themselves, they should turn their attention toward the real enemy.
Surprisingly, the first person to agree with his proposal was Erdes.
"That should settle it. Once we find out who killed him, there's no need to make this more complicated than it has to be, right?"
That would simplify the proceedings, and since the matter involved black magic, Erdes had every reason to be enthusiastic.
"I agree as well. If Regent Ferda did not commit the murder and we can uncover the true culprit, then whoever is responsible deserves to face the wrath of the great Alte."
Joseph Faust also strongly supported Ferda's proposal.
"Then the question is who should be entrusted with the autopsy…"
Ferda immediately answered Akad's muttering.
"I would like Bishop Joseph Faust to conduct it."
"What?"
Erdes's brow furrowed.
"If this concerns black magic, shouldn't I obviously be the one handling it?"
Everyone knew how deeply she despised black magic.
And because of that hatred, her expertise in the field was exceptional.
Even Joseph Faust, whom Ferda had nominated, acknowledged that fact.
"I also believe she would be the more suitable choice… Is there a particular reason you insist on selecting me?"
"It is a matter of transparency. We cannot expect an impartial investigation from the head of the Magical Society."
Ferda argued that because he and Erdes were on poor terms, her findings might be biased.
The remark immediately irritated her.
"Are you saying I would fabricate evidence to frame you?"
She glared at him fiercely.
Ferda answered,
"If destroying the bond between a father and son was not enough for you, then by all means, take charge of the investigation."
Ferda glared back at her.
He hated the father who had abandoned him, but not as much as he hated Erdes for causing their relationship to end that way.
As the neutral chairman, Akad delivered his conclusion.
"It appears that the two of you have personal matters between you… In that case, Bishop Joseph Faust seems better suited to this task. Bishop, are you able to conduct the examination?"
"I shall carry out a fair and righteous investigation under the light of Alte."
Erdes's hatred of black magic was undoubtedly intense, but her merciless nature had left her unpopular with the public.
With a face full of dissatisfaction, she continued staring at Ferda.
The proceedings were suspended for two hours so that the body could be examined.
Joseph departed with his attendants to retrieve Marcus's corpse.
"I will accompany you."
Consilus stepped forward and joined Joseph.
Someone needed to ensure that no external pressure was exerted and that no one tampered with the evidence.
"Do so."
Ferda granted permission.
If everything went according to his expectations, this investigation would reveal the truth.
Even so, he would not let his guard down until the very end.
"Hey."
Ferda raised his head at the young voice growling at him.
Erdes Roton.
She had climbed onto the desk and was squatting there like a delinquent.
"Do you think I'm a pushover?"
Rage burned in her eyes.
"Or do you think I can't touch you because you have powerful people backing you? Which is it? Huh? Huh? Answer me."
"Head of the Society, you cannot behave like this here…"
"Small fry should get lost. I'm not in the mood to play with you."
Her face was flushed with rage after enduring so many insults.
Ferda did not look away from her.
"I have a valid reason."
"You think I would manipulate the results and destroy you? If that were what I wanted, I could have done it whenever I pleased. I wouldn't even have needed to come to a place like this. Do you think I held back because I'm some stupid, pathetic pushover?"
Just as Erdes said, she could have ruined Ferda at any time.
By exposing and pressuring him, she could have destroyed him socially for practicing black magic.
But that did not align with what Erdes truly sought.
The reason she had not acted against Ferda until now was that she had found no connection between him and demons.
The hatred lodged within her heart placed demons above all else.
That meant that if it helped her capture a demon, she was capable of judging Ferda's case fairly.
"That is precisely why you cannot do it."
Ferda had never wanted that kind of impartiality in the first place.
"If you are present, those rats will never come near."
This investigation was bait laid out to catch a much larger fish.
Ferda conveyed the rest through his gaze.
There were beings he hated and could never forgive just as deeply as she did.
Erdes, who had been glaring at him as though she wanted to kill him, finally answered,
"I see."
Her fierce expression did not soften, but she quietly climbed down from the desk.
"I hope the results are convincing."
Otherwise, I will not remain silent.
Her back seemed to leave those words behind as she walked away.
Ferda also hoped for a favorable result.
The only question was whether the result he wanted was the same one she did.
Two hours later, Joseph returned.
Consilus, who had accompanied him, returned as well, wearing a peculiar expression.
Ferda asked him,
"How did it go?"
"It seems they found something, but I have a bad feeling about it."
Had the bait been taken?
Akad called the council back into session, and Joseph began reading from the organized findings.
"The autopsy of Lord Marcus Yurei has been completed. Lord Marcus Yurei was murdered, and black magic was indeed used as the means."
His expression sank, as though the findings weighed heavily upon him.
Was this what people called déjà vu—this sensation of having experienced the same thing once before?
And of all things, the memory it evoked belonged to a distant future that would never come to pass.
Black
"And by tracing the magic, we were able to identify the person who used it…"
It was just like the time Ferda had been branded an enemy of the Empire for an absurd reason.
"The spell was created within Princeps Valdrova's castle, and it was unquestionably cast by Regent Ferda Valdrova."
The entire chamber erupted.
"So the Regent really did commit the murder?!"
"More importantly, if the magic was undoubtedly his… does that not prove that he truly is a black mage?"
"He killed the man himself, practices black magic, and still has the audacity to hold his head high like that?!"
The audience descended into shock and outrage.
Duke Yurei's face turned crimson.
Overcome by emotion, he roared,
"You damned spawn of the devil! How dare you murder my son!"
Alexander seized the opportunity and shouted as well.
"What are the marshals doing? Arrest that black mage immediately!"
At the Crown Prince's command, the marshals hesitantly began moving toward Ferda.
Unable to stand by any longer, Consilus rose from his seat.
"Who dares lay a hand on the Princeps's fiancé?!"
His force of spirit was difficult to believe from a man of such advanced age.
The situation had become a complete disaster.
The tension had risen so high that a single thrown punch might have transformed the chamber into a battlefield.
Ironically, Ferda felt calm as he stood at the center of the storm.
This place, where the emotions of hundreds of people churned openly, felt far more comfortable than conversations filled with cold logic, concealed feelings, and endlessly twisted words.
The entire space seemed to rest in the palm of Ferda's hand, and a sharp insight settled into his eyes.
He illuminated everything with his senses and examined each person's hidden intentions one by one.
Where are you?
Where is the black stain hiding upon this gray floor?
"Stand back, Count Consilus!"
"If you are truly determined to spill blood, then you will have to face this old man fir—"
Consilus, whose neck had been bulging with anger, suddenly began coughing.
Ferda's concentration broke with it.
"Count, what is wrong?"
"Cough, cough…!"
"…Cough…"
Consilus could not stop coughing.
His body staggered, and he turned his gaze toward Ferda.
"Guhak!"
With a harsh sound, he sprayed something across Ferda's clothes.
It was bright-red blood.
"Urgh…"
He vomited blood, bringing the heated atmosphere to an abrupt halt.
Ferda took a black handkerchief from his pocket and wiped Consilus's mouth.
"Count, are you all right?"
"Cough, cough… Haa…"
Consilus painfully narrowed one eye.
Amid the bewildering scene, someone shouted,
"A-an epidemic! Count Consilus has contracted an epidemic!"
That single statement seized the attention of the already confused audience.
"…Haa…"
"An epidemic?!"
"Are we going to die too?"
Whether it truly was an epidemic no longer mattered.
The fear created by that one word spread through the chamber like a plague of its own.
The marshals who had been approaching Ferda quickly backed away.
Then someone fired the opening shot.
"Everyone, get out of here!"
"It's contagious! We'll die!"
With those words, the previously hostile atmosphere veered in an entirely different direction, and the chamber descended into pandemonium.
"Silence! Everyone remain in your seats!"
Akad tried to restore order, but no one was willing to listen when their own lives might be in danger.
The chaos continued beyond anyone's control, and the council was on the verge of being forcibly adjourned when—
"SILENCE!"
A man's voice thundered across the chamber.
Everyone else's voices immediately diminished, and reason returned to them.
The man seated among the highest councilors was Valdemar.
Valdemar said nothing further.
Once the atmosphere had settled, Akad spoke.
"We will resume the proceedings. The priests will determine why Count Consilus coughed up blood and whether this is an infectious disease."
Akad sighed as though he had no other choice.
"Therefore, the council will be adjourned for another two hours. For quarantine purposes, no one is to leave the council chamber during that time. Everyone must remain in place. Count Consilus and Regent Ferda are to be examined by the priests. That is all."
The audience began praying to their gods, burdened by the fear that they might die.
Having witnessed it from close range, Ferda knew with certainty that Consilus's bleeding had not been caused by an epidemic.
'Aura reflux.'
It was a side effect caused when the aura within a person's body flowed backward.
Aura was the energy of life itself, and when that energy reversed its course, the resulting agony could feel fatal.
Anger might raise one's blood pressure, but it did not cause aura to flow backward.
'It would be impossible unless he did it deliberately.'
Then why?
'To change the atmosphere.'
Consilus had interrupted the momentum of the accusations against Ferda as a black mage, frozen the chamber with fear of an epidemic, and bought him time.
'He did this without knowing any of my plans…'
Ferda had deliberately kept Consilus out of the scheme.
It was not because he distrusted him.
He had simply decided that involving Consilus would bring the man nothing but harm.
Yet thanks to Consilus's bold actions, Ferda's task had become considerably easier.
That was why Ferda carefully wiped his mouth with the black handkerchief.
"Count Consilus."
While the man was still conscious, Ferda quietly asked him,
"Who entered the room during the autopsy of the young lord's body?"
Consilus groaned as he answered.
"Many people… gathered there."
"Who was present during the actual examination? Did you enter and observe it yourself?"
Consilus replied painfully,
"I could not… Only one person… entered…"
"I see. Thank you."
As Ferda continued carefully wiping his mouth, someone addressed him politely.
"We are the Alte Relief Corps. We will transport Count Consilus. Are you experiencing any symptoms, Regent?"
"I am not. I can walk on my own, so I will accompany you."
Ferda stepped aside, while Consilus was lifted onto the transport like a feeble old man drained of all strength.
Many members of the relief corps had arrived, making the area crowded and chaotic.
Amid the confusion, one of them lightly bumped Ferda's shoulder.
Ferda initially dismissed it as an accident caused by their hurried movements.
"Jewel and Swallow."
It was no accident.
The man was a member of the Black Bandana, responding to the signal Ferda had given by taking out the black handkerchief.
While preparing Consilus for transport, he listened carefully to Ferda.
"The black one is…"
From the moment Ferda had been declared the murderer, he had concentrated as deeply as possible, observing everyone and studying their reactions.
He had verified it several times within his panoramic field of awareness.
And now Consilus had given him the final confirmation.
Ferda leaned toward the man's ear and whispered,
"The black one is Joseph Faust."
The leader of the Church of Alte.
He was the one who worshiped demons.
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