Once Comrades
After receiving the message, Garnet muttered with a doubtful expression,
"Joseph Faust…"
Anyone would have reacted as she did upon hearing that name and learning his true identity.
"How could the head of the Church of Alte serve those who worship the Void?"
As the leader of the Empire's state religion and master of the Grand Cathedral, the pontiff was chosen through an extremely rigorous selection process.
Joseph Faust had passed that legitimate process, which even assessed the candidates' future potential.
"It's probably that Doppler bastard."
The one who answered her question was Zed.
He was waiting for Ferda's instructions at the hideout Garnet had secured.
"Doppler?"
Garnet questioned him.
"It's similar to a doppelganger, but much worse. It transforms into a person and looks completely identical to them. I almost failed to recognize it."
"Does it imitate their mana and unique abilities as well?"
"Probably not."
The last Doppler Zed had seen had taken the form of the Chancellor of Escholeia.
All that came to mind was the man's gleaming bald head.
Garnet roughly pieced together the information she had been given.
"Let us assume this Doppler you described truly exists. You said it is a new kind of demon and that these crimes are being carried out according to a plan, correct?"
"Right."
"If this was carefully planned, then they almost certainly recruited someone capable of using divine power."
"You're saying a priest who can use divine power fell for a demon's scheme?"
"Possessing strong divine power does not mean one's character is equally virtuous. There were five hundred people competing for that position. Do you really think all five hundred were devout followers of Alte?"
"So he colluded with demons to seize power?"
"Furthermore, while an ordinary priest might attract suspicion, a bishop of the Grand Cathedral would have little reason to fear discovery."
Unlike ordinary priests, who frequently used divine magic, bishops focused primarily on politics and administration.
The bishops of the Grand Cathedral belonged to a central institution that supervised every diocese, not merely those in the capital.
They were closer to administrators than to the holy figures imagined by the public.
In other words, they rarely had reason to use magic.
Given Joseph Faust's position, no one would recklessly question his identity either.
And since the impostor had copied even his physical characteristics, displaying a few traits unique to the original man would be enough to authenticate him completely.
"That means we need to infiltrate the Grand Cathedral this time. We find evidence proving whether Joseph Faust is a Doppler or whatever it is."
"Hmm. In that case…"
"In that case?"
"How much are we getting paid?"
Zed instinctively curled his fingers into a circle.
Garnet regarded him with disgust.
"Do you really have to ask about payment even now? You've already earned quite a fortune."
"That would've been fine until a few days ago, but apparently there was a leak."
"A leak?"
"Penelope. That damned beggar demon secretly stole my money and squandered it all in the pleasure district."
"…"
"I'm going to kill that bitch."
Zed clenched his fist.
Garnet had known about Zed's obsession with money for a long time.
She even remembered how, back in their mercenary days, a man with sticky fingers had touched Zed's money and lost a hand for it.
'Yet he lets that demon get away with it…'
Garnet glared at him disapprovingly.
Zed became flustered under her piercing gaze.
"W-why are you looking at me like that?"
"Forget it."
The mission came first.
"You'll be paid, so let's focus on the job. The recess bought us two hours. We need to find something proving Joseph Faust is a demon worshiper within one hour."
"Any leads we can follow?"
"None. It would be difficult even to obtain a floor plan on such short notice. All we know are the guard rotation times. I have placed some of our people nearby, but much of this will have to be handled on the fly."
"Our Regent never does anything the easy way."
Zed sighed and removed his armor.
He changed into clothes suitable for a follower of the Church.
He used a moderate amount of makeup to conceal his distinctive appearance and make himself look ordinary.
With that, his preparations for infiltration were complete.
"Oh, right."
He did not forget to pick up a card from the table.
It was made from stiff paper and depicted a rabbit wearing a sparrow mask.
Zed had made it himself after beginning to operate under the name Bunny Swallows.
The moment Garnet saw the card, she frowned instinctively.
"Do you really need to do that pointless nonsense?"
Since Zed operated in the shadows, anonymity was essential.
Garnet believed that treating his work like a performance would eventually leave a trail leading back to him.
"Of course I do."
Zed saw things differently.
"Bunny Swallows is an apostle of justice who punishes evil."
Since he lived in the shadows, Zed believed he had to shine all the more brightly.
***
The infirmary of the Golden Council.
Ferda sat beside Consilus and watched over his condition.
The aura reflux had slowed even the life force coursing through his body.
Since Consilus was already an elderly man with poor recuperative strength, his condition showed little sign of improving.
'If Consilus dies… will Arwon inherit his position?'
Consilus had no son, but he treated Arwon like one and had introduced him to noble society.
Arwon was young, highly capable, and possessed a firm set of principles.
Ferda believed that he could adequately fill the vacancy Consilus would leave behind.
But that alone would not be enough.
At present, Consilus was the central pillar of the Far East.
No one else could fulfill that role.
Ferda needed Consilus.
"How is Count Consilus?"
The voice of an unexpected visitor reached him.
It was Valdemar.
"As you can see, his condition has stabilized."
"Yes, he should be fine. It was merely aura reflux."
"So you know it was not an epidemic."
"Of course. Do not mistake me for some fool who would be manipulated by that rabble-rouser out there."
Valdemar walked closer and looked down at Consilus.
"Consilus, you stupid bastard."
He sighed, then took a bottle from inside his coat and handed it to Ferda.
A thick red liquid filled the transparent container.
It was a healing potion.
"Give it to him. It was made in Akad's workshop."
"That man may look absentminded, but he is one of the Empire's most renowned alchemists. His skill is beyond question."
Ferda made no move to accept it.
Understanding his hesitation, Valdemar nodded.
"Hmm. Very well."
Valdemar drew a dagger.
Without hesitation, he sliced his own arm.
Bright-red blood flowed down his forearm.
As if putting on a demonstration, Valdemar dripped a single drop of the healing potion onto the wound.
The injury closed instantly.
"There. That should prove it, should it not?"
"Why go this far to prove it merely to help us?"
Such a demonstration might have convinced someone else, but not Ferda.
He could not understand Valdemar's actions.
If Ferda distrusted him, then Ferda could simply refuse to administer the potion.
There was no reason for Valdemar to go so far to prove its safety.
"I am aware that relations between us and the Far East are currently poor. However, we cannot allow an important man to die over something so trivial."
Valdemar's gaze shifted toward Consilus.
"Count Consilus was a patriot beyond comparison. In times like these, a patriot is a precious resource that cannot be replaced by anything else. I will not allow such a patriot to die."
Valdemar had gone to great lengths to demonstrate his sincerity.
Ferda likewise did not wish to lose Consilus.
At last, he poured the contents of the bottle into Consilus's mouth.
The pained expression caused by the aura reflux gradually eased.
Consilus then fell asleep as though he had lost consciousness.
"I thought you were as rational a man as I had judged you to be."
Valdemar spoke.
"To be honest, the current situation has left me greatly bewildered."
"You created this situation, yet you say that?"
"I assumed Duke Yurei was merely throwing a tantrum. When a man loses his child, his judgment becomes clouded, and he begins seeing only what he wishes to see. Most of the time, that does not make his accusations true. But this case was different. I never imagined that you truly might have killed Lord Yurei."
"If this continues, you will be branded a black mage. Is that what you desire?"
Once Ferda was branded a black mage, public opinion within the Empire would turn against the Far East.
The region's reputation would sink along with Ferda's, creating the perfect conditions for internal strife.
There was only one person with enough overwhelming political power to suppress that outcome.
Grand Duke Valdemar Golt.
"You should return."
Ferda gave him his answer.
"It is unwise for an old man to wander around a place where the existence of an epidemic has yet to be ruled out."
At Ferda's words, Valdemar turned away.
"Think carefully."
Left alone with Consilus once more, Ferda thought,
'There should be about an hour and thirty minutes remaining.'
Within that time, they had to prove that Joseph Faust—the man identified as the black stain—was a demon worshiper.
'It should be entirely possible.'
Zed Swallow was the legendary thief who had once thrown the Empire into turmoil.
And now he served under Ferda.
Ferda possessed an exceptionally skilled subordinate.
However, there was one thing he had overlooked.
"Regent Ferda."
The gods despised Ferda with extraordinary persistence.
"The council will resume in ten minutes. Please return to your seat in the chamber."
Even so, Ferda did not resent the gods.
Sighing over things that did not exist was the behavior of fools.
***
The Golden Council.
To Valdemar, the Golden Council was his domain—a place from which he could look down upon the entire Arken Empire.
Sitting there allowed him to see everyone clearly.
He could see their vulgar expressions.
He could also see the revolting faces they made whenever their true nature was exposed.
From this place, he could distinguish patriots from traitors who would sell their country.
"Your Highness, Grand Duke."
Akad listened carefully before speaking.
"As you instructed, I ordered the council to reconvene."
"And the Regent?"
"I am told he is on his way. What else can he do? He cannot flee, and if he fails to explain himself quickly while cornered like this, it will only tighten the noose around his own neck…"
"Well done."
The epidemic scare had been brought to an end with the conclusion that Count Consilus had suffered from a preexisting condition.
'Now it is time for him to become a criminal again.'
The only difference was that the joy and madness of an execution ground that had previously worked against Ferda were gone.
The chamber had regained its reason.
It was as though they had opened another escape route for a loach that had already been caught.
But what could be done about it?
Valdemar was a seasoned politician, and this was his home ground.
His opponent might have been the Princeps's consort and a dragon's fiancé, but he was still a youngster who had entered the political arena barely a year ago.
No matter how skilled Ferda was with words, the scales would naturally tip before an authority standing directly before him.
It was nearly impossible for Ferda to escape this predicament.
'Even Consilus, the wall he relied upon, cannot attend the council now…'
The psychological pressure should have been immense.
'It should be…'
Valdemar shifted his gaze toward Ferda.
'Yet he does not look like a man on the defensive.'
If it was merely bravado, then Ferda was the finest actor Valdemar had ever seen.
The sheer nerve in his bearing made Valdemar's heart race.
'What a waste.'
The more one observed most people, the less valuable they became.
Ferda, however, only grew more appealing the longer Valdemar watched him.
Had he possessed even a trace of patriotism in his heart—
Or even the slightest willingness to persuade Olivia—
'What a tragedy.'
Valdemar subtly gestured to Akad.
"We will now resume the proceedings. Regarding the matter of black magic, we shall once again—"
Akad's sentence came to an abrupt halt.
An aide cautiously entered and whispered something into his ear.
Akad's drooping eyes widened.
"What? Why have they come here…?"
"What is it?"
Sensing that something was amiss, Valdemar questioned him.
Unable to conceal his bewilderment, Akad relayed what he had heard.
Valdemar felt the same way.
"Why in the world has she come here?"
"I do not know."
"This is the Golden Council, where human affairs are handled. Tell her that she cannot enter—"
"I do not believe that will be possible."
"Why not?"
"She claims the matter was approved by the Grand Council…"
The Grand Council stood above even the laws of the Empire.
Because it rarely intervened regardless of what occurred, both its authority and justification were absolute whenever it did.
It could crush any excuse offered by something as insignificant as the Golden Council.
Valdemar glanced toward Ferda.
Even when he had first been accused of practicing black magic, and even when that accusation had supposedly been proven, he had not shown the slightest agitation.
'So the reason he remained so calm was because he already had something to rely upon.'
Valdemar gave a hollow laugh and signaled to Akad.
Akad delivered an order to the aide before resuming the council.
"I have an announcement to make. Ordinarily, now that the findings regarding the use of black magic have been presented, we would hear Regent Ferda's final defense. However, an objection has been raised concerning the incident in which Regent Ferda was accused of using black magic. Therefore, a new witness will be admitted.
"The person who will appear is…"
Someone whom even the nobles of the Empire rarely had the opportunity to see.
No.
Not merely a person, but a member of another race.
"Erika Iorga, Master of the Blue-Eyed Magic Tower."
The doors to the council chamber opened, and a group of five mages entered.
At their head was a woman with long blue hair and radiant skin.
She shone more brilliantly than gold, and those who encountered her mystical presence could not bring themselves to look away.
Valdemar watched Erika before glancing toward Ferda.
Only after seeing Ferda's face did he understand.
Ferda had planned even this moment.
He had anticipated that someone would tamper with Lord Yurei's corpse.
And just as he expected, someone had interfered with the body, allowing everything to proceed according to plan.
Ferda had explained his scheme to the Blue Eyes beforehand and requested their cooperation.
They had answered,
—If something like that is happening… then helping you without asking for compensation is only natural.
Erika had lost her people to demons and endured unimaginable hardship because of them.
Naturally, she eagerly stepped forward whenever demons were involved.
She had even shown enough thoroughness to obtain approval from Blancaros, who resided within the absolute neutral zone, thereby demonstrating the gravity of the situation.
'She truly becomes a different person when standing in an official setting.'
As the representative of Iorga, the Embodiment of Water, Erika had clearly poured all her effort into maintaining her public image.
She stepped onto the platform and opened her lips.
"Beloved subjects of the Empire."
Her voice was that of a graceful woman, yet it carried unmistakable power.
"I am Erika Iorga, descendant of the great Iorga, the Embodiment of Magic and Water, and Master of the Blue-Eyed Magic Tower."
Erika spoke with an appropriate balance of scholarly refinement and the dignity of a Tower Master.
"As you are aware, I formed an alliance with Regent Ferda of Princeps Valdrova's territory in the Far East. Under the banner of conquering the Demonic Lands, we have been sharing our technologies.
"Recently, we achieved the remarkable result of successfully applying a magical array capable of filtering contaminated water to magitech engineering. Thanks to that achievement, it proved exceptionally effective when the recent encirclement was formed."
Her eyes grew sharper.
"Yet rather than praising Regent Ferda in this chamber, you are looking upon him as though he were a traitor to the Empire.
"I wish to make one point absolutely clear. He is a man who has devoted himself to purifying the Cerdes Continent. He is one of those fighting for that cause, and there is no reason for him to be treated as a criminal."
She openly condemned the atmosphere that had branded Ferda a murderer.
Duke Yurei then spoke.
"I sincerely respect and appreciate the efforts of Tower Master Erika and every member serving beneath her. However, if you shield him merely because he is your ally, justice will not survive."
Erika looked toward Duke Yurei.
Her gaze was gentle, without the slightest sense of overt threat.
"Duke Yurei, I understand well that you are a father who has lost his child. However, is it not also true that your son insulted a dragon?"
"Only a single knight heard it. In a ballroom filled with so many people, there was only one witness."
"The principle regarding offenses against dragons is to punish one as a warning to a hundred. Do you understand what that means?"
Her voice turned cold.
It was as though frost scattered across every place her words reached.
"It means that the testimony of even one person who heard the insult is sufficient grounds for death."
A Dragon Spawn.
Because those words came directly from one who was closer to a dragon than anyone else, yet still rational, their weight was on an entirely different level.
"The person who showed consideration and prevented this matter from becoming even larger was none other than Regent Ferda. Therefore, I believe it would be wise to conclude this matter at an appropriate point."
"An appropriate point…"
Duke Yurei trembled.
"Are you telling me to overlook the murder of my son and simply walk away?"
He was a father with nothing left to lose.
That was why he could act with such emotion and boldness.
But at the same time, Erika's response was only possible because she represented a Blue Dragon.
Blue Dragons were expected to be intelligent and rational.
"If Regent Ferda committed murder and intends to retain his position as the Princeps's consort, then naturally, he must receive the punishment required by imperial law."
Erika answered with equal reason.
"However, that is only true under the premise that the deceased was actually your son, Duke Yurei."
"Are you saying… the dead man was not my son?"
Duke Yurei reacted violently.
It sounded like a cheap trick intended to bury the case.
"That was unquestionably my son! I checked the body several times while it was being transported! The blue mark he had on his buttocks since childhood was still there!"
"No. That alone is insufficient."
Erika lightly tapped her folded fan against her lips.
"Such a physical characteristic is merely evidence. It cannot, by itself, become the truth."
"What exactly do you mean by 'the truth,' Tower Master?"
She turned toward the chairman.
"Chairman?"
"Yes."
"This may be an impertinent request, but may I use Dead Man's Knock on Lord Yurei's body?"
Dead Man's Knock.
A third-tier spell that temporarily revived the consciousness of the deceased and extracted information from them.
Provided the necessary conditions were met, there was no better spell for uncovering the truth.
However, it had one critical problem.
"I-is that not black magic?"
It was a form of black magic.
"Are you saying that you are capable of using black magic, Tower Master?"
"Yes. It is not mentioned in the biographies known to the public. However, everyone who truly knows me is aware of it. I have never attempted to hide it either."
Erika had been responsible for wisdom within the party of twelve.
Erdes had handled magical firepower, while Erika had chosen to equip herself with as many tools as possible, increasing the number of methods available for overcoming difficult situations.
Black magic was merely one of the tools Erika had prepared.
"Absolutely not!"
Joseph Faust, the leader of the Church of Alte, vehemently objected.
"Black magic is a by-product of demons—an unclean darkness! As an apostle of Alte, I can never permit its use within the Empire!"
Erika questioned him.
"Not even when it is used to uncover the truth?"
"Of course not. No form of black magic can be tolerated within the Empire."
Joseph Faust answered confidently.
Those watching felt chills as he openly defied a Blue Dragon.
It might have appeared characteristic of a hardliner, but it was closer to reckless stubbornness that ignored the circumstances entirely.
Erika did not respond emotionally.
"Very well. Should the head of the Cerdes Magical Society also object, I will willingly abandon the idea."
Her gaze turned toward Erdes.
Erdes, who had been watching for some time, wore an openly displeased expression.
The two women stared at each other as though they might devour one another.
Perhaps the plan would fail here.
—She will help us. They understand each other better than anyone.
That was what Erika had told Ferda when he remained uncertain.
"Use it."
Just as he recalled those words, Erdes spoke.
Joseph was even more shocked than Ferda.
"By 'use it,' you mean…"
"There's no need to make this complicated. I'm telling her to cast the spell."
Even those in the audience who had suspected they had misheard were stunned when she repeated herself.
"The head of the Magical Society is allowing the use of black magic…"
"Is she turning a blind eye because they were once members of the same expedition?"
Joseph, sweating in alarm, questioned her.
"What do you mean, Society Head? Are you saying you will permit black magic?"
"No. That isn't what I mean."
"Turning a blind eye just this once violates your own principles. As the head of the Magical Society, you must remain consistent—"
"God, you're fucking noisy."
Erdes dug a finger into her ear and glared at Joseph.
"Do you know why I hate black magic? I hate it because the bastards who use it sell their souls to demons. Eventually, they become monsters who devour their own children and cannot even recognize their parents.
"Do you think our Erika gained her power by selling her own mother?"
"Even so, this is…"
"Shut up. You're a green little brat who doesn't even know what kind of hell happened during the Dragon-Demon War. How dare you talk back to me?"
Erdes rose from her seat and glared down at Joseph.
Joseph visibly shrank beneath the force of her presence.
"What I don't understand is why you're so desperate to oppose this. This could reveal the truth, couldn't it?
"Do you believe so absolutely that nothing can hide beneath the glorious light of your precious Alte? Or perhaps—"
"Councilor Roton."
Akad interrupted her.
"Please refrain from mockery."
Erdes expelled her rising irritation through her nose.
Then she rested her chin on her hand and looked back toward Erika.
The old resentment between them could still be felt.
"You can use it. That is my opinion as head of the Magical Society."
Yet they had once been comrades who fought with their backs against one another.
Lord Yurei's corpse was brought from the autopsy room and placed before the witness stand.
Pure mana gathered in Erika's hand.
The moment it formed a magical array, the mana melted into something resembling dark, filthy tar.
The tar-like substance flowed into the seven openings of Lord Yurei's body.
—Uuuhhh…
The black magic known as Dead Man's Knock activated.
And the dead man awakened.
"…!"
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