Chapter 48 -----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: An Invitation from Pleroma
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"…I knew your ability was good, but I didn't realize you could pick up on details this fine."
"Huh? Special Grade 2? Nailed it~"
Narke beamed brightly as she pulled out the chair beside me and sat down.
'Nailed it'?
I let out a hollow chuckle and asked,
"Did you guess?"
"Not entirely—I pieced it together from various clues. Who knew I'd get it right? Guess I've gotten to know you pretty well now, Lucas."
The longer you know someone, the better the ability seems to work.
Makes sense. People's thought patterns and behaviors don't change that easily.
No wonder a Level 2 skill could catch such minute details.
Just then, a gust of wind from a warp spell swept in from the entrance.
"Lucas."
Leo's voice rang out.
Maybe because I'd been dragged into training without meaning to today, my shoulders flinched reflexively.
'....'
Why me?
Dealing with that magic maniac had me feeling guilty for no reason… but there's no need for that.
I straightened my thoughts, looked up, and met Leo's eyes. He jerked his head toward the outside.
"Let's go. Time for your core treatment."
"Did I say I was going today?"
"No, but you don't have anything else to do. You can't train anyway once you take your meds."
He knows his stuff. Good to see he's got some common sense.
Narke, who'd been listening in, chimed in.
"Can I tag along? I'm curious."
"Well… sure."
Leo hesitated for a second before scribbling warp coordinates on a scrap of paper and handing it to Narke. She took it with a smile.
"Thanks~"
"No big deal. Come on over now. Meet at the hospital."
* * *
The treatment was brutal.
Maybe because it involved messing with the core, but endless shocks hit me just like during the core exam.
'Feels no different from shocking the heart with electricity….'
Even the casting mage looked drained, wiping sweat from his brow and letting out a breath.
"Phew… The damage is severe—one session won't cut it. Still, most of the small cracks should be patched up. That's enough for today. Come back next time for more."
"How many more sessions will it take?"
"At least five. Oh, and isn't that mask uncomfortable? Must be hot—why not take it off?"
"No, I'm fine."
The doctor burst into hearty laughter.
"Hahaha! I was curious, but oh well."
"...."
He only told me to take it off because he was curious…
A hollow laugh escaped me.
"Then I'll be off. Rest a bit before you head out."
"Yes, thank you."
I smiled and saw him off. The moment the door shut, I closed my eyes and sank comfortably into the cushion.
For some reason, not even ten seconds passed before the door flew open again.
"Er-err~"
From the gravelly greeting that made me wonder just how old the guy was to the double-clack of crutches with every step—I knew exactly who it was without opening my eyes.
Elias labored into the chair beside me, exhaling heavily.
"Phew… Your Excellency's here too? And Narke. Perfect timing—I was bored out of my mind."
Narke greeted him with a bright smile.
"You're at the hospital too, Elias. Nice running into you here."
"Right~? Where's that rabbit?"
"Haha, couldn't bring it to the hospital, so I left it in the room."
Elias had caught on to Pie's existence by now. Though not that it could talk, of course.
Narke wasn't spreading word that animals could understand speech and hold conversations—for Pie's sake. So far, I was still the only one who knew the full story.
Besides, outside of our gatherings, Elias had no real reason to cross paths with Leo or me, so no need to tell him.
Elias pouted regretfully.
"I see. Would've loved to see it."
"Elias! I told you not to walk!"
Leo stormed in from the next room over, fuming.
"No way. I've got tons to do with Nikolaus."
"Do?"
"After kicking up all that fuss, sitting still's got me crawling out of my skin. Right? Let's find something else to smash. Explain that plan you mentioned before."
"Haha…"
I'd let the protagonist loose on the world a little early. He wasn't supposed to go off the rails until next year.
Still, it wasn't a huge gap—no real problem.
"I've got one thing to wrap up first, so I can't dive in yet. I'll explain once this is done."
"What's this one? You're not gonna trash the place like last time, right?"
Leo was so worked up he let the profanity slip uncensored.
"No… I'm planning to handle this one solo, so don't worry. Anything involving Duke Elias comes after."
"What's this solo gig?"
I pulled a letter from my pocket and handed it over.
[Federal Council Mecklenburg-Schwerin Federal Representative, Werner Strauch]
It was a letter from the Federal Council, sent to my office in Bavaria.
Leo scowled as he took it.
"Federal Council? No way…"
Elias glanced at the letter in Leo's hand and tossed out,
"He actually came crawling on his own two feet."
"Yeah."
I nodded.
"Since he went to the trouble of reaching out directly, I've gotta handle it."
* * *
"Never thought the day would come when I'd invite three classmates over at once…"
We were in Leo's room now, for a strategy session.
Elias marveled as he whipped his head around.
"Your room's practically a whole floor? Lucky!"
"You've been coming every week since we were kids—quit acting like it's your first time!"
"Ah, what am I gonna do~"
Elias cackled and flopped down at the table in the room's center. He jerked his chin toward a door at the far end of the hall.
"P.S., that's the bedroom, kiddos. Crash there if you get sleepy. This place has like seventy rooms—the owner'll bunk elsewhere."
"Just ignore him."
Leo gave up with a grin and took his seat.
Narke propped her chin on her hand, smiling.
"Haha, you guys are super tight~ Didn't pick up on it much in class."
"Yeah. Hold up—you didn't notice in class?!"
"Keep it down, Elias. And…"
Leo let out a laugh-mingled sigh before turning to me.
"Now's not the time for that. No one's around to eavesdrop, so speak freely. Why're you insisting on handling the Council Pleroma solo?"
"Right, first off…"
Let's ditch the mask.
Confirming all the curtains were drawn, I removed it and set it on the desk. Cool air settled over my skin.
Finally, I could breathe.
"Ooh."
Elias scanned my face and whistled. Narke burst out laughing right along with him.
"Wow, really…"
"What."
I'd half-expected it, but the question slipped out anyway.
Elias jerked his head at me.
"You know switching colors and actually taking off the mask in front of us is a first? With the hair color too, I legit thought you were Adrian Ascanien."
"...."
I shot Leo a look demanding he refute it, but he just shrugged.
We did share some genes—couldn't be helped.
With more people around, there wasn't even a moment's quiet.
Narke was her usual quiet self, just observing, but Elias's nonstop chatter made it feel otherwise.
I waved off Elias's teasing, lingering stare.
"Cut it out—let's get to business. It's getting late."
"Yeah. Spill why you're facing that guy alone. That's why we're here."
Leo pressed again.
I unfolded the letter and slid it toward Leo.
"You saw what it says?"
"Something about a Pleroma matter—needs to commission you. Says he requires your divine power."
"Right. Simple reason I'm going solo: he commissioned me alone. Think I can just drag you, Narke, or Elias along?"
"...."
Leo got it and heaved a deep sigh.
"Even if I did, he'd finagle a way to get me alone. I'm the sole target—with another mage there, he's done for, plain and simple."
"Was obvious from the jump. The second you donned the whistleblower mantle, you were marked, Lucas."
Elias shifted to a serious tone.
He leaned forward from his reclined position.
"Look, I don't wanna stop you if you're set on it, but sending you in alone? Doesn't sit right."
"Why's that?"
I smiled and asked.
Even if they give opinions, better hear their takes first.
"Obvious. Like you said—even hiding thoroughly wouldn't be enough, but now you're nationally exposed and the mission's stalled. Pleroma's gotta hate the guy who ran the insect experiments. His position's gotta be shaky."
"Yeah."
"So he's got a massive grudge against the original whistleblower—you. No qualms dragging you down. Wanna hear my scenarios?"
I nodded wordlessly.
Elias held up two fingers like before.
"You get dragged there and turned Pleroma, or you die in front of the Pleromas. Either way, you've crossed the point of no return. First one especially—might be better off dead, treatment-wise."
"Spot on."
That's exactly how it'll go.
Depending on the spy's punishment severity, my retaliation scales, but prepping for those two covers the safest bets.
As I opened my mouth to speak, Leo asked calmly,
"Fair points—but you're still going."
"Yeah. I've got reasons I have to. First—you know sending anyone else is pointless."
"I'd be useful."
Elias threw out lightly.
Fair.
The ones he'd resent most: me, for first spotlighting the insect issue, then Elias.
If headline-grabber Elias went instead, the guy could get his jollies, drag Elias to Pleroma HQ, and use him as a tool for honor rehab and reinstatement.
But…
'Can't let that happen.'
No illusions the protagonist would go down easy.
No point shoving my risks onto someone barely eighteen in Korean years. Plus, I needed to boost my impression score anyway—me going wasn't a loss.
Sure, the endgame protagonist was older than the original me… but right now mattered.
"Nope. Your legs aren't even healed."
"Ah, should've scarfed that wild boar the second I saw it… Regret city now!"
Elias clutched his head, spouting nonsense.
"Anyway, anyone but me or Elias shows up? Zero impact. Next—only one reason we gotta handle him ourselves."
Narke, already reading my mind, nodded with a soft smile.
"We've got no way to lock him up right now. File a report like, 'Werner Strauch is Pleroma—arrest him'? On what grounds? I've got zilch proving he's Pleroma."
Leo, arms crossed and sour-faced, nodded slowly.
"Yeah, you still haven't told even us how you figured it out. I know you're not one for BS, so we rolled with it."
"But now it's credible. Letter from the guy Lucas named actually showed up."
Elias snatched the letter and waved it.
"Exactly—he proved it himself. Problem is, it's evidence just for us—not enough for an investigation request."
Leo picked up.
"Bavaria royals requesting imperial probe might kick it off for real, but outcomes are iffy."
I nodded at that.
"Yeah. What if he's left zero evidence in his office or estate? Case closed."
"Whoa, talk about a rush. Getting blacklisted as a liar by the imperials~"
Elias snickered.
Narke stared intently at Elias, fascinated by an imperial saying such a thing.
Leo clasped his hands, dead serious.
"So that's it—that's why you're going in guns blazing. Can't leverage public authority till we snag hard evidence ourselves."
"Exactly."
The imperials have no interest picking fights with the empire's states.
Mecklenburg-Schwerin, where Werner Strauch reps as federal councilor? A grand duchy.
No way imperials cuff a grand duchy's councilor off one Bavaria mage's word without proof.
If I had something to show? Maybe. But I don't.
So…
"If we can't force an investigation—or it's low odds even if we do… we just make Werner Strauch admit he's Pleroma himself."
To pull that off, I had to catch him at the moment he drops the mask.
And that moment? When he faces me—his grudge target.
* * *
I fiddled with my earlobe. A transparent artifact hooked over it.
"One good smack and this thing's toast."
"Block it first!"
Leo whipped around, incredulous.
"One more test run would've made it way stabler."
"No time to make extras. Be grateful it transmits at all."
Regular tech recorders flop if magic's in play, so we went with sensory transfer magic.
Loaded a blank artifact with the formula for a temp effect—added a reset-per-touch function, ballooned the formulas tenfold, and wrestled conflicts.
But surprisingly, once hooked on the ear unlike tests, it worked solid. Prepped in no time.
Really drove home why they say body contact maxes performance.
Of course, depending on his setup, the artifact might fail.
Both scenarios possible, so we deployed regular tech and magic tech.
Prep done, I straightened my clothes.
Time ticking down—I turned to Leo one last time.
"Let's run it step-by-step again. If there's anything the investigators can't hear, tap the arm artifact once. It'll cut. You know you can sever from your end too."
"Got it. Set a 30-second delay with their side—don't sweat the controls. We'll block and reconnect."
Their side: Bavaria Investigation Bureau.
Once it blows up there, it shifts to imperial investigators.
I nodded and flicked the recorder linked behind my robe brooch.
"Recorder's got no real-time feed anyway—leave it."
"Yeah, do that. We'll hold it, scrub personal details, and leak to press."
Glanced at the clock—already 3 p.m.
Time to move.
"I'm off."
I fed the letter's coordinates into the warp formula and snapped my fingers.
The Federal Council's main building materialized ahead.
Sure enough, pre-scouted—the guy was there, back turned.
I approached the distant figure from behind and called his name.
"Representative Werner Strauch."
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