BSPD 27

~Chapter 27~

After a brief silence, it was Ethan who spoke.

“But wasn’t the Demon God destroyed a thousand years ago when the Empire was founded? I thought the ancestors of the Five Divine Beast Clans drove out the Demon God and established the Empire.”

Ethan was right. The history all citizens of the Empire learned matched his words.

“It wasn’t destruction—it was sealing. The Divine Beasts are also creations of the gods. There’s no way they could destroy a god. The Demon God’s body was torn into five parts and sealed. That seal has endured for a thousand years since the founding.”

“Then now, after a thousand years, has there been a problem with the seal?”

“No way. It’s only been a thousand years. The seal is still intact. Time alone doesn’t weaken it.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“The seal itself is fine. The problem is the idiots trying to gather the torn pieces and break the seal to bring the Demon God back.”

Luce ground his teeth. It seemed these idiots were the reason he had been wandering for years.

“Four years ago, one of the Mage Tower’s elders stole the ritual and fled. That bastard was a black mage who worshipped the Demon God.”

“Wait. I don’t understand.”

Helion raised his hand to interrupt Luce.

“What’s the difference between a mage and a black mage? Aren’t all of you who are born with mana worshippers of the Demon God?”

“I can’t start teaching you from the baby steps.”

Luce let out an irritated sigh.

“Your Highness, I know this one.”

I carefully raised my hand.

“Rinne, you?”

“Yes. As you know, my father studied mana for a long time, so I have some shallow knowledge. To put it simply, the difference between mages and black mages is in ideology. Both draw from mana, but one merely uses it, while the other becomes intoxicated by it and seeks its source.”

“Seeks the source, huh…”

“The Mage Tower’s doctrine is to use mana but never be controlled by it. Black mages defy this teaching. They worship the source of mana—namely the Demon God—and pursue mostly forbidden ancient magic… That’s what my father’s papers say.”

“Then is their ultimate goal the Demon God’s resurrection?”

Luce nodded.

“For the past four years, I’ve traveled across the continent, but only found small fry. Every time I tried to interrogate them, they died before I could get anything.”

He spoke with a bored look.

“Is that even possible? You call yourself a great mage, yet you’ve gotten no results in four years?”

“Pick one—compliment or insult. And I did get results. The only reason there’s been so little progress even with me on the case is one thing.”

The only reason someone could evade a mage as skilled as Luce—

The first theory: his magic was actually useless. But I’d seen enough to know that wasn’t true.

The second theory: cases where magic wouldn’t work. And there was only one such case.

“…Divine power. You mean a Divine Beast might be involved?”

“What…! Rinne, don’t be ridiculous! Why would a Divine Beast do that?!”

Ibniss shot to his feet in outrage, knocking his chair over. The chair floated back to its place on its own.

“It’s not a maybe—it’s certain. There’s a Divine Beast covering for those idiots.”

Helion narrowed his eyes. As a member of the Imperial Family, he showed his displeasure openly.

“That’s a dangerous statement—it could be considered blasphemy.”

“Think what you want.”

Luce brushed off Helion’s words and turned to me.

“Do you remember the foul mana in the western forest?”

“Oh, that pit? Yeah. Was that the remains of black magic? Is that why you called it corrupted mana?”

Luce nodded. This time, Ethan raised his hand to join in.

“You saw something like that in the western forest? Why didn’t you tell me…?”

“It’s not that I was hiding it! Luce erased my memory, so I forgot!”

“He tampered with your memory without permission?”

Ethan stood as if ready to grab Luce by the collar. I quickly stepped in between them.

“It’s over and done with! You know they say ignorance is bliss! Luce did it for my sake! Probably…?”

Even defending him, I trailed off without confidence.

“…Are you really okay with it?”

“Of course! Oh, right—Your Highness, Lord Reikis. Since we’re talking about memory magic—those black mages apparently brainwashed a finance department worker into spreading a plague in the Imperial Palace!”

It was likely the first time they’d heard this.

“Explain in detail.”

I told everyone except Ethan everything I knew.

How a black mage brainwashed Marian to smuggle a plague carrier into the palace. How the mage might still be hiding inside. How Luce could track their traces but they had been cleverly covered.

When I finished, I wiped the sweat from my forehead.

“Luce… you brought me here just to make me explain for you, didn’t you?”

“What other reason would there be?”

“I’m an idiot for not realizing… Anyway, are you sure I should know all this? I’m not qualified or capable of investigating.”

“Know it. You’ll have more cases to solve like this.”

“…Me?”

I pointed at my chest. Luce nodded as if to say, Who else?

“They’re targeting not just humans but the Divine Beast Clans too. Using very troublesome methods. You remember the wolf clan incident? They fed them poisonous plants to drive them mad, make them lose control, and destroy themselves.”

“Why not use magic?”

“Because I’d end it too quickly. Divine power is the same. Do you remember the Rudel clan’s special ability?”

“Healing power… So that’s why they targeted them first. They could heal divine power injuries.”

Killing the healer first—it was the same principle.

“Right. When the wolf clan plan failed, they tried to collapse the center by spreading disease in the palace. And that failed too.”

“…Because of the medicine I made.”

“Now you get it? Magic doesn’t work on me, and as long as the wolf clan’s healers exist, divine power is useless too. So all that’s left is to spread disease.”

I had a bad feeling—I was going to be very busy.

“Rinne. I have a question.”

Even though I’d asked him to forget everything, Helion still called me Rinne. He clearly wasn’t planning to.

Resigned, I nodded.

“I know your alchemy skills are excellent. But the level of knowledge you have is far beyond the Empire’s standard. Where did you get it?”

“Yes, Rinne! I’m curious too—about the skill that saved our Kinya.”

“Ah…”

It was from my past life.
But if I said that, they’d think I was crazy.

Everyone’s eyes were on me—except Luce’s, whose eyes felt like they were drilling into me.

“My father was very interested in mana. Even more so in the Mage Tower, which is like the gathering place of all mana and magic. He interacted with many mages, learned from the Tower, and taught me.”

The truth was, I had no idea what the Tower’s level of knowledge was.

“The Mage Tower’s knowledge… I see.”

Fortunately, Helion and Ethan seemed to believe me without suspicion. The others too, for now.

Feeling guilty, I forced a smile—Luce, chin in hand, just stared.

“…What?”

“Nothing.”

I lightly tapped his arm, meaning play along.

Helion, deep in thought, didn’t notice.

“If the Tower’s that advanced… It’s time to seriously consider opening relations with them.”

“Ahem. My goal is to raise the administration’s alchemy level. Prayer alone won’t solve things anymore. We need to cultivate more herbs systematically and make usable medicines.”

“You’re right. We must prepare in advance.”

Helion stroked his jaw and nodded.

“I’ll expand the administration’s budget. Increase the greenhouse size for more herbs. Tell me if you need anything.”

“Thank you, Your Highness!”

“And Luce—what will you do now? If you wish, I’ll arrange a residence in the palace.”

“No need. Let’s not bother each other unless necessary.”

A door appeared beside him—the opposite direction from before.

“I should report to Lunaris first, right?”

“Yes. This isn’t something we should decide on our own.”

Ibniss and Reikis left first, followed by Helion leading me out. Ethan was just stepping out when Luce called out: