Chapter 07
“Very well!”
Berner clapped his hands sharply, lightening the atmosphere. He seemed aware of how it looked—two grown men pressing down on me unintentionally.
“Then I suppose I should start with the details.”
“Yes, please. Earlier, you said, ‘It seems the black magicians have started moving again.’ What exactly did you mean by that?”
That was the part I was most curious about. I needed to know just how much Tristan and Berner had figured out.
“Just what I said. We’ve found traces suggesting black magicians are active again on the continent.”
“But… that’s impossible. Three hundred years ago, after the Holy Crusade, all the black magicians were confined to that remote island.”
Well, with the exception of someone like me…
Tristan frowned slightly before replying.
“That was true then. But things have changed a lot since.”
The continent had recovered quickly, and after generations passed, the grief of three hundred years ago had faded. The Papacy of today was a shadow of the power it had once been.
“Ironically, without black magicians, the Papacy itself loses its purpose.”
“Right. To guard against black magicians, the Papacy has long held some land within the Bellonde Empire. They renew their lease of that land with the Empire every hundred years. And as it happens, this autumn is the renewal date.”
Hearing Berner’s explanation, the picture began to form in my mind.
“So the Empire is considering… not renewing the contract this time.”
“Exactly. That’s right.”
“But then it doesn’t make sense. You say you’ve found traces of black magicians moving again.”
If they truly existed, wouldn’t that force the Empire to extend the contract with the Papacy? My words made Berner scratch his cheek awkwardly.
“That’s the tricky part… See, black magicians look no different from ordinary humans. And unless you’re clergy, you can’t even sense the residue of black magic.”
He pulled a device from his pocket.
“This meter here is something the Papacy invented. Which means, if they insist ‘a black magician has appeared!’, we have no way of proving otherwise.”
The situation really was complicated. The Papacy needed to justify its usefulness, so it would be tempted to create black magicians if necessary. But the Empire had no reliable means of confirming whether they were real or not.
That explained why these two were secretly investigating the existence of black magicians themselves.
So… it’s not that they’ve noticed anything about me. That’s a relief.
If this was just about the Papacy playing tricks to secure its contract, then all I had to do was play along.
Actually, this was quite useful information.
Even this magical meter they had wasn’t trusted completely.
If they discovered real traces of black magic, they were still more likely to think, “The Papacy must have staged this.”
That’s what they wanted to believe.
This works in our favor. As long as we don’t directly clash with the Papacy, the Empire has no real way to root us out.
After all, no one in their right mind would recklessly use black magic right in front of a priest. Which meant there was little chance of being exposed just through traces of residue.
I was about to let a smile slip when Tristan suddenly dropped a bombshell.
“The most recent traces were found halfway up the Rauden Mountains.”
Cough!
I nearly choked, coughing violently. Thankfully, I managed to hide my mouth with my sleeve, sparing myself from offending him.
“Oh dear, are you all right?”
Berner offered me his handkerchief.
“Ah, yes. I was just… startled. The Rauden Mountains are close to here, aren’t they?”
“Indeed. They lie west of the capital. Cross them, and you’re immediately in the Marquisate of Chambel. Many people pass through there. Truly a grave matter.”
Yes. Especially since in the Marquisate of Chambel stood the national academy where Andrea attended classes.
“…My younger sibling commutes there often. You’re saying traces of black magic were found nearby?”
“Ah, the school road itself is carefully managed by the Capital Guard, so you needn’t worry. The traces were found some distance from the route.”
That’s because we’d taken a dangerous shortcut through the mountain path by carriage!
“Still, it must be troubling for you.”
Everyone in the Empire knew how much we siblings cherished our youngest. They didn’t find my concern odd at all.
“But as I mentioned, we can’t yet be sure whether those traces truly belonged to a black magician.”
They really do.
“When we went there ourselves, the meter flashed red and shrieked incessantly. Whatever it was, it left behind powerful traces of dark magic.”
Because I made three zombies there…
Berner lowered his voice, as though to spook me. But I was already terrified enough—cold sweat trickled down my spine.
“I think that’s enough explanation. Time is short.”
“Yes. You mean we must conclude our investigation before autumn.”
“Exactly. Now, return home and pack your things.”
“…Pardon?”
I thought I had misheard.
“Tomorrow at first light, we’re heading directly to the Rauden Mountains. I want you there to determine whether the traces are real.”
“But, Your Highness… tomorrow is… a holiday.”
“Precisely. If we leave during the workweek, people might find it suspicious.”
And then it struck me again: even the most “benevolent” superior was still, at the end of the day, a superior.
He truly believed I would willingly give up my rest day to accompany him all the way to the Rauden Mountains for his sake.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
There was only one right answer.
“Fortunate, isn’t it?”
Berner grinned widely. Who would have thought they’d discover Lady Walker’s ability at such perfect timing?
“Perhaps the Lord himself aids you, Your Highness.”
“By abandoning the Papacy? If that’s true, then He is a cruel god indeed.”
“Your Highness, you mustn’t say such things aloud.”
The Bellonde Empire officially upheld Helios as its state religion. While political and religious authority were formally separate, the Papacy’s interference hadn’t been fully erased.
If words like Tristan’s reached their ears, they would pounce on the chance to undermine his legitimacy.
“But isn’t it surprising? That the so-called ‘blemish of House Walker’ had such talent.”
Berner recalled the young lady who had sat across from them earlier.
“Her gentle character seemed proof she hadn’t been blessed by God. But perhaps it’s simply her true nature.”
Because of her kind disposition, many servants of the palace admired her. Having observed her closely, Berner thought she genuinely seemed softhearted.
When her eyes rolled in thought, he often wondered what went on in that small head of hers. She was like a puppy eyeing a treat, waiting for permission.
Even faced with Tristan’s unreasonable demand, she hadn’t been able to refuse, stammering until she finally accepted.
Berner couldn’t suppress a laugh.
“Such people are rare indeed.”
“You never know.”
Tristan leaned against the window.
The Emily Walker he had watched was always smiling, calling others in a warm tone.
She held the status of a duke’s daughter, yet chose to work in the Imperial Secretariat—something many would have considered beneath her. She’d also followed his directive to maintain formal address regardless of rank within the workplace.
“There are plenty of good stories about her. From what I’ve looked into, she even treats the servants who fetch her water kindly. She’s never done anything to earn hatred. She doesn’t seem politically ambitious either.”
To Berner, that made her the perfect ally. Who would have imagined that the disgrace of House Walker would turn out so useful?
But Tristan, gazing at Emily’s back as she walked to her carriage, murmured coldly:
“The friend of all is the friend of none.”
His eyes turned sharp.
“Those who are kind to everyone, in truth, give their heart to no one.”
“Ah, there it is. Even Lady Walker isn’t exempt from Your Highness’s paranoia.”
Berner brushed it off with a light laugh.
“Now then.”
Quiet darkness settled over the dining table. I met the eyes of my three siblings in turn and solemnly declared:
“I hereby commence the Third Countermeasure Meeting.”
“…I have a question.”
“Raise your hand. You may only speak once I grant permission.”
Julia scowled but lifted her hand.
“Good. Now, our first agenda—”
“You said raise your hand!”
“I did. But I don’t have to give the floor to everyone who raises one.”
My logical rebuttal left Julia staring at me in disbelief.
“And why do we have to do this in such a dark, gloomy place?!”
She gestured at the curtains I had drawn over every window. The lone candlelight flickered unsteadily.
“I thought it might feel more fitting, like a secret gathering of the dark arts. But isn’t dimmer light more comfortable than bright?”
“Do you think we’re vampires?”
“Sorry. I’ve never actually been a zombie, you know.”
It just seemed fitting—black magicians and their minions, gathered in darkness. I thought maybe they’d find it more appropriate, but Julia clearly didn’t.
With a swish, she yanked the curtains open, letting in the last light of dusk. Golden hues washed over Edmund’s sharp jawline.
“…I heard what happened earlier today.”
So word of Isaac’s duel had already reached his ears.
“And that you were absent with His Highness the Crown Prince.”
“Sigh. About that—it’s complicated.”
I quickly summarized what Tristan had told me: how I’d gotten caught in the tug-of-war between Empire and Papacy, and how I’d been forced to give up my holiday tomorrow to play the role of black-magic detector.
“Are you insane?!”
Julia shot to her feet.
“Exactly. We’re about to be dragged into enemy territory!”
“That damn Crown Prince! Doesn’t he know the rules of decency? Who makes someone work overtime on a weekend?!”
…That’s the part you’re upset about?
Well, that was a problem, but I thought there was a much bigger issue at hand. I glanced at Isaac instead.
For once, his face was entirely serious. He even patted my shoulder gently—careful not to let his hand fall off his wrist.
“…Shall we report him to the Labor Office?”
…No, that is not the problem here.
