Chapter 47 (1/2)

Chapter 47: Towards the Source of the Fog

In the end, I still used the ESP Medal to confirm whether Leiha (her full name is too hard to call, so I’m shortening it) is acting or not.

When they learned of the existence of an item that can “read someone else’s mind,” Sedam and Claura did not look pleased at all. In contrast, Leiha gave her a.s.sent delightedly.

“Very well, I will now begin. Umm, first question: was it anki who brainwashed you and your nakama?” (Gio)

“The one who reduced me to that state was human…… I think. However, that power…… the existence that bound and manipulated my heart for all those years certainly did carry the aura of anki. The favor of saving me from it is a debt that I will never be able to fully repay, even with the rest of my life.” (Leiha)

«To willingly entrust myself to the strength of another…… what a disgrace this is. But it is also the only path of salvation open to me. I am currently in front of an overwhelming power that far overshadows even that demon…… Ahh, I want to be ruled by my lord’s power! I want to be bound, I want to be held down……» {Leiha}

“I, I see…… But still, to speak of swearing allegiance so abruptly…… Are you actually just acting like this to get us to let down our guards so that you can get away?” (Gio)

“Far from it! Swearing allegiance to my Oluri is only natural, as I am your s.h.i.+. If you still doubt me, I can tear out my very heart and show you that it is nothing but the red of truth!” (Leiha)

«Ahhh, Oluri is doubting me…… How frightening it is that my pillar, the one I’m to cling to, does not believe me…… Instead of that, I would much rather end this miserable life in front of my lord’s eyes!» {Leiha}

“Is, is that so…… Alright, I understand now.” (Gio)

(T/N: Hmm, so, what -dere is it when the girl would rather die than go without your love and attention?)

The frightful thing is that she meant everything she said about allegiance and swearing—every single word was her heartfelt intent.

Within that single word ‘allegiance’ whirls so many different emotions that I don’t want to touch……

Of course, I don’t like it when strong hostility is directed at me like Heldol did, but strong goodwill (?) is…… well, it’s heavy. All I did was use a single spell, but it had the unintended consequence of irrevocably changing another person’s life forever. That’s frightening.

“So, how is it? That onee-san is serious, isn’t she?” (Sedam)

So asks Sedam, who is standing next to Claura, who in turn is looking back and forth between Leiha and me with a complicated face. Whichever way I look at it, he’s just enjoying himself now, isn’t he.

Even though I am like this, I too am a man. Despite being mature and all that, it’s not like I don’t have any l.u.s.t at all.

Now that I know her true thoughts, I can’t flatly reject her anymore. Before even that, there’s no way I would feel bad when a beautiful lady who’s basically a ma.s.s of eros yearns (?) for me so deeply.

But it’s just, you know……

“...... Though I am still withholding my acceptance of her offer, but it seems so, yes.” (Gio)

“You believe me now?! Thank you so very much!” (Leiha)

“...... That’s well and all. By the way, are you not going to ask her for information about the person who was controlling her? The crucial mastermind?” (Claura)

“Mu. That’s right. Even if your memory is a bit hazy, tell us any little thing that you remember.” (Gio)

“Indeed I will.” (Leiha)

“Guess I don’t need this anymore……” (Gio)

More like, I don’t want to use this item for quite a while. As I put the bothersome ESP Medal into my sling bag, Claura speaks up.

“I’m just saying, but if you ever use that thing against me, I will cut every one of our ties as friends, you hear?!” (Claura)

So declares Claura with both hands on her waist and her face slightly tinged with red. Now this reaction is what’s normal for a real-life human.

A normal reaction, huh. For the present me, it is something that I am most grateful for.

“......” (Gio)

“Wha-, what is it? I bet you’re thinking that a woman who would listen to anything you say like that dark elf over there is more preferable, aren’t you?!” (Claura)

“Not really…… Thank you, Claura. Always keep scolding me like in the future too.” (Gio)

“HAH?!” (Claura)

♥♦♣♠

Like that, with a few chaotic moments here and there, we finally managed to hear all the information that Leiha had to provide.

The person in Lelis who ordered her to a.s.sa.s.sinate me was a n.o.bleman with black hair, whose crest was a pattern with a sword and a sail.

Hearing that, Sedam strikes his hands together with a ‘pon.’

(T/N: The j.a.panese gesture indicating that a lightbulb had gone off in their head.)

Among the people of interest that had come up from the adventurers’ investigations so far, there is indeed someone who fits this description.

His name is Baron Neib Koval.

He is a powerbroker who holds a seat in the Council, and has been a thorn in the Merchant faction’s side for the longest time.

There are mountains of dangerous rumors about his mansion, such as frequent cases of people in the vicinity going missing, suspicious people coming and going, and the maids seeing rituals extolling anki being conducted.

Of course, the adventurers had done enough substantiating investigation to prove that these rumors are actually all quite close to the truth. On top of all that, we now have testimony from the a.s.sa.s.sin’s own mouth.

“This is definitive. Baron Koval must be a Demonist.” (Sedam)

“Shall we march straight to the Baron’s mansion?” (Claura)

“I shall come along!” (Leiha)

“No wait, what are you guys saying. It’s a bad idea for a single person to decide by themselves to arrest someone else.” (Gio)

♥♦♣♠

First of all, we request the currently active adventurers and city guards to keep tabs on Baron Koval’s location and to obstruct any escape attempts, and to monitor the area around his mansion.

After that, I head towards the Council Hall together with Sedam, Claura, and Leiha.

Though I feel slightly bad about the short notice, I demand for Council Chairman Braus and the Garrison Commander.

In front Council Chairman and the Garrison Commander, both of whom had hurriedly made their way over, I report that there is a high possibility that Baron Koval is a Demonist and is the mastermind behind my and the Council Chairman’s attempted a.s.sa.s.sination.

Despite being the Chairman’s political opponent, both of them were astonished to hear that a n.o.ble had committed the crime of wors.h.i.+pping anki, which is considered an especially taboo act in this world.

“I’m shocked. But well, it appears that there is no room for doubt here.” (Braus)

“There is the testimony of that dark elf, as well as the circ.u.mstantial evidence gathered by the adventurers. Let us immediately move to arrest Baron Koval on grounds of a.s.sa.s.sination and pagan wors.h.i.+p.” (Garrison Commander)

“Fumu…… Margils-dono, is that fine with you?” (Braus)

Normally, it would be strange for the Council Chairman to seek confirmation from me on this kind of matter.

Despite that, the fact that he read and sympathized with my intentions proves that he really is a sharp person after all.

“Of course, I think it only natural to arrest him. However, there is a high chance that he has some strange power derived from the anki. Furthermore, I also wish to prove my friendly att.i.tude towards the city…… With these in mind, I wish to request for permission for me to cooperate with this arrest.” (Gio)