59 19. To Rescue Shelley (2/2)

”d*mn it ......, you'll see it later.

I muttered that to Allen as he disappeared and prepared to build the item.

Now I'm sure that was a declaration of war against me: .......

Then finding Shelly is more important than Allen right now.

I pulled this or that item out of my backpack and tried to use creation magic with the magic stone.

Knock knock.

What is it now?　You can come in.

”Excuse me. I'm sorry to disturb you. There's a guest asking to see Mr. Leo.

It was Eric who came in.

”Huh?　At this hour?

Because it's the middle of the night.

”Yes. But it wasn't someone I could say no to, so I went to .......

Is it someone you can't refuse?

Who the hell is here?

That's Prince Cliff at .......

”Huh, Mr. Cliff?　Okay, I'll go now.

Why is Cliffe here?

What are you thinking about?

Maybe this is all about Cliff's mother.

So how did she come to me?

With that in mind, I walked into the parlor.

”Hey, Leo. It's good to see you after lunch.

Hi. Hi.

I'm sorry for coming in at this time of night, but I have some things I need to tell you. But I have some things I need to tell you right now.

Do I have to teach you that?

Yeah. I want to tell you about this abduction of Shelly.

What do you know about it?

And you're going to tell me?

You know what you're doing to yourself?

Yes, ...... I know all about it, ...... I know where Shelly is and who the killer is.

Hey, why are you telling me that?

What do you mean?　Well, you don't think it's ...... Mr. Cliff is the culprit, do you?

”It was me. ...... Yeah. I'm a suspect too. So, from now on, I'm going to tell Leo where Sherry is, and then I'm going to turn myself in to the Emperor.

I don't know what the hell you're talking about.

What?　Um, ...... did Mr. Cliff hire a ninja to do it for him?

'No, she's my mother ...... but it's my fault for not being able to stop her. .......

I know Ivan and Alex may have told you, but I'm actually a feeble-minded person. .......

I've always been afraid of being angry at my mom, and I've lived my life just the way she told me to.

I've been telling myself that I wanted to be ...... like an emperor so that I could be an emperor, and I've been telling myself that for a long time.

That's why when I found out Shelly was going to be kidnapped, I couldn't stop it. .......

I'm a really cheating man ...... because I chose not to be angry with myself over my sister's life.

As he explained to me, Cliff looked weak and not as cheerful as when we met at noon.

So that's who he is.

Then how did you end up here?　Couldn't Cliff's mother have stopped you?

My mother is missing.

What?

Missing?

”He knew he'd get caught and got out before he could. Maybe he's here. So is Sherry.

Cliff took out a piece of paper and handed it to me.

On it was a ...... map.

”Are you at the location shown on this?

”Yeah. I'm really sorry . I should really be the one to go ...... probably when I see my mom, so I thought I'd close the door to becoming an emperor myself while she was gone.

'I see. ...... Is your mother that scary to you, Cliff?'

Yeah, I can't resist.

Mr. Cliff must have been constantly told by his mother to be the emperor from a young age and educated (brainwashed) to disobey her.

I see. Well then, I'll go now and get Shelly. Are you sure this is the right place?

I'll ask for clarification.

”Yeah. I don't know if putting my name on ...... in Cliffith Vector's name is going to compensate you for what you're doing. But please believe me.

Cliff asked me to look you square in the eye and trust you.

Maybe he's not lying.

”All right. I believe you. But I just have to ask you one last question.

I'll tell you everything I can.

Why did you come to me?　Wouldn't it have been better at your uncle's place or at your good friend Brother Ivan's?

Yes ...... I thought it would make Shelly happy to have you help her.

What?

Don't be so surprised. Well, that's not the only reason I'm here. I hear you're strong, Leo, and I feel like you're strong. And even here, I can feel how strong you are. Probably a whole lot stronger than Damien, right?

How do you know?

Yeah. I'm pretty good at judging people, you know?

What do you mean?

...... I have an unusual attribute. I can do forensic magic.

Forensic magic?

What's that?

Think of it as an ability to assess the value of things.

I see. ......

Shelley's mesmerizing magic, and the royals have some inexplicable magic: .......

Yes, it's ...... the ability to find out what is worthwhile and what is suitable for a king.

I'll be going to turn myself in. ”So I'm going to turn myself in.

Mr. Cliff said and stood up.

'Yes, sir. I'll take care of it.

Yeah, it's all yours. Bye.

Cliff turned his back on me and walked out of the room.

”Okay, let's go.

I'm going to get Sherry.