Chapter 121

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 121

Chapter Title: The Investigation Begins

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The investigation had begun.

Pinpointing the culprit who possessed eagle wings and canine fangs, and who could erect a barrier that even the court mages and shrine priests stationed at the imperial palace couldn't breach, wasn't difficult.

The imperial palace had declared the attacker a "defiled being" and was combing through the entire empire like a fine-tooth comb.

Ceria, who handed me a glass of milk, spoke up.

"It seems the palace is convinced it wasn't an attack from another country."

"It's harvest season. There's no particular reason for the empire to threaten anyone, and no one would launch an attack during harvest time unless they wanted to starve their own people to death."

"Yes, but the key point is that the temple— which surely knows the attacker was a 'demon'— merely labeled your demon a 'defiled being.'"

I shrugged at the Chairman's words.

"The temple would never publicly call it a demon."

The primary reason the temple and the Papal Court received support from the imperial palace and noble houses, and collected tithes from the populace, was the justification of "protecting the continent from demons."

There were other pretexts as well, but the temple's founding purpose had been to ward off demons.

Thus, a demon descending upon the earth would be tantamount to the temple neglecting its duty.

"Unless I lead an army of demons to attack them outright, the temple will never utter the word 'demon.'"

"Couldn't they use the preparation for war against demons as an excuse to expand even further?"

At Ceria's words, I gazed at the temple's spire visible through the window.

"The current Pope values his honor more than his life, even more than Duke Ballua does."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. Kristiang became Pope by ousting the First Priest, Gunter, because he's a saint who sacrificed himself to seal a demon. There's no way he'd admit with his own mouth that a demon has reappeared."

"Honor over the lives of hundreds of millions on the continent. How foolish."

Ceria sneered, lifting her teacup to her lips.

"In any case, the investigation is proceeding smoothly. They're even rounding up hidden alchemists, so soon enough, the palace's investigative teams will descend on the great noble houses."

"Even Ballua Manor!"

That uncle was undoubtedly straining every nerve to find a way back into Ballua Manor, which I'd seized from him, in search of a breakthrough.

'But it's futile.'

Who was guarding Ballua Manor right now, after all!

I covered my mouth with both fists and let out a muffled giggle.

At that moment, Ceria gently set her teacup down on its coaster.

She folded her hands in her lap and fixed me with clear eyes.

"So, will you tell us now? Your true identity, Little One."

I nodded lightly and addressed the Chairman.

"Bring Zachary and Trigon. They need to hear this too."

"Trigon as well? If you need a mage, why not Veronica, who's unquestionably on your side...?"

"It has to be Trigon."

"Veronica has no desires I need to fulfill for her."

"...Desires?"

"The Chairman wants to see his son Louis again. Ceria wants to find the children from the House of Hope. Zachary has his desire to protect his orphanage friends and become the strongest knight. And Trigon—no, Wayle... "

"Has the desire to protect his father."

"Exactly."

Through my countless regressions, I'd learned one thing: trust situations over people.

I knew a way to save Trigon's father—one that only I knew, and only within the next ten years.

Thus, he could never betray me.

On the flip side, even if I died due to unavoidable circumstances, he was the type who wouldn't sacrifice his life for his goal.

The Chairman picked up the communication stone.

Ceria opened the door for Zachary, who had been waiting outside the office.

Soon, Zachary and Trigon entered the office, and I began my tale.

"Don't freak out and just listen."

"After learning a nine-year-old baby ordered my kidnapping, what could possibly shock me more...!"

Trigon shouted, but I opened my mouth nonchalantly.

"I've died three times and am now living my fourth life. And in this one, I summoned a demon."

"Wh-what?!"

"Eek-!?"

I nodded emphatically at the two men, their jaws slack like they'd unhinged.

See? I told you it'd shock you.

"Kuhk...!"

The man watching the mercenaries collapse with death rattles through the magic mirror bit his lip.

This was the second group already.

The middle-aged woman with her jet-black hair tied up wiped the blood from her greatsword lightly and sheathed it.

The mercenary captain, who had been assessing her strength alongside the man via the magic mirror, turned pale and staggered back.

The man glared at the captain.

"Deploy the reserve forces immediately. We don't have time."

"I-I can't!"

"Have you forgotten how much I've paid you? You accepted my commission. Honor the contract!"

"That was before we knew the sentry was Lea Shabanol!"

The ashen-faced captain shook his head.

Who was Lea Shabanol?

A former vice-captain under Duvered's Wolves, she was the most brutal knight even among the notoriously ruthless Wolves.

'Knight? No, that woman's an assassin!'

Duvered's Wolves were elite magic knights so formidable that felling even one could skyrocket a mercenary's rank.

And she had a seemingly easy prey of a girl among them—how tempting a target she must have been.

Countless mercenaries and knights had challenged her, but not a single one survived.

He'd witnessed one of her duels in the past. Even he, raised on the battlefield, had felt chills run down his spine, his blood running cold.

Despite being a knighted warrior, she showed no trace of chivalry.

She humiliated the defeated and killed them with excruciating cruelty.

As if she enjoyed murder itself.

Unlike male knights, her innate physical strength and power were weaker, yet she'd risen to vice-captain of the Wolves thanks to that savage nature.

Hearing nothing from her for over a decade, he'd assumed she'd retired to raise children, but she was still wielding a blade.

"We'll refund your payment. You there! Pack up. We're leaving!"

"Hey!"

The man shouted, but the mercenaries fled in droves.

'Damn it, damn it...!'

The man grumbled, hurling the magic mirror aside.

This afternoon, the imperial palace's investigative teams had finally breached the gates of the great noble houses.

His turn would come soon.

'I have to deal with the underground array first...'

The man—no, Duke Ballua—clutched his forehead, his hand trembling faintly.

"My God..."

Zachary let out a hollow laugh after hearing my full story.

Ceria had squeezed her eyes shut starting from the part about being beaten to death by Duke Ballua in my second life.

"A saint's trial isn't enough. That duke needs far worse retribution."

"A saint's trial is basically a public execution by fire anyway."

"He beat a child not even fifteen to death!"

Ceria ground her teeth.

"How... how could he do that...? And after going through something like that, Little One, you're still..."

"I'm fine."

"..."

"I'm fine, Ceria."

I'd never told the Chairman the full details of my time as Ballua's lady either, so he seethed in silence.

"In this life, I've already exacted that much payback."

"You mean you're not hung up on your past lives...?"

Ceria looked at me with pitying eyes, so I scowled deeply.

"No? I'm totally hung up on it!"

It hadn't happened to others, but it had clearly happened to me.

If they'd turned into saints in this life—gentle, kind, without a single flaw—it might be different. But they were the same horrific villains.

If the situation repeated, they'd abuse me again. Definitely.

They'd even harmed me several times in this life.

And besides...

"What they gave, I return double. If they kicked me, I'd snap their leg clean in two. I'm petty and vengeful!"

"Well said."

Ceria nodded approvingly, and I grinned back.

"They beat me to death, so I'll make sure they get beaten to death too. More painfully than I did."

"Exactly!"

"I just meant there's no need to rush now. I'm making them pay in this life, bit by bit."

"Yes."

As Ceria, the Chairman, and I exchanged vile, wicked grins, Zachary swallowed hard, his face drained of color.

"You guys are really scary..."

He muttered just then.

"Did my father really starve to death?"

It was Wayle.

As I turned to him, he covered his mouth with a trembling hand.

"No one helped him? Why? We worried his relatives would seize his fortune, Trigon and I. But... but..."

After struggling for a long moment, Wayle finally spoke.

"They call him a greedy old miser, but he's kind at heart. How many people did he help! Not one repaid his kindness?"

"Someone pulled strings."

"Pulled strings?"

"I don't know why. They branded Lord Aragon a heretic. He wasn't brought to a saint's trial, but the rumors were so vile no one dared help. My guess is your death wasn't just because they discovered you weren't Trigon."

"No way..."

The Chairman narrowed his eyes after hearing my account.

"It's strange. Inexplicable things keep happening. And very covertly."

"Yeah. It's like an invisible hand is manipulating the empire."

Ballua buying the House of Hope children.

Using those children as sacrifices to summon a demon and create a fledgling demon.

The rumors about Aragon being a heretic.

And the two "Children of Destiny."

After pondering, I turned to the Chairman.

"And something else odd—differences from my memories before regression..."

Just then.

One of Ceria's subordinates burst into the office.

"Captain!"

"What is it?"

He replied.

"The palace has begun searching Ballua Manor."

It had finally started.