The 'Records Repository' where the ledgers of Rekordak Penitentiary lay buried.
Primien was beneath it.
Alone in the darkness, she sat in a dust-covered chair and examined the pages one by one.
[…Three hundred thirty-nine special management subjects. Count Igiris, liege lord of Fhairden, requisitioned a portion of them under the pretext of hard labor.]
Fhairden.
The homeland where Primien was born, where her parents were taken from her, where despair had been bestowed upon her.
Bitter winters, endless cold, a log cabin completely collapsed, starving every other day or for three days straight, melting snow to drink when there was nothing to eat, licking food waste discarded on the road… abhorrent days.
[That list: Loprun. Beinzmoore. Gekrel…]
The histories of all these criminals were etched into Primien's mind.
Loprun was a madman who murdered thirteen people and sold human flesh; Beinzmoore was a guard who beat to death a nobleman attempting to violate his younger sister; Gekrel was an apothecary who erased a village from the map by poisoning the river.
[Ten days later, only two of the thirteen laborers returned. The liege lord stated that eleven had perished during labor.]
Primien reached for the document.
Ziiiing—
Her mana created a perfect replica of the ledger.
"…."
Primien had an intuition. Before long, the oppression of the Jeokgwae would intensify. It would spread like madness.
After a great catastrophe, a large-scale lashing out always occurred. History had always been thus. This time, the target would undoubtedly be the 'Jeokgwae'.
Therefore, this 'evidence' was necessary for her and her clan.
Primien left the duplicate ledger in the drawer, and placed the original into her backpack….
Tak—!
With a dull sound, the light turned on. Primien's heart lurched, but as always, she turned without showing it.
"Is that you, Professor?"
Dequillain.
He supported his leg with a magical staff in one hand, the other resting behind his back—the aftereffects of his injuries were certainly visible.
"What are you doing in a place like this?"
"I am the Deputy Director of the Empire's Public Security Bureau. Investigating criminals is—"
Whir—
Dequillain's 'Telekinesis' snatched the ledger from her. Primien briefly closed her eyes and let out a sigh.
"It's nothing important."
Dequillain skimmed through the ledger.
However, Primien was optimistic. From the ledger alone, nothing could be inferred.
"Primien."
Dequillain called her by her full name. Proof that she was an honorary noble.
Primien nodded.
"Yes."
Then Dequillain asked thoughtlessly, as if calling a runaway dog, or as if sending a child on an errand.
"Are you tracking the culprit behind His Majesty's attempted poisoning?"
It was a sentence that pierced through her heart.
"…."
Primien's body stiffened. Her expression remained unchanged, but she became rigid like a mannequin. For a moment, she even forgot to breathe.
Yet her poker face remained perfect, and her answer was concise as well.
"It is both the summoned duty and assigned task of the Public Security Bureau."
"Why seek it here in Rekordak?"
"I am merely searching for criminals who might possibly be connected to the poisoning. It is right to gather even the smallest possibilities."
Dequillain nodded. Then he asked again.
"Do you believe Igiris is the main culprit?"
"…."
Once again, he had struck the heart of the matter. Primien looked into Dequillain's blue eyes.
Had those transparent pupils pierced through her mind?
Since there was indeed such a possibility, she stopped thinking. She emptied her mind completely. She licked her parched lips.
"Do you think that if you inform His Majesty of this, you will be guaranteed wealth, honor, or a secure future?"
Or, had he already known everything from long ago?
After all, he possessed a mind capable of predicting the southern invasion's momentum; what were the relationships of a mere mortal and incident to him….
"…Yes. It is for my wealth and honor. I will be able to become a true noble, not merely a fake noble with nothing but an honorary title."
The sole path by which her clan could peacefully turn Sophien's heart.
To reveal the culprit of the poison that had tormented her past, and to receive forgiveness directly from her.
In that process, Fhairden might be destroyed….
"Take it."
Dequillain held out the original to Primien once more.
"And listen."
As she placed the ledger into her backpack, she looked up at Dequillain.
"Behind that poisoning, Dicailen was also involved."
"…."
Primien's movements ceased.
The ledger was half inside, half not. Looking at it, Dequillain spoke.
"Rather, Igiris might have been the follower. The main culprit might have been Ukhraine. Can you infer all of those inner workings with your mind?"
At those words, Primien couldn't help but furrow her brow.
At some point, she had come to realize.
"I know it is a lie. You are trying to protect Fhairden, Professor."
"…."
Dequillain quietly looked down at himself. Meeting that gaze, Primien pushed the ledger inside.
"The ones behind the poisoning are Fhairden. They must receive a fitting punishment."
"Igiris is already dead."
"Yes. However—"
"The one who killed him was Ukhraine."
"…."
"No, Illaid, Veolade, Rewind, Jabes… It was a political assassination in which all the great houses were involved."
Primien's eyes widened. Dequillain twisted the corner of his lips without a word.
As if warning, or as if threatening, he asked again.
"Will you still do it? Can you bear it?"
"…."
She bit her lip, then soon let out a small sigh. And she took out the ledger from her backpack.
Hwaaarook—!
Flames ignited in her palm. Without a moment's hesitation, she thrust the ledger into the fire. The document blackened, scorched, and turned to ash.
"I heard nothing today."
Having said that, Primien passed by Dequillain like a brush of wind.
* * *
A dim dawn. Having come out to the back lot of Rekordak, I surveyed the corpses of the knights. Beside me was Primien with an utterly shameless face.
Five minutes ago, this woman had come to me and offered greetings such as, '—It is an honor to meet you today. Are your injuries all right?'
"You certainly have thick skin."
"Whatever do you mean?"
Ignoring Primien, I looked again at the knights lying on the ground.
The bodies of those barely recovered were far from intact. It was fortunate if their limbs were still attached, but far more numerous were the knights whose faces or entire bodies had been torn apart.
All of them had died because of me.
Of course, I felt no sympathy or pity for them. Death in war is natural, and a knight is one who 'protects'.
If they died and fell while trying to protect, they had sufficiently fulfilled their duty.
"Ah, Professor! Are you all right?"
Then Delric came trotting up. He looked me over and smiled broadly.
"What a relief. I was—no, we were—so very worried. Hahaha."
After being harshly scolded several times, Delric had somehow changed to be like a puppy. It was rather creepy for a man in his mid-thirties, but.
"The casualties."
"One hundred seventy-three in total. Slightly fewer than ninety percent—only one hundred fifty corpses—have been recovered."
One hundred seventy-three.
A well-trained knight holds the value and strength of over a thousand common soldiers. Therefore, stopping a southern invasion of this magnitude at the cost of the equivalent of one hundred seventy thousand is something to take immense pride in.
"…Inform the bereaved families of the facts, and pay your respects with proper etiquette. Their honor will remain on this continent for eternity."
What I can give to the fallen is, at the very least, to ensure that their families' remaining years are honorable. To help them live a wealthy and prosperous life while keeping their pride.
Merit-based reward and punishment.
"I promise in the name of Ukhraine."
"Sir!"
At that, Delric and the palace knights saluted. Several had tears brimming in their eyes.
"Once the southern invasion is fully resolved, recover the remaining bodies."
"Yes, sir!"
After issuing that command, I turned around.
I slowly walked around the back lot of Rekordak.
Suddenly, I looked toward the hospital sitting isolated in the corner of the woods.
A place renovated from an existing old building. Beyond that lit window somewhere, Yulli was there now. Perhaps fighting for her life as she wandered the border between life and death—
"She'll be okay!"
A cheerful voice approached out of nowhere. I turned toward it.
"Really, she'll be okay!"
Ria had appeared all alone.
Her bright, cheerful face greatly resembled Yuara, but surprisingly, I felt nothing.
Of course—it was because this girl was not Yuara.
"Magi poisoning can be cured."
Moreover, just as the words I had spat at her. Like the fleeting self-mockery I had muttered.
I had to let go now.
No, I could let go.
The emotions pooled in this heart. The girl who remained in my memory.
It was time to open the floodgates and slowly let them go.
"…What do you mean?"
"Just a moment!"
Then Ria rummaged through her grubby backpack. Though she grunted from the many things inside, she finally managed to pull something out.
A crumpled wad of paper clutched in her fern-like hand.
"…Here, take it!"
And she held it out to me.
An object so covered in child's fingerprints that I could hardly bear to take it. I simply stared at it.
[Sap of the Neungaegaram]
A medicinal ingredient that purifies demonic energy within the body. It was not such an enormous treasure that it could cure Yulli's curse itself, but it was certainly a precious article capable of instantly healing acute demonic energy poisoning.
"Hadn't you obtained this to heal that mongrel?"
"…."
At the word 'mongrel,' she briefly furrowed her brow, but soon answered firmly.
"There's someone in more urgent need of it right now, so I have to use it for her."
I looked silently at such a girl, then shook my head.
Her personality was somewhat similar, too—
"Mm. Thank you. I shall put it to good use."
Just then, Primien appeared out of nowhere and snatched the item.
…Had this woman been following me since earlier?
"Wh-what."
Ria's eyes went wide as if bewildered, and I spoke.
"The price shall be duly paid."
"I was going to charge it to the mission completion fee anyway."
At the child's words, my face momentarily stiffened.
As expected, she was clearly a character onto whom that person's personality had been directly transplanted.
"Then, I shall deliver this item to Dame Deia."
Having said so, Primien trudged off toward the hospital.
Ah, me too— I want to go see her too—
Ria followed after her.
"…."
Under the night sky, I stood alone once more.
In truth, I knew I was not alone.
For someone had been following me since earlier.
"I heard you."
A man who revealed himself, as if deeming the time right. His appearance was as delicate as a nobleman's son, his long, lustrous hair shining with gloss, yet his physique was more burly and destructive than anyone else's—a knight of somehow contradictory nature.
Jaite scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.
"What do you mean?"
"You treated my younger sister like some draft animal."
I nodded silently. Then Jaite snickered.
"…You don't have to act like that even with me. I know your heart well enough, former son-in-law."
The night wind against my skin was cold. My swaying hair was irritating, and I momentarily felt dizzy.
The aftereffects of battle were quite severe.
"More importantly, are you all right? You look like you're about to die."
"I will not die."
I answered immediately.
"Yulli will also be able to live."
"…How can you be so sure? Even if acute demonic energy poisoning can be cured with that sap—"
"Anger will save her."
Fhairden, and Yulli's tradition. Her independent quest would use 'anger' as its nourishment.
Jaite, too, nodded with a low laugh.
"Indeed, that may be so. What made me grow was my father's death as well."
I looked up at the hospital again. And I saw the knights' corpses lined up in the distance.
"It won't be long. Yulli will overcome this herself. Therefore, Sir Jaite."
I called Jaite's name softly. He answered with ahem—a dry cough.
"What is it?"
"…The words I am about to speak."
I looked into Jaite's eyes.
Eyes exactly like Yulli's. Pupils of Fhairden that left no doubt about that bloodline.
"When Yulli wakes, deliver these words to her."
"…What words?"
To him who asked back, I conveyed a certain sentence.
Jaite's expression hardened with each passing moment as he heard it; in the middle he shook his head, refusing to do it, but ultimately agreed with my opinion.
"Are you going to be all right?"
"…."
At those words, I let out a hollow laugh.
"Sir Jaite. I am Ukhraine. The world calls me a cold-blooded blue-blood."
Zeit scratched his cheek. It probably meant he acknowledged it, to some extent.
“I agree entirely.”
The same went for me.
No matter what feelings someone held for me, no matter who died or who disappeared, no matter who hated and loathed me, it did not pain me in the slightest.
Because I had been designed with such a personality. And because I was someone who lived that way.
Because that man was Kim Woojin, who had become Deculein.
“So, asking whether I am all right…”
I looked at Zeit.
“…is an insult to me.”
“……”
A brief silence flowed between us.
Zeit wordlessly placed a hand on my shoulder. Then he passed by me and walked toward the hospital.
Moonlight settled from the faraway sky. My shadow stretched long.
As if it were following Zeit.
* * *
The next day.
When dawn broke, Freyden’s reinforcements arrived at Reccordak. With the aid of those who had first suppressed the southward advance, Reccordak entered a state of certain stability, and I mounted a horse together with Epherene.
It was time to return to the capital.
“……The train tracks are all destroyed too.”
As we rode along, Epherene’s voice came from behind me. Just as she said, the railway was smashed to pieces, and the occasional private homes that came into view were desolate as well.
No matter how diligently they had prepared their defenses, the human and material losses would likely be the greatest in history.
“Ah, my butt hurts.”
Just as Epherene, who had been taking in the sorrowful scenery, let out a petty complaint.
We arrived in the city.
“Oslon,” which connected the North and the Central region. A gateway city called Drahman’s second capital.
We left the exhausted horses at the stable and headed for the station together with Drent and Epherene.
“Oh. Still, this place is fine!”
Because Oslon was located in the heart of the North, it had suffered no particular damage.
If Oslon had been breached in the first place, the entirety of the North would already have been annihilated.
“They must have defended it really well. Well, it is a big city……”
Epherene, ignorant of its geopolitical position, simply interpreted it as, “It held out because it was a large city.”
“Professor. Can’t we eat something here before we go? That restaurant’s open over there. Since there are four of us…… Ah.”
Epherene, who had been chattering away, suddenly realized that four people had become three, and her face turned rather sad.
Allen was no longer by our side.
“──Professor Deculein.”
And so, when we arrived at the train station.
There were numerous knights and the lord of Drahman on the platform. Each of them received us with neat attire and proper demeanor.
“We pay our respects to you, Professor, for foreseeing a situation that could not have been known with the insight of mere ordinary men. Furthermore, we sincerely apologize for daring to suspect you, ignorant of your profound intentions in our confusion and foolishness.”
I said nothing in particular to those who bowed their heads. Only Epherene beside me shrugged her shoulders to herself. Her triumphant face was amusing.
“……Also. There is a mission left for Professor Deculein.”
Saying so, the lord of Drahman approached me.
“What, why is there another mission the moment we get here?”
Epherene grumbled discontentedly, but when the lord of Drahman took out a letter, she flung herself down in alarm.
“Eek! I have committed a mortal sin!”
It was a letter from the Imperial Family.
Ignoring Epherene, who was bowing as if prostrating herself, I accepted the letter on one knee.
“……”
I read the contents in silence. As expected of a letter from the Imperial Family, it was plastered with all manner of flowery rhetoric, but the essence of it was concise.
Drahman spoke it in their stead.
“……His Majesty has commanded his subject Deculein to pursue Rohakan.”
“Whaaat?!”
Startled, Epherene lifted her head, then flinched and lowered her face again. I rose from where I had been kneeling.
Drahman asked cautiously.
“Will you accept it?”
I answered calmly.
“You ask the obvious.”