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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Peptobismol]
[Proofreader - Demon God]
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Chapter 81 - The Concert (2)
The next day.
I rode in a carriage with Irene seated beside me.
Our destination was, as usual, Astro headquarters.
Though I’d lightly called it a “date,” the truth was that we were on our way to address something rather serious.
Gazing out the window, Irene spoke as though she had expected this all along.
“Well… I can’t say I’m surprised.”
“Were you hoping for something else? I feel a little guilty now.”
“Not really.”
Irene’s response was dismissive, though her expression was hard to read.
Given everything she’d gone through lately, maybe she’d been hoping for a proper day of rest.
But today, we were headed to headquarters for a specific task.
Trying to make amends, I suggested.
“Let’s be sure to take a real day off together next time.”
“There’s no need for that… I’m not upset or anything.”
“Well, I’d feel uneasy if we didn’t.”
“In that case…”
Irene gave a small nod.
Her expression remained calm, but her tail swayed ever so slightly, betraying her pleased mood.
Smiling, I reached over to gently pat her head.
As my hand continued to stroke softly, I could feel the delicate sensation of her perked-up ears under my touch.
Almost absent-mindedly, I found myself tracing the shape of her broad, sensitive ears.
“Ah…”
As usual, a soft moan escaped her lips.
Though her breathing grew a little unsteady, she made no move to avoid my hand or pull away.
She only lowered her head and let out a hot, trembling breath.
A sudden question came to mind, and I asked.
“Miss Irene.”
“Hm…?”
“Your ears… Why do you ask me not to touch them in front of others?”
“Ah.”
I was referring to what had happened yesterday.
When I’d reached out to touch her ears in front of the others, her hand had shot up to stop me immediately.
With a rare blush coloring her cheeks, she had shaken her head.
—Not here… Only when it’s just us.
—Not outside. But when we’re alone… I’ll let you touch them as much as you want back at the inn.
Clutching my sleeve as she spoke, Irene had implored me.
And so I’d nodded.
Remembering that moment, I now looked at her questioningly.
Irene’s dark eyes shifted away from mine as she leaned against the carriage window, avoiding my gaze.
She was evading the question.
“It’s just… nothing important.”
“Hmm?”
“Having other people watch bothers me. I’m still not entirely comfortable around humans.”
“If that’s the reason, then I understand.”
It made sense.
Even for me, getting close to her had taken time, so it was only natural she’d be uncomfortable being vulnerable around others.
Especially with how much distrust Irene still harbored toward humans.
The fact that she trusted me at all felt like a small miracle, and I could only imagine how difficult it would be for her to form other bonds.
I teased lightly.
“Though I’m also human, you know.”
“You’re different.”
“Oh? Why?”
“Because I trust you… or rather, I’ve chosen to.”
“What if I betray that trust?”
“Then I’ll die.”
“…Pardon?”
“I’ll die.”
She gazed at me with those dark eyes, her lips forming a faint, bitter smile that betrayed traces of old wounds.
“If even you betray me, I don’t think I’d have the will to keep living.”
“…”
“So…”
Once more, she rested her head against my shoulder, leaning into me, her voice a quiet whisper in my ear.
“Don’t betray me.”
“…”
“Don’t abandon me, don’t hate me, and don’t leave me. If you can promise that, I’ll give you everything I have in return.”
“A promise… I suppose that’s what you mean.”
“Something like that.”
Promises are chains that bind both ways.
Just as someone who tames and one who’s tamed hold each other captive, both are bound by the time they’ve spent together.
Maybe it’s like a taut rubber band—if either side lets go, everything snaps.
So people live, bound by the promises they make to each other.
“I’ll… do my best.”
I nodded quietly.
I couldn’t promise absolutely, since I wished to keep her trust, yet I knew deep down that I might fail, and that uncertainty clouded my words.
Perhaps it wasn’t entirely reassuring for her either.
Yet, as if it were enough, she simply smiled gently.
We stayed close like that for a while.
Rattle, rattle—
The carriage jolted lightly with the uneven road.
As we conversed, we continued on our way, and soon, the fog-covered cityscape began to appear through the window.
It was only then that Irene, her curiosity piqued, asked about the reason for this trip.
“So… what exactly are we doing today?”
“Something rather serious came up.”
“Something serious?”
“One of our members was attacked.”
“…What?”
A few days ago.
It was a report I’d received right after returning from the school trip.
I explained briefly.
“Strictly speaking, it’s someone we’re working with rather than one of our members. She’s a church official who’s been helpful in various ways.”
“You even have connections in the church? I shouldn’t be surprised by now…”
“I had to keep an eye on what was going on there too.”
“Anyway, what exactly happened?”
“From what I’ve heard, there was an incident at the cathedral where she was staying. All the clerics on-site went missing, the halls were covered in blood, and traces of dark magic were found nearby.”
“Dark magic…?”
“I’ll explain the details later.”
“All right. We’re almost there, anyway.”
Irene began adjusting her seat in preparation to disembark.
I added.
“Normally, this is something we would handle ourselves, but since you’re now an official member of Astro, it seemed fitting for you to join me on this mission.”
“I’ll give it my best… if it’s what you want.”
“I feel more confident with that attitude.”
Soon, the carriage stopped.
We headed directly to headquarters.
As we opened the concealed door at the end of the staircase, we saw dozens of members standing in formation.
Each wore a pristine white robe.
“Commander. We’ve been waiting.”
In front of the lined-up members stood Neria.
Her long, silver hair and clear, unwavering eyes gave her an imposing look.
Just days before, she’d been sent on a mission, but Lena must have brought her back quickly after hearing the news.
With respectful formality, she reported.
“The members are ready. I selected thirty elite soldiers for this mission.”
“Let’s move out.”
“Understood.”
At my signal, Lena began opening a portal to our destination.
The air rippled as space distorted.
A doorway to another realm appeared, and the swirling mana caused my cloak to flutter.
With that, we stepped forward toward our destination.
***
The Great Purge.
Five years ago, it was the war that had driven the dark magicians from the Empire.
Determined to ensure such danger never rose again, the Empire soon established an organization in every city to protect against cultists.
They were known as Licht.
In ancient language, the word meant “light.”
The Licht gathered clerics dedicated to defending their city from potential threats.
Only veteran priests were entrusted with such roles, as they served as the shield against the cults.
In short, they were the spear established solely to counteract heretics, the holy shield that covered each city.
So, if someone attacked a Licht branch directly, it could only mean one thing.
“A declaration of war.”
“Seems likely.”
Neria answered with a nod, her voice calm as she laid out her report.
“The only target was the cathedral itself. There was no damage to the surrounding city, which seems like an overt display of hostility toward the church.”
“That’s a logical conclusion.”
The church had played a significant role in the Great Purge, second only to the Crimson Sword.
The world still didn’t know Kyle was alive.
That’s probably why they chose the church as their target.
By attacking Licht—a symbol of peace since the Purge—they meant to send a message.
That they had returned.
“Looks like they’re ready to make their move.”
“They must feel they’ve recovered enough over the past five years. Though it appears they’re still cautious—they chose one of the smaller Licht branches.”
“Indeed, targeting the larger branches in the capital would be difficult for them as well.”
“Anyway… the issue is that our collaborator was stationed at that branch.”
“Lady Medro, I assume.”
“Yes. The person who went missing in the attack is Medro Gardnier, who held the position of Chief Deputy and was responsible for overseeing that branch. There has been no contact since the incident.”
“She was an honorable priest… I hope she’s safe.”
The candle I held cast light around us, dispelling the darkness.
The flickering glow illuminated the disordered cathedral interior.
Upon arriving, we’d immediately entered the Licht branch and began a thorough investigation of the scene.
The guards on site had been temporarily knocked out.
“…What a mess.”
Irene muttered under her breath.
As she’d noted, the cathedral was indeed in shambles.
Blood splatters covered the area, their source unclear.
There was no obvious structural damage or broken objects, which somehow only added to the unsettling atmosphere.
It was a sight that defied common sense.
“There’s so much blood… yet no bodies were found in the cathedral?”
“Correct. Which is why it’s being handled as a disappearance, not a death.”
“A rather troublesome situation.”
“The guards seem to believe the clerics were abducted. Most of their forces are focused on the city, not the cathedral.”
“At least that made it easier for us to slip in. That part, I appreciate.”
We walked through the darkness, the members carefully searching every inch of the cathedral.
Finally, we had even examined the basement.
Lena shook her head, indicating we hadn’t found anything.
“We searched everywhere but didn’t find anything unusual. It’s likely, as the guards suspected, that they were taken elsewhere.”
“Hmm…”
I let out a deep sigh.
It seemed we might have to extend our search outside. Just as I was considering our options, something caught my eye.
“…What’s that?”
Barely visible, a thin crack ran along the wall.
With a slight Lie, I veiled my gaze.
Only then did I notice the hidden traces beyond it.
I chuckled softly.
“Heh.”
No wonder the guards missed this.
Layer upon layer of dark magic residue coated the wall.
It was clearly an attempt to conceal something.
I gathered energy in my fingertips, forming a bullet and aiming directly at the core of the barrier.
Without hesitation, I spoke the incantation.
“Shatter.”
Crash—!
The wall crumbled like glass.
Amid the scattered fragments, a hidden passageway came into view.
A long hallway stretched out before us.
“These little tricks won’t work on me.”
With a foreboding smile, I stepped forward.
Clack, clack—
Many footsteps followed behind me.
With robes billowing in white, we moved toward whatever waited beyond this corridor.
Somewhere, faint music seemed to be playing.
***
Meanwhile.
A girl observed from the shadows.
She was hidden at the top of the stairs leading underground, watching the intruders enter the secret space, her face tense with surprise.
Among them, she recognized a familiar face.
“Judah Snakes…?”
Her blue eyes blinked.
Beneath her deeply pulled hood, strands of platinum-blonde hair peeked out.
This girl was none other than Charlotte.
The Empire’s first princess and one of the main characters in the original story.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Peptobismol]
[Proofreader - Demon God]
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