Why would Eliya want to kill me?
A tragedy that will one day occur.
I heard a clue that could be the answer.
“The sun had to absorb the power of the moon to mend its distortion, so it decided to find the moon and kill it.”
That’s what Priest Aquinas told me.
It’s written in the first scripture.
‘…Inevitability.’
A merciless word.
It feels gritty like sand on my tongue.
I tamed the Moon Deer and, as a reward, received lunar magic.
‘So it was already predetermined…?’
But then doubt arises.
The current Eliya doesn’t seem to be swayed by a crazy fire.
Is it temporary?
Then, ultimately, does Eliya want to kill me to absorb my power?
“Lord Judas?”
Hermis, sitting across in the carriage, called out to me.
I was returning after hearing from Aquinas.
“…Oh, yes.”
“Are you alright? You look pale. Are you feeling nauseous?”
“No, I’m fine. Just… thinking about some things…”
I stared blankly out the window.
Tragedy overlaps the flowing scenery.
Like a film laid out with dozens of photographs, passing scenes.
Nothing changes.
It’s fixed.
Like fate.
Eliya, riding on my back, chokes me.
‘The distorted sun…’
What could Eliya’s purpose be now?
I don’t know well, but I can guess.
She resented and hated her family.
The specific background…
I didn’t know before, but now I think I understand.
The abuse she received as a bastard. That must be it.
And so, she burned them all herself and killed them.
That happened the year she became an adult.
In other words, young Eliya must have wanted the power to kill them.
A stronger, more complete power.
If she kills me, it would be more certainly completed….
‘……’
How tragic.
In many ways.
“Sir Hermis.”
“Yes, Lord Judas.”
“You are also tasked with escorting and hiding people, right? In the information guild.”
I said quietly so the coachman wouldn’t hear.
Hermis nodded without asking any further questions.
“Of course.”
…Right.
That will do for now.
*
“Hmm.”
Eliya turned the page.
A class had just ended, but she had been enjoying reading lately.
She always liked it, but especially reading the first scripture was delightful.
‘By the way, I think I’m done with grammar lessons now.’
The letters learned since coming to the family.
Countless grammar rules and vocabulary, rhetoric.
She felt no real need to learn more.
She had reached a point where she could think and study by herself.
‘I can skip or reduce classes now.’
Balak was responsible for hiring the teachers.
Though she recently learned of Balak’s behind-the-scenes work, there was nothing to be worried about.
After all, Balak probably hasn’t caught on yet.
After organizing her thoughts, she continued reading.
It was one of the various versions interpreting the first scripture.
Some metaphors changed meaning depending on the interpretation, and reinterpreting them was part of the charm of reading.
[…The sun and moon were split from one, so they must unite for the sealing of the evil god. However, the sun’s distorted power was a threat to the shattered moon; thus, they could not achieve a complete integration. In the end, the sun…].
Knock, knock.
Someone knocked on the door.
Eliya closed her book and answered.
“Come in.”
Miguel approached and handed her a document.
“This is the investigative data regarding the individual who attacked you on your birthday, my lady.”
“That did happen.”
She read the assassin’s personal information.
Name.
Traditor Heis.
Unknown age.
Unknown birthplace.
However, a slave from Judeca.
Guardian, Bishop Angra.
‘Just like Judas….’
Miguel said cautiously.
“And regarding the note we found last time, they managed to restore its content.”
“Bring it over.”
Miguel handed her two sheets of paper.
It was the note obtained last time.
“This is the original, and the one on the right is a copy restored from the original.”
The copied note had shapes and letters drawn in black ink.
Eliya furrowed her brows as she looked at it.
“…A cipher?”
“Yes, that’s what they said.”
The letters were standard.
Based on their composition, it seemed to be a very short sentence.
However, she couldn’t interpret it.
It looked like random scribbles, but it was a cipher.
Without a table to decode it, figuring it out would be nearly impossible.
“The shapes appear to be for magical formulas, but the technician has no knowledge of this at all.”
Eliya observed the magical design.
It was a type she had never seen before.
She hadn’t mastered all theories of magic, but this was her first encounter with such a kind.
“And this is personal information about Bishop Angra.”
Eliya was digging into Judas’s past.
However, his whereabouts before Judeca were obscure.
The only clue was Bishop Angra.
Yet he was hiding under the pretext of a pilgrimage.
But unlike Judas, Angra had a rather solid position within the Molsin Church.
It was easier to dig into him than an unknown like Judas.
Thus, Eliya instructed to investigate Angra instead of Judas, and the results had arrived.
“Hmm. Surprisingly, he has freed many slaves.”
Information focused on Angra was new again.
Including Judeca, he had bought slaves from several markets and set them free.
Or he protected and raised them at the level of the Molsin Church.
Eliya did not consider it a simple act of kindness.
‘A smokescreen.’
To cover the tree, he planted many trees to cultivate a forest.
The tree he meant to hide became clear.
Traditor. The assassin.
To conceal him, he purchased several young slaves.
It would seem suspicious to take only one child.
‘But… this is suspicious.’
Given the effort, it was too easily revealed.
Before it was revealed, why on earth was the Molsin Church doing such a thing?
Eliya couldn’t grasp it.
The benefit that the church would gain from killing her was too small.
The risk they would bear if they failed was overwhelmingly large instead.
A bastard, yet a high noble.
One with a rare, esteemed bloodline of a magician in the world.
To kill such a person?
What benefit is there in that?
With that time and capital, it’d be better to expand their faith or strengthen the church internally.
Yet, the Molsin Church attempted it.
Her assassination.
Very recklessly.
Whether they had not received proper training or lacked talent.
They sent a low-level assassin.
‘That must mean there was a necessity for it.’
In other words, the real mastermind isn’t the Molsin Church.
Someone else is behind that.
A force capable of proposing such actions to the Molsin Church.
‘Then Judas… he could be the bait.’
Same origin and guardian.
The Molsin Church confirmed through Judas.
Could they infiltrate their training grounds?
Could they create a situation suitable for assassination?
Could Judas have been the vanguard?
After coming here, sending them follow-up information?
That wouldn’t be the case.
Though he pretends to rebel, Judas is very obedient to her.
He’s somewhat under her control. Though he acts out occasionally, she could dismiss it as adorableness.
Besides, he has never caused her harm.
Conclusively, Judas is a devoted person toward her.
She judges on her own standards.
What’s provable and what isn’t.
A multitude of provable cases guarantees that Judas is on her side.
She remembers each one vividly.
The deeds he did in saving her from Sardis.
How he stood by her against Balak and Narcissi without flinching.
All of them, one by one.
The child who blossomed Anemone in a cage.
In this mansion.
No, perhaps the only one in this world…
Eliya shook her head.
Quickly brushing off her weak desire to depend on others.
She focused back on the facts.
Anyway, it’s highly likely that Judas is merely confirmation bait.
Even successfully sending Judas out as bait could verify the possibility of sending Traditor.
After all, isn’t the owner of the note Traditor?
At least it certainly isn’t Judas’s.
That’s how she thought.
She had no way to know who actually discarded the note.
She could only conclude within the given clues.
‘For now, I must keep this matter to myself.’
The selection for escorting knights would continue in the future.
As bait.
Now that she was a complete magician, she had nothing to fear.
“Miguel, how many people know about this?”
“Only the involved parties who have investigated with me, my lady, and Ria next to you.”
“Make sure to keep it under wraps.”
“…I will keep that in mind.”
Until she knows who the opponent is, she intends to leave it be.
This is bait.
To lure out the force daring to attempt to kill her.
Even if she eliminates the revealed Molsin Church, it wouldn’t end there.
They must be uprooted completely.
Along with the Bevel family.
“Traditor… if I can learn more about this, especially Angra. Prioritizing pinpointing that guy’s location is essential. I need to know who is targeting me and who the mastermind is….”
It’s hard to believe it’s merely the Molsin Church acting independently.
There must be a force supporting or cooperating behind them.
‘Narcissi… the probability of her being involved is too low.’
The hatred and disgust Narcissi feels towards her are beyond imagination.
There’s no way she’d team up with the Molsin Church.
Unless it’s the Assassin Guild, though, that could be different.
‘That’s a pity.’
If Narcissi had been involved, she would’ve hastily linked her with the Molsin Church, then publicly eliminated them both.
‘By the way, does Narcissi still have any value to move the Assassin Guild…?’
Eliya felt a spark of anger rise within her momentarily.
The ember of a mad fire flickered slightly.
The Assassin Guild and Narcissi.
Both are responsible for her mother’s death.
Thinking about those she must kill someday ignited the mad flame.
It whispered to burn it all down.
Those who tormented her.
Those who took away her own.
Those who struggle to escape her grasp.
Those would betray her someday.
All of them…
‘It’s been quite a while since I’ve touched Judas….’
She gently closed her eyes.
Suppressing her anger, she spoke.
“Ria.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Ria, who had been waiting nearby, approached.
“Where has Judas gone today?”
“I’ll find out right away.”
“Okay. Miguel, you’re free to go now. Report anything unusual next time without fail.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Eliya leaned back in her chair.
Her worries had increased, and she felt tired.
Maybe because it had been a while since she had seen Judas.
She wanted to enjoy his cool presence right now.
Just the thought of going to see him calmed her flame slightly.
Her legs swayed unconsciously in the air, dangling back and forth.
After passing through a few servants, Judas’s location was identified.
Anna reported.
“Lord Judas went out on a mission today.”
“Where to?”
“To a church in Selene. He said it’s the same mission he went to yesterday.”
“Selene….”
Of all places.
Eliya’s expression quickly stiffened.
‘Why there…?’
Unpleasant memories resurfaced.
Her first lesson from Narcissi.
Back when Eliya had yet to be humiliated by Narcissi.
At that time, Narcissi was near Selene, where she had helped her when she was with her mother…
“Shall I notify Lord Judas to come back?”
Anna cautiously asked.
Seeing Eliya’s complexion worsen, she was worried.
Ria, hearing the city’s name from behind, felt heaviness in her heart as well.
“…No.”
Eliya shook off the sticky memory.
Selene.
A city heavily influenced by the Molsin Church.
For the Moon’s power to be near Judas, what a coincidence indeed.
She smirked inwardly and stood up.
“I’ll go myself.”
Considering the relationship and position between Judas and Eliya, calling him would be appropriate.
He must come running no matter what he’s doing.
But Eliya chose to go directly instead.
As for the reason, well, who knows.
She just wanted to do it that way.
Adding a somewhat lame excuse, she said.
“To catch some fresh air.”
*
[‘Discovery of Revelation’ progressing… (2%)]
A second day of the weekend.
Just like yesterday, I helped Priest Aquinas along with Argon.
Afterward, I didn’t forget to pray.
Thanks to that, the quest’s progress went up by 1%p.
I didn’t know if I was doing well or not.
I worried whether the quest’s name had changed and if the rewards had as well.
But I couldn’t stop now.
I had to find out what it was.
‘But 1% a day… how long will this take to complete?’
Today, I listened to the priest speak about the first scripture again.
There were no useful hints regarding Eliya and me, so I didn’t listen as long as yesterday.
Anyway, after leaving the church, I walked with Argon to the city’s edge where we parked the carriage.
It was quite a large city.
Street-side stalls set up everywhere.
Small carriages traversing the city.
A woman hanging laundry on the second floor. And so on.
Watching the peaceful street scenery gave me a strange sense of déjà vu.
It felt strangely nostalgic, almost.
It was the same yesterday.
What exactly is this place?
“Lord Judas? What’s wrong?”
When I slowed my pace, Hermis asked.
“Oh, it’s nothing. Just feels like I’ve been here before….”
As I answered and followed, I casually glanced down an alley.
And there, I spotted a remarkably familiar person.
The person looked familiar, but the situation felt entirely unfamiliar.
‘…Huh? Why is that human getting beaten up over there?’
*
Ptooey!
Richard spat out a thick, blood-mixed liquid.
His mouth tasted awful.
His throbbing abdomen was also painful.
“Now do you understand? You can’t do anything. You little punk.”
One man shouted threateningly.
Two other men laughed in agreement.
“So why did you butt into adult matters?”
Richard bit down hard.
His fingertips curled up as he grinded them against the floor.
His tightly clenched fist longed for violence, but Richard had to endure.
‘Let’s just get past… just hold on….’
He couldn’t become a burden to the orphanage any further.
It was his fault for getting emotional, so he had to bear it alone.
“The guy who trains under the Bevel family is just….”
“Richard-senpai?”
Someone cut off the man’s words.
Richard looked up, the voice too familiar.
Without realizing it, he raised his head.
At the end of the alley, a boy walked in.
His fellow dorm mate who caused a ruckus since the moment he got there.
Though Richard himself had a bit of a temper, he had to yield a bit in front of him.
His arrival was both surprising and terrifying yet, honestly, also something to look forward to.
‘Judas…?’
The reckless nutcase that plowed straight into any situation stepped boldly into the alley.
*
Richard was being beaten in the alley.
Surrounded by grown men.
I naturally turned my steps toward them.
“Richard-senpai?”
At that moment, he laid on the ground looking up.
The men hitting him turned to look at me as well.
Their expressions were grim.
They looked worn out, likely from life, with many wrinkles. Scars were also apparent.
They weren’t dressed neatly.
There were a total of three of them.
“What are you?”
The man who was actively hitting Richard asked threateningly.
I did not step back.
More accurately, I had no reason to retreat.
Someone was speaking from behind me.
“Richard?”
Argon.
He was also on his way back with me today.
“What are you doing there?”
“Hey, you little kids.”
The three men blocked our path.
Richard’s fallen form was hidden from sight.
“Turn a blind eye and go on your way.”
“Don’t get hurt trying to meddle.”
It seemed more than just a simple dispute.
Whatever the reason, if they had just beaten up Richard like thugs, they’d have no reason to exclude us from their target.
But they acted as if they wanted to keep it just a Richard and them issue.
I got the basic idea, but I didn’t know the detailed reasons.
So my reaction was just as simple.
“I can’t let that happen.”
“You little…”
“Look, the one who’s down there is a friend and colleague of ours. At the very least, we need to hear out what’s going on.”
“This is your last warning.”
They seemed not to be paying attention to my words.
They glared vehemently at me with threatening stares.
“Get lost right now.”
Argon stepped forward and blocked me in between.
“Could you remove your face, which smells of rotten breath?”
“These guys….”
“Richard-senpai!”
I called out to Richard despite ignoring them.
“What’s going on! Just say something!”
“You little brat-!”
The man grabbed my collar while shoving Argon away.
Argon tried to rush in, but the other two restraining him.
“Words won’t reach you, huh!”
A fist raised above my shoulder aimed at me.
It looked like he was about to hit me, but I looked straight back at him.
“Are you not going to hit me?”
I wouldn’t back down to such pitiful intimidation.
I had a very reasonable reason too.
There was absolutely no need for me to feel intimidated right now.
Step by step, firm footsteps echoed from behind.
The men’s eyes turned towards that sound all at once.
There she was, Hermis.
The knight who had been sticking to me lately.
I had purposely told her to hide and wait for me.
If she revealed herself right away, they might run at once.
I had baited them, capturing evidence.
“Wait, you must be….”
The men seemed to recognize her immediately.
Black and gold harmonized in her uniform.
Most notably, the sun motif emblazoned on her epaulettes.
There’s no way they wouldn’t know.
The grip of the men holding Argon and me slackened.
The knight assigned directly by the Bevel Principality has the authority to intervene in matters of public order in this Bevel family territory.
In other words, she was essentially the police now.
Yet the name that slipped out of the man’s mouth was incredibly unexpected.
“Eliya de Bevel…?”
I turned around as if my neck were going to twist off.
‘What?’
I blinked several times as if I was seeing an illusion.
But Eliya’s figure did not disappear.
In a sky-blue dress with a headband.
Holding a cat doll in her arms and wrapped in a red blanket like a scarf.
It was Eliya.
Next to her was Ria with her usual red hair.
A step behind, Hermis shook her head rapidly at me.
As if she had no idea what was going on either.
“Lady Eliya…?”
Argon asked in a dazed voice.
He even rubbed his eyes.
Eliya walked closer.
Her gaze fixed steadily on me.
For some reason, her expression looked colder than usual.
I stood silently, waiting for her.
The men behind me seemed just as bewildered, with only awkward breaths escaping them.
Finally, when she reached me, Eliya scanned me from head to toe.
Her mouth opened.
A sound barely audible like a whisper.
“…I’m glad.”
“Excuse me?”
Not catching it properly, I asked back, but Eliya didn’t respond.
She only gazed behind me.
I turned to look as well.
This time, the faces of the three men were ashen.
They were sweating cold.
Eliya stood in front of them.
She muttered as if to herself.
“My head hurts.”
No sooner had she finished speaking than all three collapsed to the ground.
In the blink of an eye, Hermis approached and kicked the trio.
Hermis forced them to kneel against the wall in a line.
Eliya stepped forward and said coldly.
“I’m curious about what’s going on.”
“……”
“The more you speak first and in detail, the more intact limbs you’ll have.”
All three opened their mouths simultaneously.
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