“I….”
Judas staggered and interrupted.
His abdomen, kicked by the knight, still hurt.
It felt like his insides were twisting.
Still, he had to step forward.
“I’ll explain.”
Balak narrowed his eyes and looked down at him.
The punk that Eliya brought into the annex.
It grated on his nerves. He was so arrogant.
However, Eliya’s presence, blocking his path, was no small matter.
“Lady Ria?”
Judas suddenly called out to Ria.
“Please cover the lady’s ears.”
Ria understood his intention and immediately covered Eliya’s ears.
At that moment, she was on Judas’s side.
She couldn’t imagine that he would do anything bad to Eliya.
If he had, Eliya wouldn’t follow him so obediently with her eyes opened.
What exactly happened inside, he didn’t know.
But it must have been something bad and terrible for Eliya.
And he saved her from it.
The parts of himself that were lacking and weak.
It was enough reason to side with him.
But Balak was different.
Shaking his head, he looked down at Judas.
“I never gave you permission to butt in like this.”
“Then would you have her, your precious daughter, testify about what she almost went through? Without even knowing what it was?”
“…….”
Balak squinted and pondered.
He had to be sure he heard right.
It was an unrealistic situation.
How dare a mere servant from a slave background argue back to him?
Even nobles of considerable status would bow their heads before him.
They’d feel guilty just making eye contact.
Yet this arrogant creature before him showed no signs of that.
Balak was genuinely curious.
“Are you not afraid of dying?”
It was an unexpected question, but Judas understood exactly what he meant.
“I am afraid.”
There was no way he wouldn’t be.
The will to live is a primal instinct.
Though he put his neck on the line, he wasn’t unafraid.
That’s why he was trying to run away from Eliya.
But.
“However, in a situation where running away is not an option, I’d be more afraid of cowardly fleeing.”
What a madman.
Balak saw Judas that way.
Such people were rare, but they existed.
Humans with beliefs more important than their own lives.
Those who know fear, feel it, and yet move forward regardless of that fear.
A type not to be trifled with.
Unless, of course, one was a powerhouse like Balak.
‘It seems I need to suppress his spirit.’
Judas’s statement was valid.
Having Eliya speak directly, upon further reflection, didn’t sit well with him.
So he would make Judas testify.
After he humbled him.
The bloodline that passed down Eliya’s talent for fire.
While he wasn’t particularly good at teaching others, he was more than confident in using magic to kill.
He created a searing ember and attached it to Judas, making sure it wasn’t visible.
But.
“So, will you hear me out or not?”
Judas was unfazed.
He instead urged Balak to answer boldly.
‘…Did I suppress it?’
No matter how much he tried to control it, his magic was cleaned away effortlessly.
‘Could it be that power… no, that can’t be….’
Unaware of Balak’s flustered thoughts, Judas pressed on.
“Will you listen? Hurry up and decide since I’m dying from the pain!”
“…I will allow you to speak. However, this isn’t the right setting.”
Only then did Judas check his surroundings.
All sorts of people had gathered, including the mansion’s staff and guests.
The companions from the 13th Room were huddled in a corner.
Balak, looking down at the trembling Judas, spoke.
“It looks like you need treatment.”
That was true as well.
Though he didn’t want to show it, his whole body shook.
The body kicked by the knight wasn’t in a normal state.
Balak turned around to face the guests.
“I apologize for the disturbance during what should have been a peaceful night. We will thoroughly investigate what happened to prevent further damage. Please, go back and continue your festivities.”
It was a message to go away and not intervene.
“Over there.”
Balak pointed with his finger at a few knights.
They tensed up, ready to hear orders.
One of their comrades had just died.
Yet Balak was indifferent.
He had his reasons.
No matter how lowly a commoner might be or how unwelcome, Judas was Eliya’s guest.
The knight had kicked him without understanding the situation.
Even Balak knew that the provocation in that act was exaggerated in an attempt to curry favor with the Bevel family.
But he didn’t mention that sense of hypocrisy.
He merely instructed what was necessary.
“Investigate that building.”
Eliya’s magic laboratory.
Though there had been a fire, the firefighting efforts were already completed.
“Yes!”
“And you, follow me.”
Balak started to walk toward the mansion.
Judas followed behind him.
Judas nodded weakly at his distant companions with a forced smile.
As if to say, not to worry.
And following closely behind was Eliya.
Balak frowned at the two of them, his discomfort evident.
*
Eliya’s biological father, Balak.
He followed him to the mansion’s first-floor reception room.
Although my body was stained with Sardis’s blood, Balak didn’t stop me.
It seemed he had judged that hearing the story was more important.
Just like when I first had a private meeting with Eliya, I sat in the chair opposite Balak.
Balak frowned at my audacity as if he was looking at something bizarre.
I didn’t act this way because I didn’t know in front of Eliya; this time was different.
I showed through my demeanor that I had no intention of yielding the initiative.
Before the conversation began, a priest arrived.
Balak called one of the guests.
To have me treated.
Experiencing divine power that aids in internal recovery was new to me.
A gentle light radiated from the priest’s hands and settled on my abdomen.
‘It feels somewhat unfamiliar, but I can’t tell…. Still, the pain seems to be lessening.’
The healing surprisingly ended quickly.
Though I couldn’t tell for sure, it must have been considerable damage since the priest seemed to be of high rank.
Balak said arrogantly, “Speak.”
I conveyed what I had seen and heard accurately.
Ria had been covering Eliya’s ears during that time.
She shot a hostile glare at Balak as she sat next to me.
The harmonious father-daughter image she had shown during the day was clearly an act.
“I’ll ask one thing.”
Just as Eliya opened her ears, Balak spoke.
“Why were you there at that time?”
That was the part I was most worried about.
Eliya being ambushed.
And me, coincidentally there and saving her.
Any onlooker would find it suspicious.
Eliya seemed curious as she glanced at me.
“…I woke up in the morning because I needed to use the bathroom.”
It was an embarrassing and pathetic excuse.
But what could I do? It was the truth.
“I saw a man entering the magic laboratory while coming out of the bathroom. His appearance seemed suspicious, so I followed him, which led me to this incident.”
“…….”
I knew it was hard to believe.
I was as incredulous as anyone else.
What a coincidence to wake up at that exact moment and discover that.
I didn’t know if this was good or bad.
Still….
I stole a glance at Eliya.
I couldn’t help but think, thank goodness this child didn’t suffer such a fate.
“Is there anyone to prove that?”
“I have a companion who shares the same room. He briefly woke up when I stepped out.”
Dillon had shared my room today and advised me that I was cold.
Balak immediately summoned Dillon.
He arrived in no time.
“There’s something I need to confirm.”
“Yes, Lord Bevel.”
“What’s your name?”
Balak’s question was unexpected.
It was a question that could catch anyone off guard, yet Dillon remained calm.
“My name is Dillon.”
“How did you come here?”
“Thanks to Lady Eliya’s hospitality. We were invited to the duel competition and she invited the winner.”
“I see. Did the food suit your taste?”
“It was exceptionally delicious for me.”
A seemingly meaningless exchange of questions and answers ensued.
Then Balak suddenly asked, “Did you see Judas leaving this morning?”
“Yes. Though I was half-asleep, I distinctly saw him leave saying he was going to the bathroom. I also remember telling him I was cold, and Judas brought a blanket.”
Balak slowly nodded.
‘…Ah, is that so.’
I remembered hearing something somewhere.
When one suspects that the other might be lying, this is how to discern the truth of their answer.
First, ask obvious questions.
Name, age. These kinds of things.
At which point, the other party answers without hesitation.
Then suddenly throw the main issue.
This time, they check the other party’s reaction.
Comparing how they reacted when answering the previous fact.
Though it isn’t always accurate, it’s a pretty useful method.
‘How intimidating….’
Every light question before it was just bait.
Balak had observed Dillon’s reaction to determine if he would lie, using obvious truths beforehand.
“Let’s go.”
Dillon bowed respectfully and left.
Before going out, he shot me a worried glance.
I signaled ‘I’m fine’ with my eyes.
I wasn’t sure if he understood.
“It will take time to ascertain the truth of the incident.”
Balak seemed inclined to believe my words for the time being.
“Therefore, I will temporarily suspend the execution and interrogation regarding your charges.”
“…Thank you.”
“How peculiar.”
“Yes?”
“Do you comprehend the vocabulary I used?”
Indeed, he was Eliya’s biological father.
Their responses were quite similar.
“Though my knowledge is lacking, I understand some of it.”
“Hmmm.”
“Your Grace.”
Eliya spoke.
The distance in her tone and voice was apparent, portraying the nature of their relationship.
“Eliya,” Balak replied.
“Professor Sardis….”
Eliya’s tightly clenched fist trembled slightly.
“He often looks at me that way.”
“…Is that so.”
Even as a bastard, was there a connection by blood?
Balak let out a long sigh as if feeling despondent.
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
“I did. To the Duchess. But she rejected it.”
“…I see.”
“And this morning, one of the candidates personally selected by the Duchess attempted to assassinate me.”
I wanted to plug my ears.
Could he not see me sitting next to him?
Why was he having this dangerous conversation in front of me?
‘No matter how I think about it, this is the kind of conversation I shouldn’t hear…!’
Balak glanced at me sideways.
“What do you want from me?”
“I don’t want anything.”
Eliya smiled brightly.
Her childlike innocent smile concealed sharp thorns.
“It’s merely a matter that the Duke should be aware of regarding the family.”
“Understood. The matter regarding the Duchess…”
“Given the rules of the family, it is being investigated fairly. This incident will be added to it. Is there anything else?”
Eliya ignored him with a nonchalant expression.
“Indeed… it’s late, Eliya. You should rest. And since you have yet to clear your charges, it’ll be to the underground prison…”
“I can’t allow that.”
Eliya suddenly interjected.
Balak raised an eyebrow, unable to believe her.
I probably wore a similar expression.
“He is my benefactor. He deserves to be treated appropriately.”
“Eliya. The truth hasn’t been revealed yet.”
“I am a witness. No further truth is necessary.”
Eliya did not budge an inch.
Their conversation was too stiff and lethal to feel like a father-daughter dialogue.
I could only sit there feeling like I was sitting on thorns.
“This is my mansion.”
“I am the one who provided the assets.”
“You isolated me to muddy the waters of the main house, right? I know there are many who wish to dismantle my potential. But this is unacceptable.”
“Eliya, I…”
Balak seemed about to say something but closed his mouth.
He resigned himself and waved his hand dismissively.
“Do as you wish. It’s late, so let’s discuss this tomorrow. But I’ll assign personnel to monitor him. That should be sufficient.”
Eliya reluctantly nodded her head.
That was the compromise between the two.
“…Understood.”
*
I was escorted to a room with my eyes covered.
They hid the location since they didn’t know what I might do.
‘How excessive.’
But the state of the room was quite good.
It was more luxurious than the annex building I had previously occupied.
With a living room, bedroom, and bathroom, it could almost be considered a separate house.
‘I wonder how the kids in the 13th Room are doing.’
They would surely be worried by now.
There was no one to convey my message.
To isolate me from the outside, not even a servant was kept.
Only two knights were guarding the door.
Anna could not attend to me at this moment either.
I first headed for the bathroom.
My body was filthy with Sardis’s blood.
I stripped off my clothes and poured hot water over myself.
The bloodstains that had stuck like grime gradually washed away.
I stared blankly at my palm.
The water mixed with blood dripped a bright red.
I killed a person.
The moment was crystallized in ice.
The sensation of the pen tip piercing the neck.
The surging blood.
Those things.
Before executing it, I trembled in fear.
But not now.
I had no thoughts.
I just executed it; that was all there was to it.
It felt foreign.
Is that how murder is?
Once you do it, it becomes just another thing.
As simple as pulling teeth.
There was a time I almost killed a person.
It was unintentional.
During a judo match, I went for a throw, but the angle twisted and I almost dropped them on their neck.
Cervical fractures lead to instant death.
I was terrified at that time.
It felt unpleasant as well.
But now, I didn’t feel that way.
Was this the response of the body’s owner, Judas?
‘…Who cares.’
Am I Judas, or is Judas me?
It’s a matter of perception.
I’m not clever enough to understand it, let alone find an answer.
It’s not something that can be understood by wanting to know.
Even trying to grasp it would be a waste of time.
So I chose not to seek any answers.
One question lingered in my mind.
Did my influence make Eliya a slightly less malicious person?
That too was an unknown, so I didn’t dwell on it.
It felt like a presumptuous thought.
People don’t change so easily.
There’s a reason the saying that nature doesn’t change exists; I experienced it in my previous life in quite a few unpleasant ways.
But it wasn’t just that.
Eliya’s awakening had brought out insane flames.
The user’s violent nature is provoked.
From now on, Eliya will occasionally wrestle with the temptation of that violence.
There’s no reason to believe I won’t be one of its victims.
But still, well….
I saved Eliya.
I couldn’t help but feel that not all of this was bad.
‘But I shouldn’t get too entangled….’
*
Knights. Armor. Patterns.
A blazing symbol.
Window. Night. Moon. Lighting.
A sword gleaming silver.
Red blood splattering. Last words.
“Mom? Dad…?”
A boy murmured.
An unreachable call.
A call that should never be reached.
The hidden one must not be discovered by them.
“Mom… Dad….”
The boy swallowed his tears and rage alone.
The emotions piling up inside him festered like rotten pus.
He would never forget today.
Neither the ones who killed his parents.
Nor his own helpless self.
With no one to hold, his hands clenched the air, grabbing at his own skin.
The heat it built was overwhelming.
*
‘…What is this.’
I opened my eyes.
It was dark, indicating it was dawn.
I had washed up and changed clothes before collapsing into bed, but it felt like I hadn’t been asleep for long.
‘What a strange dream….’
I had a bizarre dream.
It was intense but unfamiliar.
Those were not my memories.
It was too concrete to be an absurd dream.
A simple conclusion formed.
‘Is it…Judas’s memories?’
A strange and curious dream.
The emotions were intense, but the scenes were blurry.
Someone seemed to have died in it.
That too was vague.
‘I don’t know…. I’ll just sleep…. Who knows, I might continue the dream again.’
Correcting my posture, I naturally pulled the thing in my arms closer.
It was warm.
‘…Wait a minute. What am I holding? What is this?’
A chill ran down my spine, and I opened my eyes wide.
My ears responded before my eyes.
Breathing sounds.
There was someone else in this room besides me.
Soft snores. Coming from within my embrace.
There was a scent too.
A subtle sweet smell. Soft as well.
I swallowed hard as I looked down.
And upon confirming its identity, I had to shut my mouth as tightly as I could to keep from screaming.
There, nestled in my arms and sleeping, was Eliya.
‘What the hell…! Why is she here—!’
This was a massive, unparalleled disaster.
This was a 100% guaranteed execution.
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.
