TL : Thanks to Benjam35 and Zimtschneckennn for leaving a review! Here’s an extra chapter.
“Count Acaine de Hoffman is the descendant of Bedrayk Hoffman, a member of the Four Great Heroes’ party.
Bedrayk was said to be the leader of Alkahad at the time.
However, he retired from Alkahad after subduing the Demon King of Desolation alongside Padania, one of the Four Great Heroes.
Then he received the title and lands of Dronoar from the Emperor of that era, which have been passed down to the current generation.
‘But.’
Acaine’s wobbling belly made it hard to believe he was descended from such a hero.
I spoke.
“Count, greetings. I am Mide Mohan.”
“…”“Count?”
“Hmph.”
He shifted uncomfortably in his seat and said,
“Speak.”
“Pardon?”
“If you have any excuses, say them.”
“…”
“You dragged Lord Kaeld’s name through the mud. And you’re enticing the northern fools into dividing the Empire. Did you think I would speak kindly to you?”
It had been a long time since I’d been treated like this.
Even the Emperor, ruler of the Empire, at least maintained courtesy regardless of his true feelings.
Neril’s impatient eyebrow twitched, but I spoke first.
“I have nothing to excuse.”
“What?”
“What happened in Hasphil territory was clearly done by Kaeld. I merely protected the land from his misdeeds.”
Bang.
The Count slammed the armrest of his chair.
I ignored it and continued.
“But I want to prevent the Empire’s division, just as you do. So please, give me a chance to persuade you.”
“Hmph. And what words will persuade me? Lord Kaeld saved me.”
“No. As I understand it, it was my companion who cured your illness.”
“Your companion?”
Only then did the Count glance around.
Serein bowed her head with a faint smile.
“Hello. We’ve met before, haven’t we?”
“S-Serein Magnus. Why on earth are you with this swindler?”
“Well. I rate him more highly than Mr. Kaeld in many ways.”
“What nonsense!”
“I was the one who treated you, wasn’t I? And I left Kaeld to join Mide’s party. Doesn’t that itself prove he’s right?”
The Count shook his head fiercely.
“That only proves you betrayed Lord Kaeld.”
“Count.”
“Lord Kaeld healed more than just my body.”
I narrowed my eyes.
‘So there was something else.’
Lisel asked,
“What do you mean?”
“He healed my son’s illness as well.”
Serein tilted her head.
“Your son was sick, too? You should’ve let me treat him along with you.”
“It wasn’t a physical illness. It was of the mind.”
Offense nodded at those words.
“You mean what Adwin had.”
“Hey, I’m perfectly fine, okay? If anyone’s sick, it’s Serein.”
“I’m even more fine.”
“If you’re ‘fine’ like that, that’s even more of a problem.”
I asked the Count,
“May I ask what sort of mental illness it was?”
“Hmph. And why should I tell you?”
Then, unexpectedly, an answer came from another corner.
It was Xenia.
“Mr. David couldn’t forget Ophelia, could he?”
“…Who are you?”
“Xenia Seide.”
“If you’re Xenia… wait.”
“Yes. From the Order of the Holy Knights of Light. But more importantly, I’m also Ophelia Mace’s dearest friend.”
The Count put a hand to his forehead.
“Even my daughter in law’s friend has been deceived by Mide’s sweet words?”
“You can argue that later. Anyway, I’m right, aren’t I?”
“Phew. Yes. David loved Ophelia sincerely. My wife and I as well. We were ready to accept her into the family at any time.”
“…But Ophelia was a commoner. An orphan, even.”
“David was stubborn. But after meeting her several times, we changed our minds. She had such insight and character that social status didn’t matter.”
He added awkwardly,
“Though, of course, I thought that being in the Order of the Holy Knights would somewhat make up the difference in status.”
“Ophelia joined the Holy Knights when she was very young. So…”
“My son brought her to us when he was fourteen, saying he would marry her.”
“Wow. Both sides were… quite precocious.”
The Count nodded.
I see. So that was the story.
‘What lies did Kaeld tell David?’
[Probably the usual line. If I kill the Demon King, I’ll find Ophelia for you.]
‘Yeah. Probably promised with that wide range search magic circle, just like with Offense.’
Well, I also had convinced Offense and Xenia with similar lines.
[Except you actually meant to do it. He was just full of empty promises.]
‘Yeah. Thanks.’
But this wasn’t the time for that.
I examined the Count’s blood script.
There had to be some sin I could use to blackm… No, persuade him.
Just then.
Bang!
Without any knock, the door burst open.
“Count!”
“Chamberlain. Such rudeness!”
“F-Forgive me. I couldn’t help it.”
“…You’ve served me thirty years and never done this. So it must be important.”
My ears perked up.
“What is it?”
“It’s… I remembered your command that if ‘that person’ was found, I must inform you immediately.”
“That person? N-No, surely…”
“Yes!”
The chamberlain practically shouted in joy.
“Ophelia has returned! Lady Ophelia is back!”
For a moment, a bell seemed to ring in my head.
I hastily looked at Xenia, but she was already gone from her spot.
“Where? Where is she?”
She was almost shaking the chamberlain like a rag doll.
“Ugh… at the estate entrance… young master David is there too…”
“Mide!”
She turned desperate eyes to me.
No need for that look.
“Let’s go.”
I needed to see this with my own eyes.
“Uwaaaah… Ophelia, Ophelia…”
“Mr. David… sob…”
A crowd had already gathered at the entrance to the estate.
In the middle, a young man and woman were clutching each other, weeping loudly.
It was quite a spectacle, but no one complained.
Instead, the onlookers sobbed and murmured.
“I’ve never seen Mr. David cry like that.”
“Are you dumb? Those are tears of joy!”
“Well, Ophelia’s back.”
“Where had she been, anyway? Heard the Witch of Carnage had a hand in it.”
“News sure travels slow with you. Turns out that was all framed by the Order’s leader…”
Neril grumbled.
“She’s the Saint of Compulsion now.”
“Is that really the issue right now?”
“Hm. Well… not really.”
Neril said that and glanced over at Xenia.
She was staggering forward, drawn toward Ophelia.
Meanwhile, David spoke up.
“Where on earth have you been all this time? Do you have any idea how worried sick I was?”
“I’m sorry… I’m really sorry.”
“No, no, I’m not angry. I’m just so grateful that you came back. Ophelia.”
“David…”
“Let’s not stay out here. Let’s go home. Father’s waiting.”
Suddenly, thud.
About five steps behind them, Xenia stopped in her tracks.
She took a deep breath, then spoke.
“Ophelia.”
“Hm? That voice… Xenia? Is that you?”
“Sniff.”
Tears streamed down Xenia’s cheeks.
She nearly collapsed into Ophelia’s arms.
“It’s me.”
“Oh, Xenia! How did you get here?”
“You should be the one explaining that! No, of course you’re supposed to be here!”
“Xenia… I’m sorry. I made you worry so much.”
“It’s okay. Don’t say that. Just… please don’t leave again. Promise you’ll stay.”
Their flood of tears rivaled even David’s.
Lisel wiped a quiet tear away and said,
“Miss Xenia… I’m so happy for you. You found your precious friend.”
Serein spoke up.
“Lisel, did you have a friend like that… 1,500 years ago?”
“Of course! Everyone in the party I was with back then was a dear friend! …Well, we did go our separate ways after founding the Empire, for various reasons.”
“Then I’m your friend, too, right?”
“Hm…”
“Wait. Why are you hesitating?!”
Regrettably, I couldn’t join in their emotion.
I was too busy trying to process the shock in front of me.
I cleared my throat.
Neril blew her nose into a handkerchief, then, realizing everyone’s attention had shifted to her, quickly spoke up.
“What. I just have a bit of a cold, that’s all.”
“We didn’t say anything.”
“Your faces said enough.”
“Heh. So even the Saint of Compulsion can make that kind of face. Right, Mi… de?”
Offense trailed off, and the whole group looked at me.
To be precise, they were looking at the cold sweat running down my face.
“Mide? Are you okay?”
I didn’t respond immediately. I glanced at Ophelia’s blood script again.
Black.
Her blood script was black.
[Black? That means…]
‘Yes.’
Ever since I had that bizarre dream, I’ve been able to see the blood script of the dead.
And there’s one key difference between the living and the dead:
Red for the living.
Black for the dead.
‘Ophelia is dead.’
[No, she’s clearly alive. Doesn’t that look alive to you?]
“I don’t know what’s really going on. But I trust my blood script.”
To doubt it would uproot everything I am.
Ophelia is dead—or more precisely, she’s in a state of death right now.
[But that doesn’t make sense…]
‘It was Idria.’
[Huh?]
‘Idria was the one who abducted Ophelia. Why didn’t I realize sooner?’
[Calm down. We don’t have any proof it was Idria.]
True, no proof… yet.
But I can find it.
‘Use the Eye of Omniscience. Show me the secret between Ophelia and Idria.’
[A-Alright.]
Soon, a screen appeared.
<The Eye of Omniscience has been activated.>
<Current Eye of Omniscience level: 3. Secret access level: B.>
<Selected query: “The secret between Ophelia Mace and Idria.”>
<Error: The secret between Ophelia Mace and Idria is classified as Level A.>
<Access available from Level 4.>
I couldn’t see it—at least, not yet.
But the fact that I couldn’t see it—that was proof enough.
If there was no connection between Idria and Ophelia, it would have said “no secret.”
[That makes sense. What kind of trickery did she pull?]
‘I’ll find out now.’
I exhaled deeply.
Xenia and Ophelia were smiling through their tears.
Now it’s up to me to tell happy Xenia that her friend is already dead.
Looks like I’ll need a drink tonight.
Although it was her hometown, Ophelia had no family home to return to, being an orphan.
So she headed straight to Count Acaine’s mansion.
We followed a few steps behind.
Xenia sniffed and said,
“Sniff… I don’t know if this is a dream or reality.”
“…”
“Ever since I started traveling with you, Mr. Mide, everything seems to be falling into place, my father’s situation, Ophelia’s return…”
“Is that so?”
“You seem… really dry about it. Is something wrong?”
I consciously relaxed my expression and spoke up.
“How did you and Ophelia become close?”
“When I was in training with the Holy Knights, I was struggling a lot.”
“Was training really that intense?”
“Not physically, it was emotionally tough. My mother had just passed away.”
“Right, you mentioned before how Ophelia comforted you during that time.”
“Yes. She said she understood since she was an orphan too.”
I had nothing more to say.
Then Neril spoke.
“By the way, Xenia…”
“Hm?”
“Instead of staying here, go find Ophelia. You must have things you want to say.”
“Ah… but David sort of claimed her first.”
“So you’re just going to let him?”
Her face hardened with determination.
“Okay, then. See you later!”
Xenia marched off and inserted herself between David and Ophelia.
Neril, having successfully removed Xenia, stared at me.
“She’s out of the way now, so spill it.”
“Huh?”
“That look on your face earlier wasn’t normal.”
As expected of Neril.
Sharp as ever.
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