The amount of magic power consumed by summoning an ultimate spirit went beyond one's imagination.
It felt as if all the magic power in Ed's body was being sucked out just from manifesting a high-ranking spirit. However, to descend an ultimate spirit for even just a moment, it felt as if he was scraping out all the remaining magic power in his body to the very bottom.
Even then, the ultimate fire spirit 'Theorpis' wasn't fully summoned. Only its head had manifested as it spewed out fire, casting the spiritual skill.
It all happened in less than ten seconds. The moment the flames erupted from the magic circle, it cut the sky over the mansion in half.
Flames that spewed out in a flash soared high into the night sky.
Everyone on the mansion's grounds witnessed the spectacle.
The Knights Templar and the Imperial Guards, as well as the guests they protected on the outskirts of Rothstaylor Mansion, all saw it. Naturally, the soldiers inside the mansion could also see it, including Princess Penia and Yennekar, who were heading towards the central garden.
A single ray of flames shot through the sky over the mansion, flying high into the night sky.
The sight was reflected in the eyes of Saint Clarice, who leaned against a tree in the central garden, being protected by Lacia.
Tanya could clearly see it as well as she sat by Arwen's corpse, being protected by Mugg.
Lucy clashed with Mebula, her body a mess. Her hair, which had been tied into two parts, had come undone. Even she clearly saw the flame that passed through the sky.
Selah, who was walking in the central garden, and Lortel, who had gotten out of the carriage, also looked up at the sky.
That single breath burned through the mansion, exposing the underground laboratory, the spire, and even the outer walls of the central mansion before stretching high into the sky.
'Theorpis' hellfire burned everything equally.
The underground laboratory, the craftwork of the spire, the beautiful exterior wall of the central mansion, as well as things you couldn't see. To it, everything was the same.
The real danger of Theorpis' flames was that it completely burned all the magic power within the area.
Temporarily, all the magic power within the central mansion disappeared with the flames.
However, as long as there were humans—who were the source of magic power—still remaining, the area would soon be refilled with magic power… But it still was meaningful that all of Mebula's magic power had been temporarily disabled.
Kwaaaaang!
Hwaaaaaak!
Krepin, who was covered in wounds, was thrown to the side as the entire area became engulfed in flames.
He barely managed to avoid the scorching heat, but… All of the disgusting, wriggling tentacles burnt up as they twisted like dry twigs.
"Keheuk…"
He took an attack that his body could no longer bear.
With all of Mebula's magic power completely burned up, Krepin barely managed to move his blood-covered body.
His bloodshot eyes struggled to look up at Ed.
Theorpis' flames used an astronomical amount of magic power just by casting it for a short period.
Ed was also in a horrendous state from the recoil of the ring, unable to control his body.
The burning underground laboratory.
Ed sat down on his knees amidst the heat, completely unconscious.
If he was going to finish it, now was the time. However, Krepin's body wasn't moving according to his will either.
Crash, Boom!
A stone column in the underground facility burned as it fell down. The ground itself was collapsing after receiving a major attack. Sooner or later, they would all be crushed to death.
The burning Rothstaylor Central Mansion also began to sink as the pillars collapsed.
With a sound that spread throughout the night sky, the majestic mansion that boasted House Rothstaylor's glory soon came to an end.
As the gigantic mansion collapsed, dust covered the underground laboratory.
Hwaaaaak!
Because of the flames, the entire area was filled with smoke. He couldn't see anything as the smoke and dust from the debris of the building covered the area.
Krepin clenched his teeth as he widened his bloodshot eyes. He barely managed to stand up.
"Keuk…. Keuaaaaaak!"
Krepin barely managed to raise his body as he screamed out. Somehow, he managed to raise his left hand.
Mebula's engraving was still there on his burnt left hand. He could fight again if he just received magic power from Mebula once more.
Mebula reacted to the engraving as it began to exert a great amount of magic power once more in the sky above the mansion.
Although Theorpis had temporarily burnt all the magic power within the area, once Mebula started to exert its strength, the entire mansion would be filled with magic power again. It was only a matter of time.
However, Lucy read Mebula's intentions.
Hwaaaaaak!
Numerous magic circles appeared as they centered on Mebula. It was magic meant to block the flow of magic power to the outside. She couldn't stop the flow of magic power on the inside, but it was still enough to stop Mebula from affecting the battlefield.
Mebula's numerous eyes all turned towards Lucy in the sky.
A girl who wiped her face full of dirt with her sleeve as she tidied up her messy hair.
She was a monster of the human world that even the Evil God couldn't easily subdue.
Her blank and emotionless eyes were terrifying.
Her braids had come undone as her hair blew in the night sky. Lucy swung her hair back as she looked up, concentrating on cutting off the entire flow of Mebula's magic power.
"Quit messing around."
An enormous amount of magic power, the origin of which no one knew, rose up. It was even comparable to Mebula's magic power.
With a quick wave of Lucy's hand, hundreds of ice spears were thrown towards Mebula.
Mebula's magic power didn't come.
Krepin's skin began to crawl when he realized that. In the middle of the burning laboratory, as it collapsed… if he just stood still, he would fall to the ground and die.
Although his body was a mess, he managed to stand up.
"Keheuk… Heuk…"
Krepin didn't lose his desire to survive. Maintaining one's power while living in the dark, their desire to live became stronger than anyone else's.
Without any strength left, he dragged his body, which was screaming in pain.
Although he managed to somehow pull himself out through the thick smoke and dust, the height of the wall he needed to climb up was still steep.
It looked as if the facility would collapse before he could even climb halfway up it. But Krepin didn't stop.
How could he survive in that chaos? As long as he survived until Mebula could replenish his magic power, he would be able to fix the situation.
So, for now, all he needed to do was go to the ground level, stay alive, and hide wherever he could.
An opportunity would come as long as he was alive. He couldn't get caught and die in a place like that.
With such a desire, Krepin grabbed onto the cliff as he somehow pushed his body up. Climbing up through the debris was a desperate and miserable act.
Grab.
However, an arm stretched out through the thick smoke behind his back.
The arm that reached out like a demon from hell grabbed ahold of Krepin's collar as it threw him to the ground.
Those few steps he barely managed to climb up pitifully were all in vain.
Krepin crashed into the floor of the hall… He had goosebumps all over his body again.
Ed Rothstaylor had blood dripping from his forehead. He was still somehow conscious after casting such an attack.
His stubbornness was beyond that of a cockroach. He didn't have the willpower of a human.
The recoil caused by the Golden Phoenix Ring didn't end with just not being able to use magic power. The more magic power he gathered, the more his muscles froze, the hotter his fever got, and the fainter his consciousness became.
Even Yennekar Palerover had been on bedrest for nearly an entire month after summoning an ultimate spirit.
Although the scale was much smaller, Ed Rothstaylor had also summoned an ultimate spirit. Despite consuming an enormous amount of magic power, he didn't let go of his consciousness until the very end.
Krepin was frustrated as he ground his teeth. Ed Rothstaylor's murderous intentions were like a curse that was following him until the day he died.
"Calm down… You little… Shit…!"
In the end, Krepin couldn't bear it any longer as he swore.
His stubbornness was so great that he felt a sense of awe. But now it was closer to fear.
Fragments of the collapsed pillar fell as it struck the two of them. Krepin yelled from the impact of a few rocks hitting him as Ed Rothstaylor lost his balance and fell to the ground.
However, amid the rising flames and smoke, he staggered up again with his teeth clenched.
He had no magic power left.
Both Krepin and Ed.
In a situation where he might be crushed to pieces if he remained still, Ed staggered up as he grabbed Krepin by the neck.
Krepin had to use most of his body's remaining strength just to grab his hand and shake him off.
Krepin and Ed staggered as they nearly lost their balance and fell, but Ed grabbed Krepin's shoulders once more, slamming him in the head with his forehead.
Krepin staggered backwards as he fell to the ground. Ed climbed on top of him and punched him with his clenched fists over and over.
The sound of punching continued for a while as Krepin screamed out. His molar fell out as it rolled onto the floor.
Still, Ed didn't stop and continued to beat his face in. Krepin, who had been punched for a while now, managed to gather his strength by pushing Ed's stomach back with his feet, knocking him back.
Krepin coughed up blood as he staggered back to his feet, stepping on Ed's ankle.
Ed let out a scream as Krepin stomped on his foot. Krepin climbed on top of Ed, strangling him.
Krepin's hands, covered in scorched blood, continued to grab his throat tighter and tighter.
Because of the recoil of the ring, Ed had a massive headache, a high fever, and chills. The smoke from the flames obstructed his breathing and vision as Krepin's hand pressed down on his neck, making him slowly lose consciousness.
"Hekeuk… Keukeuheuk…"
Krepin continued to press down on his neck with an expression that was impossible to tell if it was crying or laughing.
"What… Do you know… You bastard…? Just to stay alive… Do you know just how much I struggled…? What did you say about me? Coward?"
Krepin strengthened his grip as he spoke with his bloodshot eyes widened.
"Don't judge me with those eyes, you stupid bastard… Don't insult me! You can't understand me! You don't understand a single thing, you bastard…!"
"This… pathetic bastard…"
With a chuckle, Ed responded.
Picking up the stone he held in his hand, he smashed it into Krepin's hand. Krepin shouted as he fell backwards.
"If you weren't a coward, if you were truly a malicious person made of pure evil, you wouldn't feel any regret or remorse."
The attack had broken Krepin's nails. The pain was as if his hand had torn apart. Ed staggered back onto his feet as he grabbed Krepin by the neck, slamming his fist into his face.
"Would such a person hang such a large portrait of Arwen right there in the hall of the central mansion?"
Krepin's pupils trembled violently again.
On one side of the burning central mansion, there was the large portrait of Arwen that Ed Rothstaylor had seen when he first entered the estate. It was now burning alongside the mansion.
He didn't even hang the portrait of the house's great ancestors in the large hall. Was it a token of respect towards Arwen? Or was it his guilt?
"You should be able to handle what you've done with your own two hands. You're not a kid. Did you think if you covered your eyes and pretended to not know a thing, that everything would just disappear?"
Krepin blocked Ed's fist, which had been repeatedly striking him. As he pulled him back, Ed's exhausted body rolled over onto the floor.
Krepin, who barely managed to stand, looked back at Ed with bright red eyes.
"Shut your mouth… And stay down…!"
However, with Ed on the ground, he kicked Krepin's leg to make him fall over.
Krepin rolled onto the floor as he yelled out. Ed grabbed his collar as Krepin tried to stand up again.
But Ed managed to get on top of Krepin's body once more.
The cloak he was wearing had been thrown aside, revealing a silk vest that he wore on the inside.
On his chest… There was a feather ornament that Arwen had given him as a gift. The same feather ornament that was in Ed's room.
Ed Rothstaylor burst into laughter upon seeing it. Krepin's very last bit of conscience that he held onto the very end was this.
"Do you think that Arwen Rothstaylor followed you to the very end with only respect and admiration towards you?"
As his heir, Arwen Rothstaylor always followed Krepin Rothstaylor's footsteps. But looking up at his back, she must have seen the countless burdens that were pressuring him.
Both his benevolent figure and corrupt figure were all just masks. Beneath those countless masks, there was just one pathetic coward who was running away from the weight of his burdens.
Arwen Rothstaylor was the first person to notice that before anyone else.
"She only pitied you. You should have known that."
Krepin's blood boiled as he tried to grab ahold of Ed's neck, but Ed smacked his hand away, grabbing onto Krepin's neck.
"You were the one who ruined Arwen."
"Shut… Your mouth…!"
As Krepin clenched his teeth, rolling to the side, Ed's body was also dragged over.
Krepin somehow managed to get his body free as he tried to stand back up. Ed had also gotten ahold of himself.
Krepin dragged his staggering body around as he ran towards Ed, slamming into his shoulder. Ed yelled as he fell down, rolling a few times. Now his body was really at its limit.
Grab!
Ed could see the wand lying there on the floor. But without any magic power, it was pointless to grab it.
However, all of a sudden, Ed's senses pointed at the small feather ornament that was hanging from the tip of the wand.
Yennekar Palerover knew Ed's fighting style better than anyone.
If he really was at his limit, Ed would ultimately use Glast's ring to burn through all of his magic power.
And that was the last resort sent by Yennekar, who was well aware of that fact.
Yennekar's message came from the faint flow of mana contained in that feather.
If it came to an extreme situation, the scale between victory and defeat would tilt towards the person who has even a bit more magic power left.
"Now… Die…!"
Clenching his teeth and picking up a large rock, Krepin rushed towards Ed to deliver the final blow.
Ed, who was on the floor, clenched his teeth and pulled himself up. He grabbed onto the feather that was on the tip of the wand.
Hwaaaaaaak!
Wind energy enveloped Krepin.
Krepin's eyes widened. Ed shouldn't have had any magic power left. It wouldn't make sense for him to have enough magic power to use a spirit.
Wind Blade formed as it cut through his shoulder blade to his waist. Blood spurted out.
Gathering the last bit of magic power he had left, he cast a spiritual skill. The ceremonial dagger then returned to Ed's hand.
On the ceremonial dagger that was used for various events of House Rothstaylor, there was a flying hawk that was engraved on it. It was a pattern that symbolized the majesty of the great House Rothstaylor.
And that same dagger pierced through the head of the house's heart.
Slice.
Paak!
Blood spurted out.
The amount of bleeding was so great it was as if there was no blood left in his body.
Tadak, Kwak!
The rock Krepin was holding in his hand rolled across the floor.
Krepin took a few steps backwards in the center of the burning underground laboratory… as he collapsed right there on the floor.
Blood spread as it ran down across the floor.
"Keheuk…"
Looking up at the sky… he could see Lucy grabbing all of Mebula's eyes and bursting them.
The night sky was filled with magic and stars.
Ed, covered in blood, appeared right in front of him, blocking his view.
"Y-You… Why… Did you…"
Ed didn't give a long answer.
"Now that things have become like this, one of us has to die."
Clang!
The dagger fell out of Ed's hand as it fell on the floor, rolling. Ed then bent over, telling Krepin clearly,
"Yeah. You cowardly bastard or whatever… You must have been struggling to survive in your own way…"
"Keuh… Cough… Cough… No… My blood… Is leaving me… Save me…"
"So, why did you have to become such a shitty person to let things become like this? Not having any moral standards… Well, that's now an issue of the past…"
Ed spoke softly.
There were all sorts of justifications and reasons that could be used against Krepin. But Ed didn't take everything into account.
However, to say it simply.
In that world, which was like the wild, it was a survival of the fittest. Running into each other on the same road, one of them would have to die.
"I survive and you die."
That was the only thing he said.
As the underground laboratory collapsed, he lost all strength in his body as he knelt down.
Even though his body was in ruins, he was clearly breathing.
And just like that, he had survived. Just like always.
* * *
When the energy of the one who summoned Mebula disappeared, it seemed that Mebula had also been surprised.
Bringing out a large amount of magic power, it tried to destroy all the magic that Lucy had cast. It tried to cover the area with its own magic power once more.
Once again, numerous gremlins rushed towards the mansion as the weakened tentacles began to rise.
During the temporary period when the mansion lost all flow of magic power, all the Knight Templars who entered the central mentioned were bewildered.
However, shortly after, the spirit corps returned once more as they began to clean up the gremlins one by one.
Lucy didn't stand still, either. She once again cast ultimate magic as she continued to push Mebula into a corner.
Yennekar appeared with a rather desperate expression on her face, moving among the spirit corps that covered the sky. Princess Penia, who had ridden a spirit with Yennekar towards the entrance of the central garden, headed towards the collapsing underground laboratory without hesitation.
There, she saw a corpse that was lying, looking up at the sky with blank eyes. Next to him, there was a blonde boy sitting.
As Yennekar and Penia quickly landed in the collapsing underground laboratory, they lost their breath upon seeing Ed's injured body.
He had nearly lost consciousness as he had finished it all.
He sat next to Krepin's body with his eyes closed through the smoke… He looked like a pilgrim that had finished his journey.
How did he look in the eyes of Penia, who could see through humans?
They met for the first time in the North Forest of the school on the day of the entrance exam. After all sorts of other incidents, they met once again at Krepin's death.
From a glance, it seemed as if he had run out of House Rothstaylor on his own two feet and survived to the end after bearing through everything… Penia couldn't breathe.
Was Penia the only obstacle in his ordeal-filled road? Thinking about it… it felt as if a stream of flames was going down her back.
Watching Yennekar run towards him, wrapping her arms around his shoulder… Penia finally realized.
Ed Rothstaylor had lived a life in the wild. The many obstacles he faced, as well as the occasional fruits he harvested, were all just a part of his process of struggling to survive.
How could she not respect such a life?
She saw a completely different figure from herself. Throwing away her dream of becoming the emperor after a few obstacles and failures… She finally realized the shame in that.
Desire once again came back to Princess Penia's eyes. She shouted out to Yennekar that they needed to take him out of there immediately.
The burning mansion.
Holding onto Ed's ruined body, the two girls escaped the collapsing underground laboratory, riding a spirit.
Way at the bottom, they could see Krepin Rothstaylor.
There were no signs of life in his blank eyes as the rocks fell around him… Only the appearance of Krepin looking up at the crumbling sky remained.
* * *
"This should be the end of House Rothstaylor."
Princess Selah, who was looking around the central garden, spoke quietly to Dest.
When she roughly looked at the situation inside, it seemed that most of the people who were a part of it were either vassals or servants of House Rothstaylor.
"As for condemning the remaining sinners and putting an end to them… It will probably have a large impact on the competition for the throne. A monarch should also know how to properly punish the disloyal."
The massacre that took place at Rothstaylor Mansion was perhaps the most catastrophic in the history of the imperial family.
Was it a God-given opportunity or a curse to have been directly present at the scene of the catastrophe?
Selah quietly thought to herself as she looked down at the mansion.
Someone needed to take the initiative to rectify the situation.
If she could take the initiative and complete the task well, her ability would be thoroughly recognized. The fact that she handled such a disaster would go down in history.
The first thing to do was to arrest the remaining members of House Rothstaylor and charge them with their crimes.
Mebula's energy that covered the sky also got weaker. With Krepin's death, Mebula had lost her medium and was losing strength little by little. That led to Lucy being able to pressure Mebula even harder.
"It seems I'll be busy."
Seeing this, Selah turned around.
"For now, once the imperial army arrives, I will order them to block the entrance of the mansion. I shouldn't let even a single rat escape."
The moon was still high in the sky.
The long night continued.
-x-X-x-
Her body was covered in dust and dirt, but she didn't shed a single drop of blood. Her oversized shirt and skirt were torn, becoming ragged. And the amount of magic power she had, which was enough to flip over the entire world, had decreased considerably.
And yet, Lucy Mayreel had no intention of collapsing.
Kwaaaaaaak!
Casting ultimate elemental magic. Who knows how many times she has cast it already.
Dozens of lightning bolts struck from the sky as a massive stream of fire spewed from a magic circle. Hundreds of ice spears continued to light up the sky, yet Mebula still wasn't defeated.
If she hadn't had to pay attention to her surroundings, and if Lucy hadn't been fighting with her full firepower, it would have been enough to redraw the entire map.
Every time Lucy—who floated up in the night sky—waved her hand, Mebula's eyes turned towards her. While exchanging blows countless times, it had become a battle of who would run out of magic power first.
How much strength could a single human have? It was amazing that there was such a tremendous power in a human who had lived less than a hundred years.
However, there was no reason for Mebula to end its life there.
Mebula had lost all reason to descend.
It was supposed to descend upon the world through countless sacrifices. However, the medium that was meant to offer them had died.
Despite Mebula giving him an endless amount of its magic power, he eventually met the end of his life at the hands of Ed Rothstaylor.
"...?"
Suddenly, a gigantic magic circle appeared in the sky. It wasn't the sacrificial magic that Krepin had cast, nor was it Elemental magic from Lucy.
The magic circle Mebula cast broke away to a place outside the clutches of humans… Passing into the dimension that Mebula had originally come from.
Mebula had decided to retreat. All because of that one magician.
"Where…!"
Lucy gathered magic powers in her hand once more in front of Mebula, who was about to retreat. A magic circle of that level could be destroyed if Lucy concentrated on it.
However, feeling her stiff shoulders suddenly throb in pain… Lucy's frowned.
She looked down at Rothstaylor Mansion with blank eyes. It looked as if Krepin Rothstaylor had already died and the chaos inside the mansion had been taken care of.
The servants and tentacles lost all their strength as they collapsed. The gremlins also retreated as the Knight Templar and Imperial Guards entered the mansion.
The situation was coming to an end. In the end, Mebula couldn't defeat Lucy before Krepin had died.
A single human hand blocked the path of an Evil God… There was no need to explain what a feat that was.
"Fine. Go."
All of Mebula's eyes looked directly at Lucy as it disappeared into the magic circle. It was as if it was declaring this was simply a temporary retreat. However, the fact that it was defeated in the end didn't change.
"Don't even think about coming back."
Under the bright stars, Lucy's white hair fluttered in the wind. She couldn't tie it like usual, so seeing her with her hair flying in the wind like that left an impression.
Looking at Mebula with a blank expression on her face, it didn't look like she particularly felt joy over her victory. In the end, it seemed as if she felt incomplete from the fight that ended in a rush.
As Mebula disappeared into the night sky, Lucy slowly descended to the ground.
"She's coming down…!"
"That monster… She dealt with it on her own…!"
"H-How many ultimate magic spells did she use…? It was a number that couldn't be counted… Yet she's completely fine…?"
As she slowly descended from the night sky landing in the central garden, the soldiers began to split up.
Seeing that girl come down to earth after fighting against that evil god on her own, she looked like a messenger of God.
She was a person who could easily destroy the entire mansion with just a single wave of her hand if she so desired.
That fact had been clearly proven in her battle. The perpetrators were in a situation where they couldn't say a word.
Though, Lucy didn't pay attention to those gazes as she ripped off the ends of her tattered clothes.
She looked around. With her eyes wide open, she could only see soldiers. However, closing her eyes and feeling the flow of magic power, she smelt that familiar grassy scent somewhere in the distance.
Fixing her clothes, she ran through all the soldiers, who were staring at her. Wherever she went, the crowd of people made way for her, clearing the path.
She found a blonde boy lying under a large zelkova tree in the central garden.
His body was covered in blood as he sat there unconscious, leaning against the tree… It looked as if he went through a lot.
There were two soldiers nearby giving first aid as an elementalist watched from behind. There was even the Saint as well. Seeing those two girls, she glared at them. She eventually decided that it was fine as she exhaled through her nose, walking proudly over to the boy.
"Ah…!"
One of the soldiers who was giving first aid looked back, startled. The same went for the elementalist and saint next to them.
He tried to say something to Lucy, but as if she weren't interested, it went straight through to the other ear. She pushed the soldier aside as she put her finger on the boy's chin.
Cuts, burns, bruises, lacerations, and even fractures, he had already endured many hardships before, but this was the first time he suffered that level of injury.
And the flow of magic power inside of him was completely twisted, as he had gathered too much. His temperature was rapidly rising because of the recoil. It was heartbreaking just to look at him, but all Lucy could do right now was to inject her own magic power into him to unravel his twisted magic power.
After adjusting the flow of magic power for a long time, Lucy leaned back on the zelkova tree as she sat down next to Ed.
Both of them were in bad shape. Lucy was able to move her body around enough, but she was completely exhausted.
Lucy rested her head on Ed's shoulder as she sighed. And because of the exhaustion that came from using her magic power to its limit… her eyes started to close little by little.
"On the other side of the mansion… my hat… take care of it…"
After saying that, she quietly closed her eyes. And slowly, the sound of her soft breathing could be heard.
The soldiers and two girls were left speechless as they watched her. What they were sure of was that, right now, no one could touch Lucy.
She was the hero of the calamity, and on her own she managed to fight and help stop the descent of the Evil God, sending it back.
* * *
"What did you say?"
Princess Penia doubted what she had just heard.
"Weren't you the one to say that Persica made older brother Lindon give up the seat for the throne? I don't know how she managed to pressure him, but either way, she definitely has greed for the throne."
It has been more than an hour since the chaos took place at the Rothstaylor Social Gathering.
She heard news that the military from the imperial household was on their way, so soon the incident would be transferred over to the imperial household to deal with.
Currently, there are only a few members of the Knight Templar and Imperial Guard that were controlling the site.
They put out the fire and protected those who survived. The injured were given first aid until proper medical assistance arrived.
The second princess Persica was stuck in the library reading books all the time, so even among her own servants, there are rumors that she was pursuing intelligence over power.
"If you stay still, Persica will eat you. Both you and me."
"…As I said, I'm not interested in the throne."
"It doesn't matter, Penia. The problem is that she is in a real position to challenge for the throne if she so desires."
They were in the barracks built by the Knight Templar right outside of the mansion. It was a place prepared for the royal family to rest.
Princess Selah called on Princess Penia to talk as the incident was coming to an end.
"That's why I want to try and establish myself more… But things are now like this."
"Were you in the mansion from the beginning?"
"Yes. But how did you manage to arrive at Rothstaylor Estate in just a single night?"
"That…"
Penia couldn't say it. Selah grinned at her reaction as she quickly returned to her solemn expression.
"Were you worried about Ed Rothstaylor? Judging from the seal on that letter, you seemed to have quite the trust in him."
"…I had something I needed to check."
"Anyways, I don't think Father will be happy. For you to ride a horse across such a distance without reporting to him."
"It's my responsibility."
"It's a relief that you are saying that."
After looking at the tip of her mug a few times, Selah continued to speak while turning the cup by moving the handle.
"Penia. Anyway, you need to realize that right now, we are in the middle of a very serious situation."
"Yes… There are quite a lot of casualties…"
"The Rothstaylors, who have been raising their voice towards imperial powers for years now, have finally fallen to the ground. This may be an incident that will be recorded and passed down from generations to generations. The genocide at Rothstaylor Mansion. We are at a crucial moment in history. You need to be aware of that."
"What do you want to say, Selah?"
"I'm saying we have to both do the things we need to."
Seeing Selah's eyes looking serious, Princess Penia felt an ominous feeling. She continued to sit quietly hearing what she had to say.
"Aren't we the only people here who can take care of such a catastrophe, holding the power of the imperial family?"
"…It's true that right now in the mansion, those with imperial power would have control over the Knight Templar, Imperial Guards, and the various noble families."
"Right. And when it comes to fixing such a situation, someone needs to take responsibility. Originally, I was going to take care of it, but that was when I didn't realize you were also here."
Princess Selah spoke to Penia with a wide smile.
"So, rather than just one of us doing it, how about the both of us join forces? The two of us can take responsibility and manage this situation to control Persica's influence. Before that girl starts to have a change of heart."
"No, I'm not interested in the…"
"Just because you aren't interested doesn't mean the people around you think the same. In particular, Persica will continue to actively keep you in check."
Penia hesitated at Selah's words. She knew that Persica was an ambitious person, but she couldn't tell if she was someone who would backstab her.
"And that is something that needs to be taken care of before the competition for the throne. As a candidate to inherit the throne."
"That's… true."
"Yeah, so… We have to control the situation in the mansion, reward those who deserve to be rewarded, and punish those who committed a misdeed."
Selah continued to talk as if she had already thought it through ahead of time.
"It's only right to give rewards at an imperial level to the small magician who managed to fight against that monster, as well as the elementalist who used her spirits to protect the nobles. Even if we can't honor them with a title, I think we can still at least bestow upon them high honors and some money if we directly ask Father."
"I agree. Their hard work is to be commended. They saved many lives."
"Yeah. It's quite sad that those who live life with the status of a commoner struggle to ever see the light despite having such power. It would be best if we could give them the status of a small baron, but…"
Selah shook her head for a moment as she was lost in thought for a moment.
"Well aside from that elementalist… it doesn't seem like that magician is all that interested in gold or a title."
"She's someone that is normally hard to figure out what she's thinking on the inside."
"I see. Geniuses tend to be like that. In any case, we should consider those who should be rewarded and those who should be condemned separately."
She continued to talk as such. Gradually, Penia felt it. The next thing Selah was going to bring up was the real main point.
"All the descendants of House Rothstaylor, who were involved in this disaster, should be hung in the gallows."
"..."
"Your expression doesn't look great, Penia."
Penia had already finished preparing herself. So, she wasn't too surprised.
"Ed Rothstaylor wasn't involved in Krepin Rothstaylor's plans. Rather, he is the one who stopped him and killed him in the very end."
There was a strong desire in her quiet voice. Selah felt quite impressed seeing her like this.
"I saw it clearly with my own two eyes."
"Wasn't what you saw after it had already been finished?"
"Before that, I already had a feeling. Ed Rothstaylor knew the dark side of House Rothstaylor from the start. And the reason he entered Silvenia was to run away from Krepin."
"It's not good to talk as if your feelings are the truth, Penia."
Penia frowned as Selah smiled more casually.
"If I were Ed Rothstaylor, I would think of betraying Krepin the moment I saw that magician stand on her own against that massive evil god. Or seeing the elementalist who could hold off all those monsters on her own. Since Krepin's reckless plan wouldn't come to fruition, it would have been better to betray him halfway through and act like someone who has always been righteous."
"Are you saying that he knows Krepin's plans would fail so he switched sides?"
"Yes. As long as he took Krepin's life with his own hands, he would look like a hero who fought against injustice without hesitation, even over the prestige of his house."
Penia's expression began to get harder the more she spoke. Nevertheless, Selah's relaxed expression didn't change.
Penia spoke in a low and serious tone.
"That wasn't it. You know it too, Selah."
Those words were the key.
"Yennekar Palerover and Lucy Mayreel are both people close to Ed Rothstaylor. Can't you see from the fact they fought against Krepin?"
Penia, who glared at Selah, clearly looked bothered.
"Those poor people have been played in the hands of the cruel Ed Rothstaylor. At first, he must have brought them to the mansion to sacrifice them to Mebula. But seeing them overpower Krepin and being much stronger than he thought… He acted as if he was pure hearted from the start…"
Slap!
Selah didn't finish speaking. That was because her head had moved to the side.
It all happened in an instant. Selah had her eyes wide open as she started at Penia silently.
The soldier, who checked inside the tent hearing the sudden loud noise, widened his eyes in surprise. Penia had slapped Selah with her hand.
Selah made eye contact with the soldier as she shook her head. The soldier nodded in a cold sweat as he exited. However, the tension remained.
"Penia, are you crazy?"
"I can see through your intentions. Why are you interpreting Ed Rothstaylor's actions as malicious?"
Another moment of silence.
Selah slowly closed her eyes, opening them again as she spoke.
"When you persuade the masses, you need a scapegoat that will be burnt at the stake, bearing all the sins."
"And you want to use Ed Rothstaylor?"
"You said it as well. It's better to end things cleanly, with no mess in the aftermath. And Ed Rothstaylor burning at the stake is certainly a sign that everything has been taken care of well."
"..."
Penia Elias Kroel. The Princess of Benevolence.
She has been faithful, maintaining her position as the third princess, without ever standing in opposition to anyone for the throne.
She raised her eyes as she stared straight at Selah.
"You're disgusting."
"Politics are like that. I see that you are still just a child."
"Do you think the others will stay still if you go through with it? Yennekar Palerover and Lucy Mayreel are both on his side."
"For now, we will have to take him to the imperial court, which is far, far away. Although it may not be the case in this estate, within the imperial household there are far more people who support me. There, I can use the power of the imperial household even more and mobilize a mighty army and talented servants who have sworn allegiance to the imperial household. And if you agree with it, then things can't get any cleaner than this. It won't be hard to get testimony from the two. After all, they are both just victims of being decided."
Penia looked at Selah with her eyes trembling.
"Think about it, Penia. If Persica decides to act, whether or not you want the throne you won't be safe. If you want to survive in a high position, you need to learn how to do things."
"..."
"The next few hours are like gold. As long as we can somehow bring him to the Imperial Household, everything else can be taken care of easily. He won't even have the chance to do anything about it."
Selah continued to speak as Penia didn't say a single word.
"We have a good reason to do that. Because we are the ones in charge of taking care of things. Of course, I fully understand your position as you put a lot of trust into Ed Rothstaylor, but…"
Selah spoke clearly.
"If you keep holding onto a piece that should be thrown away, it will one day catch your ankles. Think about the bigger picture."
Penia quietly placed her hands on the table as she stood up. There was a coldness in the way she quietly raised her eyes as she held her chin high, looking at Selah.
"Don't you dare touch Ed Rothstaylor."
"I thought you were going to say that… But to even act like that after all I said…"
Selah spoke, sounding frustrated. Though to Penia, she looked no different than a monster blinded by the power of the throne.
She'd never been so heinous before. What happened while Penia was away at Silvenia? She didn't know why she was trying so hard to keep her in check.
"Listen. It's a really important issue of who is going to collect him while he's still unconscious. No matter what happens… He will be the person with the greatest significance in ending this tragedy. However, in terms of politics, there's a possibility that he will become somebody that will become a nuisance to us later on."
"..."
"Whether he becomes a hero or a traitor, depending on how we use him, he will hold a strong political influence. A descendant of the fallen House Rothstaylor and a person who ended it all."
Selah's words were correct. Still, Penia couldn't look at Selah with kind eyes.
"Both Commander Magnus and Investor Roland are on their way to Rothstaylor Mansion. Do you think the Northern Corps and the Elte Company will just stand still with their arms crossed in front of such a mouth-watering situation? We have to act first."
It was a valuable opportunity to influence the imperial household in one way or another. The strongest house in the continent had collapsed, and the imperial power structure would be reorganized. Thus, it was a really important issue to take care of during such chaos.
Ed Rothstaylor held a strong influence that could be significant in any direction, from any position.
"We princesses should be responsible for the imperial power structure. Isn't that right, Penia? Or are you planning to hand over such influence and power to the Northern Corps or the Elte Company?"
"Unfortunately, I am not interested in things like the imperial power structure~"
At that time, a girl entered the tent stepping inside.
Penia and Selah looked towards her in an instant. Who dared to enter the barracks while the two princesses were having a conversation?
There weren't many in the empire who would like to do such a thing with a commoner status.
However, when the two princesses saw the face of that person, their faces hardened.
Lortel Kehelland, the deputy director of the Elte Company and one of the empire's most wealthy individuals.
Her reddish-brown hair was hanging loose, and she wore a beautiful dress. She smiled like a fox as she walked into the tent.
"You're…"
She nodded towards Selah, who had recognized Lortel. She then took a seat at the negotiating table.
Lortel sat down as if she had heard some extent of the conversation they were having inside. And the words that came out of her mouth… from Penia's point of view, it was quite chilling.
"So… I heard that someone is going to be burned at the stake…"
* * *
The central garden of the mansion was full of soldiers taking control of the area.
The atmosphere, which was chaotic at first, had calmed down to a certain extent as the situation got under control—somewhat, anyway.
Several people from the Imperial Guards were collecting basic testimonies from those present at the scene. The Knight Templar continued to guard the perimeter around the Saint.
Saint Clarice wouldn't leave the zelkova tree, where Ed Rothstaylor was lying down resting. So, the majority of the Knight Templars were stationed nearby.
Clarice, who was resting while being protected by the knights, looked at the side of the tree Lucy and Ed were leaning and sleeping against. She was deep in thought.
"Hmm…"
Clarice had little to no sense when it came to politics by nature. Living at the top of the Holy Father Building, she had always been honored as a noble and divine being.
After being in such an environment for such a long time, she started to learn. After such a major incident, all sorts of forces would mobilize to analyze the situation in their best interests.
The person at the center of it all was most likely Ed Rothstaylor, who was now unconscious and undergoing treatment.
In the midst of a dark battle for power, he who should be alert more than anyone else, was unconscious.
If things continued in such a way, there was a high possibility that he would be used as a political scapegoat regardless of his will. Becoming a chess piece for another's benefit.
If that were the case, wouldn't it be better to take him to the Holy Father Building for treatment and provide him with the time to slowly organize his thoughts?
Luckily, it was still school break. So, there was more than enough time for him to rest.
However, whether or not they would be able to take him to the Holy Father Building… She had to watch the ongoing situation a bit more.
Where they would take the boy who was unconscious… It felt as if all the powers within the mansion were carefully examining the atmosphere with their eyes wide open.
-x-X-x-
The Extra's Academy Survival Guide Chapter 162: The Battle for Ed Rothstaylor (2)
The power of the Kroel Imperial Family was massive.
However, upon looking through the history books, you would realize that wasn't always the case. From margraves who gathered their own military forces to grow in power to grand dukes who invaded into the deepest parts of the central power within the Imperial Family—sometimes, their power was comparable to that of the emperor himself.
However, under the rule of Emperor Kroel, who was considered to be a perfect ruler, there were no nobles who would dare overthrow him.
He started after ending the war with the non-humans, re-established distributions and the monetary system to increase efficiency of commerce, reclaimed the northern territories, and directly acted towards the establishment of the Imperial forces training course to raise the level of the military.
In addition to that, he was sincere enough to directly arbitrate both large- and small-scale disputes between various territories. He used his ability to hire loyal subjects and control them strictly, while always acting kind towards the empress.
"It's been two years since older brother Lindon has been locked up in his room."
"Hmm…"
The emperor's private garden.
It was excessively large for a garden, exclusive to the emperor. It was more suitable to call it a park than a garden.
At the wooden pavilion in the center of the garden, the second princess, Persica, and Emperor Kroel were playing a game of chess.
"It would be great… If you give me some energy."
Emperor Kroel was famous for being the perfect monarch. However, there was one thing he lacked compared to others: the heir to the throne had yet to be decided.
It has already been quite some time since Prince Lindon had given up his right to the throne, locking himself in his room. If he came out and declared his intention of reclaiming the throne, Emperor Kroel would summon the imperial teacher at once to prepare him.
However, he continued to lock himself in his room, cover himself with a blanket, and only ate the food given to him… It was a troubling issue for Emperor Kroel.
"My only brother isn't well, and my two sisters are currently away… There's no one that I can speak with openly, so I feel rather depressed, Father."
"I know you usually stay in the library and don't come out. You are rather sly, Persica."
"Still, I also want to see the faces of my family. That's why I came here to meet with you, Father."
Persica smiled at Emperor Kroel as she spoke.
The majority of the authority and power within the imperial household came from Emperor Kroel.
The emperor not only controlled the imperial army, but all of the famous magicians and alchemists that worked for the imperial family, as well. They were all individuals who greatly looked up to Emperor Kroel.
All of the officials within the imperial household held the same respect towards him. He was someone who had held such a position for a long time without any issues.
However, the problem was his successor. Among the three princesses, which one of them would inherit the power and authority that came with the throne?
At the start, Penia held the highest power—but after she entered Silvenia, Selah's power rapidly rose.
The key personnel of the imperial household… The prime minister, the knight commander, and the head housekeeper were all close to Selah.
Each of them were individuals that held a great amount of experience and authority. Selah's power was growing tremendously, having their support behind her.
Only the commander of the north, Magnus, as well as the chief alchemist of the imperial household, Delum, remained silent, not showing any support to anyone in particular.
The two of them were quite wise and only showed interest in the will of the new emperor. They weren't the type to concern themselves with who would become the next emperor and the new order of power. Aside from those two, everyone else quickly moved towards the side of Selah.
During that time, Persica had only stayed far away by herself in the library reading books.
I have to start taking action slowly now.
The Kroel Imperial Household wielded an undisputed power while accumulating achievements and power over the years, and there were many times the three princesses had benefited from that power.
Now, the utmost concern was which of them would end up inheriting such a tremendous power. It was about time for Persica to start taking action.
"Father, have you heard of the great treasure that the great sage Silvenia left behind?"
Right at that moment Persica was about to act in earnest—
Before Emperor Kroel could respond, a soldier suddenly ran in, bowling politely as he made a report.
Since he was making such a sudden report so late at night, it was probably an urgent matter.
As the soldier began to report on the tragedy that occurred at Rothstaylor Mansion, Princess Persica and Emperor Kroel both hardened their expression.
The two of them looked as if they were lost in their worries.
* * *
"You saved our lives. You surely deserve a reward suitable for your deeds!"
"Thank you so much… I will personally report to the Princess and the Emperor so you can receive a grand reward suiting your heroic deeds!"
"I owe you my life…! My life had almost been taken by those Rothstaylor fellows… Those… horrific bastards…"
Yennekar Palerover was wriggling her fingertips, unsure of what to do.
Wherever she looked there were high-ranking nobles rushing towards her. As they all rushed towards her, trying to give their thanks and share a word… for Yennekar, who had lived her entire life as a commoner, it was an unfamiliar situation.
She had seen nobles at Silvenia Academy before, but most of them were the young children of noble families. At Silvenia Academy, the policy stated that she didn't have to greet them respectfully and graciously.
However, now that she was outside of Silvenia, she was unsure how to behave around them. Overwhelmed, unsure of what to do, she continued to get praised by real nobles. Not just a noble's child.
I'm exhausted…
Among the people gathered in Rothstaylor Mansion, waiting for the arrival of the Imperial Family, Yennekar—who was in the center of all of them—was sweating profusely.
After the nobles finally scattered away, the last person to approach her was Saint Clarice of the Telos Religious Group.
"There you are, Yennekar."
"A-Ah… Saint. Thanks for earlier. Because of you…"
"We need to get Ed away from here."
Since there wasn't much time, Clarice got straight to the point. Of course, that was after making sure that there was no one else around listening in.
"…Pardon?"
"Ed is the perfect person to use for politics right now. Of course, he would be able to take care of himself, but right now he is unconscious. We need to give him time to heal, figure out the situation, and figure out a new course of action."
Clarice whispered as she looked straight at Yennekar.
"The public opinion of House Rothstaylor is extremely poor right now among the nobles who have suffered. I may be able to quell some of the negative public opinions with my testimony and influence, but it would only be temporary. After all, right now an entire House has committed treason against the empire."
"B-But that's not true… Ed was the one who fought the most against the head of the house, Krepin… You also saw it. And even Princess Penia clearly saw it as well…"
"Those with power will twist the truth if necessary."
Clarice knew that fact better than anyone else, as she had lived her life at the top of power.
If she actively tried to vouch for him, it would be of great help. However, if a princess suddenly took the opposite stance, things would become complicated. The moment the issue became a problem between the imperial household and a duke's house, it no longer ended with Krepin Rothstaylor. The incident would most likely have an adverse effect on Ed Rothstaylor as well.
Ed Rothstaylor was in a special position.
The cleanest method would be to sneak Ed Rothstaylor away to the Holy Father Building through some excuse.
"There's no reason to execute Ed. That's… strange to even suggest, Saint."
"It's because Ed is a person who has inherited Rothstaylor blood."
Most likely, the established forces within the imperial household would try to completely erase the existence of House Rothstaylor.
Not only members of the house who held important positions within the imperial household, but even those who were closely related to House Rothstaylor would likely have to resign from their positions.
In order to fill those newly vacant seats, there would be a battle between those with power. There was no need to explain just how important it was to take those seats.
Because of that, it would be better for them to get rid of the remnants of House Rothstaylor. If a person who held Rothstaylor's prestige appears, then the power structure within the imperial household wouldn't be reorganized.
That was why it wouldn't be a case where it ended with 'Krepin's personal retaliation.'
Rather, there was a higher chance that they would make it a bigger deal and call it 'House Rothstaylor's misdeeds' to try and bring down all of the power of the household.
When one had high prestige and power, everyone would support and praise them. However, the moment they see them backed into a corner, everyone would rush in to bite at them like hyenas. The struggle for power was always like that.
Saint Clarice sat firmly at the top of the Holy Father Building and had seen quite a few power struggles before. It was no different even among high-ranking priests.
She didn't want to become polluted by such a reality, so she tried to keep her mind clean, focusing on prayer. However, that didn't mean she didn't realize the truth that came with power.
No one knew how the unconscious Ed would be used in the current situation. However, Clarice had whispered to Yennekar about her ominous gut feeling.
"So, if we can come up with a good cause and find an opportunity to leave then…"
"But even at the Holy Father Building… Would it be any different…?"
Those were words that one would never dare say in front of the Saint who represented the Telos Religious Group.
The only reason she could state her doubts was because Yennekar herself wasn't a believer of Telos.
"Pardon…?"
"I don't think you will try to use Ed and harm him, but… Those who are in a higher position than you may have a different opinion."
Yennekar was pure. So, without beating around the bush, she bluntly stated her thoughts.
However, inside the Telos Religious Group, was there even a person who was higher than Saint Clarice? Yes, there was exactly one.
And that was the Holy Father, Eldane.
The perfect enticing piece, Ed Rothstaylor, had come to him on a silver platter. So, would they truly treat his wounds and protect him in the Holy Father Building?
According to common sense, such a situation would never be the case. Coming to a decision for the betterment of his people, he could never be swayed by human affection. That was a law that followed both efficiency and rationality.
Saint Clarice had some control over the high priest, but not to the extent of Holy Father Eldane.
If Eldane had a different opinion than the Saint, she wouldn't be able to do anything to prevent it.
However, Eldane wasn't that wicked of a person. Although he was well versed in politics, he wasn't a person who would sell his soul like that. She was nervous about having to rely on his kindness, but… Clarice felt that if she asked him directly, it would be fine. There was a high enough chance things would all work out.
But for Yennekar… She didn't trust Eldane. That couldn't be helped.
Ed Rothstaylor had experienced several severe injuries while fighting with the apostles of Telos, and the person in charge of that group was Holy Father Eldane.
Eldane's appearance back at Silvenia Academy was both indecisive and corrupt. Yennekar had witnessed it up close.
"But… Still…":
Clarice tried to say something but was left speechless.
Yennekar looked towards Ed, who was asleep leaning against Lucy, as she got lost in thought.
There weren't that many soldiers who were stationed at the Rothstaylor Mansion at the moment. She was exhausted after managing all of those spirits for an extended period of time, but she still had enough power to help Ed escape.
Once the imperial army arrived and entered Rothstaylor Mansion, it would become increasingly difficult to escape.
"Yennekar… What are you thinking about now…?"
"Huh…"
At Clarice's sudden words, Yennekar gasped. She then looked towards Clarice as she grinned.
Just by looking at her, Clarice could guess what Yennekar was thinking.
"You're not having… any reckless thoughts right now, right?"
"In case they chase after him…"
Yennekar thought that at this point, Ed shouldn't fall into the hands of any group with power.
The best course of action would be for Yennekar to run away with Ed, taking him back to her hometown of Pulan.
It was on a secluded mountain far from any group that held power.
The people that lived there were all kind. It was a mountainous area where various medicinal herbs were grown. The air was great, making it perfect for recuperation. Plus, it was in a secluded mountain and difficult to find. If Yennekar were to ask them, the entire village would unite to hide Ed.
If that happened, even if the army searched for hundreds of days, they would never be able to find him. That was because it was impossible to know the geography better than the locals who lived there.
That way, no one with power would be able to find him easily. Then, Ed would be able to slowly recover his body and come up with a new course of action.
"There's some risk, but it's still best to take Ed to the Holy Father Building. I'll take responsibility and watch over him so that nothing bad happens. It will definitely work if I personally ask the Holy Father. It's too dangerous for you to take responsibility of him alone, Yennekar."
"I don't think it's dangerous. I can protect him myself."
"But right now, you are a hero who will receive an imperial reward. If you do something like this… Then you will instantly end up on the run."
"I can be a fugitive if necessary. I don't really care about being labeled a hero or given a reward."
Yennekar looked towards Ed, who was unconscious, as she replied without hesitation.
The conversation had gone astray. As Clarice came to that realization, she continued to speak in a more urgent tone.
"Yennekar…!"
"Ed has to escape to a place nobody else can find."
They bickered with each other for a while. The atmosphere wasn't usual, so the soldiers nearby started to look towards them.
It wouldn't be good if anyone heard of the plan, so Clarice got closer to Yennekar, whispering to her.
"You're doing this… It's because you have an ulterior motive…! Right now, it's a matter of his safety…! And you can't judge that while acting like that…!"
"U-Ulterior motive… That's…"
In truth, to her there was no romance when it came to the two of them escaping.
When Ed hid in the cave under the cliff as the rain fell down during the student council election… For Yennekar, those times remained as a beautiful memory.
Memories of when they hugged for the first time as they looked at each other's faces were causing heat to rise to her head.
And Yennekar was a completely honest individual. She was completely awful at lying.
"Th-That's… not it at all…."
"S-See that…!"
"Th-Then what about you, Saint? Don't you really just want to run away with Ed and keep him under control on your own…?!"
"Absolutely not…!"
She answered with complete certainty, but…
Clarice also had the experience of running away with Ed dozens of times to escape from the Holy Blue Dragon Velbrok.
Clarice remembered all the memories of seeing him being crushed by the rubble of a building, falling rocks, the scales that rained down from the sky, and the last words he always said.
Heat started to rise to her face as Clarice quickly tried to calm her breathing.
And somehow, she succeeded in responding to Yennekar's words.
"No… way…? Yeah, definitely not!"
Never mind, she didn't succeed.
"L-Liar!"
"Why would I lie about that?! Do you think I want to bring Ed to the Holy Father Building so he can admire my position and authority? Do you think I want to watch him every day as he recuperates, enjoying the beautiful outdoor scenery while eating snacks at the top of the Holy Father Building together…?"
"Why are you so specific…?!!"
Yennekar and Clarice glared at each other as they breathed heavily… Then, an awkward silence returned as they calmed down.
"I-I apologize, Saint. I must have gotten too excited."
"No… I should be the one apologizing for raising my voice."
After politely apologizing to each other… another moment of awkward silence passed by.
"Anyway, I will have to bring Ed over to the Holy Father Building. If he is threatened, I can hold a holy trial at the Holy Father Building… And through said trial, we can help him be free from the accusations… As long as the imperial household doesn't argue against us…"
"No… We need to think about if that is really the right choice…"
The farmland of Pulan or the Holy Capital Karpea.
…Of course, the two of them wouldn't lessen their opinions.
They glared at each other as they were unable to come to an agreement, all because there was no room for compromise between the two.
* * *
It felt as if she had just gained an army of thousands.
Penia, who saw Lortel's face, suddenly had that thought.
Lortel was close to Ed Rothstaylor. She didn't have a good relationship with Princess Penia, but either way, the enemy of one's enemy is an ally.
Even though Lortel was a person who clung to profits regardless of the situation and wouldn't hesitate to do dirty deeds to maintain a friendly relationship with those in power… Now that Ed's life was at stake, it was a completely different story.
Penia and Lortel didn't get along well, but for the present situation alone, Lortel and Penia would be on the same side.
So Penia spoke confidently.
"Ed Rothstaylor should be treated like a hero. We must congratulate him for his efforts on an imperial level and help him restore the ruins of House Rothstaylor. He will be able to fix his broken house."
"My god, Penia! Are you saying that you want to keep a house that had rebelled against and nearly overthrown the imperial household? Who would ever agree to that?"
"The person who stopped the imperial household from being overthrown was a member of that house."
After saying that to Selah, Penia looked towards Lortel, who was standing still.
The reason Lortel joined the negotiating table between the princess must have been to voice her opinion. She was a businessman who had experienced it all and was a master of negotiations.
By utilizing her position and the current situation, she would be able to come up with a compromise that could resolve the situation as smoothly as possible. That was because it was Ed's life at stake, not just anyone.
"I'm not sure. At the very least, I don't think the nobles who were held hostage would be convinced."
"…What?"
However, Lortel spoke the exact opposite of Penia's expectations.
No matter how cold-blooded she was, she thought that she would always protect Ed Rothstaylor's life.
However, Lortel continued to speak with a relaxed expression on her face, as if she didn't care.
"It would be more politically convenient for the princesses to completely eradicate the ruined House Rothstaylor. All this time, House Rothstaylor has been occupying key positions within the Imperial Household, sharing the power of the emperor."
"As expected, such a talented individual who leads such a business at a young age would have a different perspective."
Selah looked at Lortel with a satisfied expression. Now Penia realized it.
Human relationships were like a tightrope. The key was the person holding that rope.
Lortel was sitting between Penia and Selah.
However, she ended up grabbing onto Selah's rope.
Selah slowly closed her eyes as if that were to be expected. She didn't worry a single bit.
If one were to ask between the two of them, who would become emperor? Without a doubt, they would choose Selah.
Even Penia couldn't deny that fact. After all, she lived her life never showing a desire for power.
Normally, she wouldn't find it strange that Lortel would take Selah's side, but… Either way that was the current situation.
"If you take this opportunity to deal with Ed Rothstaylor, it will be advantageous for strengthening imperial power in the future. He is a very cunning and talented individual. If you don't deal with him now, he will become a major stumbling block later on."
"Lortel Kehelland."
She called out the girl's name coldly. Lortel didn't move a single bit.
Rather, she smiled casually as she clearly responded to Princess Penia.
"The truth doesn't always make a profit. And I am a profit seeker."
She continued to speak clearly.
"I just decided that it would be more profitable to create a relationship with Princess Selah."
"Do you think Yennekar Palerover and Lucy Mayreel will stand still?"
"There are various ways to keep those two in place. If we secure Ed Rothstaylor's body and hide him away, they won't be able to act hastily. As long as we have his life at stake, that would be enough."
The threat that they could take Ed Rothstaylor's life at any moment. In doing so, the two of them wouldn't be able to act.
But if Ed Rothstaylor really were killed… that meant Lortel Kehelland's life wouldn't be spared, either. There was no way that she didn't know of that fact.
So, did that mean Lortel had other additional means prepared to subdue those two? Penia couldn't even imagine it.
"Lortel… You…"
Princess Penia felt anger rising up her back.
She realized that Lortel Kehelland and her would never be compatible with each other.
Still, no matter how cold-blooded she was, Penia thought there would at least be a line.
However, it seemed that Lortel was a person who would casually cross over that line for the sake of profit and power.
Was she really a merchant who had become so heartless?
Thinking that, Penia's cold eyes looked straight at Lortel.
That day, when Penia was right in front of Takan, overwhelmed by the chaos… The look of contempt that Lortel had looking towards her.
This time it was Penia who was looking at Lortel with that same contempt.
Penia and Lortel were people running completely parallel to each other. Their two lines would never meet.
Realizing that fact once more, Penia let out a deep sigh.
She then stood up as she spoke in a clear yet cold tone.
"Don't think I'm going to just stand still."
As if she didn't want to talk any longer, Penia quietly turned around as she left the tent.
Her eyes burned with anger and didn't match her nickname as the Princess of Benevolence.
However, Penia couldn't just stand still and do nothing.
"You have a good eye for people. That must be why you are so capable and powerful at such a young age."
"A desire for power and success is only natural for a human to have. Those who hide such desires are those who I can no longer trust. So, it's only natural that I would feel a closer connection to you, Princess Selah."
After Penia left, the atmosphere of the tent—where only Lortel and Selah remained—was much more relaxed.
There was nothing greater than this for Selah, who still wanted to create a strong relationship with the Elte Company.
Despite Lortel being between Penia and Selah, she had openly taken Selah's side. At the very least, that meant that Lortel, who held a great influence over the Elte Company, wouldn't be taking Penia's side.
There was no reason to say just how crucial that was for the competition for the throne.
"As for which of you two will most likely become emperor, I would of course have to choose Princess Selah's side."
"Yes. Penia lacks the qualities of an emperor. Though, she is the perfect benevolent princess."
Selah took a sip of her tea as she spoke as if it was a shame.
"Penia knows it as well. Playing in the flower gardens alone wouldn't be enough to make an empire prosperous. A monarch is someone who paves their own way."
"But there's enough value in living the life of a princess. Princess Penia must know that as well."
"Yes. It's a good thing."
Selah smiled contentedly as she turned to Lortel, saying,
"Having you and the Elte Company on my side is quite reliable. If I gain the throne, then I have plans to make all the ports on the west side of Oldek a part of your Elte Company."
"Then I will do my best. However, you must not completely look down on Princess Penia."
"Yes. I know that as well. There are a lot of people who support her."
Selah pursed her lips as she thought things over for a moment. Lortel took the time to put down her teacup as she spoke in a soft voice.
"That's right. Taking Ed Rothstaylor back to the imperial household can also be a dangerous decision. While it is a place where you hold the strongest of power and influence, at the same time it's a place where Princess Penia's voice is quite strong, isn't it?"
"Penia lost much of her power when she attended Silvenia Academy."
"However, there is also the variable of Princess Persica. In any case, if you're planning on using Ed as a source for your imperial power, you would also be bringing him to a place with your rivals. Somewhere where they might be able to flip things on you."
"You're right… Those risks… I thought of them before as well…"
Lortel spoke quietly and slowly, like a whisper. Those words that were going into Princess Selah's head was one that she couldn't deny.
She was someone who had openly sided with Selah even when the benevolent Princess Penia was right there. It was as if she had crossed a river of no return.
So, the words she said were that much more sincere, as if they were seducing her.
"Not only that, Yennekar Palerover and Lucy Mayreel are going to be much harder to control than you might think. They are much stronger and difficult to deal with. If you want to control them, you have to quickly hide Ed Rothstaylor and imply that you could take his life at any given moment."
"Sigh…"
"If you bring him over to the imperial household as such, it might end up working against you. They are people who could easily break through the main gate of the imperial household if they needed to."
Selah had also witnessed the power of Yennekar and Lucy. She was well aware that Lortel wasn't speaking nonsense.
Even if she borrowed the high authority of the Kroel Imperial Household, they were still individuals who could not be easily defeated. She was well aware of that, but she didn't think that they would try to break through the imperial gates and ignore the imperial household's authority, ruining their future.
"Then it would make more sense to hide that man somewhere other than the imperial household. A palace no one could find easily."
"Princess Selah."
Lortel's voice continued to seduce her.
Ever since she was young, experiencing countless negotiations that went back and forth… she was a master of negotiating.
"If you go all the way to the western bay of the Commercial City of Oldek, there is a large space with a lot of big warehouses."
However, there was a difference between a negotiator and a con artist.
She was a great negotiator, but she was also a natural con artist.
Negotiation or fraud?
She was a merchant who played on that ambiguous boundary line between the two.
"It's a place where goods that travel across the continent are loaded. The warehouse complex is rather large, as it is in Oldek as well. There are a large number of warehouses and the items loaded into them change every day. So, even the owner of those warehouses doesn't know what goes inside. And aside from the owner, there is no reason to ever go near the warehouse."
"Ohh. Is that so…"
"It's so large that if you were to get lost inside, it would take an entire week to exit. Who cares about what goes on inside those warehouses? Absolutely no one. Whether its fruits, clothes, books, or minerals…"
Lortel grinned as she spoke softly.
"Or even a person."
There was nothing more to say about who that person would be.
"If you can control Ed Rothstaylor's life in secret like that, there will be many benefits. In the future, depending on the political situation, if it becomes difficult to benefit by publicly throwing his life at the stake then we can disguise it as if he died from excessive bleeding after being poisoned or strangled. Even if his death were to fall under suspicion, it would be under the responsibility of the Elte Company. That way, you wouldn't have to take any risks."
"Ohh. Are you saying it doesn't matter if those charges have fallen upon the Elte Company?"
"We live in a relationship of trust, and I want to form a new, trusting relationship with you. This is just a means to verify it."
That meant that if such a moment were to arise, she believed that Princess Selah would take care of it. It was as if she was taking a disadvantageous position. It was only natural, considering their difference in status and authority.
It also implied that they would help each other and maintain a long-term give-and-take relationship.
There was no relationship as reliable as one where you each knew the other's weaknesses.
"If you want to run a large business, risk management is important. It's what we do best."
Little by little, that slick tongue of hers started to make its way through Selah.
She had sided with Selah while making Penia her enemy.
She understood the importance of power better than anyone else. She was a girl who was ready to sell her soul for profit.
"Would you like to make a purchase?"
Selah responded by gently pushing the corners of her lips up.
Lortel smiled quietly beneath her hood as she nodded and stood up from her seat.
"Then, Ed Rothstaylor's body will be given to the Elte Company and taken to Oldek."
By the time she realized it, everything she wanted was in her hands.
Anyone who fell victim to that tongue of hers would fall over as if possessed, thinking they had a treasure in their hands. Mistakenly thinking that they were making the logical choice.
And just like that, the conman ate its new victim.
Ed Rothstaylor was to be taken to Oldek.
Lortel came out of the tent as she patted the hem of her robe… Smiling mischievously, like a fox.
* * *
"..."
Lortel, who walked over to the central garden to check Ed's condition, was completely speechless.
Once she saw Ed, who was extremely injured and unconscious, she lost her breath. However, she didn't lose her sense of reason.
The ability Lortel had to maintain her composure was the best in the entire world.
But more than that, she had a bigger headache upon seeing Yennekar and Clarice glaring at each other in a battle of wits.
After listening to them talk for a moment, she could guess the reason as to why they were fighting.
"Ahh…"
"Lortel…?"
Clarice and Yennekar swallowed their breath as they looked at Lortel.
Even just looking at the situation, her head began to throb.
It… wasn't going to be an easy fight.