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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Night]
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Chapter 31
A system designed to eliminate evidence on its own once the objective is completed.
No matter what materials were used, it must have cost quite a bit.
“This is strange. If it were a trap, they put too much effort into making it. But if it weren’t, the security is too lax.”
She fell silent for a moment at my explanation before asking,
“From my perspective, isn’t it more likely that you’re the abnormal one? They put in a lot of effort, but to you, it just looks ridiculous.”
“No, I mean, how does it make any sense that I, who learned magic through self-study, can break through this so easily? It’s not like necromancy is just some random street trick.”
Even though I had reached the pinnacle of necromancy, what I just did didn’t even require high-circle magic.
The spell I used was only a simple 2nd-circle erosion spell.
“That’s funny. You became that strong overnight, and now you’re talking about common sense?”
[You have built up history alone beyond what countless humans have accumulated.]
Even the Librarian agreed, but at least I didn’t see it that way.
“Anyway, about that location. Do you recognize it?”
At my question, she narrowed her eyes and looked out the window I was pointing at.
“Wait a second, that’s the royal chamber.”
Her expression hardened.
“Was the target of the curse… His Majesty?”
“Well, yeah. Even at the banquet, I noticed signs of mana intoxication.”
“And you’re only telling me this now?”
“No need to get involved unnecessarily. It would just make things troublesome for us.”
She didn’t scold me any further, calmly assessing the situation.
After all, Cascadia had to remain neutral.
“So if we stop this, we can protect His Majesty?”
“No, the curse is already in place. We need to deal with the embedded curse itself.”
At that moment, she suddenly leaped onto my back.
“Let’s go! We need to see His Majesty!”
“I get it, but why are you climbing on my back? Melissa, you’re mistaken if you think you’re light.”
“Shut up! Just go already! Brother!”
She only calls me ‘brother’ when she needs something.
Still, it didn’t feel all that bad.
It reminded me of a time long ago when things weren’t so bad between us—when she happily jumped onto my back.
A precious memory, in its own way.
* * *
The area around the royal chamber was eerily silent.
Since Melissa had recently become the Margrave of the Bata Kingdom, requesting an audience was much easier for her than for an ordinary noble.
“Count Cascadia, you are not permitted to enter.”
“Step aside. I have urgent matters to report to His Majesty.”
Melissa, still on my back, commanded with a firm voice.
“……”
In response, I quietly set her down.
“Speaking while being carried looks really undignified.”
“Ahem! Hmph!”
Her face flushed red as she adjusted her clothes before addressing the knights guarding the chamber again with newfound composure.
“This is an urgent matter. If His Majesty’s life is endangered because of this, will you take responsibility?”
“T-that is…”
“Hurry up and report this. This is literally a matter concerning His Majesty’s safety.”
The knight sighed and finally opened the door.
Moments later, he returned with another man.
“Your Grace.”
“Count Cascadia. What brings you here?”
Melissa hesitated at the sight of the man.
“And why are you here, Duke?”
The man remained silent but led us inside.
Without even seeking His Majesty’s permission?
Things must have been quite serious.
Upon entering, we saw about a dozen men and women gathered inside.
That group over there—doctors.
And over there—priests?
This side—mages.
All of them were focused on the frail man lying in bed, struggling to breathe.
“If this continues, His Majesty will not survive the night. There’s nothing medicine can do.”
At the doctor’s words, a priest added,
“The same goes for healing magic. It’s actually making His Majesty’s condition worse. As I suspected, this falls into the realm of magic.”
The priestess sighed in frustration.
Just then—
“Lady Cascadia? Do you realize where you are right now?”
“The succession ceremony is over. It’s Count now, Marquis Vider.”
At Duke Berli’s words, an older man—Marquis Vider—clicked his tongue.
“So, Count Cascadia, what business do you have here?”
“I came because I realized that His Majesty’s life was in danger. Though, it seems you all were already aware of that.”
Her voice was cold and firm, completely at odds with her gentle eyes.
The hostility directed at Marquis Vider was unmistakable.
“His Majesty’s life is in danger? This matter was classified. You speak as if you already knew.”
“That’s curious, Father. From what I know, the Cascadia family doesn’t have any mages.”
Goldsun Vider.
The same man who had approached me at the banquet, spouting nonsense while I was talking to Farrell.
“And yet, despite this being such a grave occasion, she even brought a half-wit along. The Count seems utterly unaware of the gravity of the situation.”
Melissa clenched my hand tightly.
“Don’t. Killing him would cause too many problems.”
Anyone would think I was some lunatic who killed on impulse.
“Guh?!?”
Suddenly, he clutched his head and staggered.
Melissa turned to me in shock, as if to ask, Did you do that?
I simply shrugged in response.
Yes.
I am that lunatic.
“What are you doing? His Majesty is resting here.”
The Marquis of Vider instead scolded Goldsun.
At this, Goldsun rolled his eyes before widening them at me.
"A… Ah! Father! That bastard just—"
"Do you not realize how important this place is? Are you trying to disgrace my name?"
At those words, Goldsun stammered in embarrassment.
"No, Father, I wasn’t trying to—"
"Silence."
Wait, why is no one recognizing me?
I sent that shot knowing full well that I wouldn’t care even if I was found out.
Smack!!
"Argh!!!"
As I shot another invisible, formless bullet at his forehead, the guy screamed.
"Goldsun!!"
"Aaaah!! I swear it's true!"
This is fun.
Perhaps Melissa had noticed the smirk I couldn’t completely hide.
She subtly extended a fist toward me where no one else could see, and I bumped mine against hers in return.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
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She hadn’t said a word, but it was clear she was feeling just as satisfied.
Though things had become noisy due to Melissa and my presence, everyone’s expressions stiffened when His Majesty’s breathing grew rough.
It seemed that Farrell Berli had disappeared to gather powerful mages, as the king’s condition had become grave.
"Let us continue. Count Cascadia, how did you know to come here?"
The Marquis of Vider did not seem pleased with Melissa’s arrival.
"I’ll say it again. I came because I sensed something was wrong with His Majesty’s condition."
"A count? And how exactly would you know about this situation? You act as though you expected this to happen."
At his words, Melissa gritted her teeth and glared at him.
"And even if you are here, what do you think will change? Your actions could allow this information to leak—"
"It’s because of this."
At Melissa’s signal, I handed over the object I was holding.
I didn’t bother to explain what it was.
"Anyone can tell it’s an item condensed with foul energy. But what we did find out is that these things are connected to His Majesty’s chambers."
"Hah! What do a bunch of magic-illiterates think they know? You think you can just look at it and immediately understand?"
At his outburst, the corners of Melissa’s lips curled up.
"Hmm? Why wouldn’t I know? Aren’t you supposed to be a great mage? My dear brother figured it out in an instant."
She lifted her chin proudly and straightened her back.
Then, she slyly peeked at me with one eye open.
She was acting a little different than usual, but who cares?
The point is, she was saying I was brilliant.
As she should—after all that effort, I deserved a little praise.
I raised my chin as well.
"Ahem, my eyes are quite sharp."
The audience stared at us, dumbfounded.
"It must be a coincidence. I don’t sense even a shred of mana. Besides, Count Cascadia is an expert, correct? And as for Leon Cascadia, he’s nothing more than—"
"Goldsun Vider, young master."
"……."
Melissa immediately unleashed a powerful aura, pressing down on him.
"If you dare call my brother a fool one more time, you’ll pay the price dearly."
Her deadly glare was so menacing that Goldsun Vider’s face turned pale.
Unlike him, who had spent his life buried in books, Melissa had plenty of real combat experience.
She may have been outmatched by Visihir Cascadia, but that didn’t mean she was weak.
Snap!!
"Enough. Count Cascadia, stand down. This is His Majesty’s chamber."
At that moment, Duke Berli waved his hand through the air, forcefully cutting off the energy before issuing a cold warning.
"If another pointless argument arises, my sword will not forgive it. Verify it, Marquis of Vider."
"Wait."
The marquis closely examined the stone I had handed over.
The other mages, including Farrell and Goldsun Vider, also observed it carefully.
"This does seem correct."
Farrell was the first to speak.
"However, I can’t quite determine what kind of object it is or how to handle it."
He glanced toward the others, seeking their opinions—Vider and Count Bardal, the royal mage.
"Ahem… I… I would also need to examine it further. Proper equipment is necessary…"
Count Bardal raised a white flag.
Wait, how do they not know?
I found it rather puzzling.
I had put some effort into it, but the security of this magic was flimsy at best.
Even if I were only a 5th-circle necromancer instead of one at the pinnacle of the art, I could have easily deciphered its structure.
As I tried to mask my bewilderment, Melissa whispered to me.
"Hey, you said it was easy. So why don’t these people know?"
"How should I know? It is easy. I have no idea why they’re struggling."
Meanwhile, the father and son of the Vider family silently stared at the stone.
"Ahem…."
Their expressions suggested they were troubled.
Sensing an opportunity, Melissa provoked them.
"Why is the Marquis of Vider so quiet?"
"Wait and see!!"
He snapped irritably, stroking his beard.
"Magic isn’t as simple as wielding a sword, you know!"
The Marquis of Vider was infamous for his disdain for swords and his fanatical devotion to magic.
Despite his words, his face was filled with frustration.
It was obvious—he didn’t understand, but admitting it would wound his pride as the Royal Mage.
The same went for his son, Goldsun Vider.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
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