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[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
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Chapter 39: Historia (3)
Historia and the Holy Knights entered the mansion, guided by Yuren.
As she walked, she kept glancing around.
A soft smile lingered on her lips.
Then, Yuren spoke.
“Please have a seat. I’ll bring it out shortly. I happened to be preparing something.”
“Oh, yes! Thank you for your kindness.”
She replied with a bright smile, and Yuren soon disappeared.
At once, Historia whispered to the Holy Knights in a confident voice.
“The staff all seem cheerful. The atmosphere in the mansion is warm, too. I told you, didn’t I? The Young Lord might not be as bad as the rumors say.”
The Holy Knights looked visibly flustered at her words.
And why wouldn’t they be?
They had insisted on coming fully armed, suspecting that Yuren might harm her, despite her repeated assurances that nothing would happen.
Their embarrassment only deepened.
“…Yes, truly so.”
In truth, Yuren was kinder than expected.
He didn’t show anything like admiration toward Historia, but he displayed the proper courtesy befitting a noble.
Moreover, he had taken the initiative to invite them to a meal—and even promised to eat with them.
Historia pointed out these facts one by one, speaking proudly.
“People can always change. It’s said he was troubled in the past, but he’s now the Grand Master, isn’t he? And he’s achieved a lot, too. He’s matured!”
Even just the major accomplishments—hunting an orc champion and stopping a demon summoning—were incredible feats for someone not yet of age.
But Historia didn’t hold those achievements in high regard just because of their magnitude.
What she valued most was the courage he had shown—stepping up for the greater good despite his youth.
That was simply the kind of person she was.
She loved light and goodness, and she believed that no matter how evil someone might seem, they could walk the path of virtue with just a small nudge.
Yuren was no exception to that belief.
She had taken his side even before coming here, and now that she had seen proof with her own eyes, she couldn’t help feeling pleased.
“Next time, don’t judge people so hastily. Got it?”
“Yes, Saintess…”
Historia giggled.
At that moment, Yuren returned—pushing a tray filled with food.
“I hope you haven’t waited too long.”
“Oh, no! But, um… that is…?”
She blinked in surprise.
The food Yuren brought was rather unusual.
On the plate sat round, white, translucent buns, with something faintly visible inside them.
She’d never seen anything like it before, and her curiosity swelled.
Yuren explained:
“They’re meat buns. The dough is made from flour, rolled out thin, filled with minced meat and vegetables, and then rolled into balls and steamed.”
“Ohhh…! How fascinating! Is this a traditional dish?”
“No, it’s a recipe passed down from an old friend. It makes for a handy snack.”
There was only that one item on the menu.
By formal dining etiquette, this could be seen as a slight, but Historia wasn’t one to nitpick such things.
Besides, it wasn’t exactly mealtime.
Thinking of it as a sort of tea-time treat, she found the unique dish rather exciting.
Yuren sat down and said:
“You may eat as well, Holy Knights. They’re quite filling—should satisfy your hunger.”
At that moment, Historia found herself wondering how to eat the thing.
She glanced at Yuren, and upon seeing him pick up the meat bun with his bare hands, she understood the method.
She carefully picked up a bun and took a bite.
Her eyes widened like a startled rabbit.
‘It’s delicious…!’
That was her immediate impression.
It wasn’t the dough that stood out, but the harmonious texture and flavor of the minced meat and vegetables inside.
A connoisseur of food herself, she could instantly tell that the flavorful juices—infused with the scent of the meat and vegetables—were the secret to the taste.
Covering her mouth with a hand, she spoke with glee.
“It’s so good! One of the best things I’ve eaten lately!”
“I thought so.”
“Pardon?”
“…Ah, just that I had confidence in it. I enjoy cooking.”
“You made this yourself?!”
Historia was genuinely surprised.
It amazed her that someone destined to lead a great noble house would cook with their own hands.
What’s more, it endeared her to him.
She favored sincerity and initiative over formalities.
Her eyes sparkled.
“You’re amazing! Truly…!”
“You’re too kind. But for now, why don’t we eat first? Shall we handle the questioning after the meal?”
“Ah.”
She had forgotten.
She had come here for an investigation, after all.
Her pupils shook like an earthquake.
Then, pretending nothing was wrong, she answered.
“Le—let’s eat first…!”
She cleared her throat, and Yuren chuckled softly.
Historia’s ears turned red.
* * *
At this point, I’m probably the person who knows Historia best.
And for good reason—we spent over three and a half years together on the battlefield.
There hadn’t been a single day we spent apart for more than 24 hours.
We talked nearly every day.
Given the circumstances, getting her to come around wasn’t difficult.
But beyond all that, I simply wanted to treat her well, so I made those “meat buns.”
Though they might not be as good as the ones Hanna used to make, I knew they’d suit Historia’s tastes well enough.
And besides, she was easy to move, once you knew how.
It was time for the investigation.
Historia asked with a bright smile:
“First, I’d like to hear your version of events.”
“There’s not much beyond what I included in the written statement. I sensed signs of a demon, requested aid from the Imperial Court, and headed there. Mage Beatrice was already in the process of stopping the summoning alone. I helped, got injured, and left to receive treatment.”
That was the alibi.
Not perfect—intentionally a little flimsy.
Historia quickly took the bait.
“Yes, and there are a few things I’d like to ask.”
“Please go ahead.”
“How did you detect the signs? Why did you contact the Imperial Court instead of the Holy See? And lastly, I heard you left the city gates the night of the incident, even though you said it was for recovery.”
She had grown serious.
So she wasn’t going to conduct this as a mere formality.
Still, I wasn’t too worried.
She didn’t want to accuse me—she simply wanted a reason she could accept.
Even if it was absurd, she’d believe it if it made sense to her.
Because she’s that kind of woman, this approach was possible.
“To explain all of that, I must first apologize.”
“Sorry…?”
“As for how I detected the signs, that requires some explanation about my family.”
I stood up and clasped my hands behind my back, facing the bookshelf against the reception room wall.
“The Pharos family has long received education about all things wicked and dangerous. Since the founding of the empire, we’ve served as observers for the Imperial Family. The heir is trained in the greatest threats from a young age.”
“Ohh?”
“And when it comes to demons, our records are especially vast. Perhaps even more so than the Holy See’s.”
Historia looked slightly offended.
But this wasn’t something I made up—it was the truth.
“Three hundred years ago, when a demon appeared in the Empire, one of our ancestors helped banish it.”
Belph Pharos.
He was the Grand Master three centuries ago, and the last before me.
He recorded everything he learned about demons and sealed it in the Pharos library.
Only the head of the house and the heir can read it.
That’s how I recognized the signs so quickly.
My explanation seemed to satisfy her.
Now came the important part.
“Now, as to why I must apologize—it’s because I didn’t trust the Holy See. I didn’t consider them someone I could ask for help.”
“…!”
“It was a hasty decision, but I don’t regret it. The Holy See hadn’t arrived by the time I banished the demon.”
They only showed up after I’d left the capital.
After the sky shattered like broken glass under a sunset glow.
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[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
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“In a situation where the summoner was unknown, I had to turn to someone I trusted. That was His Highness the Crown Prince. Honestly, the Holy See didn’t even cross my mind, and in hindsight, I’m glad I didn’t call you.”
“W—we accept that we were unprepared! But at that time, we were…”
“Yes, conducting the national founding ceremony mass. No one could have left during those two hours. Perhaps the summoner targeted that time intentionally.”
Indeed, that’s exactly what happened.
I had heard it directly from Beatrice, the one involved.
Historia’s face stiffened.
But I wasn’t done speaking.
“But here’s the thing. After banishing the demon, I realized something—the Holy See never came. Yes, I began to suspect things. What if they appear late and try to detain me for investigation? What if the summoner is among them? That would be dangerous. So I decided I had to avoid the worst-case scenario: getting taken away while still injured.”
“……”
“If it was a misunderstanding, I apologize. Still, if you don’t mind, I have a question of my own.”
“…Yes?”
“I heard the Saint didn’t attend the mass. Then why didn’t he notice the summoning either? Especially when he is said to be ‘blessed.’”
In truth, this was a calculated accusation.
A subtle jab—meant to sow doubt about the Saint.
But by framing it this way, I could gain something.
‘You’ll start to question his actions, even if just a little. Someone like you, even you.’
The Crown Prince and I had one goal: to plant a moral suspicion in Historia.
To get her to consider that something might be off with the Saint.
Just a seed of doubt.
That alone would be enough to create a crack.
And that crack would become the opening we needed.
The gap created this way will surely lead to the ‘forbidden research’.
After all, the fact that he disappears for hours each day, avoiding others' eyes, seems too suspicious.
‘Research on forbidden books doesn’t happen overnight. There’s a high chance he’s trying something even at this moment.’
That’s my thought.
Even at the time of the mass, the saint was probably researching forbidden books.
After all, what better time to avoid the watchful eyes within the Holy See than during mass?
But I can’t rush in with just a suspicion.
If we fail to uncover the secret right away, it could become a major political issue.
More than that, physically barging in might provoke the saint.
So, we need to shake him from the inside, and the means to do that was Historia.
To cut to the chase, it seems like the operation was successful.
“That is...”
Her gaze wavered.
* * *
Holy See.
Saint Verheim’s private office.
Historia was sitting there, facing Verheim.
It was the report of the investigation of a witness.
She was looking down at the floor with a troubled expression.
“Ria?”
At the sound of his call, Historia’s shoulder flinched.
She quickly forced a bright smile and replied.
“Ah, yes.”
“Is there something on your mind?”
“No, nothing. Oh, about the investigation...”
Historia added a brief explanation.
Yuren’s words had touched upon a possibility she didn’t even want to consider.
Even the Holy See could not escape suspicion regarding the summoning of a demon.
And even the saint, who was chosen by fate, couldn’t escape it.
If Yuren’s words were followed, something seemed off.
‘Praying to the goddess personally...’
He said he would ask for a bold conversation following the revelation.
Since he was blessed by the goddess, it seemed possible.
Unlike the goddess of hope, who had no revelation or blessing, fate always provided guidance in the mortal realm.
But still.
‘Was it supposed to be at that time? No, if he was talking to the goddess...’
...Why had the goddess not noticed the signs of a demon summoning?
That didn’t make sense.
The goddess, who was the antithesis of a demon, couldn’t possibly miss an anomaly in the system, could she?
The holes are everywhere.
It’s strange that no one has noticed this until now.
‘Why? Why has no one thought of this?’
She asked herself, but the answer was clear.
It was because he was the saint.
People believed in his specialness and sanctity.
Historia had always thought so.
She had seen Verheim ever since she could barely walk.
Verheim had always been special.
He was calm, intellectual, and lived in brilliant light.
So, it was easy to assume he was a complete ally of both gods and humans.
Of course, that thought hadn’t changed.
If the gods were to perform miracles for humans, it would surely take the form of someone like Verheim.
At first, she didn’t even want to believe that he was a suspect.
Historia had never been the type to be suspicious of others.
But, still...
“…Hmm, the prince’s testimony matches. The only difference is the motive for escape.”
“Hmm?”
“The prince said he set out to find Rebecca. But Yuren Pharos acted suspiciously by avoiding the Holy See... Was there anything else he said?”
“Anything else?”
“Did he mention what he did all night? Whether he really went to look for Rebecca? Whether he saw Rebecca? This part seems suspicious.”
Historia sighed inwardly.
A sad smile appeared on her face.
“Ver.”
“…Ah, sorry.”
“No, no, you must have had your own problems too.”
Verheim, who had never viewed others as equals, had fallen in love.
The other person was a cheerful commoner girl.
Historia genuinely supported that relationship.
She wanted Verheim to get used to sharing his heart with someone else.
But, the more she saw them together, the more Verheim seemed strange.
At times, he felt unfamiliar, despite being someone she knew so well.
That had become especially noticeable in the past week.
Since Rebecca’s disappearance.
‘...He seems anxious.’
No, it almost seemed like something was broken inside him.
Wasn’t that the case?
If someone went missing, you would try to find the cause and look for a way to search for them.
You’d search for clues and follow the trail to find Rebecca first.
But Verheim...
‘...He’s creating a criminal.’
He suspects the prince.
Even though the evidence was barely circumstantial, his suspicion was baseless.
He points to Yuren as an accomplice.
Despite Yuren not being that type of person.
He wasn’t trying to find legitimate reasons to suspect them as criminals, but rather, he was busy looking for something in them that could make them appear guilty.
Her thoughts kept leaning toward the negative side.
Historia felt ashamed of herself for thinking this way.
She didn’t want to think about it anymore.
Maybe that’s why she spoke honestly, almost pleadingly.
“…Ver, by the way.”
“Hmm?”
“The day the demon appeared, you said you had a conversation with the goddess.”
“…Yes.”
“Didn’t the goddess give you a warning about the demon?”
Historia looked directly into his eyes.
His golden eyes.
A symbol of deep sanctity.
Those eyes were always clear and steadfast.
But now, they were not the same.
“…Have you spoken to anyone about this concern?”
It was so cloudy.
Historia gripped her skirt tightly under the desk.
A smile was still on her face.
“No, I haven’t.”
Her fingertips trembled slightly.
Verheim stared at her for a while, before standing up and walking toward the shelf.
He brewed tea.
He had this hobby.
The divine flame heated the water, brewed the tea leaves, and the tea was ready.
Verheim handed the cup to Historia.
“You seem to be a little on edge. Drink this. It has a calming effect on both body and mind.”
“Ver, what about my question?”
“I haven’t heard anything. The revelation is not a two-way communication, where I ask one question and receive the answer during the conversation.”
So, a single question takes two hours?
What kind of question was asked?
The question didn’t make it out of her mouth.
She knew it would sound like an interrogation.
“…I see.”
Historia took the cup.
She lowered her head as she drank.
“The scent is unfamiliar.”
“I got it from the recent foundation festival. The adventurers found it during an expedition.”
“I see...”
Historia drank the tea.
And then, she felt it.
Verheim was looking at her, staring at her from above.
...She couldn’t bear to meet his gaze.
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[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
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