CH 123

[Dire Crisis]

With Noelia’s lead, I come to an abandoned house in a corner of the downtown.

I can see thugs hanging around the abandoned house, which located in a particularly rough area even in the royal capital.

Having noticed us, the thugs hanging around the abandoned house approach us wordlessly.

I promptly stand in front of Noelia and put my hand on Dayle on my waist.

Seeing me put my hand on Dayle, the approaching thugs immediately change their expression, drop on their knees before us, and lower their heads.

“Frick-sama, Noelia-ojousama, yes? We are the ones tasked by Cassandra-sama to guard this secret passage. Please forgive us for alarming you.”

The men, who dropped on their knees and lowered their heads, tells us that they are guards of the Henestrosa family.

“I have heard of you from my grandmother. This is our first time meeting, however, due to some circumstances, we would like to enter the mansion from this side right away, would that be fine?” (Noelia)

“Yes, Ojou-sama, we will get it ready immediately.”

With his head still lowered, the man, who seems to be the leader, gives a signal to his subordinates next to him.

The instructed men begin to remove the lid of the well in the courtyard of the abandoned house.

“Is that the entrance?” (Frick)

“Yes, it’s a dried-up well. We repaired the old sewage canal that was originally there and connected it to the mansion. I will have someone guide you, so please follow after him. There are traps set all over the place in case there are pursuers, you see… Oh shoot, this can only be told to members of the Henestrosa family.”

“Frick-sama is a person who has earned the approval of Grandmother, so there is no problem.” (Noelia)

The man, who is flustered for divulging the secret, sighs in relief to Noelia’s words.

The preparation to get down the dried up well seems to have done while we are chatting, as the subordinates beckon to us.

“Looks like the preparation’s done. Since the Royal Guard knights, the kingdom’s army, and the guards don’t patrol the sewer, I think you’re going to be fine, but please be careful along the way.”

“I understand. We will follow the guide carefully. Now, let us get going, Frick-sama.” (Noelia)

I nod and enter the dried up well with Noelia.

After carefully proceeding through the smelly sewer, following after the guide who held a torch, we finally reach the end and climb up the ladder there, before coming out to the underground warehouse of the Henestrosa family’s mansion.

Seeing off the guide, we close the entrance properly so that it would not be discovered and look around.

“Fortunately, we have safely entered the mansion. The entrance to the upper floor is this way.” (Noelia)

Noelia pulls my hand and begins to move through the dim underground warehouse.

Then, we go upstairs, and there we meet Cassandra and Samantha.

“Grandmother, I am glad you are safe.” (Noelia)

“What, you think that cowardly Gile has the courage to pick a fight with our family? At most, this commotion is merely a sudden outburst of that immature rich kid after losing to the pressure from his father.” (Cassandra)

“For you to say that, do you have catch hold of some information, Cassandra-sama?” (Frick)

Cassandra nods to my question.

“Samantha, you can tell Frick-dono and Noelia about the background of Gile’s sudden outburst this time.” (Cassandra)

Samantha, who is behind Cassandra, gives a bow and read aloud what is written on the documents in her hands.

“About three days ago, Gile suddenly reported to King Frederick that Linus-shi of the Magic Research Institute has been researching a certain technology, that is magical device of the magic civilization era which function is to create artificial human beings in order to use them as weapons to overthrow the kingdom.” (Samantha)

“Artificial human beings creation technology?” (Frick)

“According to the story we have gathered from the nobles who were present at the time, the project that Gile brought up as evidence to Linus-shi’s treason was called ‘Superhuman Project’; it seems to be a project to create superhuman beings, which could even be called human beings that transcend humanity themselves.” (Samantha)

A technology to create human beings that transcend humanity…

I wonder if that’s possible.

“Linus-shishou would have never research something of that sort. Even the Magic Research Institute classified magical technology to create human as taboo.” (Noelia)

“He is Noelia-ojousama’s master, so it is very hard to say, however… There are testimonies saying that Linus-shi let himself be arrested without objection after hearing about the ‘Superhuman Project’ from the people who came to arrest him.” (Samantha)

“How could that be!” (Noelia)

Noelia’s face turns pale hearing that report that her master, Linus, didn’t object the reason for his arrest.

It’s unknown if he let himself be arrested without objection due to admitting the treason or due to any other reason, though.

“According to the story circulating among nobles, the ‘Superhuman Project’ was planned out by Linus’s personal disciples, the mages Danton, Philia, and Cinzia; and there are speculations that he was just implicated in his disciples’ scandal, however…” (Samantha)

“Director and Sensei are involved, you say!?” (Frick)

I can’t hide my agitation hearing the name of the two who raised me from Samantha’s mouth.

“Who do you mean by Director and Sensei?” (Samantha)

“Director Danton and Philia-sensei, they were the ones who manage the orphanage where I was born and raised. I just recently learned that they were the disciples of Linus-shi, but…I’ve never heard of them being involved in such project.” (Frick)

“Managers of your orphanage, I see… According to Gile’s report, those two instigated Linus-shi and initiated the Superhuman Project.” (Samantha)

There’s no way Director and Sensei are planning to overthrow the kingdom…

It’s true that the kingdom has always refused to provide support funds, however.

They’re not the kind of people who would think of overthrowing the kingdom for such a reason.

“I think that’s a lie.” (Frick)

“I think so too. This uproar of Linus-shi’s treason is too convenient for Gile. However, the fact that Linus-shi silently accepted the arrest made it to be an established fact.” (Samantha)

If it’s false, all Linus has to do is to come before the king and prove his innocence, and yet…

Why does he remain silent?

“I also thought that Linus let himself be arrested to get an opportunity to explain himself before the king, who trusts him, however… It seems he hasn’t speak at all. King Frederick has stopped Linus’s execution, but if he stays silent as he is…” (Cassandra)

Cassandra also shows confused expression to Linus’s behavior.

“To make matters worse, at the same time as the arrest of Linus-shi, the Royal Guard Knight Order seized the Magic Research Institute and reported that they had found the magical device mentioned in the project… The nobles around the king spread rumor that the execution of Linus-shi and his direct disciples is only a matter of time.” (Samantha)

Listening to Samantha’s report, I feel that the rescue of Linus, Director, and Sensei is going to be an extremely difficult and complicated matter.