Chapter 46: Erosion (2)

Chapter 46: Erosion (2)

Ronan spoke. His gaze remained fixed on Dallan.

“My lord.”

“Yes?”

“Have you heard of the Arrival of the Star?”

“The Arrival of the Star...?”

The Duke smirked. Surprisingly, there was no change in Dallan’s expression.

However, the mana that was once again rising above his shoulders indicated that he was unsettled.

Regardless, it seemed certain that it was related to Nebula Clazier. Ronan continued speaking.

“Since the story will soon spread throughout the Empire, I’ll just tell you. First, the Arrival of the Star is the day when the end descends from the sky. The organization that destroyed Gran Cappadocia is Nebula Clazier.”

“Nebula Clazier...?”

“Yes. The so-called Nebula Clazier is a gathering of fools who believe in nonsensical stories, even a three-year-old child would scoff at. The problem is that these violent fools keep committing crimes.”

Ronan spoke, weaving together his own experiences and the information he had gleaned from Investigator Karaka. He covered everything from controlling cave giants with wicked magic to the fact that they were behind significant events that had been assumed to be accidents so far.

“Well...”

As the conversation progressed, the Duke’s face grew more serious. It seemed he couldn’t believe that the owner of Grancia hadn’t noticed such a massive secret. He asked in a voice tinged with suspicion.

“How did you find out about all of this? I heard that the arrests happened after the Grand Investigator’s intervention, so did you resort to torture before that?”

“Oh, you caught me.”

Ronan laughed mischievously, covering his mouth. While most of the information had been acquired by Karaka, there was no need to reveal the fact that he had been to Rodollan. He glanced at Dallan and continued.

“Yes, I made myself spill the beans.”

At that moment, the two men’s eyes met. Despite Dallan’s nonchalant gaze, there was a fierce intensity simmering within.

‘You’re in trouble.’

Ronan continued his story.

“They both had an absurd lack of loyalty. All villains are like that, but those brats were particularly ruthless. Just because their arms were cut off, they started blabbering like it was nothing?”

Aselle and Marya’s faces turned pale. It was an unheard-of story. Ronan deliberately exaggerated the tale. He recounted it as if he had been the one to extract the information through Karaka’s interrogation.

“Well, anyway, that’s how I learned that elves treasure their ears. They didn’t even draw their swords, but they threw a fit while peeing themselves? It was so disgusting...”

“Enough. That’s sufficient. We’ll receive official reports from Rodollan anyway, so let’s talk about something else.”

The Duke raised his hand to cut off Ronan’s words. Ronan nodded with a smile. The Duke, who had been stroking his chin, sighed.

“From the news that you single-handedly killed so many cave giants, I already felt it, but... You’re far from ordinary.”

“I was friends with Doron and his apprentice, after all. I was really angry.”

“While I don’t fail to understand that sentiment... Hm? Dallan, is something bothering you?”

“Yes? Oh, no, my lord.”

“Your mana is rough. If you’re tired, take a break and come back.”

For the first time, a hint of surprise crossed Dallan’s face. The knight who had come with him was also looking at Dallan strangely. Dallan politely declined the Duke’s offer.

“No, thank you. I’m perfectly fine, my lord.”

Though he was trying his best to suppress it, Dallan’s mana had grown fierce enough that others could feel it now. The flicker, accompanied by a tic, remained consistent.

“Judging by the reaction, you were quite close, weren’t you?”

Ronan didn’t directly bring up the topic with Dallan. The reliability of the information wasn’t certain yet, and if Dallan dismissed it, it could have been the end.This chapter is updated by nov(e)(l)biin.com

Acting too hastily might have even raised suspicions about Ronan himself – as a dubious character doubting the loyalty of a faithful knight. At that moment, the Duke took out his pocket watch and glanced at it, sighing.

“Hmm. Time has gone by quickly. I should give you my reward and send you off.”

“What? Didn’t you just give it to me?”

****

That night.

The sky was covered with dense, ominous clouds. The full moon rising behind the clouds emitted feeble light akin to a candle behind a screen. Guards on the castle tower were betting whether the moon would appear before sunrise.

Swoosh!

At that moment, a shadow crossed over the walls of Philleon. Swiftly bypassing the guards, the shadow headed straight into the heart of the estate. The shadow’s footsteps were silent, devoid of sound.

“······”

Finally reaching its destination, the shadow looked up. The Navirose Manor, shrouded in the night’s shadow, exuded an eerie atmosphere, resembling a vampire’s castle.

Moving along the side of the building, the shadow began to count floors with gestures. Fortunately, the room he targeted lacked illumination. Leaping swiftly, the shadow landed gracefully on the balcony of a third-floor room.

The window had no curtains. Inside the room, luxurious furniture of all kinds was visible, and the back of a sleeping boy whose blanket was turned up to his head was revealed. The shadow retrieved a piece of parchment with geometric patterns from its pouch and affixed it to the window.

Shuaaa!

Before long, the massive window began melting away like ice. The shadow entered the room before the window had completely dissolved. The boy was still asleep.

“Puh... Uuugh... Cough...”

His sneeze was feeble. The shadow silently approached the boy while suppressing its presence.

“Graaah... Cooough...”

The sound of something snapping came from the shadow’s mouth. Quickly, the shadow seized a drawer under the desk while keeping its presence hidden. Upon pulling open the second drawer from the top, it saw a tattered notebook. Crumbling sounds came from its mouth.

Snatching the notebook, the shadow turned to the sleeping boy. In his hand, however, was not the notebook but a sharp dagger. Approaching the boy, the shadow held the dagger ready.

Thud!

Thud!

Thud!

“....?”

The moment the shadow reached a distance of three steps from the boy, it suddenly felt something odd. Rushing, the shadow lifted the blanket. Revealed were four thick pillows.

“Guh... guh...”

At that moment, the sound of a sneeze echoed once more. The shadow realized that the sound had come from above.

The lifted shadow could see the black-haired boy hanging upside down from the chandelier, making sneezing sounds, and the creature with red eyes.

Thump

“... Heh heh, I told you, didn’t I? That he’d come tonight.”

Thud!

The boy hanging from the chandelier turned into a raven and landed by the window, naturally blocking the shadow’s escape route. He held an unfamiliar-shaped sword in his hand.

Ronan said, “There are too many reasons you’d want to kill me.”

The shadow calmly took its next action. Inserting the dagger into its belt, it rested its hand on the hilt of the longsword. A voice from behind them reached their ears.

“Can you explain?”

“······!”

An eerie chill ran down their spines. The voice was deep and low, familiar, like a bottomless abyss. The shadow turned its head, its mouth agape for the first time.

“Why... are you here...”

“I asked if you can explain.”

A human form was slowly approaching from the darkness. At that moment, the clouds cleared, and moonlight filtered into the room. Under the serene beams of light, a boy with azure hair revealed himself.

“I’ll ask for the last time.”

In the boy’s hand was a mithril-made longsword. The sharp tip of the blue sword was aimed at the shadow. Shullifen de Grancia began to speak.

“Can you explain the current situation? Dallan.”

“···Your Highness.”

Dallan gripped the hilt of his sword. The white blade revealed itself under the moonlight. Eerie mana flickered above Dallan’s shoulder.