CH 107

Thanks to the research they had been doing, they were able to see the overall movement of black magic.

“It must have been difficult to move without my support, but thank you.”

Eristella expressed her sincere gratitude to the four of them.

“Yes? What did you just say…”

“Did you just say that to us…?”

The faces of the four people hardened and became serious.

‘Why? Did I say something weird?’ Eristella was puzzled.

“Your Highness thanked us… Are you sure you’re really okay? Since you’re hit by black magic, perhaps, even your head…”

Brick muttered blankly, distraught.

Eristella flicked her finger instead of answering. Instantly, Brick’s hair pricked up and his body floated in the air.

“Ahh! I was wrong! I was kidding too much! Your, Your Highness, I’m scared…!”

Only then did Eristella carefully set down the brick.

“You know I’m afraid of heights… You shouldn’t bully a vulnerable person like me.”

Brick grumbled, feigning weakness that didn’t match his large size.

Eristella lamented at the sight.

‘I think it’s really hard to be nice.’ She shook her head and said,

“There are a few more things I would like you guys to investigate.”

“Now that you’re back instead, we’re going to charge you twice as much for this one.”

Brick, who was clutching his chest in surprise, threatened on behalf of his team with a determined face.

One of Eristella’s eyebrows twitched.

“Only twice?”

“…….”

“You can request for more. I’ll give you more than you can imagine.”

Brick stood up. And then right away.

“I will even sell my soul to Your Highness!”

As expected, gratitude should be expressed in money instead of words.

Laughter broke out. Actually, it was Eristella who was more grateful and welcoming to them than anyone else.

Right now, she desperately needed people she could trust.

*******

Eristella headed to the Imperial Palace.

The family of Viscount Diaclen was scheduled to be investigated extensively today, so she thought to check it herself.

“Viscount Diaclen is cooperating with the investigation in a strangely obedient way.”

In particular, it was suspicious that Declen was being held so calmly.

“Isn’t he deliberately adding to the confusion?”

“I don’t think it’s that.”

What is Declen up to? Eristella decided to try him out today.

*******

In the meantime, the investigation led by the Imperial Palace and the Magic Knights continued.

Other families staying at the Diaclen territory were summoned. Their activities also had to be thoroughly examined.

And, if they know anything about Declen.

“Oh, it’s black magic. How can you ask us such terrible things?”

“We really don’t know anything.”

As soon as the words ‘black magic’ were mentioned, they became contemplative and denied everything.

“We are innocent. I don’t know much about magic, let alone black magic!”

“That’s right. We are people who live modestly on a small estate. I can’t even think of such a huge thing.”

“M-My child? My child is very scared, so he won’t be able to endure in a place like this…”

Could they be talking about Diaclen or Declen?

This was new, for Diaclen or Declen to be seen as nothing more than a ‘fearful child’.

“He is only 16-years-old. Please release the child.”

…It was the other child they were worried about. They were preoccupied with worrying about their youngest son, as though Viscount Diaclen didn’t exist.

*******

In the interrogation room where Eristella sat opposite to Declen.

The scene of the family members’ questioning was visible through magic.

“They still don’t have affection.”

Declen muttered as he watched them with his arms crossed.

“I don’t know why you’re showing this to me, but it won’t work.”

Then he turned to Eristella and added nonchalantly.

“They are just beings who play pretend.”

“They’re not real family?”

Upon investigation, it was certain that he was the eldest son of Viscount Diaclen.

It was not just a simple record. It was also confirmed by those who remembered them.

“I guess it depends on what your definition of family is.”

He shrugged his shoulders once and continued calmly.

“If you ask me if the same blood flows through this body, then it’s a family.”

“…….”

“But that is all.”

A chill trickled down Declen’s face. It didn’t seem to contain any emotion whatsoever.

“As the child who was a child of Diaclen never considered his parents as his true family.”

“……?”

“Well, I don’t have any feelings.”

“Then it doesn’t matter what happens to them.”

Eristella said that to test him out, even though she now had a feeling it wouldn’t work.

Then Declen blinked at the magic video once, and it immediately distorted and disappeared.

“It’s just that it’s no longer useful, so one annoying thing is gone.”

Declan smiled lightly.

*******

The Diaclen family was hell bent on escaping somehow.

“We just took the money he gave us and spent it. It’s natural for the head of the family to be responsible for the entire family!”

“I don’t know what he did to make money, but it’s not our fault, we only received money without knowing anything.”

“Is there anything suspicious about Viscount Diaclen?”

At the investigator’s question, they rolled their eyes.

“That bastard, I’ve always had an uncomfortable feeling about him since he was young.”

“Originally, he was a kid who couldn’t even answer properly, but he changed overnight as if he had become a different person.”

The person speaking suddenly contorted his face and added.

“From then on, he was sharp and calculating. We haven’t been close in a long time.”

It meant that it was unpleasant to keep close, but the money was eagerly received.

Whether or not they were related to black magic, these people were dark and shameless.

The investigation on the Diaclen family continued for several days.

The conclusion was that there was no major lie in their words.

They really knew nothing about Viscount Diaclen’s business.

Rather, the only result gathered was that they were very bad parents and relatives, enough to make even the investigators feel sympathy for Viscount Diaclen.

‘But is the statement that Viscount Diaclen suddenly changed when he was young true?’

That was the only thing that bothered Eristella.

She wondered if it had something to do with Viscount Diaclen and Declen coexisting.

*******

Eristella had asked her four former colleagues to investigate Viscount Diaclen, and an urgent letter came from them.

— Found a suspicious place related to Viscount Diaclen. However, it’s not possible to check the inside due to the high risk of direct access. —

It was accompanied by a map that marked the location.

The accuracy of the information they discovered with their feet was very high. There were times when Eristella trusted them more than the imperial investigators.

So she definitely had to check this out.

“Since they claim it’s dangerous, I think I had better go and check it myself.”

“Then go with me.”

And so, both Eristella and Heinricion set off.

The place marked on the map was in a pretty rugged mountain.

“Isn’t it a mine?”

Looking at the topography and the description of the people working there, it was clear that it was a mine.

“Did Declen use magic stones?”

But when Eristella checked the item at that time, she didn’t feel the flow of magic stones.

What method did was it?

Besides, if Declen was to make a large amount of things using magic stones, there would be a limit to the supply.

“I’ll have to check inside first.”

There were still workers in the mine.

“I’ll knock them all out at once. It does the least damage.”

They couldn’t tell if the workers were helping with black magic or if they were just working for a living without knowing anything.

So the less damage the better.

“Everyone has fainted. Let’s go in now.”

Using magic, Eristella had put the people to sleep. She placed them to one side just in case.

Eristella and Heinricion checked the insides of the mine.

“I think it might really be magic stones.”

“Wait a second. It looks like magic stones, but something is a little different.”

“Different?”

Puzzled and curious, Eristella examined the ‘magic stone’ closely.

A blurry wavy pattern stood out.

“This…”

Eristella’s eyes narrowed significantly.

“…Black magic?”

How did this happen?

The flow of black magic could be felt from this magic stone?

“Is this an artificially created space?”

Otherwise, it made no sense. 

“I don’t think so. It’s definitely a natural space.”

“Then… Did black magic happen naturally?”

“Well…”

Heinricion was equally confused. Even seeing it with his own eyes, he couldn’t believe it.

“…Is that possible?”

Ame: maybe… the empire is founded by black magic?  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ side note, idk why the author introduced new “obviously insignificant to the plot” side characters this late in the story