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In the Aeru’s Sanctum located in the city of harmony, Luwen, a member approached Silica, who was standing in the center of the square.

“Eshel Vert is still in Velias.”

“Anything special?”

“Nothing yet. Despite the royal family already returning to the palace, there’s no sign of him going back.”

“What about the palace?”

“The guards stationed throughout the capital are keeping a close watch day and night, but they haven’t found any clues about Boris yet.”

“Step up the surveillance. Report immediately if even the slightest trace of magic is detected.”

“Yes, my lord!”

The member received the order with a deep voice.

“What about Cyan?”

“A short while ago, they returned to the Academy with the group that was in Brenu. It seems like nothing out of the ordinary happened.”

Silica, who had been expressionless throughout the report, twitched her lips for the first time, as if trying to smile.

“Um, my lord. Shouldn’t we start preparing as well?”

“What preparation?”

“No matter how cautious we are, if we miss the target, there’s always a chance that rumors about you might spread. Shouldn’t we prepare to leave the Academy with the members now?”

“It’s just me who exposed my face to him, right?”

The member was left speechless by the answer that came faster than the question.

“Well, that’s true, but…”

“Then it doesn’t matter, does it? Even if something happens, I can handle it alone. There’s no need for you to prepare unnecessarily. I’ll take care of it.”

“But…”

Before he could continue, the member soon bowed his head.

“All right, my lord.”

After finishing the report, the member left.

Alone again, Silica remained silent, casually gazing at one side of the room.

Despite her words, she knew very well that the current situation was extremely dangerous.

Everything the Mists had maintained so far, the organization, the successor, and even the deity they served, the Black Mist, could all collapse.

But there was no sign of worry on Silica’s face. It was as if she had something firm to believe in.

“A regressor…”

Her lips, which had maintained a straight line, curved into a semicircle along with the word “regressor.”

* * *

From the imperial capital of Sevellinus, a day’s journey by carriage away, lies the territory of Quazel.

Since early morning, the residents of Quazel territory were abuzz with activity.

The news of the return of Kundel Quazel, the former lord of Quazel and the current headmaster of the Royal Academy, had spread.

It had been about ten years since his retirement from the ducal position.

All eyes, from the ordinary residents to the key administrators of the territory, were focused on Kundel.

Inside the study of the Quazel mansion, which originally served as the workplace for the duke and lord of the territory, Pietro Quazel, now stood with his hands neatly folded in front of the desk, resembling a humble servant rather than the lord.

His face was dripping with cold sweat, and before him sat his father, Kundel Quazel, who still held considerable influence in the family.

“It’s been nearly ten years since I stepped down from the ducal position. I heard that our family prospered during that time, but why have taxes increased and the operating expenses of the territory decreased?”

Kundel looked at his son, as if demanding an explanation.

“W-well, in recent years, some funds have been allocated to the royal family…”

“For what reason?”

“T-there are several reasons, you see… such as maintaining dignity…”

“Maintaining dignity for the royal family… Was that insignificant dignity maintenance worth paying half of our yearly territory operating expenses?”

The sound of Pietro’s brain trying to find excuses was audible enough to be heard outside.

Giving up on finding an excuse, Pietro decided to confront the issue directly.

“Do you even know why? Father, do you not know? Every year, the Nepellis Viscountcy provides one and a half times the amount to the Empress’s household! Nepellis Viscountcy is sincere! That man truly intends to elevate his bloodline to the imperial throne!”

Kundel remained silent.

“Don’t you also wish for Louisnel to become emperor? Moreover, I heard that during his recent diplomatic visit, Princess Violet went missing! Who knows? The Nepellis Viscountcy might have had a hand in it! Father, you even ordered additional guards for Princess Violet to be prepared for such a situation, didn’t you?”

Listening quietly, Kundel chuckled.

“Yes, I won’t reprimand you.”

“What?”

“I have one question, Pietro. If you could ensure that Louisnel becomes emperor, would you not care even if every member of the royal family perished?”

“W-why are you suddenly saying such things?”

“Answer my question.”

It didn’t take long for Pietro to ponder.

“If the Quazel family could produce an emperor, wouldn’t it not matter at all? After all, power is power, and in the current situation, peaceful succession to the throne is impossible…”

“Wouldn’t Louisnel and others, including you, share the same sentiment?”

“W-wouldn’t they?”

– Bang!

Unable to contain himself any longer, Kundel finally slammed his desk, unleashing the anger he had been suppressing.

“The tainted imperial throne is nothing but a jewel forged by demons! Why do you forget such a simple truth!”

Kundel’s eyes blazed with intense anger, almost bordering on madness.

“I won’t say anything else. From today onward, cut off all support to the imperial family and Louisnel! I’ll take the responsibility!”

Was it not worth confirming further?

Driven by emotions, Kundel immediately rose from his seat.

“W-where are you going?”

“I’m going to the Imperial City!”

There was no trace of hesitation in his footsteps as he left the room.

* * *

In the Vert mansion within the Imperial Western Border of Velias…

– Knock, knock.

With a somewhat urgent knock, a man entered the room.

It was Kellen, a retainer of Aschel.

“Lord Aschel, another message has arrived from Prince Louisnel. It’s about when he will return to the Imperial City, but…”

Unlike the serious expression of Kellen, Aschel seemed incredibly relaxed.

There was no hint of anxiety as he elegantly sipped his tea.

It had been over a week since the royal family returned to the Imperial City after their diplomatic visit.

Originally scheduled as a retainer to accompany the Second Princess back, but Aschel remained in Velias.

On the surface, it was to handle the death of the knight, Cecilia.

However, he had shown little interest in what happened to her beyond ordering her body to be taken care of after its discovery.

Most of the time, he sat by the window with a faint smile, lost in thought.

“Now, shouldn’t you return to the Imperial City?”

Despite Kellen’s question, Aschel remained silent, gazing out the window with just a smile.

“Uh, according to the news just in, Chief Kundel of the Academy departed from the territory for the Imperial City a while ago…”

“I’ve been pondering for a few days.”

As Aschel finally spoke after a long silence, Kellen involuntarily shrank back.

“Something felt off. My plans have been consistently thwarted and disrupted lately. It’s almost as if I, who always prided myself on perfection, have never been in such a tangled situation…”

A cold sweat trickled down Kellen’s back.

“So, I thought about it. Perhaps someone knows about my plans, or someone is blocking the information I receive?”

Although Aschel’s words were filled with laughter, Kellen couldn’t bring himself to laugh.

If anyone had heard this far, they would realize that he was now doubting him.

“Has there been any contact with Boris?”

“Yes…”

“Two years ago, when you volunteered to go to the Academy for my sake, you came back and said this.”

Finally, Aschel’s gaze turned to Kellen, who had been staring out the window.

“Some unknown force has been watching over the youngest…”

“Yes, that’s correct…”

“Could Boris have fallen victim to this unidentified force? Otherwise, there would be no reason for complete silence.”

Kellen had no particular rebuttal to offer.

“And you’re not even considering returning this time?”

“…!”

“I’ve always believed that the source of suspicion lies closest to us. Kellen, you’ve been my retainer for a long time. You’ve done a lot for me. So, I thought I knew you well.”

Kellen avoided eye contact and swallowed nervously.

“But, the Kellen I’ve seen for the past two years seems strangely different from the one I knew. While overall similar, there’s something subtly different about you. Almost as if a false personality is masquerading as the original…”

“I, I’m not sure what you’re talking about…”

“Look me in the eye, Kellen.”

With reluctance, Kellen met Aschel’s gaze again.

“…”

A crimson gleam flashed in Aschel’s eyes, and sensing the threat, Kellen quickly averted his gaze.

“Cough!”

Suddenly, an intangible force choked his throat.

“I even had this thought. What if someone magically altered your personality two years ago? What if it wasn’t a personality for my sake, but for the sake of someone unknown?”

Standing up from his seat, Aschel approached the suffering Kellen.

“Kellen, are you truly the Kellen I knew and who lived for me?”

Struggling to breathe, Kellen barely managed to speak.

“Master Aschel! Please, do not doubt my loyalty…!”

However, his desperate plea was met with a hollow laugh.

“We’ll have to confirm that from now on. We need to confirm whether your loyalty is truly for me…”

‘Can you hear me, Aschel?’

For a moment, as Aschel clenched his jaw and mocked him, a familiar voice echoed in his mind.

“Boris?”

It wasn’t a hallucination.

This was part of a mental magic called ‘Telepathy,’ which communicated thoughts rather than words.

Though somewhat unstable, this was Boris’s unmistakable ‘Telepathic’ communication.

‘We don’t have time, so I’ll get to the point. Everything is unraveling. If we continue like this, the dark fog of negativity will obscure the light.’

“What do you mean? Where are you?”

‘Find the Holy Sword.’

“…!”

Aschel’s pupils dilated significantly.