Chapter 187 : Side Story 12
Side Story 12
Uriel guided Megarexor to his private office and even poured him tea.
Megarexor did not touch the teacup; he only quietly glanced around the inside of the office.
The two remained in silence until, unable to endure it any longer, Uriel was the first to speak.
"Did you come here because you had some business with me?"
"There are a few things I wanted to ask about what happened back then."
"If you mean back then... are you talking about when you brought in the forces and tried to arrest me?"
"Other than that, we have never run into each other, have we?"
Megarexor answered calmly and met Uriel's gaze.
At least compared to when she had blocked his way, her eyes had softened.
Most of all, that beauty of hers remained perfectly undisturbed, causing him to unconsciously focus on her.
"Did some problem occur?"
"It'd be hard to say nothing happened. The higher-ups have been troublesome. If they're moving to that extent, they may well have also come to you."
"I haven't experienced anything at all. No one came to see me, either."
"No, that can't be. It was quite an important mission to the higher-ups. But since you resolved it so easily, they can't help but be suspicious."
"Are you saying that side might suspect me?"
"They must have been suspicious from the start. Now what matters is how they'll try to approach you."
Uriel put on a thoroughly stiff expression as she recalled recent memories.
She had repeated the same daily routine, unable even to glimpse anyone else's future.
If anything, had a suspicious outsider appeared, she would have been the first to notice.
"I really have no idea. I never felt as if anyone was following me."
"Even if you hide your mana in front of the great mage's disciple, it'll be found out soon enough... Is there really such a master in the imperial forces? But would they even use such a master for tailing?"
Megarexor was dubious, but he wanted to trust Uriel's words.
She certainly has her quirks, but he cannot disparage the title of the great mage's disciple.
If even Uriel herself hadn't noticed any change, it had to be accepted as a solid truth.
"Still, it's best to always keep it in mind. You never know with people."
"... What if my master has intervened?"
"Your master? Ah, you mean the great mage. That would change things. First, since you're the great mage's disciple, they can't act carelessly. But if the great mage himself is involved, things could get tense."
"Which means my master knows about this, right?"
"He's probably pretending not to know. Still, I'm not sure. If you're that curious, why not just ask yourself?"
"Hmm... If he doesn't know, that could turn into trouble as well."
"You helped complete the mission, so what's the harm? Of course, if they probe into every detail, it could be a hassle."
Megarexor seemed to see through Uriel's situation to a degree.
Most likely, Uriel had learned the overall mission through some means.
But having to explain everything would mean revealing personal matters, so perhaps that created some resistance inside her.
"Then let's just keep it hidden until we're asked. The great mage must have his own reasons for leaving you alone. If he says he doesn't know, there's nothing wrong with that either."
"Aren't you taking things too lightly?"
"Thinking about it too hard will only give you a headache. Sometimes forgetting about it is the best way."
"......"
Megarexor simply gazed at the silently brooding Uriel.
He still didn't understand Uriel, but he didn't feel the compulsion to pry into her psychology.
As long as she wasn't committing any evil, anyone could live as they wished.
"Since we're here, let me give you a warning. It's best not to get involved in missions where the imperial forces are mobilized. The military authorities don't deploy their forces because they want to."
"They send out soldiers precisely because it's that dangerous."
"You know it well. So why did someone like you cause such trouble?"
"I told you back then, didn't I? Would you feel at ease killing innocent people?"
"You never really know how things will go. If things hadn't turned out well, what do you think would have happened to me?"
"......"
"I'm not doubting your ability. But everything should follow order and reason. Since you disrupted all of that, it's only natural that the military authorities find it suspicious."
Uriel couldn't refute Megarexor's words.
She only foresaw the future, but to others, her actions would seem irrational.
Above all, she even grasped information about the mission, so they couldn't help but suspect information was leaked.
"Still... in the end, you let yourself be sent, and you succeeded in persuading the target. So I can't say I'm free of responsibility, either."
"You're not going to pin everything entirely on me?"
"It'd certainly be easier that way, but I'm not so much of a scoundrel."
Megarexor answered with a bold laugh and finally lifted the teacup.
Even so, as the successor to the Sword Saint, he had to be conscious of his position at all times.
Above all, having taken an interest in Uriel, he couldn't simply leave her be.
"Is that the sort of man who tried to fight the great mage's vice head disciple in the society?"
"Why bring that up here? If you'd spoken civilly, I would have gone along with it. You started out suspicious, so I reacted."
"But as the Sword Saint's successor, couldn't you have just yielded first?"
"As the Sword Saint's successor, I can't. I have my own pride, you know."
"Will you be able to say the same after a controversy breaks out later?"
"Then I'll deal with it myself. Even if I suffer losses, I'll accept them."
"Do you really have to go that far? You could just step aside for a moment."
"Does a woman who isn't afraid of my sword have any right to talk about yielding?"
"Why draw your sword if you're not going to cut?"
"I restrained myself a lot. Marking that pretty face of yours would only make you hate me."
Megarexor countered with a joke, nonchalantly sipping from his teacup.
Uriel's arguments were all valid, but to admit them would make him look insignificant.
In this situation, he needed to maintain his pride.
'Still, she says anything she wants to. Makes me feel less stifled—very nice.'
Megarexor had never been attracted to a woman before.
Most merely brought trouble, showing only base desires.
But if someone could look into his essence and treat him so brazenly, he could accept it.
'Where else could I find a woman like this? Hmm... what should I do...'
* * *
Alraune reported to the great mage that the successor to the Sword Saint had visited the society.
The great mage heard this, pondered for a moment, then spoke at last.
"You acted rashly. You shouldn't have confiscated weapons from the Sword Saint's successor."
"I apologize. I was so focused on the regulations that I failed to check his identity."
"But since we can't just ignore it... If there were no disturbances, it's fine then."
The current great mage, regner Vynes, internally agreed with Alraune's actions.
Even for the Sword Saint's successor, he cannot be exempt from the regulations of the society.
If only the successor had identified himself and his rank first, perhaps Alraune wouldn't have been so late to stand down.
'If he came to see Uriel... then this is related to that incident, after all?'
Regner had once been asked by the supreme commander of all forces to explain a specific mission.
Most likely it was because his disciple was involved, so he responded as a matter of form.
But in truth, such an act felt as if suspicions were directed at himself, so he couldn't accept it entirely calmly.
'If it were the military authorities, they'd have sent a subordinate commander. In that case... the successor to the Sword Saint came here of his own accord.'
Most likely, the military authorities had endlessly pressed the successor to the Sword Saint about the mission's proceedings.
He, being conscious of it, may have wished to warn Uriel.
He had intervened arbitrarily, but he achieved a decisive feat in completing the mission.
'Recently, the Crown Prince also paid a visit. That must also be related to Uriel.'
Regner realized the web of relationships around Uriel had become entangled.
Not only the Crown Prince but also the successor to the Sword Saint had approached her.
Perhaps Uriel had shaken their hearts in that short time.
'With that temperament, she surely hasn't tried to seduce anyone... In the end, it must be an innate ability.'
Many try to judge superiority through formless abilities.
But even beauty reflected in one's eyes is also a part of ability.
In other words, Uriel's looks unavoidably aroused men's nature.
"... Alraune."
"Yes, master."
"What do you think of Uriel?"
"She has outstanding talent for magic, but when she hits her limits, she gets discouraged easily. Still, her character is good, so she'll become an excellent mage."
"......"
Regner asked nothing further and quietly averted his gaze.
Alraune, though treating Uriel as a fellow disciple, had indeed looked after her on many occasions.
Indeed, from what kind of emotion had that intention arisen?
'Uriel Astille. As a woman, you are accumulating guilt. What can be done about an appearance you were born with, after all.'
* * *
The ninth holy knight order commander of the Semerune Holy Order, Ronit Renaze, was leading his forces to subdue monsters.
As expected, a flood of undead appeared at the observation point, requiring a swift response.
If he continued stacking feats, he would someday seize the rank of holy apostle.
'This battle comes with a heavy responsibility.'
Ronit, rather than acting on direct orders, moved the holy knight order on his own judgment.
It was a response to emergencies, but it also meant harsher punishment for any mistakes.
However, as long as he achieved reasonable results, the grand cathedral would acknowledge his decision.
'I struggled to reach this position. I can't just be satisfied as knight order commander.'
The rank of holy apostle has only ever been granted to four clergy members.
Only cardinals and holy knight order commanders are eligible to become holy apostles.
Therefore, he would have to compete against others with similar credentials for the vacant holy apostle seat.
'Even if I'm swept up by desire... I...'
Ronit spotted something and instinctively raised his guard.
A woman was standing in the middle of the road, blocking the order's path of advance.
Just who would dare hinder the judgment of the Semerune Holy Order?
"Move aside at once! The ninth holy knight order commander is carrying out the Semerune Holy Order's sacred duty!"
"... The people haven't finished evacuating yet. For now, you have to wait."