Chapter 119 : Chapter 119
Chapter 119. Roderick
In front of the gates of Baron Miyatro’s estate, two horses stood ready.
Knight Mammon mounted his massive warhorse and spoke.
“Let’s hurry. His Majesty is waiting.”
The fake Yohan (Verdan) hesitated in front of the remaining horse before opening his mouth.
“Sir Mammon, I’m afraid I need to go back into the manor briefly.”
He had to buy time, no matter what.
That was Mapheltan’s order.
Drag things out as much as possible.
Mammon’s expression twisted.
“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
Yohan spoke calmly.
“I forgot something. I can’t go before His Majesty empty-handed.”
“If it’s something like that, don’t trouble yourself. His Majesty will understand—it wasn’t a scheduled audience, after all.”
Yohan shook his head.
“This is a matter of propriety. As a Council noble, I do not wish to show disrespect to His Majesty.”
The Yohan before him was a fake.
He was mocking Mammon with a shameless performance.
Mammon knew that all too well—and it deeply irritated him.
“…Save your manners for later. Right now, seeing His Majesty takes priority.”
Yohan replied firmly.
“I’m sorry, but I must decline. Please give me just a moment. I’ll be quick.”
Mammon wanted to bark at him.
He nearly shouted, I know who you really are—drop the act!
But he couldn’t act just yet.
The timing wasn’t right.
He had to go to the palace and reveal the fake Yohan’s identity in front of everyone.
Only then could he deliver a serious blow to the Watcher of the Abyss.
Suppressing his rage, Mammon said,
“Fine, be quick.”
“I appreciate your understanding.”
Yohan turned and walked back toward the manor.
To Mammon, that back looked unbearably smug.
“Haa…”
He looked up at the night sky, hoping to cool off his frustration.
But it did nothing.
Even after quite some time had passed, Yohan still hadn’t returned.
As the night deepened, Mammon’s nerves became increasingly frayed.
***
“I apologize. I took a bit longer while selecting a proper tribute.”
Only after a long while did Yohan reappear outside.
In his hand was a small treasure chest.
Mammon barely held back his fury.
“…Let’s go. We’re already very late.”
“Indeed. I have no intention of keeping His Majesty waiting any longer.”
Yohan placed his foot in the stirrup and began to mount, moving painfully slowly.
Mammon frowned.
“For someone in such a hurry…”
“Ah, my apologies. Just a moment.”
Yohan suddenly stepped down from the horse again.
Mammon’s expression contorted.
“What are you doing?! Get on the horse, now!”
He raised his voice. It was getting hard to remain polite.
Yohan replied with a calm expression.
“I’m sorry, Sir Mammon. My stomach suddenly hurts quite badly.”
Mammon’s face twisted into a scowl.
He wanted to draw his sword right then and there.
“You don’t mean to say you’re going back into the manor again?”
“It’ll just be for a moment. Please understand.”
Verdan was openly toying with him.
A filthy commoner, a parasite from the shadows—was ridiculing a noble knight.
Mammon wanted nothing more than to cut him down on the spot.
But with great effort, he clung to reason.
He dismounted and walked up to Yohan.
Speaking in a low, threatening voice, he said,
“You seem to be stalling for time… so let me confirm something.”
Yohan showed no reaction.
“Stalling? I don’t understand wh—”
Before he could finish, a silver ripple spread out from Mammon’s body.
It was aura—allowed only to knights of the Leonard family.
Mammon, cloaked in aura, spoke.
“Do you remember me, Verdan?”
Yohan’s eyes flickered for a moment.
He had definitely seen that silver aura a few days ago.
The man who had hired him—that was the one who had used this aura.
The man in the mask who claimed to be from the House of Leonard—that had been Mammon.
Though surprised, Yohan controlled his expression as best he could.
“…What kind of rudeness is this?”
Mammon let out a scoffing laugh.
“What an incredible ability. Or should I say—the Watcher of the Abyss is the impressive one?”
The power of the Mimic allowed Verdan to copy most aspects of his target’s personality.
Since he was impersonating Yohan, he could remain composed even in shocking situations.
Like now—his expression remained calm.
But Verdan was still Verdan.
No matter how well he acted, he couldn’t fully erase the residue of a petty soul.
He had revealed a moment of hesitation.
And Mammon didn’t miss that instant.
He had seen the flicker in Yohan’s eyes.
Yohan spoke evenly.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Mammon grabbed both his shoulders and muttered,
“It’s clear now. This one before me is not the Watcher of the Abyss.”
With the truth revealed, Mammon had no reason to play nice anymore.
He lifted Yohan and threw him onto the horse.
Yohan’s voice came out like he was swallowing a blade.
“…Cease this at once. I’ll be formally lodging a complaint over today’s conduct.”
Mammon said nothing and climbed up behind him.
“Hyah!”
The two of them rode straight for the palace.
***
The royal capital, Arterium, was known as the “City That Never Sleeps.”
Even at night, it glowed as brightly as day.
The streets were lit, and crowds bustled everywhere.
For demons, the capital was one of the hardest places to operate.
It wasn’t much easier for witches either.
Ilea hovered high above the capital, her presence completely hidden, eyes fixed below.
“…It’s harder to find an opening than I thought.”
Her gaze locked onto a galloping horse below.
Two people were mounted on it.
Yohan and the knight—Verdan and Mammon.
Ilea had to intercept them.
But she couldn’t find the right timing.
Too many eyes.
Just as she was struggling, a chilling voice echoed through the air.
“I’ll lend you a hand.”
Mapheltan revealed himself from the darkness.
Ilea looked at him with concern.
“It’s dangerous. Will you be alright?”
“Don’t worry. I’ll just draw some attention.”
In the next moment, Mapheltan’s figure vanished.
His presence rose from the ground.
Shadows blanketed the streets.
People screamed.
The sudden burst of miasma threw the city into panic.
The memory of the capital’s recent raid was still fresh in everyone’s minds.
They feared hell was repeating itself.
The chaos spread fast.
But even amid the confusion, the horse didn’t stop—it charged ahead.
Ilea smiled.
“That’s enough.”
The crowds had scattered.
No one was around the galloping horse.
Ilea descended straight down.
A blue streak of light fell like a shooting star.
Startled, the horse reared up on its hind legs.
Mammon clutched the reins, trying to control it.
“Whoa, whoa!”
Amid the shock, Yohan tumbled off the horse.
Ilea spoke to him.
“Stay hidden for a moment.”
Mammon, having calmed the horse, drew his sword from the saddle.
“Who goes there?! Reveal yourself!”
Ilea smiled softly.
“From now on, I’m Yohan. You’re coming with me to the palace.”
The space around her shimmered.
In the blink of an eye, her appearance changed—into Yohan.
Mammon was shocked.
“A-a mage?!”
Fake Yohan (Ilea) snapped her fingers.
Above Mammon’s head, a formula appeared.
Short-Term Memory Erasure Magic—a spell she had once used on Shaferia—now targeted Mammon.
His eyes turned dull.
Yohan quickly mounted his horse.
Then she released the spell.
Mammon regained his senses.
He looked around in a daze.
His head throbbed.
Yohan asked,
“Why did you stop so suddenly?”
Mammon didn’t know.
After a moment’s hesitation, he gripped the reins again.
“Hyah!”
With a faint sense of unease, they rode toward the palace once more.
***
The royal palace’s great hall. King Roderick Artelga leaned on the throne, looking down at his gathered retainers.
Though the hall was packed, it was dead silent.
No one spoke.
The king’s pressure was overwhelming.
Roderick’s demeanor had changed drastically.
The naive, bumbling monarch was gone.
He now sat like a true ruler—gazing at them all with bored disdain.
So far, this change hasn't become widely known.
Only the royalist nobles had experienced his strange behavior firsthand.
All the officials gathered here now were royalists.
In their silence, a voice rang out from the royal guard.
“Announcing the arrival of the Watcher of the Abyss—Baron Yohan von Miyatro!”
The great doors slowly opened.
Yohan, dressed in ceremonial attire, walked down the red carpet.
He knelt before the king’s left.
“Yohan von Miyatro. I greet His Majesty, the great sovereign.”
Roderick stared at him with bored eyes, then turned to Mammon.
Mammon gave him a subtle signal.
He was saying: This Yohan is a fake.
The king’s lips curled.
He looked back at Yohan and slowly spoke.
“Despite your young age, you’ve been recognized by me for your value—and entrusted with a household, a pillar of the kingdom. So tell me—why have you neglected your duties?”
He was referring to Yohan’s failure to seek an audience.
Yohan responded calmly.
“I had heard of Your Majesty’s illness and assumed it would be difficult to be received. It was short-sighted and foolish of me. Please forgive me.”
The king smirked.
“Very well. I won’t press that matter further. Or rather… I see no need to waste words on the likes of you.”
The moment he said that, the great hall burst into murmurs.
Even a king should not speak so to the head of a Council house.
Roderick had crossed into outright insult.
One official stepped forward.
“Your Majesty, please be patient. The Watcher of the Abyss is still young and unaware of protocol. Surely he meant no disrespect.”
Roderick shook his head.
“That is not the Watcher of the Abyss. The real one is elsewhere, insulting me even now.”
“Your Majesty, what do you mean…?”
The king cut him off.
“I shall show you proof.”
He gestured.
Mammon strode up to Yohan and spoke.
“Verdan. Reveal yourself.”
He grabbed Yohan’s hair and yanked at his face—tearing at the skin.
Nothing happened.
Only red welts remained.
The officials were all horrified.
Even Mammon looked stunned.
“W-what… why isn’t it—?”
No matter how hard he pulled, the mimicry didn’t vanish.
The officials shouted.
“What disgrace is this in the sacred hall?!”
“Stop at once!”
“Sir Mammon! Apologize to the Watcher!”
The king stared at Mammon.
“Mammon, what is going on?”
“T-that is…”
Yohan spoke calmly.
“Your Majesty… are you prepared to take responsibility for this?”
The king frowned.
“…What did you say?”
Yohan stared straight at Roderick.
“I see a shadow in you, Your Majesty. What exactly are you harboring inside?”
To the witch’s eyes, the shadow hidden within Roderick was plainly visible.
He was hosting a pitch-black presence.
Yohan (Ilea) smiled gently.
‘Yohan, it seems… the situation is starting to turn in your favor.’