Chapter 289 : Vortex (4)
Chapter 289: Vortex (4)
“……Are you not going to ask me anything?”
While I was still shaking off the dizziness caused by the aftereffects of the sudden Spatial Distortion Magic, Berenistella quietly asked me.
In response to her question, I pressed a hand against my forehead as if trying to suppress the pounding pain of a migraine and replied,
“If the two of you made that decision, then it must have been the correct answer.”
I shook my head lightly, as though trying to shake away the lingering headache.
“Besides, I’ve already experienced plenty in my previous life what happens when someone sits there insisting on their innocence while a blade is pressed against the back of their neck.”
“Hmm.”
At my self-deprecating answer, Berenistella nodded slightly.
Then, when it seemed that I had regained some composure, she suddenly spoke.
“We must leave the Capital immediately.”
“Excuse me?”
“We must leave the Capital. As soon as possible.”
“……Did you go to meet Lady Talia?”
I hesitated briefly at her sudden proposal, then carefully asked.
I couldn’t think of any other reason for her to suddenly act like this.
“That is correct.”
Berenistella gave a small nod.
“My… no, you. When compared to how I was before we parted, do you not notice anything different about me?”
“……?”
At her question, I tilted my head.
Then I examined her carefully.
“It feels like your aura has become a little calmer… more tranquil… wait, don’t tell me?”
“Hehe, yes. I expected you would notice.”
She chuckled softly as she looked at me in disbelief.
I muttered, unable to believe it.
“You recovered your power.”
“That is correct, my disciple.”
Berenistella nodded.
“Talia… that woman left after giving me a final gift.”
“Lady Talia? But how did she—”
I stopped mid-sentence and shuddered.
Perhaps it was because of the conversation I had just had with Professor Windy May.
A single word flashed through my mind.
“Human Sacrifice Ritual.”
“……That is somewhat surprising.”
At my murmur, Berenistella blinked her eyes.
“It seems that while you were away from my tutelage, you trained quite diligently.”
Then she nodded, as though there was no reason to hide it.
“Your guess is correct. Talia… she performed a Human Sacrifice Ritual and restored my power.”
“……”
“Why? Your face seems full of questions.”
She nodded as if acknowledging that my confusion was reasonable.
In truth, she herself had not fully understood it either.
“……That woman said it would be best for us to leave the Capital as soon as possible.”
At the very least, it would be right to explain why we had to leave and what we were supposed to do.
After all, I was involved in this matter as well.
And more than anything…
“…Even if it’s a misunderstanding, it’s not particularly pleasant to be misunderstood like that by that child.”
Berenistella quietly opened her mouth.
“…It’s the Evil Dragon.”
“Evil Dragon? Are you referring to Dahaka?”
“That’s right. If you look at it carefully, that creature could be called the root cause of all of this.”
She paused and glanced around.
Although we had moved to a place with few people, we were still inside the Capital.
Just in case, she simultaneously cast several spells—ones that repelled people and others that concealed our presence from detection—before continuing her explanation.
“This may become a somewhat long story, but I will explain. ……You must understand it as well and steel your resolve.”
Thus, Berenistella began summarizing everything that had happened.
As the story continued, my expression grew darker and darker, but she did not stop speaking.
“And…”
After hesitating briefly, she also revealed that the Evil Dragon was targeting me.
Before, I had told her not to hide anything from me. And since the threat concerned me as well, she believed I had the right to know.
Moreover, now that she had regained the strength she possessed in her prime, she was confident that even an Evil Dragon that had not yet fully revived could never rampage freely in front of her.
“…That is how it came to be.”
“……”
Even after her explanation ended, I could not speak.
The weight of what she had just told me was simply too heavy.
‘What is this all of a sudden…’
An Evil Dragon.
An Evil Dragon.
A monster that belonged only in old legends was apparently targeting me.
On top of that, there was the sacrifice and arrangement of the Wolpen Knights, Talia’s actions, and even the prophecy of the Saintess.
Not a single part of it was something that could be taken lightly.
“…Since you mentioned the Saintess, I also have something to tell you.”
“What is it?”
“It seems the reason Dragons appeared above the Capital this time was because of a Vow they made with the Saintess. Additionally, the Saintess asked them to assist with the overall matters regarding the Human Sacrifice Ritual.”
“With the Dragons?”
“Yes.”
At my words, Berenistella frowned slightly.
“…What a deceitful creature. She conveniently left that part out without saying a word.”
“Then what should we do now?”
At my question, she stopped grumbling and looked at me.
“Clearing your name and resolving your grievances is important, but this matter is far more urgent.”
“I agree.”
I nodded.
“And judging from what you said… it seems that Cardinal Bruyant and even the Man without a Head are all connected to that Evil Dragon.”
“I believe so as well. Even the scheme that framed you must ultimately trace back to that creature. If we uproot him, everything surrounding this incident will naturally unravel.”
At her words, I let out a hollow laugh.
“An Evil Dragon…”
Why would such an absurdly powerful monster target me?
No—actually, after hearing her explanation, I had already realized the reason.
The Brand engraved upon my body.
That must be the cause.
“…Then should we move right away?”
“The sooner, the better.”
“Where should we go?”
“……”
“Master?”
“…I do not know.”
Berenistella shook her head slightly.
I stared at her in surprise—not because she had spoken confidently only to reveal she had no plan, but because she had calmly admitted she did not know.
“You don’t know?”
“Yes. She said that once you and I met, we would naturally realize where we needed to go.”
She clicked her tongue.
“Truly, the vague ramblings of fortune-tellers. I used to say the same sort of thing whenever I had nothing to say, but experiencing it firsthand is far more frustrating than expected.”
“Haha.”
I gave a bitter laugh.
At the same time, I recalled the words spoken earlier by the Imperial Knights.
“…You do not need to worry about your family or acquaintances.”
As if she had easily read my thoughts, Berenistella spoke.
“Judging by the situation, it seems you have quite a few people willing to stand by you. Fortunately, all of them appear to possess considerable power and influence. Even that mongr—… ahem. Hm!”
Berenistella coughed loudly.
Even though she had shown Windy May a certain degree of respect and even thanked her, the words she had used for centuries slipped out unconsciously.
Since it was also an act that tarnished my reputation as well as hers, her face reddened slightly as she cleared her throat.
“…Windy May, for example. And those who travel with you. Also, among the ones who descended underground with you, there was a member of the Imperial Family, correct?”
“Yes. Princess Velita was there.”
“……”
She paused briefly at my words.
Then…
“…That name sounds familiar. She was the woman who took your head, was she not?”
She muttered quietly before continuing in a slightly lower voice.
“Anyway, all of them stepped forward to support you. So… for the time being, there should be nothing to worry about.”
“…Yes. That’s true.”
I nodded.
Yet the uneasiness still remained in my heart.
‘…’
The person who would suffer the most in this situation was probably my second brother, Artiac.
Since he belonged to the Imperial Knights, he would likely face the harshest reprimand. Perhaps that was why Velita had moved so quickly.
And the family’s Merchant Group in the Capital as well…
“…Master.”
“What is it?”
“There’s somewhere we need to stop by before leaving the Capital.”
“Right now?”
“Yes. Right now.”
I nodded.
Seeing the firm expression on my face, Berenistella eventually relented.
“Very well. Your actions may reveal the destination we must head toward.”
“Thank you, Master.”
“So where do you intend to go?”
“My family’s Merchant Group.”
I answered.
“To the Gwendil Count family’s Merchant Group.”
This was only the second time in my life—including my previous life—that I had come to my family’s Merchant Group.
And in truth, this was the first time I had ever seen it in its proper state.
In my previous life, the Head of the Family had forbidden me from entering the Merchant Group. By the time I finally came here, everything had already been destroyed under the charge of treason.
“…Strange.”
That was Berenistella’s first remark after entering the Merchant Group while concealing her presence at my request.
“For a mere merchant group, the defenses are extremely tight.”
“…Perhaps it’s because of the commotion that happened just earlier?”
“……”
Berenistella fell silent.
What she meant by “tight defenses” referred to the entire structure of the building, the stockpiled supplies, and even the prepared barriers and magic stones meant to counter Mages.
But she chose not to point it out.
Because I had already noticed it myself.
“……”
My family’s Merchant Group.
Why had I come here?
Even I didn’t know.
The meaningful words and attitude Amaruah had shown through Windy May.
The Countess who had been closely connected to her.
She was currently in the Capital—at this very Merchant Group.
And there was also the record of collusion with Cardinal Bruyant mentioned by the Imperial Knights…
“It’s quiet.”
Berenistella said.
At her words, I slowly closed my eyes.
“You’re right.”
“…It shouldn’t be this quiet.”
“……”
She was right.
Since I had been accused of being involved in such an incident, investigators should have already come here.
Yet the people in the Merchant Group merely strengthened their defenses against possible remnants outside, showing no other signs of investigation.
“My disciple.”
“…Yes.”
Seeing my expression grow paler, Berenistella spoke.
“I have detected a Hidden Room.”
“……”
“…Do you wish to go?”
I nodded.
Soon the two of us stepped into a dimly lit room.
The countless security devices and barriers scattered throughout the room all ceased functioning with a single wave of Berenistella’s hand.
“What on earth are they hiding?”
I murmured blankly.
My heart pounded violently.
My gaze landed on the safe placed in the center of the room.
The safe door was open.
“……”
I approached quietly and opened it.
With all the security devices disabled by Berenistella, retrieving the documents inside was effortless.
And then…
“Ha…”
After scanning the documents, I let out a hollow laugh.
“…It was real.”
I muttered blankly as I reread them several times.
“They were really traitors… and Cultists of the Evil God…”
The charges that had been placed upon me and my family in my previous life.
Treason.
And Cultists of the Evil God.
At that moment, I realized those accusations had not been false—but the truth.