novelraw Chapter 174
Chapter 174
Chapter 174. Catching the Tail (2)
"Uuuuuuugh...!"
Zahard, having escaped from prison, began to stretch.
"The air outside is quite something special. I haven't been imprisoned for so long, but the air outside tastes this good."
Creak, crack.
Zahard's joints creaked as he twisted his body this way and that before turning his gaze to me.
"By the way, where did you say you were going? Was it Bayer Academy?"
"Yes."
"Hm, I suppose there's someone there who knows about the 'Six Fingers'?"
"That is correct."
It's not entirely true, but it was best to answer that way. It's tiresome to explain everything.
What is urgent for me now is the whereabouts of 'Dantes Christo'.
Of course, the person who hired the 'Six Fingers' would be under their protection.
'If he utilizes the backing of the Christo family, the family could really face ruin.'
Thanks to that, it shouldn't be difficult to pinpoint and eliminate just one person.
If it were about completely uprooting the 'Christo family', it would mean dealing with not only the family members but also the knights affiliated with them.
Furthermore, the dynamic of an individual against a family doesn't seem particularly appealing at this moment.
With so many other matters to attend to, the Christo family isn't part of the Four Major Families, but they come close.
In any case, it's a place destined to fall due to an event that's bound to happen soon, so it seems unnecessary for me to handle it.
'The problem is Claude.'
He is dangerous.
Despite being just one person, his prowess surpasses that of a knight, and he seems to have acquired a Trait he did not have in the original work called the 'Vessel of the Demon King'.
'But for what reason it happened, I have no idea.'
Could it possibly be... is he the one hearing the 'voice'?
In any case, I'll find out as I sort things out.
While organizing my thoughts on the way to Bayer Academy, I heard Zahard's nostalgic voice from somewhere.
"Academy, huh... I miss it."
"... You mean your academy days?"
I almost said, 'When was that even,' but decided not to as it might sadden him.
Despite his appearance, once he gets sulky, he's hard to soothe.
"No, it reminded me of the days when I was saving up money to enroll in the academy."
'Hmm?'
A question mark seemed to rise above my head.
"Weren't you of noble birth, Zahard? Enrolling wouldn't have been difficult."
"Hm? Didn't I mention it to you, Yulian?"
Of course not!
I've never had personal conversations with him. There wasn't any such content in the original work either.
All I know about 'Zahard' is his 'background'.
Actually, it felt like I knew plenty about his 'background' to make do.
"I was a live-in son-in-law."
His unexpected words were quite surprising.
Despite appearances, he seemed like someone strong-willed, yet he had been a live-in son-in-law.
This was indeed something new.
"... Weren't there objections from your in-laws?"
I knew this wasn't something Yulian would typically ask.
Yulian, who remains indifferent to others, would never show such interest.
However, my curiosity was piqued beyond measure.
What kind of story lay behind this?
"My father-in-law said he would permit it if I could defeat him."
"... So you won, right?"
Zahard's eyes turned towards me, and then he laughed.
"Would I have lost?"
***
Before heading to Bayer Academy, I stopped by to report to Ordwin.
She didn't particularly reconsider the actions I had taken.
But this had to be said.
"I met Sir Claude Febrance."
It was merely a whim.
There was curiosity whether any information could be gleaned if I mentioned it to Ordwin.
Perhaps even why he joined the 'Six Fingers'?
So I brought it up out of sheer curiosity.
"... Ugh."
However, upon hearing the name Claude, Ordwin's expression crumpled to a great extent.
She put down the pen used for aggressively completing documents and spoke quietly, as if repressing something.
"Did you know, actually the commander of 'Blind Eyes' in the past, held a level of competence, with nobles filling the position?"
"Yes."
Of course.
Because the former commander 'that person' caused such a mess, the commander of 'Blind Eyes' was moved away from the 'field' to focus solely on document tasks, so how could I not know?
'It's just putting up a façade.'
In any case, although the 'Blind Eyes' structure changed due to that 'incident', its roles as the Imperial Family's agent still continued effectively.
Thanks to the powerful executioner known as 'Yulian Cryphart Frason'.
"But because of Claude Febrance, a fallen noble with no power, only in charge of handling the correspondence of the secretariat has taken the position."
'Much like me.'
Murmuring the last words to herself, Ordwin shrugged.
"You're a special case, but indeed, it's a position where people can't help but burst at some point. Sir Claude, the previous commander, handled all the tasks that Sir Yulian, you are currently doing."
In other words, before I joined, Claude had played the role of the imperial executioner, the 'Bloody Sword of the Imperial Family'.
Regardless of whether they were commoners or nobles, elderly or children.
He annihilated them all indiscriminately as the merciless executioners of the imperial family.
Continually forced to kill innocent children of nobles due to political ties, he started questioning the empire's ideology.
'Am I following the right path?'
Even under the imperial command.
From infants who had just started seeing the world.
To the elderly abandoned by their children, collapsing under the weight of loneliness.
Was there truly a need to deal with them so brutally?
Unable to answer these questions.
Eventually, he slaughtered the knights and the 'Blind Eyes' members who accompanied him on missions and fled.
"So... what is he doing now?"
Perhaps driven by thoughts of wanting to change the current ambiguous system of 'Blind Eyes', Ordwin seems curious about Claude's whereabouts.
"He's affiliated with the Six Fingers. He serves as their leader."
"... Wow."
Ordwin slightly raised herself from the chair and exclaimed with amazement, her eyes shaking in shock.
"Even though he was a defector, I never imagined him joining a criminal organization."
Indeed.
Originally, after going through several episodes, he would become a companion of the 'Sword Saint'.
Later, he dies at the hands of someone adept in 'demonic energy', but he always made sure to fulfill his role—a character with a strong presence.
The one who would eventually take Claude down.
That would be me, or rather, 'Yulian'.
In any case, in this development, things will proceed according to the scenario.
Since he's the leader of the 'Six Fingers', there's no avoiding dealing with him.
'If I kill him...'
Would there be no major change in the scenario? I thought, but what use is that now.
Now that it's come to this, let's turn everything upside down, okay?
***
- 'I won't be contacting you for a while. And remember, no matter what happens, you have no connection with me.'
With those parting words from Dantes, Eitel resolved to quietly remain at the academy for the time being, keeping them close to his heart.
Yet, it was impossible to suppress the growing impatience.
'Damn... how much longer must I continue this charade?'
Even he knew that the 'Dawn Society' wasn't a typical organization.
Worshipping the 'Demon God Barbatos', utilizing the demonic energy of demons, and not hesitating to conduct 'human experiments', it was indeed a deranged group.
Thus Eitel found meaning in believing in that place.
'A gathering of particularly twisted nobles among an already crooked nobility.'
Although he hasn't lived long as a noble, he knows.
A noble can become 'twisted'.
The more twisted they are, the ones in society holding high positions, and.
The ones capable of strongly pushing their agendas are those able to handle the scrutiny that comes with it.
Thus, Eitel decided to reach out to the 'Dawn Society'.
'For a life more befitting a noble!'
Eitel's family is neither distinguished nor notable—a mediocre family.
Barely managing a few contributions over repeated history to earn the mere pretense of the title 'noble'.
The only possible actions, serving as the principal of Bayer Academy, being a punching bag among other 'nobles'.
'I expected things would change once I joined the Dawn Society...'
He was mistaken. No, it hasn't even come close to meeting his 'expectations'.
'If they had listened to me and sent Annarui to the Bright Moon Pavilion, instead of the Exchange Meet...!'
Silently clicking his tongue at Dantes's absurd decision, Eitel with simmering impatience stood up, looked out the window.
As the principal of Bayer Academy.
A position that despite being mere pretense, affords a moderate measure of power, allowing one to overlook from above.
"Honestly, ignorant fools trying to scheme are the reason the empire's in such disarray."
Clicking his tongue once more, Eitel started to savor the view outside the window.
Regardless, the scenery from this height never gets old no matter how many times he observes it.
'Surely, places like Hundred Garments Emporium or the Magic Tower have more exhilarating views than this.'
Aiming high is only a good idea; Eitel mused internally, replaying some sage-like quote he heard somewhere before glancing once more through the window.
'... Hmm?'
It was like fate playing a trick on him.
By sheer coincidence, on the spot where his gaze unwittingly fell, stood an individual resembling 'Yulian'.
Instinctively, Eitel understood.
'Things have gone awry.'
He vaguely heard that 'Blind Eyes' had begun investigating the 'Six Fingers'.
At the same time, Dantes also cautioned him.
- 'Do not engage with Blind Eyes. Their recent movements are peculiar.'
Thinking about the current buzz in the capital, Blind Eyes arriving here would only mean one thing.
'... They're seeking information about the Six Fingers!'
Given he was the only point of contact, they'd naturally come straight here!
Eitel was both amazed by his perceptiveness.
Simultaneously, quick and keen on locating a way to leave the academy without running into 'Yulian', he sprung into action.
"I have some business to attend to and will be stepping out. If anyone comes by, simply insist I'm out."
"Pardon? Oh, understood!"
After instructing his secretary, Eitel swiftly headed towards the back entrance of the main building.
Descent into the lower floors, Eitel pressed the third brick embedded into the wall on the middle level.
Sssrrrrk──!
As the brick sunk inward, a mechanical sound initiated, revealing a crevice among the bricks.
Inserting himself into it, Eitel pressed the brick again, sealing off the opening.
'Heh heh...'
The place Eitel stepped into was a secret passage known only to a select few amongst the academy personnel.
'No outsiders could possibly know about this place.'
Confident he wouldn't be discovered, Eitel leisurely walked along the tunnel.
Though the neglected state of the tunnel led to a clammy humidity assaulting his skin, he could endure such minor discomforts.
'Was it around here...?'
Reaching the end of the tunnel, Eitel pushed out the brick embedded in the corner as he did before.
Drrrkk──!
As the crevice appeared, revealing the outside passage and streaming light into the tunnel, Eitel broke into a grin.
'Only a deviant who memorized the building's blueprints like the back of their hand could know of this secret passage.'
Believing it impossible for anyone to discover him here, Eitel exited the tunnel.
What greeted Eitel was none other than.
"Hm... So waiting here means he'd indeed show up, just as I was told."
The last person he wanted to see, Yulian, and an unfamiliar middle-aged man stood before him.
'How, how did they...!?'
Eitel felt his heart nearly stop for a moment.
Why on earth was that slit-eyed man here?
Feeling a stiffening tension from the man's peculiar oppressive presence, Eitel tried to maintain a semblance of normalcy.
"What brings you here, Sir Yulian."
"Sir Eitel, I apologize, but there are pressing matters we need to discuss. Could you cooperate with us?"
"C-Keheuk...!"
Though Yulian's voice carried the calm deliberateness of conducting business, Eitel sensed cold sweat trickling down his back.
'... Did they come knowing?'
If so, knowing his nature, he'd carry out things with force!
'Hope still remains.'
Putting on a poker face and bluffing.
Instinctively grasping that this would be beneficial in this situation.
"No, I'm busy. If you have something to say, do it later."
Stating thus, Eitel adjusted his collar and attempted to walk on.
Thunk──!
As he moved, Zahard, who stood nearby, grabbed Eitel's arm.
"What are you doing, let go!"
"It's better if you follow obediently while we speak."
"... What?"
Offended by the manners of a stranger, Eitel raised his voice.
"Do you have any idea who I am? Clearly, you're blind to what's important... W-What the hell!?"
Crunch──!
Zahard twisted Eitel's arm, sending him writhing in pain to the ground.
"How impressive, Sir Eitel. Just a few words, and you've grasped the essence of Sir Zahard."
Hearing Yulian's sardonic tone from behind where his face was pressed to the floor, Zahard let out a sardonic chuckle.
"Regardless, your enthusiasm for cooperating with the investigation is truly moving, Sir Eitel."
Quietly spoken yet piercing Yulian's voice.
"Surely, even if you're involved in the loud incidents captivating the capital, hehe. Would I go so far as to kill you?"