novelraw Chapter 236
Chapter 236
Chapter 236
“…….”
He asked if I had seen any strange phrases or letters.
Of course, I had.
However, whether to tell him or not required some thought.
I blinked my unfocused eyes. Gradually, his face started to come into clear view. I furrowed my brows and asked him.
“What have you been doing that you’re coming now?”
“I’m asking.”
“Can’t you even answer? Is this what you say after meeting in two days?”
“…I had some circumstances. If I had time, I would have come to see you right away.”“…….”
He hadn’t had time to come see me until now.
Let me probe once more, for sure.
If he urgently sought me because there was something he needed to find out from me, that also meant there was information I could get from him.
I took a deep breath and erased my self. I had to do that to avoid feeling nauseous.
“Do you know I’ve been waiting for your note all along?”
“…Yes?”
“I checked if there was anything placed in the room when I woke up, and even when walking around, I kept looking at the sky in case a note fell from somewhere.”
“…….”
He blinked rapidly, as if flustered.
Instead of missing that signal, I delivered one more line.
“I’ve been thinking all along about when you would come.”
“…You don’t mean really….”
“You don’t even know what I did during the past two days, do you.”
“…….”
He slightly distorted his eyebrows and moved his lips as if to make an excuse, then soon closed his mouth with a troubled face, avoiding my eyes. Because I was looking at him with cold eyes, his complexion gradually darkened.
Good. Thanks for the info.
He definitely hadn’t been able to observe my every move during the past two days. As I initially guessed, there must have been a fight within Pleroma.
I wanted to tell this madman that it was normal not to know if not told, but anyway, he felt guilty about not knowing my daily life—not being able to stalk me.
He didn’t approach me knowing that I had received the white phosphorus match.
I sighed and answered.
“…Never mind. Sorry for nagging.”
“I’m sorry too. Really, because I didn’t have time….”
“…….”
Apologizing for not being able to stalk due to lack of time, it was truly surprising even though I had said something to him. He should find it more surprising that I was complaining about not being stalked, this bastard….
Those words came up to my throat, but I couldn’t. I now asked about what he had originally inquired.
“Strange, you say. What do you mean by strange?”
What was the reason he urgently called me to ask if I had seen something?
Basically, it would be because it was against his own benefit.
At the same time, there was a possibility it was a loss to me too, but first, I couldn’t readily do something good for him. If it became a problem, I could tell him the truth later or turn back time.
“Literally, sentences that don’t make sense, random letters, or symbols or shapes, have you seen them?”
“…Well. At least nothing caught my eye.”
The other party looked at me without a word.
He gave a subtle smile and said.
“Really?”
“…….”
So this was how he came out.
I almost pulled up one corner of my mouth, but maintained a blank expression.
“Then should I say I saw something I didn’t see?”
Instead of answering, he glanced to the side and said.
“I got a lot of the drug you mentioned before.”
“…….”
“Shall we do it now? It would be troublesome for me because I have to go out soon, but if only you do it, I can help.”
“I also have to go out in 30 minutes.”
“Hm, that’s true. But I have to be in an awakened state.”
He rose from his seat and extended his hand to me.
“Come on, get up.”
* * *
Of course, I knew it would be like that, but there was no choice.
I looked at the blue strap binding my left arm and thought. My vision was blurry, but that one thing was clearly visible.
‘As expected, words don’t get through to this bastard.’
[What are you?]
Someone was gripping my neck.
It wasn’t an attempt to kill, of course, and since force was applied to the side where the carotid artery was, it seemed he was infusing mana into me. My neck tingled to the point of burning.
It couldn’t not be, since he was injecting ordinary mana, not healing magic. But the other party must have had no choice either.
The stalker said in a flustered voice.
[You do this every time, yet you say to do the drug? Do you perhaps feel comfort in the sensation of dying? You can’t do that… You have to live long. It’s really peculiar….]
You’re more peculiar, you bastard….
This guy needed to be sent to a cell. Of course, before, I was the one who suggested doing the drug together. But he wasn’t doing the drug himself?
I resisted saying I wouldn’t do it until he did it together too, but the bastard was stubbornly insistent like a madman. While persuading me, he recited Pleroma’s magic formula and stuck the syringe into my arm without even looking at the vein.
‘Argh…. Just do it all by yourself and eat it up.’
I was truly impressed by that extremely petty method. As expected of an opportunist. Finding an opportunity like this really made me think he had no pride.
Of course, even so.
‘It’s worth watching.’
Having even received the ring, what more couldn’t I do?
It was similar to the time with Abraham. If this process was truly a loss, I would have turned back time or escaped the situation by any means.
Even if he didn’t take the drug, this situation was still advantageous to me anyway. Because he believed I would now speak only the truth.
Tak—
The small lantern I had seen before appeared in front of my eyes. He was examining my pupils, then turned off the light and went around rummaging for something. I felt something stabbing into my arm where sensation was fading. Mana flowed through my arm into my whole body.
[Better now, right? It’s a sedative.]
“…….”
[Sorry. I also want to do it together…. I sincerely want to have the same experience at the same time as you, but if I do the drug too, both you and I will die. There are many people targeting me and you right now….]
He had barely survived countless close calls blocking those trying to attack me all this week. Even now, if they knew he was here, they would come to attack immediately, so he had to stay sane to defend at any time.
My ears intermittently went deaf, so I couldn’t hear well, but it was definitely that kind of story.
You didn’t have to feel sorry. If you really felt sorry, just babble a lot right now. There was fun in gathering scattered clues everywhere.
[Let’s do it together after Pentalon ends.]
I closed my eyes and fell into thought.
As I always thought, paradoxically, people were most vulnerable when they thought they had the opponent in their grasp.
Unknowingly, they handed over numerous pieces of information to the opponent they looked down on. From someone on guard, you couldn’t get meaningful body language or unguarded questions without calculation.
In other words, the information I could get here was only expressions and tone, speed of speech, the list of information he was curious about, the order of questions, what the next question, seemingly quite detached from my previous answer, implied, the other party’s answers that I had to discern truth from lie myself… That was all, but this always pointed to the path closest to the answer. Rather than direct words, this was more accurate. Because even when feeling superior to the opponent, words could be fabricated, but the complex elements in between were hard to fabricate.
‘…Let’s think again.’
Thanks to the new drug he injected, breathing became a bit easier.
We parted on Monday dawn. He didn’t know what I did from Monday to Wednesday.
The ‘strange’ things related to me so far were two. The phrase in the flower bouquet on the arts festival day and the alphabets on the white phosphorus matches.
He didn’t know that I had received the white phosphorus match. Even if he could guess ‘something strange might have come to me’ based on some grounds, he had no confirmation that something strange really came to me. If he had, he wouldn’t have gone around like this but directly asked ‘You must have received a strange object, what phrase was written on it.’ Because otherwise, there was a possibility of wasting time like now.
The conclusion?
First, he didn’t know other things, but he knew at least that I was lying. In this case, he already knew that there was a strange sentence in my flower bouquet. Given his stalking behavior, it couldn’t be said to be impossible.
Second, separately from loving me, he couldn’t take my words at face value, so he wanted to confirm accuracy directly. Honestly, this possibility was the biggest.
The stalker’s thought process up to drugging me was one of these two.
So I had to think carefully. Since this drug didn’t work well on me with divine power, at least mentally I was fine, even if not physically.
Depending on how I answered here, he would realize ‘whether the drug works on me or not.’
If he knew ‘that I know A’? Naturally, if I said I didn’t know A even under the drug, he would know not only that the drug didn’t work but also that I was deceiving him.
‘I have plenty of points anyway, so anticipate turning back.’
If his reaction was even slightly suspicious, turn back immediately.
[…Always tell me the facts as they are. That way I can protect you. As you know, people are eyeing Pentalon and trying to gain too much. I said before too. I you….]
Useless words continued.
[…I went to see an albino rabbit born this time….]
“…….”
[…During the time I couldn’t see , I thought about things I want to do with you in the future. But if one dies, we can’t do it, right? Resurrection….]
Every time I closed and opened my eyes, the topic he was talking about changed, so it seemed I kept falling asleep. In fact, drowsiness kept coming. It was better than before receiving the unknown injection, but breathing was still insufficient. I buried my head in the blanket.
[You said morphine, right. Seems you often do relaxing types rather than stimulating types. But….]
An ice-cold hand touched my cheek. I furrowed my eyes and looked at him. My vision had deteriorated like the world was all blurred, but I had to express my intention anyway. He touched my eyelid with his finger and said.
[You can’t sleep yet. I’ll let you sleep if you answer my question.]
“…….”
[You don’t smoke, right? They say it’s good to smoke together when doing drugs. Everyone seems to think they’ll be healthy forever….]
Coffin-entering experience?
Even without smoking, oxygen was already lacking, so no need to recommend cigarettes.
[Do you smoke, or not?]
“Not….”
[Ah, good. You have strength to answer now. Then let’s get to the main point.]
His soft voice came from a bit closer. The platinum hair hanging by my ear brushed my neck.
[Have you seen any strange phrases or letters or symbols?]
“…….”
[I said you can’t sleep yet. I’ll let you sleep all twelve hours from now, so just answer.]
“…Actually.”
[Actually~?]
“I received one before.”
The words were excessively slow, but the other party didn’t mind.
His eyes changed. He suddenly turned my head to make me look at him. He smiled as if in ecstasy and brought his face close to mine.
“It was in the flower bouquet, Audienz dubioses schockiertes… or something. I still don’t know what it is.”
[…Hm? When did you receive that?]
“January….”
I exhaled once and swept my face with my hand.
“I don’t know the date. Do I have to think about that in this situation…?”
[January? Not that far back, but last week or this week?]
“…….”
Hm?
I checked his face and furrowed my brows while asking back.
I had to do that deliberately because the acting almost slipped for a moment.
“This week?”
[Yes.]
“…No. I said no how many times….”
I felt him staring blankly at my eyes.
[Really none?]
“I said so. I didn’t see. If I see, I can tell you.”
[Ah, yes, yes.]
The stalker exhaled deeply as if relieved now and smiled.
[Tell me for sure if you find any. As you know, what I’m talking about is related to Pentalon.]
His voice became serious.
[Our diocese has half withdrawn from Pentalon, but other dioceses are still obsessed with Pentalon. Among them, there are those targeting strong mages like you. I’m blocking such dioceses, but you never know, so don’t decode anything, and even if you read something, don’t follow it. Always move according to your intuition.]
“…….”
[Because that can kill you.]
I looked at him. He was still smiling with a satisfied face.
His hand covered my eyes.
[…Anyway, good. You can sleep now.]
* * *
“Lucas!”
A sharp pain hit my core, and I opened my eyes wide.
As soon as I opened my eyes, Leo’s flustered face appeared. Because it was winter and the sun set early, the night sky was visible beyond.
Grass was in my hand. Looking around, it was the bushes behind the art gallery where I had lost consciousness earlier.
Without a word, Leo took out an elixir from his pocket and cast a simple healing spell on me. Since I had already received a sedative there and taken a full nap, there was no problem with my health at all, but to Leo, the abnormality in my core had happened just a few minutes ago, so it made sense he’d think to treat immediately.
“How did you get here?”
“Terror countermeasures meeting. Mother came too.”
Leo answered shortly and finished the healing spell.
He seemed to mean the meeting I had to attend later. Checking the clock, it was 10 minutes before entering the meeting.
I prepared myself thinking I might hear some scolding words again, but unexpectedly, Leo had a calm expression and said something normal.
“I heard from Heike. That person sent a note.”
“Hm, yeah. she asked if I had received any strange writing recently.”
“What did you answer?”
“What do you think I did.”
Leo nodded, understanding the meaning.
This made it clear.
The competing dioceses of Freiburg were sending codes to Heike and me.
She didn’t know that I had discovered her identity, so I didn’t know how far she guessed I knew, but now the outline was gradually forming.
Of course, my thoughts were merely guesses, and to know if my guesses were real, an actual problem had to occur to verify.
‘She said she would protect me.’
The expression was different, but anyway, it was that kind of words.
Thanks, but the promise of ‘I will protect’ from someone without common sense couldn’t be easily believed. I was decoding the code in my head whenever I had time. I would know the answer soon.
Perhaps because I was silent, Leo handed me a sympathetic nerve blocker.
“Why?”
“Just take it.”
He seemed to think the archbishop had given me a similar drug again. It wasn’t impossible, so I just took the high blood pressure medicine.
The time I entered the meeting room was 5 minutes before the start. Quite a few people were already inside.
A little after I found my seat and sat, it became on time, and the crown prince’s servant opened the meeting room door. Everyone inside rose from their seats.
“We greet Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
“It’s been a while.”
There was no smile on her face. She probably didn’t take this matter seriously, and she was likely acting too.
Abraham, no, the crown prince looked at me blankly, then finally smiled and tilted her head.
“It seems Eszett deputy leader Your Excellency is not in good condition, perhaps you should go home… I think.”
“…….”
Picking a fight?
Seeing her say that, Leo giving me the sympathetic nerve blocker wasn’t just for nothing.
I almost swore but regained my composure and answered.
“No.”
“Hm… Is that so. Good. Now it seems everyone is here.”
The crown prince slowly looked around inside and said.
“72 hours left until opening. Let’s start right away.”
She scanned the politicians with dark faces and gestured to the public security headquarters chief. The public security headquarters chief greeted briefly and cast an amplification spell before saying.
“Yes, the situation report was already shared in the previous meeting, and for those who didn’t participate, it was reported via warp mail, so we’ll proceed directly to countermeasures.”
She turned a page of the paper she was holding and continued.
“It may sound inconsistent, but everyone knows the fact that we discovered the terror too early. So everyone set external schedules and gathered here in extreme secrecy, as you know. The basement is preserved as is, but due to the rat that escaped outside causing berserk, the terrorists likely moved their base or abandoned the plan. Also, there’s no guarantee Pleroma stored contaminated rats only there.”
She said with serious eyes.
“Within 72 hours, we must root out all contaminated animals nationwide.”
Those sitting beside him nodded.
“It’s a war with rats, then.”
“We must check insects like mosquitoes too. We don’t know how far their technology has advanced. The barriers we installed in the stadium, lodging, and various places in Berlin have no ability to defend small animals or insects below a certain mana level.”
“That’s right. They were installed targeting human defense.”
It was novel for the public security headquarters chief to say such things. This guy, how much Elias passionately said to spend money on magical beasts last year, but she didn’t even listen, and now she was solemnly declaring to catch magical beasts.
Leo, sitting far across, also had a slightly subtle expression visible.
“Also, mechanical devices were found on the basement shelves. The analysis results are out. It’s a bomb imported from the Russian Empire 27 years ago.”
“27 years? I don’t know if this even works.”
“It’s fully possible if it’s old-fashioned. But bombs are still made now, so why specifically….”
To the questions coming from around, the public security headquarters chief shook his head.
“I think many will find it puzzling. It’s a truly old-generation invention that can be used without injecting mana. Currently, even inventions by Old Humans are made to be usable only by injecting mana, but not at that time. Such old-fashioned items won’t be caught by barriers, so they probably intended to bring them in on Pentalon day.”
“That's a bit strange. If it’s to cause berserk, maybe, but… Pleroma has no reason to really blow us up and kill us, right? They caused civilians to berserk to verify eligibility for Vitriol.”
The Minister of Magic raised a reasonable question, but that opinion was quickly refuted.
“Pleroma negatively views the very fact that we don’t believe in their doctrine. There are Pleroma who think if we won’t believe in God their way, it’s better for all to die cleanly.”
“Hm…. That’s true.”
“I said this, but the bomb is likely a decoy. Even if not caught by barriers, it can be fully caught at inspections, right. It’s hard to see the bomb as the core of the plan. So, I want to propose here.”
The public security headquarters chief rose from his seat, looked at the crown prince, and said.
“From now on, for 72 hours, I propose to put full effort into rooting out contaminated animals. Please deploy half of the mages affiliated with the Imperial Mages' Association to nationwide inspections.”
Half.
Currently, the mages deployed for Pentalon stadium and lodging security are 1/4 of the total. Considering how strict the security became after the Grand Hotel terror, one could know how large that deployment was.
It meant to let twice that roam nationwide for 72 hours.
“Hm.”
The crown prince just stroked her chin with an unreadable smile.
It seemed the conclusion was already made in her head, but she was causing nuisance here too with her usual unpredictable personality. Of course, no one here would think that.
At that moment, she looked at me and said.
“I want to ask what Eszett deputy leader thinks about this.”