novelraw Chapter 64 : Chapter 64
Chapter 64 : Chapter 64
Chapter 64: Exorcism (4)
Pazit──!
Streaks of light fired from all directions.
Abel opened his eyes. The magic circles adorning the private infirmary were active. After looking around at the glowing magic circles, Abel tilted his gaze downwards. Numerous streaks of light were piercing Abel’s body. It was the result of the defensive spells installed in the infirmary being activated.
‘Did it react to the ectoplasm?’
Abel thought, looking down at his right hand.
The center of his palm was festering. The wrinkles engraved on the wound seemed to resemble a human face. It was because the ectoplasm Heraclitus had given him had seeped in.
‘In any case, it’s a relief.’
Emilio was sleeping without any trouble.
He looked no different from before, but his expression seemed much more peaceful.
‘There’s no time to delay.’
Abel threw off his stole.
Turning his back on Emilio, he recalled Heraclitus’s words. The culprit who was slaughtering the members of the Saint-Pierre family. Did he say he had already reached the capital? Even so, there were several targets. Raphael de Arcturus, or Fleur de Saint-Pierre. Including those two, many people related to the family were staying in the capital.
‘I must start the pursuit immediately.’
Clank.
The door to the private infirmary opened.
Konstanze’s and Fabien’s gazes turned to Abel. They seemed surprised at a glance. It was because Abel’s expression was too calm despite having suffered penetrating wounds. Dripping blood, Abel was merely silently hastening his steps.
“Wait a minute, Professor Argento!”
Konstanze shouted.
Abel, who was crossing the hallway, stopped.
“You have to give me a report. Was the exorcism successful?”
“It was.”
Abel looked back at Konstanze.
“Emilio Mackenzie is safe. Please let him rest for a few days. His mind and body will be worn out.”
“Was there an evil spirit in Mackenzie-gun’s body? Why wasn’t it detected? Was there a connection to the golems’ rampage? No, more importantly…”
Konstanze’s brow narrowed.
“Why were the defensive spells activated against you?”
“I do not know.”
“...Are you alright?”
“It just hurts a little.”
Abel scratched the back of his neck.
He roughly reached out and snatched a streak of light. He pulled it out and threw it on the floor. The streak of light collapsed with a heavy sound. I’ve pulled out one, so I just need to remove thirteen more. Abel thought, sweeping his hair back.
‘By the way…’
Abel lifted his head.
‘There’s not enough time to explain.’
Konstanze’s face was reflected in Abel’s dark blue eyes.
Strictly speaking, she was a doll. Unlike Fabien, Konstanze’s appearance was extremely human, but she was nothing more than a puppet who didn't know she was tied to strings.
“Vice President-nim.”
One step, Abel approached Konstanze.
Konstanze’s shoulders flinched.
“I need your support. Can you assign guards to Professor Arcturus and Fleur de Saint-Pierre? I will provide a detailed explanation later.”
“What is this…”
Konstanze adjusted her glasses.
Her pupils behind the lenses were trembling.
“Is it because of the murder case? The murderer who is slaughtering the members of the Saint-Pierre family. Is he targeting Professor Arcturus and Miss Saint-Pierre?”
“It is still at the stage of speculation.”
“What is the probability that your speculation is correct?”
“It wouldn’t be low.”
“In that case, of course…”
They must be protected.
Konstanze was immediately convinced.
She could not let a murder case occur within CIAR. But why? A question took root in Konstanze’s mind. The exorcism on Emilio, and the murder case targeting the Saint-Pierre family. What kind of connection was there between the two matters?
And above all…,
“I cannot give you a definite answer, Professor Argento.”
Why?
Why can’t I be certain?
Konstanze continued to speak even as she asked herself.
“I will make the suggestion. But if the two of them refuse, there is no way. CIAR respects the free will of its members. I must not force them. It’s also stated in the school regulations.”
A foolish answer.
Towards Konstanze, who was thinking so,
“That is the answer I expected.”
Abel tilted his head.
He moved his lips towards Konstanze’s ear.
“The opponent is a skilled person capable of infiltrating a fortress without a trace. Assigning guards would be useless. Above all, I respect your view, Vice President-nim. You would not be able to refuse what is stated in the school regulations.”
“That’s right. Because I am the Vice President of CIAR…”
“Then listen. Not as the Vice President, but as a doll.”
At Abel’s words, Konstanze’s eyes widened.
Her starkly revealed pupils shook.
“You are nothing more than a mere doll. But it doesn’t matter.”
Abel opened his mouth without caring.
“I respect the free will of a doll as well. If you have such a thing as free will, that is. It would be easy to manipulate you by injecting divine power, but I am different from Iris, so I will not do that. That would be my free will.”
“...Professor Argento?”
“And so, I have no means to force you.”
“Wait a minute, Professor Argento.”
“It can’t be helped. Act as you wish. If you have such a thing as a wish, that is.”
“──Professor Argento!”
Konstanze shouted, squeezing her eyes shut.
Abel did not react. He merely took a step back with an indifferent expression.
“What are you talking about right now!”
Konstanze lifted her head.
Her breath became rough from shouting.
“I am not a fake. I am Konstanze von Theresia. The dolls are carrying out their respective duties. They are all being controlled through my mana, and therefore I…”
“Is that so.”
Abel tilted his head.
A faint smile spread on his bloodless lips. At a glance, it seemed like a sneer, but it also seemed to contain a trivial pity.
“I was mistaken. Because it was so seamless.”
Abel said so and turned his back.
The unabated sound of his shoes was cold. Konstanze stared at Abel’s back with a frown. A thread-like voice flowed from between her teeth. That man, what on earth, what on earth is he talking about now….
[I will take my leave, Vice President-nim.]
Fabien, who had been silent, opened his mouth.
After giving a silent bow to Konstanze, Fabien followed beside Abel. A doll. Fabien thought as he moved his feet. The Vice President is a doll?
Wasn’t that obvious?
Fabien had sensed it from the beginning. It was a kind of premonition, not the result of a calculation. That was why he had insight into a realm that could not be reached by calculation. That Konstanze von Theresia was not human. That she would be an existence similar to a golem.
“Fabien.”
Suddenly, Abel opened his mouth.
“You have a question for me, don't you?”
[...A question, you say?]
“Yes.”
Abel was right.
There were so many things he wanted to ask.
And so, he could not understand. Why did the questions remain? The way a golem operates should be to derive a result as soon as a question is asked.
His head felt heavy, and his insides felt stuffy. Was this what the heart that intelligent life forms feel was like?
[Professor Argento, are you heading to your quarters?]
“No, I’m going to the capital.”
[It is late dawn now. The airship service has been suspended, and the dimensional doors have also stopped operating….]
“It doesn’t matter. I can just jump.”
[...How strange.]
Fabien’s question was barely golem-like.
It was nothing more than repeating a habit. After contemplating what words to say to be golem-like, he was merely pronouncing the words appropriate for a golem.
As if he was no longer a golem, and was feigning being a golem.
[Are you alright?]
“It just hurts a little.”
This must be because of that man’s actions.
Fabien thought, staring at Abel.
[To prevent the wounds from spreading, treatment…]
“Not necessary.”
Abel shrugged his shoulders.
He then extended his arm. Thump, thump, thump. The streaks of light, honed like iron stakes, scattered on the floor. Abel was silent, though he could have at least let out a groan.
[Professor Argento.]
The strange thing was Abel’s body.
The penetrating wounds that stained his body were healing. No, it would be closer to restoration. Without spells, without medicine, without any separate prescription, Abel’s body was reconstructing itself. As a living being, humans were born with a mortal destiny, but Abel seemed to be far removed from the laws of life.
So he cannot know.
For now, or in the future.
Who Abel Argento is.
That was the conclusion Fabien had reached.
[I…]
Fabien stopped.
The questions that wrinkled his mind became colorless.
Who is Abel Argento? He probably would never know.
Then who am I? What is this unprecedented phenomenon called ‘I’? He probably wouldn't know yet. Fabien was still too young to describe others and to define himself. He had come to possess a young self.
[May I go and say a word?]
And so, Fabien posed a youthful question.
[...I am concerned.]
Abel looked back at Fabien.
Fabien’s golden eyes were directed at Konstanze.
“You have chosen the right question.”
She will need you, he said.
Abel said, pulling out a streak of light stuck in his shoulder.
“So do as you please.”
Because it must be a heart you have obtained with difficulty.
After muttering so, Abel went on his way.
[Thank you, Professor.]
With a faint smile, Fabien,
‘I…’
walked towards Konstanze.
‘was a certain merchant’s dead son.’
In his head, he recalled his former owners.
If a living being with a soul divides, lays eggs, and becomes pregnant to reproduce, then through what have golems without souls been born until now?
‘I hated the eldest daughter of a count’s family, and I was also the assistant of a magician steeped in madness.’
Perhaps they haven't been born yet.
Fabien thought so. All golems are trapped in an eggshell, and at the same time, they are fetuses conceived in a world like a mother’s womb. They just don't have a soul because they haven't been born, but maybe one day they can become a proper species.
He thought it would be nice if that were the case.
‘I was the husband of a certain combat golem, and now…’
he was nothing.
Because he was acting as he pleased.
Because he was nothing, he had become complete.
[You must become nothing.]
It was because of that.
Fabien opened his mouth towards Konstanze.
“...Pardon?”
[You may not be the Vice President of CIAR. You may not be human, and you may not be a woman. Your name may also not be yours.]
But it’s alright.
There is no need to be afraid, he said.
Fabien whispered with a smile.
[Because all living beings are born as nothing. The reason we were objects until the end may be because we have never had the chance to enjoy being nothing.]
So I will pray.
That you can become nothing.
By all means, be born safely.
[...My kin.]
Fabien bowed.
That was the end. After pouring out words like a prophecy, Fabien turned his back.
Konstanze stood still. A few thoughts took root behind her clenched lips. They were everyday, rational thoughts. What is that golem talking about? I am Konstanze von Theresia. A human female, and the Vice President of CIAR.
It should be so,
kin.
What a truly ridiculous noun.
“To become nothing…”
Konstanze muttered with her head bowed.
She spoke to herself. The contents were bizarre, and illogical.
Without knowing what she was saying herself.
As if chanting a spell.
[...That’s impossible.]