novelraw Chapter 146 : Probing Battle (2)
Chapter 146 : Probing Battle (2)
Chapter 146: Probing Battle (2)
That midnight.
Archbishop Dominico, already furious after learning the full story through the newspapers, was struck by yet another disaster.
“…What?”
The voice of the secretary relaying the information from the other side of the Orb trembled violently.
“D-Director Peregrine has been murdered. Executor Karen has disappeared after leaving Dellowell, and her whereabouts are currently unknown.”
“Witnesses! Aren’t there any witnesses at all?!”
“T-that is… there’s nothing left in the records. We believe someone may have tampered with them deliberately.”
“What matters is who that someone is! If you have any suspicions, spit them out already!”
The secretary’s mental state was in utter chaos after witnessing such a horrific scene and then having to report to the Archbishop before even fully handling the aftermath.
Even so, steadying himself, he forced out his deductions.
“I-it’s only suspicion, so I hesitate to say it… but considering that Director Peregrine’s death and Executor Karen’s disappearance happened at the exact same time… perhaps the culprit is….”
Booooom!
“And now you’re trying to tell me the Executor murdered the Director and fled, is that it?!”
“I-I want to believe otherwise too! But the circumstances leave no other conclusion! If not, then why has Executor Karen vanished?!”
“…….”
The secretary assumed the Archbishop had been rendered speechless by the unbelievable reality.
After all, who could have imagined something like this happening between Heinrich Peregrine and Karen Rosefield, the two great pillars of Dellowell and embodiments of the Ribenian Orthodox Church’s faith?
But the reason Dominico had lost his words was somewhat different from what the secretary expected.
‘…This is dangerous.’
If Heinrich truly died at Karen’s hands—
Then he himself was no longer safe either.
No, perhaps her ultimate target was him all along.
After all, he had been the one who decided the fate of that village back then.
Feeling cold sweat drip down his spine, Dominico hurriedly wrapped up the conversation.
“Do not tell anyone about this. Neither internally nor externally! If this leaks out, unimaginable chaos will follow.”
“U-understood.”
“And if anyone asks about Heinrich, tell them this: ‘The Director of the Inquisition has taken long-term medical leave due to chronic illness and entered seclusion for recovery. The Archbishop plans to appoint a successor in preparation for an extended absence.’ Understood?”
“Yes!”
Dominico immediately cut off the mana connection.
“Huff… huff….”
Damn it.
What do I do now?
My location must already be exposed. She could come storming in at any moment.
If I don’t hide somewhere that damned bitch could never possibly know about…!
Muttering to himself, Dominico hurriedly tried to leave the cathedral when a young, beautiful voice stopped him.
“Where are you rushing off to so urgently, Archbishop?”
His frantic footsteps immediately came to a halt.
Step, step.
A man confidently walked in from the cathedral entrance.
Even within the dim interior, his skin shone brilliantly like white jade.
The silver cross resting on his back gleamed under the light of the altar.
“…When I desperately begged you to come, you ignored me completely. But now that everything’s over, you return all smiles, Executor.”
Though his words sounded sharp, his expression strangely carried relief.
Naturally so.
‘If it’s this man, he’s more than capable of dealing with Karen.’
Since things had turned out this way, he might as well use him as an escort until he found a safer place to hide.
Of course, before that, there was something that needed to be addressed first.
Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Dominico leaned against the side of the altar.
“So then, just what kind of mission were you carrying out? Let’s hear it.”
“A great deal happened.”
Luke Honorlight, Executor of Light, gazed into empty space with distant eyes before clenching his fist tightly.
“The war that occurred in Mallet this time was no different from an extension of this great calamity.”
“…What nonsense are you talking about?”
“In the vicinity of Duel—Mallet, where only a single A-Rank or higher Beast appears annually, over eight thousand Beasts emerged along with the SS-Rank Beast Dabios. The situation has become truly dire.”
“I asked what you’re talking about!”
“There’s no need for someone like you to know anymore.”
“W-what?!”
Instead of answering, Luke crossed the distance in a single step and arrived directly before Dominico.
The faint smile and gentle eyes that had rested on his face had vanished completely.
“Because you were once someone I genuinely respected, this is my final warning.”
He spoke firmly.
“Step down from the position of Archbishop and live as an ordinary believer. If you do, at the very least, you’ll be able to preserve your life.”
“…Ha.”
What a cursed day this is.
Not a single thing has gone the way I wanted.
Suppressing his rage with great effort, Dominico tilted his head with a scoff.
“You suddenly appear out of nowhere, refuse to answer my questions, and now what? You’re telling me to step down as Archbishop? You truly have gone mad, Luke Honorlight. Do you even know who I am…!”
As Dominico swung his right hand with all his strength to slap him, Luke instantly caught it and slammed him onto the floor before beginning to recount everything that had happened.
“With Hallard’s cooperation, I toured every Beast Habitat Zone south of Flock. What I thought would take a single month of exploration continued for over six months, and in the end, I was the only one in the Empire who completed the work.”
“…….”
“This was an operation meant to update the Beasts’ activity zones, appearance frequency, and overall scale over the past three years… and only two days ago was I finally able to objectively assess the current situation.”
“What are you trying to say already?!”
“That while you people obsessed over immediate profit and power, too many things have changed.”
Kneeling on one knee so his eyes met the Archbishop’s, Luke declared firmly:
“We must prepare for total war immediately. At this rate, hundreds of thousands… no, tens of millions of lives will be endangered.”
---
After safely returning to Karbenna, I focused entirely on resting.
I spent all of Sunday doing nothing but recuperating.
Even if I had been freed from the curse, I had still gone through three massive incidents within a single month—events most people wouldn’t even experience once per quarter.
The body could recover through proper rest, but the mind wasn’t so simple.
Thus, while resting, I spent my time carefully organizing everything that had happened so far and everything that still needed to be done.
Since arriving in this world, it was practically the first time I had spent alone without interacting with anyone.
Then another day passed, and April 4th arrived.
While looking through Monday’s morning newspaper, I was eating breakfast together with Walter.
<“Now It’s the Imperial Army’s Turn”… Eugene Carter Begins New Reform>
‘Lieutenant General Alvin really put effort into this.’
There were probably still many issues left undiscussed too.
“What are you staring at so seriously?”
Walter glanced over at the newspaper I was reading and suddenly began coughing violently.
“Cough, cough!”
“What’s wrong with you?”
After hurriedly gulping down water, Walter pointed toward the newspaper headlines.
“Field Manual Revision Committee? What the hell is this, Carter?!”
“It says exactly what it means. You can read it yourself.”
“No, did you stir up another mess in the meantime? Seriously?”
“Why are you making such a fuss? I just tested the waters a little.”
“…I should’ve known from the moment you tried dragging that exhausted body of yours all the way to the Special Task Force.”
Leaning against the chair, Walter placed a hand on my shoulder.
“If you keep this up, you’re not going to live long, Carter.”
“…Yeah.”
I could’ve joked back.
Said something like, “Why are you saying things like that?” or “Stop talking nonsense.”
But I didn’t.
No matter how desperately I struggled, there were things already set in stone.
If only I could live by simply accepting the natural order instead.
‘If I could’ve done that, I probably never would’ve transmigrated in the first place.’
I spent years suffering while trying to change things that couldn’t be changed, and in the end, it was a bitter post written out of resignation that brought me all the way here.
That was why I couldn’t stop.
Most people would laugh, but that was the essence of who I was.
The final struggle of a loser who wasted ten years on a worthless game during a worthless beginning of life.
And if I could crown that struggle with victory—
Then I was willing to do anything.
Just as I was silently reaffirming my resolve—
“Lord Eugene! Lord Eugene!”
Rubia came running toward us with a voice even louder than usual.
“What is it?”
“I think you need to hurry to the Grand Assembly Hall! Right now, the Bernhardts are…!”
“…So they’ve come.”
I handed the newspaper to Walter and rose from my seat.
Now it was time to confirm their stance.
Buzz buzz.
Even from the entrance of Building J, a huge crowd had already gathered.
“It’s Eugene Carter!”
“The hero of the Joint War of Mallet!”
Voices filled with admiration erupted as countless gazes turned toward me.
‘Faces I haven’t seen before.’
Though it didn’t take long to guess their identities.
Elegant clothing, skin so flawless it looked as though they had never suffered hardship in their lives, and servants accompanying them.
The parents who had evacuated with the cadets before the war must’ve returned to Karbenna after hearing the news of the ceasefire.
‘…The Bernhardts picked their timing rather well.’
Inside, they were probably wagging their tongues enthusiastically already.
Saying things like, “The Bernhardts stand on your side.”
“Let’s go, Rubia.”
“Ah, yes!”
Pushing through the crowd and entering the Grand Assembly Hall, I found nearly a hundred people gathered there as well.
Only around thirty were seated, while the rest stood surrounding the round table.
Together with Rubia, I headed toward Karbenna’s side.
“…….”
After exchanging silent greetings with Michel, I stared directly at those seated across from us.
“What a rare sight. To think three direct descendants of the illustrious Bernhardt Family would grace us with their presence.”
From left to right sat Chloe Bernhardt, Robert Bernhardt, and Greta Bernhardt.
The fourth daughter, eldest son, and eldest daughter of the Bernhardt Family respectively.
‘Chloe and Greta aren’t much of a threat….’
But Robert Bernhardt required caution.
A brilliant mind, physical abilities worthy of that intellect, and magical talent surpassing even those.
The Bernhardt Mercenary Corps he commanded possessed enough strength to rival the special forces of an entire nation.
“Ah, the star of the show has arrived.”
Noticing me belatedly, Robert abruptly stood and extended his hand.
“A pleasure to meet you, Instructor Eugene Carter. I am Robert Bernhardt. Please keep in mind that I have come here representing Family Head Edgar Bernhardt himself.”
As I silently stared at the offered hand, sharp hostility leaked out for a brief moment.
Instead of shaking it, I crossed my arms and tilted my head.
“If you were coming, you could’ve at least sent notice first. How exactly are we supposed to run the Academy when you suddenly barge in unannounced like this?”
“Hmph. It’s not like regular lectures were going to resume until next week anyway.”
“Be quiet, Chloe.”
Instantly concealing his hostility again, Robert revealed a faint smile.
“Let’s sit down first. We have much to discuss.”