Otome Game Mob Villain

Chapter 772

"W-wait, is it really going to explode...?"

Startled, I timidly asked, and Capella shook his head, saying "No..." as he slowly opened the wooden box's lid.

Inside the box was a square object carefully wrapped in white cloth.

Given its size and hiding place, I felt it was probably a book.

"It won't explode, but it seems there was a mechanism where a firestone inside would generate heat upon opening the lid, rendering the documents unreadable."

Firestones are magic stones imbued with fire attribute mana. Once the mana is depleted, they turn into ordinary stones, but as long as you have one, you can handle a certain amount of fire attribute mana.

However, the mana contained is minimal, so they are rarely used alone and are generally used as material for weaponry and equipment.

But to think of using it like this...

Gleas was also a fox tribesman, so perhaps his hands were dexterous.

"...In Renarute as well, we sometimes use similar methods to store important documents. There must have been something he really didn't want anyone to know."

Saying this, Capella thoroughly checked the inside of the box, carefully extracted the cloth-wrapped square object, and slowly placed it on the desk.

About the size of a thick dictionary I saw in my previous life, perhaps.

"It seems there are no more mechanisms. Lord Ridd, please inspect it."

"Yeah, thank you."

Held protectively in Tink's arms in the corner of the room, I replied, slipped out of her embrace, and sat on the sofa.

Seeing it up close, the white cloth was yellowish and covered in dust.

Nearly a decade must have passed since Gleas's uprising, so that's probably why.

As I reached out my hand, Tink said "Please wait" and took a handkerchief from her pocket.

"Lord Ridd, just in case, to protect your throat, please cover your mouth and nose with this."

"Ah, right. Got it."

Doing as told, I covered my mouth and nose with the handkerchief, and Capella also took out white gloves from his pocket, saying, "Please use these as well."

"This might be valuable material. Considering future preservation, it would be better to wear them, I believe."

"Y-yeah. Thanks."

Putting on the received white gloves, I felt a mood of 'Now, let's begin the surgery.'

But isn't this overdoing it?

Taking a deep breath to reset, I carefully began unwrapping the cloth.

My heart was strangely pounding at the sight of the cloth wrapped meticulously in many layers, and tension shot through my fingertips.

As the cloth was unwound, what emerged from inside was indeed a 'book'.

However, two books were stacked, and an envelope was placed on top.

"...Should I open this first?"

As I picked up the envelope, Capella nodded and took out his multi-tool knife.

He carefully broke the envelope's seal, and an indescribable tension filled the room.

The dry sound of the seal being broken, '*pari...*', echoed softly.

"Lord Ridd, please examine the contents."

"Okay."

Acknowledging, I took the envelope, retrieved the tri-folded letter inside.

There were two letters. On the aged paper, bold, strong, sharp characters were written horizontally.

'If someone is reading this letter, then I, Gleas Granduke, am no longer in this world.

If that is the case, I pray this letter is found by someone who cares for the future of the Fox Tribe territory, and not by someone under the influence of Gales or Elva.

If the one who found this letter is someone who cares for the future of the Fox Tribe territory, I ask you to please deliver this letter to my nephew, Amon Granduke.

If delivering it to Amon is difficult, Rapha Granduke will also suffice.

These two will understand the importance of the documents I have hidden.

Regarding the two writings I have hidden, one is my journal, prepared for a worst-case scenario.

This journal details numerous wrongdoings led by Gales, Elva, and Marbas, along with the names of the influential families involved.

I hope you will make effective use of it.

Furthermore, in the latter half of the journal, I have written a will concerning my wife, Marichel, and my unborn child.

If my wife and child are alive, I earnestly, desperately wish for you to deliver it to them.'

The first letter ends here.

From the part in the latter section saying 'Furthermore, in the latter half of the journal...' onward, the characters seemed slightly blurred and shaky, as if conveying Gleas's complex emotions.

Was it on the day of the uprising, or the day he decided to rise up?

In either case, he must have written this letter with various resolves.

From what I heard from Amon and Rapha about the situation back then, it seems Elva and the others were aware of Gleas's planned uprising and may have even been using it to purge the influential families opposing military expansion.

Judging from the letter being hidden, Gleas likely understood his chances of success were low.

Even so, believing in victory, he led the clans and rose up.

The 'Battle of Hazama Fortress' resurfaces in my mind.

That battle, too, could have ended in our defeat if something had gone wrong.

It was a victory on thin ice, undeniably a narrow escape.

Thinking of the late Gleas's state of mind, a pang of sympathy fills my chest, and my eyes grow moist.

Blinking my bleary eyes, I wipe away tears with my sleeve, and Tink asks worriedly, "Are you okay?"

"...Yeah, I'm okay. Thinking about Gleas who wrote this just makes me feel so sympathetic."

"Is that so. But I'm sure Lord Gleas would also be pleased that Lord Ridd found it."

"Haha, I'd be happy if that's true."

Sniffling, I place the first letter on the desk and lower my gaze to the second one.

'The second book is a valuable material I found during my hobby of historical research.

It is an author-unknown document written in the ancient Martel language of the Holy Nation of Toga, but it is not a sanctified, faith-based narrative or teaching like those found in the Mysterina scriptures.

It contains a portrayal of Mysterina Martel, who is now revered as a goddess in the Mysterina faith.

What she actually accomplished, what she brought, what she did... these are written without embellishment, as about a human being...'

"Lord Ridd. If this is true, it's an incredible discovery."

"Eh, why?"

Despite being in the middle of reading the letter, Tink unusually leaned forward, her eyes wide.

"Firstly, regarding the Mysterina faith, the state religion of Toga, the birth and personal details of Mysterina Martel, praised as a goddess, are barely mentioned in the scriptures. In fact, what kind of person Mysterina was. Materials documenting that are hardly ever found."

"Exactly as Ms. Tink says. Presumably, when Toga deified Mysterina, turning her into an object of faith and proselytizing, her actual persona was an obstacle. The prevailing theory is that 'Over the long years, materials documenting her persona were all secretly disposed of'."

At their words, I gulped audibly and looked at the book placed on the desk.

Now that they mention it, when I researched the Mysterina faith, I didn't find anything that detailed Mysterina's 'persona'.

Even the Mysterina scriptures only tell a likely embellished heroic tale of how wonderful Mysterina Martel was and how she became a goddess.

I certainly don't remember seeing any material documenting 'the persona of Mysterina as a human being'.

"S-s-so, this means it's an incredibly historically valuable book?"

"...Yes."

Capella nodded with a serious expression.

"It says the author is unknown, but the fact it's written in ancient Martel language suggests high credibility. At worst, it could be national treasure level; depending on the situation, it might even be usable in political negotiations with Toga."

"N-national treasure level and usable in political negotiations...!?"

In my astonishment, I blinked my eyes and my mouth fell open agape.