Chapter 120 – Exposure

King Melvin and First Queen Mirène. Prince Josiah and the other royals stood arrayed before them.

Since Queen Mirène had been in her nightclothes, the location had been moved to the dining hall.

The harpers that the assassins had been carrying were placed on the table… The dining hall was filled with an unusually tense atmosphere.

“Father, what is the meaning of this situation?”

Prince Josiah furrowed his brow. He must have sensed this was an emergency. Unlike when he’d been summoned to the bedroom, he had come to the dining hall with a staff hanging from his waist.

“You all saw it in the bedroom as well. These are items carried by intruders who attempted to infiltrate the mansion. They were repelled by those stationed in the mansion and have now been moved to the docks.”

King Melvin answered quietly.

To put it plainly—the mastermind was already cornered.

If we returned to Termwills and investigated various things, evidence would emerge. If they returned like this, the mastermind would automatically lose. Meaning this was a situation where they had to think of some way to either talk their way out of this or kill the royals here.

Conversely, we wanted grounds to restrict their freedom of movement on the return journey. Even if we tortured the assassins to make them talk, since they would likely protest that we were trying to frame them, we wanted to confirm their guilt without needing a Magical Inquisition. If possible, we also wanted to know if there were multiple masterminds.

The culprit had—one more trump card. The same method used with Marlene. Co-opting or threatening Magic Inquisitors.

That’s exactly why we deliberately mixed lies into the conversation that only the culprit would understand. Everything was provocation, bait, and traps.

“This weapon—it has some kind of emblem carved on it.”

Princess Stephania picked up the harper and examined the emblem section closely.

“That’s the emblem of the Duoveris Cult.”

Prince Roy, sitting across from her, added this with his eyes closed and arms crossed.

The emblem itself was undoubtedly the cult’s. The weapons were also exactly the kind of items they would likely favor using. However—although they carried these weapons, what they actually used were standard straight swords.

Meaning these items were likely for disguise purposes. For example, conspicuously stabbing them into victims’ corpses left at the scene.

They even prepared such props—why go to the trouble of making it look like Duoveris’s work?

Because even if they killed the troublesome royals and became king themselves, they would need an apparent perpetrator for the assassination incident.

If they were to assassinate King Melvin who was ruling, there needed to be some kind of motive. If that motive was, for example—the easily understandable heretics called Duoveris, then there would be no need to speculate about the motive. They wouldn’t even need a Magical Inquisition. It would be extremely convenient to have them play the role of culprit.

“The Duoveris Cult… Why would such people be on this island?”

Prince Helfried tilted his head and asked King Melvin.

…Prince Helfried, like Albert, was also not the kind of person who could orchestrate such schemes. After Rosemary’s downfall and imprisonment, his sister’s faction collapsed, and Prince Helfried’s position within the royal palace wasn’t good.

His confronting me earlier also seemed to be because he returned from studying abroad to find the situation too different from before and was in shock.

To secretly arrange preparations to this extent would require one’s own territory and direct subordinates. The reward for getting people to assist in killing royals would be important positions within the kingdom and… more than sufficient returns, so the motive was easy to understand.

Similarly to Helfried, Queen Mirène, who normally never leaves the inner palace, should also be excluded. Queen Mirène herself was quietly waiting beside King Melvin. While her expression showed tension, she didn’t give a weak impression. She seemed to be comporting herself bravely.

“Regarding the Duoveris Cult… We have information that they are protesting against the Kingdom of Verdugal having the Demon Slayer who repelled the Blazing Heat Zevion.”

“So they sent assassins, is that it?”

Princess Stephania frowned displeased and placed the harper back on the table.

“No, wait. Let’s accept that they would send assassins. But to this island? Targeting the days we are staying here?”

“…There must be collaborators within the kingdom.”

Prince Roy answered Prince Josiah’s words.

“That conclusion might be a bit hasty.”

It was Albert who corrected the direction there.

“Fundamentally, just because they had weapons engraved with the Duoveris Cult’s emblem, doesn’t mean it couldn’t be a disguise?”

“…Wait, Albert. Do you understand what those words imply…?”

Prince Josiah’s eyes widened as he realized the hidden meaning behind the words. Meaning—that he himself was targeted, and that it was highly likely the culprit was among them.

As a natural consequence—the ones most likely to be the culprits would be Princess Stephania and Prince Roy. The two of them also realized this and their eyes widened.

“I’m saying we should consider that possibility too.”

That was probably something only Albert could say. When discussing Marlene and the Third Queen, everyone would notice and no one would rebuke that thinking as disrespectful.

“…But there’s no evidence that it’s a disguise, is there?”

After a brief silence, Prince Roy spoke.

“Th-that’s right. We should consider the possibility that it really is the cult.”

“I’d like to hear the details from the one who captured them.”

At Prince Josiah’s words, King Melvin nodded.

“Very well. Mathius. Enter.”

Called upon, I entered the dining hall and bowed.

“I am the servant Mathius.”

I could feel everyone’s gaze gathering on me.

“This child captured the culprits?”

“This child, wasn’t he… with Albert?”

Prince Josiah and Princess Stephania exchanged looks.

“While Mathius is a servant, he is quite skilled with the sword. I hired him to serve as an escort as well.”

Albert provided the explanation. I wasn’t carrying Ouroboros right now. I had come with a sword at my waist beforehand. Since the mastermind knew there was a Barrier and Magic couldn’t be used, this was to give some realism to the story without revealing my true identity.

“Mathius. Tell us the details.”

“Yes. The water in His Highness Albert’s water pitcher had run out, so when I went to fetch more water, I discovered suspicious individuals sneaking into the mansion through the back entrance. I captured them on the spot and when I checked their identities… they were carrying those weapons.”

I said this with as nonchalant an expression as possible.

“But—I don’t think the perpetrators are from the cult.”

“Why do you think that?”

“Because they weren’t using harpers, but longswords… And then—well…”

I hesitated there. I pretended to stumble over my words awkwardly. I looked around at the assembled people and looked down anxiously.

“Never mind. Speak.”

“I… um, hurt the perpetrators a little, and then the perpetrator mentioned the mastermind’s name.”

“Why have you remained silent until now?”

At King Melvin’s words, I pretended to shrink back.

“W-well—it was too awe-inspiring…”

I hinted between the lines that the person’s status was high.

“Who was it?”

“Um, that…”

“—No, wait.”

Someone interrupted my words.

“Fundamentally, we can’t be sure those words are true. The perpetrators might be lying to frame someone. Along with those perpetrators, we should investigate with a Magical Inquisition whether Mathius is telling the truth or not.”

Was he confident that I was mixing in lies? Quite bold. Had he already constructed a plan in his head to pin the blame on Albert?

Well, when the cult’s name came from the assassins, I had somewhat anticipated this.

—Second Prince Roy. He governed near the southern border and was probably, among the princes and princesses, the one most deeply connected to Duoveris. The information about the cult’s movements apparently came from him to King Melvin.

Co-opting the guards deployed on the island. Or slipping in people connected to the guards. Those kinds of preparations… even if others could have made them well in advance.

Things like harpers with emblems… would be quite difficult for anyone other than Prince Roy to prepare.

The remaining question was whether Princess Stephania was involved… but she didn’t even seem to recognize the cult’s emblem.

On this point, there was no need to act like she didn’t know the emblem. Since the mastermind wanted to pin the crime on the cult and divert suspicion.

“That’s fine, but. May I state the perpetrator’s name?”

“Very well. Let us hear it.”

Prince Roy said this with an attitude that even seemed relaxed.

I—while looking at the Magic Communicator’s screen—read aloud the names written there.

“Desmond Bayette. Powell Corrigan… um, and then—”

At those names, only Prince Roy’s complexion visibly changed.

We made it in time too. That’s exactly why I had been steering things toward having Prince Roy use the inquisitors.

The enemy side likely targeted the timing when the king would be absent.

From Termwills, we received word from Sheila and the others that they had captured the scoundrel who attempted to kidnap a Magic Inquisitor’s daughter. They had people staking out around the inquisitor’s house and tailing family members.

When you set a net, you catch exactly what you’re after. So not co-opting, but coercion. Then securing the Magic Inquisitor’s cooperation was simple—just have them extract the real names of the perpetrators through Magical Inquisition and contact us.

“—That’s the situation.”

After reading all the names, I deliberately smiled at Prince Roy.

“You—impossible—”

“…Roy?”

At Roy’s abnormal reaction, Princess Stephania tilted her head suspiciously.

Roy didn’t know about the Magic Communicator. If the kidnapping perpetrators were “known from the beginning,” how would he interpret that? He would judge that he was known about and being manipulated. He would have to.

“Ha—”

An insolent smile appeared at the corner of Roy’s mouth.

If Roy reached for the harper in front of him now, that would be checkmate. Caduceus was positioned below to skewer his arm.

But Roy raised his arms above his head as if surrendering.

A chill. That expression wasn’t one worn by someone who had given up.

“Come. Cast Eater.”

Shattering through the ceiling—something flew into the dining hall. Before I could identify what it was, I also summoned Ouroboros while stepping in front of Prince Roy.

A blade emitting a silver gleam flew in and settled into Roy’s hand. Laughing, he moved to thrust the sword’s point at Princess Stephania in front of him—but Caduceus moved Stephania backward along with her chair, and I slid across the table to block with Ouroboros.

Princess Stephania was unharmed. And Caduceus had already taken up a guarding stance.

“Tch”

Roy seemed to prioritize regaining his stance. Clicking his tongue, he leaped far back.

Probably—a demon sword similar to Ouroboros. He called it Cast Eater, didn’t he? If he brought it into this situation, it must be an anti-magician weapon.

“…Roy, you…”

Princess Stephania was speechless. Prince Josiah was also at a loss for words.

“Sorry, sister. Well, that’s how it is. For someone like me, lagging behind in both aptitude and rank, to become king. Honestly, having it done by my own hand seemed too cruel, so I thought having it done by Rosemary or heretics would be better.”

Roy laughed. In his hand was the gleaming silver demon sword.

“…Why?”

King Melvin’s brief question. Roy answered while still smiling.

“War—I want to wage war.”

He shrugged and said such a thing. Prince Josiah seemed to have some inkling about Roy’s words, his eyes widening.

A country possessing the Great Labyrinth like ours has always surpassed surrounding nations in both resources and technology. Especially in the south, this is pronounced. If we can easily win wars, we should keep waging them. And yet you all, with your talk of having a contract with the labyrinth so we must continue ruling, you’re letting treasure go to waste.”

Imbalance of military power causes war, huh.

Probably, the information about the cult holding hostility toward the Kingdom of Verdugal and me was true… and he came up with the idea that if the circumstances matched, he could pin the crime on the cult. Then using revenge as a pretext—he would militarily intervene in the south, I suppose?

“Even when I probed, father was no good. From the feel of our conversations, it seemed like even if brother or sister became king, it wouldn’t work. Then, I should become king.”

“…For such a reason, you—Marlene—mother—”

Albert spoke in a voice dripping with anger.

For the first time—I felt I saw Albert’s dark emotions.

Until now, Albert had always suppressed his own emotions and exercised self-restraint. He had acted to protect his sister.

Glancing at such an Albert, Roy bared his teeth in a laugh.

“That was a failure. I ordered it carried out, but the servant messed up by getting the dosage wrong. Well—I already took care of avenging your mother, so rest easy.”

“You…!”

…He admitted to silencing her himself.

Roy turned to face me, his smile disappearing as he glared.

“That staff—I’ve figured out your true identity too.”

“Then, do you understand what I want to say?”

“Who knows.”

Roy shrugged. There was no need to explain my reasons to him.

After all—there’s no way this guy would find value in my objectives.

Exchanging words would only make things unpleasant. Without saying anything more, I took up Ouroboros in a stance.