Chapter 269 – Crimson Black Crystal

The envoy party bowed to King Eberhart according to proper etiquette.

“Well done. You have traveled far, Princess Stephania.”

King Eberhart spoke these words with a magnanimous gesture before seating himself on the throne.

As for Zadias… he seemed at a loss for words. After hesitating about what to say, he apparently decided to remain silent, perhaps remembering that this was the occasion for greetings between King Eberhart and the envoys. Volheim’s eyes were wide with surprise.

“I have come as the representative of my father, Melvin. Your Majesty Eberhart, I offer my sincere congratulations on your recovery. My father will surely rejoice when he hears the news.”

“Hmm… I must express my gratitude to you all once more. I hereby swear to repay the friendship and trust between our nations. And… while I was confined to my sickbed, I caused you all considerable trouble as well.”

King Eberhart looked around the audience chamber as he spoke, and his aides bowed in the manner of subordinates. A beat later, Zadias and the others followed suit.

“From now on, I must show myself before the people to reassure them. I must also devote more effort to governance that has been lacking. But first… Princess Stephania, I understand you bear a personal letter from the King of Verdugal.”

“Yes. Here it is.”

Princess Stephania respectfully produced the letter.

A civil official among the aides received the letter and handed it to King Eberhart. Zadias, who had been told nothing about any letter, leaned forward, wondering what was happening.

The content was the same as what had been delivered after the treatment. This was merely its formal presentation in an official setting.

King Eberhart read the letter thoroughly before nodding.

“…I have been fully informed of the details regarding the ruffian who ran amok in Termwills. We shall take appropriate measures on our end as well.”

King Eberhart nodded.

“Regarding that perpetrator, we have prepared a facial sketch and a plaster statue.”

Princess Stephania presented a wooden box containing the plaster statue. The civil official took out the statue and handed it to King Eberhart.

“Hmm. So this is the individual.”

Holding the plaster statue in one hand, King Eberhart furrowed his brow. He was making sure the face of the statue was easily visible to those assembled in the audience chamber. I could tell Zadias gasped. I knew from the start he was involved. So… what I should be watching here is Volheim’s reaction. Volheim’s eyes were also wide open, his gaze fixed on the plaster statue as a severe expression surfaced. This reaction… should be taken as that of an accomplice. In any case, because of what happened to Mother, I have no intention of letting him escape.

“It seems this individual boarded a ship from Silvatoria bound for Termwills with the aim of assassinating key figures. He is also said to be involved in an attempted assassination of a retainer of a noble house. We must proceed with arranging for his capture based on the facial sketch and plaster statue within our country and gather eyewitness reports. See to it immediately.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

The plaster statue was passed from King Eberhart to the civil official.

“Regarding this individual, there are eyewitness accounts suggesting he used miasma. If he is indeed a demon, this is an extremely grave matter.”

Hearing the word “demon,” the aides stirred.

“Who… Who is behind this…?”

I could even hear Zadias’s soft murmur. In his mind, he must be pondering who could have drawn this picture.

Was it Marquis Zilbolt or Benedict who betrayed him? If so, how were those two able to betray him? When were their restraints removed?

Or was it Princess Stephania before his eyes, or King Melvin behind her, who perceived it? If that’s the case, then why was he summoned here?

This is probably along the lines of what he’s thinking.

In any case, this leaves Zadias with no option to wait. If the manhunt progresses and information is gathered, sooner or later an eyewitness might appear.

More fundamentally, even without corroboration, if Marquis Zilbolt and Elliot are cooperating with King Eberhart, then most of Zadias’s schemes have been exposed. Therefore, if he simply goes with the flow, he won’t be granted any freedom of action in the future. No matter what excuse he uses, King Eberhart will place him under surveillance and detain him.

King Eberhart sent a brief glance toward Zadias as if to confirm his state, then lowered his eyes with a regretful expression. After a short pause, he raised his head. His expression no longer held any hesitation.

“Actually, I had already received an unofficial report. Regarding the attempted assassination of the noble house’s retainer, it is said to involve not a noble of the Verdugal Kingdom, but a noble of our own country. That individual is currently staying in Vinesdora. I have summoned him here as a witness. Marquis, step forward.”

Zadias’s eyes widened as he scanned the audience chamber. The witness—Marquis Zilbolt—entered boldly from the front. When he approached near us, Marquis Zilbolt knelt before King Eberhart.

“Fu, haha… hahaha!”

At that point, Zadias finally burst out laughing. The aides’ gazes gathered on Zadias, and King Eberhart spoke as if to reprimand him.

“Is something amusing?”

“Amusing? It’s more that… if I remain silent like this, unwarranted suspicion might fall upon me.”

It wasn’t resignation. Zadias spread his arms and stepped out from the left-hand seats into the audience chamber. The escort Black Knights and the Academy Headmaster followed, taking positions behind him.

…They still maintain some distance from us. We face each other across the great hall.

“Let me speak frankly, without fear of misunderstanding. I am acquainted with that perpetrator. However, I was introduced to him as an acquaintance of Marquis Zilbolt. Of course, I never dreamed he was dangerous, let alone that he might be a demon.”

Zadias brazenly declared such things.

He must have been taken by surprise, but he likely feels he holds the advantage. Conversely, if he were to obediently comply, he would only be at a disadvantage, and with the airship right there, now is the only time for Zadias’s side to act.

The reason he’s making such a defense… is because King Eberhart’s aides are present here. It’s the principle that logic and salves can be applied anywhere; before resorting to force, he probably intends to assert his own legitimacy.

If push comes to shove, he can pin the reason for their acquaintance on Marquis Zilbolt and make him shoulder all the blame. He can suppress any rebuttal backed by force. Even if it sounds absurd, he just needs to create a reason.

As for eyewitness accounts, since he was introduced by Marquis Zilbolt, it would be natural.

Truly… he refuses to know when he’s beaten.

“Then I must hear the details from both parties. Zadias and his attendants, as well as Marquis Zilbolt, shall remain at the Royal Castle.”

“Surely… Father, you don’t suspect me? I have devoted myself body and soul to the development of our country until now.”

Zadias spoke with gestures.

“It is true that our efforts fell just short in treating Your Majesty’s illness. However, we have achievements in other fields. Father, have you seen the ship outside? For the advancement of Silvatoria, we even created such a thing. To hear those words on this celebratory occasion where we intended to present it… is it not too much?”

“For the country… you say? Then summon Baron Silun and his brother, Lord Elliot.”

At King Eberhart’s words, two figures emerged from the depths of the audience chamber. The moment Zadias saw them, an expression of astonishment surfaced on his face.

The figures of Elliot wearing a mask and Ashley with her hair color restored. If Zadias, who knows Elliot’s true face, sees them, he will realize they are blood relatives.

Elliot removed his mask and knelt. There was no Gem on his forehead. At the sight of their appearances, a stir arose among the aides. In this case—the burn scars usually glimpsed through the gaps in the mask would prove that Elliot and Benedict are not different people. The burn scars Zadias had nominally used would come back to haunt him.

“This is the head of the Silun baronial house of Verdugal, Lady Ashley Rodias Silun. And the man we called Benedict is none other than her brother, Elliot Rodias Silun.”

“I merely took in a pitiful man who had lost his memory. A baronial house? Have you not simply brought a girl with a similar appearance?”

“Is that so? Then I shall demand an explanation for this as well.”

Saying this, King Eberhart took something out from his breast. It was—a Gem embedded in a stone slab.

“A Caex Gem… I believe it is called. This Gem—no, this magical creature—shall be examined by the Court Magicians and cross-referenced with documents. You said it was for the country? If you were pursuing talent that leaked from the Academy League, why was no report of the discovery made to me? And why was such a magical creature embedded in Lord Elliot’s forehead?”

Zadias remained expressionless and silent. Part of it was likely that he couldn’t gauge how much King Eberhart knew and thus had no way to respond.

“There are still more witnesses. The High Spirit who governs Mt. Tephra, which spreads across Marquis Zilbolt’s domain.”

At his words, Tephra also emerged from the back into the audience chamber. When she removed her hood, her flaming hair was revealed.

“It seems the demon… the Corrosion Princess Alvelinde used Curse Magic on the retainers of the Zilbolt marquis house and the Spirit Tephra, threatening them into obedience. If you claim the Marquis and the demon were cooperating, then why did his close associates and the spirit governing the volcano have to be taken hostage? Answer me.”

Questioned, Zadias closed his eyes.

“…If you have no answer, I cannot grant you freedom of action until everything is brought to light. Have the Black Knights discard their weapons and comply with my instructions.”

“…Hah.”

Zadias twisted the corner of his mouth.

“What is amusing?”

“I thought that even though you were corroded by miasma and your remaining life was short, you still had value as long as you could continue the ritual.”

“Let me be clear… you underestimate the demons. Each time the ritual was performed, each time I caught a glimpse of its nature, its terror beyond human comprehension literally seeped into my bones. But… what have you seen until now? What have you learned?”

“To say such a thing… One need only overcome such things and make them one’s own nourishment. Like this.”

Zadias spat out the words and raised his right hand. The Gems adorning the chests of the Black Knights’ armor shone, and something resembling miasma began to rise.

“Zadias… you…!”

“I believe I told you we were seeking means to overcome them. We have made the demons’ miasma our own. That’s not all. Starting with the Flight Technique, we have successfully formulated many of the techniques they use. Allow me to show you our research results—how we can slip through barriers and wield the secret arts of the demons.”

…So this is the reason for Zadias’s composure. The flying ship, soldiers who have obtained the demons’ Flight Technique. They might even be able to use Miasma Bullets and weaponized miasma.

“It is regrettable that it has come to this. You have grown old. You cannot even discern your own circumstances. I pity those present here as well… but this is a result you brought upon yourself.”

At his words, the Black Knights drew their swords. Princess Stephania and Princess Adriana rushed to protect King Eberhart.

—That should be enough.

This is also the reason I let him underestimate Princess Stephania’s combat strength. To bring him into an undeniable situation, obvious to all.

“Your Majesty Eberhart.”

“Yes?”

“Since fate has brought me here on this occasion, I request your sanction to strike down those who would dare raise their swords against Your Majesty.”

“…Handle it as you see fit. …My apologies. That is beyond our capabilities to handle.”

I received King Eberhart’s words. I had Grace hand me Ouroboros, and I passed her the axe she had been levitating disguised as luggage. Grace, who had been standing quietly with her eyes closed without saying a word until now, opened her eyelids—the color of her eyes was already red.

Barrier Walls deployed across the front and sides of the audience chamber. Simultaneously, blessings from Marlene and Claudia enveloped us.

Not yet—I won’t advance. The signal to begin will be after the aides have evacuated. King Eberhart and Princess Adriana… will be protected within this audience chamber by the double barrier of the Barrier Walls and Princess Stephania’s Defense Field.

As I raised Ouroboros and heightened my magical power, Volheim, noticing this, spoke.

“Could it be… Magical Power Circulation? I see, so you were the one who cured the King’s illness!”

“…You said you came from Verdugal, didn’t you? You… could it be, are you Patricia’s son?”

Zadias laughed cheerfully and spoke to me.

“Now, of all times… What will you do by asking that?”

“To raise your staff against me, who should rightfully be your master. Even now, I could forget that discourtesy and take you into my service in Patricia’s place?”

I’ve humored this farce until now to create a stage to strike him down, but… I’ve had enough of this guy.

“Shut up already. You are unpleasant.”

I bared my fangs in a smile toward Zadias. Instead of the suppressed emotions, excess magical power scattered as Spark Light around my body. Zadias’s eyes widened for a moment, but the next instant, he too laughed.

“Kuku. Is that your answer? Then I shall ask you the same question again after cutting off your limbs.”

In Zadias and Volheim’s hands were crimson-black crystals. The miasma rising from Zadias’s crystal enveloped his entire body, and his form began to change before our eyes. The crystal in Volheim’s hand—lengthened and transformed into something like a Khakkhara.

“Zadias, I’m releasing that from the ship.”

“Do it. Volheim.”

Along with his words, a great vibration assaulted the castle.

“Theodore-sama…! A giant Golem from the ship…!”

“Yeah, I see it.”

I nodded at Ashley’s voice. I could see two giant metal Golems—one black and one white—flying out from the airship.

Ignis, who had been waiting, crashed into the white one. I had positioned Caduceus, Lavigne, and Ignis outside to prevent escape from the audience chamber… but Caduceus and Lavigne would have a hard time holding them off due to compatibility issues.

The black Golem ignored Ignis, smashed through pillars, shattered walls, and came flying into the audience chamber. But it seems Zadias and the others have no intention of fleeing either.

That makes sense. Even if they retreated, they don’t control the Knight Order. They would simply be pursued for high treason. If Zadias doesn’t win here, his plans will come to nothing.

“…Grace. Can I leave the black one to you?”

“Then I shall entrust the white one to Lady Marie.”

Without any show of effort, Grace stepped forward, holding an axe in each hand.

“…Understood. I’ll take Zadias and Volheim. Everyone, please handle the Black Knights.”

“Yes, Theodore-sama.”

Ashley deployed a Defense Field with her back to the throne, constructing a defensive position. The Dullahan summoned by Marlene made its appearance.

“I have a debt to settle for this wound with the Black Knight Captain. That one is mine.”

Elliot took a step forward. A man among the Black Knights, clad in armor with particularly intricate decorations, raised his longsword in response as if answering the challenge. Flames erupted from its hilt.

Behind him stood Zadias… transformed into a half-human, half-dragon being. He bore some resemblance to King Eberhart’s mutated form, but was far more sinister—a dragon-man with red and black coloration.

So the crystal was a magic tool for Demonification. Their so-called breakthrough wasn’t about removing miasma, but controlling it.

In that case, perhaps the Caex Gem’s purpose wasn’t merely for domination, but to enhance one’s own power after undergoing Demonification.

I wondered about the difference between this transformation and Volheim’s… Was it due to the Silvatoria royal family’s constitution or traits? Or was Zadias’s crystal specially made?

But well, I could verify the answers later. This seemed far more refined than that Half-Demon from before. If they’ve chosen Demonification, then I’ll crush them without holding back.