Chapter 34. The Fake Coward (2)
The heart that could only be obtained from tri-horned demons or higher.
The information related to "Soul Stone" was known only by me, the Dawn Society, and the Sword Saint.
It was an object that was not widely known to the world.
Therefore, very few people knew the term 'Soul Stone'.
"You responded as if you already knew from the beginning."
"You mentioned 'Soul Stone', so I naturally thought of the item I saw in the secretariat..."
Lazlot looked visibly flustered.
He seemed lost, his gaze flickering left and right like a metronome set at a quick pace.
"If that were true, you would have asked me, 'Is the Soul Stone the jewel we saw then?' But how did you respond?"
"N-No, I..."
"Do you still intend to feign ignorance?"
I released the grip of my hands that were supporting my chin, leaned back on the chair, and spoke in a leisurely tone.
"Don't be so afraid. I have no intention of doing anything drastic. I just wish to have a conversation."
"... What?"
Lazlot widened his eyes.
Above his head, the color of fear grew darker, and alongside it, other emotional colors began to bloom.
The 'gray' symbolizing doubt.
Just like I saw in front of the secretariat, two emotional colors were appearing simultaneously.
'This hardly ever happened before.'
"Color of Negativity" typically manifests as one per person. Even if two emotions are felt simultaneously, the stronger one is revealed.
So, why was this situation occurring?
'Perhaps my trait has developed, or if not...'
There must be something about Lazlot.
Lazlot, trembling, fumbled through his pockets.
'What is he searching for?'
Just as I was about to voice my curiosity, Lazlot retrieved a necklace with a ruby embedded in it.
It didn't appear to be an ordinary necklace and seemed to have undergone magical treatment.
Lazlot brought the necklace to his forehead, closed his eyes, and muttered something under his breath.
Ziiiiing──!
The necklace emitted a faint light.
Soon, as the light faded, the two "Color of Negativity" that had wavered above Lazlot's head disappeared.
'It must be magic affecting the mind.'
Generally, magic would interfere with "physical" realms, such as setting fires in mid-air or freezing the air, but there existed magics capable of affecting "mental" realms like emotions or consciousness.
Could the magic influencing the mind be memorized in that necklace?
It's just my speculation, but...
Judging by how it manipulates uncontrollable emotions, I wouldn't be wrong to think so.
"I apologize for my deception, Sir Yulian. I received orders from the Dawn Society not to disclose anything to anyone."
Lazlot spoke seriously.
Though only a few seconds had passed, he felt completely different from earlier.
I wondered if he was the same man I knew, as he appeared calm and level-headed.
"That's what I thought. But... you seem like a different person now."
"Yes, when entering the imperial palace, I use a necklace with mental magic engraved on it."
"Hmm, is there a reason for that?"
"If I didn't do this, I wouldn't be able to deceive the monsters lurking in the palace."
Quite the bold statement.
Is this his true personality? It's a bit difficult to get used to.
Thinking so, I offered a faint smile.
Seeing my smile, Lazlot took a step back, his lips trembling, as the fear of me persisted.
"And can I ask what it is you want to discuss?"
"Ah, yes, of course."
Sensing the conversation moving to the main topic, I straightened my posture.
Information about "Soul Stone" will begin to accumulate from now on.
To control that information, the ears of the Dawn Society planted within the secretariat must not function properly.
'Or at least they should convey incorrect information.'
"Hmm."
Lost in thought for a moment, I quickly made a decision.
"Lazlot, how about working under me?"
I decided to recruit the Dawn Society's informer.
***
Lazlot maintained a tense posture while watching Yulian.
Given that Yulian had realized Lazlot was an informer for the Dawn Society, Lazlot had no idea what Yulian might do next.
Yulian was infamous for carrying out brutal actions without batting an eye.
Though he claimed he merely wanted a conversation, there's no telling when he might take action.
"Lazlot, how about working under me?"
Yet, his actual proposal was unexpected.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Exactly what it sounds like. I want you to act as an informer under me."
"So, what do you mean by that?"
Lazlot found himself dazed.
Just what was this slit-eye monster trying to say?
Countless questions stormed through his mind, but finding answers within the chaos was impossible.
"It's simple. You're acting as an informer based on the orders of one of the bishops of the Dawn Society, correct?"
Gulp.
His tone, which accurately grasped Lazlot's situation, made Lazlot swallow involuntarily.
"I'm suggesting you continue following those orders while also working under me."
"You want me to play the role of a double agent?"
"Quick thinking, I like that."
Yulian smirked.
Judging by his tone, it was clear this was a decision made by him alone.
This meant neither the other bishops nor Archbishop Tenellon knew about it.
Thus, an inevitable question surfaced in Lazlot's mind.
'Why?'
Though Yulian was a part of the Dawn Society, why would he make such a proposal?
The fragmented information was enough to lead to one vague conclusion.
"Are you thinking of betraying the Dawn Society?"
"Betrayal? You speak so brashly, as if to invite misunderstanding. I simply wish to create a more favorable environment for my activities."
Lazlot had no intention of being led around by useless wordplay. He decided not to concern himself with what intentions lay behind that smile.
After all, he planned to agree with Yulian's demands and report every detail to the Dawn Society later.
"Oh, by the way."
Lazlot was inwardly scoffing at Yulian for speaking without any precautions when he caught Yulian pointing his finger somewhere.
"Would you like to check this?"
His finger pointed to the official document Lazlot had brought.
Lazlot reached for the documents laid on the table.
As he confirmed the tightly packed writings, confusion surfaced on his face.
"Genmel Orphanage... sponsorship list."
Genmel Orphanage.
A small orphanage for children from the slums who had lost their parents.
A list of people who had donated to the orphanage in recent years was meticulously recorded in the document.
Lazlot slowly raised his head to look at Yulian's face. He was still smiling.
"After observing your reaction in the secretariat, I had it investigated just in case. You're from there, aren't you?"
Lazlot glanced again at the list of sponsors through gritted teeth, examining the names.
His name was on it as well.
"It doesn't seem to be a large orphanage. It would crumble at the slightest scandal."
Sweat trickled down Lazlot's back.
Threat.
It meant to imagine what might happen if he didn't cooperate.
"Oh, don't worry. I have no intention of harming them."
Really expecting him to believe that?
Lazlot barely swallowed the curses rising to his throat.
"However, the donation amount is substantial. It far exceeds the salary of a novice under 'Blind Eyes'. Every month, no less."
"Is there a problem with that?"
"Of course not. You're donating to give the orphanage you came from a better environment, aren't you?"
A chilling smile.
"Even if it's... with less than clean money."
At Yulian's repeated words, Lazlot felt dizzy.
But, he feigned calmness, glaring at the monster before him, eyes wide.
The monster's expression remained unchanged.
While effortlessly uncovering his emotions, he kept his own buried behind the mask of slit eyes.
"Since your hands are already dirty, why not dirty them a little more?"
As he said this, Yulian pulled out another document from his pocket.
***
The night of the archipelago, with a steady drizzle, felt eerily silent, perhaps due to the unusually cold weather.
Amidst a climate that blurred visibility even a short distance away, a man in a raincoat sprinted through the alleys.
He came to a halt where a sleek carriage was parked at the street corner.
Upon opening the carriage door and entering, he met the gaze of a man exuding an air of refined dignity.
"Lazlot, did you bring what I requested?"
"Yes, bishop Aiden. Here is the next destination of Sword Saint Hayden Reich that you requested."
"Good, what's next?"
"One of the elders of the Elder Council of Nobles has submitted a petition for personal reasons. I am not privy to the details or reasons though..."
"No matter. It's bound to be trivial. What matters is the Sword Saint."
Receiving the documents meticulously protected from the rain, aiden smiled in satisfaction.
He examined the contents of the envelope passed from Lazlot, then handed off the papers to a man seated with the driver.
"Deliver this to the Archbishop. Inform him that the Sword Saint's next destination is here."
"Understood, bishop Aiden."
"And... hmm?"
As Aiden was about to continue, he paused, noticing Lazlot's expression.
"You don't look well, has something happened?"
"Uh? No... it's just..."
Did something happen?
Upon that inquiry, Lazlot's mind instantly recalled the events of that day.
Yulian had coaxed him into becoming a double agent, requesting to limit the flow of information to the Dawn Society.
"Strange, it seems unlike you."
Upon trailing off, the quick-witted Aiden looked at him with half-lidded eyes, seeming to sense something.
Should he speak?
Or should he continue to hide it?
If he spoke, Yulian would surely face rebuke from the bishops of the Dawn Society.
Perhaps even being branded a traitor, hunted by Monsignors.
But Yulian could likely target his life despite being pursued by Monsignors.
Yulian was skilled enough to do so—he was a demon.
What if he chose to hide it out of fear?
'... Zernia would be at risk.'
Deciding in the throes of serious internal conflict, Lazlot clenched his fist, recalling Yulian's parting words.
- 'I will personally recommend your younger sister, Zernia, along with the members of the orphanage, for admission to Bayer Academy, as a recommending noble myself.'
- 'No matter how much money you have, orphanage graduates can't enroll in Bayer Academy. However, with a noble's recommendation, it is possible. Especially with a referral from a prestigious family like Cryphart... it's needless to say.'
Lazlot, who had grown accustomed to weighing options since being abandoned in the slums with his younger sister, swallowed hard.
Then, as if made up his mind, his face settled into an expressionless, rigid demeanor.
"No, it's nothing. Nothing at all."
For such a precious sister, he would embrace even those risks.
Clacky's Corner:
I don't know how the MC will treat his subordinates but, one minion obtained...