Chapter 38: One Vile Blood, and One Viler Still (3)
The night of the capital as seen from the carriage.
Elegant buildings lined up alongside the road, accompanied by the subtle glow of streetlights.
This view, once considered one of the Empire's five great wonders, had become an unremarkable part of everyday life.
While riding in the carriage on my way home, I glanced at the jewelry box handed to me by Rinne.
'... Regardless of the process, the goal was achieved?'
In truth, I had devised various plans.
Meeting the head of the Cryphart family at the wedding, figuring out how to greet them, and naturally steering the conversation towards the "Soul Stone" necklace.
'Well, as long as the results are good, it's good.'
Indeed, of course.
Agreeing with my own words, I began to ponder how to handle the Soul Stone I had secured.
The reason I had obtained the Soul Stone independently, without reporting it to anyone, was to prevent it from falling into the hands of the Dawn Society in the future.
This was the same for the Sword Saint. It was best to avoid actions that might cause unnecessary misunderstandings.
Then, what would be the best way to deal with this Soul Stone?
'... Should I absorb it?'
In the world of 〈Let's Kill the Demon King〉, fitting the title, a "Demon King" existed.
The only one capable of awakening the Demon God.
The player's archenemy and the final boss.
The objective of this game was to kill the Demon King Barbatos before he could resurrect the Demon God, thereby stopping the revival ritual.
If the Demon King couldn't be stopped, the Demon God would be resurrected, resulting in a failure of the mission and requiring a restart of the game.
'The Archbishop of the Dawn Society, Tenelon, is one of those candidates.'
And also...
'... Yulian too.'
▶ Trait, 「Vessel of the Demon King」
Rank: Legendary
▷ You are involved in the resurrection of Demon King Barbatos.
▷ You can absorb the lingering remnant thoughts left by the Demon God and gain power from them.
▷ "Evil" aligned relics can be used.
▷ This trait disappears if the "Demon King" appears.
A UI appeared as if affixed to my pupils.
What I saw was one of the traits Yulian had possessed from the beginning, like 〈Innate Sword Saint〉 and 〈Color of Negativity〉.
If I utilized this trait to absorb the remnant thoughts of the Demon God, I could easily obtain power.
'While it's certainly safer to secure power this way than through the relic that is the Demon God's Chalice...'
I wanted to keep this option as a last resort.
Every time the 〈Open Eyes〉 trait manifested, I felt confusion about my identity, and if I absorbed the remnant thoughts in the Soul Stone on top of that, I couldn't guarantee what might happen to my core self.
'Besides, I'm not as desperate for power as I used to be.'
So, absorbing it wasn't an option for now.
***
Upon reaching the mansion, I placed the jewelry box into a safe tucked in the corner of my room, locking it, but I still felt it was insufficient.
Should I try learning a simple locking spell?
The thought crossed my mind briefly, but for now, I decided to attend to my growling stomach first.
"... Hmm?"
When I stepped out of the bedroom and into the corridor, I was struck by the unusually quiet ambiance of the mansion.
〈Remarkable Intuition〉
A subtle aura sensed in the air's flow.
Due to the traits Yulian possessed, he could feel the subtle changes in the mansion and the mana flowing as if guiding him.
There was an intruder in the mansion.
With that conviction, I checked the Moonstone Sword at my hip and slowly walked down the hallway.
'Where exactly are they? What's their objective? Alone or more?'
Questions flooded my mind like a tide.
Some elements could be discerned through 'mana detection', but doing so would alert the intruder that I had noticed them.
'... At least, the good news is there's no killing intent?'
That implies this intruder didn't come to assassinate 'Yulian'.
But can this really be considered fortunate?
The moment an unidentified intruder secretly entered the mansion, my life was at risk.
I cursed inwardly at the evil deeds Yulian had accumulated thus far, and proceeded down the unusually somber corridor.
Even without 'mana detection', the sharp intuition Yulian's body possessed allowed me to vaguely discern where the presence was.
'... The reception room?'
The place where I sensed the presence was none other than the reception room.
"My, you're back later than I thought?"
Welcoming me as I opened the door was a woman with long, silver hair cascading to her waist—Eleanor D'Micelle.
She held a teacup on the table gracefully.
"I asked the servants for some tea while I waited. Surely you can do this much for a guest, right?"
She spoke with a captivating smile that seemed to draw people in.
I had explicitly instructed the mansion's staff not to let anyone in without a prior appointment.
Yet, here she was, indicating one of two possibilities.
She either snuck in secretly, or—perhaps—
'Did she use magic?'
No wonder the mansion felt quieter than usual. She must have used her charm ability to make the mansion's staff vacate the premises.
Regardless, her unannounced arrival was unwelcome from my standpoint.
If news got out that I secretly secured a Soul Stone, I couldn't anticipate what consequences might unfold from the Dawn Society.
"Bishop Eleanor. What brings you to my residence?"
"I came to foster camaraderie among fellow members. Humans are social creatures, after all."
What an unamusing joke.
Since when does someone fostering camaraderie trespass into another's home uninvited?
Though I raged internally, due to the precarious situation, I broke into a sweat even at Eleanor's light jest.
"The reason I came today is none other than to ask you something."
As Eleanor placed the teacup back on the table and broached the main topic, I swallowed hard inwardly.
"The recent mission you undertook in the slums..."
She broached an unexpected topic.
"You reported finding a demon there and succeeding in exterminating it, correct?"
"Yes, that is correct."
"By any chance, was that demon a humanoid demon?"
I slyly raised my gaze to scrutinize Eleanor's expression.
She repeatedly clenched and unclenched her fists, lightly biting her lip.
Though she tried to appear unaffected, I noticed traces of tension.
I see.
From her question, I could deduce the reason she visited the mansion.
"Yes, it was a humanoid demon."
"... Of course."
"However, it wasn't one of Bishop Tenelon's replicas. To be precise, it appeared to be a copy inspired by it."
"Pardon?"
Her startled reaction drew a wry smile from me.
"Why the shock? Isn't this what you came to hear?"
A somewhat provocative remark.
Naturally, my goal was to quickly send her away since I was hiding the Soul Stone. Therefore, seizing the upper hand in the conversation was crucial.
The party in control of the dialogue has the right to end it.
"I didn't think you knew anything... How much do you know?"
"Heh heh, not nearly as much as you're fearing."
"Oh, really? Yet you know about the existence of horn replicas?"
"I suppose I just got lucky."
It's all in the game.
Feigning ignorance, she glared at me with hooded eyes.
"Well, never mind."
She bit her lip slightly and stood up, her face betraying some unresolved dissatisfaction.
"Have you asked all your questions?"
"Yes."
With that, she leisurely headed towards the entrance of the reception room.
Just as I was feeling relieved watching her leave, Eleanor swiftly turned her head back.
"Bishop Yulian, wise as you are to the current state of the Dawn Society, I trust you know what judgments to make moving forward."
She spoke sincerely, almost baring her feelings.
"Let's at least ensure our blades don't turn towards each other. If we become enemies, I can be just as difficult as you."
Her words lingered, hinting at either joining her side or remaining a bystander—a sentiment she left with as she exited the reception room.
***
The mansion turned silent. With all the staff absent, there wasn't a hint of presence inside.
Thus relieved, I let out a sigh and sank into a chair.
"That was startling."
The alarm Eleanor triggered with her sudden visit.
Predictably, I realized keeping the Soul Stone in the mansion wasn't wise.
If an unexpected visitor sensed the Soul Stone's energy, it'd reveal that I was hiding it, wouldn't it?
That would be troublesome.
'A different location would be better.'
Fortunately, a suitable place to entrust the Soul Stone quickly came to mind.
A place where the stone's presence wouldn't be detected by anyone related to the Sword Saint or the Dawn Society.
***
"... You want me to take care of this?"
"Yes."
When I softly smiled, Herand seemed troubled as he stroked his beard.
"That's... unexpected... I thought you would bring up the matter of Joshua's punishment from the other day."
"As I said then, it didn't upset me much."
"Is that... so? That's a relief."
Herand, leaning on a cane held in his right hand, sighed in relief at my claim of not being upset.
Then, with the hand not holding the cane, he pointed at the jewelry box on the table.
"But what is this? What's causing you to want to leave it with me?"
"It contains my mother's keepsake."
Mother.
Hearing that word from Yulian made Herand flinch momentarily.
"Are you saying it's Lady Milena's keepsake? But why entrust it to me...?"
Seeing Herand's visibly uncomfortable expression, I tilted my head in puzzlement.
Is there some underlying reason?
I thought to inquire about it, but prioritizing the depositing of the Soul Stone was imperative.
"Is... Is this item not valuable to you?"
Valuable indeed.
That really isn't a wrong notion.
If this Soul Stone fell into the hands of 'Demon King' candidates from the Dawn Society, the Demon God would resurrect, bringing ruin to the continent.
Should that happen, not only I but the entirety of the world might face annihilation.
"Yes, it's as precious as my own life."
"Th-Then why leave such a valuable item with me?"
"Because right now, it's something I cannot personally hold onto."
An item I couldn't personally hold.
In this, my words held no deceit.
If others discovered that I secretly secured the Soul Stone, it would result in complications.
Yet, from Herand's perspective, the meaning slightly shifted.
'... Why can't he hold on to Lady Milena's possession?'
Herand knew.
Regardless of living a life steeped in deceit, Yulian always spoke honestly to his mother.
In her presence, his smiles were genuine, not deceptive, and his normally scornful tongue would sincerely speak warm words.
In essence, the woman named 'Milena' symbolized not only Yulian's mother but also the last vestiges of his 'humanity'.
'For him to entrust Lady Milena's keepsake to another means...'
Has he resolved to live solely as a royal hound?
To dedicate himself entirely to a monstrous existence?
Herand couldn't decipher Yulian's intentions. Hence, he had to muster courage to endure his fears and inquire further.
"... Yulian, have you made any decision?"
Regarding what that 'decision' entailed, Herand wasn't sure.
The only plausible thought that crossed his mind was the recent actions undertaken by the 'Elder Council'.
Yulian slowly grinned.
"Yes."
What a merciless smile it was.
Soon, a bloodbath might sweep through the royal palace, Herand worried, despair constraining his breath.
Clacky's Corner:
It's sometimes confusing because MC keeps separating himself from Yulian.
But it's also one of the aspects that I like about the story. Yulian and Yi Shihu are different entities.
Although Yi Shihu possessed Yulian's body, he still has sense of self.