Black

Akad stroked his chin and asked.

“Regent Ferda, didn’t you say that you buried the body? By now, it should have decomposed. Is there really anything we can learn from it?”

Naturally, he had already prepared for that.

“I did bury Lord Yurei’s body, but I preserved it exactly as it was at the time.”

“Why did you cast preservation magic on it?”

“Even if he did insult my fiancée, he is still the precious son of a noble family from another country.”

Ferda said it as though he was not that stupid.

In fact, if Duke Yurei had not been used as a strategic card here, Ferda had intended to send him back to his family.

“If you investigate it, you will be able to determine its origin well enough……”

He paused for a moment before continuing.

“Through this incident, we may be able to discover the true enemy hiding in the shadows.”

“What do you mean by the true enemy?”

He cast out the bait.

“The entity bringing chaos to the Empire in order to lead this continent to ruin.”

Ferda said that instead of fighting among themselves, they should aim for the real enemy.

Surprisingly, Erdes was the first to agree with Ferda’s proposal.

“Then let’s do that. There’s no need to make things complicated if we just find out who killed him, right?”

That would make things proceed more smoothly, and since it involved black magic, she had no choice but to take an active interest.

“I agree as well. If Regent Ferda did not commit the murder and we can uncover the culprit, then whoever is responsible deserves to face the wrath of great Alte.”

Bishop Joseph Faust was also strongly in favor of Ferda’s proposal.

“Then, who would be best suited to conduct this autopsy……”

Ferda quickly answered Akad’s muttering.

“I would like Bishop Joseph Faust to perform the autopsy.”

“What?”

Erdes’s brow furrowed.

“If it concerns black magic, shouldn’t I be the one to handle it?”

Everyone in the world knew how much she hated black magic.

And her skill in the field was as exceptional as her hatred of it.

Joseph Faust, the person named, acknowledged that fact as well.

“I also think that would be better, but…… is there a reason you specifically chose me?”

“It is a matter of transparency. We cannot expect transparency from an investigation conducted by the academy president.”

Ferda argued that because he and Erdes were on bad terms, the result might be biased.

That remark offended Erdes.

“Are you saying I might fabricate the results and pin it on you?”

When she asked with a menacing expression, Ferda answered as follows.

“If severing the bond between father and son was not enough, I will gladly entrust it to you.”

Ferda glared at her.

He hated the father who had abandoned him, but not as much as he hated Erdes, who had caused it to happen.

As the neutral party, Akad reached a conclusion in his capacity as chairman.

“Since the two of you seem to have some business with each other……. This matter seems suited to Bishop Joseph Faust. Bishop, can you do it?”

“I will conduct a fair and impartial investigation according to the light of Alte.”

Erdes’s hatred of black magic was certainly intense, but her lack of mercy had made her unpopular with the people.

Erdes stared only at Ferda’s face with an expression full of discontent.

The session was recessed for two hours so the body could be examined.

Joseph moved with his attendants to transport Lord Marcus Yurei’s corpse.

“I will accompany you.”

Consilius said that and went with Joseph.

He had to watch for any intention to apply outside pressure or any attempt at tampering.

“Go ahead.”

Ferda gave his permission.

If his expectations were correct, everything would be revealed through this investigation.

He would not let his guard down until the very end.

“Hey.”

He raised his head at the growl of a youthful voice.

Erdes Roton.

She climbed onto the desk and crouched there like a thug.

“Do you think I’m a pushover?”

Anger burned in her eyes.

“Or do you think I can’t touch you because you have powerful backing? Which is it? Huh? Huh? Hey, answer me.”

“Academy President, you mustn’t behave like this here……”

“The little fry can get lost. I’m not in the mood to play.”

Erdes’s expression was filled with rage, her veins bulging after being subjected to a barrage of insults.

Ferda did not take his eyes off that face.

“I have a valid reason.”

“Are you afraid I’ll fabricate evidence and send you to ruin? If I wanted to, I could do that anytime. I wouldn’t even have come to a place like this. You think I didn’t because I’m some stupid, brainless, gullible bastard?”

As Erdes had said, she could send Ferda to ruin at any time.

If she exposed him and applied pressure, she could socially destroy him as a black mage.

But that was different from the path Erdes pursued.

The reason she had not properly touched Ferda until now was that no connection to a demon had appeared.

The hatred dwelling in her heart placed demons above everything else.

In other words, if she could catch that demon, she could judge Ferda’s case fairly enough.

“That is why I cannot.”

Ferda had never wanted such fairness in the first place.

“With you here, those rat bastards cannot approach.”

Because this was bait he had cast out to catch a big fish.

Ferda conveyed his meaning with his eyes.

I, too, have people I hate and cannot forgive, no less than you do.

Erdes, who had glared at Ferda as though she intended to kill him, said this.

“Fine.”

Her menacing expression did not soften, but she obediently climbed down from the desk.

“I hope the result is something I can accept.”

Otherwise, I will not stand by and do nothing.

Her back as she glanced over her shoulder seemed to leave those words behind.

Ferda also hoped the result would be good.

He merely wondered whether they were hoping for the same kind of good result.

Two hours later, Joseph returned.

Consilius, who had gone with him, returned as well, but his expression was strange.

Ferda asked him,

“How is it?”

“I think we found something, but I have a bad feeling.”

Had the bait been taken?

Akad declared the session open, and Joseph read out the organized findings.

“I have completed the autopsy of Lord Marcus Yurei. Lord Marcus Yurei was murdered, and the method was indeed black magic.”

His face fell into a troubled expression.

Was this sensation, which he had already felt once before, what people called déjà vu?

And that déjà vu concerned a distant future that, unfortunately, would never come to pass.

“And by tracing that magic, we were also able to identify the person who used it……”

This was when Ferda was named an enemy of the Empire for the most absurd reason.

“That magic was created in the castle of the Grand Duchy of Valdrova, and it is certain that it was used by Regent Ferda of Valdrova.”

The entire chamber erupted.

“Are you saying the regent really committed the murder?!”

“More importantly, if it is certain that the regent used that magic…… doesn’t that mean he really is a black mage?”

“He killed him himself, and as a black mage he still has the nerve to hold his head high like that?!”

The audience was plunged into a cauldron of shock.

Duke Yurei’s face flushed bright red.

He shouted emotionally.

“You damned spawn of a demon! How dare you kill my son!!”

Alexander shouted along with him.

“What are the sheriffs doing? Arrest that black mage immediately!”

At the Crown Prince’s shout, the sheriffs hesitated before moving toward Ferda.

Unable to stand by and watch, Consilius rose from his seat.

“Who dares lay a hand on the Grand Duke’s fiancée!!”

His spirit was difficult to believe in a man of such advanced age.

The situation became a complete mess.

Tension rose so high that a single punch seemed liable to turn the place into a brawl.

Standing at the center of that storm, Ferda ironically felt calm.

This place, where the emotions of hundreds of people were being stirred, felt far more comfortable than those rational conversations that concealed feelings and twisted around in circles.

The space seemed to fit within Ferda’s palm, and sharp insight filled his eyes.

He illuminated everything clearly and examined their hidden motives one by one.

Where was it?

Where was the black stain hidden on this gray floor?

“Step back, Count Consilius!”

“If you insist on seeing blood, then you will have to face this old man……. Cough……”

Consilius, who had strained the veins in his neck, suddenly began coughing.

Ferda’s concentration broke as well.

“Count, what is wrong?”

“Cough, cough……!”

Consilius could not stop coughing.

His body swayed before he turned his gaze toward Ferda.

“Kehk!”

With a harsh sound, he spat something onto Ferda’s clothes.

It was bright red blood.

“Uuugh……”

He vomited blood, putting a stop to the heated atmosphere.

Ferda took a black handkerchief from his pocket, wiped his mouth, and asked,

“Count, are you all right?”

“Cough, cough…… Hah…… hah……”

Consilius squeezed one eye shut with difficulty.

Amid that bewildering scene, someone shouted.

“It’s a plague! Count Consilius has caught a plague!”

That one cry seized the attention of the confused audience.

“A plague?!”

“Aren’t we going to die too?”

Whether it was really a plague did not matter.

The fear created by those words spread through the chamber like an epidemic.

The sheriffs, who had approached hesitantly, backed away, and someone fired the first shot.

“Everyone, get out of here!”

“The plague will spread! We’re going to die!”

With that single cry, the menacing atmosphere flowed in a different direction and became pandemonium.

“Silence! Everyone remain in your seats!”

Akad tried to bring the confusion under control, but no one whose life was at risk could hear him.

As the loss of control continued and a forced recess was about to begin, there was a sudden interruption.

“Siiilence!!”

A man’s voice seized control of the chamber.

Everyone’s voices died down, and they regained their senses.

It was Valdemar, who had been sitting in the seat of the highest councilor.

Valdemar did not say anything more.

Once the atmosphere had calmed, Akad spoke.

“We will resume proceedings. The priests will determine why Count Consilius coughed blood and whether it is a plague.”

Akad sighed helplessly as he continued.

“Therefore, we will recess again for two hours. For the sake of quarantine, do not leave the council chamber during that time, and everyone must remain in their seats. Count Consilius and Regent Ferda, please receive examinations from the priests. That is all.”

The audience prayed to the gods with the fear that they might die weighing on their hearts.

Having seen him up close, Ferda knew for certain.

It was not a plague that had made him cough up blood.

‘Aura Reversal.’

It was a side effect caused by the aura in his body flowing backward.

Aura was the energy of life, and when that life force flowed in reverse, the pain was enough to kill.

Anger raised blood pressure; it did not make aura flow backward.

‘It is impossible unless it was done deliberately.’

Then why?

‘To change the atmosphere.’

He had cut off the momentum of the accusations that he was a black mage, frozen everyone under the name of plague, and bought time.

‘He did this without saying anything about his plan…….’

Ferda had not involved Consilius.

It was not that he did not trust him.

He had simply judged that nothing good would come of involving him.

But thanks to his bold action, Ferda’s situation had become much easier.

That was why he wiped Consilius’s mouth with the black handkerchief.

“Count Consilius.”

While Consilius was still conscious, Ferda quietly asked him,

“Who went inside to perform the autopsy on Lord Yurei’s body?”

Consilius answered with a groan.

“Many people…… crowded in.”

“Who went inside during the examination? Did you go in and observe as well?”

He answered painfully,

“I couldn’t…… Only one person went in……”

“I see. Thank you.”

While carefully wiping his mouth, someone addressed Ferda politely.

“We are the Alte Relief Corps. We will transport Sir Consilius. Are you all right, Regent?”

“I am fine. I can walk on my own, so I will go with you.”

Ferda stepped away, and Consilius was carried onto the vehicle as limply as a powerless old man.

Many people had come over to the relief corps, making the area crowded.

In the process, someone from the relief corps lightly tapped Ferda on the shoulder.

He was moving so hurriedly that Ferda tried to dismiss it as a simple mistake.

“Gem and Swallow.”

But it was not.

He was a member of the Black Bandana who had responded to the signal of Ferda taking out the black handkerchief.

As he prepared the transport, he listened to Ferda’s words.

“Black is……”

From the moment Ferda had been revealed as the murderer, he had focused as much as possible, surveying everyone and watching their reactions.

He had verified it several times through his panoramic field of vision, and now he had obtained a clear answer from Consilius as well.

Ferda leaned toward his ear and said,

“Black is Bishop Joseph Faust.”

The leader of the Alte Church.

He was the demon worshipper.