Chapter 154 - Damn Reincarnation

Interrogation

CRUNCH.

A much louder sound than before rang out from inside Hemoria’s mask. Her eyes had turned a far deeper red, looking less bloodshot than as though the blood in them were boiling.

Unlike Hemoria, who openly displayed her violent emotions, Atarax remained composed. He looked between the Holy Sword planted in the ground and Eugene standing with his arms folded, then chuckled.

“... Pretending to be devout... Haha! You must be the only person who would say such a thing to an inquisitor of Maleficarum, Sir Eugene.”

“And you must be the only person who would doubt the master acknowledged by the Holy Sword.”

“I merely wish to examine the possibilities.”

“Didn’t you just say that, as the Holy Sword’s master, I couldn’t possibly have fallen into black magic?”

“Helping Hector escape is not the same as falling into black magic.”

“At this rate, we’ll never get anywhere. Are you making these ridiculous arguments because you want to force me into a confession?”

Eugene grinned as he glared at Atarax.

“You’re coming at me as though you’ve found yourself a juicy case.”

“Surely you cannot believe that.”

Atarax stepped back and shrugged.

“Very well, for now. I shall endeavor to believe that you had nothing to do with Hector Lionheart’s escape. In truth, I would prefer definitive proof of your innocence...”

“So you do want to force a confession out of me.”

“Are you familiar with the procedure?”

“I know it’s a brutal interrogation that twists your mind until it breaks.”

“Haha! You need not worry about that. No one in the Holy Empire is more expert in ‘interrogation’ than Maleficarum. We would not be rummaging through the depths of your mind. Uncovering the truth of a mere five days ago would leave no aftereffects whatsoever.”

“Forgotten already?”

Eugene pointed his chin at the Holy Sword planted before him.

“I told you, if you have a problem with me or want to give me any more shit, come pull out the Holy Sword first.”

“... Now that is an intriguing proposition.”

Atarax turned his gaze toward Hemoria. Still glaring murderously at Eugene, she strode toward the Holy Sword and stopped within arm’s reach. Under her intense stare, Eugene twisted his lips into a smirk.

CRUNCH.

The sound came from inside her mouth. It was far too loud and sharp for grinding teeth... Eugene tilted his head askew and studied Hemoria.

“You don’t look like a beastfolk. Are your teeth as crooked as an animal’s?”

“My disciple is observing a vow of silence and cannot speak.”

Atarax answered for Hemoria. A vow of silence, was it? Eugene snorted and stepped back.

Hemoria reached for the Holy Sword with a black-gloved hand. Just as her long fingers were about to close around its hilt, the sword’s sacred flames engulfed her hand.

WHOOSH!

But Hemoria neither panicked nor groaned. She calmly withdrew her hand and shook off the sacred flames clinging to her glove. Through gaps in the scorched leather, Eugene could see her skin, pale and bloodless.

Hemoria noticed his gaze. Deliberately, she removed the glove and revealed her bare hand. Apart from its pallor, there was nothing unusual about her skin.

CRUNCH.

That metallic sound rang out again. Hemoria made a series of gestures at Eugene.

“... Sign language?”

“She is asking whether you thought she was a vampire.”

It was Lovellian who interpreted for her. Eugene answered without looking away from Hemoria’s glare.

“... You keep grinding your teeth as though you want me to notice, and the sound is awfully sharp. Red eyes, white skin, a hat, a cloak, even gloves. Can you blame me for wondering?”

“A vampire inquisitor? Unfortunately, Maleficarum is more conservative than you imagine, Sir Eugene. We do not accept demons such as vampires as inquisitors.”

“So you have them in other positions?”

“Demons, too, have freedom of religion. If they wish to serve the God of Light and become priests, what reason would we, as evangelists of the Light, have to refuse them baptism?”

Smiling, Atarax patted Hemoria’s shoulder.

“To think that even Hemoria, with all her devotion, cannot so much as grasp the Holy Sword... It truly lives up to its name.”

“What about you?”

“If I were to reach for it, my hand might burn as well. I have no wish to suffer that embarrassment.”

With that, Atarax approached the spot where Hector had vanished. Looking at the earth still suspended in midair, he continued.

“... In any event, Hector Lionheart did not die. He escaped from here.”

“Long-range teleportation... Only archmages are capable of that.”

Lovellian narrowed his eyes.

“Blink involves calculating the coordinates of a destination within sight and leaping there. Provided those calculations are performed correctly, Blink is not a particularly complex or difficult spell. Long-range teleportation, however, is on an entirely different level.”

“Warping connects gates at either end. It’s different from teleportation.”

Teleportation required a landmark. With the World Tree as that landmark, a leaf could serve as the medium to teleport someone to the World Tree from anywhere in the world.

“Unless we know what medium Hector possessed, we cannot know where he teleported.”

“But there are only a handful of mages in the world who can teleport, you know?”

Melkith grinned and raised a finger.

“First... Aroth’s five tower masters. Trempel Wizardor, commander of the court mage corps. As far as I know, no mage from another country has reached the Eighth Circle yet, has one?”

“... I was in Kiel’s imperial palace as recently as this morning. Kiel does not yet have an Eighth Circle archmage.”

At that answer, Melkith’s cheeks lifted into a broad grin.

“Whatever else you might say, Aroth really is the kingdom of magic! A kingdom with six archmages, including its tower masters! If Aroth went to war, couldn’t it unify the continent?”

“The towers are under no obligation to participate in Aroth’s wars of conquest. Should Aroth start a war, I would likely leave the country, along with everyone in the Red Tower.”

“Well, so would I.”

Melkith chuckled and continued.

“Outside Aroth... Helmuth is the only country with mages capable of teleportation. Incarceration’s Staff, Edmond Codret, and a few high-ranking demons.”

“The queen of the dream demons and the Black Dragon... Those two are the most famous, at least.”

The Black Dragon. As he mentioned him, Lovellian glanced at Eugene. Lovellian had investigated Raizakia on Eugene’s behalf. He knew of the possibility that the Raizakia reigning over Helmuth’s Dragon Demon Castle was not the real one.

“There may be other archmages capable of teleportation among the high-ranking demons. After all, demons live several times longer than humans and wield superior black magic.”

“Does Nahama not also have an archmage?”

Atarax narrowed his eyes.

“Amelia Merwin, the dungeon master of the desert. I am aware that relations between Kiel and Nahama have been unstable for years. Divide Kiel’s Lionheart family from within and weaken Kiel’s strength... That certainly sounds like something Nahama might do, having swallowed Turas while blaming a sandstorm. Though Amelia Merwin, too, is a black mage contracted with the Demon King of Incarceration.”

“That’s true, but I doubt the Demon King of Incarceration personally gave orders to whoever is backing Hector.”

Eugene continued with an indifferent expression.

“A scheme like this is too petty for a Demon King. Besides, would the Demon King of Incarceration feel any obligation to resurrect a Demon King who died three hundred years ago?”

“To assume there could be none whatsoever...”

“Atarax, I’ve studied history diligently since I was little, too. Demon Kings don’t cooperate with each other. Even three hundred years ago, they were competing over who could destroy more countries and expand their territories and followers.”

Of course, Eugene had never bothered studying history. He had lived at the very heart of that history, so there had been no need.

While three Demon Kings were being killed, not once had the Demon Kings cooperated with one another. They shared the title of Demon King, but there was no camaraderie among them.

“The Demon King of Incarceration personally getting involved, pulling a scheme like this, resurrecting a dead Demon King, and dividing Lionheart? Why would a Demon King need to do that? As an inquisitor, you—and Maleficarum—should know perfectly well. A Demon King has no need for such things.”

What reason would the Demon King of Incarceration have to divide Lionheart? If the family bothered him, he could simply tear it apart head-on. Likewise, would he need to perform a secret ritual to resurrect a dead Demon King? He could wipe out everyone who interfered and carry it out openly.

“... I don’t believe the Demon King is involved in this.”

The three black mages contracted with the Demon King of Incarceration. Aroth’s archmages. High-ranking demons. Those were the immediate suspects.

“... Having escaped this incident, Hector Lionheart can no longer travel freely anywhere on the continent.”

Atarax continued.

“But a lawless region is another matter. Even the eyes of the Light spread across the continent cannot keep all of lawless Samar in view.”

“... You think Hector might have fled to Samar?”

“I consider it highly likely. I have heard that you established ties with the Zora tribe, one of Samar’s great tribes, Sir Eugene... Could you not seek their assistance?”

Atarax gazed at Eugene with a smile. The Zoran tribe. Eugene recalled Ivata, the tribe’s heir, who had seen him off on his journey out of Samar.

“... The forest is so vast, finding someone would be difficult.”

“Whether to ask is entirely up to you, Sir Eugene. If you wish to hunt down and kill the fugitive Hector Lionheart, that is.”

“What will Maleficarum do?”

“Since Hector Lionheart was involved in this ritual, we will, of course, do everything in our power to pursue him. Using the eyes of the Light spread throughout the continent.”

The God of Light had many followers.

“My condolences.”

Atarax removed his military cap and bowed his head.

“Nothing is clear yet. Nevertheless, I offer my condolences for the tragic events that occurred here.”

“... A disgraceful affair.”

Klein heaved a deep sigh.

“... If there is nothing more to learn here, and you have finished your inspection... let us return to the castle. You still need to interview the children caught up in this incident.”

“Thank you for your understand—”

Atarax broke off and turned his head. Staring at Hemoria, he gave a quiet chuckle.

“... Hmm... I see.”

“What is it?”

Eugene asked with an air of innocence. In truth, he already had an idea. Throughout the discussion, Hemoria had kept looking at him and the Holy Sword. Her gaze was no longer as hostile as before, but Eugene could sense a familiar eagerness and desire to test herself against him.

“She seems to wish to discover why you are the Holy Sword’s master.”

“You seem to want that yourself, Atarax.”

“Haha... I will not deny it. Tales of the Holy Sword Altair and the Hero it acknowledged are stories everyone on the continent—not only in the Holy Empire—has heard since childhood.”

Chuckling softly, Atarax approached Hemoria.

“Of course, there is some resentment as well.”

“... Resentment?”

“Lionheart has held the Holy Sword for three hundred years without returning it to the Holy Empire. Since Vermouth the Great, no one in Lionheart has become its master. But what if the Holy Sword had been returned to the Holy Empire? Might not some devout and gifted young person have become its master?”

“Perhaps. But I don’t think either of you is that devout and gifted young person.”

Eugene tilted his head with a smirk.

“And the Pope of Yuras has acknowledged that I am the Holy Sword’s master.”

“But you are neither a follower of the Light nor a subject of Yuras.”

“So what do you want me to do about it?”

“I am not saying we intend to take the Holy Sword from you.”

“You couldn’t, anyway.”

“... I am merely asking you to indulge my disciple’s enthusiasm.”

Atarax placed a hand on Hemoria’s shoulder.

“With a light sparring match.”

“Using the Holy Sword?”

“If you need it.”

“I don’t think I will.”

Smiling, Eugene removed the Cloak of Darkness. Mer hurriedly poked her head out from its folds.

“Sir Eugene! Your body still isn’t...”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. We’re only going to spar a little.”

Laughing, Eugene started to lower the cloak to the ground. Melkith, who had been watching quietly, let out a shriek and rushed at him.

“Don’t put it on the ground! You’ll get dirt on it!”

It would be several more years before she got it back, but Melkith had no intention of letting him put her cloak down in this filthy patch of dirt.

“Weapons?”

“Hemoria does not use a separate weapon.”

“Aha... So it’s that old cliché about her whole body being a weapon, or something? Hmm, yes. She does seem well trained.”

“... Please do not underestimate my disciple so much.”

“Aren’t you the ones underestimating someone?”

Eugene grinned broadly and loosened his wrists.

“You don’t seem to quite grasp whose qualifications you’re questioning. You’re looking at the greatest genius in Lionheart’s history apart from our founder, the master of the Holy Sword and Akasha, and the very person who defeated the remnant of a Demon King.”

“... Hmm, I understand that you are remarkable, Sir Eugene... But as your familiar just said, has your body not yet fully recovered?”

“It’s light sparring. We’re not using weapons, just trading a few blows. What’s the problem?”

“... If you are injured, I will heal you. Though I may not equal Kristina, the candidate for sainthood, I am quite proficient in healing magic myself.”

CRUNCH.

The sound came from inside Hemoria’s mask. She removed her hat and cloak, then raised both fists and took her stance. Eugene, by contrast, watched her with his arms hanging loosely at his sides.

“Aren’t you taking off the mask?”

“...”

“Hmm... Does that mean I shouldn’t hit your face?”

He had disliked her from the start.

“If I hit you in the jaw with that metal mask on... will your jaw hurt, or will my fist...?”

She kept glaring at him, radiating hostility and resentment, while some unidentified chewing sound came from inside her mask.

‘And she was the one who started picking a fight.’

Eugene undid the top buttons of his uniform shirt and glared at Hemoria.