Chapter 110. The Crow and the Egret (2)

Bishop Corund reflected slowly on the situation he found himself in with heavy eyelids.

Currently, he lay sprawled on the ground.

A chill ran down his back, while at the same time, a dizzying pain reached his fingertips.

"Grrr...ugh...!"

A groan, laced with a scream, escaped Corund's lips.

Looking down at Corund, Pintel's eyes were as cold as ice.

"You are guilty of numerous sacrilegious sins beyond description."

It was a voice devoid of emotion, difficult for one to discern feelings from.

Corund, who had a degree of interaction with the person called 'Pintel', could sense that something was amiss.

"First, the sin of mocking a noble 'person' with your filthy mouth."

An emotion began to rise on Pintel's face, previously as emotionless as a calm lake.

"Second, the sin of plotting treason against that noble 'person'."

The icy appearance he thought Pintel had now seemed to kindle with a cold flame.

"Third, you reached out to include me in your heinous act of treason."

"You... you fool! Do you even know who you're talking about right now?!"

Amidst hearing Corund's voice of anger, Pintel twirled his staff.

Then, still seated, he opened his mouth.

"You must be referring to Sir Yulian. Do you think I'd be doing this without knowing that?"

"You lunatic...!"

Corund spat out curses in an agitated voice.

Around his body began to swirl a reddish aura.

Corund's mana, known for its destructive fire element, was about to manifest.

Fwoosh──!

"Arghhh!"

Pintel's quiet yet swift blade magic struck Corund's body.

"In a battle against a mage, taking the initiative with a preemptive strike is crucial."

"You... you bastard...!"

"Did you assume my blade magic, honed in battle, would allow your long incantations to proceed unchallenged?"

Like a conductor, Pintel waved his staff.

Sharp 'blades' followed the tip of his staff like fish in water.

"What... what has he done for you to defend that half-witted trash?"

Flinch.

At Corund's words, Pintel's brows twitched.

"Why am I defending that half-witted piece of trash?"

Sss.

Pintel rose from his seat and slowly approached the fallen Corund.

"Think carefully, Pintel! If the mages of the Dawn Society unite to resist..."

His staff struck Corund's waist.

Thunk!

With a dull thud, the sound of frothing at the mouth poured vividly from Corund's lips.

"You blasphemous scum!!"

Thunk, thunk!

Pintel's staff repeatedly struck Corund's body.

"Is the filth spewing from your disgusting mouth?"

Thunk!

"Or is it coming from your brain that knows no shame?"

Thunk!

"Say it again! You piece of trashhhhhh!!!!"

"P-Please, calm down, Sir Pintel."

The one who intercepted Pintel's relentless staff was the monsignor he had brought with him.

When Pintel saw him, he cleared his throat once and withdrew his staff.

"Have you finished tidying up?"

"Yes, we've fully subdued the soldiers Corund brought."

"Good job."

Having regained his composure, Pintel turned his gaze to the fallen Corund.

"Detain him."

"Are you not going to kill him?"

"Sir Yulian wouldn't want that."

At the mention of 'Yulian', the monsignor seemed momentarily flustered.

"... Was all this really necessary?"

"No, it wasn't."

Interrupting the monsignor, Pintel spoke with confidence.

"Before Sir Yulian departed for the Holy Kingdom, when asked why he refused the office of Archbishop offered by the Chief Cardinal, he told me this."

"What did he say?"

Pintel turned his head toward the monsignor who asked the question.

― My purpose lies at a higher place.

Above the Archbishop.

Pintel knew what this meant.

And so, Pintel had decided to clear the path for Yulian, who had once given him 'choice' and 'opportunity'.

For it was the least he could do to show respect to the one who had shown kindness.

"Ah, it's nothing."

Thus, Pintel resolved to keep the conversations with 'Yulian' buried in his heart.

In case the conversation here could somehow harm him.

"What are the movements of the Azure Lion Knights?"

Pintel swiftly changed the subject.

"Alhasar, as a member, wouldn't it be easy for you to grasp the internal movements?"

"It seems that the Azure Lion Knights, along with other knight orders, are keeping an eye on the Dawn Society."

"Hmm."

Pintel let out a short groan.

"Among them, it seems 'Blind Eyes' is making the most conspicuous moves."

"...'Blind Eyes' poses no real threat anyway."

Though it's an Imperial Intelligence Agency, their leading figure, 'Yulian', is part of the Dawn Society after all.

'Surely, Sir Yulian must be aware of the current situation.'

Before long, a significant change would occur.

Pintel thought so.

And his belief that Sir Yulian would be the cornerstone of that change remained unchanged.

'A trust given must be honored with loyalty.'

It was an adage of the Obradin family.

"For now, I shall return. Ensure nothing happened here."

"Yes, I will handle it."

Watching the nodding monsignor, Pintel stepped into the darkness.

For there was more to be done.

***

Mages and knights do not get along.

Naturally, as they share the power structure within the empire, claiming they get along would be a lie.

"Well, look at this crazy fool! I asked for black tea, and this is just hot water with a red tint!"

Thankfully, at least 'Flugel' is a person who treats everyone equally.

Not discriminating against others based on status or occupation, but treating everyone uniformly.

A person who behaves poorly towards everyone.

He's known as the "Barking Mage" or "Mad Mage" among mages.

"Sir Flugel, didn't you say that a lighter brew was the proper way for black tea..."

"You scoundrel!"

With a gesture from Flugel, the mage serving tea floated upward into the air.

"Think it over up there!"

"I'm sorry, I will prepare it again. Sir Flugel!"

"You should have done so sooner."

Clicking his tongue, with another gesture from Flugel, the floating mage plummeted to the ground.

"Ugh..."

Groaning, the mage serving tea quickly approached the teacup.

There was only one teacup.

He didn't even serve water for me and Maier.

Truly living up to the "Mad Mage" name.

"Leave it there! I need to wet my throat."

"Y-Yes!"

Once the mage hurriedly left, Flugel stroked his long beard once.

"Hmph, alright. Let's get back to the topic."

"Yes."

"Are you seriously here to ask for a Resonance Stone out of the blue, with that ugly face of a dog?"

Ugly face of a dog?

I wanted to say the comment was too harsh, but judging by the reflection of my face in Flugel's eyes, I couldn't disagree.

"Yes, that's right."

"You shameless guy, saying it as if it's the most natural thing... How absurd!"

"I want an answer, Sir Flugel."

"You already know what I'm going to say, don't you?"

He'd obviously refuse.

We weren't close, and even if it's not an exaggeration to say 'Yulian's' reputation scraped the ground at the capital.

"It's unfortunate."

"Hmph, unfortunate? You must have known you'd be rejected from the start."

Of course, that was exactly right.

Asking for a "resonance stone" wouldn't have succeeded if I hadn't brought Maier along.

If he was someone I could converse well with, players wouldn't have come up with the nickname "Mad Mage" for him.

"From your demeanor, it seems you plan to use it in the slums."

His skills, however, were genuine.

"So you do know."

"Of course, I know. About the research involving demons taking place there."

Having accurately discerned the reason for seeking a Resonance Stone, Flugel cast a nonchalant gaze my way.

"The research on demons is an intriguing subject. I'm even personally reviewing the Soul Stone research reports."

Soul Stone research reports, huh. I believe Aileen is currently researching Soul Stones.

'Aileen de Donatien.'

Come to think of it, she's also a member of the Donatien family, just like Aiden.

What would happen if she were to become an enemy?

A 5th-rank 'Barco' level mage, regardless of elemental affinity, would be a troublesome opponent.

"If you use the resonance stone, it will help locate the research site."

"Yes, you're correct."

"Is this an order from the imperial family?"

I shook my head at Flugel's question.

"This is a personal matter."

If it had been related to the 'imperial family', Flugel would have had no choice but to hand over the Resonance Stone.

But if it was connected to the 'imperial family', they would have been approached through 'formal' procedures, not by 'direct' visit like this.

"Then it's a matter I can leave alone."

Flugel chuckled dryly and stroked his beard.

"You must have come here to disrupt that research."

I didn't answer and silently listened to Flugel's words.

"Why leave them to research a subject of interest?"

"Even if it involves human experimentation. And using children for that experiment?"

"Puhahahaha!"

For the first time, Flugel, who had been showing discomfort, burst into laughter.

He stroked his beard repeatedly and looked at me with sarcastic eyes.

"To hear talk of ethics from the Smiling Executioner? There's no end to surprises in this life!"

Oh, this old man, who's lived so long, your words are harsh.

"Speaking of ethics and morals with magic is already funny, but those words from you, considering your past actions, are even more laughable!"

Flugel's words were true; the words I spoke were not what 'Yulian' would usually say.

Even so, the reason I chose those words was to evoke anger in Maier, who lived in the slums.

Splash──!

Maier grabbed the cup from the table and poured its contents on Flugel without hesitation.

"You senile old man! I guess you've finally lost your mind!"

"Miss Maier, haven't you been listening rather than seeing?"

Zap.

Maier glared at me.

"... Hearing rather than seeing, indeed, you've lost your mind!"

Yes. Even if things are messed up, one must speak accurately.

Flugel, covered in tea, stroked his beard with an unfazed expression.

"This one's quite a brat. A single gesture from me, and your life could be snuffed out in an instant—"

Transferring his gaze to Maier, Flugel trailed off.

Was he momentarily taken aback by Maier's striking looks?

Heh. As if that could be.

As mentioned before, Flugel is a eunuch.

"So, have you reconsidered, Sir Flugel?"

There was a reason I brought Maier along even at the risk of selling the name of the 'Black Knight'.

It seemed Flugel recognized it.

The 'Unique Talent of Five Colors'.

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