Cracks are connected to the underground.

The anomaly of cracks merging meant that Irkala’s influence to interfere with the surface had grown.

‘Why?’

Although I’ve been continuously gathering information about the Irkala cult, they haven’t been noticeably active recently.

I bit my lip while looking up at the massive crack that was clearly manifesting its presence.

Come to think of it, Greed, who used to call out to Lord Irkala whenever cracks appeared, was strangely quiet.

Could it be that he disappeared again, like he did before?

I was startled and called out to Greed internally.

‘Greed. Greed!’

[Why are you calling?]

As soon as Greed’s grumpy voice responded, I let out a sigh of relief.

‘It’s… nothing.’

[There are two ways to piss off a sin, one is to start saying something and then not finish it, and the second is…]

‘Where did you learn such things…’

Anyway, I was worried that he might be out of contact for days like last time, but I was relieved that Greed hadn’t disappeared.

As I was deeply pondering how to investigate that crack, the knight who had been strongly insisting we should return approached me and apologized.

“I spoke out of turn, Miss. I will continue to stay by your side.”

“I’m sorry too, Sir. I was too emotional.”

The knights still glanced nervously at the crack, but they no longer seemed to be thinking of running away.

I felt sorry for the knights who had to suppress their fear and stay under the crack because of my stubbornness.

Being under this massive crack was like standing n*ked under an active volcano that could erupt at any moment.

Just being here was taking an enormous risk.

“But knights, I truly mean it when I say you can go back if it’s too dangerous.”

“That’s nonsense. Our duty is to protect you, Miss, no matter what happens.”

Seeing the knights who were prepared even for death made my heart even heavier.

To live up to their resolve, I had to find a way to investigate the crack.

Usually, when cracks appeared, magical beasts would pour out. Then, wouldn’t the opposite be possible too?

The subjugation team leader said that when the storm occurred, the team members and Raeyan were swept away, so the most likely assumption was that they were swept into the crack.

‘I hope Raeyan and all the subjugation team members are safe.’

While I was seriously contemplating, suddenly a call came through the communication magic tool.

The caller was Mario. Thanks to the long-distance communication magic tool I had additionally received from Isis for this incident and given to Mario, we could communicate smoothly.

Mario relayed additional news to me.

[It appears that massive merged cracks are emerging not just in the Black Ravine, but across multiple countries throughout the continent..]

“You mean this large crack isn’t the only one?”

Something was happening.

Something very ominous.

***

There wasn’t much I could do in terms of investigation.

I grabbed a small pebble and threw it towards the crack. It was to see how it would react.

Thunk-.

As if blocked by a barrier, the pebble bounced right back.

I suggested trying to purify the crack directly instead of using a medium, but the knights scolded me for it.

To begin with, there was no way to reach that crack floating high in the sky.

How much time had passed?

While the knights, tired from the forced march, were resting and eating, we heard the sound of a group of people approaching from a distance.

We heard the sound of horse hooves and the distinctive clanking of armor, and then the Imperial Army dispatched from the royal palace appeared before us.

“I am Norbert Savoie, Deputy Commander of the 4th Knight Division of the Imperial Army. As of now, an imperial order has been issued to designate the entire Black Ravine area as a danger zone and restrict access. Please leave this place immediately.”

The 4th Knight Division of the Imperial Army was one of Empress Salvatrice’s forces.

To confirm my suspicion, I asked Deputy Commander Norbert Savoie, “When you say imperial order, whose order is it?”

“It is the order of Her Majesty Empress Salvatrice.”

As I thought.

The decision to evacuate civilians based on the judgment of a danger zone might seem reasonable at first glance.

But the one behind it was Empress Salvatrice.

A person who was in cahoots with Gabe Jenade, who was connected to Irkala.

As such, I couldn’t easily back down.

“I came here to search for missing persons. Does the imperial order include the search for missing persons?”

“No, it does not.”

“…It doesn’t?”

“Please leave this place quickly. It’s an imperial order.”

The Deputy Commander urged us to disappear from this place promptly, as if he were a machine.

The more they insisted, the deeper my suspicion grew. I persisted stubbornly and tactlessly.

“We will help search for the missing persons too.”

“I apologize. The imperial order takes precedence, so please leave this place.”

“My power might be of help, you know. It’s the power of purification.”

“Please leave.”

Even when I mentioned my purification power, the Deputy Commander’s attitude remained unyielding.

Finally, I was certain.

‘There’s a reason they need to restrict access to this place.’

There was clearly some scheme related to this massive crack.

I didn’t know what they were trying to do, but I couldn’t let them have their way.

“I won’t move from here without a definite answer about searching for the missing persons.”

“My lady.”

The Imperial Army’s demeanor turned quite menacing. I could sense their willingness to use force if necessary.

Sensing the atmosphere, the knights from my family who were guarding me also placed their hands on their sword hilts.

It was a tense situation that could erupt at any moment.

Once again, the sound of horse hooves was heard from a distance.

Eventually, what appeared was the Imperial Army led by the First Prince Adenmir.

Adenmir, mounted on his horse, spotted me and widened his eyes in surprise. I was equally surprised by his unexpected appearance.

Dismounting from his horse, Adenmir stood between me and the Deputy Commander of the 4th Knight Division.

“What’s going on here?”

“There was an imperial order to restrict access to this area. However, Lady Severes was refusing the imperial order, so we were in the midst of a disagreement.”

“I see.”

“Your Highness, First Prince, you are no exception. I request that you leave this place promptly as well.”

“That won’t be possible.”

“Pardon?”

Adenmir took something out from his chest and showed it to the Deputy Commander.

It was an appointment letter bearing the Emperor’s seal.

It contained the content of fully delegating the authority to investigate and control this large crack to First Prince Adenmir Presil Wallenti.

“From now on, this is under my jurisdiction.”

“…!”

“I think it’s you who should leave now.”

The Deputy Commander’s expression twisted as he received his own words thrown back at him.

***

‘Truly magnificent.’

Even before fully entering the ravine, the large crack floating in the sky captivated the attention of Adenmir and his party.

As reported in writing, the merged crack boasted an enormous presence.

Adenmir, approaching under the massive crack, increased his speed upon hearing a commotion from afar.

Soon, what came into his view was the figure of someone who shouldn’t be here.

‘Elodie?’

Why is Elodie here?

Could it be that he was seeing things due to his deep affection?

Approaching closer while doubting his own sanity, Adenmir faced not an illusion but reality.

Elodie Severes was indeed in the Black Ravine.

Soon, he realized on his own why Elodie was here.

‘Mercenary King Ian. No, now it’s Raeyan Vietan. It’s because of him.’

Having received reports of the subjugation team’s annihilation, that man who participated in this subjugation must not have survived either.

The fact that Elodie was here before him meant she had departed immediately after receiving the news.

Throb.

Suddenly, his chest felt constricted.

Ignoring that pain, he confronted the 4th Knight Division trying to occupy the Black Ravine.

“From now on, this is under my jurisdiction.”

As soon as he showed the Emperor’s seal, they fell silent and lowered their tails.

No matter what the Empress’s orders were, the Emperor’s orders took precedence.

As he watched the 4th Knight Division retreat, Elodie called out to him.

“Your Highness. There was a survivor among the subjugation team members. I’ve laid them down in a temporary tent, and I think it would be good for Your Highness to meet them.”

“Wasn’t it total annihilation?”

“Yes. There’s a possibility of other survivors.”

Following Elodie’s guidance towards the temporary tent, Adenmir became lost in thought.

He recalled a conversation he had with the Empress not long ago.

“I’ve read reports that the subjugation is progressing successfully. Especially the achievements of a man named Raeyan Vietan are outstanding, aren’t they?”

“What are you trying to say?”

“I’m just pleased that the prince has grown so much and is handling matters excellently. It must be satisfying for you, given that His Majesty personally entrusted this task to you.”

The Empress’s attitude at that time was meaningful. She seemed to have a great interest in this subjugation.

That’s why he had been keeping an eye on the Empress’s actions since then, which allowed him to follow so quickly.

‘Why is she trying to control that crack?’

He had a strong suspicion that Empress Salvatrice was involved in this situation.

While organizing his thoughts after hearing the subjugation team leader’s testimony, Elodie shared some information she had gathered about the crack.

That it couldn’t be purified because there was no medium for purification.

Both of them looked up at the crack simultaneously.

“I think people were swept into that crack. So, if I were to enter that crack-“

“Are you insane?”

Adenmir turned around in shock before Elodie could finish her sentence.

She seemed surprised by his intense reaction, looking at him with wide eyes.

Adenmir calmly placed his hands on both her shoulders.

“Come to your senses, Lady. There are records of a magician who tried to enter a crack while researching them in the past, and he was torn to pieces and died.”

“Yes. I was just thinking out loud.”

Elodie nodded, but Adenmir wasn’t reassured.

He felt the need to separate her from this place as much as possible.

“I’ll be managing this crack now, so you should head back. We’ll continue the search, so there’s no need to worry.”

“…Alright.”

“I’ll inform you immediately if there’s any new information.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Although she expressed gratitude, Elodie’s expression darkened.

Is she thinking of that man again?

He unconsciously almost reached out to Elodie but clenched his fist and endured.

***

Adenmir was right. There was nothing more I could do here.

Both searching and purification were impossible.

But I didn’t give up my belief that Raeyan was alive.

Because Raeyan had an immortal body.

‘Wait, immortal?’

At that moment, a brilliant idea flashed through my mind.

To confirm if my thought was correct, I hurriedly called out to Greed.

‘Greed!’

[Why are you calling again?]

‘Raeyan made a contract with Envy to have an immortal body, right? For that to work, does the contract need to be maintained?’

[I don’t know the details of other sins’ powers. At least for my ability, it can only be used continuously if the contract is maintained.]

‘Is there no possibility of using the ability without paying a price, like me?’

[To have lived with an immortal body until now, he must have made a formal contract.]

Even in Leon’s case, Sloth could use the dream ability when the contract was maintained.

If so, by just confirming that Envy’s contract was still maintained, I could also know whether Raeyan was alive or not.

At least, it wasn’t a difficult task for me.

Because the family that sealed Envy was none other than…

‘-Severes.’