Chapter 93
“Controlled?”
She nodded in response.
Most knights carried divine power within their bodies, which meant only Pell had succumbed to the dark sorcery’s brainwashing.
Eurell must have known Pell was being controlled and desperately tried to save him.
This revealed that the heretical cult wasn’t just a group of con artists.
‘A heretical cult in league with dark magic?’
It was eerily similar to the emerging religious sect currently imprisoned in the underground dungeons of the imperial palace, accused of worshiping demons.
Eched’s expression darkened upon realizing how deeply the dark magic was embedded in this case.
At that moment, a soldier appeared, accompanied by the sound of a knock on the door.
“The Deputy Commander has regained consciousness!”
At this news, they rushed to the infirmary without delay.
Standing outside the infirmary was Orgon, who had come upon hearing the news.
Though Eurell had regained consciousness, it couldn’t be said that he was in good condition. With a face that seemed ready to lose consciousness again, he whispered something to Anella, who stood by his side.
Shortly after, Anella left the infirmary and approached the group. She relayed Eurell’s words to them.
“It seems the heretical cult and the assailants who attacked the square are worshiping the same entity.”
“Then…”
“They’re likely one and the same. Worshippers of demons.”
The only relief was that those using dark sorcery appeared to belong to a single organization.
Currently, there was only one lead left regarding the remaining assailants.
Eched turned to Lutz and asked,
“Lutz, what’s the status of the investigation into Peramuso’s brother?”
“I’ve had someone tailing him since yesterday, but there’s been no significant report. Apart from meeting Peramuso yesterday, he hasn’t left his house.”
“If we keep watching, something is bound to come up.”
Just as they were resigning themselves to a battle of patience, a commotion broke out.
“I must see the head of the counseling office…!”
“Please calm down. I’ll deliver the message—”
The sound of someone arguing with the knights reached their ears.
Moments later, the individual causing the commotion was practically dragged before them.
It was Peramuso.
“Peramuso?”
“Chief!”
He looked extremely frantic. Orgon dismissed the knights, assuring them it was fine.
“What’s going on?”
“I was shocked to hear that the knights investigating Kamil Village were gravely injured. Was it the heretical cult that did this to them?”
“We’re still investigating. But rest assured, none of them are in mortal danger.”
“I don’t know if this will help, but… I heard there’s a gathering in the city at sunset today.”
Peramuso retrieved a letter from his pocket. It was an invitation.
“My brother gave this to me. He wants to meet at the Fourth Square today.”
The Fourth Square was nearly as crowded as the First Square in front of the imperial palace.
A group associated with dark magic gathering in such a populous location again—it was tantamount to declaring war on the imperial palace.
The meeting was set for sunset today.
It was already past noon.
Evacuating the citizens of the empire and preparing for a confrontation with the assailants left little time to spare.
“We must prepare immediately.”
Gritting his teeth, Orgon left the room in haste.
“And Sir Pell, the Deputy Commander wanted you to know that this isn’t your fault, so please don’t blame yourself too much.”
The real fault lay with the assailant who used dark magic to brainwash Pell.
Moved by Eurell’s consideration, Pell’s tears flowed as if a faucet had been turned on.
Having conveyed all the messages, Anella returned to the infirmary.
The imperial palace began to bustle with preparations for an imminent battle.
Like Orgon, Eched also became suddenly busy.
“Terry, you should return to the ducal residence.”
Eched, clearly worried about the escalating situation, repeatedly urged her to go home.
She promised to do as he asked but decided to stay a little longer outside the infirmary.
Leaving Pell, who wished to remain there for a while, she headed back to the grievance counseling office—alone.
Or so she intended, until a voice stopped her in her tracks.
“Chief?”
The caretaker of the annex palace called out to her from the garden she was passing.
She wanted to ignore him and keep walking, but…
If she did, she would undoubtedly be accused later of neglecting her duties to respect her elders. So, she reluctantly approached the caretaker.
“It’s fortunate to meet you here. Could you help me open this?”
The caretaker handed her a small, square box.
Looking closer, she noticed several similar boxes scattered around the caretaker.
After carefully twisting and turning the box, she managed to open it.
Inside was a piece of paper with strange drawings on it.
“What is this?”
Her curiosity got the better of her, and she asked instead of walking away.
“I don’t know. I found them attached to the outer walls of the annex palace while doing my rounds today.”
“These were stuck to the outer walls?”
She picked up the paper inside the box with her index finger, her face puzzled.
“This… could it be…”
Startled, she dropped the paper but caught it just before it hit the ground.
She hadn’t sensed any dark magic, so she had let her guard down.
The paper inside the box bore a magical formula.
Even someone like her, who was ignorant of magic, could recognize it at a glance—it was a basic explosive spell.
But who would place such things on the annex palace, and why?
“What is it?”
Asked the caretaker.
“Ah, this…”
If she said it was an explosive spell, it might cause unnecessary panic.
There could still be more bombs hidden around, and creating chaos wouldn’t help.
“…Have you removed all the ones in the annex?”
“I’ve done two thorough rounds, and these are all I found.”
That was a small relief.
But it wasn’t enough to completely ease her mind.
Now came the time to disarm the recovered explosives.
“Someone must have placed them as a prank.”
She reassured the caretaker that there was nothing to worry about.
“I’ll take care of these.”
“…Then I leave it to you.”
Though the caretaker still seemed doubtful, she casually patted his back and sent him on his way.
Left alone in the garden, she looked down at the boxes scattered on the ground.
This many explosives could easily destroy the annex palace.
Since it was an explosive spell, it would be safest and most effective to leave it to the experts.
She immediately contacted the Mage Tower.
A mage arrived in the garden shortly after, panting and wiping sweat from his brow.
“What’s the matter?”
“Do you know how to disarm an explosive spell?”
“An explosive spell?”
“Yes, this.”
She handed one of the boxes to the mage.
After a brief glance, the mage recognized it as a box inscribed with an explosive spell.
“Who would do such a thing, and why…”
The mage’s gaze shifted to the boxes scattered across the ground, then back to her.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“….”
The mage’s suspicious look suggested he thought she was the one who had prepared all these explosives.
She let out a short sigh.
As if to confirm his suspicions, the mage asked,
“What are you planning to do with these?”
“Well, I was thinking about using them at the Mage Tower.”
“W-what?!”
It was a joke, but the mage looked genuinely horrified.
Though tempted to tease him further, she decided it was more important to disarm the bombs.
“I told you at the start. Do you know how to disarm this explosive spell?”
“Ah…”
Finally recalling her original question, the mage examined the box more closely.
“Fortunately, the spell is very basic. It can be neutralized with a potion from the Mage Tower designed for disarming explosive spells.”
The mage immediately pulled out a magical communication device from their pocket.
They contacted the Mage Tower and instructed them to bring a potion capable of dismantling bomb magic.
“But what is all this?”
The mage, now serious, asked again where these items had been obtained.
“It was retrieved by the caretaker from the annex.”
“What?! From the annex?”
The annex housed the Knight Order, the Grievance Counseling Office, and various other departments.
If bombs had been installed in such a place…
These bombs seemed less intended to harm people and more likely designed to burn certain materials.
Of course, given their power, both the materials and any nearby individuals would be obliterated.
Not long after, another mage arrived.
This mage carried several bottles resembling perfume containers.
The mages poured the liquid from the bottles onto the paper inscribed with the bomb magic.
At once, the magic-imbued letters vanished.
After leaving one bomb intact, the mage stated,
“We will take this to the Mage Tower to investigate traces of the perpetrator.”
The mage cast a protection spell on the paper to ensure the bomb wouldn’t accidentally detonate during transport and took it with them.
While staring at the wooden boxes scattered on the floor, now stripped of their magical inscriptions, an idea suddenly came to mind.
“Could you possibly make something for me with this? Not a bomb, but a surprise box…”
“A surprise box?”
“Yes. If we put powder inside, it should scatter around the moment the lid is opened.”
“Then it would be possible to inscribe a wind magic circle inside…”
The mage trailed off, perhaps wary of being assigned yet another task.
Noticing the dark circles that had sunk down to the mage’s cheeks from exhaustion, they reassured,
“If it’s not possible, just say so.”
At this, the mage shouted loudly,
“It is possible! Do you think I can’t draw such a simple magic circle?!”
Clearly, the mage despised being underestimated, as evidenced by their heavy snorting.
With a shrug, they replied,
“Then I’ll leave it to you. I’ll send someone with the powder to put inside. Oh, since it’s a simple magic circle, you can make it right away, can’t you?”
“Of course!”
“Good. I’ll send the powder immediately. You’re capable, so I trust you’ll do a good job.”
“Naturally!”
Pleased by the compliment, the mage’s pride soared.
The mage felt good from the praise, and they were pleased at the thought of soon receiving the surprise box.
It was mutual benefit at its finest.
Although, it wasn’t exactly profitable.
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