"...W-wait. What in the...?"
"What do you an 'what'? It's the magic you talked about. I've tied up your Core, so if sothing dangerous happens, I can send you a signal. Are we good now?"
"Ha... Hahaha..."
Leo, who had been staring at blankly while clutching his heart, collapsed forward as if giving way, burying his forehead on the table. He let out a laugh and muttered.
"Always unexpected..."
It should be unexpected.
But...
I leaned in and spoke into his ear.
"Why didn't you stop it?"
"......"
"It's gratifying that the future king personally accepted my magic. Or, unlike what I felt, could you truly not dodge it?"
At those words, Leo curled up the corner of his mouth and bit down on it. He seed slightly irritated, but still finding the situation absurd, he chuckled hollowly and raised his head.
"Is this the ti? With this, I can only sense the signal you send. It's not enough to discuss safety."
"Is this the ti, you ask? Rember, your Core is in my hands."
"You won't blow it up."
"What makes you so sure?"
"You don't look like soone who would ruin a friend's life."
"Hmm."
That's true. Could I even stay alive if I did that in the first place?
Having regained his composure, Leo spoke calmly.
"If you disliked this situation, you should have given certainty. You don't have a choice, Nicolaus."
As soon as that na ca up, I snorted.
There was no way I didn't know what this bastard was talking about.
Smack—
"Ugh!"
"Don't beat around the bush, you bastard..."
I clapped my hands together, then intertwined them, twisting them as if wringing them out.
"W-wait, just a minute...! Lucas!"
Leo clutched his Core and bent forward. The effect of twisting the Core must have reached him.
Since persuasion wasn't working, he summoned Nicolaus, huh?
I felt it with Adelbert too, but royalty are clumsier than expected in personal relationships rather than public ones.
Of course, from the perspective of the Royal Family, human capital is also the property of the Royal Family and the state. In principle, I can understand why Leo called Nicolaus and why he tried to implant the artifact in .
"Now you wish you hadn't accepted it unnecessarily? But I'm not going to release it, so just live with it."
"...Hahaha..."
Leo burst into a dazed laugh, then muttered softly.
"Why would I regret it?"
"......"
For a mont, I held my breath. Even though it was a whisper without force, it sohow sounded eerie. Because he was leaning forward with his forehead resting on the table, I couldn't properly see his expression.
Still, it was easy enough to conclude why it was eerie.
If it were anyone else, they would obviously get angry and ask what the hell I was doing, but regrettably, due to his obsession with magic...
'He's so young, but he's already gone mad. It's a pity.'
I fell into deep thought about what to do with this magic fanatic, then shook my head. I picked up the box and threw it at him.
Leo looked bewildered for a mont, then stared at .
"What are you doing? Let's just pierce them quickly and get this over with."
"...!"
I said earlier that I could understand why he called Nicolaus and why he tried to implant the artifact.
It only seems blurred because he's my friend, but he is clearly my superior and liege. Receiving such a consequence for not fulfilling the request we agreed upon is actually a light punishnt. No, in fact, if you consider it, it's all advantageous to , to the point where I feel a bit sorry.
Thinking that, I spoke to Leo, who was just blinking with wide, stunned eyes.
"It seems you don't know this, but jewelry, no matter what it is, can be attached and removed."
Leo was silent for a long ti, then simply smiled brightly.
He smiled so innocently, like a proper high school student, that I couldn't curse at this unexpected reaction. I just chuckled hollowly.
"...Seems you don't care."
"You're not going to take them out."
"I am going to take them out."
"I bet you won't take them out just because it's a bother."
He was accurate...
I fell silent.
The earlier innocence was gone; Leo spoke with a sowhat cool tone, just like at first, and smiled.
"No backing out, Lucas."
"Backing out of what? Let's finish quickly and listen to my plan."
At the ntion of the plan, Leo paused, then regained his composure.
Leo blew Magic Power into the box and picked up the needle inside.
"It's going to hurt a bit."
I'm piercing sothing here that I never pierced in reality.
Back then, people told to get them pierced hundreds of tis, but I never listened.
I held my breath. I felt the needle pierce my earlobe.
Leo removed the needle and imdiately inserted the artifact.
"...!"
I touched the area around my heart where my Core is located.
A change occurred even though I only put one in.
The unique healing magic of the Wittelsbach family spread around my Core. It feels like if I got a Core examination now, I'd score one grade higher.
'Oh.'
No matter how I look at it, this is too much of an advantage only for ?
I feel a bit sorry for using aggressive magic on Leo.
However, since I have a ans of blackmail, I have no intention of removing the subordination placed upon him. He can just live like that until he's in his grave. I don't know if I'll be here that long, but Luca will probably use it effectively. Perhaps it will be more necessary for Luca than for .
Leo observed my reaction, then brought a new needle to my other ear.
Pierce—
That was a fact I didn't know.
Surprisingly, there's a sound of sothing popping.
Feeling that the other ear was also finished, I shook my head.
"Done?"
"Yep. That's it."
Leo stepped back from , observing the artifacts in my ears.
I fully realized now why Leo had brought here.
The pain was brief. In this air, it didn't hurt more, nor did my skin feel like it was burning. Rather, his Magic Power and my Core were connecting more smoothly. Although unintended, it ant I was receiving the effect of Core treatnt.
As if waiting for my reaction, Leo imdiately asked.
"How does it feel?"
"It feels like I'm at the hospital, perfectly fine."
"......"
Leo looked at with a face that suggested he'd listen to any old-man-like answer, then muttered to himself, deciding not to say anything more.
Despite that, he looked quite satisfied. Leo was lost in thought for a mont, then said with slightly spaced-out eyes.
"It would have been great if I could use Divine Power."
"......"
I didn't ask what he would use it for if he could. It was obvious what this bastard would say even without asking.
"Actually, the reason I brought this is related to what I said earlier. I didn't put your blood or Magic Power into this artifact, but you said it felt like a hospital... Honestly... Anyway, you said it felt like you were at a hospital. That ans it blended in well, which isn't the usual reaction. If you live like this for a long ti, I wonder if I can get more data on why your Core doesn't resist my Magic Power."
"Hmm."
"And now I can guide you according to your Core. I can grasp the flow of your Core right now."
"...Ah, right..."
Is this a good thing?
As I gave a forced smile, Leo tilted his head as if asking why I was doing that and smiled. He seed already lost in thoughts of training.
Then, after a long silence, he broke it and spoke.
"Lucas. From now on, we move together."
"Doing what?"
"I can't think like you or Elias yet, but I'm prepared to follow your direction. Elias and Narce will do the sa."
I looked at his face and fell into thought.
If my actions made it seem like I don't trust them, there's nothing I can do about that. I have no intention of driving these high school students into a death trap.
If I can just sit back and take things easy, that's good for . Who would dislike that?
I don't know what he thinks of , but I don't desperately wish to uphold justice, nor do I wish to annihilate evil in this world. That's why I've never taken action for those reasons. I just did what had to be done because it was right in front of . Therefore...
Leo continued.
"In the Catacombs, you said you would show that there are things worth believing in for you. I understand. So, I'll let you know too."
So, I have no intention of asking him to do things that don't need to be done yet.
It's not a value as important as my life, significant enough to throw high school students into a death trap for the sake of my direction.
Making him Pleroma's prey and trusting him are completely separate matters.
"I already trust you, Leo."
"No, you don't trust . And besides, I never asked for permission."
I quietly watched him, then nodded.
So, he's saying he'll prove that there are things worth believing in, no matter what I say.
"...Alright. I understand your intention."
Leo replaced his answer with a smile.
Just like in the later part of the novel, if they were about 10 years older here, I would have worked them hard, so it's a bit disappointing.
Well, there are still plenty of ways to utilize them.
Now it's ti to think about what to do tomorrow.
I clapped my hands, rousing his attention.
"Alright. Now..."
"Screw 'now,' go to sleep."
I stared blankly at Leo, who had said such a thing while smiling.
"I'll listen tomorrow. Got it? It's already one o'clock, go get so sleep."
Yeah, well. It's not urgent anyway.
It was only half a day ago that I t the Chairman. I don't feel it while I'm here, but it's clear that fatigue will wash over once I leave.
Reading the change in my expression, Leo was the first to get up and motioned to .
"Let's go."
* * *
I slept soundly after a long ti.
How long has it been?
Thinking that, I opened my eyes to find sunlight brightly filling the room.
"...!"
I sprang up and checked the clock.
'...9 o'clock?'
Am I crazy?
Training must have started ages ago.
Thinking that, the mont I roughly changed clothes and burst out the door, I ran into Narce, who was walking around in his school uniform.
"...Huh?"
"Lucas, you're awake. What's the hurry~?"
"Why are you here?"
"Haha, our team skipped morning training. More importantly, did you have any dreams?"
Now that he ntioned it, even after going through that crazy experience, I woke up after sleeping well without any nightmares.
As if reading my thoughts, Narce replied casually.
"Every ti you tried to wake up, Leo and I put you back to sleep~"
"Really? Thanks."
Seeing that he didn't ask why I kept waking up, it seems Narce has figured sothing out by now.
Before, he was a bit late in realizing that I disliked warping.
I'm just grateful that he didn't ask for details, even though he knew sothing had happened.
Narce looked closely at my face, then tapped the artifact on his earlobe and laughed.
"Those earrings suit you well~ I have one here too!"
Among the New Humans, there's probably no one who doesn't have one, so it's not surprising.
Narce stared at and then muttered.
"Want to get another one pierced?"
"...No. Why are you like this too...?"
"Ah, why am I like this too, you ask? Hahaha, there's an artifact the Papal State gives to clergy. Anyway, it's an honor that you received it differently than ."
I don't know what he considers an honor, but it's good that this guy isn't as stubborn as Leo.
Also, perhaps because he isn't possessed by the sa fanaticism for magic as Leo, his answer was much easier to hear.
"By the way, why did you skip training?"
"We skipped it so you could sleep soundly. And I also have to take you to school."
"I see. I feel kind of bad."
"Nah, the kids totally loved it~ Since they have to go to their clubs anyway, they just said they'd try to match up at 12 o'clock twice."
They loved it?
'What's wrong with discipline?'
Since it's around the 3rd selection, only skilled individuals who are no different from professionals are left...
I also haven't experienced embarrassing situations during training like in the 2nd selection. Everyone has the skills, and thanks to getting the hang of things through the 2nd selection, we could easily achieve the desired results with just a little coordination.
Anyway, there was sothing I wanted to ask him about, so I should resolve it now while I have the ti.
"Narce. Can you take a look at my baptism scar?"
He could have asked what was sudden about it, but Narce readily nodded.
I held out my hand to him.
—He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
Divine Power flowed from Narce's hand as he touched mine.
He lightly smacked my hand once and said, smiling.
"...I don't know what happened, but you'll need a purification~ After all, you can't be born three tis."
'...That's a relief.'
It seems the trace can still be washed away with a single purification.
The Chairman said I hadn't even co halfway. Thanks to instinctively disrupting Ludovika's baptism, it seems a major problem hasn't occurred.
"Narce. Can others tell if soone is using Divine Power while chanting like you?"
"Hmm, no."
Narce rubbed his chin, then shook his head.
"You know I belong to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, right? I also t the Undersecretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith during the Cardinal Appointnt eting. Just as I received authority over Insight, the Undersecretary also has a similar ability. Without such authority or a unique ability, it would be impossible to detect sothing like this."
Right, it's not for nothing that it's an organization whose predecessor was the Inquisition. As long as I don't et soone who works there, even if I received Pleroma's baptism, others won't be able to recognize it.
That's a slight weight off my mind.
Co to think of it, he knows I was given Pleroma's baptism, but he doesn't ask about that either.
I don't know if this is good consideration or sothing else.
"Alright, Narce."
"Yes?"
"Since the morning is free, I'm thinking of heading to school soon. You have my clerical attire, right? Can you bring it?"
"Clerical attire? Going to school?"
Narce's eyes widened.
* * *
I wasn't going to wear it now.
I set foot in the school once again, in the guise of Nicolaus.
"Oh...!"
A few students who spotted visibly flinched with surprised faces and stepped back. They glanced at furtively, then turned around and started running away.
'I asked them to control this.'
Now they'll probably go sowhere to say that Nicolaus has co to school.
Anyway, I'll be leaving soon, so I don't have ti to wait here until they co back.
Leo, who had been guided by the school staff and was beside , spoke in a voice only I could hear once the people disappeared.
"I expected you to sleep longer, but you've co early, Your Excellency."
This isn't a situation where I can sleep longer.
I unconsciously touched my ear, felt the Cognitive Distortion Magic I had placed on my earlobe wearing off, and withdrew my hand. Leo saw that and turned his head.
"What have you suddenly co here to do, Your Excellency? It doesn't seem like you've visited His Imperial Majesty first."
"Shouldn't I obtain evidence to prove the professors' innocence? I need to gather several pieces, so let's move quickly."
"I don't know what information Your Excellency has obtained. I would first like to know how the Chairman uses his ability."
"Blood, and consent. These two are the conditions for the Revelation. As long as you can communicate with him, any question will do. It seems the level of consent needs to be deeper depending on the other person's rank."
"Hmm... Blood."
Leo furrowed his brows, looking slightly displeased.
"The possibility seems small, but they might have infiltrated the professors' residences and extorted blood. If the professors were colluding with them, there would have been no reason to give the Revelation. If not, where else could they have obtained the professors' blood?"
"That is indeed a low-probability statent, Your Excellency."
"...I said that, didn't I...? Then what does Your Excellency think?"
"You'll know if you observe."
At my words, Leo shrugged his shoulders as if asking what I ant.
"If you ca to find that out, shouldn't you go to the Prosecutors' Office instead of the school? How will you find out at a school where the professors aren't present?"
"Even if I went to the Prosecutors' Office, I wouldn't be able to et them right away. And the information I need to obtain isn't just this."
After this, I need to move to the next location right away. There's no ti to wait around to et the professors.
Guided by Leo, I entered the Faculty Managent Office, where I had made an appointnt in advance.
When I knocked on the door, the Head of Office himself ca out to greet us.
"You've arrived, Your Excellency Ernst. We were waiting for you."
"It's a pleasure. I made a difficult request due to the urgency, so I thank you for eting so willingly."
"Not at all. There's no reason to refuse when you're stepping forward to help with our school's affairs. It just so happened that I had so free ti."
He sat down and clasped his hands together.
"So, you said you had sothing you were curious about, what might that...?"
"Have you conducted a health checkup for faculty mbers within the last month?"
"...!"
Leo looked at .
The Head of the Faculty Managent Office's eyes widened, and he alternately looked at and Leo, as if he hadn't expected a question about health checkups.
Naturally, he must have expected a question from like 'What were the professors' movents regarding Pleroma?'
"...Health checkup...?"
"Yes. I understand that a mandatory checkup is conducted once a year for faculty mbers of the Imperial Second Academy during the sumr vacation period. When was the most recent examination? The regular checkup couldn't have been the last one."
He looked for a calendar and pointed with his finger.
"Most recently... There was an unscheduled checkup 3 weeks ago, which ans the second week of January. Haha, how did you know? It was the first unscheduled checkup we've ever conducted."
"......"
"The second week of January, you say. Quite abrupt."
I slowly nodded and asked the clinching question.
"I understand that Magic Power tests are mandatory for Mages. How is the examination conducted?"
He tilted his head with a look that asked why I was asking sothing so obvious.
"We draw blood, don't we? Magic Power doesn't blend unless it's in blood."
"......"
I lightly curled up the corner of my mouth.
The Head of Office just stared at and Leo, bewildered.
I heard a small hollow chuckle from Leo.
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