Chapter 305

After that, despite my report lacking any kind explanation, Abraham contacted the Austro-Hungarian Empire and asked them to investigate the members of the d’Orléans family who had left the country that day.

Abraham is a person whose principle of action is based entirely on rationality. The fact that she listened to my nonsensical explanation—though I did have my reasons—and made a dangerous decision that could turn both France and Austria-Hungary into enemies at once, meant that the trust she showed in my abilities was unusually strong.

Of course, since three major powers were involved and it was a time not long after a war, the situation could have escalated significantly. Therefore, Abraham did not propose an investigation based on my report, but instead lightly broached the subject based on the d’Orléans’ entry and exit records.

‘That’s just the surface, anyway.’

The Austro-Hungarian Empire also has the entry and exit records. However, Austria-Este understood the signal from the fact that the German Empire, their joint investigation partner, had specifically pointed out such obvious information.

In any case, from my position of knowing what kind of person Abraham is, her trust is not so appreciated. I was just quite surprised that *she* of all people was moving so boldly.

“Ah… I was having fun.”

Elias muttered, clinging to my back as if he were being carried.

Today is the day I am deployed to the reporting site again. The spring breeze is refreshing. Thanks to being back in reality and not in the Extra Chapter where only crazy things happened, my body felt lighter today.

‘My assessment was the opposite before I got into the occult.’

The occult really doesn’t suit my personality… Those unexplainable things are completely opposite to my nature.

Anyway, what Elias was saying he found fun must have been the Hermetische Gesellschaft. Before I went to see Abraham, I heard from Narce and Elias that they had almost passed the initiation test there.

“Fun… You like the occult too?”

“No. I just happened to hear an explanation of out-of-body experiences there.”

“…?”

I felt a chill run down my spine and said.

“Why would you have an out-of-body experience. Don’t get interested in things like that.”

“I have to go and give my great-uncle a good flick on the back of his head. Ah, if I just learn a little more, I think I can get in!”

Would he only give him a flick? I definitely don’t think so. Heike, who was following behind us, joined the conversation without knowing the context.

“I want to have an out-of-body experience too.”

“You are absolutely forbidden from doing that.”

“Why?”

“There’s a reason…”

I’m afraid he’ll become a villain and the probability of change will drop. Anyway, are they all still young enough to consider an out-of-body experience something to try at least once? I don’t know why these kids are so bold.

Heike asked me.

“I heard you went to see Her Highness the Crown Prince. So is the jewel theft case over with this?”

“I don’t know. I guess you could say it’s almost wrapped up.”

“Investigating was fun.”

“Was it.”

I’ve gotten used to Heike’s random remarks now. It was… not fun for me, but it was quite surprising. Heike said with a face that was half-smiling, half-not—though others might see it that way, he was smiling.

“What kind of mission will we get after this case is over?”

“If they give us something like this again, I’m resigning…”

“What?!”

At my words, which came out without thinking, the strength in Elias’s hands, which were clinging to me, increased.

Abraham had also judged at the time that this theft case was a problem no one could solve, which is why she entrusted it to us. If they give us something like this again, won’t we become the unsolved cases unit instead of the victim disposal unit?

My neck was being choked, so I shook Elias off. In the meantime, Heike was just looking at the ground, smiling and muttering.

“I hope the next mission is one all seven of us can do together. Luise and Yulia weren’t here this time.”

“You’ve gotten quite close to Ulrike.”

Seeing as he was calling her by her middle name. I, on the other hand, have had no chance to meet Ulrike, so I haven’t been able to call her that.

“Yes. So I invited her to my house the other day.”

“What? You should have brought me along.”

At my lighthearted words, said with a smile, Heike was visibly pleased. He immediately opened his mouth.

“Then tomorrow…”

Beeep—

[Can you hear me?]

The voice of a headquarters staff member came through the artifact in my ear. Along with it, a familiar alarm blared throughout Berlin.

[Attention to all citizens in the Mitte district.]

It wasn’t just coming through my artifact. The world repeatedly turned red and then brightened.

[A Grade 8 Berserker has appeared at the National Opera House on Unter den Linden in the Mitte district. Citizens, please do not approach the National Opera House until the all-clear signal is given, and move to a square where evacuation is easy.]

“Hmm, I guess we have to go there.”

Elias said, fiddling with his ear. Heike’s face began to turn pale.

“It’s my first time going to a place like a theater, where it’s crowded and narrow.”

“Me too.”

Elias let out a sharp whistle and rubbed his gloved hands together. He wasn’t doing that because he was happy that someone had gone berserk, but this was his way of expressing his tension. Elias licked his lips and continued.

“Let’s just take them to the hospital quickly and get this over with.”

*  *  *

Nevertheless, thankfully, we finished the job as usual. The tension was now only momentary.

It shouldn’t become a daily routine, but for the public, the appearance of a Berserker has now become a daily routine. Bavaria developed a drug that increases the survival rate to counter the development of Pleroma, and we are currently in a period of relative stability. However, the statistics of the dead and injured do not capture the individual lives. For each individual who goes berserk and dies, the statistical period of stability is an empty echo.

In that sense, I must be careful not to feel a sense of stability in these everyday occurrences. No matter how much I feel like I’ve finally returned to my daily life after experiencing crazier things like an out-of-body experience.

I glanced at Elias. He was putting a splint on his wrist, which had been broken by a victim he had been holding onto. We had faced an easy victim today, but because of the location, we couldn’t avoid injury either. As I stared at his wrist, Elias, perhaps feeling awkward, complained unnecessarily.

“Ugh, it’s sticky.”

“Did Vitriol get in your boots?”

“Yeah. It feels like I scooped up mud from a swamp.”

Elias said so and clung to Heike.

“Heike~ Want to trade boots?”

“Should I?”

“What do you mean, ‘should I’?!”

I let out a dry laugh and separated the two. Elias, having said it himself, was now getting angry instead.

“Right. At times like this, you should refuse firmly!”

“I’m fine with it.”

“You shouldn’t be~ If someone asks to trade boots in the future, don’t do it. I can just ride on Luka’s back.”

“Did I hear that right?”

Elias was already clinging to my back without permission. If the first-year or second-year, first-division friends saw this, they would be shocked. It was absurd, but I maintained my balance with Magic Power and warped with the two of them to the Eschett Operations Committee headquarters.

And, as soon as we arrived, we once again encountered the jewel theft case that we thought had left our hands.

“The House of Austria-Este and the House of d’Orléans are looking for Deputy Commander Lukas Askanian.”

A New Human employee told me. He was also a noble, but perhaps because he was not from a ruling family, his tension was palpable.

Of course, it’s a bewildering story even for a ruling family. The Austro-Hungarian imperial family and the French imperial family are looking for me right now. Elias’s eyes widened, and he looked back and forth between me and the employee. I have nothing to say since I don’t know anything either. I followed the employee to another room.

‘I wasn’t called alone.’

Narce, who looked like he had just finished work, with Vitriol on his clothes just like me, was sitting in the room.

A Ministry of Foreign Affairs official I had met a few times before stood up from his seat with a stiff face when he saw me.

“We’ve been waiting for you.”

“What is this all about?”

“As you may have heard, France and Austria-Hungary have requested an interrogator from our Empire.”

What is this about? I narrowed my eyes and looked at Narce and the official.

“An interrogator…? Why are they looking for me? I have nothing to do with interrogations.”

“I don’t know that much either. What is certain is that Her Highness the Crown Prince has ordered that Sir Askanian be attached to Sir Narce Farnese.”

The official began to put pressure on his eyes, as if to tell me to understand and agree quickly. It was such a rushed order that all his actions seemed frantic.

“Last night, our Prussian Investigation Bureau, for the purpose of cross-verification, sent the entry and exit records of high-ranking officials and nobles to the Austro-Hungarian Investigation Bureau. The Austro-Hungarian Empire requested investigation cooperation, pointing to the d’Orléans family, and the d’Orléans family requested help from our German Empire. They said they wanted to prove their innocence and asked us to send an investigator trusted by the Imperial Family…”

The official trailed off, looking at us.

His words seem different from what I know on the surface, but if you look into the details, they are not that different. It’s just about how it was packaged, and the answer to how my decision and Abraham’s decision are known diplomatically is that.

If you just listen to his words, it seems like Germany did nothing but send the data that everyone has once more, and Austria-Este pointed to the French imperial family out of the blue, doesn’t it? In such cases, it is reasonable to assume that there was some kind of signal under the surface.

To interpret, the d’Orléans family did not request our help. Their intention is that Germany, as the joint investigator, also has a responsibility for the French Imperial Family being named as a suspect, so they should come and listen to their innocence and clear their name.

The official continued with a look that said he couldn’t help it.

“Her Highness Crown Prince Elisabeth has ordered that Sir Narce Farnese and Deputy Commander Lukas Askanian be sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately.”

*  *  *

Don’t they protect their employees? This bitch, she’s the one in charge, yet she sells everyone out. Facing a huge diplomatic firestorm, I thought skeptically about Abraham and moved to the reception room.

Of course, Abraham never said anywhere that ‘I’ was the first to point to d’Orléans of France. Even for Abraham, there is a limit. She simply, when asked to send an investigator trusted by the Hohenzollerns, sent an investigator truly trusted by the Hohenzollerns.

‘…It seems this woman has no problem with Nicolaus Ernst trying to gain support in Prussia.’

Her words that she would help me are really being realized. Practically, the troublesome things have increased, but opportunities only show their true value when I work for them myself.

Anyway, Abraham is not the type of person who would be petty because she’s worried about the firestorm hitting her, but a person who would have called my name either because she thought that facing the d’Orléans family this time would ultimately be helpful to me, or for her own amusement. I hope it’s the former. If it’s the latter, I will go in search of a good way to hit her politically.

*Squeak—*

“The investigator from the Hohenzollerns has arrived, Your Highness.”

As soon as we entered the reception room, d’Orléans’s aide spoke. I saw the d’Orléans who was said to have entered Austria-Hungary around the time of the incident. He was a New Human with black hair and angular glasses. This is the French Emperor’s nephew.

“I am Charles d’Orléans.”

He greeted me with an ambiguous smile, perhaps because he was in a bad mood for being accused of being a thief.

“I am Lukas Askanian. It is a pleasure to meet you.”

“I am Narce Farnese.”

We shook hands with him briefly and sat down. Now I see that he had a list of words written in tiny French in front of him. It was upside down, so it was difficult for me, a foreigner, to read. Perhaps knowing that we were looking at the paper, d’Orléans picked it up.

“This is a summary of the events that His Highness Charles has compiled in case the honor of the House of d’Orléans is tarnished. You may read it if you need to.”

The interpreter translated Charles d’Orléans’s words into German. ‘Tarnished honor.’ Surprising. He’s coming on strong from the beginning. Narce smiled gently and said.

“It’s alright. I understand that it is a document that Sir d’Orléans needs.”

‘It’s not a strange document’ was omitted from the beginning of the sentence. Charles d’Orléans smiled subtly and spoke to the interpreter in French, and the interpreter gestured to Narce.

“He says you should check it.”

“……”

Narce maintained his earlier smile and looked at Charles d’Orléans.

It was understandable.

Right now, Charles d’Orléans is sending a signal that he wants to fight with us. He is clearly showing great hostility towards Germany. He’s saying, if you’re going to suspect me of being a thief, then you might as well check everything.

Narce stared intently into Charles d’Orléans’s eyes, took the paper, read it out loud, then smiled again and returned the paper. A crooked smile appeared on Charles d’Orléans’s face, which had returned to a blank expression.

I took a deep breath and opened my mouth.

“First, the final investigation of this incident is being handled by the Austro-Hungarian Empire, but what is the reason for your visit to Germany?”

“I have heard that you have investigated the theft of the Austria-Este’s jewels. To be precise, it was a joint effort between the German government’s investigation bureau and the Eszett.”

“That is correct. However, we only provided assistance to the Austro-Hungarian Empire and are not the party involved in the theft, so…”

“You could at least be the party involved in the accusation of slander.”

As d’Orléans said so with a smiling face, the interpreter immediately opened his mouth.

“His Highness Charles is expressing deep concern over the possibility that the German Empire may have shared biased investigation results that could be misleading with the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s investigation agency.”

A re-created level of interpretation followed, but we could understand Charles d’Orléans’s French directly anyway. Narce and I were at a loss for words at his direct way of speaking. To say such a thing in the middle of Berlin, and to an investigator he had brought in at the request of the German Imperial Family?

Charles d’Orléans, even though he noticed that the interpreter had paraphrased his words, did not reprimand him and continued to speak.

“Since you participated directly in the investigation, you must be well aware that the German Empire told Austria-Hungary my story. I have come here to assert my innocence.”

“……”

Narce remained silent with a faint smile on his face. Charles d’Orléans likewise remained still for a moment, then continued.

“The results of the investigation of the House of d’Orléans will be out soon. I have received a request from the Austria-Este’s investigation agency to investigate my mansion.”

“……”

“Is there any reason to refuse? Our family is innocent, and our France is also innocent. I was truly perplexed that such a thing happened when I did not even go near the Austria-Este’s mansion museum.”

A likely suspect is acting so brazenly…

It is a surprising thing. Narce, too, perhaps sensing something was off, activated his Divine Power and said.

— “This is strange.”

“You are one who uses Divine Power.”

As soon as Narce finished speaking, Charles d’Orléans said sharply. Narce answered cleanly, without a hint of surprise.

“That is correct.”

“Good. How far have you investigated this case?”

“There has not been much progress. We have examined the auction house ledgers and the entry and exit records, and that is all we have done, directly confirming the records of the Austria-Este mansion and the checkpoint using the unique ability of our Eszett mage.”

“Then do you know who first mentioned my name?”

“I do not. If you would tell us what you wish to have proven, we will help you.”

Narce replied with a calm face.

Charles d’Orléans artificially raised the corners of his mouth to form a smile, then returned to a blank expression. About 10 minutes passed, and someone knocked on the door. A French secretary with a nervous face said in a rushed voice.

“Your Highness d’Orléans, this is the summary of the investigation results from Austria-Este.”

“Hmm.”

Charles d’Orléans gestured for the paper to be passed to us without even looking at it. The secretary placed the paper in front of me and Narce and carefully left the reception room. At the end of the page, which was filled with typed letters, a sentence with a special symbol caught my eye.

[Having investigated the three mansions owned by Duke Charles d’Orléans, Duke Charles d’Orléans’s social club, and his main places of visit over the past two weeks, we have not found any evidence of suspicion in the sapphire parure theft.]

A brief smile flashed across Narce’s face. So did Charles d’Orléans.

“You don’t believe that the entire House of d’Orléans needs to be searched, do you.”

He is asking if we are going to escalate the situation. For now, since only the property of Charles d’Orléans, a relative of the French imperial family, has been searched, there is still room to restore relations with France. He’s telling us not to make a false move and to go back. That has been his meaning from the beginning. He gestured to the paper and said.

“It says ‘no suspicion’. It is a grateful result as it is an opportunity to clear my name at least a little, but I am sure many people will not believe this investigation result. Even in my opinion, there is still room for doubt. All one has to do is to hide it somewhere other than my mansion. Let’s say we investigate all of that. If I am found innocent then, the investigation agency can close the case like this, but… for me as an individual, this is a very unpleasant stigma.”

They don’t believe the investigation results. That is correct.

Whether he hid it using magic or developed a subspace magic, in the post-magic world, there are plenty of ways to conceal a crime. Not even such surreal methods, he could just pretend to be a commoner and secretly sell it on the black market. Though from the perspective of knowing that the parure he stole is an artifact, this possibility makes no sense.

The most accurate verification method is to delve into the mind.

“Of course, it is not that I do not understand the injustice of the House of Austria-Este. That is why I complied with the investigation, but there should also be an opportunity to restore my honor.”

Charles d’Orléans looked at us, who had expressions that said ‘so what’, and continued.

“The results of your interrogation are something everyone believes. Is that not so?”

“…That is correct. Since it is an investigation conducted under the name of the Hohenzollerns.”

“Then please prove it with Divine Power.”

“……”

Charles d’Orléans looked at Narce and me and said in a cool voice.

“I tried my best to understand, knowing that this is a serious theft situation, but this reasoning process that tarnishes the name of d’Orléans is truly surprising. To become the thief of that expensive legacy simply because I visited Austria after the Pentalon?”

It’s certain that the members of the Éclat Littéraire know that Archduke Maria used the parure as an artifact. However, it’s possible that other people also came to know that fact later. The timing of Charles d’Orléans’s entry and exit may have just been a coincidence.

Even though Joséphine d’Orléans was engrossed in magic studies until her last years and frequently visited her home country to interact with the members of the Éclat Littéraire, and even if Joséphine’s occult memorabilia remained only in the safe of her room in her parents’ home, the House of d’Orléans, and in the Éclat Littéraire, the House of d’Orléans may not have taken ideas from the occult magic formulas and systematized them into ‘real’ magic formulas.

This is the flaw in my reasoning. I judge this to be a low probability, but it is a fact that the possibility exists. Then is my reasoning wrong? I am always considering that possibility, but if I had been reasoning completely differently, Narce would have answered my question negatively. Even now, Narce’s expression was as ambiguous as mine.

“I am not saying that you have framed me. I just hope that you will hand over the correct records to the German Investigation Bureau.”

Charles d’Orléans gestured to Narce. Narce looked at me once, then took out his wand and stood up from his seat. His face had the same subtle expression between blankness and a faint smile as before, but I could feel a faint doubt in his eyes. Narce stroked his wand and said.

“I will do as you wish. Please close your eyes.”

Then d’Orléans sent his interpreter out and left only the three of us in the room. Narce placed his wand on Charles d’Orléans’s forehead and said.

— Enter through the narrow gate.

The strength in d’Orléans’s body was easily released.

“Did you lay a hand on the sapphire parure of Austria-Este?”

D’Orléans frowned and then slowly shook his head. He had a strange expression, as if asking what nonsense this was.

Narce held his chin and lifted his eyelids. Narce, who had been staring at his pupils for a long time, smiled.

— “You really don’t know?”

“……”

He doesn’t know.

If that possibility that I had judged to be low is true…

‘This is strange.’

— “This can’t be.”

Narce said the same thing as me. He thought for a moment and then opened his mouth.

“Do you know of the Hermetische Gesellschaft?”

I immediately knew the context in which Narce asked the question. He had come to a similar conclusion as me. Or he had read what I wanted to ask Charles d’Orléans.

Charles d’Orléans showed the same reaction as before. Narce held his chin and continued to ask.

“Have you ever studied occult magic studies even a little?”

“……”

It’s the same. Charles d’Orléans’s reaction seemed to have no connection to the occult. Narce, undeterred by the continued ‘no’ reactions, looked down at him, lost in thought.

Flip—

I took the paper that d’Orléans had been holding again and read through the words he had written down. The family’s magic, entry and exit records, the sapphire parure of Austria-Este. Only familiar words were written.

“……”

A verification method came to my mind.

“Narce.”

“Yes.”

“Could you ask him about Joséphine d’Orléans?”

“……”

It was a sudden request, but Narce nodded.

“Do you know who Joséphine d’Orléans is?”

Charles d’Orléans, still frowning, lowered his head and slowly shook it from side to side. It’s the same reaction as before, but…

The interpretation of this should be different from before.

“…Ah~”

Narce, who had been staring at Charles d’Orléans’s eyes, stroked his chin and smiled.

For a ruling family, genealogy is an essential study. People from ruling families, for whom studying their roots is both diplomacy and a virtue, cannot not know the names of their not-so-distant ancestors, especially an ancestor who was the queen of a neighboring country.

I looked at d’Orléans’s frowning brow and the paper with the collection of words he had brought and said.

“He erased his memories.”

All his memories regarding the parure.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep