Chapter : 158

“Count Lisitoel?”

At the voice calling his name, Count Lisitoel, who had been looking at the sky, turned his head.

“Viscount Loren.”

“Is there a problem?”

The investigation was facing some difficulties.

They had discovered that the mental magic cast on the mercenaries was connected to the Church, specifically the sinner, but that was as far as it went.

Above all, Golden had also stated their position that it was unfair to be framed as the culprit for the stolen item.

The fact that it was Mordegar, not Iris Viden, who had dealt with Evan was also one of the strange points.

What was the reason she acted as if she couldn’t step forward herself?

“A problem… there isn’t one.”

Count Lisitoel had not attended the party hosted by the Emperor. It was a rather unusual occurrence, but he had left his post for the sake of the investigation.

Besides, Evan wasn’t the only one from the Lisitoel family who could attend now; Theo was there, so it should be fine.

It should be fine, but why wouldn’t this anxiety go away?

“If you’re so worried, why don’t you go back to the capital.”

In the end, the reason for his anxiety and restlessness was that he had sent his son to the Emperor’s party alone.

“You have to trust your son.”

Contrary to his words, Evan’s face wrinkled at Viscount Loren’s less-than-trustworthy expression.

“Why don’t you go as soon as the party is over?”

“I’ve already left my post several times for this and that.”

After saying that, he let out a faint sigh, as if it was still bothering him.

It was the look of a father who didn’t know what to do with his anxiety.

“If you’re that anxious, why not just observe the situation from a distance.”

“…Forget it.”

Even Iris wouldn’t plot something in front of the Emperor.

What the Master of Gold had received for helping the Emperor was immunity from reprimand, not complete immunity from punishment.

“Let’s just continue the investigation.”

The threat (anxiety factor) that was Iris Viden could not be carried along forever, for the sake of the Empire’s future.

And this time was a golden opportunity to finally cut off the Master of Gold.

He must not miss this chance.

As a vassal of the Empire.

And as the father of a son.

* * *

For a moment, I was at a loss for words at the sight of His Majesty the Emperor greeting me with a smile.

“It’s been a while.”

As I put down the Sachertorte I had only managed a few bites of, the Emperor spoke.

“You may have more.”

“No, it’s alright.”

The sweet and sour cake caught my eye, but I couldn’t commit the sacrilege of eating dessert in front of the Emperor.

“So, what brings you here while hiding your presence?”

“I simply came to observe the son of my dear vassal.”

The Emperor, who was so swamped with work that 24 hours a day wasn’t enough, just came to observe?

That was a very trustworthy statement.

At my disbelieving gaze, the Emperor laughed silently and swallowed the wine on the table.

“I am simply overwhelmed with gratitude, Your Majesty.“

The Emperor had only one goal. He must have come to gauge whether I was a person who would be a threat to Lucian or not.

Remembering the Gate I had dragged Lucian to, my throat felt dry for some reason.

At this point, it wouldn’t be strange if the Emperor flew into a rage, saying I had exposed the Hero to danger….

“I did want to see with my own two eyes. Since you are involved with the people I cherish.”

The reason he specifically used the word ‘people’ was probably to include my father within that enclosure.

It was a relief that my father was a vassal trusted by the Emperor, but being subjected to unwanted vigilance was a no-go.

“Now that you’ve seen me in person, do I seem like a wicked person who shouldn’t be trusted?”

“For now, I’m not sure.“

It was an ambiguous judgment, neither good nor bad.

However, the wariness in his gaze towards me was clear.

I desperately wanted to avoid a headache-inducing battle of nerves with the Emperor.

What good could come from being on the bad side of the most powerful person in the Empire?

“I will strive to win His Majesty the Emperor’s favor.”

“Do you think that’s possible?”

“Wouldn’t it be better to have hope than to think it’s impossible?”

Above all, the Emperor would also prefer someone who acts with conviction over someone who gives up, thinking it’s impossible.

My guess must have been correct, as the atmosphere of the Emperor, who had been showing a constant look of displeasure, softened a little.

“Then I hope you will strive with hope.”

Though it will be a meaningless effort, he said. It would have been much better if he hadn’t left that last part.

Leaving behind the Emperor who had leisurely given me a big ‘screw you’ and left, I was about to grab some snacks and go to the guys when my gaze landed on something.

There was no need or reason to look there, but it was a strange pull that drew my eyes.

Beyond the wide-open doors for those yet to attend, something golden flashed by.

Even if she had received an invitation, I thought there was no way she would attend, so I quickly made my way outside.

“Theo? Where are you going?”

The owner of the hand that grabbed me was Zephyros.

I might lose her at this rate. But if Zephyros knew I was going after Iris, he would surely stop me.

“It’s crowded and chaotic. I’m going to get some rest.”

There was nothing to fault in my answer. I waited with slight tension for Zephyros’s reply.

“Don’t be gone too long. You might get in trouble for it later.”

“Yeah, I’ll be right back.”

And then I hurriedly left the party hall.

Was it because I was held up by Zephyros for longer than I expected? All traces of Iris had vanished.

“Should I have been faster?”

Or should I call Luna Albedo and have him search?

But my brief deliberation was rendered moot as I saw Iris heading somewhere beyond the railing.

I had thought that Iris might become the boss of Part 1, Ouroboros, in place of Lerwon, but the method for it was strange no matter how much I thought about it.

It was suspicious enough that Lerwon had found out the method, but if Iris had taken Lerwon’s place, there must be ‘someone’ trying to use them both.

The fact that Iris and the former Pope had formed a cooperative relationship, however brief, was also one of the strange aspects.

The former Pope despised people like Iris who clawed their way up from the bottom, and Iris was at odds with the Levian family, who boasted of having ‘sacred blood’ from birth.

For two people who were fundamentally incompatible to join hands, no matter if a common enemy like me had appeared, was unbelievable.

There was definitely someone coordinating the relationship between the two.

‘And that person is probably….’

The culprit behind all this.

Perhaps even the mastermind who let Lerwon learn how to become Ouroboros.

I absolutely had to get the truth out of Iris.

Driven by a compulsion that was hard for me to fully explain, I hurriedly chased after Iris.

What on earth was that woman’s purpose in coming to the Imperial Palace?

Surely the mastermind wasn’t someone from the Imperial Family, right?

That would make things really complicated.

Iris darted through various parts of the Imperial Palace and finally entered a certain room.

It was the moment I held my breath in front of it and was about to hide myself with the Writer skill.

“There is no one else in here but me, so come in.”

Was she talking to me right now?

“I am talking to you, Theo Lisitoel.”

Was it a trap aimed at me from the beginning?

There were no signs of magic being used… but as long as Iris knew I had the Simunan, she might have done something to deceive my eyes.

…Ha, damn it.

So I had fallen splendidly into Iris’s trap after all.

I belatedly understood why Iris’s figure had caught my eye in the first place.

“Iris Viden.”

I revealed myself in front of the door and faced Iris directly.

At the sight of Iris sitting leisurely in a chair, my body tensed up automatically.

It felt like my breath was stopping.

So this was the kind of pressure the Master of Gold could exude when revealing her full hostility. I could feel sweat trickling down the back of my neck.

“It’s been a while, Theo.”

Iris smiled with a slight eye-smile.

Ha, this is insane. It felt like I was facing a monster.

The reason I could act so relaxed in front of the Master of Gold until now was all because she was going easy on me.

Even in the suffocating tension, I answered as calmly as possible.

“It hasn’t been that long, we met just the other day.”

“True, we did.”

Iris hummed a tune while sitting on the sofa.

I really couldn’t breathe.

“You know, Theo Lisitoel. Let me ask you just one thing.”

Iris left a deep smile.

Like a brand from a hot iron, the smile was seared into my mind.

I have to run, I have to run away—

The warning lights in my head blared violently, but my body wouldn’t budge an inch.

“Do you know about <Lapis Academy>?”

<Lapis Academy>. Among the people living in the Empire, was there anyone who didn’t know that name?

As the foremost educational institution in the Empire, established by the Emperor along with the founding of the Empire, it was impossible not to know it.

But hearing that whisper, I couldn’t help but sense it.

That what Iris Viden was talking about wasn’t the educational institution <Lapis Academy>, but the game from the Republic of Korea, <Lapis Academy>.

“……”

How on earth did Iris Viden know? The question was soon written all over my face, and the woman began to laugh as if the world was tearing apart.

“Ahahahaha!!! It was real? That absurd truth was real?”

This was really dangerous.

It was to the point that it reminded me of when I met Baal.

In the intense fear, my body began to move again as if an emergency light had been turned on.

The moment I turned my body to leave, I felt a burning sensation on my wrist.

“Ugh─”

In the pain of the searing brand, my breathing became ragged, and my vision began to blur.

I have to escape… but the strength in my legs gave out, and my body collapsed onto the floor.

Goosebumps rose all over my body at the touch of Iris, who had approached me at some point, gently stroking my head.

“Thank you for the answer.”

If you’re so grateful, then let me go.

I wanted to retort like that, but I couldn’t open my eyes any longer.

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