Chapter 85

I felt something like the sound of wind brush past my ears.

Next came the pain. A tingling, throbbing ache, dull yet intense enough to make me break out in a cold sweat, washed over me in waves.

Even taking a breath was a struggle. My eyelids felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, but I managed to lift them. A faint light pierced my vision.

The last thing I remembered came flooding back.

The loosened chains, Fel raising his sword to kill Lerwon—

“Sunb—”

I tried to get up from the bed, but my legs gave out and I tumbled onto the infirmary floor.

Even a minor pain that would normally be nothing felt excruciating, as if my whole body was on fire.

“Keuuuk.”

“Hey!!!”

Hearing the commotion, Zephyros rushed over.

With his help, I finally managed to sit up on the bed, but in my urgency, I tried to get up again. Zephyros stopped me, shouting.

“Sunbae is safe! The professors came before the Sword of Doctrine could kill him!!!”

Only then did the tension finally leave my body. As the tension faded, pain naturally followed.

“Ugh, it hurts.”

“Of course it hurts! You pushed your body too hard again!! You were out for three whole days.”

“Was I…?”

“The Sword of Doctrine, Ferdiel Levian, is being held at the Academy, and Sunbae is recovering in the intensive care unit.”

“That’s… a relief.”

So lie down quietly.

Zephyros’s eyes threatened me, so I had no choice but to lie back down on the bed.

“Can you explain the situation in more detail?”

“You’re also severely— no, never mind.”

Zephyros knew that if he didn’t explain, I would force myself up to find Lerwon, so he began his explanation.

“The professors are taking turns watching over the Sword of Doctrine, but a cardinal from the Church is supposed to come today with Sir Hartain Ignos.”

“Ah, this is getting complicated.”

“Even the Academy can’t hold the Sword of Doctrine forever, so he’ll probably be released within two days at the most.”

“Because Sir Ignos is here?”

“Yeah. The mad dog of the Church has come.”

If Hartain and Ferdiel returned to the Church as things stood… they would accuse Lerwon of heresy.

Ferdiel had no loyalty to me that would make him cover for me, so I might even be implicated and branded a heretic alongside him.

That meant now was the time to draw attention.

“Zephyros, I have a plan.”

“Let’s hear it.”

I calmly explained the plan that had just popped into my head.

As Zephyros listened, his face turned deathly pale in an instant.

“You, you could really die if you’re not careful.”

“My life’s already on the line the moment I was found out.”

Right now, rather than playing it safe, taking a gamble, even a dangerous one, was the only way to survive.

As expected, Zephyros’s face contorted, unable to understand.

“You think I’m crazy?”

“You think you’re not?”

I chuckled like an old man at his sharp retort.

Yes, it was a situation where he couldn’t help but think I was crazy.

“The worst part is that you’re not the type to listen even if I try to stop you.”

Man, he really has a way with words. Can’t argue with that, though.

“I’m counting on you. We have to make the first move.”

“You son of a bitch.”

“Thanks for the compliment.”

I turned my head to look out the window.

In contrast to the current situation, the sky was disgustingly bright.

* * *

Cardinal Aurelio was feeling both annoyed and irritated.

“Caught up in Academy affairs and detained by professors. They’ve really made a mess of things.”

“I am deeply sorry, Your Eminence.”

The only thing that pleased him was that the Pope’s guard dog, a dog bred and trained for security purposes) was, for once, obediently bowing his head in apology.

If it hadn’t been for that, Aurelio would never have stepped in, no matter how much the Church’s prestige was on the line.

“If it weren’t for something like this, I would have visited with a joyful heart. It’s a shame.

My name is Aurelio V. Nobel.”

“I must thank the Cardinal for making such a valuable trip. I am Evan Lisitoel.”

A strange atmosphere flowed between the two as they shook hands.

As Evan casually smiled and offered Aurelio a seat, Aurelio also sat down in the chair as if it were a daily routine.

“The Sword of Doctrine, who had been back for less than a week, was absent again.

I heard he was at the Academy, so I came to retrieve him myself.”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t know who you’re talking about.”

Evan silently drank the tea his assistant had brought.

At the thick-skinned, shameless remark, Aurelio barely maintained his composure.

“I was told he is called Fel at the Academy.”

“Fel was the Sword of Doctrine?”

Evan looked at Aurelio as if surprised, setting down his teacup.

Aurelio, gritting his teeth, truly, sincerely disliked the arrogant mage before him.

“That’s right. If you don’t want to make an enemy of the Church, you’d be wise to return him quietly, no?”

For that reason, he made no effort to hide his hostility.

What he wanted was simple and clear.

The return of the Sword of Doctrine, who had been missing until now, and punishment for daring to detain a precious Cardinal of the Church.

Since Aurelio had taken the heavy step of coming here, he had to exact that price.

“My apologies to the Church, but it seems we cannot hand Fel over.”

“Do you know what you are saying, Count?”

“I’m sorry, but isn’t it possible that Your Eminence Aurelio is exaggerating in order to take ‘Fel’ away?”

“Are you saying a Cardinal of the Church is lying!!”

Unable to contain his anger, Aurelio slammed his hand on the tea table. Thump!

Despite his anger, Evan was unfazed, simply continuing to leisurely drink the tea his assistant had brought.

“The Academy protects its students. Therefore, we cannot send the Academy student, ‘Fel,’ to the Church of Light, with which he has no connection.”

It was a conclusion reached after a meeting among the professors.

Fel was a student of the Academy. Even if his true identity was Ferdiel L. Levian, as long as he was ‘Fel,’ the Academy would not abandon a student.

“Are you not afraid of the Church of Light, Count?”

“I am merely doing my duty as a professor.”

“I heard that one of the individuals involved in the incident, ‘Theo Lisitoel,’ is not being detained, but is in the infirmary… What an unfair treatment. Ah, perhaps it’s to be expected.

Having Count Lisitoel as a father, it wouldn’t be strange for him to receive special treatment.”

If he was going to play that card, Aurelio had his own methods.

The target of his attack was not Evan, but his son, Theo Lisitoel.

“In the case of student Theo Lisitoel, he is resting in the infirmary due to serious injuries.

Likewise, once he regains consciousness, he will be interrogated to ascertain the situation.”

Evan answered without a single waver.

“Detaining him in his current state could be life-threatening.”

Even if his insides were churning like molten lava, he didn’t show it.

He simply stated with cold eyes that the principles of the Academy were still intact.

“Prioritizing his treatment in the infirmary is also in accordance with the Academy’s rule of protecting its students.”

“What a fine excuse.”

There were no flaws to pick at. As he was a Cardinal of the Church, provoking Evan any further here would be crossing a line.

“In any case, this incident involves a demon summoning and heresy. The Heretic Inquisitors will handle the cleanup.”

“No, the Academy has already begun the cleanup. If you request to share data through the proper legal procedures, we will comply.”

Without a single waver, he spoke so eloquently.

Something was needed to break this stalemate.

He wanted to negotiate for an interview at least, but seeing this stubborn attitude, even that seemed difficult.

What should he do?

Aurelio tapped his fingers on his knee.

Just then, the door to Evan’s office flew open with a loud noise.

A woman in the armor of a Heretic Inquisitor bowed deeply to Aurelio and Hartain.

“Glory to the God of Light!”

“What is it?”

“Breaking news from the Church!”

Breaking news from the Church?

Evan turned his head to look at the Heretic Inquisitor.

She hesitated, opening and closing her mouth, before finally shouting loudly.

“Zephyros of the Nevera family has accused theo of the Lisitoel family of heresy!!!”

* * *

「You will accuse me of heresy.」

My demand was simple.

The moment Ferdiel accuses Lerwon of heresy, this game is over. Lerwon will be executed as a heretic, with no way out.

To prevent this, I needed a very sweet bait, even if for a fleeting moment.

I chose myself as that bait, and now was the time to move secretly to silence him.

“Ferdiel.”

I copied the magic Ferdiel had used to hide my appearance and slipped into the room where he was being held.

It was a bit scary coming in through the window, but hey, if it worked, it worked!

“Young Master… no, Theo Lisitoel. What on earth were you thinking, protecting a monster?”

I smiled awkwardly at Ferdiel’s question and changed the subject.

“I heard you were being held, but I’m glad it’s not a dungeon.”

“Don’t change the subject.”

“Well, since you’re the Sword of Doctrine, they probably can’t treat you too harshly, right?”

I sat down in front of Ferdiel with a laugh.

His gray eyes were filled with vigilance and hostility.

Even though it was a natural reaction, my mouth felt bitter for some reason.

“Hide what happened with Sunbae.”

“I’m sorry, Young Master. When it comes to the matter of the monster, I have no intention of listening, no matter how much you ask.”

“You’ll have no choice but to comply.”

I picked up the hourglass on the table and turned it over.

The grains of sand inside began to fall, one by one.

“Actually, right now, I’ve been accused of heresy, you see?”

“What…?”

“Wow, Wind Masters really are fast.”

Two hours should be enough for the letter accusing me of heresy to be delivered.

I think they’ll probably storm the infirmary within 30 minutes to transport me, the accused.

“The Pope hates my father, right?”

He didn’t deny it.

Because Evan was a mage who had deciphered holy magic.

“He’ll definitely see this as an opportunity and try to tear me apart.

Fel, no matter how much you shout that the real heretic is Lerwon, there’s no way the Pope will listen.”

Even if he did, he would judge me as the one to be dealt with first.

“The Pope will use any means necessary to make you a heretic, Young Master.”

“Then I just have to use any means necessary to get out of it.”

Even if I have to walk a tightrope, if it can keep Lerwon safe, then it’s a gamble worth taking.

“So I’m asking you, Fel.”

I looked Ferdiel straight in the eye.

For the first time since I entered this room, his eyes wavered.

“Just one month. Within that time, Sunbae will shake off his curse and return to being human.

See it for yourself with your own eyes, and wait.”

“How can you… be so sure?”

“Because I will make it happen.”

At my firm declaration, Fel’s mouth gaped open.

“Fine, have it your way.”

It was a declaration of surrender.

“Really?”

“I’ll give you exactly one month, just as you requested, Young Master.”

Ferdiel let out a smirk.

“Turn Lerwon back into a human within that time, and clear your name of heresy.

Go ahead and do both.”

It’s a difficult task, but not impossible.

At that fact, I opened my eyes and, for the first time, smiled a smile of joy.

With this, I’ve at least met the minimum condition.

Well then, I guess it’s time to start the real game.

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