Chapter 178

TL: Zimming

Returning to the lodging for the participants, I opened the bag and let out everything inside.

‘Where’s the mana stone!’

I was picking out the mana stones, when Cecilia who came from the next door saw me.

“Lady?”

“Yes?”

She looked visibly confused seeing me panicking like that. Then, soon she smiled out of the blue.

‘Is this communication device mine?’

“Cecilia, why is this here…?”

“You got a call from Dubblede.”

“Who is it?”

“All of them.”

I looked at the clock on the wall. It was currently 5PM.

“Ah, it’s almost dinner time, we need to go soon.”

“Wait, what about the call?”

“There’s His Excellency, the young masters, Dame Lea Shavanol, Chairman Noanoke and…”

As Cecilia folds her fingers one by one, I say, “Stop, stop!”

How many people are contacting me? The communication device must be on fire.

“A, alright.”

“Yes.”

“That… I don’t think they would contact you this much. They usually do it in moderation…!”

“I don’t know. Just imagine what it would be like when I’m studying abroad.”

“…….”

“Those people would probably ask the same thing over and over again anyway like a parrot.”

Cecilia was smiling, but I could see her acting quite fed up because of the constant calls.

I smiled awkwardly and took the communication device in the end. I sent a message to my dad.

Within a few seconds, the call was quickly established.

[Hello?]

[Kid? Give it to me!]

[Did the Empress Dowager bother you with useless words, Leblaine?]

[Let the lady say something…….]

[L, lady! Are you eating well?]

[It’s quite cold tonight, so please tell me that you sleep with a blanket. There is a fleece blanket in the twelfth suitcase, so be sure to…!]

The calls were extremely noisy.

‘No, why are these people acting like this!’

Cecilia was bewildered hearing the call. I glanced at her and replied to them.

“I’m doing well. They give me a lot of food, warm blanket…”

[It’s a relief.]

“Yes then please only call me once a day.”

[Why?]

“We have many things to do here.”

Cecilia nodded her head several times.

[Hmm, then we should set a time to call.]

“Once a day, only one person.”

[Leblaine, dad and us are both worried about you…]

“Should we do it once every two days?”

[Once a day, one person. Great idea, kid!]

Good.

I nodded. And now that we are on a call, I decided to talk with my family. Of course, I was absorbing mana stones with my other hand.

‘What? I used twenty mana stones, but my divine power is only added by this much?’

This is not my first time absorbing mana stone. Did I make a mistake?

‘Mana stones are so expensive, and it’s a disappointment if I could only absorb this much.’

The cost of a single mana stone is close to that of a 3-carat diamond.

‘I was almost in tears while buying it…’

This mana stone is not extracted from humans, but a very rare mineral that was located in the mountains and fields.

There are two special minerals that could be farmed, the result is mana stone for divine power and magic stone for magical power.

The divine power could be extracted by the blue spinel, and the magic power through the magic stone.

However, the method of extracting pure mana is unknown.

‘Only the temple knows.’

That’s why I had no choice but to buy those expensive mana stones.

‘Still, at least with this I won’t go crazy.’

Thank God. This will make it a little easier to find intruders.

[…So, make sure to eat dinner.]

“I know. Then Dad, I have to leave, so I’ll call you later.”

[Yes.]

[Take care, Leblaine.]

[Kid, If there’s someone bullying you, call me immediately.]

“Yes. By the way, where’s brother Johann?”

[He left again because of a job.]

“I see. Okay. Have a good night everyone!”

[Okay.]

[Yes.]

[See you soon.]

After the call was cut off, I put the communication device in my pocket and changed my clothes.

“Cecilia, I have to go out and come back. If anyone from the Imperial Palace asks where I am, please tell them that I’m playing with Adrian.”

“Yes, don’t worry.”

I left the lodging after seeing Cecilia off. Then, I headed to the garden, and the boy was already there.

“Sorry. I’m ten minutes late…”

“Don’t worry I have just arrived.”

“That’s a relief.”

I smiled and grabbed his sleeve. When I accidentally touched his hand, it was very cold. I was startled and my eyes widened.

“Adrian, you liar! You’ve been waiting a long time!”

“…….”

“How long have you been waiting?”

“… Ten minutes.”

“I don’t believe it.”

“… Fifteen minutes.”

“Adrian.”

“I came here straight from the library.”

Then he waited for over forty minutes. Winter is coming soon and the weather is very cold these days. He’s already wearing thin clothes, yet he waited for so long.

“I’m sorry…”

“I had something to do, so I didn’t realize the time passed.

As I felt guilt, the boy smiled and turned away instead.

“Let’s go now.”

“Yes…”

‘I’m really sorry.’

After Cecilia entered the Imperial Palace, I should make sure that she will take good care of Adrian.

With that in mind, I went to the library with Adrian.

The guards noticed the intruders before, so I thought the security would be tighter. On the contrary it is quieter than before.

‘No one was sent to guard by the window.’

Except for me and Adrian, there was no guard inside the library

“Why?”

I frowned and mumbled, Adrian heard me and answered.

“There is nothing missing from the library anyway, so I think they didn’t notify the Empress Dowager.”

“But there could be…huh? Wait, how did you know I came out of the library? And how did you know there was nothing stolen?”

Adrian’s hand seemed to flinch for a moment, but he acted normal again soon.

“You were being chased by the library guards. You must have been from the library, also, you didn’t bring anything with you.”

It was a bit strange, but I nodded as it was quite understandable.

“Then please do it.”

Adrian brought out his divine power and it soon took the form of a fish. Finally, Amand appeared.

He said to Amand, who was lightly moving in the air.

“Go.”

Amand walked over to the closed window, and it easily slipped through the gap.

After some time,Amand came back.

It went in front of Adrian as he frowned.

“……Five different mana.”

“Five?”

After he confirmed, I sighed.

“Should I investigate them all?”

“It’s not difficult if we narrow down the suspects. One is you, two for the knights who followed you, and the other one is the Empress Dowager. But…”

“Then there’s only one left!”

“Huh?”

“The last mana is divine power.”

“……divine power?”

“Yes, it is also very pure. There is only one person in the Imperial Palace with such pure divine power.”

“Why is it?”

“Cardinal Blasio.”

“…The Pope’s closest aides.”

“Yes.”

We looked at each other after realizing it.

***

I followed Adrian’s lead to the cardinals’ office called the Palace of Grace.

The cardinals were put there in case there’s an invasion from the imperial family and in case of an emergency.

Adrian said this week is Cardinal Blasio’s turn to be here.

The further I went into the Palace of Grace, the more convinced I was that Cardinal Blasio was the intruder.

‘The vibration from the devil’s passage is getting stronger.’

As I approached the door, I felt a powerful vibration that made my heart beat fast.

I took a deep breath and prepared to knock on the door of the cardinal’s office.

Then,

“Here we are.”

Adrian took my hand carefully and headed towards the prayer room in the center of the Palace of Grace.

No, to be more precise, a shabby warehouse attached to the prayer room.

When Adrian entered the warehouse and drew a sign in the air, the bookshelf moved naturally. And what was revealed was a small passage.

‘Secret passage.’

“Adrian, how do you…”

“The temple treated me well.”

If the temple wanted to strengthen their power, it was highly likely that they had approached Adrian in advance.

“Let’s go.”

I followed Adrian through the passage. After a while, I saw the cardinal’s office. There was nobody in the room.

‘It’s connected to the office bookshelf.’

It was time to look around.

Thump-!!

Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain in my heart. My gaze naturally turned to a box placed on the table.

As if I was possessed, I approached and opened the box.

[…ild. I…….]

“Ah…”

[Call me, child.]

A strange voice echoed in my head.

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