Chapter 186: [186] Illusion

’Was that line a little too cheesy?’ Kyle stroked his chin then shrugged.

Not like it mattered anyway, what was important was that the butler had fallen head long into his trap.

“An illusion?” Cornelius gritted his teeth. “Impossible!”

“I felt your warm blood slip through my fingers, the sensation of your gurgling blood vibrating the blade of my dagger!”

Cornelius held his face with both hands, his eyes wide as he squeezed his face, trying to wake himself up.

“Are you saying it was all an illusion? That is impossible! This is some sort of trick isn’t it? I’ve killed her but you’re trying to extract information from me? Yes, yes, that must be it…”

“Grand Illusionary Magic.” Eliron answered calmly.

“It is a high grade magic that deceives all five senses, turning them to utter folly. The things you see, the things you hear, what you feel… even your emotions are pure fallacy.”

Cornelius stared at the tiled floor. Now he was no longer sure if he was really standing atop it.

If what he had seen was fake, then what was real? Was he really here? Was the Baron really in front of him?

In the space of a few seconds, sweat soaked his shirt like he had been doused in cold water.

“…Grand illusionary magic is capable of deceiving even the very soul.” Eliron finished.

Cornelius stared at Eliron with wide eyes.

“T-that sort of magic, if it existed it would be SSS Rank. How is it possible that a wood Elven scum like you would possess such a skill?”

“Do not underestimate the wood elves, Cornelius. It will be your own undoing.” Eliron replied sharply.

Cornelius roughly scratched his head, his eyes moving from the Baron to Yennefer.

’Damn it, damn it, damn it!’ He cursed in his mind.

“No, no, this still doesn’t make sense! You told us you were going to find the materials you needed to cure the queen.”

“You told me to monitor Damian while your people kept an eye on the guards. I was part of the second plan, I was in on the hidden plan!”

The only reason he had acted so boldly was because he knew who the suspects were, he knew who they were keeping an eye on.

He was part of the circle of trust…

So why?

Cornelius froze when he finally made the realisation. The only way Eliron could have set this up all on time was if—

“Don’t tell me…”

“Precisely.” Eliron smiled. “It was a plan, within a plan, within a plan!”

Eliron paused and stroked his chin. ’Wait, did that make any sense?’

Yennefer slapped her forehead, slowly shaking her head. “Way to ruin the mood. You actually looked cool for a second.”

The Baron started at Eliron, a wary look in his eyes. ’This man… he is more cunning than he lets on.’

He wasn’t sure if it was a hobby or if it was really an important part of his pan.

He had created a first plan, involving the entire group. That way, he made it seem as though everyone was a suspect.

Then he held a second meeting, a secret one where he accused the other three as the prime suspects with absolute certainty.

But it was all a ruse.

When Cornelius left, he held the third one. All this while, he already knew who the culprit was.

But instead of accusing him and having Cornelius deny everything, he created a web of deceit to make sure he was exposed without any reasonable doubt.

Baron Pieter sighed. ’To be honest, I did not believe him when he told me Cornelius had betrayed me…’

But after witnessing his vile acts for himself, after seeing his closest aid slit his throat without remorse. There was no longer any room for doubt in his heart.

“So right from the begining…” Cornelius was vibrating with rage. “You knew I was the one.”

Yennefer waved a cookie in his direction. “Good boy, I see you’re catching up.”

Eliron picked up one of the cookies and stuffed it in his mouth while getting comfortable on the sofa.

He had not been bluffing when he said he already knew who the culprit was, and it was all because of his skill, [Divine Sinner’s Scale.]

“But that is impossible, I covered my tracks. There was no real way to know!” Cornelius barked.

Eliron shook his head and laughed. “Says who?”

“I have a skill that allows me to tell when someone is telling the truth or not. Using this skill, I was easily able to determine that it was you.”

The expression on Cornelius’ face shifted, just before he burst out in laughter.

“Hahahah! You liar! So what was it really? A lucky guess? Or did you use some other sort of trickery to get me? I never told a single lie you fucker!”

Eliron chuckled. “Did I ever say you told a lie? It was only because you told the truth that I was able to tell it was you.”

“What nonsense are you talking about?!” Cornelius asked in a lowered tone, his voice grating.

“I would never dream of betraying my lord. I am incapable of betraying him.” Eliron said.

“Those were your words were they not? Strange isn’t it?” He brought a cookie to eye level, staring at Cornelius through the hole.

“No human can ever claim to be incapable of betraying another, and yet, my skill read it as true.”

“Obviously, you betrayed Baron Pieter, so your words should have come out as false…”

“Well…” Eliron flicked the cookie into the air and caught it with his mouth. “…excepth if he wazh not the Lord you were talking about.”

“Uhum…” he cleared cleared his throat.

“Cornelius. Actually, I should probably stop using that name. You’re actually an undead aren’t you? A slave to the lord of the dead..”

The whole room became deathly quiet.

“A-an undead?” Baron Pieter’s voice trembled.

Cassie’s eyes narrowed, her eyebrows furrowing in confusion. “That isn’t possible. Cornelius has been in this family for more than fifty years, there was no way we wouldn’t—”

“Hahaha~” she was interrupted by the sound of dark, rumbling laughter. Cornelius’ body trembled as he chuckled.

“I have to say, I am truly impressed, elf. So you figured everything out didn’t you?”

Baron Pieter visibly shook. “Impossible…”

Eliron glanced at him. “That is not the Cornelius you know, Baron. It is merely a fiend wearing his face.”

A shape shifting undead that was often used by the lord of the dead for gathering information.

Cornelius stared at Eliron. The mirth vanished from his eyes, replaced by a crazed grin.

“You bastard…”

Vwooosh!

A gust of wind cut past them, an oppressive atmosphere descended on the room and eerie black mana slowly began to seep out of his skin.

“Do you think you can make a fool of me and get away with it? I’ll make sure to kill you all properly this time, no, I’ll blow up this entire estate and everyone in it!”

His grin broadened. “What do you think Baron? All your people wailing in pain when their organs are corrupted from within?”

The Baron, Cassie and Yennefer stared at a mad man spewing rubbish, unmoved by his words.

’Huh? Why do they look so unbothered?’ The undead thought when—

“Ahahahahahahahaha!” Eliron’s laughed, filling the undead with dread.

He stared at Cornelius, his azure blue eyes glowing like pits of blue fire.

“What estate?”

Drip—Drip—

The undead felt a drop of chilling cold water drift down his skin.

He slowly raised his head, shivers running down his spine.

When he looked up, the ornate ceiling was gone, and instead he was outside, under the stormy clouds above…

Lightning coursed through the sky, followed by rumbling thunder that shook the earth.

His clothes were thoroughly soaked, his body dreadfully cold.

Just how long… How long had they been outside?

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