Chapter 397
The conclusion Olivia arrived at was not one that only she could reach. Even though people were gripped by fear, those who could think calmly would be able to deduce it by looking at the list of victims alone.
However, all that was known was that the demons had attacked the merchant guild's branch, swept away the influential figures of the empire, and then vanished. There might not be any particular reason for the demons to kill the empire's power holders.
Showing that even those with great power could be targeted could indeed instill fear in people.
Therefore, Olivia's inference about the truth behind the raid on Rajeurn was something that even special investigators who did not know the truth could deduce.
"Actually, not only the influential people who died at the scene but also the escort soldiers were all quite skilled. They were not many, but they were a select few. The core forces of the demons only struck here."
"It seems so."
"But this time, there were no traces of large-scale destructive magic being used. Of course, it seems that veterans of close combat were deployed... It could either be evidence that the demons' forces were not small, or that they had grown their power since then... Considering the appearance of orcs and goblins that had not shown up until now, the latter seems more likely."
Orcs, goblins, ogres, trolls.
Olivia seemed to be contemplating the possibility that the demons had strengthened their forces just by sending out the troops they had not deployed until now.
She could not reach the suspicion that it might not be the work of the demons, but someone else's, which was perhaps natural.
After all, there was a limit to Olivia's thinking, who had been disappointed with humans. If I were not the Demon King myself, I might have clicked my tongue a few times at the news of such an event and moved on, saying that there were many suspicious things in the world.
It's because it's my business that I think about it sensitively and seriously. If it had been something happening far away, I would have heard it and let it go. Even if the story was about the Demon King.
"If the demons attacked to cause chaos in the empire, they succeeded. By sending demons not only here but also to Rajeurn, they let people know that the demons' actual power is much larger than anticipated."
A significant number of influential figures were killed, and although they did not cause any meaningful damage, a horde of demons attacked Rajeurn.
That alone is already a form of protest.
We have secured enough elite and ordinary military power. And through mass teleportation, they can appear anywhere in the empire and carry out a massacre.
I didn't actually do it, but people, as well as the investigation headquarters, would likely perceive it that way.
"What I'm curious about is this: how on earth did the demons know that so many important people would be gathered at the merchant guild's branch meeting that day, at that time?"
Information. Naturally, the majority of people couldn't have known that such a meeting was taking place. However, the demons knew about it and launched an attack.
This was because the master of the merchant guild was a traitor, and the ones who carried out the attack were the imperial royal family. It was merely conjectured that perhaps Shanafel was responsible for the task.
Where on earth did the demons obtain this information?
"Like the attack on the Holy Knights last time, I'm not sure if it's obvious, but it seems the demons know a lot about secret information."
Thanks to Lydia Schmitt's mischief, it was crucial information nonetheless. From an outsider's perspective, it's entirely possible to think that the demons know everything.
"So, first of all, I think it's best to find out why people had to gather at the merchant guild's branch like this. I can't help but suspect there might have been an insider."
What kind of meeting required people to gather in such a manner at this southern small country's merchant guild branch?
Olivia focused on that.
And as for the information leaker, she couldn't quite pinpoint them but was getting closer to Owen de Gatmora.
The more Olivia spoke, the more complicated my thoughts became.
Why on earth did Saviolin Turner send me here?
The special investigation headquarters established here was not initially set up to investigate, but rather to obscure the truth. Not all investigators may know the truth, but at least someone like Chief Scottla Kelton would.
Naturally, the investigative directives from the royal family would be to cover up the truth.
The empire intervened to prevent the Levaina royal family from investigating directly.
The conspiracy of the royal family's demon attack incident manipulation is not over; it is ongoing until the special investigation headquarters concludes the case.
So, no matter how the investigation proceeds, in the end, it will be concluded that the demons were responsible. If the Levaina royal family tries to interfere with the investigation, the empire will stop them with whatever excuse they can find, and Levaina will have no reason to refuse the empire's direct involvement.
This special investigation headquarters is an organization set up to solve the case but ultimately draw conclusions according to their own preferences. Although suspicious circumstances are everywhere in this conspiracy, once the investigative agency concludes, no further investigations can proceed. Thus, the final stage of this conspiracy is the special investigation's conclusion.
However, Olivia and I are different. Although the special investigation headquarters has the authority to refuse access from the Levaina royal family, they can't overrule both Olivia and me.
They might question the involvement of ordinary students, but neither Olivia nor I can be easily dismissed.
Soon.
We may end up digging deeper into the real truth, completely unaffected by the special investigation headquarters' directives or intentions. They cannot command us.
"We've checked everything we needed to at the scene. So let's go to the merchant guild tomorrow."
"Yes, senior."
Why was that, I wondered?
Would it really not matter if Olivia and I discovered the truth?
—---
We had decided to visit the headquarters of the Rajeurn Merchant Guild with Olivia tomorrow.
Since it was getting late, we decided to go to bed early, and Olivia and I each retired to our bedrooms.
However, there was a strong possibility that we would only raise suspicions without gaining anything from our visit. In that case, I couldn't predict what Olivia's next move would be.
After all, I already knew the truth and could dig deeper into it. There was no need to dig elsewhere. Instead of going straight to Rajeurn, we could go up the Royal Road to meet Owen de Gatmora.
A very important meeting, attended by influential figures from the South, had taken place. What was it about? Why wasn't the guild master, you, present at such an important event?
By starting with such questions and weaving Owen into the narrative, I might not be able to make him confess the truth, but I could at least capture a suspicious person.
The problem was that very situation.
The royal investigative agency was supposed to uncover a massive conspiracy within the royal court. But such a thing simply wouldn't happen.
Even if Olivia discovered the truth, she wouldn't be acknowledged. Instead, her hatred towards humanity would only accumulate.
That's why I didn't want Olivia to find out the truth or believe in the manipulated truth.
That's why I was curious about Saviolin Turner's intentions. Why had she sent me here to help Olivia? Of course, it seemed clear that she had sent me here because the place wasn't dangerous.
I could probably add one more achievement to my record: assisting in the investigation of the Demon King's attack site. That alone would be a significant accomplishment, as I had been active in the special investigation headquarters for the Demon King's attack, so it wouldn't be a bad thing.
Should I call it a parachute-style career building? With little risk and plenty of merit, I could easily find and visit such places, and my reputation would naturally grow. The Empire would definitely not want me to be in danger, so they would want me to visit such places.
Was it difficult to avoid becoming a hero created by such circumstances?
As I lay on the bed in the guest room, my thoughts became complicated.
I thought it was fortunate that Olivia hadn't been deeply hurt by the engagement talk.
I went out to the living room to drink some water.
"Uh... huh..."
Beyond the closed door of Olivia's bedroom, I heard a very faint, sobbing sound.
Right.
There was no way she could be okay.
Because, after all, she was crying alone.
A person who always wore a smiling mask was now only wearing an angry mask. 𝘣𝑒𝑑𝘯𝘰𝘷𝑒𝘭．𝑜𝘳𝘨
Olivia's nature of not wanting to show her struggles to anyone never changed.
I too found this situation hard to bear, so I tried to believe only in what I could see.
Even though I knew Olivia was always like that, smiling.
I tried to believe that she was genuinely happy.
"Uh... uh..."
What should I have done differently?
I...
I couldn't know anything.
"Spying on someone crying... that's pretty low."
Naturally, Olivia, who had keener senses than me, heard the sound of me opening my bedroom door and spoke from beyond the door.
“Even if you don't come and embrace me, you could at least pat my back. You fool.”
As I stood there motionless, I heard Olivia's scolding from beyond her bedroom door.
After some hesitation, I opened the door to Olivia's room.
It was surprisingly unlocked, as if it was only natural.
As I entered the room, I saw Olivia lying in bed with her eyes wide open, wiping tears from her eyes.
"What if you really came? I've been crying."
Olivia said, covering her eyes.
"Well... what do you want me to do?"
As I stood there, not knowing what to do, Olivia lowered her arm that covered her eyes.
She said she'd been crying, but I couldn't really tell.
In the darkness, and under the moonlight streaming in through the window, all I could see were slightly swollen eyelids.
"Hey, you're not going to marry me, are you?"
"..."
"You won't even give me false hope. I'm really hurt."
Olivia said that, and then propped herself up slightly, leaning her back against the wall behind her bed.
She wasn't looking at me.
With her lips pouting, Olivia gazed at the moonlit window.
"Should I just marry the Demon King?"
"...What?"
"Since you won't look at me for the rest of your life, I'll marry the Demon King and stab a knife into your neck. You evil bastard."
My senior...
Actually... that's me too…
—---
Olivia might have said it as a joke, but it couldn't be said that there was no sincerity in her words. I couldn't tell if she really intended to side with the Demon King. However, wasn't it that she just wanted to know whether the Demon King was truly an evil being, as perceived by the world, so she came all the way to the Kingdom of Levaina?
Of course, it was funny that she talked about marrying the Demon King, whom she had never seen before, as if it were a real possibility. What would she do if the Demon King turned out to be a genderless monster?
...No.
It's a bit scary to think that Olivia might say it doesn't matter if she's serious.
The next day.
"I don't know the details either."
Upon arriving at the Levaina Merchant Guild's branch, Olivia and I were able to hear that story from the branch manager of Levaina.
"It was a major project driven by the guild, but in such cases, information is not shared with lower branches like this one, and only the location is provided. It's not such a rare occurrence..."
Judging by his expression, it was clear that the Levaina Merchant Guild's branch manager knew nothing. Olivia stared intently at the manager's face before nodding her head.
"I see."
Seeing her accept the situation so easily, it seemed that Olivia didn't have much hope of getting any information here either.
Each of the victims was an important figure from various sectors of the empire. Moreover, since it was originally an important project of the Merchant Guild, it was natural that information wouldn't be spread in many places. Olivia judged that there was nothing particularly suspicious about the words of the Levaina Merchant Guild's branch manager, and I felt the same.
Olivia asked the branch manager a few more questions, but she couldn't obtain any crucial clues.
Only one thing was important.
The Merchant Guild's headquarters had ordered that the branch be vacated for a specific period of time.
The branch in Rajeurn had simply followed the order from the headquarters.
"Let's go, Reinhardt."
"Alright."
With that, Olivia left the Rajeurn branch, seemingly satisfied.
Outside the Merchant Guild's branch, Olivia touched her cheek with her index finger and tilted her head, feigning a cuteness that was actually quite adorable, and somehow annoying.
"It's odd that they rented the place for a specific period rather than a specific date..."
"It could be that the meeting took place over several days. Even if it wasn't, they would have had to prepare the place for the distinguished guests, with cleaning and other arrangements."
"Hmm, I suppose so. I've never seen such a fussy bunch as those authors who deal with such trivial matters."
Olivia had likely had many encounters with the high and mighty, so it made sense to her that when people of high social standing gathered, preparations would have to be made not only for a specific date but for a certain period of time.
"There were quite a few like that among the clergy, too."
"...Even among the clergy?"
"Yes, some high priests would insist on having their prayer space arranged exactly as they desired, even going so far as to decorate an entire carriage like a chapel and dragging it around with them. There were also those who would not allow any priests below a certain rank to hear their sermons, claiming that they were not for the ordinary faithful. People tend to think of themselves as a level or two higher than the position others perceive them in. Should I say they sanctify themselves? It's quite amusing."
The lingering laughter in her words revealed Olivia's contempt for humanity.
"Low places are ugly because they're low, high places are ugly because they're high, and I'm stuck in the middle of it all."
The ugliness stemming from ignorance and vulgarity, and the ugliness arising from knowledge and nobility.
It seemed that Olivia believed that humans were inherently ugly.
"In that regard, my foster father was a decent clergyman. He was honest, at least. The problem was that he was insane."
Now disillusioned with everyone in the world, Olivia seemed to think that her foster father, who had followed his faith to the point of madness, was at least a bit better than the others.
Riverrier Lanze had attempted to establish an empire independent from the existing one, founding the Five Great Holy Churches, and had intended to enthrone Olivia as the first Holy Empress.
Riverrier Lanze, facing death, finally realized that the gods had never chosen him and accepted his fate. He understood that he was receiving the judgment of Tu'an because the one who killed him was Tu'an's champion.
Olivia looked up at the distant sky and let out a bitter laugh.
"I'm just rambling. Let's head back to the main road for now. I have a feeling the Master of the Merchant Guild might know something."
"...Alright."
I knew who I had to find, knowing the truth, but it was inevitable that Olivia would naturally think along the same lines.
Would it really be alright for Olivia to meet Owen?
If Olivia were to learn the truth, she would inevitably be in danger. Although it wasn't well known, she was ultimately a champion of the same order as me. However, the empire was unaware of this.
I would be safe, but could Olivia be safe too? But the empire, which begrudged the loss of even a single person, would not want to sacrifice Olivia, who was currently much stronger than me or Ellen. If they found out that Olivia shared Tiamata with me, they would be even more reluctant.
As I pondered this, I headed towards the warp gate of Rajeurn.
“It's all their fault!”
“They brought the demons!”
“Kill them! Kill them!”
There was a commotion in one of the squares in Rajeurn.
"What's going on?"
"Exactly."
People were bustling about, and some extremely angry individuals were pushing against the guards, only to be pushed back in return.
“Kill the followers of the Devil's Religion!”
“Kill the heretics!”
“Summon the Inquisitor!”
"The Devil's Religion...?"
Olivia's expression hardened, and so did mine.
A word that had been forgotten for a long time, but had a clear place in our minds.
The Devil's Religion.
That name echoed throughout the center of Rajeurn.
—---
In the middle of Rajeurn's square, someone was being accused of being a follower of the Devil's Religion.
Back off! I said back off!
The person who appeared to be in charge of the guards tried to be firm, but the angry mob continued to push against them. Olivia and I could see people inside the circle formed by the guards.
Initially, I didn't know what the Devil's Religion was, so I couldn't identify anything about the people that would indicate their affiliation.
They just seemed like ordinary people. Young men, women, the elderly. Even children were among them.
No matter how hard I looked, they just seemed like ordinary people.
Soon, the Inquisitor of the Five Holy Religions will come to verify whether these people are followers of the Devil's Religion through proper procedures! Those who use private means will be severely punished under the law of Levaina!
How many people have heard them gathering together and whispering about the Demon King!
If those who stay locked up in their homes, worshiping suspicious idols aren't followers of the Devil's Religion, then what are they!
Kill them! Kill them! The Demon King is coming again!
If those people bring the Demon King back to Rajeurn, will you take responsibility!
Olivia's expression turned icy as she looked at the crowd.
"It seems that when faced with an incomprehensible situation, they've decided to hate those around them that they can understand."
"..."
"Isn't it interesting, Reinhardt?"
Olivia looked at me and smiled.
"The Demon King killed people, but humans are trying to solve something by killing each other."
In the past, Olivia might have helped those who were being persecuted.
They could be followers of the demon god, or they might not be.
Regardless, one event leads to countless others.
The people of Rajeurn, the capital of the Kingdom of Levaina, trust their own instincts rather than the investigators sent by the empire.
"Those scoundrels will summon the demon race again!"
Even if they are true followers of the demon god, the Demon King has no reason or justification to respond to their call.
How could those pathetic beings, no different from the rest of you, possibly summon the Demon King to this remote corner?
But people believe it.
Because they believe it.
-"Oh, great divine beings, please take a look at us..."
Considering the act of killing them as justice, they believe they are doing good deeds themselves.
As a result, there was no sign of awareness that this was murder.
Olivia laughed at the humans.
I didn't want to laugh or despise this spectacle.
"It's sad."
At my words, Olivia chuckled as if she found it unexpected.
"Surprising, Reinhardt. I didn't know you had such compassion for humans."
"Life is precious not because it is inherently good."
"…Hah. Is that so?"
It seemed as if the words the Demon King and the Holy Maiden should say were reversed. It was just a fleeting thought.
Olivia no longer laughed at the horrible scene after hearing my words.
"Let's go. This is unpleasant."
However, there didn't seem to be any desire to intervene in that scene.