CH 4

“Scheuer Nataly—it’s said that her family disowned her a while ago.”

“The reason…”

“The reason is that she couldn’t make her sword bloom. Considering that Erina Nataly, her younger sister, is the current head of the imperial knights, she seems to have been pushed out of the house due to a power struggle.

Captain Jess Bello stared at Raygrein with a gaunt face. Unlike him, who was exhausted from working overnight, it didn’t seem like this person had worked the same hours at all. There was no room for fatigue to squeeze in with that constantly cold expression.

A monstrous man.

Jess opened his mouth, pondering his words before speaking. “Rumor has it that the sisters weren’t particularly close.”

“Is that all?” A dry voice rang out in the office. Jess rummaged through the papers, looking at them again.

“There are some bad rumors from the social circles. Would you like me to read them?” Jess’ expression became serious as he scanned the contents of the document, but no answer came from Raygrein. Jess, who had been with him for a long time, could easily read his intention, however. Therefore, he continued in a parched voice. “First, there was circumstantial evidence that she tried to administer illegal drugs or herbs to Ms. Erina.”

“Second.”

“It seems like she was in contact with people related to Ms. Erina. It is confirmed that she made up bad rumors. The number of people she bought over to her side was about forty. They were of all ages. Would you like me to read the list?”

“Never mind. I just wondered if you came for a different reason.” Raygrein’s indifferent gaze turned to the document.

There was no further comment, so Jess cleared her throat and spoke carefully. “It’s suspicious.”

“What is?”

“Don’t you think so as well? She’s famous for being a rabid dog from Nataly in the South. There was a rumor that one couldn’t escape once targeted. Just look at Ms. Erina.”

“I see.” The answer contained no emotion.

Jess expressed his opinion again in the face of this blunt response. It was as if he were listening to the ever-blowing cold wind of the North. “Perhaps, for some reason, she’s targeting Your Grace…”

“Jess.” The cool blue eyes pierced through him, and he quickly straightened up his slack posture. Raygrein continued in a steady voice: “Do you think I’ll be beaten by the Young Lady, whose poison tactics have already been revealed in the South?” It was not a tone of reproach, irritation, or anger, but it delivered more pressure than an ordinary order.

“That’s not what I meant…”

Raygrein stopped moving and stared at Jess with dull eyes. It was a silent signal to get out, but Jess held his ground. The dry gaze soon returned to the document. In the silence of the office, it was Raygrein who broke the quiet first. “Is the vanguard not back yet?”

“…It’s been two weeks.”

“Who was in charge?”

“It was Neville.” Neville was a lifelong servant who devoted himself to Blaine. Jess had been his close friend and comrade since childhood. Originally, Raygrein would have taken the helm himself instead of Neville, but these days he couldn’t.

Recently, Raygrein’s emotions had been exhausted. Occasionally, he used to show a glimpse of emotion here and there, but now they could no longer feel any signs of them. Compared the before, the exhaustion from using his powers was more severe. Sometimes, he’d just look out with an empty gaze causing Jess to be seized by an unknown, primitive fear. Especially when that look emerged during the death of Blaine knights during subjugation.

Eyes, voice, and tone. His mannerisms were dry enough to cause a drought.

In the absence of a successor, his condition had become more precarious. As his emotions continued to disappear, he acted more and more rationally. There was barely a human aspect left to Raygrein now. It hadn’t been like that in the beginning, but the situation had caused this. How many times had he repeatedly used his emotions to the limit and poured out his full strength?

At first, when he’d come to his senses, Raygrein wouldn’t get emotional unless something happened, but soon he’d never become emotional at all.

To revive the feelings that he’d once felt, he’d need to experience something stronger and more stimulating. Jess would be glad if he could feel that way, but the last emotion that Raygrein had spoken about was ‘fatigue’.

It had been a year since even that disappeared. Unable to wait for his emotions to return naturally, he had to constantly battle demons that flooded into the North. It wasn’t a peaceful place.

Jess tried to speak calmly. “You know, he’s not a friend that would cut off contact for this long.”

“He must be dead.”

“…” In the end, Raygrein said the words that Jess couldn’t bear to. The syllables carried no emotions at all.

“Did he have a defensive mana stone?”

“…Yes.”

“If a demon eats it then it’ll be troublesome, so we need to find the body. Call a search party.”

“…Yes.” He hadn’t been able to sleep a wink because he was worried, but the conclusion came easily like this. If they could at least hold a funeral, he’d be satisfied.

“The border areas.”

“The flow of beasts is unusual. There is an abnormally large number. It’s too much to say that the demons have simply increased.”

“I’ll go myself.” Raygrein stood up with no unnecessary movement as if he couldn’t wait any longer, but Jess quickly blocked his way.

“No way.”

“It’ll be enough with my sword.”

“I know that Your Grace is extremely talented, but there’s also the matter of your emotions. It’s not a matter of whether you can choose to use your emotions or not.” Despite Raygrein’s firm eyes, Jess held steadfastly. The atmosphere of the office had become below-freezing. Raygrein’s insensitive gaze became a blade that pressured Jess, who continued while swallowing with a dry mouth. “Even if you look at me like that, I’ll oppose it. Your Grace knows that if the situation persists, Your Grace will eventually succumb to Blaine’s rules…” Without being able to finish his words, Jess’ expression twisted sadly.

Right at that moment, a noise was heard from the hallway.

Immediately, Jess pointed his sharp blade toward the wooden office door. “In Blaine, we make sure to identify ourselves first.” Jess’ sword cut through the air, but Raygrein held him back before he could strike.

“Threats are useless. Lower your sword.”

Jess slowly and suspiciously put his sword into the hilt. Then a muffled voice was heard from behind the door.

“Who is it?”

The door began slowly creeping open and red hair was seen. Soon, Scheuer was revealed. Then, raising one hand, she asked a question: “May I object?” For a moment she simply blinked at his strangely sharp gaze. Then asked again, wiggling her fingers in a greeting gesture. “I don’t suppose I have the right to vote, do I?”