Chapter 37: A Life as Insignificant as a Fly

The magical investigator, Yuren, turned his gaze toward Perda. There was suspicion in his eyes.

“Excuse me, Regent, but could you tell me where you obtained this?”

Perda replied.

“It was found in Count Consilus’s territory. It seems a foreigner hid his identity until the end and ended up being captured by the guards.”

“That heretic…”

“He bit his tongue and died before we could even interrogate him. Just in case there was any spell that would activate after death, we executed him directly by cremation.”

Burning the unidentified corpse was precisely for that reason.

“Well done. Those filthy black mages do not die cleanly even after death.”

The investigator clicked his tongue.

It was a sign of frustration at not being able to further investigate the demon followers.

However, the answer had been perfect, so there was nothing to criticize.

“But even so, for there to be someone capable of handling a demonic language of this level… it seems there is someone more dangerous than we thought within the Empire.”

“Is it something serious?”

Olivia asked, and Yuren nodded.

“Yes. From the level of understanding of the characters, it is undoubtedly a black mage who has reached at least the 5th circle.”

“And what level is that?”

“I am a 5th circle master mage, but a 5th circle black mage can practically be considered a 6th circle archmage. He can draw mana from hell and use it as his own.”

“6th circle? Then… a level comparable to the supreme archmage…?”

Indeed, most black mages who had made a name for themselves on the continent, both in the past and present, were of the 5th circle.

That was because, by paying a great price, they obtained power that surpassed the 6th circle.

‘Like the shadow grimoire I am going to obtain.’

In case it revealed his true intentions, Perda quickly pushed that thought aside.

“If we do not act quickly, the Empire will fall into great chaos.”

“That cannot be…!”

Olivia bit her lower lip, horrified.

“A black mage of that level… it should be difficult even for him to enter the Empire. How is it possible that he is inside the capital?”

“That… I do not know. No matter how good the surveillance system is, it is not perfect…”

The investigator also shook his head repeatedly, confused.

“Even so, if it is a follower capable of using a language of this level, he should have been detected long ago…”

The Empire’s surveillance always prioritizes eliminating the greatest threats.

It may overlook minor things, but if a 5th circle black mage had entered, an emergency alarm would undoubtedly have sounded.

He could not find an explanation.

It was logical.

‘A mage of that level should not be in the imperial capital.’

A follower capable of using such a demonic language would normally choose to hide in a village, not in the capital.

And the origin of that demonic language written on the paper?

None other than Morida.

Within her mind was the Universal Library, and among its contents there was even a demonic language dictionary.

She simply translated and wrote according to what Perda ordered.

‘Even if it is a fabricated test…’

The demonic language is real, and its content is also real.

Black mages really were hiding in the sewers.

And it was also true that they were preparing an attack in the Empire.

***

The Empire’s underground sewers are vast.

The founding emperor, worthy of being called a great man, placed special emphasis on creating an appearance befitting his greatness, and one of those places was precisely the underground system.

The underground was even more complex than the surface of the city.

However, constructions do not always turn out as planned.

‘For example, underground reservoirs to prevent flooding.’

But since they required a lot of money and the climate did not favor flooding, the works were halted.

In those cases, instead of filling in the excavated land, they would usually build walls and leave them abandoned.

There were many such spaces within the Empire’s sewers.

And Perda knew one of them.

A place that had slowly been forgotten in the Empire’s maps.

And which, having been cast into the shadows, the rats found as a new refuge.

‘A meeting point for rebels planning to attack the capital.’

Attacking exposed targets was common, but entering the sewers directly like today was rare.

There, the knights and the magic unit surrounded the area and prepared for an assault.

Everything had to be resolved quickly.

A mistake could cause casualties, and at that moment, the battle would turn into chaos for the black mages.

The magic unit prepared silence spells and concentration interference, while the knights moved to eliminate the weakened mages.

The advance team, which moved along touching the wall, suddenly stopped and pointed at a spot.

“Here. Behind this wall there is a space we can enter through.”

“Good, fall back. Howard.”

“Yes!”

A massive knight with a war hammer stepped in front of the wall.

Even through his plate armor and chainmail, his bulging muscles were visible.

He raised the hammer and swung it forcefully.

“Hup!”

Boom!

With a single strike, the wall collapsed.

“Kyaaak!”

“W-what is this?”

“What’s happening? What’s going on?”

The confused voices from inside mixed into chaos.

And more chaos had to be added to that chaos.

“In the name of the light!”

“In the name of His Majesty the Emperor!”

“Long live the Emperor!”

“Oh light!”

With the shouts of the knights, they burst inside.

What followed were screams.

“Aaaagh!”

“Kyaaaah!”

Screams without distinction of gender.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Then, explosions.

The sound of metal clashing and something tearing filled the place.

Perda observed everything from outside, waiting.

Only chaotic sounds could be heard, but he did not need to see to know who had won.

The commander of the assault group came out first and reported to the magical investigator Yuren and the captain of knights.

“Sir! No casualties in the knight order! We eliminated 45 who resisted and captured 12.”

“And those who escaped?”

“One! From his position on the platform, he appears to be the leader.”

“Idiots! How could you let the most important one escape? The enemy could be a 5th circle mage!”

“We are sorry! But he was unable to take his belongings, so he will not be able to escape for long.”

“Blah, whatever. What objects did he have?”

“They are inside.”

There were one or two greedy knights, but even so no one recklessly touched the belongings of a black mage.

No matter how valuable they were, if they were cursed, they would lose their minds.

“I see? Then it is fine.”

The magical investigator smiled in relief.

“How good.”

Perda, who had been observing everything, stood up from his place.

“May I enter as well?”

“Of course. This way, please.”

After all, he was the regent and the one who had given the warning, so he deserved proper treatment. Yuren opened the way, and Perda entered first.

The scene of the knights’ massacre was there, exactly as it was.

Perda observed one by one.

‘There are black mages, but most are simply poor.’

Tents made from worn-out cloth, deformed pots and spoons.

People who, unable to eat even a proper meal, had joined the black mages.

Because at least they were given food.

‘Although there is also a reason for that.’

There is no soul more valuable than that of someone who finds hope in the abyss of despair.

All of them were destined to become sacrifices.

Perda walked over the corpses toward the leader’s room.

As befitted the leader of that underground depot, it was relatively well arranged, and there were several magical items.

“There is a forbidden book here.”

Yuren said upon seeing the book on the desk.

The cover, made of human skin, looked as if someone were trapped inside the book, screaming.

Perda recognized it instantly.

‘Gamigin’s necromancy.’

Gamigin, the demon of immortality and legions.

It was an object used by necromancers created through his magic.

In fact, the leader who possessed that book would reach the 5th circle and launch a rebellion in the Empire.

‘But it would fail.’

Perda recalled what they did.

When they began the rebellion, they accumulated corpses in the sewers and made them explode, causing chaos.

Many people died, and with those dead they formed an army of the undead that ravaged the city.

It was a resource that could have caused the collapse of the Empire, but Perda did not like it.

‘Above all, they are useless.’

Creating corpses through explosions was fine, but their strategy was too naive.

First, they greatly underestimated the strength of the knights.

Second, they attacked the civilian population.

That did not create chaos, but instead strengthened unity and hatred toward the demon followers.

In other words, the blow they struck to break cohesion only reinforced it.

‘So it is better that they do not exist.’

If they cannot weaken the Empire, they are of no use.

That is why it was better to eliminate the problem at its root.

“Sir! What should we do with the captured demon followers?”

They were all hungry and demoralized. They looked at Yuren with pleading eyes.

But Yuren observed them with contempt.

“Take the rest away. They must be transferred to the imperial dungeon as if they were sacred relics. The fate of those who reject the light of the Emperor and fall into black magic must be clearly shown.”

“Yes, sir!”

A merciless judgment.

The poor, terrified, began to beg desperately.

“W-we are not loyal to demons! We were just hungry!”

“Please, give us a chance! In the name of the light, have mercy!”

“Silence! How dare you invoke the name of the light while being heretics?!”

The one who spoke was struck.

“At least save my child! I beg you, sir!”

A woman holding a baby in her arms pleaded.

Yuren knew.

He knew they were not true demon followers.

That they had only made that decision out of hunger.

“What are you waiting for? Get them out of here!”

But there were too many citizens of the Empire, and there were more reasons to kill them than to let them live.

‘Insignificant lives, like flies.’

If they were discovered, they would die at the hands of the knights. And if they stayed there, they would end up dead by the black mages.

Trapped by forces beyond them, Perda could do nothing for them.

The magical investigator smiled as if nothing mattered.

In his hand he held the necromancy grimoire.

Normally, black magic books are wrapped in golden silk for transport.

But Yuren did not do that.

On the contrary, he caressed the human skin of the cover, enjoying its texture.

Then, noticing Perda’s gaze, he coughed awkwardly.

“It must look like I am fascinated by black magic, right? Haha…”

“A little.”

“Haha, how embarrassing. It’s just that… I am happy to be able to add one more achievement to my already scarce record.”

As if realizing, he completely covered the book with silk.

Then he thanked Perda.

“Thanks to your warning, Regent, today the citizens of the Empire will be able to sleep peacefully.”

“It’s nothing. I also do it for my own benefit.”

“What benefits the Empire is good, haha.”

It was clear he was trying to brush it off.

“Then, is there nothing you can give me in return?”

Perda asked with intention.

“Something I can offer you? Of course!”

If it were someone else, he would have dismissed them with a reward or threats.

But this was the queen’s fiancé and also a regent.

He had to give him something befitting his status.

After thinking for a moment, Yuren spoke.

“By the way, you are also a mage, aren’t you, Regent?”

“That’s right.”

“Then… shouldn’t we take you to a place that is like an amusement park for mages?”

The investigator proposed.

“What do you think about visiting the sealed warehouse?”

The first step of Perda’s plan had finally begun.

***

The Empire’s warehouse is located beneath the imperial palace.

It is the most heavily guarded place on the continent, as one must pass through countless guards and alarm magic to reach it.

If Perda had not gone accompanied by the magical investigator Yuren, he would never have been able to set foot in that place.

The guardian of the warehouse saw Yuren, smiled, and greeted him.

“Sir! Magical investigator! Thank you for your work as always.”

“You work hard every time as well. I bring confiscated objects, so we must enter the sealed warehouse. Register it.”

“Understood. But excuse me… and the person accompanying you…?”

The young man with gray hair and blue eyes standing beside him remained silent, with his hands behind his back.

Yuren answered in his place.

“Hmm, this is the fiancé of the queen of the eastern frontier. Although he is a regent, he is still responsible for that region.”

“Ah… so that’s it?”

“So you know how to proceed. Understood?”

“Yes, of course. I will omit him from the record.”

He closed the book without leaving any trace.

“He is a very flexible young man.”

“Haha, of course. In this line of work, if you’re not flexible, you don’t survive. Besides…”

Yuren smiled.

“Being flexible is not a bad thing.”

Shortly after, Perda and Yuren moved to another room.

In front of them was a stone door, and at its center, an embedded crystal sphere.

“It’s called the Sphere of Truth. Do you know it?”

“Isn’t that the object that only emits a green light when you answer its questions correctly?”

“That’s right. A valuable artifact passed down since ancient times.”

The sphere recognized their presence and began to glow with a blue light.

Yuren, as if accustomed to it, approached and placed his hand on it.

As soon as he did, a voice echoed throughout the room.

— Do you swear not to follow demons nor obey their will?

The voice, deep and solemn, sounded like that of a god passing judgment.

Yuren responded.

“I swear it.”

— Do you swear that your entry into this warehouse is not due to personal desires?

“I swear it.”

— Do you swear loyalty to the Empire?

“I swear it.”

After the three questions, the smoke inside the sphere swirled.

Shortly after, the blue light turned green.

— Verified.

Yuren withdrew his hand and looked at Perda.

“Could you place your hand here?”

“Do I have to do it as well?”

Perda knew, but pretended not to. It was more natural that way.

“Of course. If you enter this room and are not verified by the Oath Sphere, you will not be able to pass. Or perhaps…?”

Yuren narrowed his eyes.

It was the same look he gave to demon followers.

“Do you have something to hide?”

Perda shook his head.

“As I am quite an ambitious person, I fear I might fail the second question.”

“Haha, don’t worry. As long as you’re not thinking of taking something from here at all costs, there will be no problem.”

It was still a rudimentary method, but effective.

‘He had done it before.’

He had tried about three times, but all had ended in red, failing.

In the end, he simply destroyed it and entered by force.

Perda was that kind of person.

Someone full of personal desires, who also felt no loyalty toward the Empire.

And yet, fully aware of that, he calmly placed his hand on the Sphere of Truth.

— Do you swear not to follow demons nor obey their will?

The solemn voice fell upon Perda, as if trying to crush him.