Acting as a Slit-Eye Chapter 45

Chapter 45. A Warning for

(1)

"Master, what on earth is going on here?"

Early morning.

The employees who had just arrived for work couldn't hide their shock upon seeing the state of the mansion.

So of them alternated their glances between the mansion and , then started whispering to each other.

"When we first got here, the mansion was a complete ss!"

"Yeah, there were bloodstains everywhere..."

"Did you really spend the night in this kind of place?"

"Plus, according to the head butler who arrived first, there were more than ten intruders... Did you handle them all by yourself?"

The employees looked at

with expressions of disbelief, almost as if they were staring at a monster.

But I didn't pay them any mind.

Wasn't it natural for

to be frightened by the intruders?

Even now, when I recall yesterday's events, my hands and feet would tremble uncontrollably.

The only reason I managed to maintain my composure was due to adopting the mindset that I needed to perfectly portray 'Yulian'.

Seeing bloodstains and corpses would certainly shock any ordinary person, but I had to remain as composed as possible.

Today's events would inevitably spread rumors throughout the Imperial Capital.

The best I could do was enhance my reputation as the 'Smiling Executioner'.

"Then, master, what should we do with this?"

"If it's sothing trivial, don't bother asking ..."

I turned my head to look at the broken orchid pot with the na 'Angelica' that the employee was holding.

Seeing its disheveled appearance made a sudden pang of sadness hit .

"Please bury it properly in the yard."

***

As expected, rumors that I had repelled the intruders at the mansion spread rapidly.

"They say the 'Smiling Executioner' killed all the intruders in his mansion."

"Invading Yulian's mansion, are they out of their minds?"

The rumors quickly beca a hot topic among the gossip-loving nobility.

Looking to relieve so tension in the cutthroat world of noble intrigues or to gain an upper hand in conversation, the rumors started to gain embellishnts and beca exaggerated.

***

"Sir Yulian, your situation seems to be causing quite a stir within the royal family. I heard you annihilated an entire knight order...?"

The rumors ballooned into sothing enormous.

Originating from truth, they had grown until they beca a semblance of gossip-filled whispers.

"Annihilating a knight order... That's not sothing I could achieve in just one day, could I, commander Ordwin?"

"Well, I suppose not."

"Yes. I rely dealt with so despicable intruders in my mansion."

Ordwin gave a slight chuckle at the casual tone of my response.

"Even handling that could hardly be considered a 'trivial' affair, wouldn't you say?"

"Is that so? For , it's just part of the routine."

"Surely such a life can't be considered routine..."

I internally agreed with her words.

A life where enemies bear grudges and attack at night — isn't that what one would call a failure?

Though I wanted to voice that opinion to commander Ordwin, I held back. Instead, I shrugged with confidence.

"Given recent events, wouldn't it be wise to take a break from duties? The position of practical instructor at the Bayer Academy could go to another mber..."

"No, it's alright."

Ordwin looked at

curiously when I declined.

"My body isn't so weak that a minor incident would require

to stop working."

In truth, I was desperate for a break from my duties, but I couldn't see Yulian taking ti off for sothing like this.

'Besides, if I pass on the academy work to another mber, I might end up drafted for the Victory Day celebration.'

No matter what, I still didn't want to go head-to-head with the 'Sword Saint'.

"Well, it's your body, so you'd know best. Alright then, I'll inform the academy."

After receiving confirmation from Ordwin, I gave her a brief nod and left the commander's office.

The surface-level issue of the 'Yulian Assault Incident Report' had been largely settled.

All that remained was to deal with the 'Replica'.

'... I can't let this go.'

Joshua's acquisition of the 'Replica Horn' and the 'Monsignor' who tried to assault

had deep ties to the Dawn Society.

In this context, I need to hold the Dawn Society's executives accountable for turning a blind eye to this incident.

'Damn it! I just wanted to do nothing!'

Yet the 'world' was urging 'Yulian' not to ignore the matter.

***

"Bishop Eleanor, it's been a while."

"My, isn't it Bishop Aiden? What brings you to the Genl Monastery?"

With a smile blooming from her lips, redolent with hidden thorns, Eleanor greeted him.

Bishops had joined the Dawn Society for their interests, making each other re rivals within the sa rank.

"What could bring

to the Genl Monastery other than an audience with Archbishop Tenelon?"

With a broad grin, aiden exuded kindness, yet Eleanor had long noticed the slyness within his smile.

'Aiden de Donatien.'

A direct mber of the Donatien family, one of the Empire's four great houses representing magic, and the next in line to be the head of the family.

Obsessively pursuing the family's aspiration to create the philosopher's stone, the 'Elixir', he was known for his extre emphasis on pure-bloodedness.

"Oh dear, but what shall we do? I seem to have an earlier appointnt with the Archbishop."

"Haha, I suppose I have no choice but to wait in the audience room, then."

Aiden maintained his amiable smile as he and Eleanor made their way to the audience room where the Archbishop resided.

'Hold on.'

Eleanor casually glanced back at Aiden.

She had co to the Genl Monastery to discuss the topic of counterfeit horns, 'Replicas', circulating in the slums and the capital.

Though inferior and filled with impurities compared to the horns made by Tenelon, they were still capable of facilitating demonization.

'Such replicas couldn't have been made without an original.'

The one producing the 'Replicas' was likely a Bishop from the Dawn Society capable of accessing the actual 'Horn'.

Though just speculation, the Aiden before her was a pri suspect.

'The horns created by the Archbishop bear similar properties to Aiden's 'Elixir'.'

If this was true, it ant Aiden was conducting unauthorized human experints on civilians to perfect his own Elixir.

'Hmm... No, let's not jump to conclusions. I don't have any proof yet. If it turns out he's responsible, informing the Archbishop would suffice.'

And yet.

Would Tenelon, the current Archbishop of the Dawn Society, truly lant the 'Replica Horn' incident and seek to punish the culprits?

He might have even ordered other bishops to create 'Replica Horns'.

For the empire's downfall.

To eliminate his hated Sword Saint 'Hayden Reich' as quickly as possible.

'If Tenelon is involved, bringing it up here won't benefit .'

As these convoluted thoughts raced through Eleanor's mind, she resolved upon reaching the audience room and facing Tenelon.

"Greeting to your wellness, Archbishop."

"Yes, bishop Eleanor. I heard you wish to speak with ."

"No, it seems I was mistaken with the information I had. My apologies...."

Bang──!

During Eleanor's words, the doors to the audience room suddenly burst open, and a man entered.

Though his stance was restrained, it exuded a noble grace and a confident stride.

With a face set in a perpetual slit-eyed expression was none other than Yulian.

"Bishop Yulian! Th-the audience room is currently occupied by other Bishops...!"

One of the flustered monks guarding the door tried to stop Yulian, but he swiftly drew his sword from its scabbard and pointed it at the monk.

"Ahh...!"

As Yulian drew his sword, the atmosphere in the audience room beca tense with suspense.

Drawing a weapon in the room of the Archbishop was a cri against the divine order.

Yet, due to the overwhelming aura emanating from Yulian, none dared approach.

"... Bishop Yulian, what is your intention?"

With a voice dripping with displeasure, Tenelon broke the tense silence.

I locked eyes with him from behind his mask for a few seconds.

Monts later, I sheathed my sword and rummaged through my pockets, then threw sothing onto the floor.

Clatter──!

It was the 'horn' I had taken from William, who attacked .

"Respected Archbishop. Are you aware that inferior replicas of the horns, which only you can craft, are circulating in the capital?"

Huh? That was supposed to be my line.

The doubt which Eleanor had intended to voice now flowed from Yulian's lips.

***

With the monks' eyes fixated on , I realized there wasn't any turning back now.

'I went for it.'

Even if I had directed my blade at an ordinary monk, drawing a weapon in the audience room ant challenging the Archbishop's authority.

Consequently, the atmosphere beca so tense with hostility that it felt like violence could erupt at any mont, focused squarely on .

But the die had been cast, hasn't it?

For soone like , incapable of ignoring the current situation, this was a necessary procedure.

"An inferior replica of the horn, you say...?"

Upon hearing my words, Tenelon thoughtfully regarded

without hastily reacting.

"Hmm."

While Tenelon was still contemplating, another bishop intruded on the conversation.

"Bishop Yulian."

It was Aiden de Donatien, a man with a gentlemanly deanor.

"Before we determine the truth of your claim, your conduct as a Bishop should be questioned first."

eting his gaze, aiden acknowledged

with a slight, knowing smile.

Aiden's words, casual yet commanding, were indicative of his self-assured deanor. Despite this, he couldn't hide the 'Color of Negativity' hovering above him, apparent to only .

"Though you're favored by the Archbishop, barrelling into the audience room with your sword drawn seems quite the brutish act, doesn't it?"

Though a violet haze emanated from above his head, aiden remained articulate.

"Ha, how amusing."

I scoffed, montarily catching Aiden off guard.

"What's so amusing?"

"Isn't it comical? That Bishop Aiden, who threw the Dawn Society into unrest with fraud horns, would say such a thing."

After a casual glance at the discarded horn, I redirected my gaze to Aiden, who cleared his throat.

"Wh-what do you an by that? I'm unfamiliar with...."

"Family aspirations are admirable."

With a serene smile, I continued speaking.

"Lust is a powerful driving force behind the reviving presence of the 'Dawn Society'."

"... Ahem."

"However, if such desires threaten to expose us...."

Deliberately trailing my words, I closely observed Aiden's expression. Despite exuding 'Fear,' he nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders.

"Bishop Yulian, I find this hard to understand. How do Donatien's aspirations tie to your so-called fraudulent horns?"

Are you knowingly playing the fool?

Anger began seething within

as Aiden feigned ignorance.

'Mass-producing 'Replica Horns' recklessly will surely catch the eye of the Sword Saint or the royal family!'

While your demise leaves

unfazed, should the 'Dawn Society's' cover be blown...

'I'll be implicated as a mber too!'

Even as a flawless 'Smiling Executioner', I'd stand no chance against the empire's full force.

Could I allow that? Absolutely not.

"The Philosopher's Stone, the panacea, Elixir. It's well-known that crafting such mythical objects is Donatien's dream. And the demon's horn crafted by the Archbishop...."

"I'm grateful for your appreciation of our aspiration."

"Lord Aiden, what I'm trying to...."

"I'm still unclear. The connection between Donatien's pursuit and these so-called counterfeit horns...."

?? The unique trait 「Open Eyes」 has been activated.

"Say."

Clacky's Corner:

Hmmm.

Wait, Donatien is Aileen's family, right?