Acting as a Slit-Eye Chapter 46

Chapter 46: A Warning for

(2)

?? The unique trait 「Open Eyes」 has manifested.

"I am... speaking, am I not!"

With a *snap* and a sudden *crackle*, the ground in the audience chamber cracked, and stone fragnts scattered around as Yulian, who always kept his eyes closed, opened them, releasing a powerful aura from his body.

An aura that wove a sense of deadly intent into each word.

An aura reminiscent of a harsh winter.

Although Yulian had previously displayed a haughty deanor within the 'Dawn Society', this level of raw, deadly intent was unprecedented.

It seed he had no intention to hide his hostility; his sword began to take on a moonlit hue.

Yulian's signature skill, the 'Moonlit Sword'.

As the beautifully deadly blade erged, moonlight began to fill the dim audience chamber.

"Hiss, hiiii...!"

Felkhor, known as 'Monsignor', with mories of being overwheld by that moonlight, recoiled with a pale expression.

"Cough... cough."

Among those present, Aiden felt the most pressure. He began to cough as if he were struggling to breathe under Yulian's lethal aura.

'As I thought... a monster is still a monster.'

Watching Yulian, Eleanor clicked her tongue in surprise.

Unparalleled, overwhelming power.

Just being in the presence of undisguised fragnts of such power made it difficult for Aiden to catch his breath.

"Oh dear, it seems I got too excited."

Realizing he might have overdone it, Yulian offered an awkward smile as he started to rein in his pervasive lethal intent.

It wasn't out of concern for Aiden that he held back, Eleanor suspected.

Although he didn't uphold the authority of Tenelon, it was evident to her that he pretended to for his own purposes.

"Impressive,"

Tenelon remarked with a smile perceptible even from behind his mask, seemingly unbothered by the pretense.

"You have managed to overwhelm the bishops and cultists gathered here with sheer aura alone."

While Tenelon cherished all bishops, he showed a particular trust towards Yulian.

'A man with power equivalent to the Sword Saint, Hayden Reich, whom he hated.'

Like Tenelon, he had suffered disgrace at the hands of the "Sword Saint" and possessed power as the Sword Saint's disciple.

Having soone who could wield the legendary Sword Saint's sharp sword by his side was indeed an enviable situation.

"Bishop Aiden."

"Yes, Archbishop."

"Are you crafting the replica of the 'Horn' as Bishop Yulian ntioned?"

Aiden flinched at Tenelon's gentle tone and lowered his head for a mont.

Showing signs of nervousness, he wetted his lips with his tongue, and after a mont, he lifted his head once more.

"... Yes, that is correct."

"It is not good. To act independently, creating such things without informing ."

As expected.

Eleanor noted that her prediction about Aiden's uneasy deanor was accurate.

"But it doesn't particularly bother ."

Tenelon, pretending indifference, said as he regarded Aiden.

"After all, compared to the authentic Horn I make, a re inferior replica isn't an issue. If such a forgery can oppose the Imperial family, it doesn't matter."

Confirming that Tenelon was willing to condone creating 'replica Horns', Eleanor nodded.

'So, would he condone human experintation on commoners too?'

Eleanor considered raising this issue but realized it would be pointless.

Conventional ethics would likely be ignored in this context.

"He is conducting human experints on commoners to perfect the replica. Will you still turn a blind eye?"

Eleanor glanced at Yulian with slightly surprised eyes. Once again, he asked the question she intended to.

"Subjects of the Empire who follow its laws could be seen as complicit with the Imperial ideals. If we can cultivate the Dawn Society's strength by using them, what's wrong with that?"

... Such sophistry, paradox, and extre self-interest.

Eleanor was rather startled by Tenelon's values, which differed from the goals she believed the Dawn Society held.

Concurrently, she was curious about Yulian's stance regarding commoners.

Yulian, who had joined the Dawn Society in pursuit of power.

Who had passionately desired the 'Horn'.

Yet, he questioned if experinting on commoners was acceptable.

"I'm simply concerned about leaving a handle on us regarding the Horn replicas,"

Yulian replied.

Eleanor understood that Yulian's concerns were more about self-preservation than any empathy for commoners.

"The more artificially created demons increase, even if the fact that we're behind it remains unknown, the attention on those using them will grow. No matter how skilled Bishop Aiden is, evading all networks is impossible."

"Hmm... you're right."

"Thus, it would be best to refrain from experints on commoners, bishop Aiden, huhut."

Yulian chuckled briefly.

Initially, Aiden had been able to exchange banter with Yulian but found it impossible to maintain such composure any longer.

"Bishop Yulian, feeling so lant over the death of re commoners for soone nicknad the 'Smiling Executioner'."

Sensing the conversation was turning against him, Aiden, filled with sneers, attempted to provoke Yulian.

"I heard you raise orchids. Aren't ordinary commoners worth less than those orchids to you?"

"Heh, how could that be?"

"If not, you wouldn't have blindly executed imperial orders, killing citizens."

Though Aiden's words dripped with malice, Yulian seemingly dismissed them with a deliberate turn of his head.

Determined not to respond to any futile provocation, Eleanor indeed saw it.

The subtle trembling of Yulian's hand as he answered.

Could it be from anger at Aiden's provocation?

Or, perhaps remorse from the massacre of commoners?

'Surely... it couldn't be that.'

Both assumptions Eleanor considered missed the mark entirely.

The slight tremor in Yulian's fist was not due to those reasons.

'... Angelica.'

It was rely the mory of the 'orchid'—the unintentional farewell to Angelica—that ca to mind when Aiden brought it up.

***

"That damned bastard..."

Aiden, having left the Genl Monastery, settled into a carriage.

Watching as the monastery receded into the distance, Aiden's racing heart gradually cald, replaced by a swell of displeasure.

Yulian.

He felt relief in distancing himself from that monstrous entity.

At the sa ti, he felt humiliated that Yulian had hindered his experints.

As these two incompatible emotions arose, Aiden couldn't hide his discomfort and cursed under his breath.

'It's favorable that Tenelon granted leniency, but the Horn replica experints will now be difficult to conduct.'

Aiden had risked his involvent with the Dawn Society, despite the Emperor's pursuit, solely for his family's ambition.

But with his experints toward that goal temporarily shelved, it was natural for impatience to arise.

'No, creating elixirs using demon horns can wait for another ti.'

Rushing would only lead to failure.

Though Arcanely unrepentant, Aiden realized that with Yulian watching, further human experintation was impossible.

'Should I make a bold move...?'

Despite his reluctance, he had no choice.

With this thought, Aiden spoke to the coachman.

"Alphas Mayend."

The call prompted the coachman to pull back the hood and look at Aiden.

"Can you withstand Cryphart's pursuit?"

"Yes, it's fine. Not the entire family is involved, and those Joshua can directly mobilize are a class below , even as knights."

With a sardonic smile, his face bore traces of blood.

"Then I'll ask one more thing. Do you still owe

a debt of gratitude?"

Alphas nodded.

"This life was fated to perish on the execution ground, saved only by Lord Aiden's grace. This debt will not fade."

"Good."

Pleased with Alphas's unwavering response, Aiden smiled.

"Then bring

Yulian's head by any ans necessary."

***

Thanks to the warning given to Aiden at the Genl Monastery, the mass production of replica horns would be delayed.

The 'Sword Saint' and the 'Imperial family' tracking the Dawn Society also beca future concerns, thereby buying ti.

'The issue is that Aiden, who has a vendetta against , might do sothing reckless.'

Would he dare do sothing rash?

The 'mansion raid incident' had likely not been led by Aiden.

He's soone who wouldn't hesitate to cross inhumane boundaries to achieve his family's ambition.

'Surely, after such a stern warning, he won't act hastily.'

Despite Aiden being a mage to his core and his unpredictable nature, he should be sensible enough not to turn Yulian into an enemy considering his survival.

***

*Knock, knock.*

"Did you call for , Lord Yulian?"

When Lazlot entered the office the next morning, I directed my gaze toward him.

"Welco."

Greeting him with a light smile, a faint purple hue wriggled above Lazlot's head.

In the past, I would have attempted to ease that emotion, but now, knowing instilling so fear makes it easier to manage him, I paid it no mind.

"Your report on the 'Dawn Society mber's raid' was quite helpful. Please report imdiately if anything occurs in the future."

"Yes, Lord Yulian."

Of course, using only the 'stick' isn't always effective for improving efficiency. Sotis, a 'carrot' is also necessary.

"Oh, Lazlot, take this before you leave."

"... Yes?"

A visibly nervous Lazlot gulped and reached for the docunt.

"What is this?"

Lazlot's eyes halted at the large insignia of the Bayer Academy stamped at the bottom as he read through it.

"Isn't this a recomndation letter for the Bayer Academy...?"

"Yes, it's the admission recomndation letter I promised earlier."

"... Promise?"

"Did I not say that if you worked under

as an informant against the Dawn Society, I'd help even the orphanage children gain entrance into Bayer Academy?"

Although labeling them 'lowly' was sowhat difficult, it's how 'Yulian' would likely phrase it.

Lazlot glanced again at the recomndation letter.

"Is this a forgery?"

True to its status as one of the continent's great powers, the Adratan Empire boasts strong national power, with education being fervently pursued.

In such an environnt, bayer Academy, the pinnacle of educational institutions, constantly drew crowds for admission.

Even high-ranking nobles often failed to gain entrance as students were chosen randomly for entrance exams.

Therefore, Lazlot's suspicion was understandable.

Since even the Great Houses rarely secured them easily.

"Are you implying that I, Yulian, forged it?"

I could say with certainty: it's no forgery.

Having recently completed the "Blind Eyes" mission where special lectures were given, this was procured from the Vice Dean Alum Chorny.

"No, not at all...! How could I..."

"Glad to hear that. With this admission recomndation, the children from your forr orphanage can take the entrance exam."

After listening quietly, Lazlot t my gaze.

In his anxious eyes, the slit-eye Yulian reflected back looked far from being a saint.

Despite this being an act stemming from the good intentions of keeping a promise.

"Your appearance remains... unsettling."

"... Pardon?"

"No, it's nothing."

Ending it there, I rose from my seat and grabbed my coat.

The topic between the two, bayer Academy.

Today, a practical test awaited there, requiring

to perform the duties of an instructor.

'At least today it'll be over.'

Despite the lighter mood as I moved toward the academy, my steps felt inexplicably heavy.