The Emperor Who Was Chapter 80 : Chapter 80

Chapter . 80

“We followed the thod to catch werewolves exactly as written in the book.”

“We consulted the priest of Montova in exchange for herbs! The priest read the book for us and told us which thod was good.”

The book they referred to was .

It was a book written by two theology professors, which my Master detested to the point of shuddering.

-Even after reading that book, those who don't know it was written by madn are equally mad!

However, the Holy Emperor of the Traneha religion designated that book as a manual for mage hunting. Thus spreading it to the whole world, creating a delusion even among people who didn't know letters, let alone magic, that they knew magic and could hunt mages.

The result was the incident before my eyes.

“Everyone calm down. If this wolf hard people, I will punish it. However, as the Count said, there is a possibility of soone behind it, so that person must also be caught. If by any chance, even after killing the wolf, the person behind it tas another wolf, the sa problem will arise.”

“I'm telling you, if we throw it into the water right now, it will turn into a mage…….”

The villagers beat their chests with their fists in frustration. Trusting superstitions added with a fake book and a priest's personal interpretation more than their lords, whether a Prince or a Count. It couldn't not be the insidious purpose of the Traneha religion. Mage hunting, which was good for targeting even secular rulers, was perfect for showing off the temple's power.

“Please let us throw it into the water just once!”

“If the wolf dies doing that, we won't be able to catch the person behind it using the wolf as bait. Then who will take responsibility?”

When I didn't back down either, they soon yielded. The mob ntality, which had run wild without recognizing the Count or the Prince due to excitent from catching the wolf and eagerness to execute it imdiately, gradually subsided.

“Those who rebel against the Prince will also be punished along with the wolf.”

When the Count threatened, the people were now terrified and couldn't even lift their heads. I received the list of victims who had disappeared by the wolf from the village chief. As the chief called the nas, Yolande wrote them down.

“Please give

one more chance. I will definitely catch that mage. He really exists. I have even spoken with him.”

When the villagers established the rit of capturing the wolf, the anxious Count said.

Originally, if a mage hunt occurred, I intended to step forward personally to prevent such summary judgnts. But seeing this wolf, another thought occurred to . A faint hypothesis ca to mind.

“Whether it is really a mage or not, I, the lord, will judge, so capture it for now. If a mage is discovered even after I take the wolf, it proves your claim that the wolf and the mage are not the sa person. Even if you miss, I will just catch the mage myself then. Therefore, I forbid killing without my judgnt. Anyone violating this will be expelled from my territory, whoever they are.”

At my order, everyone was flustered and just bowed their heads. The villagers who discovered the wolf's cave beca guides, and the Count's knights, summoned by Yolande's ssage to the castle, joined in to search with the Count.

Thus, I parted with the Count and returned to the castle dragging the wolf.

“Are you going to hold an animal trial, Prince?”

As we neared the castle, Sir Rolf asked. Only a sigh ca out.

There were animal trials occasionally. A pig that ate a baby, a rooster that laid an egg, a hen that laid a double-yolked egg were executed for murder and perversion. Donkeys or mules accused of committing bestiality with humans too. Their owners sotis received commuted sentences by appealing for rcy claiming the animals were usually well-behaved, but there was no chance for a wild animal like a wolf.

“To think the first trial you hold as a lord is an animal trial, kukuku!”

The dragon was dying of amusent. I was so angry I couldn't even think of a retort, but the dragon jumped off before his horse even stopped and slung the wolf, which was draped horizontally behind him, over his shoulder.

Yolande, who rode behind

saying she never wanted to ride with Michelon again, gasped, choked my neck, and hissed in my ear.

“That person seems more like a werewolf than a werewolf!”

…Indeed, our wise Master…….

“Prince Leon― Uwaaaack!”

“Kyaaaack!”

The people in the castle coming out to welco us scread seeing Michelon carrying the wolf. No matter how tall and well-built Michelon was, since he was still a boy, he was buried under the wolf, making it hard to distinguish whether he was carrying the wolf or the wolf was walking on two legs.

“What is this commotion when you should be welcoming Prince Leontes!”

The old lady scolded severely, but she looked like she might faint herself. I quickly stepped in front of Michelon and told the lady.

“They were just surprised because we caught a big wolf, so do not scold them too much.”

“I am grateful for Prince Leontes's broad magnanimity.”

The old lady, far from being surprised seeing the wolf, eyes shone. But learning that her son didn't catch it, her face darkened and she silently stroked only the fluffy head of the babbling baby. Hearing that her son stayed behind to catch the mage, her eyes shone with hope, and I almost wished he would really catch the mage too. Even though my goal was to prevent mage hunting.

“It's cute? Can't I keep it?”

Coming to my room, Michelon threw the wolf in front of the fireplace, hugged the whimpering beast, and stroked its fur.

“It is a wolf said to have bitten people to death. We cannot keep it alive.”

“But it's so good? It doesn't even bite when I loosen the gag.”

When Michelon stroked the wolf's snout and tickled under its chin, the wolf, which was panting with its tongue out, quickly pulled its tongue in.

“Because every animal turns into a sheep in front of you.”

Even the wolf forcibly hugged by the dragon right now was trembling all over.

“Not a sheep but a big bad wolf. Good boy, since you're good, don't pee. If you do, I'll tear your balls off. Of course, I'll still find you cute without balls, so don't worry.”

The wolf whimpered like a newborn puppy.

“Give this guy to . I'll use him as a pillow and mattress in bed.”

The wolf made a sound as if dying beyond mournful. Indeed, even when sleeping in the sa bed as , Michelon used to sleep putting his tail or head on my stomach. It was cute thinking the dragon missed his mom's embrace too.

“Don't be scared, I won't skin you. I'll use you alive.”

Michelon promised affectionately, but the wolf, looking unbelieving, couldn't make a sound.

“Don't threaten a mute animal.”

“It's an expression of affection.”

“…The important thing is, I feel magic from this wolf.”

“There must really be a mage. If it was tad by magic, traces would remain.”

“It is hard to explain, but it does not seem like that.”

If it were such traces, I would have searched for the mastermind with the Count. But the magical aura felt from this wolf was…….

No, my senses should be correct. Yet sowhere…….

“Prince, you're back? Hehehe!”

At that mont, the door connecting to the side room opened, and Nanette, waking up from a nap, ran over laughing. The child, tired from her first magic circle travel and first banquet attendance, had regained energy in the anti.

But the child stopped abruptly, terrified upon seeing the wolf. Vincent coming with the child was also surprised, and Yolande hurriedly went to them, when the wolf made a strange sound.

“Keo-heong!”

It was a wolf sound, but sothing was weird.

“You, why do you suddenly make a sound like a human?”

Only when Michelon, sharp-eyed and sharp-eared, giggled and scratched behind the wolf's ear, did I realize the identity of that incongruity.

Co to think of it, it was strange earlier too. It's not surprising animals fear Michelon, but this wolf uniquely seed to understand Michelon's words…….

Even the face trying to approach Nanette escaping from Michelon's grip looked human even in expression.

“I'm scared!”

When Nanette shouted, Sir Rolf quickly picked her up.

“Take Nanette and Vincent out, Sir Rolf. While we deal with this wolf, you protect them.”

“Yes, Prince Leontes.”

When Sir Rolf took the two out, I imdiately manifested magic.

-There is no magic that cancels previously cast magic.

My Master taught

so.

-But there is counter-spell magic. Whatever spell was cast, by casting a spell that produces the opposite result, you can cause a result opposite to the original spell's result.

-Even without knowing what the original spell is?

-Well, it's better to know. Otherwise, you don't know what result that opposite result will bring. So it is a perilous spell. In the first place, it is based solely on a simple formula limited to the opposite result, not a spell that properly grasps the original spell. Doing so is impossible anyway. In so ways, it reminds of multiplying unconditionally by zero in math to make the answer zero. But if that is the last hope for soone under a curse, it is better than not trying.

My hypothesis wasn't certain either. But this guy was a wolf that attacked my estate residents anyway, destined to be punished by death. If so―

The counter-spell magic enveloped the wolf and shone brightly. Behind it, Michelon frowned and complained.

“Say sothing before doing it, really. Don't act like your hands were itching from holding back magic all this ti... Ugh, what is this!”

When the light disappeared, the wolf vanished without a trace, and a person was lying there.

“Why is a naked man lying at my feet without putting on any damn clothes! It's unsightly!”

The dragon, who hugged the male wolf saying he would sleep with it in his bed, kicked the male human and shouted angrily.

“It really was a werewolf!”

When Yolande shouted, the door to the side room opened as if curious, and the three people rushed out too.

“…Is it a werewolf?”

“Wow, it really existed! Awoooo!”

“It actually existed…….”

“Michelon, stop kicking!”

The werewolf, who fainted from Michelon's kicking, opened his eyes when Michelon warned he would kick again if he didn't wake up. Making soone lose consciousness and wake up, Michelon was enviable enough to rival mind magic.

“It is my first ti seeing a werewolf. There was content about witches who knew transformation magic in old ancient books, but I thought it was a superstition spread by the Traneha religion.”

Yolande said curiously. The werewolf struggled to open his snout.

“…U… Ah… No…….”

“Look, Prince! The werewolf is trying to speak!”

“How fascinating, where did a wolf learn human speech? Does it know how to write too?”

“Since he pretends to be human usually, he would know how to speak, Nanette.”

“No, wait, then the villagers were right? Isn't the Count making a wasted effort now? Going round and round in that rough mountain!”

“…Li… Listen to… my words… Please… just…….”

At those words, everyone looked at him together. Under our sparkling gazes, he turned beet red and said.

“Clo… Clothes please… P, please… Clothes…….”

“What, really a human. If it were a werewolf, I thought he would tear clothes to shreds even if given.”

“Bring clothes and take Nanette away!”

“Prince, I already saw everything! Anyway, he was covering his crotch with both hands! I'll turn around and close my eyes, please!”

Once Nanette was dragged away tucked under Sir Rolf's arm, we tried to give him water and clothes.

But Michelon, who had the most clothes among us, insisted his clothes were off-limits. Everyone said my clothes were absolutely off-limits. Vincent, kind but too thin, willingly tried to give his, but they were too small as Michelon scoffed asking why give them when they wouldn't fit anyway.

Sir Rolf's clothes, which would be too big anyway, were blocked by Michelon before even ntioned, saying he chose the clothes brought here so it wasn't allowed. Michelon was truly harsh with his mistreatnt, but I was also angry when I saw my brother and his knights' naked bodies.

But unlike my brother, this guy wasn't naked because he wanted to be. Eventually, I called the steward to bring a servant's clothes and dressed him.

After dressing, washing, and letting him drink water, he was a noble with a neat face and gentle speech.

“I am Jero de Lagardi, the second son of Baron Lagardi.”

Lagardi was a prestigious family, though not as much as Montova. Everyone was surprised, but Michelon alone burst into laughter.

“Hahaha! A naked Baron! I apologize for stroking the Baron's balls, I committed rudeness not recognizing you because you were naked, hahahaha!”

“Use refined language in front of Nanette!”

When I scolded Michelon who teased him without actually having done so, Nanette, who hurried back hearing he was dressed, spoke clearly.

“Balls itself is not a bad word. Although it appears as testicles in dical books!”

“Nanette!”

“You said you were studying, what books are you reading?”

Yolande and Sir Rolf got angry, but Vincent admired her smartness, and Michelon said ostensibly to

that Nanette was indeed good.

I was about to advise Michelon as a friend not to act childishly, but I held back seeing Nanette, who had been sullen from scolding, smiling broadly at her brother-in-law and his words.

Asserting the authority of a lord, I silenced everyone and told Jero to continue his story.

“Pr, Prince may call

Jero… I was… His Majesty the Emperor's secretary.”

“Were you fired from being a secretary? Did you beco a werewolf howling at the moon in sadness?”

Michelon asked even more innocently than Nanette.

“N, no! I was cursed!”