「Witch Trial」
If it fails, it leads to a full-scale war between the Britannian Empire and the Holy Constantine.
All the Bloodstone Cult’s terror attempts to create tension have been thwarted.
Sohow, the eting between the Emperor and the Pope is proceeding smoothly.
‘Does this an the scenario is cleared?’
Watching the sudden eting between the Pope and the Emperor, such relief is inevitable.
Accompanied by a small sigh of relief.
“…Hah.”
The reward for clearing “The Witch Trial” is priceless above all else.
Preventing a war between the Empire and the Vatican.
In other words, peace.
Peace is precious.
This isn’t about emotional stories like saving countless lives or stopping soone’s mother or father from dying.
I’m closer to a pessimist than a pacifist, after all.
It’s just that—
Peace is a shackle.
A shackle to bind the Bloodstone Cult, the most heinous and ultimate villains in Fantasy X Academy.
A world filled with chaos, like war, widens their sphere of activity and boosts their montum.
The Bloodstone Cult is currently hiding its strength.
If the Empire and the Vatican are torn apart and at war, no one can stand against the Cult.
In the end, the value of ‘peace’ lies in reattaching the Empire and the Vatican as large shackles to the Cult’s limbs.
‘And it feels quite refreshing, too.’
The Bloodstone Cult.
I’ve thwarted all their twisted sches to incite war.
From their perspective, they must want to kill badly.
That alone is deeply satisfying.
Moreover—
I’ve acquired a title with overwhelming resistance to ntal attacks.
‘That’s reward enough.’
This is sothing you can’t buy, no matter the cost.
Well, so of the higher-numbered items do have ntal resistance options, but a title integrates directly with my being.
It’s an overwhelmingly superior alternative in every way.
I’ve successfully overco the Witch Trial.
If I can just return now, everything will be fine.
But as always, in situations like this—
‘Everything going smoothly’ is a rare occurrence.
The eting between the Pope and the Emperor, which seed to be wrapping up, suddenly took a sharp turn.
The two, who had been conversing as if I weren’t present, now turned their gazes toward .
“We must conclude this discussion regarding that child.”
An ominous line, to say the least.
?
I hoped the Witch Trial would be the end of it.
Following the Pope’s gesture, I stepped in front of their eting table.
Even if my magic is sealed, do they have no fear that I might attack them?
Such thoughts flitted away. They’ve probably ensured I can use divine power if needed.
The Pope spoke, directing his words at .
“The Vatican has already sentenced you to death, regardless of the witch trial’s outco.”
“May I ask the reason?”
“The use of black magic. Inquisitor Oscar Javert brought irrefutable evidence.”
Of course, Oscar Javert.
He wouldn’t have missed this opportunity.
The reason is obvious.
A condemned prisoner can be interrogated at will.
“Indeed, a death sentence signifies a grave cri, but it also…”
The Pope glanced briefly at the Emperor before continuing.
“To inquisitors, condemned prisoners are a delightful prey they can interrogate to their heart’s content until the mont of death.”
As the Pope said, condemned prisoners have no human rights.
The way interrogators treat condemned prisoners is akin to lab rats—or perhaps even worse.
Considering how Oscar honed his skill of taphorically skinning people alive, the answer becos clear.
A sudden death sentence after the Witch Trial.
Surprise briefly surfaced, only to be suppressed imdiately.
Thanks to the title’s effect.
“But given that you’ve let stand here freely, there must be another condition involved, is there not?”
At my question, the Pope chuckled.
“Indeed, you’re sharp. The Empire’s Raymond rchant Guild and the coalition of guilds and nobles have petitioned against your execution. I assu the Empire shares the sa stance.”
The Emperor nodded.
“We would have respected the Witch Trial’s outco, but now that it’s co to this, we can’t concede either.”
The aning was clear.
I, as a person, had beco a bargaining chip on the negotiation table.
Even so, my thoughts drifted elsewhere.
‘… The Raymond-Noble Alliance prevented my execution?’
If it’s the coalition led by the Raymond Guild, it must be Emilia’s doing.
Which ans—
‘Emilia tried to save .’
Luckily, I obtained the title [The One Who Beheld the Pinnacle] during this scenario.
If I hadn’t, my expression would have looked utterly ridiculous right now.
◆
The [Dessert Research Club]’s room.
Danya, Elena, and Lina sat in silence, their minds adrift.
“I think we should go too, nya.”
“No, Sister! Brother Ian clearly told us to wait quietly!”
“…But still.”
Their murmurs were interrupted—
Boom!
The door to the clubroom was thrown open with a crash.
Was it Ian?
Danya leapt to her feet, frowning.
“Silvia? What’s going on, barging in like this?”
Normally, Silvia would have exchanged snide remarks with Danya, but today her expression was serious.
“Get ready.”
“…Nyah?”
“We’re going to the Vatican.”
“What are you talking about? Why the Vatican all of a sudden?”
The ntion of the Vatican caught not only Danya’s attention but Elena’s as well.
Elena scurried over.
“The Vatican sounds fancy, but it’s also terrifying! Did sothing happen to Brother Ian?”
At Elena’s worried question, Silvia nodded.
“Ian might be executed. The chances are low, but you never know. The Raymond Guild’s information is reliable.”
““E-Executed?!””
The startled club mbers gasped in unison.
Silvia nodded again, urging them.
“Yes, it’s urgent. Let’s move quickly.”
Danya, Elena, and Lina hurriedly followed Silvia out.
Then—Silvia abruptly stopped.
“Ah, right.”
Thud.
Thud.
Thud.
After a chain of minor collisions, Silvia turned to address the group.
“Bring weapons too. In the worst case… we might have to fight to get him out.”
Her tone was too serious to be taken as a joke.
◆
‘The culprit.’
The culprit, who has plagued since my possession, had narrowed considerably.
Saint candidate, Aria Lumines Bell.
rchant guild heiress, Emilia Raymond.
Either of them could be the one.
However—
I was leaning more toward Emilia Raymond as the likely culprit.
After all, every ti we t, she’d shown a certain level of hostility toward .
And now, Emilia, who had been antagonistic, petitioned against my execution?
Why all of a sudden?
‘Were my impressions of her completely off the mark?’
My head felt hot as I replayed every interaction with Emilia, wondering if I had overlooked sothing.
It was undoubtedly strange.
If Emilia had truly intended to kill …
‘Having executed here would be her most preferable thod.’
She could kill without dirtying her hands.
And it would be a clean execution under the law, leaving no room for suspicion to fall on her.
This aligns perfectly with Emilia’s ticulous nature, which avoids leaving loose ends.
Honestly, it would make more sense for her to file a petition for my execution.
“The Raymond Guild’s coalition rarely makes simultaneous appeals to both the Empire and the Vatican.”
The Emperor nodded in agreent.
“The donations they make to the church aren’t insignificant, and there’s also their relationship with the Empire to consider.”
“…Indeed.”
“You have quite the influential backer.”
I nodded awkwardly, even though it didn’t feel like they were backing .
The Pope offered a kind smile, though I couldn’t guess what lay behind it.
“Explain yourself. If your explanation is convincing, the Vatican will retract its judgnt.”
The Pope’s unprecedented statent.
Judging by the glance he exchanged with the Emperor, it was clearly a political decision.
Regardless, it was an opportunity.
“What would you like to explain?”
“The black magic you used. Tell us its nature.”
They were referring to the ability I had used to protect the Vatican priest and the Empire’s foreign minister.
“The inquisitor, Oscar Javert, claims your protective magic exuded a deep aura of darkness, the kind that would take years of training to manifest.”
I hesitated for a mont, then realized that being truthful might be my best way forward.
The Pope, after all, had the ability to discern truth. While his skill wouldn’t detect lies from , he didn’t know that.
“I didn’t train for it.”
“You didn’t train? For protective magic of that level?”
“Yes. It was the first ti I used it.”
The Pope’s gaze grew colder.
“Then where did you learn it? Surely, you must have had a teacher.”
“I didn’t.”
“Then how did you acquire such a skill?”
“Evan. I reverse-engineered his black magic.”
The Pope’s eyes grew even more severe.
He pressed on.
“Reverse-engineered? Are you saying you dismantled another’s magic?”
“Yes.”
The Pope stared at for a long ti, clearly trying to discern any sign of deceit.
Eventually, he muttered.
“It’s the truth. And you’re a genius.”
“You flatter .”
“No, it’s not a complint. It’s terrifying. An unbelievable talent.”
I nodded silently.
The Pope, still scrutinizing , asked another question.
“Then, how did you evoke the energy used in the black magic? I understand your primary attribute is earth.”
“All shadows rest upon the earth, do they not?”
“…I see.”
The Pope pressed his fingers to his temples, massaging them as if he had a headache.
“Everything you’ve said is true.”
His resigned murmurs filled the room, and the Emperor’s lips curved slightly upward in amusent.
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