One Last Plan
"So more than half of the nobles carry miasma, and a third of the knights as well..." I look over the entire capital from a balcony. Having been removed, all I can do is wait for it all to end.
I sigh with a smile, reflecting on whether what I did was right. Crusch's annoyed look hurt me, even though I knew it was fake, I felt my heart crack. I'll have to invite her on a date to get rid of this bad taste; now I'm sure she's noticed.
She's dense, but not stupid.
'Hehe, I want to take her to Helena.' Buying some books, strolling around; all I want is to live a peaceful life. Being with her, I can be myself without any fear, that's where I belong, and I will protect it with all my strength.
Crusch still doesn't know when someone is interested in her, but I'm not worried, I just have to make her see it. María and she are similar, but their personalities are completely opposite. María was more assertive and firmer; Crusch is firm but not as assertive.
I watch the sun shining brightly, illuminating the beautiful capital of Lugunica. From up here, I can see everything, even the Flugel Tree. The houses, the businesses, everything stretches out from my view.
It's such a wide view, but at the same time, so lonely.
I would feel good seeing it from time to time, but I prefer to have people to chat with in my sight, neighbors to greet. It doesn't bother me too much, but I wonder what the future will be like.
I hear some footsteps that make me turn around; it's Félix accompanied by Julius. As expected, my offense towards the knights was heard. Julius does it to protect me, sacrificing his pride.
'This will be fun.'
"What do you want?" I ask, looking at both of them with annoyance. Félix keeps a serious expression; his angry look is sincere. Clearly, we didn't tell Félix, just like Emilia, and Félix doesn't know how to act in these kinds of situations, which I'll take advantage of to tease him later.
"What was that foolishness, nya?" Félix asks, annoyed, but I ignore him and stand in front of Julius.
"Who are you?" I ask, and he looks at me with a neutral expression, but deep down, his annoyance is as clear as water. Both of us, face to face, stare at each other.
Félix looks at me puzzled, but then he turns around.
"I am a royal knight of the kingdom of Lugunica, spirit knight Julius Juukulius." His words are filled with seriousness, but I don't want to drag this out any longer. I don't dislike Julius; I actually feel a bit sorry for him. "You just offended everyone present with that act."
"I didn't lie. While you focus on protecting the nobles and people of power, the whole town was being massacred by cultists." I point towards the capital, looking at him with anger. "You only protect who you want! Get out! Live in the mud and use your body to protect those who need it."
I approach him and grab his suit, holding him firmly while using my mana to threaten him. Julius puts his hand on my arms, but with my current strength, it's impossible for him to easily remove me.
"You are nothing, but people born in a golden cradle. All the effort, all those calluses don't compare to enduring hunger, to not knowing if you'll live the next day or giving leftover bread to feed your children. To feeling the impotence of not being enough because the world doesn't give them the slightest chance." Maybe I'm looking at him too intensely, I didn't even know this was inside me. "The people who were murdered had no way to defend themselves, they never could because people like you were just bragging about your strength, hoarding everything."
I spit on the ground, smiling and swallowing hard to avoid vomiting. I can still remember it, the smell of blood, the smell of burning.
Gunpowder mixed with corpses.
"What the hell is being an honorary knight if you can't protect those who need it? How messed up is your mind?" I push him hard, making him stagger. "You care more about my words than your damn ineptitude, idiot!"
Thanks to Wilhelm's explanation, it was easy to learn the technique to physically enhance my body with mana. Now the difference lies in how you can improve it.
The human body is magical. Until now, I didn't know Wilhelm could enhance his body that way. Crusch knows it, but to my surprise, she didn't know how to explain it. It's quite simple, you use the mana so that instead of having it in your body, it flows through your bloodstream.
That means one thing: mana itself doesn't give you strength, but the change in your body. Wilhelm and I were experimenting with Félix's help. We used his magic to support that change and see how it worked.
"You don't know what I had to see, nor what I had to suffer." I can remember their voices crying for help, every day, every night, they haunt me like a reminder of my own weakness. "You speak on behalf of a group of idiots who can't accept criticism in the name of 'honor.'"
I really died a few times, but nothing to be surprised about.
In the end, I found the answer: systematically using mana in distinct parts of the body. By using magic in my blood, it increased the number of mitochondria I can produce. We saw it under a microscope, so it's completely true. This change couldn't work by itself, and that's why I died several times.
The problem was that, in front of many cells, there was no energy, so I had to increase ATP, giving energy to each one. My body becomes unbalanced when I use it excessively, but with eating immense amounts of food, it recovers.
"You knew the cult was active, instead of focusing forces and hiring mercenaries to protect the towns, you decided that you didn't care, that each person should take care of their own lands." I sigh, shrugging. "You don't give a damn about people, admit it."
I criticized the same thing when Crusch said something like that, but she could accept it.
Adrenaline is useful, but not to have it all the time, so I didn't consider it until the last moment.
"What's wrong with you today, nya? You're acting like a madman." Félix looks at me seriously, but I can only bite my lips hard. I can't stop, I can't stop seeing the look of this big idiot.
Félix uses his magic subtly, infusing a bit of energy to calm my mind.
"Tsh!" I remove Félix's hand, looking at him with annoyance.
Apparently, the best magic will always be healing magic. Even for Félix, it was possible to apply these changes, with the difference that he did it immediately, as if he were born with it. The biggest change was in my brain, improving the sensitivity of neurotransmitters.
It was hard, but I managed it on my thirtieth attempt without dying. Now my reaction speed has surpassed that of a conventional human.
"I'm going to smash your face, show you that your blinded effort is only for yourself." I point at him strongly while cracking my knuckles. "I'll show you that your chivalry can't beat me because I carry the regret of my own weakness. Your power, your strength, your self-proclaimed title of spirit knight is just trash if you don't have the guts to crawl through the mud and protect those who need you."
'Wilhelm was right; chivalry is dead.'
A vein bulges in Julius's throat; his way of holding back his emotions is admirable. He takes my glove and turns his back on me.
"Get ready, because I, the spiritual knight Julius Juukulius," he starts walking away from us, "won't hold back."
Despite his resistance, Julius can see the truth. I know deep down he understands what I'm saying, I know he did it to prevent the other knights from attacking me, but these things are inevitable.
'If a knight dares to attack me, someone practically immortal...'
I smile, seeing the injustices of life.
Felix looks at me surprised, but I just want to get out of this quickly to head to the capital. We need to hold the congress and gain Anastasia's support. I want to see how far I can go, how far Anastasia can see.
'If she offers to let me join her, then someone must have ordered it, meaning she'd be part of the cult.' Gaining information is one thing, but if my suspicions are correct, it's possible that the candidates, even if none possess miasma, could be allied with the cult.
When Emilia approached, I could speak with Puck and discover that the guards who wanted to kill me also had miasma. Puck's information is reliable, so I really need to consider all possibilities.
'If only Betty were here.' I could feel something, but I still lack practice. Maybe in about a year, on some free day, would be best.
During the selection, I couldn't have miasma because it would interfere with Puck's measurements, so dying wasn't an option. The fight isn't against the candidates but against the witch's cult.
"Why did you say all that?" Felix asks as he approaches, and I place my hand on his head.
"Nya?"
His confused look makes me smile.
"It was just an act that Crusch and I planned to attract the enemy's attention," I wink at him. "Though I lost control in that last part, thanks."
Felix keeps looking at me confused, but I can't help but feel weighed down.
Anastasia is too big of an obstacle. Knowing she isn't part of the cult will allow us to act more freely. The fact they knew the carriage routes, the fact they conveniently appeared right away...
'I have to avoid Crusch's fate at all costs.' It doesn't matter how many times I die; it's just like during the battle against the cult. All I have to do is push my body to the limit. 'Dying is just dying; it really doesn't change anything.'
Dying twice is the same as dying a thousand times. The only truly painful one is the first, the rest don't feel the same. Eventually, dying is just dying; it means nothing more.
With my power, I can be the strongest of all, and the only price is dying. 'As long as I follow the rules, I've set for myself, I won't fall into madness.'
We quickly head to a large circular stadium. The crowd sits, anticipating the great battle in which they'll tear apart a poor fool. Well, that's what they think. The smell of dust invades my senses, the sand travels with the wind.
Julius looks at me with a serious expression, while I look at him angrily.
I must act like the protagonist of the novel, but also be different.
'If everyone thinks I'm not a threat, it will be better.' I must show the strength to defeat a cultist but not the strength to be a threat. It's that simple. If I were in another situation, it would be better to show everything I have, but if I did, it would draw too much attention.
'Imagine defeating one of the best knights without any trouble.' I haven't talked with Crusch because we shouldn't have contact until the end of this battle. What I need now is for them to believe that with me as a mediator, they can affect Crusch.
They'll try to contact me and deceive me, then they'll fall into our trap.
The coliseum roars with the sound of thousands of spectators. The arena vibrates under the feet of the combatants, each step raising a cloud of dust. The atmosphere is charged with tension and anticipation. Julius Juukulius, with his wooden sword in hand, faces me, his gaze as sharp as his blade.
"Begin!" shouts the judge, and the battle starts.
I aim my magic rifle, infused with wind magic, at Julius. Magic, when understood at a deeper level, opens a world of infinite possibilities. I fire without hesitation, a deafening blast echoing through the coliseum.
Bang!
Julius reacts immediately, his sword moves with an almost supernatural grace, ready to intercept the bullet. But a slight adjustment on my part, a minimal alteration in the bullet's trajectory changes everything.
The bullet hits his shoulder, breaking the skin and drawing blood. The stadium falls into a stunned silence.
"Are you sure you don't need a real sword?" I ask, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "Looks like you didn't expect that."
Changing the trajectory of a bullet isn't easy; you need proper control of the wind. Any small flow can alter the bullet's course, if not done right, someone in the audience would have been injured, and then I would have to restart.
Julius, wounded but not defeated, looks at me with a mix of respect and fury. The magic I've displayed isn't common, and he knows it. I drop my rifle to the ground, determined to take the battle to the next level.
I advance towards him, my years of training fueling every movement.
"Your character and attitude don't match your power, it's a waste of potential," Julius looks at me annoyed, healing his wound with one of his spirits.
Julius lunges, his sword enveloped in mana. With one strike, I break his wooden sword, and before he can react, my fist impacts his stomach with an explosion of mana.
Blood runs down my hand, the skin broken by the explosion, but I don't stop.
Julius quickly regains his balance. With a determined look, he summons his spirits once more. Magical energy flows around him, enveloping him in a bright aura.
His spirits, visible as ethereal figures, surround him, ready for combat.
"Clarista!" he exclaims, infusing his arm with multiple elements. "I must admit I underestimated you at first, but as a knight, I can't allow you to tarnish our honor with your words."
"Ha!" I laugh at his grandiose act. "You're just venting your frustration on a stranger, that's the least knightly act I've ever seen."
'Seems like he's really going all out.'
Julius, for the second time, lunges at me. In the blink of an eye, he's in front of me. His attack seeks to kill me, his golden fist aiming to pierce me completely. I see it slowly, adrenaline surging through my body, fueled by my magic.
As if fainting, I let myself fall slightly. Julius' fist hits the air, creating a shockwave that makes the ground tremble. At that moment, I create a wind explosion in my elbow, propelling my arm towards his jaw.
"Don't think you can beat me with magic." Julius dodges my blow, but at that moment, I make him step back with a spinning kick.
As I hit him, I realize he has strengthened his body. It felt like hitting a steel wall.
"Where did you learn those moves?" he asks, but I just give him the finger, which he doesn't seem to understand.
I lunge at him, spinning and attacking with speed. Every punch I throw is intercepted; every kick blocked by his counters. Neither of us seems to give an opening, but this isn't enough for me.
"Ul Goa!" I shout, stretching out my hand. Julius grabs it to move it, but I smile at that very moment. "Why did you grab my hand?"
I kick his side with all my strength, exploding the spell in my foot. Julius goes flying, while I fall and skid across the ground. I look at my nearly charred foot. I try to move my toes, but they seem barely functional.
"You use dirty tricks despite claiming to be a hero," Julius says, his gaze accompanied by the hole in his shirt and the burn mark on his body.
I stand up, holding my smile. "I said I was a hero, not a gullible fool." I spit the accumulated blood on the ground, ready to continue. "If I have to use tricks to save someone, I'll do it. That's the difference; I don't care about my honor if it serves to do good."
If I wanted to, I could end this; it's not that difficult. Everyone in this world lacks something; they lack control. I'm not afraid to die, I'm not afraid of pain. I'm not afraid to lose, nor to be humiliated. My only fear is not being able to go back to the right moment, but even that is just regret.
They also don't know how the world around them works, they don't care.
I concentrate my magic in my hands, invoking a sphere of compressed air that starts to vibrate at extremely high frequencies. The sphere forms slowly, its color and energy changing with each frequency adjustment. The vibration is almost inaudible, but the pressure it generates is palpable.
"You keep up your act, fine by me. Then you must endure the consequences," I say, watching Julius as he lunges at me. His body seems to heal and empower simultaneously thanks to the magic of the spirits surrounding him. I see his muscles tense and his aura shine with renewed intensity.
Just as Julius is about to reach my range, I release the sphere of compressed air.
"ROT IN HELL!" The sphere shoots towards him with relentless speed, and the impact is immediate. A burst of sound reverberates through the coliseum, the acoustic wave hits his ears with such force that I feel the vibration slicing through the air.
I see Julius stagger, his face contorted in a grimace of agony. Blood drips from his ears, red streaks staining his face and armor. The acoustic explosion was so powerful that his eardrums couldn't withstand the blow.
I feel a mix of admiration and contempt as I watch him, for despite everything, he maintains his elegant posture, with his broken sword in hand.
I can't even hear the audience; all I hear is a ringing sound.
"Eardrums are what let you hear; now you probably have nothing." I know he can't hear me, but I'll say it anyway.
"Necto." I smile, seeing that Julius has connected his door with mine. "What did you do? That spell…"
This was exactly what I wanted, to connect our minds so I could talk to him at ease.
"See? Your control is just an illusion," I murmur, observing his struggle with calculated calm. "Where I live, there is no place for weakness. Only those who understand the true functioning of reality survive. That's why it angers me, it bothers me that you don't see me as a hero."
Arrogant but strong. The qualities for being manipulated aren't necessarily being an idiot but being someone who is easily swayed by their emotions. An ignorant person who knows how to control their emotions is more capable than any genius who doesn't.
"What do you think if it's just you and me?" I ask, but he barely seems to regain his balance. The confusion in his eyes, the blood in his ears, it's all proof of my dominance over this battlefield.
While Julius struggles to regain his balance, I know the control is entirely in my hands.
The organ that gives us balance is the otoliths; severe damage to these, and just standing up would be impossible. The fact that he hasn't even vomited, or spit shows the strength of his body and mind. While he wavers, disoriented, and wounded, I remain in the center of the coliseum, knowing I've demonstrated my superiority in combat.
'Let's end this.'
With wind magic, I manipulate the oxygen around us. I gather the particles near my hand, creating a dome of fire that isolates us from the rest of the coliseum. Julius starts to cough, his body desperately searching for the oxygen I've withdrawn. His gaze turns desperate, but he's not an easy opponent.
He summons his spirits, creating waves of wind that gather inside him. Imbued with his spirits, it seems his body is being oxygenated without needing to breathe.
"You!" he shouts, throwing a punch at my face. I anticipate his movement, slightly shifting my foot and dodging his attack. With a quick move, I extend my right hand, a ball of concentrated oxygen crackling in my palm.
I ignite it with a spark of fire magic, creating an explosion that engulfs Julius in flames. Julius, wrapped in fire, uses his magic to extinguish the flames, his face showing fierce determination.
I'm not here to kill him but to demonstrate my strength and capability.
Julius lunges again, his broken sword regenerated by his magic. The coliseum's sand trembles under our feet as our magics clash, the air filled with sparks and pure energy.
"See? I have more power to save those in need than you. You can't beat me." I smile nastily, looking at him as if he were nothing but trash. "You're just a failed knight."
Julius stays silent, focusing on my movements.
"Come on, aren't you going to say anything?" I throw a hook straight at his face, but Julius catches it with his bare hand.
"This must end. A gust of wind dissipates the fire dome, all the spectators watching as Julius seems to have the upper hand. I smile, for I've already achieved what I wanted.
Julius throws a punch in my face, but I dodge, spinning. I pull my hand from his grip, but he throws a spinning kick at me. I open my eyes in surprise, and with his leg imbued with spiritual magic, I'm kicked to the ground.
I use my arms to cover myself, bouncing off the ground and falling.
"YES!" The crowd shouts excitedly as they see me fall. Julius looks at me without showing any expression, but I, at that very moment, lunge at him again.
"El Goa." I create a fireball in my hand, throwing my punch. He does the same, ready to break my spell with his own strength.
BOOM!
A large-scale explosion shakes the entire place. I use the hidden reach to create a barrier that protects Julius, while I'm blown away, dragged across the ground, and left unable to move. My arm is broken, and I think some ribs too. If it weren't for the reinforcement in my body, I'd be dead.
I spit blood on the ground, trying to stand up, but with my leg breaking, I fall to the ground.
"I failed!" I exclaim, lying on the ground unable to move. Julius must have minor visible wounds, but that already shows my strength. I can reinforce my body with mana, and still, I have several broken bones.
"If only Betty were here, she could heal me."
I open my eyes, finding myself fully healed in a bed. It's a large bed, and I can see that the decorations are typical of the kingdom. I'm still in the castle; this must be a room used by the nobles.
I turn my head and see Crusch standing by the window, her gaze fixed on the horizon. The afternoon light filters through the glass, wrapping her in a soft, golden halo.
"How did it go?" I ask but get no response. "Crusch?"
I see her press a little more against the glass, her fingers extended as if trying to touch something beyond this world. Her eyes, enigmatic and filled with emotions I can't decipher, peer through the window's reflection.
"What is life to you?" Her voice is soft but charged with an intensity that surprises me. I purse my lips, preparing for what seems to be a painful conversation.
I feel it's time to be completely honest, without evasion.
"Life is something precious to people, but to me, my life is just a piece on a board." My words are sincere, though I recognize they sound cold. I can't deceive her; the truth is that the concept called life no longer applies to me.
"My current life will only fall when I lose my sanity."
Slap!
Suddenly, I feel an explosion of heat on my cheek, and the pain surprises me. I stare at the bed in disbelief while holding my face, stunned. I look up at Crusch and see a solitary tear rolling down her cheek before falling to the ground, like a pearl of sadness.
"You are important, Marco Luz!" she exclaims with a passion that moves me. Her voice trembles but is loaded with a sincerity that disarms any defense.
"I didn't plan to die," I say, trying to explain. "I mean, my life may seem like a piece, but that doesn't mean it's not important."
The weight of my words seems to mix with the pain I see in her eyes. The knot in my stomach tightens more, a feeling of desperation I can't ignore. Without thinking, I use an Unseen Hand and place it gently on her back, pushing her carefully until she falls into my chest.
"I don't plan to lose everything. I know it seemed like I was willing to die, and although that's true, I knew I wouldn't let anything bad happen to me." I can't say I can't die, but I can hint at it. "I had everything under control; it was just a facade. I'm sorry for hiding it from you."
Crusch is the most honest and strong person I know, and seeing her cry for me is torture. I don't want her to suffer because of me; she's the person I least want to see suffer. No matter what I say, her pain is real, and I want to be the refuge where she can find comfort.
Besides, it's not the first time I've made her cry.
'It fills me with admiration and pain to see her like this, so strong as to cry for me.'
"I'm sorry, I won't make you feel like this again," I say, feeling my voice break. "I appreciate and value life, don't worry. I won't leave your side. I'm a fraud, but also a human with feelings."
I feel she might not fully understand the reason for my embrace, but I don't care. My power makes life seem worthless, but that doesn't change how much I care about the people around me. She is the life that matters most to me, and in my arms, I feel I can keep her safe, no matter how many times I return.
Everyone matters to me, even if I can restart and save their lives, even if my life is like a game, everything around me is real. It doesn't matter if I can come back from death; what matters is that they can't do that.
"Why are you hugging me?" she asks with a mix of confusion and curiosity. Her question is sincere and vulnerable.
"I'm recharging my energy to keep going," I reply with a soft smile. Without additional words, we stay like that, hugging, sharing the silence and comfort of our closeness.
In this moment, in the simplicity of a hug, we find the strength to face whatever comes.
Time moves slowly, and I find myself in a modest burger joint. The burgers are nothing special, but the presence of ketchup surprises me more than it should.
I'm not a gourmet, but it's a curious detail that adds an unexpected touch to this moment.
"What do you want from me?" I ask with disdain, fixing my gaze on Anastasia.
I'm in the snake's den, the stage where our plan unfolds. I'm here to determine if Anastasia can be a valuable ally or if she'll be an enemy instead.
My investigations with Crusch's texts revealed a fact: there's a manipulator in the shadows, someone who could be behind everything. Reality itself might be shaped by their influence.
Maybe the young man who disappeared from the grandparents' house is the true protagonist of this game, manipulating the story. I can't predict the outcome, but to face the storm, I need to unite all available forces.
After Anastasia, I'll head to Felt and Priscilla. My monopoly has a specific purpose: to protect this world where I want to stay. Anastasia, unknowingly, is about to be evaluated.
Her smile remains, but her demeanor hints at a plan for me.
"How did you meet Crusch Karsten?" she asks, provoking an instinctive reaction in me.
"Lady Crusch Karsten," I reply, my tone cold as I cross my arms. Her surprise is evident, a spark of curiosity shining in her eyes. Mimi and Hetaro around me delight in their food, unconcerned by the tension in the conversation.
"My apologies, I thought you had no feelings for someone who treated you that way." Her eyes narrow, sharp as blades.
She can recognize my strength, but her confidence in Julius makes her less cautious. What she doesn't know is that I'm prepared for any confrontation. My hands, hidden under my sleeves, are ready to act if the situation requires it.
My power, once accepted, isn't incompatible with miasma; on the contrary, it can integrate with my genes. Sekmeth's words resonate clearly: accepting the power was the key.
Thanks to Betty's teleportation, I obtained the desired information, and although I liberated the sanctuary to gain potential future information, I only had to restart to return everything to normal.
I lower my head, a carefully calculated expression of defeat on my face.
"It doesn't matter... What do you need?" I ask, scratching my head with feigned dismay. "Is that all?"
Anastasia nods with an astute smile. I maintain my facade of defeat while I begin to recount a story of carefully crafted deceptions.
"Lady Crusch saw my power and took me with her. She trained me, and that allowed me to defeat an archbishop." My lips press into a sad grimace as I look at her. "Although now she's mad at me and doesn't want to talk to me."
Anastasia smiles while taking a glass of water. Her face lights up with an enthusiasm that seems genuine.
"It's a shame, but I can help you with that." She takes a sip and observes me with calculated joy. "I just need you to do me a favor."
My skepticism shows on my face as I tilt my head and frown.
"Why would you want to help someone like me?"
She returns the smile with a blend of sweetness and malevolence, making her intentions clear.
"I just want to know a bit about her; I wish to be her friend. Although we are rivals, I believe we can all be friends." Her words seem to follow the rhythm of my own narration.
I open my eyes and respond with a calculated smile.
"Really?"
"Yes! I'll ask her to forgive you."
Her words, though they seem soothing, are part of a game. I nod, excited by what's about to unfold.
"What do you want to know in particular?" I ask with a mix of curiosity and caution. She takes her time before answering.
"Do you know if she meets with a lot of people?" The question is strange but logical given her role as a duchess.
"Well…" I reflect for a moment. "Since the recent events, she's been more cautious. It seems she's been gathering weapons, and there's something else troubling her. She doesn't tell me much since I keep training, but she's confided a few things to me. Also, there's that other one, the inventor who will be at the congress; he always sits next to her at every meeting."
Anastasia raises an eyebrow, doubtful.
"Are you sure it's okay to say this?" she asks, and I smile with mischievous determination.
"She told me it was a secret, but since she doesn't talk to me, I'll say it." My smile widens as I notice Anastasia's expression becoming more complex.
She seems annoyed by my presence, I think.
Anastasia is astute, but her disgust at the betrayal of someone who has taken care of me doesn't deter her. Just what I wanted to provoke.
"Yes, she has expelled many people due to suspicions of belonging to the cult." The information is crucial for my purposes.
Anastasia shows surprise before looking away and sighing. Her reaction confirms my suspicions about her knowledge of the cult and her own plans.
"It's a big secret, but I don't really understand, given that we're gathering forces to face one of the great mabestias." I look at her cheerfully, while she returns a discomforted smile. "There's also a reason she knows everything about the royal selection and about you."
Anastasia looks at me intently, waiting.
"This could have a significant impact on her, so keep it secret." I lean toward her, moving slightly closer. "The reason is that…"
A pale hand intervenes in my view. I look at her in surprise; it's Anastasia's hand. I step back as she clutches her head, her smile fading and an expression of disgust becoming evident.
"I'm someone who isn't afraid to seize opportunities, but this is repulsive." She stands up from the chair, and everyone around me gets to their feet. "You're strong, but your soul is as corrupted as your stupid attitude."
Her words are sharp, but my silence remains unperturbed.
"I'll do you a favor for the information you've given me: don't go to the Karsten mansion; she'll want to slit your throat when she hears everything." She walks away with firm steps. Mimi waves goodbye with a gesture, and Hetaro looks at me with disdain.
Left alone with a hot hamburger, I take it with my hands and bite into it with delight. While she gains Crusch's trust and uses my words for her own ends, everything is in place.
It's a pity it won't serve her.
She will be one of our allies.
After the congress, we head to the Karsten mansion. Anastasia has scheduled a meeting with Crusch to discuss her proposal. In Crusch's office, we wait for Anastasia with a palpable sense of anticipation. The congress has been a resounding success; the steam machine presentation not only attracted attention but also generated a series of promising contracts.
Given the setback my image suffered, I had to devise a new strategy. The hood that hides my face becomes an invaluable tool, allowing me to maintain my identity secret while navigating through the public eye.
Two new prospects, a powerful fool, and a great inventor.
From the same place.
Thanks to Roswaal, who taught me the necessary spell, I was able to secure the future of the steam machine. With numerous contracts signed, the Karsten duchy is about to multiply its funds.
Although we're already rich, the goal is much larger. My alias, "Lasko," begins to gain notoriety after the congress. Fame is an inevitable consequence, but I'm not too concerned.
My goal is to reveal my identity and alter the balance of power.
"That hood that hides your face is truly magnificent," comments Crusch as she takes a sip of tea.
"Haha, Roswaal made it for me as a favor for helping him," I reply. Magic is more than just elements; it's a whole universe I'm discovering bit by bit. The hood is an extension of that discovery.
Crusch nods, and for a moment, I feel the temptation to go to my room and fetch "that" which keeps me in the shadows. However, I firmly restrain myself.
"I must be presentable for someone," I murmur, looking out the window to hide my smile.
Crusch is satisfied with my appearance. Just as I'm about to say something, Félix enters with an expression indicating that Anastasia has arrived. He stands beside Crusch while I observe the hallway calmly, feeling a mix of tranquility and growing tension.
My eyes meet Anastasia's as she enters the room, and a confident smile spreads across my face. She slightly opens her eyes and then sighs, defeated.
"It was a magnificent trap," Anastasia comments with a smile that reveals her acknowledgment of our plan.
I rise, placing my hand on my chest and performing a deep bow. My gesture acknowledges her praise for the representation we've conducted.
"Thank you very much, Miss Hoshin," I say with a bow, before fixing my gaze on Julius. "Spiritual Knight Juukulius, I apologize for my behavior during the duel; I dishonored our confrontation, and for that, I apologize."
Marring honor is not something I take lightly. However, the necessary diversion for the plan justifies the action. A real confrontation would have attracted unwanted attention, especially if I had defeated him decisively.
Both Anastasia and Julius look at me surprised by my change in attitude, while Crusch maintains her composure. They sit, and I exchange glances with Crusch, playfully sticking out my tongue and winking at her.
She responds with a smile.
Crusch stands firmly and sits beside me.
"It's a pleasure to have you both here. I'm sure you have many questions," Crusch begins, but I already know what she's going to say.
Anastasia and Julius wait patiently. The perception of control has shifted to our side. What we're doing is demonstrating dominance of the situation, with Crusch and me sitting in a position of superiority.
"First, I'd like to introduce myself. I'm Marco Luz, an inventor," I announce with a smile and a nod. "I'm also responsible for the archbishop's defeat, but let's not go into details. I'm sure you're interested in knowing why I acted."
"As well as why you were brought here," adds Crusch, as I observe the reactions of both.
Anastasia and Julius remain expectant. It's clear that Anastasia already has an idea; our minds operate similarly. The challenge now is to determine how far they are willing to go.
"Although, Miss Hoshin, you likely already know the reason," I say, prompting her to speak.
Anastasia is difficult to handle, she truly is. I make all these plans just for this moment; otherwise, we would have to concede on many aspects. If we want her on our side, we need to set the terms.
That's the difference from the original story. Here we have control over her actions, as well as knowing her real motivations.
She smiles and begins to speak in a calm tone:
"You wanted to know if we were part of the cult, right?" Anastasia's words make Julius look at us. His expression is serene, but his eyes reveal contained fury.
I nod, and she continues:
"You fought against my knight deliberately to show that you defeated the archbishop, but you chose not to win to demonstrate that you could be controlled." I look at her with a smile, ignoring Julius's gaze.
We are coordinated with our thoughts. I'm confident that if we form a team, we will easily overcome all problems. The issue is that we are still competing for the elections.
It will be difficult.
"If you pretended to be like that in public, it's because you wanted to deliberately ruin your image to divert attention from the half-elf, as well as to hide that you are a threat to her intentions. Especially with the nobles." The common people don't care, but the nobles do. "Just like those who are with the cult."
I smile, pointing toward the sky.
"More than half of the nobles are allied with the cult, and a third of the imperial knights are as well," I state, and for the first time, I see a worried expression on Anastasia's face. A slight tremor in her hands and the movement of her eyes searching for refuge.
It's not trivial, but it is certainly relevant.
"Tell me who those knights are!" Julius stands up, and I stop him with my hand. More than his elegance, his sense of duty and honor are admirable.
I know he understands he cannot act now but telling him wouldn't help.
"Revealing it won't help," Crusch responds, and I nod immediately. She stands up and walks to the window. "The situation with the elections isn't easy. The reason we found out who they are is because of Marco's actions."
Anastasia and Julius shift their gaze from Crusch to me.
"Miss Emilia's spirit can see the miasma typical of each cultist, but they can hide it. Only when their emotions are disturbed does it become more evident." —Lies among the truth, but it's not really important. What matters is that they don't think about Crusch's abilities.
I know they are not allied with the cult, but they remain rivals.
"Miss Emilia is also with us. With her power, we can form a great force." I pull out some papers and show the steam machine contracts. "This is what we gathered from the congress; the information about the people who requested contracts will allow us to work more closely with many nobles."
Anastasia's eyes widen. She looks at me, and with my smile, I confirm my identity, fully sealing what I can do.
"Yes, we are also part of the investment guild that bought the options, the new investment method. I invented that." I stand up, and Crusch moves beside me. Both of us standing, looking down at them with firmness. Crusch and I are two sides of the same coin, so we can support each other.
"We are rivals, but if we want the throne, we must first resolve the situation with the cult. Then we can fight with what we have." Crusch extends her arm, and Anastasia looks at her hand for several seconds. "Or we can do something greater together."
It's clear that this is something significant to consider. We can't give them the information unless we do something more.
Crusch looks at me, and I nod immediately.
"It seems you also know something, so I'd like to propose something." I look at both of them, closing my eyes for a few seconds and then opening them with determination. "Let's make a soul contract. It's a spell that will bind our souls by the terms we set."
It's a double-edged sword for me, but if I choose my words carefully, it won't be a problem. In any case, I just need to reset.
"Can you do that?" Anastasia asks, and I nod in response, explaining that Roswaal taught me. It wasn't easy to learn, but it's the best tool I have so far.
"With a soul contract, we can ensure that we'll fight together until we deal with the witch's cult. Then we can continue our competition without issues." Crusch looks at Anastasia, and she sighs, defeated.
"This seems to have months of preparation." Anastasia's sharp mind surprises me, but there's nothing she can do. "At least with this, I can know who I'm allying with. If you were able to deceive me like this, I can trust your abilities."
It seems that what she knows is as important as what we know. Otherwise, she would have doubted much more. Anastasia stands up and takes Crusch's hand, I place my hand on top, and Julius does the same.
I use the spell, giving half of my mana to form the contracts. I feel a fire in my heart, but it quickly subsides.
"None can worship the witch or join the cult with the intent to harm civilians. We will not betray each other, and whoever does will die. Furthermore, this contract will remain in effect until we all agree to withdraw it, or until we have dealt with the witch's cult."
Everyone nods, and the contract is sealed.
"Now, with this, we can begin."
Anastasia looks at both of us, then gestures to Julius to leave. Julius exits and returns with a book. She places it on the table, and I look at it for a few seconds, my eyes widening at the cover.
"Hoshin's Diary, Second Edition."