Translation
For Stella, Aiden Kellermain had been giving her a mountain of work to deal with all day.
Most of it was a side effect of the fact that the esteemed Lord Noel had been paying attention to this man throughout the day, but regardless, it was hardly a welcome situation for Stella.
“—Mr. Aiden.”
In that regard, there was absolutely no need for him to leave behind something this troublesome on top of everything else.
“What on earth is this?”
Stella spoke, looking utterly dumbfounded.
Right in front of her, Prince Daniel lay battered and bloody, managing only to wheeze as he breathed.
He was conscious, but it was obvious that he was in no condition to speak.
Meanwhile, the person responsible for putting the prince in that state merely shrugged.
“Would you believe me if I said I had my reasons?”
“They had better be sufficient reasons to inflict serious injuries on a member of the royal family.”
Stella replied in a rigid voice.
Regardless of the fact that he was effectively living in exile, this was still a member of the royal family. This was more than enough to provoke a diplomatic dispute between nations.
“And we would also have to prove that the other party was at fault. The power of royalty is that—”
But Aiden's response had absolutely nothing to do with what she had been saying.
“Do we really need to prove it?”
“...Excuse me?”
Stella stared at him blankly as Aiden continued in an even tone.
“Even royalty can be excommunicated if they commit crimes serious enough to warrant it. Isn't that right?”
“—That is true, but why are you suddenly bringing this up now?”
“Do you remember the kidnapping of Viscountess Cromwell's daughter in the capital a while ago?”
“...”
“It caused quite a stir, didn't it? The kidnapping and disappearance of such a young and beautiful noblewoman.”
Stella's expression stiffened far more than it had before.
It wasn't just that the conversation seemed to have taken a completely unrelated turn.
Prince Daniel's reaction was downright strange.
Despite his severe injuries and his inability to speak properly, he visibly flinched as though he had been struck by lightning.
As if—
As if Aiden had suddenly exposed a wicked deed that he had never even imagined would come to light.
“If the culprit happened to be here, things would get rather interesting, wouldn't they?”
“...”
Surely not.
Surely, that couldn't be the case.
A member of the royal family, while exiled to another country, had committed a crime against a noblewoman of that very nation?
If it were true, it would be a grave enough offense to warrant his expulsion from the royal family.
“Do you have any evidence?”
“I don't have any evidence, but we have this right here. A way to determine the truth.”
“...What?”
“Finding out whether someone is lying or telling the truth should be sufficient evidence, shouldn't it?”
Stella narrowed her eyes.
It was true that such a device existed.
However, it was equally clear that the man standing in front of her was not someone who should casually know whether such a thing existed.
“Private.”
Without changing her narrowed gaze, Stella spoke calmly to a nearby soldier.
“Go to the magical research laboratory on the first floor and bring me something. Tell them you need the ‘detector.’ They'll know what I mean.”
“—Understood!”
The soldier's reply sounded strangely drawn out. Perhaps he, too, had instinctively realized that something seriously abnormal was going on.
And he wouldn't have been wrong.
It didn't take long for Prince Daniel's mumbled excuses, in which he insisted that he had absolutely nothing to do with the crime, to be thoroughly exposed by the lie detector that the Imperial military was secretly developing.
“...This is absolutely insane.”
Stella could only let out a groan.
For two reasons.
First, this chain of events, unfolding one after another at lightning speed, was an enormous incident that would reach the Imperial Palace.
Second, it meant that she was guaranteed to spend the entire day working overtime.
▣
The investigation proceeded swiftly after that.
A thorough search of Prince Daniel's quarters and the places connected to his activities reportedly uncovered clothing and personal belongings belonging to Viscountess Cromwell's daughter.
They also discovered evidence of his attempts to cover up his crimes, along with traces of various other “minor” offenses.
“—That concludes my report.”
As Stella finished speaking, Noel pressed her fingers firmly against her temples.
“What did the Holy Empire say?”
“They expressed their gratitude.”
“...What?”
“They said Daniel was a royal disgrace they had been forced to keep within the royal family because of their internal laws. They're grateful that we graciously got rid of him for them. They also said that if Mr. Aiden ever visits the Holy Empire, they will treat him with the utmost hospitality.”
“...”
The Pope, the leader of the Holy Empire, was famous as the greatest eccentric among all the popes in history.
And the current Pope was particularly notorious for it.
Judging by this response alone, the reputation was certainly well deserved.
“Actually, there's someone even more troublesome than the Pope.”
“Who?”
“[Deathwish] has expressed an interest in Mr. Aiden.”
“...”
“She casually suggested that they should have a meal together sometime. As expected of an ambitious woman who recruits anyone she takes a liking to, regardless of the means necessary.”
Noel ran a hand through her hair, looking exhausted.
“Deathwish, you say?”
“Yes.”
“You mean the Holy Empire's Second Princess? That megalomaniac who's constantly looking for an opportunity to seize the papal throne, even if she has to kill her own brother to get it?”
“Yes.”
“The woman whose skill with divine power is said to surpass even the current Pope's?”
“...Yes.”
The fact that this information had arrived within hours of the incident, let alone a full day later, was probably a glimpse of what lay ahead.
News travels fast. The ambitious people who were already gathering every scrap of information they could find would spread today's events far and wide.
“I don't understand why she's so interested in Mr. Aiden. He's really just an ordinary con artist.”
Ordinary...?
As Stella's eyebrows twitched, Noel continued in an even tone.
“He pulverized a member of the Holy Empire's royal family, someone who wields exceptionally pure divinity, with his bare hands in a single strike. He immediately uncovered crimes that the prince had been concealing. Then he casually suggested using a classified device that nobody outside the Imperial Command Headquarters should even know about—a device that someone who had never set foot in the military could not possibly be familiar with.”
“...Yes.”
“And then, just as he said, actual evidence turned up.”
“...”
“It's nothing special. I don't understand why everyone is making such a fuss. Don't you agree?”
Faced with Noel speaking in a half-resigned voice, Stella quietly closed her mouth.
Even reporting the events was enough to leave her breathless. The incidents were one after another, each more incomprehensible than the last.
And all of this had supposedly been accomplished in less than a day by a man who insisted he was nothing more than an ordinary con artist.
Well...
“Um, Lord Noel. Forgive me for speaking out of turn.”
“Hmm?”
“But where on earth did you find someone like this, and how did you manage to bring him here?”
“...Honestly, I don't know either. Was he really this capable?”
By this point, his actions were far too removed from the background he claimed to have.
Even Stella had stopped wondering why Noel had chosen that particular man after seeing what he could do in a single day.
The problem was that even Noel, the person who had brought him here, was thoroughly bewildered by the situation.
How?
Naturally, when someone of royal status deliberately sets out to conceal a crime, uncovering it is about as easy as getting an animal through the eye of a needle.
And that was especially true of crimes so filthy and despicable that the perpetrator had clearly gone to extraordinary lengths to avoid leaving any evidence.
The fact that Aiden also knew about a device being tested by the military was even more bizarre.
At this point, it was like trying to push an elephant through the eye of a needle.
Stella knew the military's infamous security procedures better than anyone. The fact that no classified information had ever been leaked to outsiders proved just how obsessive those procedures were.
And yet—
Aiden had known both things.
...How?
She couldn't think of any other question worth asking.
Just how much did he know? And how far did his knowledge extend?
The more she thought about it, the more confused she became.
Who on earth is this man?
Where did someone like him even come from...?
“Lord Noel.”
As Noel continued pondering the mystery, Stella suddenly spoke.
Uncharacteristically, she sounded hesitant, as though she were struggling to bring something up.
Her hesitation continued until Noel looked at her strangely. Then, at last, she put her thoughts into words.
“There is one more thing I find puzzling.”
“What is it?”
“I'm wondering how those two ended up fighting in the first place. Do you happen to know?”
“I have a rough idea. Didn't the prince start it?”
According to Sir Lester, who had been present at the scene, Prince Daniel had picked a fight because he disliked the Lionheart's groom, and Aiden had retaliated.
That was presumably the most straightforward way for the people involved to describe what had happened.
However, summarized differently, the story could sound like this:
“I heard that Mr. Aiden flew into a rage after being insulted and told he wasn't worthy of being your husband.”
“...”
“I have to admit, I see him a little differently now. He does have a manly side, doesn't he?”
...Sometimes, the way something is phrased makes all the difference.
The moment Noel heard the report, the corners of her mouth twisted strangely.
“Did he like me that much?”
“I doubt there's anyone on this planet who could dislike you, Lord Noel, but it is puzzling. His attitude when we first met him was completely different.”
“It is strange. After all, we weren't even acquainted beforehand—”
Noel abruptly stopped speaking.
A sentence she had heard only recently flashed through her mind.
—It seems you don't remember the past? Like when you were young.
—No, it's nothing. I didn't think you'd actually forgotten.
Those were the words he had said.
That man.
“Lord Noel? Are you all right?”
Stella's puzzled question brought Noel back to her senses.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
“No.”
Then a bitter remark slipped from her lips.
“We... might have known each other.”
“Pardon?”
“It's nothing.”
After falling silent for a moment, Lord Noel lifted her gaze and spoke again.
“Stella.”
“Yes?”
“Contact the Central Intelligence Bureau.”
Stella's eyes widened.
The Central Intelligence Bureau was the most notorious of the Empire's intelligence agencies.
It was widely believed that, if it so desired, the bureau could uncover even the Emperor's most closely guarded secrets.
Contacting it was a serious matter—something even the Lionheart would hesitate to do unless the circumstances were truly exceptional.
“...Should I request a detailed background investigation into Mr. Aiden?”
Despite her surprise, Stella understood Noel's intentions immediately. They had worked together for a long time, after all.
“Don't leave out even the smallest detail. Verify everything you can find. Report every single thing to me without omitting a single word. If necessary, you have my full permission to use my name however you need to.”
“As you command.”
Stella saluted and departed.
Noel watched her leave before lifting her teacup again.
The bitterness lingered sharply on her tongue.
The military's intelligence-gathering capabilities were impressive, but the Central Intelligence Bureau operated on an entirely different level.
With this request, she would surely obtain at least some kind of lead.
At the very least, she would find a clue that could help her uncover the truth about this man.
“Aiden.”
Noel murmured the name slowly.
“Aiden Kellermain.”
She savored the sound of it, as though testing it on her tongue.
“—Let's see what we can find out, then.”
I'll find out.
Who you are.
And what you want.
No matter what.
▣
“I want to go home.”
Aiden muttered in a dazed voice.
System Message
▶ You have encountered “Deathwish,” Katya Heinkel Craven.
▶ This is a critical main-story character. The fate of the world will be determined by the influence you have on this individual!
▶ Your influence on the main story has increased.
▶ Your bond with the target has increased to Level 1!
▶ Linked to the skill “Weaver of Fate”!
“...”
What in the world is all this?
He had gotten involved with yet another terrifying individual in less than a day.
This is why you shouldn't lose your temper.
The prince had kept crossing the line, so Aiden had put a little extra strength into beating him to a pulp. Unfortunately, the consequences were rather frightening.
In fact, that slick prince was a recurring villain in the game. Even Aiden's patchy knowledge of the original story had been enough to identify his weaknesses and subdue him quickly.
The man had committed so many crimes that exposing even one would cause the others to surface one after another, like links in a chain.
I just didn't know the detector was classified information.
He had mentioned the detector used by the military simply because it was one of the major key items available in the game.
He hadn't realized that, at this point in time, it was still a prototype nearing completion and therefore being treated as a military secret.
More importantly...
Aiden gloomily examined the window floating before his eyes.
Katya Heinkel Craven.
Known as [Deathwish], she was one of the most important central characters in the main scenario and the single most crucial figure within the Holy Empire's faction.
He had received a skill-copy ticket, but he had no idea why she was interested in him. That part made him uneasy.
Still, that was one thing.
I might as well take what I can get, right?
▶ Activating the skill-copy ability of “Skill: Weaver of Fate.”
▶ Analyzing the skill list of the target, “Katya Heinkel Craven.”
▶ Skills are displayed in descending order of value.
Along with the message, a skill window appeared, listing the abilities Katya almost certainly possessed.
Most of them were related to divinity, much like the skills Daniel had displayed earlier.
Aiden had a general idea of the kinds of skills this princess possessed. But he also knew which one was the most remarkable of them all.
It was much like the time he had copied Noel's skill.
Thinking back on the original story, he remembered that, like Noel, this princess possessed a unique supernatural ability that existed nowhere else in the world.
It was an ability unlike any other, even among the people of the Holy Empire, the very source of divinity.
System Message
▶ Copying “Unique Ability: The First Vow.”
▶ This ability is possessed by only one individual in the entire world.
▶ The target, “Katya,” may develop increased affection toward you!
...He was a little concerned that this inexplicable interest had appeared again.
I'll think about that later.
Too much had happened today.
Aiden dismissed the window and closed his eyes. After being tormented by one incident after another all day, it didn't take long for him to lose consciousness.
Perhaps that was why.
The moment he sank into a deep sleep, he failed to see the window that appeared before him, as though it had been waiting for precisely this moment.
System Message
▶ You are currently the only individual in the world to possess two or more Unique Skills.
▶ The target “Pantheon” has taken notice of you!
▶ This change will have an enormous impact on the main story!
▶ A new special ability is being unlocked.
The remaining system messages were corrupted by strange, distorted characters, making them impossible to read.
...
▶ Reconfiguring the incident.
▶ The target “Pantheon” is wary of you.
▶ The target “[corrupted name]” has taken notice of you.
▶ A new special ability has been granted!
▶ You have received [Unique Trait: Omnipotence]!
▶ You have received [Unique Trait: Origin]!