One could say that the closer the relationship, the more casually harsh words are exchanged, the more they seem to understand each other. Just looking at the speed at which the Emperor and Dunadan reached the same conclusion, that statement is quite persuasive.
“……If this spreads, it’s going to be a complete mess.”
“I agree, Your Majesty.”
There is one fact known to those who wield supernatural abilities. Every single ability is a unique power bestowed by a god upon their subjects. In other words, they are essentially the purest forms of power that must never be damaged or altered.
Those born under a god’s domain and granted an ability are subject only to that power, and must relinquish it to wield another. Wielding such things 'simultaneously' is an extremely rare talent. In other words, it is no different from being chosen by multiple gods at the same time.
And amidst all this, that bastard Aiden used two of the most peculiar types of such abilities at the same time. The Pure White Ki, which only Noel could use, and the Divinity, which only the royal family of the Holy Empire could wield. When it comes to the difficulty of mastering them, both are second to none.
“I was expecting to see something,” the Emperor muttered, slamming shut the filing cabinet on the table. It was a photograph taken by someone with quick reflexes of the scene. It clearly showed him tearing through the force field Noel had spread out like cardboard and darting out.
“There are only two guys among the royal family of the Holy Kingdom who can pull off something like that.”
“The Pope and Deathwish?”
“Yes.”
“……What a magnificent raw gem.”
Of course, I think it is premature to place him in the ranks of the monsters representing such a nation at this point, but there is no doubt that he has shown the potential to be on that level. On the positive side, it is clear that the majority of opinions claiming he is unqualified to usurp the position of Lionheart’s groom will be swept away in an instant by this alone. One could say the intended objective has been achieved.
However, it should be said that it was achieved too well, which is the problem. The Emperor frowned as he lit his pipe again. Like a man who had seen all manner of things since ascending the Imperial Throne, he was coldly calculating the odds in his head, regardless of his surprise.
“Dunadan.”
“Yes.”
“Keep them quiet.”
“Of course.”
“Just telling them to keep quiet won’t be enough. If necessary, you can even requisition personnel from the Imperial Assassination Bureau, so put everyone under surveillance.”
“It’s inevitable that the story will leak to some.”
“I don’t expect airtight security to last forever. Instead, just showing that the Emperor cares this much will serve as a safety net for the time being. Trying to claim credit for that guy would be like picking a fight with me.”
It makes no sense for a talent of such caliber to remain unknown forever. However, at the very least, it must not spread right now. This is a continent where direct post-war damage recovery has not yet been fully completed.
In the midst of this. If a big catch reeking of this 'delicious' scent were to fall, it wasn't difficult to predict the extent of the chaos that would ensue. And there was another reason they were deliberately trying to avoid such a situation.
Both the Emperor and Dunadan shared the same sentiment.
“...It’s a waste to give him to the others, isn’t it?”
“Of course.”
The Emperor and Dunadan grinned at each other. Passing off a winning lottery ticket like this to someone else was incredibly painful.
“Since he’s hooked by Noel, let’s just keep him under his wing for now.”
That fellow—I thought he’d brought in some scrawny guy. What a stroke of luck. Saying this, the Emperor lowered his gaze once again to the pillar of fire stamped on the document.
In truth, it was quite an intriguing sight. 'The pure white energy Noel wields, and a super-high temperature divinity rare even among royalty… …' Ki fundamentally lacks distinct attributes but possesses exceptional strengths in output and total volume, while Divinity possesses destructive offensive power through its heat but struggles to maintain high output. However... the pillar of fire Aiden displayed right there felt like a mixture of pure white Ki, strong in 'output,' and Divinity, strong in 'attack power.' It was as if the two traits had 'combined.' The sight of Divinity pouring out like pure white Ki.
'No way.' The Emperor chuckled and refilled his pipe with tobacco. Even so, it was too far-fetched an assumption. To think one could take only the strengths of two supernatural abilities and mix them together.
If such a feat were truly possible... ... '... ... That would be omnipotence.' There was no way to even guess what kind of monster he would become later on.
✦ ✦ ✦
- System Log ▶ Contacting the 'Emperor of the Empire,' Lionel XIII. ▶ Contacting the 'Dragon Hunter,' Dunadan U'zal. ▶ These are main and supporting characters who may influence the story. ▶ Influence on the Main Story increases. ▶ New special abilities are unlocked!
-Skill Info
◈ Weaver of Fate
【 Noel Astria Seamus 】 - Bond: Tier 2 ◆ Heart of Pure White ◆ Ki Enhancement: Consecration 【 Katya Heinkel Craven 】 - Bond: Tier 1 ◆ First Vow 『 Lionel XIII 』 - Bond: Tier 1 - Can copy 1 skill. 『 Dunadan U'zal 』 - Bond: Tier 1 - Can copy 1 skill. Aiden stroked his chin as he looked at the newly received information. It seemed his prediction had worked exactly as he expected.
'It really stood out.' He had anticipated a reaction from this side if things went well, but even Aiden hadn't anticipated such tremendous firepower. Thanks to that, he had acquired skill copy rights for these formidable individuals one by one. There was no reason to complain, was there?
However.
-Quest Info
▶ The events listed in this section will incur massive penalties upon failure! ◈ Fake Marriage - You have been chosen as Sir Noel's spouse. Maintain your contract with your partner until the end! ◈ Act 1, <Institutional Rift> - Your frequency of contact with key figures in the scenario is increasing sufficiently. - Your presence will soon be officially incorporated into the scenario.
The direction of the scenario will be determined by your actions!- A related incident is about to occur. (D-3) It’s good that I’ve dropped a Skill Copy Ticket, allowing me to prepare for the incident. Still, I wish they had dropped something a bit more reasonable. Isn’t this just too much?
No. No…! Entering this world’s ‘Main Scenario,’ which I’ve been trying so hard to avoid, is now right around the corner.
Gathering skills to prepare is only to deal with the immediate dangers right in front of me; I have absolutely no intention of actually replacing the protagonist! ‘I must escape somehow…!’ Ever since I was first dragged here, my goal has never once changed. I don’t even want to imagine what kind of hell awaits me if I get pulled inside the scenario.
To make matters worse, it even says that a new incident that will drag Aiden into this place will occur within three days. ‘If I look at it positively….’ Since something is certain to happen then, at least I can ‘prepare.’ If he had merely been dragged along by incidents whose very nature was unknown until now, he could at least guess the nature of the incident described here. The judgment on whether or not he could 'escape' the scenario would likely come down to this side.
“…….”
Aiden began searching intently through the vague knowledge of the original work remaining in his head. Considering the progression of that storyline, he could roughly guess what kind of incident this was. If it was an incident explicitly and formally established as being related to the scenario, the probability of peaceful conversation was extremely low.
Violence, blood, and someone's suffering would surely follow. Therefore, what he needed immediately was, of course, an ability for combat.
■ Omnipotence
[ Level 1 ] Combines two or more supernatural abilities to produce effects more powerful than before. ▶ Currently Discovered Combination 〓 Guardian's Flame (Heart of Pure White ↔ First Vow) Traits: High Output, High Firepower Deploys divinity based on Pure White energy. It possesses greater firepower than the existing Divine and can affect a much wider range than when used alone. ※ As the skill level increases, the number of supernatural abilities that can be combined increases, and additional effects are generated. ※ Increase the number of supernatural abilities you can handle to raise the skill level!
■ Source
[ Locked ] The skill is locked. … … In that sense. Although the items listed here were hard to say suited his aptitude, they were quite reassuring.
After all, they were the lifelines that would serve him if an incident broke out in just three days. 'To be able to mix supernatural abilities to amplify effects… …' As Aiden, whose concept of supernatural abilities was still puzzling, he couldn't quite tell how much effect this had, but even so, given such characteristics, he could easily make at least one inference. That the more types of supernatural abilities there were, the more vast the options would become.
Then, the optimal option right now is… … 『 Dunadan U`Jal 』 - Bond: Level 1 - Can copy 1 skill. As expected, it must be this person. As he selected the spear, the skills this person possessed filled his field of vision.
Befitting the title of "Dragon Hunter," most of them looked terrifying, but Aiden was looking for only one thing here. -System Message ▶ Copying 'Universal Psychic: Magic Power'. Magic power crafted through the forbidden seals wielded by the warriors of the Tribal Alliance.
He would have to learn how to wield it gradually, but given the nature of Aiden's abilities, there was likely no other skill currently capable of such efficiency.
“…….”
Of course, even in such a situation, there was someone who remained steadfast. Aiden glanced furtively at Noel in front of him and spoke. Despite the chaos that had occurred just yesterday, her attitude remained almost the same.
“Is there something you would like to ask?”
As if sensing his gaze, Noel immediately smiled faintly and tossed out those words. Despite such a major accident having occurred only recently, Noel’s demeanor remained unchanged. Politeness.
The smile on her face that she wore like a mask.
“……No.”
I remember being startled enough to turn pale when dealing with the Divine yesterday, but being with him now in the office feels no different than usual. When I summarized those points and posed a question, he replied with the same nonchalant expression as ever.
“Certainly, I was extremely surprised when I first saw him, but—”
“But?”
“Didn’t I tell you from the beginning? That I brought you here because you are someone who can’t see the ceiling.”
“…….”
“……To be honest, I don’t remember, but you’ve been giving off the vibe that you’ve known me for a long time, Mr. Aiden.”
Ah. That’s right. Come to think of it, I had pulled off that lie just a short while ago to get out of the situation.
From Noel’s perspective, it must feel like just one more fact hidden by a man whose identity he doesn’t even know has been revealed.
“—You still have no intention of telling me what you meant by what you said before, do you?”
“…….”
Lord Noel’s appearance—smiling faintly, resting his chin on his hand, and speaking in a subtle voice—was honestly intimidating, but there was no way he could tell me. After all, he had never met Sir Noel before... ...!
“Then you just need to stay as you are. It would be more fun for me to find out for myself.”
“.......”
I told you, there is no such thing. Aiden sighed inwardly and leaned back in his chair. It was a move to regain some stability.
Of course. - System Message That window popping up out of nowhere was snatching away even such a modest attempt at rest. ▶ 'Deathwish', Katya Heinkel Craven’s affection for you increases! ▶ Bond level rises!
-Skill Info
◈ Weaver of Fate
Only you know the truth of this world. Earn new rewards by building bonds with key figures in the main story! 【 Katya Heinkel Craven 】 - Bond: Level 2 - Can copy 1 skill. Aiden’s eyes narrowed fiercely. ... ...
What is this now?
✦ ✦ ✦
Inside the royal palace of the Craven Holy Kingdom, there is a room that everyone is reluctant to enter. The lights are always off from morning until evening, andInside, strange noises echoed incessantly. It was a place frequently used by senior officials to trick newcomers into believing it was a haunted location, and indeed, the success rate was quite high.
However, no one would have the courage to utter such a joke in public. Everyone in the royal palace knew very well whose room this was.
“Katya.”
The First Prince of the Holy Kingdom—Aleste Panthus Craven—spoke again in a voice of concern. Thanks to the faint glow of the golden robes symbolizing the rightful heir, one could see reasonably well what the ‘little brother’ was up to even in the darkness.
“……Did you hear that properly, Katya?”
Instead of an answer, a gunshot returned. The sounds of flesh being crushed and bones being shattered filled the room. Although these were certainly not elements that should have suddenly interrupted a leisurely conversation, neither of the two people in the room changed their expressions.
The First Prince, who witnessed the gun being fired right before his eyes, and the Second Princess, who "fired the gun between her eyebrows."
“I told you to stop doing that.”
However, Aleste’s voice remained flat as he watched. It was a tone as if he were scolding a child lacking self-control for their antics. As if he had seen similar behavior dozens of times.
Indeed. A voice as innocent as a child, befitting that tone, came back as a reply.
“Ah, I didn’t hear. What did you say?”
He looked as if nothing had happened, even after firing the gun at his own head.
“.......”
Aleste gazed into the darkness with troubled eyes. A sticky sound, like something digging into his ears, was coming from that direction one after another. Although it was obscured and he couldn’t see clearly, he could guess what was happening to his younger sibling’s head beyond that, pierced by a bullet.
Incomprehensible, disgusting, repulsive, horrific. No matter how nicely one puts it, it was undoubtedly a phenomenon that was difficult to escape the category of such expressions. Katya Heinkel Craven.
A peerless genius possessing overwhelming talent even within the royal family of the Holy Empire. A monster with capabilities that rival the top ranks among all past users of Divine Power. However, the nature of the supernatural ability she possesses—to herself—should be called a 'curse.' Alastair lowered her gaze and continued speaking calmly. "It is a mission.
Mother gave it to me personally. She said there is an important person in the Empire." "An important person?" "They said he possesses Divine Power. And he is not even a member of the royal family of the Holy Empire." This statement seemed to surprise Katya as well.
Her golden eyes, which stood out clearly even in the darkness, met Alastair's gaze and blinked, emitting a transparent light. "How is that possible?" "They said he is a holder of multiple supernatural abilities." "Wasn't he just someone who existed in records?" "They said he was discovered recently." "How credible is it?" "Quite high." Katya blinked, remaining silent for a moment. It was clear she was trying to sort out the situation based on the information she had just heard. In stark contrast to her utterly bizarre behavior, Katya’s mind worked fast enough to be described as agile.
“Then, I suppose I must bring him in?”
This was evident just by the way she instantly deduced what the Pope wanted, without needing any further explanation. Aleste nodded with a wry smile.
“I think you will have to go yourself. You must bring him back at all costs, even if it means using force.”
“Me? Isn’t that like using a butcher’s knife to kill a chicken? Has His Holiness finally lost his mind?”
The blasphemy spewed so boldly that the bitter smile on Aleste’s face deepened. In truth, he was roughly right. Bringing that man to the Holy Kingdom was by no means a difficult task.
Divinity belonged to the royal family of the Holy Kingdom, and if such a power manifested in an outsider, at least a basic investigation into the truth was required. In other words, the legitimacy belonged to the Holy Kingdom as well. However, despite that.
As for the reason for sending such an unstable… … ‘monster’.
“He is the groom of the Lionheart, that man.”
As soon as she heard those words, Katya narrowed her eyes.
“Since it concerns her husband, we don’t know how Lionheart will react, and above all, the Emperor of the Empire has already expressed his intention to protect you. An armed conflict might break out.”
“Lionheart’s husband?”
“Yes. His name is definitely—”
“Aiden Kellermain.”
This time, upon hearing this, Aleste’s eyebrows curved in a strange direction.
“......Right. How do you know? He was completely unknown just yesterday.”
“I was a little interested.”
Saying that, Katya rolled around on the bed with a yawn. Aside from the grim background, she looked exactly like a languid cat.
“Brother. That person named Aiden.”
“Yes?”
“How strong is he? What do you think of him?”
“......Even just from the rumors, he is formidable. I don’t know about him right now, but he will definitely become strong.”
“Strong enough to kill me?”
At the answer that returned still so innocently, Aleste bit his lip until it bled. He knew the intention behind the question better than anyone.
“……There is plenty of a chance.”
“Ah.”
Katya smiled broadly.
“Then I must bring him back without fail.”
Called Deathwish. In other words, the one who hopes for death. The woman bearing that nickname answered with a smile that was beyond pure.
“I’ll be back, Empire.”