Chapter 14: I know everything

“How?”

The first question that began to swirl in Fedelian’s mind upon seeing Yohan holding the head of the monster was one of disbelief.

“Even though it’s still a young specimen, it’s a special-grade monster. There’s no way a mage who has just barely reached the initial stage of high-ranking magic could handle it alone.”

Originally, the unit that went south should have been annihilated.

They had assigned minimal personnel under the pretense that they were heading to an area with the fewest monsters.

“But not only did he retreat the others, he caught it.”

‘How?’ The question continued to circle in his mind.

‘Had he deceived the realm? No, there was no reason for that.

It wouldn’t benefit him at all.’

His eyes trembled, and his mouth slightly opened.

He was in a daze.

“Yohan!”

While Fedelian was lost in thought, Francia broke away from the knights and dashed towards Yohan.

With a nearly tearful expression, she ran to him and buried her face in his chest.

“Francia.”

“What on earth were you thinking…!”

Francia’s words trailed off as her emotions surged.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t ever act recklessly like that again!”

“I will do so.”

Yohan smiled gently and patted her head.

Francia’s ruby-like eyes were filled with tears as she looked at him.

“…I’m really glad you came back safely.”

Francia said this and buried her face back into Yohan’s chest.

Two men looked on disapprovingly: Cassis and Fedelian.

“How unpleasant.”

Fedelian frowned as he watched their affectionate display.

‘I didn’t know he had a man…’

Cassis, with an expressionless face, deduced their relationship.

‘Are they lovers?’

Cassis’s amethyst-colored eyes darkened as his lips pressed into a straight line.

“Both of you calm down.”

Unable to bear the sight of them embracing, Fedelian interrupted the moment.

“…First, let’s collect ourselves, Special Mage Harssen. I need to hear a detailed explanation.”

“Yes.”

Yohan gently released Francia’s embrace and took a step forward.

Francia held onto the collar of his clothes.

Yohan smiled lightly and nodded.

“Oh, and.”

As Yohan followed Fedelian, he suddenly turned around.

“Here’s the head of the special-grade monster.”

Thud.

The head, lightly thrown, rolled across the floor.

“Is this really the head of a special-grade monster…?”

“My goodness, did you really catch it alone?”

The astonished officials and knights stared at the monster’s head with their mouths agape.

“Please take care of the corpse disposal.”

Yohan said this and followed Fedelian.

Inside the central tent of the forward base, Fedelian, sitting with his legs crossed, opened his mouth.

“I’ve gathered the general circumstances. It seems that the monsters, which had not been visible until you reached the entrance of the den, suddenly swarmed in?”

“Yes.”

“You remained behind to retreat the others and faced the special-grade monster alone, bringing back its head. That’s all I know.”

“That’s correct.”

Fedelian narrowed his eyes.

“How did you manage that?”

“Although it was a special-grade monster, it was still a young specimen.”

“So you were able to defeat it alone?”

“That’s right.”

The crown prince observed Yohan closely.

He didn’t seem to be lying.

“Lucky you.”

“Ha ha. Lucky, you say?”

Yohan smiled as he looked at Fedelian.

His gaze captured the blonde man.

“It’s all thanks to your grace’s favor.”

“…What do you mean?”

“I thought Your Grace would know better.”

Fedelian’s eyebrows twitched.

‘Does he know that I orchestrated this?’

But how? He had left no evidence behind.

If that were the case, he was merely testing the waters.

Fedelian continued questioning.

“…Anyway, have you found out why that special-grade monster appeared in the south?”

“How would I know? Only the person who planned this from the beginning would know.”

“Are you saying that there’s someone other than the mages who orchestrated this?”

Fedelian tilted his head without any change in expression.

Yohan’s gaze turned cold.

“There is. A very high-ranking official.”

“A high-ranking official?”

“Surely you must know.”

“I don’t.”

Yohan clicked his tongue inwardly at Fedelian’s audacity.

“This incident was definitely orchestrated by the mages, but there was insufficient information for them to have plotted all of this.”

However, Yohan continued, “Strangely enough, the monsters they led seemed to have a purpose.

It was as if they were trying to annihilate the unit in the south.”

Upon finishing his words, Yohan’s expression hardened.

High-ranking officials.

The prince’s favor.

The hidden mastermind behind this incident.

He had provided all the information.

If it were Fedelian, he would surely understand the meaning behind these words.

“…I see. So there’s a civil servant colluding with the mages.”

“That’s correct.”

Fedelian’s complexion darkened.

A smile crept onto Yohan’s lips.

“Isn’t it truly foolish? To conspire with mages in an empire where the heavens are watching. Surely, it won’t end well for them.”

“I think so. Someday, they will pay for their sins. I hope the one who plotted this is aware of that.”

Yohan grinned as he continued speaking.

“I won’t be reporting this to higher-ups. I believe you will handle it well, Captain.”

At this moment, Fedelian became convinced.

Yohan Harssen—he knew that he had conspired with the mages in this incident.

“…Understood. You may rest now.”

“04.”

Yohan politely bowed and exited the tent.

Fedelian watched his back as he left, resting his chin on his hand and narrowing his eyes.

‘He definitely knows that I orchestrated this.’

But he had no idea how he found out.

He hadn’t shown any signs of discontent towards him at all.

The only person who knew about the collusion with the mages was Rudella Bismarck.

Rudella Bismarck? No. There was no chance she would betray him.

She loves him more than anyone else.

That’s what he learned.

She would never do that.

‘How… how did he reach the answer?’

Fedelian’s complexion darkened even further.

‘If this continues, I’ll have to be cautious for a while.’

If he acted recklessly, he might get caught.

Fedelian nodded slightly.

A soft sound came as a figure emerged from the corner of the tent.

“Did you call for me?”

“Kill all the mages who colluded this time.”

“Yes.”

Rustle.

The man dressed in a black robe disappeared without a sound.

“Yohan Harssen. I will definitely have to kill you someday.”

Fedelian’s blue eyes gleamed ominously.

“And I need to hurry before Francia completely falls for that man.”

That night, on the road heading to the southern cave, the forest, turned white under the moonlight, was filled with a quiet and cold air.

Everything—trees, soil, and rocks—was frozen, and the ground was covered in ice.

Officials and knights had come to collect the corpses and the monster’s soul stones.

The soldiers were in shock and unable to move.

“…Is this the scene of the battle?”

“It’s magic… Ice Freeze.”

“Just looking at it, it’s clear that this is significant information.”

This forest, aptly described as a frozen world, was covered in shining white ice, and everything that existed was trapped in the ice, unable to move.

Whooosh!

The cold wind penetrated to the bone, and a heavy chill pressed down on him, as if he had fallen into the depths of the sea.

“Is this what all high-ranking mages can do?”

“Well, it’s not often we see their full power.”

An official picked up an ice crystal lying on the ground.

“Still, this doesn’t seem to be at the level of a high-ranking mage. It could be an Initial Projection.”

“If it’s Initial Projection…”

“Exactly. It’s projecting one’s mental image onto the world and changing the environment itself.”

Magic that projects one’s mental image onto reality.

It is one of the miracles that transcendental mages, the next step beyond high-ranking mages, can perform.

“I wonder if a significant figure has entered the Second Department.”

The officials and knights continued to move forward.

Upon reaching the cave entrance, they discovered a corpse.

“…Deputy Commander.”

It was Terses Galectico.

He was frozen and stiff under the ice.

“I hope you go to a good place.”

The official placed a handkerchief over his frozen face to cover it and removed the dog tag hanging around his neck.

“…What a peculiar reconnaissance of the cave this time.”

It was a day that made him crave a cigarette.

Due to exhaustion from mana depletion, Yohan went into the barracks to rest.

According to the medic’s examination, he needed sleep, so he issued a prescription prohibiting access to outsiders, except for caregivers.

Francia, unable to stay still, brought a chair and waited under the moonlight in front of Yohan’s sleeping barracks.

A man approached and spoke.

“…What is your relationship with him?”

It was Cassis Renokhonen.

Francia threw out her words without making eye contact.

“You have no right to know.”

“Are you lovers?”

“I told you, you have no right to know.”

Francia glared at Cassis with rising irritation.

Cassis’s eyes, meeting hers, curved with a smile.

The amethyst-colored eyes reflecting the moonlight shimmered.

“Now you’re finally looking this way.”

“I’m not used to saying things like this, but…”

Cassis awkwardly smiled and turned his gaze away.

“I want to maintain a good relationship with you, Princess Ferbache.”

“How did you know I’m Princess Ferbache?”

“I happened to overhear it while walking behind you in the morning.”

“Are you following me now? That’s quite unpleasant.”

Cassis’s body shuddered. Earlier, he had shown endless kindness and softness towards that man, but now he only saw this thorny side from her.

Yet, strangely, it felt thrilling. This unfamiliar feeling made Cassis’s nape tremble.

“I apologize for any discomfort I’ve caused you. I hope you remember that… it was never my intention.”

“Ah, yes.”

Francia left a brief reply and quickly turned her head.

That coldness and disdain dug deeper into Cassis’s heart.

“I’ve never found it this difficult to deal with a woman before.”

Although he was called a ruthless warrior without mercy, he was also a man admired by many women for his face and charming eyes.

So dealing with women was usually simple and straightforward.

They were always favorable to him.

However, the woman before him—Princess Ferbache—harbored no favor towards him.

But that fact made her all the more appealing.

“Perhaps we’ll have another chance to meet.”

“Francia.”

Before Cassis could finish his sentence, someone called her name.

He reflexively turned his head towards the sound.

It was Yohan Harssen, the special mage.

“Oh, are you awake already?”

“Yes. I have a knack for recovering mana.”

Yohan smiled gently at Francia and then turned his gaze towards Cassis.

His eyes were icy.

“Nice to meet you, Special Knight Renokhonen. I am Special Mage Harssen.”

“……So you know me.”

“You’re famous, so it’s only natural.”

Yohan said this and stiffened his expression.

Cassis could sense the feelings he held towards him.

Wariness.

He quickly realized why that man was wary of him.

“Is it because I approached Princess Ferbache?”

They were indeed lovers.

…It’s quite annoying.

Cassis’s amethyst-colored eyes darkened.

Jealousy flared up within him.

“How dare you take a woman who should be mine…?”

Crack.

His teeth clenched.

Thud. The veins bulged in his tightly clenched fists.

The desire for slaughter began to surge within him, but he couldn’t act on it now.

Barely controlling his desire, Cassis forced an awkward smile and offered a polite greeting.

“…I hope you recover well.”

Someday, I’ll be the one to cut you down.