Chapter 119. Humanity(2)

Though possessing ample prior knowledge, real-world experience was not something I had in abundance. Nevertheless, I believed I had somewhat adapted.

However, when the thought struck me that the 'demon' was a picky eater, I couldn't help but let out a dumbfounded, awkward laugh.

"What seems to be the problem?"

In response to its exceedingly human-like behavior, I began to treat 'Sombra' as a distinct personality.

The entity slithered out once more and approached the Soul Stone of 'Idel'.

The sight of it trying to forcibly eat was almost commendable...

Thud. Rolling away.

The Soul Stone spat out by Sombra rolled into a corner of the office.

Was it my imagination, or did it seem as if Sombra was spitting it out with a 'ptooey' gesture?

"... This is ridiculous."

Sombra still couldn't maintain its form.

The words "I'm doing this for your own good" nearly escaped my lips but I decided not to say it; after all, I wasn't this creature's parent.

Regardless, if I could not use 'Sombra', it would pose an issue for my future plans.

Sombra was my weapon, my shield, and a mask to hide my identity.

"If you don't eat the Soul Stone, then... hmm?"

Turning my head inadvertently, I caught sight of the Soul Stone of Idel that Sombra had spat out.

The stone, which emanated an ominous aura, seemed to stir its demonic energy more fiercely after passing through Sombra's mouth.

'What...?'

Surprised by the unusual response, I hesitantly approached it, and its peculiar aura doubled.

However, it wasn't beyond control.

The 'demonic energy' was something I could manipulate to a degree, thanks to the trait of the 〈Demon King's Vessel〉.

Upon picking it up, a more intense vibration was transferred to me.

'It's rejecting me.'

Instinctively, I realized. This Soul Stone was rejecting me – more precisely, rejecting 'Yulian'.

Had it been just an ordinary Soul Stone, I might have questioned it, but this was the one belonging to 'Idel Hyrans.'

As the sole survivor of a family annihilated by Yulian's hands, it was only natural that strong resentment resided in it.

'Could the experiences accumulated in life affect the Soul Stone afterward?'

How amusing.

'A desire for revenge. If not in life, then in death.'

Is that it?

"If it truly held such powerful resentment, it wouldn't have ended up as this small stone in my hand."

A meaningless monologue.

Yet, I could only laugh at the soul of 'Idel', still unable to let go of the resolve for 'vengeance' even after turning into a stone.

My thoughts aligned with 'Yulian's,' albeit with a different directional approach.

I simply sought alternatives to becoming a demon, whereas 'Yulian' was driven by a disdainful habit of looking down on others.

"This explains why Sombra is rejecting it."

I put the Soul Stone back where it belonged.

Since I couldn't use it, it might create problems if someone else saw it.

Though I lost the opportunity to use Idel's Soul Stone, being nothing more than a stone, it might find use someday.

"Then, where should I search?"

Muttering to myself, I reached for the watering can I had set on the office table.

It was almost time to water the plants.

***

While watering the orchids, I halted upon spotting a nostalgic name.

'Angelica.'

The exceptionally beautiful and well-grown one.

Because of that, I still couldn't bring myself to discard its name tag.

Seeing the empty spot where the plant, beyond saving due to severely damaged roots, once stood, a bitter taste began to spread across my tongue.

'Come to think of it...'

Angelica had died due to 'Joshua's' reckless actions.

Specifically, it was the mage who stormed in alongside him.

Damn them.

In any case, I need a Soul Stone to heal Sombra.

'Ah! There was one with the Cryphart family.'

A relic of Yulian's mother, Milena.

Currently entrusted to Cryphart's third son, Herand, yet the ownership of that item still belonged to me.

'Since Idel's Soul Stone is rejecting me, I'll have to use that one.'

I thought it best to arrange a meeting with Herand as soon as possible.

Knock, knock!

As I continued watering the orchids, I turned my head at the sound of knocking.

When I invited the person in, a familiar face entered.

A member of the Dawn Society and the apprentice of 'Blind Eyes', Lazlot.

"What's the current atmosphere in the royal family?"

The reason I summoned him was to gain a brief understanding of the internal situation within the royal family.

I knew that due to Aiden's death not being officially reported and his status being listed as missing, the royal family had launched an investigation.

"During that process, a minor discovery regarding the circumstances of Aiden's human experiments has led the Magic Tower to also cooperate in the investigation."

"Hmm."

I let out a short groan.

To think Aiden's disappearance would be reported so quickly, and illegal experimentation discovered.

'It seems Aileen has taken action.'

It would have been easier had she kept her mouth shut.

Her rigid adherence to principles would surely burden me with unnecessary troubles.

"The Donatien family is in a big predicament. A family head candidate engaging in such actions... and the person in question being missing, no less – what a headache!"

As I laughed shortly, Lazlot made a bizarre expression, caught between laughter and tears, as the 'Color of Fear' swirled above his head.

"Indeed, indeed..."

"But, Lazlot, there's something I'm curious about."

"Yes, feel free to ask."

"I heard recently that 'Blind Eyes' has been tracking the Dawn Society; is that true?"

"Ah..."

Lazlot let out a short sigh.

"While it's something I heard from whispers here and there, it's a bit fishy that, as someone under 'Blind Eyes', I'm unaware of it."

This is a significant issue.

'Yulian' is the face and banner of 'Blind Eyes', yet without any word or report to me, they're investigating the 'Dawn Society'?

Could it be that the royal family, suspecting me as part of the 'Dawn Society', has excluded me from the investigation?

"In actuality, we are investigating, but since it's not a large-scale operation, commander Ordwin probably hasn't mentioned it."

Hmm, I see.

True, though I am the 'face', the commander of 'Blind Eyes' is still Ordwin Valadir.

"Moreover, the Dawn Society isn't exactly a publicly known organization."

"Madmen dreaming of the Demon God's resurrection. It truly is a realm fit for banishment."

At my cutting criticism, Lazlot awkwardly grinned and diverted his gaze elsewhere.

"By the way, who is the member in charge of the Dawn Society investigation?"

"Yes?"

"I'm simply curious."

It wouldn't hurt to know a name.

Not that I intend to betray 'Blind Eyes', but since Archbishop Terenalon personally inquired about his involvement, it's wise to be informed.

"It's Fern. Previously part of the Azure Lion Knights."

"Hmm..."

Fern, huh? That could be problematic.

The individual is rather notable among 'Blind Eyes', so it's possible 'Dawn Society' has someone watching over him.

'Well, being a former member of the Azure Lion Knights, he should at least know how to protect himself.'

Even if the investigation into the 'Dawn Society' proceeds, how will they navigate through such deep, dense darkness?

Given the entangled nobles, a wrong move and personal harm might ensue.

For example,

'Despite the incident involving Aiden, not a word connects to the Dawn Society.'

The influence exerted by the Dawn Society over the empire is significantly evident.

"If Fern exhibits odd actions, try to stop him."

"... I doubt a former Azure Lion Knight would heed a novice like me."

"Then tell him I said so."

At my words, Lazlot nodded as if he agreed.

If he wouldn't listen to a novice, perhaps he'd listen to me.

I am, after all, someone of higher rank.

'If I say jump, you jump.'

A phrase well-loved by knights.

***

Joshua reflected upon the events with Corund, mired in thought.

'To think Sir Corund would react so fervently...'

Though he couldn't ascertain the direct cause, Joshua had an inkling.

It was when the name 'Yulian' was mentioned that such a reaction was provoked.

While the support from the 'Cryphart family' and the backing from the noble council were tempting, in Corund's eyes, they couldn't compare to the reputation of that urbanely heartless man.

Walking down the mansion's corridor, Joshua paused upon hearing murmurs from the drawing room.

"Elder brother Hubert, just how much did you drink last night?"

"Ugh... Shut up and just get me some water."

Inside, the hungover second son, Hubert, and third son, Herand, were conversing.

'... Tsk, foolish fool.'

Clicking his tongue at Hubert, Joshua glanced at Herand's troubled face before heading back to his room.

'Damn it, why is Brother Herand protecting that maniac!?'

The deeper his thoughts went, the more Joshua grew to resent the third son, Herand, who had stood by 'Yulian' during the previous family meeting.

Never once mentioned as a candidate for family head, lacking power, and indifferent to the title, Herand was someone Joshua respected and treated well.

Yet, all Herand returned was support for 'Yulian'.

"Ugh... Ah, forget it."

Attempting to vent the frustration bottled within him, he refrained due to caution, expelling a sigh instead.

As the heir to the family, vulgar expressions were to be avoided, as instructed by Ornn.

Additionally, regardless of anything else, Joshua refrained from speaking ill of Herand.

After the first and second brothers diverged within the family, it was Herand, striving relentlessly as a proud member of the Cryphart family, whose efforts Joshua could not deride.

Scenes of Herand being scolded by Ornn as the second brother hurled curses were still vivid in Joshua's mind.

He merely sought to do whatever he could for the family's sake.

"I suppose elder brother has his thoughts, but... huh?"

Feeling the mounting bustle within the mansion, Joshua assessed its cause.

The Cryphart family is one of the four great families.

Though living comparably frugally for a great family, they owned a mansion befitting noble stature in its grandeur.

The chaos spreading throughout such a vast mansion signified the arrival of a very important guest.

Swiftly dressing himself and rushing to the entrance, Joshua soon caught sight of a carriage embellished with the Cryphart family crest intricately woven in gold alongside the 'Noble Council' emblem.

Screech!

As the door opened, a stubborn and composed elderly gentleman emerged, and Joshua, showing a bright smile, politely greeted him.

"Grandfather Ornn!"

Raising his voice intentionally by a tone.

The knowledge that such a gesture pleased his grandfather played to Joshua's cunning laughter.

"My, my, my, my dear pup!"

Descending from the carriage was Ornn, the previous head of the Cryphart family.

Upon spotting Joshua's face, a beaming smile began to spread on the otherwise solemn visage of Ornn.

"How did you know to arrive right as I did? Given the sudden nature of my visit, you could not have been informed!"

"Ah, do I need a notice to tell that grandfather is visiting?"

"You little rascal, speaking like that! Come, give your dear old grandfather a hug!"

"Ah, I'm really getting too old for that now."

Joshua's polite refusal, accompanied by a small laugh, had the coachman and the servants slightly tense up.

Ornn was renowned for his authoritative personality within the family.

Joshua, well aware of this, countered that tense atmosphere with a broad grin, stepping forward by one more pace.

'He permits a slight challenge to his authority, albeit solely from those he favors.'

Uncertain if Ornn perceived it as daring, Joshua played along with Ornn's disposition appropriately.

"Bwahaha, it seems our little pup has grown up quite a bit!"

'As expected.'

Joshua laughed to himself, having hit the nail on the head with his scheme.

"Yet, where's the rest of the family? To think only the youngest, Joshua, would welcome me upon arrival..."

"Well, elder brother Hubert and elder brother Herand are present, however..."

"Pfft, those worthless idiots."

Upon the abrupt coldness of Ornn's tone, in stark contrast to the manner previously directed at him, Joshua flinched.

"Anyway, Herand is inside, yes?"

'Yes.'

Joshua intended to answer thus but hesitated after meeting Ornn's eyes.

A blaze seeming ready to ignite flickered within Ornn's eyes, causing Joshua to intuitively sense it.

"Uh, um..."

A strange uneasiness welled up, leaving Joshua with a hunch that 'something might occur to Brother Herand today.'

"I just returned from dealing with business at the academy, so I'm not fully aware myself. It's not like I'm that close to my brothers."

Understanding this, Joshua decided to lie.

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