"……I'm truly sorry, Master."
In the end, after all that.
There were plenty of things that needed doing — but everyone was in unanimous agreement that letting Ermes rest was the top priority.
With more than a little coercion, they all worked together to force Ermes into bed. The gaps in their defenses left by his absence were properly covered by other personnel.
Among those who helped were… the Northern soldiers as well. They might not have reached a conclusion quickly, but even they clearly had thoughts about the matter.
And as for Ermes himself, the fact remained that he had accumulated an enormous amount of fatigue, so he obediently complied with their demands, recovering to a reasonable degree after several hours of sleep.
When he awoke, Liliana was sitting by his bedside. With a guilty look on her face, she spoke the words she had just said.
She then continued.
"I keep telling myself I can't just rely on Master, and yet here I am like this. And once again, I've pushed the hardest role onto Master alone… I truly…"
"No, I bear some responsibility for this as well. There's no reason for you alone to shoulder the blame, Lili…"
Ermes stopped mid-sentence, recalling the words Liliana had just spoken — words that, in a sense, defined her royal path forward. With a warm smile that celebrated her growth as his disciple, he continued.
"……More than anything. You found it, didn't you? The path that your magic should take?"
"! Yes, of course!"
Liliana's eyes lit up at his words.
"I've been thinking and worrying… I caused you concern, but I'm alright now."
"……Yes."
She said it straight from the heart. Prompted by Ermes' gentle gaze, she wove her words together — about the path she had chosen, the path she would walk.
"Among the things I learned as a member of the royal family, there was the field of 'history.' It is the study of compiling and systematizing the footprints of past figures, using them as reference for one's own steps forward."
"Yes, I know a fair amount about it myself."
"If we look at things from that perspective…"
After a slightly unusual preamble, Liliana declared what she had come to understand — her own insight, gained through everything she had experienced.
"Master will most likely become a great figure of the 'Pioneer' type."
"Whether I'm a great figure aside… a pioneer, you say?"
"Yes. Someone who possesses exceptional talent that sets them apart from all others, who uses that power to carve out new paths. Someone who arrives first at places no one else has ever reached."
"……"
"People like that… because of the way they are. They are often not understood by those around them. Their way of life is twisted, or they are cast out by others… that is what I learned."
……And that was precisely what he had nearly fallen into.
And surely, it was the very historical pitfall that his own master had fallen into.
Understanding all of this, she continued.
"——So, I will not let that happen."
Liliana said it straight and true.
"So that Master can continue forward without being twisted, without straying.
I will maintain the path that Master has carved out. Even if I can't catch up to Master, I will make it so that everyone — as many people as possible — can follow in Master's footsteps. That will surely become this country's future, and… more than anything, I want as many people as possible to know how wonderful Master truly is!"
She said it with such clarity, with such a radiant smile. And then, at the end:
"And… I believe it is because of that purpose that I inherited this magic. Now, I can see it that way."
She activated the Primal Inscription, and declared a different way of using Creation Magic — the way he had taught her, distinct from his own.
"……"
Ermes also pictured the future she described.
He would not be able to stop seeking out new magic. Like Liliana, creating magic was who he was.
So surely… he would continue forward, just as she said. Even if no one followed. No matter how lonely it felt.
But.
If there were people who would chase after the path he walked — if there were many who would walk alongside him toward what lay beyond magic.
That would be… something truly wonderful, he thought.
"……Yes. I look forward to it."
At his untroubled words, Liliana's eyes lit up once more.
"Then please, leave it to me! I'm no longer the Liliana who just hides in Master's shadow, who only knows how to cling. In fact, rather——"
She placed a hand over her chest with a pleased expression, then took a breath.
"——from now on, I will be the one to spoil Master!"
……She had said something rather outrageous.
"……Huh?"
"As thanks and as penance for all the worry I caused! Isn't it a disciple's duty to take care of their master in the first place? Even if I am royalty, I don't think I should neglect that!"
"Well, that—"
In a way, it was very childlike.
With a rather extreme conviction, Liliana rattled on, leaning her youthful, beautiful face uncomfortably close.
"Now then, just say the word, Master! Anything I can do, I'll do it — anything you want, anything you'd like me to do! F-for instance——"
And then, for some reason.
Liliana flushed red, threw both hands wide open in front of her, and declared:
"——You can use me as a body pillow, if you like!"
…………
……Let's try to sort through this, since the conversation has gone off the rails in several directions.
"……First of all, where did that idea even come from?"
"I-I heard it from Katia! She said — Master's own master used to treat Master that way often!"
So the root cause was Rose.
"I-Is that not the case?"
"No… I'm sorry, but that is entirely, completely accurate…"
"Then there's no reason to hold back! If Master received such enviable — err — such enviable treatment, then I, as Master's disciple, surely have the right to do the same!"
She was clearly trying to mask what she really wanted and failing utterly. In the end:
"Or… is it that you don't want… me to…?"
She asked with those incredibly hard-to-refuse, upward-glancing eyes.
"…………Well…"
She was probably running wild due to guilt over how much of a burden she had placed on him over the past while.
Her thoughtfulness itself was welcome, but her methods were extremely extreme. As he was wondering how to respond—
"——Lili. Ermes looks troubled."
"Hya!?"
A hand reached from behind and firmly pulled Liliana back — with a strength that conveyed something beyond just one person's will. The owner of that hand was—
"There you are, Katia! I was simply attempting a perfectly proper master-disciple exchange, and you're rudely interrupting with your own selfish motives!"
"……That applies equally to you, Lili."
"What was that pause just about?!"
After that indescribable — yet by no means hostile — exchange—
"Ermes, you're awake. …Are you feeling alright?"
"Yes, thank you for your concern."
He gave a slight bow to Katia, who had come over to check on him, and answered concisely.
And with Katia's arrival providing a moment of relief, Ermes rose from the bed.
"Wait, Master! You should still be resting…"
"No, I truly appreciate the concern, but… I'm fine. Besides—"
Liliana raised her voice, and Katia also looked at him with worry.
But short of actual combat, he had recovered enough to be fine for the rest of the day. Moreover… given the current situation, he couldn't afford to just keep resting.
Having made that assessment, Ermes made it clear he had no intention of pushing himself too hard, then spoke to the two in a calm tone.
"Liliana. Katia. There's something I'd like to confirm, so if possible, could you take me there?
And after that — it would help if you could gather everyone."
◆
And so.
After Ermes had finished confirming a certain matter, guided by Liliana and Katia — both of whom were fussing over his condition — he made his way to the familiar meeting room.
"Ermes!"
"You're up already. How's the fatigue?"
The ones who called out to him upon entering were Sara and Albert. He conveyed to both of them that he was fine, then surveyed the meeting room.
Present were the full Liliana faction — the two of them plus Yurugen — and—
"I apologize for intruding, Lord Ermes."
"…………"
Knight Commander Toa and… one of the captains who had been attacking Ermes' group until just earlier. The man wore an awkward expression, but properly gave a bow. …At least, he clearly had no intention of causing a scene here.
"I gave these two permission to sit in as well. …Given what you're about to discuss, it will probably be more convenient with them present?"
"……Yes. That would be helpful, Your Grace."
As expected, Ermes bowed his head in thanks for Yurugen's explanation of having brought the two of them, and took his seat. His expression was as composed as ever.
"……First, I apologize for the trouble I've caused."
He offered his apology. Fortunately, just as with Katia and the others, there was nothing particularly to blame him for. And then:
"Furthermore — we have obtained results that justify the hardship."
At his unhurried words, a murmur rippled through the room.
Everyone present had an inkling of what those 'results' might entail.
Ermes considered for a moment where to begin… then decided this was the place, even though it slightly deviated from the main thread.
"……The first thing I want to speak on is the matter of Niina — and the state of the captains who were attacked by Niina."
"!"
Toa and the captain reacted.
Before the visibly uneasy pair, Ermes continued:
"First… as you may know, there is no danger to their lives. While the blood loss is significant, there are no deep wounds, and with Sara's magic, a return to the front lines should be possible in the near future."
After describing their condition — which had likely been 'intentionally arranged' — he cut in with a single, decisive statement:
"And—
Upon all of them—
Traces of brainwashing magic
Cast by the
Archbishop
Were discovered."
"——!"
"What did you say…?!"
Toa and the captain's eyes went wide.
The others showed their own shock, though perhaps not as severe, as Ermes continued:
"From the traces, we couldn't determine the exact direction of the brainwashing or thought alteration… but we can make a reasonable estimate of how they were modified."
"——Ah."
The captain let out a sound.
He was searching his memory — recalling, with unmistakable clarity, what he himself had said. Specifically:
'And get this! The three captains who were taken out — they were
the ones who
opposed allying with you
right up to the
very end!'
Words that were maximally damaging to Ermes and his allies.
Leaving the stunned pair for the moment, Yurugen posed a question.
"……This is your assessment. I'm not doubting you, but—"
"Yes."
"But if that's the case… are you saying you 'didn't notice'? That you, of all people, didn't notice? No, I'm not blaming you, but—"
"……No. You're welcome to blame me."
Ermes answered with genuine remorse.
……This was yet another example of the Archbishop's cunning.
The first instance of his cleverness was keeping their thought alterations to a degree that wouldn't seem 'abnormal.' Even if the content was 'refuse to cooperate with Ermes under any circumstances'… in that situation, it wouldn't have seemed impossible. That made it difficult to deduce anything unusual from their behavior.
The second was the first encounter — the fact that he 'showed them Lucius.'
Johann had likely anticipated that Ermes would notice the Bloodline Magic at that scene. Taking that into account, he deliberately showed Lucius — someone whose brainwashing was clearly apparent through magic perception — thereby planting in Ermes the preconception that 'brainwashed individuals are obvious at a glance.'
Exploiting that mental blind spot, the three captains — people whose magical effects had been suppressed to a level hard to detect — became invisible.
……Even so.
If Ermes had observed carefully and thoroughly, with his extraordinary perceptive abilities, he should have noticed.
——If only he had been able to observe with care and in detail.
"That's why they made sure I couldn't do that."
That was the third measure.
"By cornering me and deepening the rift with the soldiers, they sealed off my ability to approach or examine them closely. And if the soldiers also wouldn't actively engage with me… it becomes only natural that there would be no opportunity for discovery whatsoever."
Even if, at that moment, Ermes had said 'I suspect brainwashing — please allow me to examine them' — the soldiers would almost certainly have refused.
By making the relationship that hostile… and by pushing Ermes into such a desperate state that he had no room to spare, the trap was laid without the slightest awareness.
No matter what Ermes and his allies tried, a certain number of opposing voices were guaranteed, and full cooperation was thoroughly denied from the soldiers' side.
——It created a situation where 'there was absolutely no way out, no matter what.'
"…………"
Silence fell over the room at the shocking revelation.
The one who broke it was — the captain himself.
"……What a damn joke…"
There was fury in his voice, in his expression.
Not directed at Ermes and his allies — but a tremendous rage at his own inadequacy.
Yes. Because if what Ermes said was true—
"So that's it, huh. From the very start, we were — being used by that Archbishop bastard to corner you. We were in the palm of his hand the whole damn time…!"
"……Yes."
Ermes did not offer words of comfort.
He could see from the man's face that comfort was not what he wanted.
——Indeed. If the Archbishop had the composure to turn three captains into unnoticed pawns, then crushing the Harvest territory's soldiers alone would have been trivially easy — and by now, anyone could see that.
"To that son of a bitch, we were always nothing but disposable trash that could be dealt with whenever! From the beginning, we were just being toyed with…! Damn it, to hell…!"
The man had his own pride and self-assurance — that he was protecting this place, that he had been protecting it.
Learning that all of it was a sham — it was no wonder he reacted this way. That much was clear from the face of Knight Commander Toa, biting his lip beside him.
Nothing more could be said.
They simply chewed on their bitterness in silence.
……They would need some time. Having made that judgment, Ermes turned his attention elsewhere.
"……Ermes. Then what about—"
It was Katia who spoke next.
Building on what had just been discussed, she confirmed the fact she had realized.
"Then Niina was, after all—"
"Yes. — Niina is on our side."
Ermes stated this firmly.
……If Niina hadn't taken down those three captains during the ambush, he would never have discovered the truth — and worse, with individuals who wouldn't cooperate no matter what the reasoning, Liliana's desperate persuasion might not have been enough to hold things together. Who knew what would have happened.
"Niina also — I'll explain how later — somehow realized what was going on. She likely cooperated within the limits of not directly defying the Archbishop's orders that she was being made to follow."
"!"
Joy filled the faces of Liliana's schoolmates.
They hadn't exactly believed Niina was an enemy before, but having one concrete piece of evidence that she was on their side clearly put them at ease.
And — this was where the main topic began.
"Now then, taking into account both the captains' situation and Niina's—"
Ermes looked around the room with conviction.
"——The Archbishop. How he was able to corner us so thoroughly. Why he can wield such incomprehensible power.
Based on our continued analysis and verification, we have formed a hypothesis. Allow me to explain — regarding the Archbishop's 'indefinable' technique."
Tension filled the room at the revelation of what they most wanted to know.
And Ermes — calmly, without emotion — spoke the truth.