Chapter 301 : Chapter 301

Chapter 301. Who Is the Heretic (3)

‘What ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍is that man doing?’

Gillian, ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍who had been lowering his eyes pitifully, slowly changed his expression once Armandy left.

A ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍dark glint flashed in his eyes.

How ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍dare he give me advice.

And ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍from a mere first-year academy student, no less!

He ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍had gotten through the situation with seasoned social maneuvering, but his teeth ground together.

Who did that boy think he was?

A priest of the Supreme Deity Order, and an executive of the Black Order.

A capable loyal servant of Asmodeus who had even corrupted high-ranking bishops.

For someone like him, this situation was simply unbelievable.

‘This is all because of the 8th Prince!’

The moment he thought of the 8th Prince, it felt as though pain stabbed through his eyes.

A burning, searing sensation.

He clenched his jaw.

The memory of being exposed with the demonic inscription last night resurfaced vividly.

***

The evening of the second day of the festival.

FLASH!

A vivid inscription appeared in his eyes.

Tears streamed down Gillian’s face as the mark proving his contract with a great demon surfaced in his pupils.

Perhaps what poured out from his eyes was holy water.

Whether it was tears or holy water did not matter.

Gillian was a seasoned traitor.

Someone who used everything that could be used.

Gillian let his head droop limply.

His body trembled like a soaked puppy.

It was behavior that naturally stirred sympathy in anyone watching.

Seeing that, the 8th Prince removed the gag from Gillian’s mouth.

“It is all over now…….”

Gillian deliberately let tears fall and muttered in a sorrowful voice.

Even knowing he was a heretic, there was a pitifulness that made one want to hear his story at least once.

Gillian’s lips trembled as if he had some tragic backstory to tell.

“Since it has come to this, I will tell you everything. Why I ended up like this. It was when I was ten years old that I first encountered darkness…….”

“That will not be necessary.”

“……At that time, I was very devout—pardon?”

Gillian was startled when Radel cut off his story without hesitation.

This trick had never failed on ordinary people before!

“You do not need to speak. I am not curious about your past, Brother.”

No matter what, never listen to the words of demon worshipers.

That was a rule inquisitors followed to avoid being swayed by heretics.

Did he not say he was eighteen?

Then what was with that level of composure?

The 8th Prince was acting exactly like a well-trained inquisitor.

“You must have had your reasons for selling your soul. That is irrelevant.”

Gillian swallowed hard.

At this rate, he would clearly be dragged off to the temple.

He needed to buy time somehow.

“Th-then let me ask just one thing. How did you know that I am a servant of Lord Asmodeus?”

Those who contracted with great demons bore demonic inscriptions somewhere on their bodies.

Belphegor marked the foot.

Leviathan marked the abdomen.

Asmodeus marked the eyes.

If holy water had been sprinkled anywhere other than his eyes, Gillian could have pretended nothing was wrong.

But the moment the 8th Prince caught him, he poured holy water directly onto his pupils.

He clearly knew something.

Radel merely shrugged calmly.

“I was surprised as well. I thought some dust had gotten into your eyes, so I just put in some holy water.”

Gillian’s pupils wavered.

Perhaps the 8th Prince was far more formidable than he had anticipated.

“……Then how did you know that I was after the pouch?”

“You kept following me. Among the things I was carrying, that pouch was the only thing that was not mine.”

Radel added with a look of regret.

“You could have simply asked for it. I was planning to put up a notice to find the owner anyway.”

He is no ordinary man.

Gillian’s tears dried up instantly.

The 8th Prince revealed none of his own information, acting as though everything had been mere coincidence.

At a loss for words, Gillian’s mouth opened and closed.

“Are you finished with your questions?”

Before getting to the main point, Radel casually checked the Quest Window.

Ding.

You have come to doubt the true identity of Gillian Gard, a servant of the Supreme Deity.

His suspicious pouch, belonging to a man who offered his soul to Asmodeus, is now in your possession.

Gillian Gard seeks to retrieve his lost pouch from you.

Persuade him and extract information.

‘Persuade?’

Radel grinned.

There was no need to coax or soothe him like that.

Especially not in a situation like this.

‘I was going to ambush him first anyway. This works out even better.’

How convenient that he came on his own.

Just in case, Radel had brought Tunia, Gusto, and even Inette, fully prepared.

Now that he had even secured proof of heresy, there was only one option left.

Blackmail.

“Now it is my turn to ask questions.”

Radel rubbed his hands together.

Before him lay a talented individual who was both a heretic and skilled at Heal.

He had no intention of letting such a useful worker slip away.

“You would do well to answer properly. I intend to apply eye drops every time you say something unnecessary.”

And behind Radel, someone was horrified.

Unable to interfere after losing to Gusto, she stared at his terrifying words with her mouth agape.

‘That is just holy water torture!’

Inette found it difficult to tell which of them was more demonic…….

***

It was the final day of the Academy Autumn Festival.

“Huh?”

“So we meet here.”

Professor Marianne and Professor Lillian ran into each other in front of the first-year zone.

As professors representing major disciplines of the academy, both were supervising student booths.

Yet strangely, each of them was holding something.

One had fried chicken, and the other had iced coffee.

Professor Lillian pointed at Professor Marianne and shouted.

“What is that? Are you telling me an elf is eating chicken?”

“Abandon the prejudice that elves are vegetarians.”

Professor Marianne replied in disbelief.

To her, Professor Lillian’s behavior was even more absurd.

“More importantly, did you not say you absolutely could not drink coffee during faculty meetings?”

“What? That cannot be true.”

“It certainly is. We changed meeting locations several times because of you. You made such a fuss, yet now you drink it just fine.”

Professor Lillian puffed out her cheeks.

“Coffee is bitter. But this one is not bitter at all. Student Radel added syrup for me.”

“You are not a child…….”

“Abandon your prejudices. Adults like sweet flavors too, you know?”

After the brief sparks between them, Professor Marianne sighed.

“Anyway, now we know that Radel is even making iced coffee.”

“The Combat Magic major booth was also selling butter-grilled squid.”

“I think I saw him at the Cryptozoology booth earlier.”

“Exactly. Does Student Radel have five bodies or something?”

By now, even the professors who coveted Radel during the Academy Autumn Festival were at a loss for words.

Radel was participating in every first-year major booth without rest.

And he was not merely showing his face, but actually working properly.

He had even successfully run the Integrated Major booth.

Despite being a major with only two people, Radel’s skillful rotation ensured that manpower was constantly replenished.

An unprecedented success for a first-year booth.

Usually, fourth-year senior booths were the most popular, but not at this festival.

At that moment, someone holding a sign passed by the professors.

He planted the sign into the ground and shouted at the crowd.

“Please wait! Entry is only allowed up to this point!”

“Already? It is not even time yet!”

“Yes, since it is the final day and there are many people waiting, we have no choice. Thank you for your understanding!”

Popular enough that people were lining up.

The professors naturally read the words written on the sign.

‘Spirit Counseling Center! Life’s answers revealed by the Spirit of Knowledge!’

Professor Lillian spoke while chewing on her chicken.

“It is Student Radel again.”

“Indeed.”

“He is popular.”

“It is not even surprising anymore.”

Professor Marianne nodded.

In the history of the academy, there had never been a first-year like this.

***

The first-year Summoning Magic major booth.

Inside the counseling center where the Spirit of Knowledge provided answers, a loud scolding rang out.

“Tsk! If you are going to be like this, get out!”

“N-no, I apologize for my slip of the tongue, Spirit!”

“You cannot do this, you cannot do that! Then what exactly do you plan to do!?”

The Spirit of the Library fluttered its pages, moving violently up and down.

The customer in front of it clasped his hands together, begging desperately.

“Still, is there truly no way?”

“Heh heh, beg more.”

“Pardon?”

“I said beg more! Then perhaps a better idea will come to this great one! Heh heh!”

It was clearly enjoying itself.

The Spirit of the Library flew around energetically while scolding people.

Despite the nonstop stream of visitors that poured in the moment the counseling center opened, it did not seem tired at all.

“So many people are coming. Are you not exhausted?”

“Hmph, it is a bit tiring. But what can be done? There is no other spirit capable of doing this.”

Its voice sounded refreshed, as if built-up stress had been released.

Radel seized the moment and spoke quickly.

“In fact, I have a concern as well.”

“What concern could you possibly have?”

The Spirit of the Library narrowed its eyes.

Its gaze was filled with suspicion that someone like him could not possibly have worries.

But Radel was serious.

“I truly do. I need to persuade someone, but it is not easy.”

He was certain he had seized Gillian’s weakness.

He knew his true identity and even had evidence.

Yet Radel had not completed the quest.

Seeing that Radel was genuinely troubled, the Spirit of the Library tossed out a suggestion.

“Did you blackmail him?”

“How did you know…….”

The Spirit of the Library clicked its tongue.

Given Radel’s usual methods, it was easy to guess.

‘Even so, for persuasion not to work on someone like him……?’

Then there was only one answer.

The Spirit of the Library spoke solemnly.

“Show it through action.”

“Through action…… you say?”

“Yes. That is the answer.”

At those words, Radel’s face brightened.

It was the look of someone who had realized something.

“I understand. I think I have found the answer.”

The Spirit of the Library also smiled in satisfaction.

‘That is right. If words do not work, beat him.’

Blackmail, my foot.

That clumsy contractor of mine clearly tried to settle things quietly with words and failed.

Just then, the counseling tent opened and someone entered.

It was a white-haired man who looked quite advanced in age.

Most striking of all was the greatsword on his back.

He possessed a solid physique that looked capable of swinging that massive blade with ease.

He scanned the inside of the tent and then found Radel.

More precisely, he stared straight into Radel’s eyes.

Golden pupils, proof of royal blood.

After examining the golden eyes, he checked the sword tied at Radel’s waist.

“So you are Prince Radel Silvert Cretian. I have heard much about you.”

Then he spoke.

“They say that any concern can be answered here. Is that true?”