Chapter 153: Wahrheit (3)

Right after Wahrheit disappeared.

I looked out through the Iron Bars without a word for a while.

It wasn't because the lingering feeling of meeting the former Master of a Magic Tower of Life and my fierce Senior Brother was strong.

Wahrheit was dangerous enough, but there was a more urgent matter right now.

'It means the Incident I committed is huge enough for Wahrheit to have an Obsession over.'

First, I cured Demon Disease with Black magic.

There was no particular reason.

Because a Doctor doesn't need a special reason to save a person.

The problem was the Cleanup.

I was so overjoyed by the fact that I brought the Treatment Method for Demon Disease to Completion that I didn't think about the Cleanup.

'Back with Freya, Father cleaned it up for me, but......'

There is no answer this time.

There are too many witnesses.

A situation I couldn't somehow handle with my power.

'......How do I clean this up.'

Reality hit me belatedly.

Without thinking about the Cleanup at all!

'Should I push through by saying that it's fine since the Patient got better?'

The Mini Yulian in my head, acting as a Misunderstanding Genre Protagonist, smiled foolishly and made this Proposal.

However, the Mini Yulian in charge of my sense of Reality did not let it slide easily this time.

'As if that would work.'

In the End, I rolled a few explanation Scenarios around in my head.

But they were all full of Holes.

In the first place, there is nothing more unbelievable in this world than the phrase, "I used Black magic but the person got better."

How much have Black Sorcerers abused that act until now.

Killing the Patient and turning them into an Undead while scamming that their Demon Disease was cured,

or controlling their mind to only erase the Pain, then running away when they suddenly collapse a few years later.

There are countless Nobles and commoners in this world who have squandered their fortunes after being deceived by Black Sorcerers like that.

Even if I say, "My Black magic isn't like that, it's a real treatment" in front of them, would they really believe me?

'Rather, they will think I just suppressed the Symptom with some trick this time too.'

There is one more problem here.

It's the problem that Crohn's Disease, which I treated this time, is not a disease that reaches a Complete Cure, but one that requires Management.

Just like Diabetes.

In other words, I barely managed to save that Patient this time, but it's highly likely the Patient will suffer a Recurrence within a few months.

What would people around think when they see this.

'They'll think I scammed them just like the other Black Sorcerers.'

The trust and Fame I have built up so far?

Of course, that could provide a bit of a buffer.

However, the problem is that it would only reduce my sentence from going to the Gallows to Life Imprisonment; it couldn't lead to a complete explanation.

It was the Truth of human society that a Tower built over a Lifetime could come crumbling down if one brick was mistakenly pulled out.

And I had just excitedly pulled out a very large brick.

'......There really is no answer.'

I swallowed a Sigh and sat on the edge of the bed.

If I knew it would be like this, I should have committed it after making at least one explanation method.

When making Viagra or Penicillin, I always used to make an Alibi.

I was so excited this time that I overlooked it.

'That human Babel, he should have made an Alibi for me instead of wasting Time talking about Antibiotics after the treatment.'

I was in the middle of taking my anger out on the innocent Demonkin in my head.

"Older Brother."

From the bed next to me, Freya called me carefully.

Her foolishly smiling Facial expression from earlier was nowhere to be found.

It was a face that finally realized the situation was serious.

"What...... happens to us now?"

"Well."

Freya.

We're fucked.

Since I couldn't bring myself to say that, I beat around the bush as much as possible.

"First, I'll have to mobilize the Personal Connections I have."

There are candidates that immediately come to mind.

Imperial Prince Edmund, the numerous Nobles indebted to Yulian, and my father-in-law at the Board of Inspection.

If I get the help of these people, wouldn't I somehow be able to avoid a prison sentence?

......Though it isn't a very desirable Application method of Personal Connections.

'Even if I avoid a prison sentence, it seems my Fame is ruined......'

Freya's face also noticeably darkened as if she had guessed this situation.

It was when the two of us were deep in our worries.

Click, clack.

Footsteps could be heard from the other side of the Corridor.

A silhouette with a familiar gait, slightly tilted to one side, was seen.

Before long, Ms. Perisia, with one arm bound by Silver Thread, revealed herself beyond the Iron Bars.

"Ms. Perisia!"

Freya beamed and rushed to the Iron Bars.

It was a relief to see her return safely.

Just as Wahrheit said, it seemed it really was a simple Dimensional Transfer.

"Is your arm okay? Earlier, when you broke it......"

"It does not interfere with my duties."

"Still, you should get treatment......"

"It is fine. It was a clean break, so the treatment will not be difficult. I will get it treated on my own once my Bodyguard duty is over."

"That's not what I meant......"

Freya felt disheartened at the sight of Perisia reporting with an Expressionless Face.

Be that as it may.

Perisia walked past Freya and shifted her gaze to me.

"Professor Yulian."

"I'm glad you're safe. I was worried."

"......Will you not reprimand me for my inadequacy?"

"That couldn't be helped, could it."

If this were a game, Wahrheit was like an Event Boss.

The kind of being that would only appear at the end of the game, with a guaranteed defeat Event promised.

I couldn't blame Perisia's Incompetence for failing to beat such a being.

To begin with, he's a monster who took the right eye of the Great Sage.

It was a blessing that it ended with just Perisia's right arm.

"Before that, thanks to Ms. Perisia wearing him down, we were able to avoid being harmed."

"......Thank you for the comfort. However, having realized my inadequacy, it seems I need to focus more on my Training."

Perisia mixed in a short Sigh for a beat and brought up the Main Point.

"On my Return, there was a Message from His Majesty."

Upon hearing those words, Freya immediately knelt in place.

I also knelt down belatedly.

It was the Result of reacting as a Noble the moment I heard it was a Message from the Emperor.

Perisia cleared her throat and opened her mouth.

"Yulian Nihilrit Schnabel, listen. You have done more than enough. I have guessed your concerns, so you do not need to Worry."

It seemed the Emperor had somehow completely grasped the situation I was in.

There was nothing to be surprised about since it was a world with Magic.

Before long, Perisia, having finished the Message, spoke as if giving a Notification.

"The Professor and the Young Lady will be released shortly. You just need to wait here until then. That is all."

Right after hearing those words, the phrase that came to my mind was the Power of the Misunderstanding Genre.

'Could it be......?'

Is it going to be resolved by luck this time too?

There was definitely a possibility.

I had forgotten until just now, but I was always lucky.

Once my thoughts reached that point, a chuckle leaked out.

It was because being so anxious until just a moment ago felt foolish.

'Well, it'll work out somehow.'

I reached a Conclusion at my convenience and threw myself onto the bed.

Thinking that since things turned out this way, I should at least catch up on my delayed sleep.

***

The Capital of the Empire, the Board of Inspection.

The place where the Empire's Crimes and secrets gathered, with its main duty being the Inspection of Nobles.

If the Special Operations Department was a place that secretly eliminated Outsiders who disrupted the Empire,

the Board of Inspection was the department that eliminated insiders who disrupted the Empire.

Especially Treason, Taboos, Acts of Treason, and acts of betrayal.

As it handled acts that directly threatened the Safety/Well-being of the Imperial Court, the authority of this department was immense.

Those who worked in such a place were cautious even with their footsteps.

However, today's Board of Inspection was different.

The dusky shadows of Inspectors frantically came and went through the Corridors.

In the midst of that, there was a man walking with a stack of Notebooks tucked under his arm.

Reinhold Krüger.

Head of the Inspection Department Division 3.

He was the Department Head of the division whose job was to dig up Taboos and Acts of Treason entangled with Magic.

Click, clack.

Among the bustling footsteps of the coming and going Inspectors, only Krüger's shoes were distinctly hurried.

He moved those hurried steps and entered his Office.

Click.

And, lest anyone peek, he locked the door, sat at his Desk, and spread out the fruits of the hunt he had brought.

—

'Finally.'

A cold satisfaction brushed past Krüger's lips.

This Notebook was an item confiscated from the Viscount Nihilrit Family's Villa.

That is to say, the Young Lord, Yulian Nihilrit's Research Notebook.

'I can finally conduct an Inspection on that man this time.'

To Krüger, who was in charge of Acts of Treason related to Magic, Yulian was always an eyesore.

A Black Sorcerer who dared to operate in The Legitimate World with The Military backing him! It was certain that dark treasonous intentions were taking root in his mind.

The Intuition of Krüger, who had inspected countless traitors over Decades, was crying out as such.

However, until now, Krüger could not inspect Yulian.

He had tried to inspect Yulian countless times, but Division 2 had blocked him every single time.

'Department Head Michael unreasonably protected that guy, so I couldn't conduct an Inspection.'

Division 2.

The department in charge of domestic Information Control and VIP Protection.

Because that department had boldly placed Security on Yulian, a detailed Inspection on Yulian could not be done.

The 'Upright' Inspector Krüger found that fact disgusting.

'To think an Inspector, who should always uphold Integrity as a direct department under His Majesty the Emperor, is blinded by Selfish Desire and shielding his Son-in-law. Besides, why are the other Inspectors just watching that happen?'

Come to think of it, Krüger didn't like Marquis Michael either.

To receive a Marquis title at such a young age, and even sit in the seat of Division 2, which could be considered the true power.

He didn't like the fact that Michael sat in a seat in his young thirties that Krüger couldn't reach even after dedicating half his Life.

Therefore, Krüger hated Michael.

At the same time, he also didn't like Yulian, the Son-in-law whom Michael protected by abusing his power.

'I warned that he was dangerous from the moment he stood at the podium to teach that extremely dangerous thing to those green Heroes.'

Traditionally, Black magic was a thing that made the world safer the fewer people knew about it.

To hand that out in a Lecture hall.

Did he intend to turn this great Empire into a den of Black Sorcerers!

For that reason, after hearing the News that Yulian became a Professor of Black magic, Krüger couldn't sleep worrying about the Safety/Well-being of the Empire.

It definitely wasn't because as the Heroes effortlessly caught Black Sorcerers, the Standing of Division 3, which handled Taboos entangled with Magic, would narrow.

In any case, to Krüger, Yulian was a Thorn in his eye in many ways.

'I thought that guy would one day crumble, intoxicated by the Magical Power of Black magic.'

However, now even that was over.

Black magic was an evil Magic.

It was self-evident that one who wielded it would fall into Corruption.

It was a Magic that even made the noble Disciple of the Great Sage fall into Corruption, so there was no way Yulian would be an Exception.

As if affirming that thought, Yulian ended up causing an Accident several days ago.

When the Magic Tower of Black Magic shook the world in the past, the religious order also suffered no small amount of Damage.

The religious order excommunicated the Wizards of the Magic Tower of Life, and thus Black magic became the Magic of Heresy.

Yet Yulian used Black magic on a Patient in the Meyer Clinic, which was the center of the religious order and no different from a Symbol of peace that transcended Sects.

And on a Demon Disease Patient at that, while the Healers weren't looking!

Where could there be a more obvious Act of Treason than this!

Conveniently, the higher-ups also pushed his back.

A Notification that Division 2's VIP Protection had been lifted.

On top of this, even an Official Request for Cooperation from the Heresy Inquisitors.

In this situation, no matter how much Department Head Michael tried, he couldn't protect his Son-in-law.

Thanks to this, Division 3 Department Head Krüger gleefully conducted a search and Confiscation of Yulian's Laboratory.

'I had a hard Time doing the Investigation.'

Yulian was a person with no Record of meeting anyone externally.

Until he caught the eye of Imperial Prince Edmund, he lived as if he had built a wall between himself and the world.

Try as he might to dig into his interpersonal relationships, which was the basis of an Inspection, there was nothing to dig up.

Therefore, these Notebooks were the only window to look into that man's head.

Krüger flipped to the first page with a fluttering heart.

'......'

The moment he turned that first page, Krüger's eyebrows twitched.

Insulin.

That substance said to be extracted from the Pancreas of Livestock.

That miraculous Medication that saved countless Diabetes patients.

A Murder Method using that Medication was written in a dense Handwriting.

<─ Inject Insulin into the target to induce severe Hypoglycemia.

For a target whose Consciousness has clouded, a minor Jinx Curse that makes them misstep is enough.

The traces of the Curse are weak and will not be detected, and the Autopsy can be concluded as Death by Slipping or Drowning in a bathtub......>

Krüger knew of the Academic Paper based on this Research Notebook.

He couldn't not know it.

Because just last year, the Judicial Court reinvestigated the causes of death of Nobles that had been terminated as Death by Slipping and Drowning over the past Over ten years, based on this very Theory.

And among them, they ultimately exposed three cases of Disguised Murder using Insulin.

It was the moment that the immoral acts committed to inherit a Title of Nobility were revealed to the world.

At the time, the Judicial Court was turned completely upside down.

To the point where rumors flowed even into the Board of Inspection, which had nothing to do with the Judicial System.

And the fact that the starting point of unraveling this Incident was Professor Yulian's Academic Paper was a fact everyone knew.

The first draft, which was practically the Original body of that Academic Paper, was currently held in the hands of the Head of the Inspection Department.

'How did this man find out about this Murder Method......'

Strength unconsciously entered Krüger's hand.

He felt a slight chill.

If he had a Brain capable of drawing up such a method so precisely—

Then perhaps he wasn't the one who uncovered it, but rather the one who devised it in the first place.

Krüger soon turned that chill into certainty as he read.

'He really is a dangerous man.'

He turned to the next page.

This time, it was about Thallium.

A Metal recently discovered, with its utility drawing attention.

Yulian had inevitably written a Black magic Scenario using that Metal as an Academic Paper draft.

<Thallium's symptoms of poisoning are similar to a Plague, so one can wipe out a family through Poisoning and then disguise it as an epidemic.

Especially now that Penicillin has been developed, Crimes using Thallium are likely to become even more meticulous.

The Culprit could place the Curse of Pestilence on themselves, induce Thallium poisoning in those around them, and then cure themselves with Penicillin to leisurely slip through the investigation net......>

And ironically, a few months ago, this Incident actually occurred.

An Incident where an entire family of a merchant guild in The West was wiped out overnight, initially handled as a Plague but belatedly revealed to be Thallium Poisoning.

What served as the Evidence for the Judicial Court to deduce the Poisoning at that time was exactly this Academic Paper.

Because Yulian had written the Academic Paper before the Culprit, the Culprit was caught before they could finish Poisoning all their competitors.

Reading the draft of that Academic Paper, the Department Head felt another chill.

'To call it a coincidence...... isn't it too bizarre?'

Come to think of it, Yulian's father was a Judicial Officer.

In other words, it meant that the more Unsolved Cases occurred and were solved, the more he stood to gain.

Then, couldn't it be that Yulian informed others of the method, and his family exposed it?

A sliver of Doubt crept up.

Of course, reason whispered that it was a forced leap of logic.

Krüger himself vaguely knew this.

But he had already commenced the Inspection on Yulian.

It was an Investigation forced through the walls of Division 2.

If the Conclusion came out as "He is innocent," that result would wholly become a flaw on his career.

An arrest rate of 90 percent after indictment.

The number recorded within Division 3 of the Board of Inspection must not be flawed.

At the very least, such a thing must not happen in Krüger's career.

That fact fanned the flames of his Doubt.

Soon, his Doubt turned into self-assurance.

'Even if...... even if it wasn't for this Taboo incident.'

Krüger muttered to himself.

'He's someone who has piled up a mountain of knowledge this dangerous. Someone like this is bound to cross the line someday. If so, tying him up now isn't ensnaring an innocent person, but Prevention.'

A plausible Justification gently covered his Guilt.

Humans were creatures who rarely could look at the ugliness of their own hands head-on.

They always had to attach a plausible name tag before they could finally grasp it in their hands.

Krüger thought he should include this as Circumstantial Evidence as well, and continued to flip through the Notebook.

How much Time had passed like that.

As he flipped through the Notebook, something began to go awry.

The Notebook was full of Disguised Murder Scenarios using Black magic or Medication.

However, the further back he went, instead of Murder Methods, other parts caught his eye.

In the same Handwriting, with the same ink—annotations on how to save people were written side by side.

A method to prevent a wound from festering with some substance extracted from Blue Mold.

An emergency measure to stop the excessive Bleeding of a Mother in Childbirth.

Measures to preserve the Body temperature of a newborn Child brought into the world through Premature birth, and more.

Most of the Page was written with methods on how to kill people, but the annotations contained Memos intended to save them.

As if implying he should conduct Research on this later.

'......Why would Yulian have an Interest in treatment?'

Krüger felt puzzled.

It was when his Doubts were deepening like that.

Knock, knock, knock!

An urgent knock cut off his Idle Thoughts.

The Department Head placed the Notebook he was reading into the Drawer and spoke toward the other side of the door.

"Come in."

"D-Department Head!"

An Inspector affiliated with Division 3 kicked the door open and entered without knocking.

Before Krüger could even ask what the matter was, the man urgently handed over a Notebook.

"Among the confiscated items from the Villa...... wasn't there a Safe. It had a seal on a completely different level from the other things, and we just barely managed to open it, but......"

"Did you bring it right away?"

"Didn't you, Department Head, order us to bring it to you first? So I am urgently delivering it."

His Subordinate, panting for breath, held out a Notebook.

"Here it is."

Seeing that old and worn Notebook, Krüger's eyes flashed.

Right.

While conducting the search and Confiscation of the Villa, the contents of that Safe kept bothering him.

A top-grade alloy Safe you would only expect to see in a decent Marquis family.

Because his Intuition whispered that inside it would be the Clue to reveal Yulian's Evil Deeds.

And a Notebook that came out of it at that!

'No matter who looks at it, this is his weakness.'

What the Notebook was for was unknown.

There was no way it could be a Research Notebook.

The contents written in the Notebook would probably vary depending on its Purpose.

If he joined hands with a Black Sorcerer, means of Contact would be written down,

If he conducted illegal Experiments, it would be a Grimoire,

If he gave Consultation to criminals, it would be a Ledger.

Krüger issued an Order of expulsion to his Subordinate, and immediately opened that old Notebook.

And there......

-

Quinine Development Method (Completion)

Insulin Development Method (Completion)

Penicillin Development Method (Completion)

Steroid Development Method (In Development)

.

.

.

Important(!)

Viagra Development Method (Completion)

Statin Development Method (In Development)

"......Huh?"

At the feast of those unfamiliar words, Krüger let out a stupid sound without realizing it.

It wasn't a Murder Method.

Rather, it was a Research Notebook on methods to save people.

Looking at the contents, the Notebook appeared to be one noting down Medications that were already developed or in the midst of Development.

It felt like a Notebook organized so that future generations could easily read it.

That in itself wasn't a problem.

Rather, he even felt a sense of Sublimity.

However, if there was a problem......

"Why is this familiar?"

It was that the order of those Medications was far too familiar.

Soon, that Sense of unease gradually changed into nervousness.

In Krüger's head, the scattered pieces began to find their places one by one.

Quinine. Insulin. Penicillin.

Those miraculous Medications that had completely overturned the Empire over the past few years.

That order—was not a single letter different from the table of contents in this old Notebook.

'No. That's impossible.'

Krüger tried hard to shake his head.

Because there is such a thing as coincidence in this world.

Knock, knock, knock!

Right then, another urgent knock hammered at his Idle Thoughts.

"Come in."

The person who opened the door and came in was not his Subordinate this time.

It was the messenger in charge of sending and receiving documents for the Board of Inspection.

In his hand was a single Official document sealed with red Sealing Wax.

"It is an urgent Official document from the Inquisition."

The Inquisition.

They were the very ones who had so forcefully pushed Krüger's back to inspect Yulian just a few days ago.

This Inspection was possible because, in addition to the Notification of lifting the VIP Protection, they had even added an Official Request for Cooperation from the Heresy Inquisitors.

'What kind of cooperation at this timing......'

Krüger casually tore the seal.

And, as he read down the contents, his face gradually stiffened.

─ All documents and items confiscated from the Viscount Nihilrit Family's Villa must be returned immediately to the Inquisition.

─ The items in question are equivalent to Holy Relics under the jurisdiction of the Inquisition. Any delay or non-compliance may be considered an act of seizing a Holy Relic and will be subject to strict Disposal.

"......What?"

A dumbfounded sound leaked from Krüger's mouth.

Seizing a Holy Relic?

It didn't even sound like a Joke.

Because the tone was in no way a polite request for cooperation.

This was an obvious warning no matter who looked at it.

An order to shut up and take his hands off, and in a very threatening Tone of voice at that.

Krüger stood frozen blankly while holding the Official document.

'What is this......'

Just a few days ago, these guys were the ones cooperating more actively than anyone.

They were the ones jumping up and down saying Yulian had used Black magic in the sacred Meyer Clinic,

and they were the ones who lent a hand in lifting the VIP Protection.

But now, they're changing their Stance as easily as flipping their palms?

And so hastily, in a tone borderline to a Threat?

Hunting dogs suddenly backing out with the Prey they've been sharpening their knives for days right in front of them.

'Just why......'

His Puzzlement rummaged through his head for only a moment.

Krüger's gaze slowly returned to the old Notebook spread open on his Desk.

Quinine. Insulin. Penicillin. Steroid.

The miraculous Medications that overturned the Empire's Medicine.

That list was looking up at him as if it were someone's Resume/CV.

Only then did it come to mind.

Who was the one who released these Medications into the world.

Who was the figure that the religious order revered as a Saint, transcending Sects.

At that moment, something cold flowed down Krüger's Spine.

Why the Heresy Inquisitors were trying to back out so urgently.

Why Marquis Michael of Division 2 protected him so much. Why Yulian had lived as if he had built a wall between himself and the world, not meeting anyone externally.

All of it was terrifyingly converging toward a single answer.

'Could it be......'

Krüger swallowed a Dry gulp.

With trembling hands, he opened the first page of the Notebook again.

On the old and worn paper, that neatly organized Handwriting seemingly meant for future generations to easily read.

That Notebook densely packed with methods to save people.

He felt he knew the identity of the man who had hidden it inside the Safe like his most precious Treasure.

'The owner of this Notebook is......'

"Good heavens......"

Thud.

From Krüger's hand, the Official document slipped and fell lifelessly.

Several days later, the position of the Head of the Inspection Department Division 3 became vacant due to his resignation, but

nobody paid any Attention because of the even more massive News revealed afterward.