Chapter 189

A solitary cell filled with chilly air.

I stared at the old man, layer upon layer of restraints fastened around him.

Lefil even wore a straitjacket, leaving him unable to move so much as a finger.

‘The princess's teacher...’

Her Highness had called him the finest swordsman in the kingdom.

It meant no one in the kingdom could match him in martial prowess.

Having faced him myself, he really was absurdly strong.

‘If I exaggerate a little, maybe he was twice as strong as Javert...’

Even across the entire continent, he would have easily ranked among the ten strongest.

It was fortunate that I had the crown and mask. Otherwise, I would have died another hundred times fighting the old man.

The pressure I had felt back then seemed to linger even now.

I steadied my breathing and carefully examined the incapacitated old man.

‘Being chosen as a court tutor means he must have excelled academically too. He was well-rounded in every way. On top of that, even the air around him feels sharp as a blade. I can see why Her Highness thought so highly of him.’

I sorted through the jumbled information in my head.

As the silence stretched on, the old man beyond the bars muttered in a hoarse voice.

“I have no idea... how I am still alive. I clearly offered myself as a sacrifice in the ritual to awaken the Blue Knight.”

“That surprised me as well. I was certain you had died. Maybe it was the tenacious vitality unique to pureblood vampires, maybe because the Blue Knight that was summoned was defeated so quickly, or maybe your absurd strength simply endured the offering... Well, I can't say for sure. It may have been all those factors working together.”

“Is that so.”

“Of course, surviving doesn't mean you're in perfect condition. Your strength has greatly diminished. Your vitality is at rock bottom too.”

“I can feel that without you explaining it. Otherwise, these flimsy restraints and this prison could never hold me.”

“That's rather hurtful. This is one of the finest detention facilities in the area.”

“Tsk, tsk... How can you be so complacent? If you serve Her Highness, you should be more thorough.”

“That doesn't sound very convincing, considering I thoroughly wiped the floor with you from beginning to end.”

“......Hah.”

“I assume you've already heard who hunted the Blue Knight.”

“......Honestly, I still can't believe it. To think you defeated that vile thing alone.”

“I'm quite capable.”

“Fix that slippery way of speaking.”

“What's wrong with it? I think it's one of my charms.”

I smiled faintly.

My mask twisted, and a deep killing intent filled the solitary cell.

“Anyway, I'd like to get to the point now.”

I met Lefil's eyes.

From what I had heard, Her Highness had been greatly influenced by him.

Her values, the depth of her thoughts, her moral compass. I had heard that she had learned it all from his teachings as a child.

-Lefil! How could you become so corrupt! You were the one who taught me the value of nobility...!

-To betray every lesson you ever taught...

I remembered a few words Her Highness had shouted.

After that, I remembered the old man's calm answer.

-It was for my daughter.

-That is all.

The old man had spoken words I could not understand.

Her Highness had asked what he meant, but Lefil had closed his mouth, saying that was all.

As though further questions were useless, he simply cast Bloodcraft at the girl, casting aside all stray thoughts.

“I'd like to hear more about what was brushed aside back then.”

“It is an insignificant personal matter. Not something to share with others.”

“That's fine. Please tell me.”

“Your killing intent is thick. Do you think I'll spill everything if you pressure me like that?”

“It's courtesy rather than pressure. Wouldn't it be more insulting to question someone as strong as you as if I were coaxing you?”

“Still slippery, I see.”

The old man was stubborn.

His rigid nature would not let him give in easily.

“Just kill me.”

His crimson eyes blinked calmly.

Despite his weakened state, Lefil's gaze had not wavered in the slightest.

The standoff continued for quite some time.

Out of habit, I rubbed my neck.

My thoughts ran in circles, endlessly retracing the situation.

‘Judging by his actions and way of speaking, he doesn't seem loyal to the New Kingdom...’

If anything, he seemed displeased with them.

That had been especially clear when he faced Her Highness during the Blue Night.

Not only had he consistently used honorifics with her, he had subtly tried to keep her out of danger.

-I hold no grudge against Your Highness. Do not interfere. Please withdraw.

-I am giving you a chance to escape.

Without realizing it himself, he had been showing her consideration bit by bit.

That became even clearer in my memories of the battle.

Lefil had used all manner of lethal techniques to pressure me.

Yet he did not seem to have fought Carmilla with all his strength.

There had been small exchanges, but he had not used a single move capable of inflicting a fatal wound.

-It is already too late...

-Even now, run... Take Her Highness and...

He had even muttered that to me right after awakening the Blue Knight.

He had said it while he was dying, wringing out the last of his strength.

I could not help sinking into thought.

‘......But none of this adds up.’

I remembered their conversation.

The old man's voice, speaking as if telling her to give up in the face of suppressed fury.

-I certainly betrayed Her Highness. I led the rebellion, slaughtered the royal family's close retainers, dragged the former king from his throne, and pushed him onto the execution platform. No one controlled or forced me. I chose everything I did.

Lefil had said it was the path he chose.

Then what had been the reason behind that choice?

His words about doing it for his daughter especially bothered me.

With my thoughts in disarray, I pieced together the information as simply as I could.

‘If it was for his daughter, then the reason he chose betrayal came from something outside Lefil himself...’

The old man was a powerhouse called the finest swordsman in the kingdom.

During the coup, if he had stood with those defending the kingdom, the New Kingdom would surely have failed to seize the throne.

‘That was why they must have tried to recruit him. From the New Kingdom's perspective, Lefil would have been the most troublesome variable.’

The New Kingdom put their heads together and eventually recruited the old man.

That was the part I found strange.

According to Her Highness, Lefil had been exceptionally stubborn and strong in his convictions.

He had served the royal family for years, possessed deep loyalty, and had even been selected as a court tutor in recognition of it.

‘What sweet words could they have whispered to make a man like that betray his allegiance overnight?’

Something on the New Kingdom's side had been more precious to him than the convictions he had held all his life.

‘Right. Was his daughter taken hostage?’

I did not know whether she was truly a hostage, but it certainly seemed her life was at stake.

Otherwise, he would never offer himself as a sacrifice for a New Kingdom he had no loyalty toward.

The broad outline felt complete. All that remained was to draw the whole truth out of him.

How could I make him open that mouth?

After thinking for a moment, I came up with a good method and began.

“Sir Lefil, I have a proposal.”

“You do not tire of this, do you?”

“Answer my questions. Once I hear a few answers, I will release you and remove the restraints, the straitjacket, and these iron bars.”

“Hah... You expect me to believe that? Now you're resorting to such pathetic tricks.”

“What if it isn't a trick? Then let us make a contract.”

I rummaged through my clothes.

Then scales emerged from my inventory.

Ding!

[Contract Scales]

-Category: Spellcraft Hybrid Item

-Rank: A+

-Status: Balanced

-Description: Scales left behind by a renowned ancient sorcerer. When used, they form a contract with a designated target. A concluded contract is absolutely binding, and its parties cannot violate its terms. It activates when both sides agree. Breaking or altering the contract also requires mutual agreement.

It was an item I had acquired during the settlement period right after the Blue Night.

I held it out before the bars.

The old man's gaze fixed on it.

“We will make a contract using these scales as the medium. You can tell at a glance, can't you? This is an untainted item. No tampering is possible. We will place each of our souls on these scales. The price for breaking the contract is death.”

“......”

“Also, I will not ask a single question about the New Kingdom. The questions I ask will be limited solely to you. What do you think? Doesn't this seem like an opportunity too good to pass up?”

“......I do not know what you are plotting.”

“Does that matter? What matters now is whether you seize the opportunity in front of you.”

A hypothesis and a plan that had come to mind in an instant.

If this worked, I would gain a fighter worth two Javerts.

“......”

Lefil fell silent, seemingly deep in thought.

A brief silence passed.

The old man suddenly spoke.

“Remove the restraint on my right arm first. I will need it to make the contract.”

“Understood. You won't attack me when I remove it, right?”

“I cannot win even if I fight now. You know that. I'm out of strength.”

“Ahem, very well. You have made a wise choice.”

We each let a drop of blood fall onto our side of the scales.

The swaying scales soon leveled out and stopped.

The contract had been formed.

A faint light seeped into both our chests.

Afterward, we felt a brutal constriction, as though our hearts had been tied together.

“Are you all right?”

“......For now.”

Only after checking the contract several times did Lefil nod.

The first step was a success.

I sat in the chair before the bars.

Sitting across from him, I began asking the old man questions one at a time.

“Then shall we begin? First, I'd like to hear what happened to you, Sir Lefil.”

“......Very well. A contract is a contract.”

Lefil had no choice but to open his mouth in the end.

I listened quietly.

“It all began with my daughter's incurable illness...”

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