I stopped reminiscing.
Trail’s voice came through.
[Kaeld really values nothing but his own fame. Forcing a party member to use a spell that requires such a price?]
‘I’ve got no intention of defending that bastard, but maybe things were just that urgent at the time. Besides, with Xenia’s personality, she probably volunteered to cast it herself.’
[Hmm. What would you have done if you were there?]
‘Don’t ask pointless questions.’
Trail let out a laugh, then spoke as if trying to comfort me.
[Whatever the case, I’m sure you’d have done better than Kaeld. I believe in you.]
‘Obviously.’
[This was supposed to be a touching moment, you know.]
Just then, Mariana’s voice cut in.
“That’s the true nature of the curse as I’ve identified it.”
“Hm. So someone opened a gate to the underworld?”
“Based on the investigations so far, the souls possessing the people of the territory aren’t from around here. And it doesn’t make sense for lingering spirits from all over the continent to just gather in one place. It’s definitely because someone opened a gate nearby.”
“……”
“And opening the gate to the underworld isn’t something you can do with ordinary spells. It would take enough inscriptions to cover a person’s entire body.”
Perhaps tired from the long explanation, Mariana took a sip of her tea.
A spell.
Unlike the magic circles used by mages, necromancers usually inscribe spells directly onto their bodies. Supposedly, it helps them better aware to spirits.
At that moment, Neril spoke up.
“So the person with spells engraved on their body is the culprit.”
“Yes. And for the record, it’s not me. I’ve already been examined.”
“I wasn’t particularly suspecting you.”
“…Thank you. I might’ve been a bit on edge.”
Then Tivre interjected.
He didn’t seem thrilled about outsiders like us interfering and glanced sharply at Neril.
“I will conduct another examination.”
“I told you I’ve already been examined.”
“I’ve heard that skilled necromancers can inscribe spells small enough not to be seen, or even make them invisible to ordinary eyes.”
“……”
“I don’t know who examined you, but I imagine it wouldn’t be hard to fool someone who doesn’t know necromancy.”
That must’ve been true—Mariana bit her lip.
Then Xenia spoke.
“Then I’ll do the examination.”
“Lady Xenia?”
“There’s no need to look at me like that, is there? No petty tricks like the ones you just mentioned could fool my eyes.”
Fair enough. Not only was she a fellow woman, but she was also far more skilled than Tivre. No one could be better suited for the job.
“If you’re okay with it, why don’t we get started right away? Lady Mariana is the most knowledgeable one about this case, and these constant suspicions are just making things uncomfortable for everyone.”
“Anytime is fine with me.”
So confident.
Even someone ranked seventh in the Empire shouldn’t think they could deceive a hero-class Xenia.
[She probably doesn’t know Xenia is hero-class. Not yet.]
‘Ah. Good point.’
[Anyway, how long do I have to wait here?]
‘Huh?’
[Usually this is the part where you ask me to look at their secrets.]
This guy really adapts quickly.
Well, anything more would be a waste of time. Might as well get started.
‘Alright. Go ahead.’
[Hmm.]
‘I’m using the Eye of Omniscience. On Mariana Ayn and—’
I paused and started rubbing my eyes with my hands.
Neril asked,
“What are you doing?”
“Got some gunk in my eye.”
“When that happens, just say you’re tired. Don’t ruin your image.”
I ignored her and picked at the gunk—or rather, spoke to Trail again.
‘I must be more tired than I thought. How about a shoulder massage?’
[Do I look like I would—or could—do that? No.]
‘Haa… What the hell is going on.’
[What is it now?]
Instead of answering, I looked above Mariana’s head once more.
—No Sin.
There are a few rules to my blood writing.
One of them is that sins appear in order of how strongly the person wants to hide them.
Another is that only sins above a certain severity threshold get displayed at all.
In that sense, the phrase “No Sin” isn’t all that special.
After all, newborn babies who are incapable of committing crimes all have that same inscription.
Also, from experience, only sins that would earn at least a prison sentence under Imperial law tend to show up.
For example, bumping into someone by accident, or getting drunk and singing loudly in the middle of the night—those minor offenses don’t appear.
Even so…
‘Someone pushing forty with no sins at all? That’s a first.’
What the heck is with this saintly woman?
Clack.
Xenia returned with Mariana.
With a rather cheerful expression, she announced:
“I’ve examined every inch of Lady Mariana, from head to toe. There are no spells anywhere.”
Tivre responded sceptically.
“Are you certain?”
“Who do you think I am, Sir Tivre?”
“M-my apologies. Haa…”
And just like that, the investigation returned to square one.
Not just for the others, but for me too.
[Could it be your blood-writing or whatever is just wrong?]
‘Not once in all my life has that ever happened.’
[You call 34 years a long life?]
‘I said 27.’
[You just made it even shorter.]
In any case, it didn’t look like I’d find any more clues here.
I decided to take a step back for now.
“We understand the situation. We’ll cooperate.”
“Cooperate?”
“I mean we’ll help resolve this issue. Consider it hiring a mercenary.”
I was addressing the Count, but Tivre was the one who reacted.
“Mr Mide. I’ve heard rumors that you’ve arrogantly taken to calling yourself a hero lately.”
“I never called myself that. Others bestowed me with that excessive title.”
“Glad to hear you know it’s excessive. This is a matter for the Order of the Holy Light. Do not interfere.”
I didn’t particularly mind his words, but I noticed Neril and Xenia getting visibly agitated.
Especially Xenia, who opened her mouth—
“If that’s the case, then allow me to interfere.”
“Lady Xenia?”
“Regardless of Sir Tivre, I’ll accept this case under my own name. Mr. Mide will be my accompanying aide. This way, there won’t be any problems, correct?”
There must have been no grounds for objection to those words, as Tivre responded with a pitiful rebuttal.
“……Is that woman standing over there also an aide?”
Neril answered.
“I’m a lady.”
Tivre said he would continue speaking with the count, so our group and Mariana left the mansion side by side.
Just then, a boy spotted us from afar.
A cute kid with shaggy black hair partly covering his eyes.
His face transformed into a wide smile like a sunflower opening to the sun.
And he charged toward us energetically.
“Adwin. Don’t run. You’ll trip and—”
Thud.
He tripped.
If I had to compare, Adwin was a lot like Neril.
‘Still has awful reflexes, huh.’
Yet Adwin bounced up cheerfully.
He approached us a bit more calmly this time.
Even though just a moment ago he had been overwhelmed with excitement, Adwin suddenly assumed a strange pose, crossing his left and right arms.
And he said:
“Hoho. The only person who could keep me, friend of the dead, waiting is Mother..”
“Adwin. Not this again.”
“But my mother is more than worthy. She’s the haven of countless ancient souls. If it’s her, she can call forth any soul from the endless underworld beyond the Redvi river.”
“Aah. How did my son turn out like this.”
Mariana covered her eyes with her sleeve as if genuinely concerned.
I, too, felt regret.
That bizarre way of talking—still completely incomprehensible whether you looked back or ahead.
While Adwin struck his dramatic pose, Mariana brushed up his bangs.
Perhaps from the fall, a bit of blood had appeared on his forehead.
“No more nonsense. Get treated first. Looks like you hurt yourself when you fell.”
“Ahaha! Even you, Mother, cannot steal my blood!”
“……”
At that moment, Xenia stepped forward.
Before Mariana could stop her, she placed her hand on Adwin’s forehead and began to pray.
“O God of the heavens…”
Honestly, using divine power potent enough to resurrect the dying just for a scrape feels like overkill… but I’ll stay out of it.
As Xenia removed her hand, Adwin’s forehead was perfectly healed.
Mariana, surprised, said,
“There was no need to go that far.”
“Oh no, I just have an abundance of divine power.”
I don’t think I’ve ever heard such a terrible excuse in my life.
Mariana covered her mouth and chuckled.
“Fufu. Thank you so much. I didn’t know someone like you existed in the Order of the Holy Light.”
“Please don’t think too badly of us.”
“Yes. I guess I’ve been carrying some prejudice, even at my age. I hope you too…”
“Ah, um. Of course. Since there are necromancers like Miss Mariana as well.”
Why is the atmosphere so bright all of a sudden?
Adwin glanced up at Xenia.
“Oho. Excellent. Where did your life come from, and where is it going?”
“From God, and back to God.”
“An… an immediate answer?”
“Some people say life is a journey from nothing to something, and back to nothing. What do you think?”
“Uh, well. I’ve never really thought that deeply about it…”
“That’s okay. We have time, so think about it slowly. What’s your name?”
“I’m Adwin Ayn…”
“Alright, Adwin. Always be a good son to your mom, okay?”
“Yes, I will.”
Of course, Xenia’s the only one who can bring Adwin back to normal.
I don’t know how she managed to restore his pre-regression self within three minutes of meeting him.
Neril whispered.
“That kid’s got something wrong in the head.”
“Don’t say that in front of his mother.”
“So you do think something’s wrong.”
“I’ve never seen anything like it, but I’m sure Xenia can handle him.”
“You’re sure? It’s not like we’ll see him again—oh, right. You said you were considering him as the next party member.”
Just then, Adwin, now more composed, spoke to Mariana in a normal tone.
“Mother. How did the matter go?”
“I told you not to worry about that.”
“But I heard the people in the territory murmuring. That the Holy Knights of Light came to investigate. You weren’t suspected, were you?”
He glanced at Xenia.
Xenia answered in Mariana’s place.
“Don’t worry. All charges have been cleared.”
“Really?”
“Mm. You trust Ms. Mariana too, don’t you?”
“Hoho. I don’t place value on the word ‘trust.’ That’s just an illusion humans created to seek comfort in a world overrun by distrust.”
“They also say trust was the ancient value that allowed humans to rise again during the era of the Demon King of Corruption.”
“Uh, um. Th-that’s… a saying too?”
Pretty sure there’s no such saying.
Why would “ancient” even fit there? Doesn’t make sense in context.
Well, whatever. As long as Adwin’s back to normal.
Mariana looked at Xenia with wonder.
“You’re quite something, Ms. Xenia. Normally, when my son gets like that, it lasts at least two days.”
“Oh no, not at all.”
“If it’s not a bother, may I invite you to our home? You said you’d help resolve this incident anyway, and I’d like to work with you.”
Xenia glanced at me.
I silently nodded.
With my approval, Xenia’s face brightened.
“Alright. I look forward to working together.”
Though Mariana’s blood script says “innocent,” in the timeline before regression, this incident was ultimately pinned on her.
What on earth is going on?
If I can’t verify it with the Eye of Omniscience, I’ll confirm it with my own.
