CH 38

Wisdom Road

In front of me was Mize, who didn’t seem to understand what was happening.

I also—- don’t understand.

Why wasn’t it the bandits, but the Bureau, that was trying to kill Mize?

I need to question them in detail.

“In the meantime, could you come back to the conference room in the Royal Castle?”

“No, we’ll speak over the transmission. I don’t feel like letting Mize out of my sight now.”

“…Understood. Then let’s meet up tonight, after Her Royal Highness returns to the student dormitories. I will meet you personally.”

I end the transmission with Chris.

“I will accompany you to the student dormitories. After that, don’t come out until I say it’s fine.”

“Y-yes…”

I take Mize’s hand and help her stand.

A man’s corpse was lying by our feet. In the first place, this happened because the Bureau was reluctant to give me information, so there was no need for me to be responsible. The Bureau will be responsible for covering this up.

I accompanied Mize, who walked with an unsteady gait, to the girls’ dormitory, then made sure that the lights in her room turned on.

Leaning my back on the wall of the building facing the dormitory, I wait a while before Chris finally appears, clad in a black military uniform.

“Sorry to have kept you waiting… Here, have this.”

It looks like she bought something from a street stall along the way. Chris handed me a drink that I could hold in one hand.

“I don’t feel like getting bribed by something like this.”

“I know that. But it’s going to be a bit of a long story… If you were holding a drink, wouldn’t it seem a bit less suspicious to our surroundings?”

Chris says, while lowering her gaze.

I received the drink that was offered to me and looked at Chris.

“Explain it as briefly as possible.”

“…Yes.”

I know that this isn’t something that can be divulged to a third party, but I would like to place Mize’s escort as my top priority.

I don’t move from the front of the girls’ dormitory, so Chris begins to explain while paying attention to the people passing by.

“As you may have guessed, the client this time is the reigning king of the Holy Kingdom of Arcadia, His Royal Majesty, Lord Reten Arcadia.”

In other words, the client is Mize’s father.

I had guessed as much, so I silently urge her to continue.

“And the background behind this commission… there is a special magic that has been passed down through the Royal Family of Arcadia from generation to generation: <Wisdom Road>, and this magic is deeply involved in this case.”

Information I don’t know comes out from Chris’s mouth.

This is information I wasn’t given until now, and Chris calmly tells me the truth behind this matter.

“According to His Royal Majesty, <Wisdom Road> is inherited by the daughters of the Royal Family of Arcadia from generation to generation. If the possessor has a daughter, then it is inherited by the daughter. If the possessor dies without producing a daughter, then it is inherited by a female blood relative. It’s that kind of magic… and now, Her Royal Highness, Princess Michelliaze possesses <Wisdom Road>.”

“…what is the effect of that magic?”

“The effect of <Wisdom Road> is the inheritance of memories… It passes on the memories of its previous possessors.”

With that explanation– it all made sense now.

When she was somehow able to refine a Level 2 Potion during Magical Pharmacy class.

When she was able to recognize the Golem, which was said to have been developed during the Second Great Hero-Demon War.

When she somehow knew about the layout of the Labyrinth, “The Swirling Depths of the Royal Tomb”.

All of that was– due to other people’s memories inside Mize’s head.

“Just how much power the ability to inherit memories has… Do you understand?“

“Yeah.”

I nod with a sigh.

It seems that Mize had been burdened with a much heavier situation than I anticipated.

“You can cram in knowledge. You can drill in technology. Even if it doesn’t bring results in one generation… it may produce results in the next. If memories are inherited, then you can expect results that defy the limitations of a lifespan. As more time passes by… as more generations accumulate, the more advanced the results that can be achieved… Strictly speaking, since the personality isn’t inherited, the same person does not get to start a new life over and over again.

The Royal Family of Arcadia made use of the power of <Wisdom Road> to increase the authority of the Royal Family. But… sometimes, that very power bared its fangs against them… Simply put, this case is a family dispute in the Kingdom of Arcadia. <Wisdom Road> inherits many kinds of things: from the numerous injustices committed by the Royal Family in the past, to the use of various lost, ancient magic. Its power is immeasurable. To date, the Kingdom of Arcadia has had two civil wars waged over the succession to the throne. And both of these times, the victor was the side who had the possessor of <Wisdom Road>. The first time, the possessor of <Wisdom Road> used ancient magic to bring the enemy to ruin, and the second time, the possessor exposed the injustices committed by the enemy to incite the people… The possessor of <Wisdom Road> can also assist the king’s rule with their vast knowledge. Each faction in the Royal Family desperately wishes for this power.”

“… Even if you call it a family dispute, as expected, the scale is different when it comes to the Royal Family.”

“Yes. And now, the Kingdom of Arcadia is on the verge of its third civil war. Currently, the First Prince is first in line of succession to the throne of the Kingdom of Arcadia, but during the Fourth Great Hero-Demon War, he confined himself within the country, and many of his vassals were dissatisfied with this. As a result, the Second Prince’s faction grew its forces, and began to plot the downfall of the First Prince. One of the means that the Second Prince’s faction tried was to obtain the possessor of <Wisdom Road>, that is, Her Royal Highness, Princess Michelliaze Arcadia.

The reigning king, His Royal Majesty, Lord Reten Arcadia had anticipated this situation, which is why when Her Royal Highness, Princess Michelliaze wanted to run away, he tolerated it. And so, he reported Her Royal Highness, the Princess, as missing, in order to prevent the struggle for <Wisdom Road>. Fortunately for Her Royal Highness, the Second Princess, when <Wisdom Road> was confirmed to have been inherited, she was hidden away from the eyes of the public. Which was worth it, since it doesn’t seem like the public rioted over it. But… not long after, it was discovered that Her Royal Highness was in the Kingdom of Terraria, attending the Bildarz Academy.

So, the Second Prince’s faction immediately sent assassins. And, being aware of this, His Royal Majesty decided to protect Her Royal Highness, Princess Michelliaze by giving us a commission to escort her… And this is the background of the events this time. The bandits that you have been defeating were actually mercenaries that were secretly hired by the Second Prince’s faction.”

“… I was wondering why they were so well-equipped for mere mercenaries. So, their backer was the Royal Family.”

It seems that the mercenary group, “The Fangs of the Red Dragon”, received support from the Second Prince’s faction.

It also allowed me to understand why the bandits did not give up. After all, it was a commission from the Royal Family. If they failed, they would receive nothing, and on the other hand, if they succeeded, they were promised a huge return.

Since they even planned to overthrow the First Prince, the Second Prince’s faction probably isn’t picky about their methods.

Even though she has inherited the powerful <Wisdom Road>, Mize is still just a single girl. As long as she is successfully kidnapped, she can be moved as a puppet through brainwashing or other means.

“His Royal Majesty also regards <Wisdom Road> as a valuable power. That’s why, without wanting to aggravate the situation further, he wanted to have Her Royal Highness, Princess Michelliaze, protected. But even if we repulse the mercenary group, it does not mean that the Second Prince’s faction will stop moving. Besides, this is a volatile time; it hasn’t been long since the war ended. The Kingdom of Arcadia suffered no small amount of damage from the Great Hero-Demon War. Now is not the time for strife among the factions of the Royal Family, and if by some chance, a civil war does begin, the kingdom’s power will be severely diminished. His Royal Majesty has decided that if thing continue the way they have, this opening won’t be unnoticed by hostile kingdoms… and so, out of necessity, he decided to have the source of the conflict, Her Royal Highness, assassinated.”

It would be bad for the Kingdom of Arcadia if they had a civil war at this time.

For the sake of preventing that, as a drastic measure– Mize’s life is being targeted.

“But even if Mize is killed, wouldn’t <Wisdom Road> just be inherited by someone else?”

“<Wisdom Road> cannot be completely used at the time of inheritance. Although it may vary for different people, it would take around 15 to 20 years to completely inherit the memories.”

Is earning that amount of time truly sufficient for this?

“So, just because she will be the seed of a civil war, a father would send assassins after his own daughter?”

“Royals… no, even nobles are like that. They are moved by benefits rather than emotions. Just like what happened during Elysia’s case.”

I remember last month.

Robert Tergande, prioritizing the benefits of his corruption, had assassinated a knight who had sworn fealty unto him. That man must not have had even the slightest bit of emotion towards that knight.

And that is why he died.

If you are going to kill for the sake of benefits– you must be prepared to be killed for benefits.

Even if you are a royal.

“You will now be taken into custody.”

Chris coldly tells me.

At the same time, two men, clad in the same military uniform as Chris, approach me from both sides.

“Do you really think I would betray you? I’ve accepted this commission as a former agent of the Organization, 28.”

“Then why didn’t you drink that?”

Chris points at the drink I hold in one hand.

Chris had handed this drink to me earlier, and I haven’t brought it to my mouth yet.

“Just as you distrust us, we distrust you… don’t be disappointed; since we’ve lost our trust in you, it means you’ve safely escaped from being the dog of the state.”

I click my tongue at Chris’ unchanged attitude. Most likely, Oz informed her that I was considering interrogation for my own selfishness.

“… Give me some time.”

I ignore the two men approaching and tell Chris.

“If you can’t trust me as 28… then this is my hope as Tweight. At least… just for one day tomorrow. Allow me to spend it with Mize.”

I lower my head and plead to Chris.

Chris crossed her arms and signalled to the man on the right with her eyes. The man gave a small nod, before giving me something that looked like a black pill.

“If you drink that, I’ll listen to your request.”

I receive the suspicious pill and swallow it.

Before even 10 seconds pass– I was struck with an intense dizziness.

“Guh… this, is…”

“It’s a poison developed by the Bureau. If you do not ingest the antidote within 30 hours, you will die. Until then, you will feel a burning pain all over your body… and you will barely be able to move. Tomorrow night, after Her Royal Highness, Princess Michelliaze is assassinated, you will be given the antidote.”

“… in this state, I can’t even hold a proper conversation, with my classmate.”

“Endure it. This is a concession.”

This is certainly a concession… but this is still demonic treatment.

“Just in case, I’ll have these two men monitor you. I don’t think you can do anything in that condition, but… don’t think of doing something unnecessary.”

With those last words, Chris turns on her heel.

As the two men watch me, I crouch down due to the intense dizziness.

Author’s Note:

It’s a pseudo-reincarnator.