Chapter 344

Terrace where Berthus and I used to talk. Berthus trembled as he drank tea, and I couldn't even look at him. I wanted to die. Berthus would want to kill me. "Why did you do that?" Berthus asked. "Money," I replied. "Money? What does cross-dressing have to do with money?" "There was a cross-dressing competition..." "A festival?" "Yeah." "Things have been getting better lately, haven't they?" "It's not bad to have it..." I couldn't bear to hear his voice anymore. Wasn't this my punishment? Wasn't this the climax? There couldn't be a more difficult situation in my life, could there? Now that I've received my punishment, I can believe that only happy things will happen in the future, right? Berthus barely finished his tea and put down his cup with shaking hands. "What the hell...?" Berthus seemed to be at a loss for words. He had been stripped of his mask, not in the usual way, but in a different sense. Memories of me in my knightly attire, trembling hands, and drunkenness flashed through his mind. "I'm sorry," I said. "What are you sorry for, you bastard? You're sorry, so what? What am I, huh? What am I? Not that! I'm just...just being nice! You're...you're my brother! Just...just out of kindness! This...this is crazy!" Berthus exploded, and I apologized unnecessarily. Berthus' gaze towards me changed. He was a crazy man who would do anything for money. Fortunately, Berthus didn't seem to hold a grudge against me and didn't plan to spread rumors. However, the incident had taken a strange turn and was leading to a background check. No matter how much I had prepared for excuses about my hometown and past, there were bound to be holes. Even if I handle things properly, the fact that I suddenly appeared last year won't change. And it wouldn't be difficult to figure out if someone starts digging deep enough. It was fortunate that Berthus was psychologically shaken enough by my confession about the cross-dressing festival that he won't delve into this issue even if he's curious. But the mission for the festival...the reward was great, but I could have been exposed unexpectedly from some unexpected corner. The Luberianche incident was executed despite the danger. However, the real danger was arising from the cross-dressing festival. If Berthus had directly asked me and dug deeper, it could have been really dangerous. But why do I feel more frustrated and want to give up when my life was really in danger? I had to sit still for a while. * * * There was an incident where both Berthus and I lost our mental stability, but Berthus, as usual, didn't show his face well in the Royal Class dormitory due to his busy schedule. Even I was caught up in countless events that I couldn't understand anymore. Ellen still hadn't returned. In the end, I had to perform my routine as usual. Worry and anxiety won't solve anything. I also had a sword fight with Olivia, but I've been focusing on mana manipulation lately. -Woong Alone in the training room. [Mana level reaches 20 (A-).] [Special conditions have been met.] ['Talent - Mana Domination' has been acquired.] I saw myself in the mirror of the training room, surrounded by refined mana. Finally, I succeeded in reaching one of Ellen's talents, mana domination. I was almost exposed because of the cross-dressing festival, and I sold myself out, but I was able to get very close to mana domination because of it. When I acquired the talents of mana perception and manipulation, I honestly couldn't feel anything. But in the end, it was clear that the help of those two talents was significant because I was able to acquire mana enhancement. And now, I can use mana enhancement without self-suggestion, and I have also acquired the higher talent of mana domination. My mana rank is now very high at A-. -Kurung! I can now perform a different kind of mana enhancement that feels different from before, with the flow of mana felt throughout my body. The manipulation of mana has become more sophisticated and delicate, and the output itself has become stronger. Acquiring mana domination is not the end. As I become more familiar with it, the talent of mana domination will make me even stronger. I won't be on the same starting line as Ellen. He's still better than me and will become stronger at a faster rate than me. I can walk a little faster now thanks to numerous cheats, but I shouldn't be satisfied with this level. It's the end if I settle down. I still have a long way to go. However, I feel that my understanding and utilization of mana enhancement has increased significantly with just the talent of mana domination.

I am becoming abnormally strong at an alarming rate.

Although it is understood that such abnormality is acceptable under the name of Royal Class, I wonder how long it can last.

After finishing training at the training ground, I returned to the dormitory, took a shower, and changed clothes.

-Chirp!

-Tok tok!

I saw a sparrow tapping on my window.

-Drip

When I opened the window, the sparrow came into the room and soon transformed into a human form, scaring me.

"Greetings, Your Highness."

"Oh."

Sarkegar, who always appeared as a maid when entering the dormitory, was now standing in the center of the room with her hands clasped.

"The demand's envoy has arrived."

"I see. How is it?"

"I was a little surprised because I didn't receive any information, but I heard the situation and am taking care of it."

Honestly, the expression "taking care of it" seems inappropriate when considering Lucy's age. In reality, it seems more appropriate to say that she is taking care of him like a child.

"It wasn't exposed to the outside, was it?"

"Yes, I came alone secretly late at night."

Sarkegar is also in the midst of infiltration. So Lucy was careful not to expose himself to the outside world.

I briefly explained to Sarkegar about what happened at the Vampire Council.

"It's beyond my imagination."

"That's right. I never thought it would turn out like this."

Sarkegar was satisfied that things went much better than expected.

"But you have to be careful. I don't know much about the Lord Vampires, but Antilianus seems dangerous."

"That's right. But I can't just sit back and do nothing."

It's a situation where you have to hold hands with even a suspicious person when it's not a time to be picky.

"And Kantus Magna and Akasha... I think they're too dangerous."

"That's right. But there's a high chance that what I want is there. It's already a very powerful force in itself."

"It seems most ideal to clash Black Order and Kantus Magna and take advantage of the chaos. But the fact that we don't know what Akasha is bothersome."

Sarkegar seemed to think that I could explore Akasha enough because I wanted power. Regardless of whether it is possible or not.

"It seems like something is starting to take shape, Your Highness."

Sarkegar showed a faint smile. She had obtained the power of the Vampire Council and joined the Yellow Road to cooperate with the demand.

Something that can now be called a force is being completed from the four demon factions, and Sarkegar was purely happy about it.

But please, don't smile like that with such a stern face. "It seems like there's a dissonance between your smile and how the world really is! Of course, the matter at hand is not over yet. How is the contact with the revolutionary forces going?" Sarkegar showed me a list of some individuals, including Owen de Gatmora, the Master of the Merchant Guild, who had supported the revolutionary forces. "He may not be part of the leadership, but he is an important figure. Contact him and, if necessary, use the name of Darkland. And keep in mind that they may not want to join forces with us, knowing the name of the demon factions. The revolutionary forces must choose. If they don't join us, we can still bring them down in other ways." "If we hand over the list we've secured to the Empire, that's all there is to it. They may deny it, but the Empire is in a very sensitive state due to their relationship with the Holy Knights. If they also perceive us as an additional threat in the form of the revolutionary forces, they will do everything in their power to eradicate us. So they won't be able to turn away from us. 'I appreciate your insight, sir.' Sarkegar is in charge of contacting the revolutionary forces. 'If necessary, ask for Lucynil's help. You'll need magic more than me.' 'Yes, sir.' For the time being, Lucynil, who is with us, assists Sarkegar. As things progress one by one, under the name of Bali, I will gradually distance myself from my identity as Reinhardt. I watched quietly as Sarkegar, who had become a sparrow, flew away."