Chapter 361

"Something's strange with Reinhardt."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"Well, I... "

Eren, Riana, Harriet, and Adelia were gathered together, discussing such things.

Reinhardt always had a somewhat mysterious expression by default.

But for the past few days, everyone felt something strange when they saw Reinhardt.

He had a dreamy gaze, as if he had seen everything in the world.

There were no pointless arguments or actions for the past few days.

It was a dreamy and gentle gaze.

Of course, some people feel embarrassed when they are looked at with such a gaze, like Harriet.

There are also people who worry about where it hurts and touch their forehead, like Ellen Artorius.

Of course, there are completely different people as well.

"I feel sick."

Riana de Granze is the one who is jealous.

"No, I drank a little at home last time and suddenly he said to me, 'Don't drink too much, you'll get diabetes.' What should I say? Huh? What is this... Anyway, it was the first time in my life that I felt dirty in that way."

Just drink less.

When the guy who said that suddenly said something kind, Riana was not only surprised but also disgusted.

"Crazy, why are you suddenly like this?"

"He's worried, what else?"

Everyone had different reactions to Riana's words.

They knew that Reinhardt was acting strange these days, but they didn't know why.

"Should we do something...?"

Riana just said that, shaking her head. Ellen asked her.

"If we do, what?"

"Well... besides eating and drinking when you feel depressed, what else is there?"

If there is something to do for the guy who is completely dead, what else is there besides that?

Riana, who was jealous and disgusted, was right to worry about Reinhardt.

Everyone started thinking about what to do for Reinhardt, who was completely dead.

Regardless of whether it would really help Reinhardt or not.

* * *

I've been thinking that there are too many things to worry about for a long time. Of course, I thought it would only get worse, but as the pressure began to build up, it became difficult to focus on every aspect.

Black Order said they would support me for now, but I don't know their true intentions.

Maybe leaving the temple myself is the right way to go. Like Lucynil said, I will become more and more dangerous and more and more people will find out about my true identity. And depending on who knows, it is highly likely that it will become an irreversible situation. Isn't it better to just leave the temple than to risk walking a dangerous tightrope? But there is a reason why I have to stay in the temple as long as I can hide my identity. "It hasn't been a few days yet, but it seems to be going smoothly." "That's a relief." B-class dormitory. It was Charlotte calmly drinking tea. Analysis and research on the engagement potion. Through that, I can remove the demon lord's soul that has taken root in Charlotte. Until then, I am the only one who can deal with Charlotte's outbursts of power. It is true that I also have thoughts of not wanting to leave the temple, aside from practical problems, but ultimately it is just my personal desires and greed. "For now, we've kept the information about the maze under the demon lord's castle and where we got the book a secret. It may be revealed later, but for now, no one knows." The maze under the demon lord's castle. The problem is not the information itself being revealed. But the fact that only an archdemon can enter there is the problem. It will be difficult to survive if it is known that Charlotte is now in a state no different from the demon lord. I want to stay in the temple until Charlotte's problem is resolved. I can't be sure if that will happen. "By the way, is there something going on these days? Did you fight with the kids...?" "Huh? No?" "Hmm." Charlotte asked carefully as if she felt something different from usual in my appearance. It could be a problem to show a different side than usual. When I was a little lost, Charlotte held my hand quietly. "Everything will be okay. Don't worry." It was a similar thing that Charlotte said to me. I suddenly thought that it would have been nice if Charlotte had an oracle too. * * * Winter Palace. Vertus' office. "I expected this to happen, but in the end, it will become a mystery." Vertus neatly arranged the organized reports on the table. The Luberia Lanche incident. It was possible to estimate the attackers, but their whereabouts were mysterious. The demon lord's intentions also became unknown. The report received now stated that an investigation into the Luberia Lanche incident would be conducted, but ultimately it had reached the limits of the investigation. The demon lord's successor exists. And there is a high possibility that it is a certain boy who saved Charlotte. Where did that boy go? A boy who disappeared like he evaporated in the middle of the Hwangdo plains. Charlotte and herself had tracked his whereabouts, but they never found him. At this point, the demon lord's reappearance is working in favor of the empire, but it was not a good thing to have the enemy of the empire reappear so vaguely without knowing what kind of existence the demon lord is. Where should I start digging to reach the remaining forces of the demon world? That was Vertus' worry. "However, about what you mentioned before... it's about Linehart."

"It's noisy."

When Linehart's name was mentioned, Vertus frowned deeply.

"Don't talk about that bastard for a while."

There are memories that can damage a person just by thinking about them.

Right now, Linehart's name was one of those things for Vertus.

Cross-dressing.

Why? What's so unsatisfying?

No reason, no justification, nothing can justify Linehart's actions.

He said it was for money, but the prize money for that silly cross-dressing competition is not a significant amount. In fact, the Rotary Club is raking in money with a rake, so how much would the prize money for that silly cross-dressing competition help the club's finances?

So, literally.

There is no reason for Linehart to do that other than wanting to.

No matter how much you think about it!

To Vertus, Linehart is that kind of guy.

The guy who cross-dressed and went to the competition because he wanted to show it to others.

"...."

People tend to give up understanding things that go beyond their own standards.

Vertus gave up understanding Linehart.

Giving up means not being curious or thinking about it.

Along with the words to stop investigating the silver-haired girl, Vertus was not thinking about that crazy guy, Linehart.

In the current situation, Vertus' abandonment of reasoning about Linehart is ultimately a favorable situation for Linehart.

"Well... I still think this is something you should know..."

"I said don't talk about it."

Vertus was so mentally damaged that he was not going to lie down near the dormitory until the end of winter vacation.

Seeing that the prince's mind was uncomfortable, the minister hesitated.

It was like a story that he couldn't say or back down from.

"Well, then I'll just tell you this."

"Huh, okay. What is it?"

If it's nothing special, you have to be prepared to be punished, as if Vertus' attitude was saying that.

The minister opened his mouth with difficulty.

"I received the imperial seal."

"....Huh?"

Vertus blinked his head.

It was because unexpected words came out.

The imperial seal?

"...Linehart received it? The imperial seal? Who? My brother?"

Vertus also knew that Linehart had borrowed the imperial seal from Charlotte when she went to Darkland last time.

"No, Your Majesty gave it to him directly..."

"...Your Majesty?"

The imperial seal.

If the emperor gave it directly, it means it's not a loan, but a grant.

The one who owns it receives treatment equivalent to that of a noble.

It is natural that the owner of it has a special privilege of exemption for most major and minor affairs just by having it.

There is no clear and detailed law on what kind of treatment the nobility should receive. Therefore, receiving treatment equivalent to that of a noble means receiving treatment beyond that of all existing privileged classes in the world. Therefore, it is natural that anyone cannot receive or possess the imperial seal, and those who possess it must be individuals who have achieved great accomplishments in the empire. For example, those who are no longer in this world, such as the party of warriors including Lagan Artorius. However, Linehart received it. "Last time, wasn't there an invitation to the palace for students related to the temple festival?" "Ah, yes. It's an annual event." It's nothing special and happens every year. There is an event where the temple tournament winners of each grade are invited to the palace to pay homage and encourage them. Linehart is the winner of the first-year temple. "Did he get it there...?" "Yes. Not only Linehart, but Ellen Artorius also received the imperial seal." "Ellen? He wouldn't have participated in the tournament this time, would he?" "I heard that they also invited the Miss and Mister Temple Contest winners this time." "Hmm. I see." Vertus was not interested in such things at the time because he was too busy with other things. So it was just now that he found out that Ellen was the Miss Temple winner. The Miss and Mister Temple Contest winners are not originally invited to the palace. The emperor deliberately invited Ellen because he wanted to give him the imperial seal. As for Ellen, it is a very important and good judgment of the emperor to give him the imperial seal because he is the sister of a warrior, has outstanding talent, and is growing at a frightening speed. However, Linehart too? Vertus also thinks that Linehart is a possessor of terrifying talent. He can be superior in terms of speed. Since the starting point was significantly different, the two who are now able to use magic reinforcement. Of course, their skills are not equal. However, at this point in time, Ellen is actually receiving more than expected because she has a great precedent in Lagan Artorius as her older brother, and there are more skilled people in the empire than Ellen and Linehart. Even if it is an investment in possibility, it is a little excessive to receive the imperial seal without the background of being a warrior's sister. "He's the owner of Tiamat." "...What?" Tiamat. Vertus narrowed his eyes at those words. "Is it the Tiamat I know? The relic of Tu'an?" "Yes. Linehart is..." The subordinate speaks quietly. "The champion of Tu'an." Linehart was the champion of Tu'an. Due to the shock of a different meaning than before, Vertus was staring blankly with his mouth open. "When did this happen?" "I don't know. It's just information that I just received...."

Owner of Tiamat.

Champion of Tu'an.

Apostle of the Pure God.

Pure.

And.

Cross-dresser.

"Why did he cross-dress, for God's sake?"

"....Excuse me?"

Vertus had to step back as he exploded in anger.

Pure and cross-dressing.

Vertus was convinced that Linehart was even crazier than he thought. He suppressed the throbbing in his temples and took a deep breath.

"Well, Linehart is the champion of Tu'an, right? I'm not sure when that happened."

"Yes, Your Highness. So, along with Ellen Artorius, they received the imperial seal as the archenemies of the demon king.... That's what I think."

"That could be it. It's possible...."

Vertus had one scene he wanted to erase from his mind by soaking his brain in cleaning solution and scrubbing it clean.

He tried to force it out of his mind, but it kept coming back.

It was certain that Linehart was a pervert, but it was also certain that he was the champion of Tu'an.

He pushed aside his worries about the unnecessary details. He wanted to keep them away forever, but it wasn't easy.

Anyway, Linehart is the champion of Tu'an. That's why he received the imperial seal along with Ellen.

Vertus knew that Ellen was the owner of Lament.

But he didn't know that Linehart was the champion of Tu'an until now.

"Last year, didn't he and Ellen bring back an artifact that was believed to be a relic of the demon king from Darkland? Right?"

"Yes, if you're talking about the artifact that suddenly disappeared...."

Linehart had brought back a powerful artifact believed to be a relic of the demon king from Darkland last summer vacation.

And, after investigating it in detail, it suddenly disappeared after Dettomorian performed some kind of ritual.

"Isn't it a bit of a stretch to think that Linehart's connection to being the champion of Tu'an has something to do with the artifact of the demon king?"

"I'm not sure, Your Highness."

The idea that a relic could be corrupted is something that only those who have seen it with their own eyes can believe.

If the fact that Linehart became the owner of Tiamat is related to that artifact, it means that some time has passed since he became the champion of Tu'an.

"Then he's been keeping the fact that he was the champion of Tu'an a secret until now...."

It makes sense.

The owner of a relic is bound to attract unnecessary attention. It's in the same context as Ellen hiding the fact that she is a warrior's sister and the owner of Lament.

If Linehart, who is close to Ellen, had hidden the fact that he had become the owner of Tiamat until now, it is possible.

In the end, it is too ambiguous at this point to determine whether Linehart became the champion of Tu'an before or after entering the temple. It is only possible to estimate that it was around the summer vacation period.

But.

The real point to consider is elsewhere. "I didn't know Linehart was the owner of Tiamat until now. It's a well-kept secret. How did His Majesty find out that Linehart is the champion of Tu'an?... Tu'an's relic, believed to be a relic of the demon king, disappeared after Dettomorian performed some kind of ritual. I wonder if Linehart's connection to being the champion of Tu'an has something to do with the artifact of the demon king. However, the real point to consider is elsewhere... Linehart is not a believer and doesn't have the personality for it. Olivia Lanche, who has strong divine power and is called the saint and priestess of Tu'an, would be more suitable as the champion of Tu'an. But the gods' thoughts are unknown. In the end, what remains is the fact that Linehart is the champion of Tu'an. The power of purity, the power that opposes corruption, the power that stands against darkness. The power of darkness, the power that deals with shadows. His brother, Charlotte de Gradia, who was gradually being consumed by the power of shadows, suddenly regained his strength after giving up everything. Some moments of Charlotte come to Vertus' mind. Vertus stares out the window with a stern expression. Linehart sometimes left the temple empty... The Crown Prince soon smiles wryly. "The date when my brother's condition suddenly improved. The date when Linehart did not attend the temple. The whereabouts of my brother. Bring all of them and compare them." At that moment, someone knocks on Vertus' office door. "What is it?" "Your Highness, Sabiolin Tana requests an audience." "I don't have time to rest. Let him in." The position of the First Prince was too big to focus on just one thing. If he forgets, the data that his subordinates have organized will give him inspiration or enlightenment on something else. Until then, he just needs to do something else. Sabiolin Tana soon enters the Crown Prince's office. " "As always, he had a calm demeanor with a stern expression, and he looked like a woman of mystique regardless of his actual age. The head of Shanafeil greeted the Crown Prince. 'Your Highness, I have come to see you.' 'Welcome, Tana Kyung,' said the Crown Prince. Sabiolin Tana looked at the Crown Prince and spoke, 'I heard that there is something I need to do.' 'Yes, Tana Kyung, it is an important matter,' said Vertus, smiling with his fingers interlocked. 'A very important matter.' Sabiolin Tana silently stared at Vertus' smile."