In truth, the Empress quite enjoyed the social gathering.

Due to the Curse of Dragonblood that was damaging her body, she couldn’t really attend many external events except for a handful of them.

The only reason she recently attended the Hero Selection Ordeal was due to the significance of the event. Or else, she would have stayed in the Imperial Palace, following her doctor’s suggestion.

That was why, even though the social gathering was practically filled with starving demons harboring dark intentions, she was still having fun from attending the event.

The orchestra's performance, strong alcohol, greasy food, and the sound of people talking.

As someone who had been restricted from all kinds of simulations, these things brought her the joy of experiencing the unknown. There was no way that she’d feel reluctant to experience them.

“Did you enjoy the party, Your Imperial Majesty?”

Well…

She had been enjoying it until this very moment.

When Cecilia the 11th heard the voice coming from the side, the subtle smile on her face was completely gone.

“Bogut.”

“Sorry for borrowing your new friend like that.”

Forget etiquette, he blatantly spoke to her in a friendly manner, as if she was treating her as a friend.

His tendency to be ‘informal’ was so evident from how he casually sat in the front seat of the Empress.

While this was enough to get him punished for lèse-majesté, neither of the party involved cared about it.

After all, he was the core of the Upper Nobles Association.

The leader of the Empire Faction, ‘everyone’ who wasn’t a part of the Chancellor’s and the Empress’ faction.

Both the Empress and Bogut knew that each of them had enough authority to divide the Empire into pieces if they really were to openly go against each other.

“This is my gift for you, Your Imperial Majesty. It must’ve been tough on you to come all the way here.”

Bogut said as the Empress looked at him silently.

“This is the Breath of Mistletoe. The liquor is dubbed the Empire Far East's Treasure. Even if it’s not to your taste, it’s going to, at the very least, alleviate your pain.”

“...”

On the outside, it looked no different from wine, but unlike other liquors, it had this mysterious blue color.

The liquid pouring from the wine bottle's uncorked tip gradually filled the glass in front of the Empress.

“So…”

Bogut continued in a peaceful tone.

“When are you going to fight?”

“...”

“I'm talking about the civil war. You see, I’m planning to start one soon.”

Hearing that, the Empress’ expression grew distorted.

…This crazy bastard.

She already knew that the Upper Nobles Association, led by this man, had been making unusual moves.

It was just, she never expected that he’d reveal such a thing so calmly.

“Huh? Why do you look so surprised?”

Marquis Bogut asked, tilting his head.

“You’ve already known about it anyway, no?”

Hearing that, Cecilia the 11th’s face twitched.

“...I’m not sure what you're talking about.”

“Oh, c’mon, I know you’ve wiretapped Dowd or something similar. You've been thinking of using him as a chess piece from the beginning.”

“...”

“You didn't approach him with a pure intention either, Your Imperial Majesty.”

As Cecilia stayed silent, he continued.

“It’s quite the excellent composition we got here; The pitiful Empress, and the leader of the Upper Nobles Association who’s conspiring a wicked plan to devour the country. If anyone who doesn’t know anything saw it, they’d end up getting fooled.”

“...”

“That man is particularly vulnerable to people who are treating him kindly. Once he recognizes you as someone close to him, he’ll definitely do anything to protect you. This is what you are aiming for, isn’t it? It’s just like squeezing in his weakness. What a cunning woman.”

With a grin still plastered on his face…

Abusive words kept pouring out of his mouth.

Words that went beyond even lèse-majesté, that could get him hung immediately if the Empress wished to.

“...You’re just like me. A monster who moves for the sake of your ‘goals’.”

Cecilia the 11th did not respond.

Instead, she emptied the glass Bogut had given her.

Seeing that, Bogut continued.

“As expected of you, Your Imperial Majesty! Brave! Your spirit befits that of the Master of the Empire!”

“...”

What kind of reaction is that?The Empress narrowed her eyes and looked at him. He continued.

“I can’t believe you’d drink something your political enemy gave you without any suspicions. What if I had poisoned it with something that could actually kill you?”

“...Well.”

To that, Cecilia the 11th replied with a deep sigh.

“It’s because I don’t think you’ll even do such an evil—”

“That’s a lie.”

But, before she could even finish her sentence, Bogut cut her off.

The smile on his face had disappeared…

Replaced by an expressionless face…

Save for the glint in his eyes, which made the air feel heavy just by looking at it.

Using his gaze, he scanned part of her skin that was exposed out of her clothes.

To be more specific, he was seeing what was beneath her skin.

The curse that eroded her blood vessels, turning them dark.

“You drank it because you are that desperate to get rid of that curse.”

“...”

Cecilia the 11th didn’t reply.

“Just be honest with me. You won’t care even if it was poisoned, since your body can only hold on for a month at most.”

“...”

She didn’t give out any response until the end.

As if she didn’t feel the need to deny his words.

“...Thank you for the gift, Bogut.”

Instead, she said those words and got up from her seat.

“Well, let me give you a piece of advice, Your Majesty the Empress, who cares about self-preservation so much.”

As she was about to turn her head around and leave, Bogut said those words.

“Do you know the biggest factor in how the Upper Nobles Association was able to grow in power like this, Your Imperial Majesty?”

“...Pleasant evening for you.”

The Empress tried to ignore him and walked away, but Bogut kept on talking, seemingly not having any intention to stop.

“It was the Crimson Night Incident.”

“...”

“The Imperial Household back then handled the situation in the worst possible way. It was so bad that if Duke Tristan himself hadn’t bowed his head and begged the Guardians for their assistance, the Red Devil might’ve just burned down the Empire right then.”

“...”

“Due to such a show of incompetence in leadership, a significant number of nobles grew to distrust the Imperial Household. And those people joined the Upper Nobles Association.”

It didn’t seem like he’d let her go easily.

The Empress let out a sigh inwardly.

“What is it that you’re trying to say, Bogut?”

“No, I am just truly curious what would be different compared to that time, Your Imperial Majesty.”

Bogut continued with a smile.

“A red night will be coming again soon. It’ll be…much more splendid than before.”

“...What?”

“If I were to start a civil war, it’d be around that time. Just like before.”

“...”

Hearing him confidently declaring his rebellion, the Empress’ expression turned blank.n.

“...”

A crazy bastard.

Those were the only fitting words to describe him.

At the stunned Empress, Bogut sent her a light wink.

“I truly hope you can deal with it well.”

He said so as he gulped down the wine.

There was elegance in his gesture.

It was definitely…

A gesture that only a sane madman could pull off.

[...So, why did you come out alone? Are you running away from something?]

Inside the carriage, Caliban whispered those words to me as the carriage left the Imperial Palace.

Considering that I grabbed it and left as soon as the social gathering was over, he wasn’t exactly wrong.

“I have things to prepare for…it won’t be long before everything starts.”

[But still, there are people who have followed you all the way to the Imperial Palace. Shouldn’t you also consider them?]

He was probably referring to Eleanor and Iliya.

I’d definitely get in trouble later for acting separately without saying a word to those two.

But, I had my reasons.

“First of all, the schedule is tight. It’s impossible to tell those two to follow it…”

I had to stop by Elfante and in two days, I needed to go to the Holy Land immediately.

First, I had to ask the Dean of the Theology School, Walter, a favor.

Second, I had to go see Archbishop Luminol in the Holy Land.

Anyway, the tight schedule aside…

“...Iliya is avoiding me for some reason.”

Since she was the main character of this main scenario, I wanted to get her ready properly.

But, it felt like she stubbornly refused to meet me.

I don’t think I’ve done anything wrong to her, so why?

…It doesn’t matter much, but still.

Honestly, it was a little bit iffy to call the Third Ordeal an ordeal.

Unlike the previous ones, which involved terrifying activities like getting crammed into a dungeon or being placed in the middle of a forest filled with Demonic Creatures, the Third Ordeal was entirely about 'examination'.

To be more specific, a thorough examination of whether the punks could stay alive even after touching the Holy Sword.

There really was nothing I could do to help her.

[...Well, not really surprised here since she saw itwith her own eyes.]

“Sorry?”

[She’s probably not in her right mind at the moment since she saw something that would’ve made her feel good…and a heart-wrenching sight at the same time. Just leave her be.]

“...”

Okay, I had no idea what he was talking about.

Seeing me tilting my head, Caliban threw me a smile, as if telling me not to worry, before saying…

[So, what are you preparing for this time?]

“...Well, there are a few things.”

Archbishop Luminol played quite the pranks throughout the ordeal, no?

I was going to prepare to take revenge for that… as well as set up a ‘stage’ for the Final Ordeal.

As I thought so, I fiddled with the lion breastplate inside my inner chest pocket.

It'd be quite difficult to stick this to the Red Devil without herhelp.

[...]

“...What’s wrong?”

He went silent looking all brusque, even when I answered him sincerely.

Caliban then replied in a voice filled with dissatisfaction.

[Seeing how you answered the second question first, it seems like you don’t want to talk about the first question, huh?]

“...”

[I’m guessing that you’re planning to do something to my breastplate, that’s why you brought it all the way here from the Imperial Palace. Since you’re going to meet that weirdo, Walter or something, it means you’re trying to add something to it.]

“...”

[Say it. What are you planning to do with my thing? Tell me, what is it that you’re planning that you refuse to share with me?]

“...”

Seems like it’s true that you learn what you are exposed to.

He was well aware of my tendencies, I guess it was expected from someone who had spent the most time with me.

That’s scary. Seriously scary.

“...”

Honestly, I didn’t want to talk about it.

Because it felt as if I was asking this person to do something heinous.

Just like how I put Valkasus and Caliban into the Soul Linker, I also needed someone to play the role of a ‘catalyst’ inside the breastplate so that I would be able to use it as intended.

The problem here was the prerequisite condition I had to fulfill.

< Item Info >

[ ▲ Tatiana Grachel ] [ Processed ]

[ Specialty: Curse ]

[ Form: Soul Spirit ]

[ Processing Options ]

▶ Subordinate as a familiar

▶ Use as an enhancement material for an item

▶ Resummon in full form (Becomes annihilated after one use)

“...”

Looking at the window before my eyes, I let out a sigh.

“Hey, Caliban.”

[Hm?]

“...Have you ever trained a woman before?”

After I said that the Soul Linker was filled with silence.

That didn't faze me, so I went on.

“...I need to, uhm, uh, what's a better word to use? Um, ‘educate’ her?”

[...]

“Please help me.”

[...It’s this feeling again.]

Caliban replied in a subdued voice.

[You truly seem to be drifting further away from being a human fucking being.]

“...You know, I’m always on guard against the Fallen’s Seal effect—”

[No, that’s not it.]

“...”

[You’re not a fucking human even without that.]

Please, stop with the harsh words.