Chapter 39: What Changes a Life Part 1

It was a happy ending.

…If only it had ended like that, I would’ve been content.

Unfortunately, reality is never that simple.

There are still countless things to resolve and clean up.

“Hello.”

“Yes, Saintess. Good evening.”

Late at night—

When I arrived at the Cradle, I found Tillis standing at the front gate.

Well, I’d have done the same if I were her.

I had a fixed destination to return to, so there was no need for her to go searching all over.

She had already absorbed the demon from Coran Lekias, so if she were aiming for anyone, it would be me.

I knelt down for the time being.

Wouldn’t it be enough to just beg on my knees?

“I’m truly sorry for all the trouble I caused today…”

“Oh, that’s fine.”

I stood up straight immediately.

If she says it’s fine, then…

“Then, may I ask what brings you here?”

“This.”

This was the capital of the empire and the Cradle.

No matter how strong Tillis was, I believed she wouldn’t be foolish enough to make enemies of both Olga Helmod and the entire Imperial Army.

Besides, she now had a reason not to kill me—

Because I had the Lemegeton. And since I hadn’t made a contract yet, she must have been even more desperate.

Demons weren’t something you encountered every day. She wouldn’t want to waste the opportunity.

“This, I mean.”

As expected, Tillis didn’t harm me.

Instead, she held out something silver and white from her arms.

“Whoa, what’s this…?”

I reflexively took it from her and was surprised by its unexpected weight.

Looking closely, it was Emily’s drone. The one I had used as bait.

Seeing that it wasn’t moving, it was probably broken or had run out of power.

“You came all the way here just to return this?”

“Nope. I want you to fix it.”

“…Huh?”

“It stopped working.”

Completely unpredictable behavior.

What exactly did she plan to do with it after getting it fixed?

More than that, it was unsettling how she acted like it already belonged to her.

“Uh… well, I’ll do what I can.”

“Thanks.”

But really, what could I possibly do?

It was best to avoid doing anything that might offend her.

She may not have a reason to attack me right now, but who knows what might happen later?

“Well then, it’s late. Please get home safely, Student Johan.”

“…Yes.”

I gave a polite bow toward her as she waved, then passed through the Cradle’s main gate.

She was terrifying.

I didn’t think she’d hurt me, but still—

I never imagined she’d act like nothing happened.

I couldn’t read her at all.

Honestly, I’d rather deal with the scheming cultists. They were easier to understand.

Anyway, the biggest fire had been put out.

Now, there was only one thing left.

***

The next day.

I left the Cradle of my own accord.

Strangely, the more I resolved to stay cooped up inside, the more things kept dragging me out.

Maybe I should make a new resolution to go outside more often.

Well, at least I had reliable protection this time.

“We’ll be there soon if we turn here, senior.”

It was Dietrich.

He was guarding me with a ridiculous amount of caution, almost theatrically.

I appreciated the enthusiasm, but I kind of wished he’d tone it down a bit. It was embarrassing.

“I know you’ve been caught up in some dangerous stuff lately. I’ll make sure you’re safe today!”

“Right. I appreciate it.”

Still, I had to admit. When it came to guarding, he was the real deal.

For now, he might be weaker than Ariel, but since he fights with his body, he’s a lot more stable and probably has better stamina too.

Unlike last time, when I brought Ariel along as an escort and ended up having to protect her instead, this time the situation wouldn’t take such a sharp turn.

Besides, since Tillis had stopped monitoring me, Yuna was probably nearby too, so I didn’t need to worry about any surprise attacks.

The question was where was I headed with a reliable escort in place?

“We’ve arrived, senior. This is the mansion of Marquis of Hereticus and myself.”

“Right… Well… I suppose it wouldn’t have hurt if it were a bit farther away.”

It was the residence of Marquis Hereticus.

That’s right. I had walked straight into the tiger’s den.

After pulling what looked like a betrayal on Kult yesterday, I had to clean things up.

There’s no reason to cause friction with someone trying to remain neutral.

I was here to keep my promise.

“When Kult came back yesterday, he said you were wise, senior.”

Was that a compliment, or a veiled warning to watch my step if I didn’t want to die?

It sure sounded more like the latter.

“I knew you two would get along. You’ve got some similarities.”

“…We’re not close.”

And we’re definitely not alike.

Also, I’d appreciate it if he stopped spouting nonsense. I was already at my limit.

“Alright, let’s go in! I’ve already let them know, so don’t worry.”

“Sure.”

And just like that, I stepped over the threshold of the Hereticus mansion.

The moment I crossed it, I felt like I couldn’t breathe.

I knew nothing was going to happen, but still….it was hard to shake the feeling.

As I walked through the beautifully maintained garden of the Hereticus mansion—

“Huh? Dietrich, who’s this? A guest?”

“Oh, Helena. Were you out on a walk?”

“Yes, it was a nice day, and I was feeling alright, so I came out for a bit.”

We ran into a girl who’d been walking through the garden.

Hair as white as snow gleamed in the sunlight, paired with a sunflower-like smile.

She was the kind of girl who could brighten your mood just by being there.

“This is Helena Hereticus, Senior. Kult’s younger sister. Ah—well, not by blood, but… ahem! She’s like a real sister to him.”

“Uh, I see.”

I left behind Dietrich who was stammering over how to explain and turned my attention to Helena.

When Kult’s name came up, Helena smiled shyly. At the very least, it seemed she really did think of him as an older brother.

“Helena, this is a senior from the Cradle I attend. A remarkable man named Johan Damus, of House Damus.”

Dietrich followed up quickly, praising me with exaggerated flair.

Helena widened her eyes and looked up at me, asking,

“A remarkable man?”

“Well, I don’t know if I’d go that far. But I do try to become one.”

I knelt down to meet Helena’s gaze as I replied.

“I’m working on medicine to help people who are sick and in pain.”

“Wow!”

If this simple act of mine could give even a little bit of hope to a child who’s lived through hardship, that would be enough.

“Then can you fix my brother, too? His eyes aren’t well. He can’t see very clearly. The world is so bright and beautiful…it’s such a shame.”

“…I see. Well, I’m here to meet him anyway, so I’ll take a look.”

“Okay! Then I’m counting on you to take care of my brother!”

“Of course.”

I stood up, still smiling. It was about time to go meet Kult.

Helena didn’t know the truth about him.

And Kult, in turn, was doing everything he could to hide that truth from her.

Yes… Helena’s very existence—

“Take care of yourself, too.”

“I will!”

—she was a symbol of Kult’s humanity.

***

With Dietrich leading the way, I finally came face-to-face with Kult.

He greeted me from his study, lifting a teacup to his lips.

“Hello, Mr. Johan.”

“Hello. It’s been a while. I didn’t expect we’d meet again like this.”

“Please, have a seat.”

As I took a seat across from Kult at his invitation, he personally poured the tea.

The gesture was smooth yet oddly uncomfortable.

There’s no poison in this tea… right? Just in case, I won’t touch it.

“What brings you here today?”

“There was something I forgot to give you yesterday, so I came by.”

“Oh, really? I didn’t realize you had anything for me.”

What a funny guy.

This was the same man who subtly threatened me through Dietrich to behave wisely.

“Dietrich, would you mind stepping out for a moment? I think it’s time for a conversation between nobles.”

“Alright, I’ll wait outside.”

Without a hint of suspicion, Dietrich smiled cheerfully at Kult’s words and left the room without hesitation.

What am I supposed to do with that dumb bastard? He grew up in the slums…. how can he be so clueless?

The moment Dietrich fully stepped out, Kult wiped the smile from his face and said,

“You came early. Things would’ve been more interesting if you’d just run away.”

“I told you I couldn’t. I don’t lie. In business, trust matters.”

“Wise of you.”

Only then did Kult smile again.

“So, will you tell me where Elysium’s relic is?”

“…The thing is, I’m not sure I can tell you exactly. I hope you’ll understand.”

“Your tongue’s getting awfully long. Don’t tell me you actually don’t know.”

Maybe the fight with Tillis was tougher than expected because his temper seemed unusually short today.

The ever-composed Kult was showing a surprisingly expressive face.

“No, I know. I really do. It’s just… a bit complicated to explain.”

“Then go ahead. I’ll decide after I hear it.”

The relic of Elysium.

As of now, it was an object that didn’t even exist yet.

Which was why no matter how hard Kult and Eden searched for it, they wouldn’t find it.

“The relic of Elysium is already close to you.”

“Maybe ripping your tongue out really is the answer.”

“…No, seriously. I’m not joking.”

“You’re not just making things up to get out of trouble?”

“I’m sure you’ve had your suspicions already.”

“Hah.”

Kult could see the future.

However, the future Kult could see was limited to what a specific person would experience.

In other words, he couldn’t see the future of someone whose identity he didn’t know.

That was why he was searching for the Oracle.

That was why he hadn’t known the identities of the Judge and the Safe Clown.

Kult didn’t know how he would come to possess the relic in the future.

He must have been suspicious of that fact.

At first, he probably thought it was just because the relic was something special.

But then…

“So, you’re saying I won’t find the relic….it’ will find me.”

“…Yes, that’s exactly it.”

Kult knew what his own weakness was. So he must have considered other possibilities.

What I did this time served to drive a nail into that suspicion.

Thanks to this, Kult would be able to save manpower and resources.

It would give him a bit of breathing room.

However, no one could know what kind of consequences this action might bring.

“All right, not bad. I think I can overlook what happened this time.”

Still, I believed this action might end up being poison.

Not for Lobelia…

“Thanks to this information, I think I’ll have a little more breathing room.”

But for Kult himself.

Well, the results would speak for themselves.

Whether that grueling process of searching for the relic was something Kult needed or not…the outcome would tell.

Isn’t that just life?

Most people never know what the future holds.

I too could only hold on to the same kind of hope.

***

The deal with Kult was over.

Thanks to the information I handed over, I had just barely managed to maintain our original neutral relationship.

I slowly got up, completely drained.

It was time to go back.

“……”

Then suddenly, through the crack in the door, I caught eyes with someone peeking in from the other side.

It was Helena Hereticus.

Kult, as if he’d known all along, gave me a knowing smile.

“Ahem, hmm… The tea smells wonderful.”

I sat back down.

Right, this must be his way of asking me to maintain appearances.

I had just told Helena I’d try to treat Kult, so it would look odd if I suddenly got up and left.

“Does it seem strange?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“The way I act all normal in front of Helena. Don’t you think it’s contradictory for a criminal who’s killed so many to behave like that?”

“People are contradictory by nature. I just want myself and my family to be safe. That’s pretty normal, isn’t it?”

Really, it’s nothing special.

I answered honestly. That’s just how people are.

“But I’m not a normal person. You know that, don’t you?”

“So?”

“……”

What does he want me to say?

Was he hoping I would insult him or something?

I wasn’t the kind of person who could do that.

Especially not in front of the kid who was watching.

I scratched my head and asked,

“So… do you feel guilty or something?”

“Yes, I suppose I do.”

“Well, that’s good then.”

“Is it?”

Why was I even counseling a lunatic like this?

Maybe it’s because Helena asked me to help treat Kult.

“You have to understand what you’re doing in order to give your actions weight, right? So yeah, I’d say it’s a good thing.”

“I see.”

Though truth be told, that wasn’t really my philosophy.

I just recited the ideals Kult started with.

Whenever I was torn, going back to the beginning was always the best approach.

It did feel a bit like I was encouraging crime, but anyway…

“Well, now that you’ve got some breathing room, spend time with your family and think things over.”

Just like Helena suggested, I wrote Kult a prescription.

I prescribed what seemed most necessary for him at the time.

Space, and reflection.

Man, I was practically a top-tier doctor.

“Who knows? Maybe you’ll change your mind.”

“Well, what do you think, Mr. Johan? Do you think I’ll change?”

“Not at all.”

Of course, if the patient had no intention of being treated, then it was all meaningless.

I didn’t believe I could change Kult.

If there was someone who could, it’d probably be the person closest to him. Someone who was a part of his life.

“Big brother, may I come in?”

“Yes, Helena. I just finished up.”

I gave a wide smile and glanced at Helena as she stepped into the room, then made my way out of the Hereticus Marquisate.