My name is Black Raven, a demon harboring a strong resentment towards Loyd.
I am currently running around different places gathering supporters. I could go to where he is, Minerva, by myself, but it seems news of my defeat has reached our headquarters, and our leader sent a letter saying he would send out an appeal for reinforcements.
It is pretty far away, so it should take a while longer for them to arrive. Apparently they are three high ranking members of Catastrophe, so I have to make preparations for their arrival.
Umumu, where did this information leak anyway?
I would have to say it was the capital, but while my pride isn’t too keen on the idea of gathering support, I have to obey my leader’s orders.
But it’s not all bad news. Among the three people coming, one of them is my senior, White Rose. I don’t care about the other two, but I’m very happy about White Rose taking part.
White Rose is a superior species of alraune, alraune queen, and the one who taught me how to fight.
She’s nice, smart, and really strong. She is number three, but her strength rivals even that of our leader.
Fufufu. Your path ends here, Loyd.
No matter how powerful of a monster you are, you will be done for when White Rose gets here. Her combat abilities far surpass even mine. Other than our leader, she is without a doubt the most powerful member of Catastrophe.
That said, she does have a weakness outside of her combat abilities. She is severely directionally challenged, which is why she is positioned below me at number three.
She tends to get lost a lot and arrive after the job is over. I think it would be lucky if she finds her way to the Kingdom of Merzelia within one year.
As for me, I am currently at the Tower of Merzelia, in the capital of Merzelia. This is used as a place of worship for royalty, but I am here because Ruby is being incarcerated in its basement.
This place is also used to detain criminal nobles, and she is under the queen’s watch until her trial begins.
The trial will begin in three weeks, so I figured I should show my face here once.
I don’t really feel like seeing Ruby, but I need to make it easier for White Rose to fight. My senior comes first.
There are two armored guards standing in front of the entrance to the Tower of Merzelia. Neither is budging, and they are watching out for any intruders.
It might seem like it would be hard to infiltrate this tower, but there is actually no problem. I can watch the movements of their eyes, and once I see a second worth of an opening, I pass through one of their blind spots and successfully enter the clock tower.
I am an expert at infiltration, not just a fighter. I can typically do anything when it comes to infiltration or destruction. It’s not for nothing that people see me as one of the heads of this organization.
I look around the first floor of the Tower of Merzelia.
My main goal here is to get information from Ruby. I want to have a calm conversation, without any noise that would alert the guards.
I pass right through the passage east of the chapel, and find a stone staircase leading underground.
There are two guards here, and the structure of this floor will make it hard to pass by them as before.
I could easily overpower them, but I might need to come here again, so I want to avoid being seen.
“I will have to use the power of my magic eye.”
I jump from the shadows and quickly approach them. They are late to even notice me, as I immediately activate my magic eye and brainwash them.
Light leaves their eyes, as they stare into nothing.
This is my ‘control evil eye’. It can take over the target’s consciousness temporarily.
It can also get rid of inconvenient memories, so it can be said to be a pretty nasty skill.
Conversely, it also uses a lot of magic energy, so I can’t use it too much. Even a demon such as myself with more magic energy than humans can only use it three times in one day.
Also, I am here today to gather information. Since I failed last time, the idea today is to use my ‘control evil eye’ and get information about Loyd’s weaknesses from Ruby.
Fufufu… If you thought I would keep losing, you are very much mistaken.
“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh!”
“…!?”
I suddenly hear a female scream coming from below, and almost jump.
W-what was that voice? It felt like something terrifying out of this world.
I should see what it is, so I walk towards it, and find an iron door.
There is a window on the door, so I use it to peek inside, and find my target, Ruby.
But she is going crazy, scratching her red hair.”
“Why is no one advocating for meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!?”
She yells with a tone of grief.
It seems I found the source of that terrifying scream.
She pushes a mountain of papers off a table onto the floor.
“I am the genius Lord Alchemia! The best alchemist in this country! Why don’t you care if I’m declared guilty!? My trial is in three weeks! I need to get a lawyer!”
Sounds like the trial is making her panic. It looks like a bad time for her.
I don’t know too much about human trials, but it feels to me like it will be hard to see her once it begins, so I am pretty lucky that I get to see her again today.
I take out a bunch of keys I got from a guard, check the number, put the correct key in the lock, and slowly turn it.
There’s a nice clacking sound. I really like this sound.
“Hello there, great Lord Alchemia. It has been three months, but Black Raven is here to visit.”
“Ah? Who are you!?”
She doesn’t look surprised, in fact, she is glaring at me sharply.
It feels like she’s in a bad mood just like last time. I’ve never seen her not angry.
“You don’t remember my face?”
“Remember? Ah… Are you the bandit that invaded my atelier?”
“Fufufu, correct. And I will explain why I came here.”
“It’s your fauuuuuuuuuuuuult!”
Ruby screams as she jumps at me.
“Wha!?”
I instinctively dodge, and she bangs her face against a wall.
“W-what are you doing!? You scared me!”
My heart is racing at something I really was not expecting.
Ruby turns my way, glaring at me like a raging beast.
“Your false testimony made people treat me like a power harassing criminal alchemist!”
“False testimony? I have no idea what you are talking about.”
“Don’t lie! In the Merzelia newspaper! Your statements were on it!”
“Newspaper… Ah, I see, that interview. So it really was in a newspaper. That is so nice!”
“Screw youuuuuuuuuu!”
Ruby clenches her fists and jumps at me again, but she moves like a complete amateur, and I can dodge her easily. I do so with an indifferent smile on my face, and she loses her balance and falls to the floor, sending the papers on it flying.
I pick up a few that land near me and read them.
＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝
To my dear Lord Alchemia.
The association is putting a lot of pressure on your request, so I must decline to advocate for you.
However, I am sure her majesty will understand what a wonderful alchemist you are.
I wish you the best in your future endeavors.
–Your eternal junior, Soteira
＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝
＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝
To my dear Lord Alchemia.
I must apologize, but I cannot assist you, because Noir is more important to me. However, rest easy knowing I feel no ill will about the contract. I will say so to her majesty as well.
I know this is changing the subject, but Noir will hold a fishing tournament during this year’s harvest festival, so if you make it out, feel free to participate.
I wish you the best in your future endeavors.
–Aleister Crowley
＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝
＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝
It is an honor to make your acquaintance. I will tell Loyd about this issue of advocacy, but I doubt he will help. He has become accustomed to this new environment, and he is living his best life with new friends.
I would ask you to refrain from doing anything that could ruin it. How do you even know he lives in Minerva?
That is honestly frightening.
–Isolte Von Minefort
＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝
Despite the differences in each one, all of them write about difficulties in defending her.
I assume all the papers on the floor are about this.
“Poor thing.”
I say my honest thoughts.
“Poor thing!? Who do you think you are!?”
“Your partner ran from you, and you fell from atelier owner to criminal. And in the end, every single acquaintance you have has rejected your appeals to defend you. If you are not pitiable, what is?”
“Screw youuuuuuuu! I don’t need your sympathy! I’m no poor anything! I am a genius alchemist!”
“Ahh… After reading all that, I don’t feel like interrogating you anymore. I will be leaving. Bye bye, poor sad Lord Alchemia.”
I don’t wait for her to respond, and leave the room, locking it behind me.
And a few seconds later, I hear a loud banging on the door.
“Hey! Open this! Didn’t you come here to talk! Advocate for me!? I’ll get Loyd back! I’m not giving up!”
I ignore it and go back the way I came from.
Join my patreon to support me and read ahead.
<<Previous Chapter Index Next Chapter>>
