Chapter 94 : Chapter 94

Chapter 94 - The Frozen World (1)

“Indeed, the activities of unconfirmed warlocks must be viewed with caution.”

A secret space in the Papal State.

Ropin, who had been conversing with a giant crystal ball in the communication room, hurriedly composed his expression.

“I will look into that matter, so you continue to follow the tracks of the expedition team.”

Understood. Then what should I do with this survivor?

“Use the mana-sealing scroll I put in there. That should allow you to restrain the mercenary until you return.”

All skills in this world consumed mana.

Swordsmen and knights were no different. Thus, sealing mana was one of the easiest ways to incapacitate a human.

Understood.

“I wish you luck, Artier.”

Pat!

The light went out, and Artier’s image disappeared.

Ropin let out a sigh and turned his head.

“Warlock magic… An Imperial expedition composed solely of warlocks, you say.”

Thump, thump.

Ropin’s footsteps as he walked down the corridor began to quicken.

It was a quiet, empty corridor, and Ropin no longer hid his expression.

‘I’ve finally found it. The Empire’s real tail…!’

It was the Empire that had always slipped away like an eel no matter how many times he chased it.

As if they were just incompetent.

Or as if there was a reason.

How frustrating and suspicious their complete lack of response to the Hellmorphs had been.

‘This is the only case where the Empire has ordered a direct response to the Hellmorphs. If I dig into it, I’ll surely find the Empire’s intentions.’

The place Ropin sought out immediately after leaving the Papal State was a city called Detorum, located in the west of the Empire. The Sage’s Tower located here was almost the only place in the Empire that dealt with warlock magic.

“G-Grand Magus Ropin, what brings you here?”

The mage who had been yawning at the entrance froze as soon as he confirmed who Ropin was.

“Did a warlock from our tower cause another incident? As I’ve said repeatedly, the mages of our tower have taken an oath to take responsibility for their own actions…”

“I did not visit for such a matter today.”

‘Today…?’

The mage forced a smile while breaking out in a cold sweat.

“Th-then?”

“I wish to see the Tower Master, so would you please contact her?”

“…I understand.”

Afraid he might be found at fault for something, the mage hurriedly sent a message to the top floor of the Sage’s Tower.

“Please come this way!”

“Thank you.”

Clank!

At last, Ropin was able to reach the top floor of the tower.

There, a female mage wearing a robe decorated with skulls and fingernails was waiting, a long pipe tobacco held in her mouth.

“Holy Mage Ropin, what brings you to our Detorum Sage’s Tower?”

“The reasons for a non-affiliated mage to visit a Sage’s Tower are quite limited, are they not?”

“Even if you say that, we have too many possibilities to consider, senior?”

“That is your own karma. There is no tower with as many troublemakers as yours.”

The woman frowned at Ropin’s words and took a puff of her tobacco.

“…Our karma, you say. Isn’t it a problem that only those kinds of kids come to learn warlock magic?”

“Don’t exclude yourself from those problem children, Rozaria. You were quite the troublemaker yourself back in the day.”

“I was just training in magic.”

“Even after becoming a Grand Magus, your skill at making excuses has not improved.”

“Aargh!”

Rozaria finally threw the pipe she was holding far away.

The masterless pipe tumbled powerlessly, and its fire went out.

“Shall we stop with the pleasantries? So, what’s the reason you’re here?”

“I would prefer it if you told me.”

“Are you really planning to drag us down to the very bottom of the stars?”

“It can’t be helped. I was hoping the list of things to report to the Papal State would grow.”

This much banter with his old junior was enough.

Ropin, who had been chuckling, soon wiped the smile off his face.

“Then I’ll ask. Rozaria, have you ever formed a northern expedition team composed of warlocks?”

“What did you say? The north? You mean the place occupied by those monsters?”

Rozaria’s eyes widened, and she then shook her head vigorously.

“I understand why you would say that. But we have never done such a thing.”

“Why is that? Isn’t the contaminated environment of the north a blessing for warlocks?”

“Not at all.”

She shook her head with disgust.

“It’s true that warlocks have resistance to poison and contamination. But their level surpasses ours. In the face of their contamination, we can only endure at best.”

“Is it that severe?”

“Their poison can hardly be called something that was on this star.”

Rozaria took a bottle out from within her robes.

Ropin’s expression hardened as he felt the reinforcement magic plastered all over a mere glass bottle. It clearly contained poison collected from a Hellmorph.

“It transcends the mage’s psyche and even melts mana itself.”

“A poison that melts mana, you say?”

“No.”

Poisons that melt mana are quite common in this world. But what Rozaria was talking about was not on that level.

“It would be more accurate to say that it melts even mana because it melts everything that exists.”

“How bizarre. A poison like that would melt the Hellmorphs themselves, would it not?”

“Yes, it would. Or perhaps they have their own method.”

Rozaria summoned back the pipe that had flown away and put it in her mouth.

“So, why did you ask such a question?”

“I’m sorry, but I cannot tell you.”

The existence of the Sacred Knights was a taboo that had to be hidden from everyone.

He couldn’t just tell even the head of the Sage’s Tower, a Grand Magus.

“I swear on the presence or absence of all my mana. I will not divulge this matter to the outside.”

As Rozaria said that, Ropin explained the situation.

As the story progressed, Rozaria’s complexion grew worse and worse, and by the time it reached the conclusion, it had turned deathly pale.

“An Imperial expedition team composed entirely of warlocks?”

“Do you have any idea?”

“First of all, they are not members of our Sage’s Tower. We are not conducting any activities right now.”

A bizarre creature kills and infects life.

Someone who knew nothing might well believe that some evil warlock had summoned a creature from another world.

For that reason, all warlocks of the Sage’s Tower were currently refraining from even private outings. They could be hit by a stone or a knife just walking down the street.

“But an unaffiliated warlock of a level to participate in a northern expedition team.”

Rozaria lightly tapped the table with her fingers.

“…I’m not certain.”

“Tell me anyway.”

“No matter how much the tower advises against it, there are always warlocks who go astray. Don’t warlocks have a particularly low rate of joining the Sage’s Tower?”

Warlocks were individualistic and had weak solidarity.

Before the Sage’s Tower was established, there wasn't a single proper organization.

“An unregistered mage made a deal with the Empire?”

“It’s a highly probable hypothesis.”

“I see. Thank you for telling me.”

“Ah, and one more thing.”

“…?”

“There’s also the possibility that it’s a special division being trained by the Empire.”

“A special division?”

“A unit directly under His Majesty the Emperor. I was offered an instructor position myself.”

Equipment enchanted with various high-level magic.

And high-level skills to match.

Rumors of a special division that would be the Emperor’s strongest and final sword had been secretly passed down for a long time.

“I see. A special division…”

“Of course, it’s a less likely hypothesis. I received the offer only a few months ago. It’s not easy to train a proper warlock in that time.”

“True. But if the opponent is the Empire, it is right to be suspicious of everything.”

It seemed he had obtained everything he needed.

Ropin stood up from his seat.

“Thank you for your advice, Rozaria. It was a great help.”

“Leaving already? You could have stayed for a cup of tea.”

“I will visit again soon, so let’s have it then.”

Upon returning to the Papal State, Ropin immediately carried out the next operation.

“You summoned me, Bishop Ropin.”

“Yes. I have a favor to ask of you.”

The man from the information guild secretly hired by the Papal State did not panic at all even when Ropin activated a soundproof barrier around them.

“I would like you to find out about the unregistered warlocks who are not registered with the Sage’s Tower and their recent whereabouts.”

“It shouldn’t be too difficult.”

Why? Isn’t the Papal State already tracking them well?

Even though a question might have arisen, the guild member expressed no doubt. The hired man simply did the job he was given.

“Thank you.”

After sending the guild member away, Ropin remained alone, lost in thought.

But the Hellmorph experiment conducted in Condestraden County.

The blocking of communications to prevent news from spreading, and the secretly dispatched expedition team.

All this evidence points to one fact.

The Empire was definitely concerned about the Hellmorphs, and furthermore, they were trying to find out about them.

‘What on earth are they trying to achieve.’

To say it was for preparation, half of the Empire had already fallen, and to say it was for neglect, they were paying too much attention.

What on earth was this ambiguous situation?

What was Ropin missing?

‘There’s a limit to what I can find out here. As expected, to know the truth…’

Organizing his thoughts, Ropin raised his head and stared at the window.

Unlike the modest Papal State, hundreds of golems and marionettes stood guard without a gap around the huge Imperial Palace, which was painted with gleaming gold on all sides.

“It would have been great if I were 20 years younger.”

It was when Ropin let out a sigh and picked up his quill.

Knock, knock.

“Bishop Ropin. I’ve brought a letter.”

“Ah, just leave it here.”

Ropin did not take his eyes off the paper until the postman had left the letter and gone.

Finally, after recording what he had learned today, Ropin put down his quill and saw something particularly shiny among the letters.

“Hmm?”

The letter paper, glittering with gold foil, was an expensive one at a glance.

‘Who would send me a letter like this?’

Ropin immediately opened the envelope and checked the letter inside.

To my dear Bishop Ropin

Thank you for your work for the glory of the Empire today.

In three days, the 15th birthday of His Highness Prince Danyeokro von Orion, the glorious descendant of our Empire, is scheduled.

If it is not too much to ask, we would be grateful if you would give a congratulatory address in the name of a priest.

From the Imperial Family.

“His Highness Prince Danyeokro…”

As far as Ropin knew, he was the fifth prince of the Empire. To hold a birthday party in a situation like this.

Just as Ropin was about to frown and grumble, he realized something.

Didn't this mean that with this, he could go to the Imperial Palace?

“I see. This too can be seen as the will of the stars.”

If you can’t find out from the outside, you go directly.

Isn't that the most intuitive and effective method?

Of course, the Imperial Palace was not a place where even a Grand Magus like Ropin could roam freely. But if he could officially enter the palace, many things would change.

“Is anyone out there?”

“Yes, Bishop Ropin.”

“Among the waiting Sacred Knights, bring Sir Trophin and everyone in his party.”

“Understood.”

Soon, he would know.

The true conspiracy of the Imperial Family.

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