Chapter 151: Wahrheit (1)

The Nihilrit Siblings were sent to the Holding Cell on charges of casting Black magic on a Demon Disease Patient.

While the two left the Intensive Care Unit, the inside of the Infirmary was already buzzing with talk about them.

Every time they passed the Emergency Ward, Priest's Robes stopped walking and whispered, and the Communicator blinked endlessly.

It was as obvious as seeing fire that the entire Academy Territory would be boiling with this rumor before the sun rose Tomorrow Morning.

However, that fact was not important to Freya in the slightest right now.

"Hehehe......"

Inside the Noble-Exclusive Holding Cell.

With half her face buried in a cozy Pillow, Freya let out a silly laugh.

Her two feet poking out of the blanket were tap-tapping to a rhythm.

The Detention Center for nobles was a Detention Center in name only.

A rug thick enough to submerge one's ankles, and luxurious wardrobes lined up along the wall.

A Mana Stone Lamp dropping a soft amber light from the Ceiling.

Iron Bars were embedded in the window, but thanks to the heavy velvet Curtain draped over them, even that looked like a decoration.

If not for the Iron Bars, it was a scenery believable enough to be called a guest room of some guesthouse.

The reason it was decorated this luxuriously despite being a Detention Center was none other than Yulian.

In the past, Yulian had been dragged to this Detention Center, falsely accused by the Black Sorcerers' conspiracy.

The Warden, recalling that past, intentionally assigned the Nihilrit Siblings a room in a place like this.

Although the charges were certain, he couldn't lock them up on the same floor as heinous criminals like Black Sorcerers.

Because if by any chance it turned out to be a false accusation like back then, he had no confidence to handle the Aftermath.

Like that, the Siblings enjoyed a luxurious detention life thanks to the Warden's Consideration.

On that bed, Freya rolled her body around and lay looking at the Ceiling.

"Older Brother."

"What is it."

"Could you let me hear those words one more time?"

"What words?"

"You know...... that. That my, um...... righteous heart was the final Clue."

"Your righteous heart was the final Clue."

"Hehehe......"

The Pillow swallowed about half of her laughter.

Thump, thump, thump!

However, the fierce sound of feet kicking the blanket loudly represented her Feelings.

There was only one reason she was acting like this.

It was none other than the fact that her Conviction had ultimately become the foundational ideology of the Demon Disease Treatment Method Magic.

'I wasn't wrong!'

One of the important elements in Magic is ideology.

Though the ideology itself doesn't form the Magic, philosophy occupies a place in the skeleton of its structure.

In ancient times when barter was the foundation of the economy, Incantations were cast in the form of Human Sacrifice and Rituals.

When the concept of currency emerged, Magic began to activate using Magical Power and Symbol as currency.

After the philosophy called Empiricism came out into the world, an Operation Method appeared that formalized abstract concepts that couldn't be formalized into Runic formulas through experience,

and the death faced by the Primordial Saintess brought a Great Transformation to all of Divine Magic.

Therefore, a philosopher who advocated the ideology that became the starting point of a Magic was often placed in the same ranks as a great Mage.

That was also why Freya was smiling silly.

'Who am I? A person who made a Contribution to the philosophy of the Demon Disease Treatment Method Magic!'

Of course, she wasn't the philosopher who created this ideology.

She herself was well aware of that fact.

However, just the fact that she had become a part of it was enough.

Some knights gladly sacrifice their Lives for their Knight Order, feeling Overwhelming Emotion at the fact that they have become a glorious part of it.

Some Mages gladly dedicate their One's entire life if they can prove a single formula and put their name in the corner of an Academic Paper.

Freya's Feelings were the same.

Just the fact that she had taken up a corner of History, that fact alone made her feel as if she were ascending to heaven.

'As expected, Older Brother was right.'

I wasn't wrong. I was just different.

My worries about justice had long since disappeared.

My Conviction had become the foundation for a historical Discovery, so what did anything else matter.

If someone told her she harbored a truly foolish ideal, she could just shove this Magic in their face now.

"Fufufu......"

That was exactly the reason she was having fun rather than feeling resentful about her situation of being locked in a Detention Center.

Yulian looked at his Younger Sister as if there was no stopping her.

'As expected, you can't fool blood.'

Yulian saw a reflection of himself in her.

The self Yulian saw was outwardly a Professor overflowing with Dignity and gentleness,

but inwardly, he was a human who liked showing off and receiving praise from others.

Freya was also externally a humble Noble Young Lady.

However, in places where no one was looking, she was just a girl who liked to boast, fitting for her age.

'As expected, one should be like this at this age.'

Yulian's gaze as he looked at his gloating Younger Sister softened warmly.

The fact that the two of them didn't share the same blood was not important to him in the slightest.

On the bed, Freya rolled her body around and lay looking at the Ceiling.

The hem of the canopy, which shouldn't exist in a Detention Center, swayed lightly at her breath.

"Older Brother, then would you teach me the Principle of this Magic?"

"Black magic isn't even your specialty, so you probably wouldn't understand even if you heard it."

"I'm not planning to use it. I just need to know enough to boast about it somewhere."

Yulian let out a Bitter smile and sat on the edge of Freya's bed.

There was no reason to refuse his Younger Sister's cute request.

In the first place, there was nothing to do inside here either.

On top of that, Yulian also had the desire to boast about his own achievements.

Ultimately, in accordance with the two's aligned Interests, Yulian explained the detailed Principle to her.

"Among the Curse Magic Branch of Black magic, there is a Magic corresponding to Intermediate Magic called 'Wither'. You know it too, right?"

"It's a Magic that makes the body frail so that a Plague or poison can spread easily, right."

"Right."

The Intermediate Magic Curse Magic Wither.

This is a Magic that severely weakens the opponent, making it easier to cast other Curse Magic on them.

"Using that Magic, the overactivated...... inside the Demon Disease Patient's body"

Yulian stopped speaking for a moment.

The word immune system came to mind, but it was difficult to explain this.

It was because not enough had been revealed about this yet.

Ultimately, Yulian twisted the truth slightly.

"......I greatly lowered his Mana Resistance."

"Mana Resistance?"

"Yeah."

The Mana Resistance Theory was a Theory meant to explain the immune system in Another World.

The Principle, when explained, went like this.

It was a Theory that everyone possesses a trace amount of Magical Power, and they develop strong Resistance to repeatedly exposed poisons, diseases, or Curses.

This Theory was created Decades ago, but the Time it began receiving attention was not that long ago.

Because it was a newly established Theory that only started receiving earnest support after Director Schun developed a Vaccine.

'Proving the immune system will also be annoying in various ways.'

Yulian, explaining to Freya, barely held back the Sigh that was about to come out.

It was because the path he had to take was way too long.

I had brought the Demon Disease Treatment Method Magic to Completion.

However, mass production of the Steroid acting as a Catalyst was still undergoing Research, and proving Immunity, the Principle behind this Black magic, also remained.

As he saw it, this Treatment Method being commercialized was a distant matter.

However, at least for now, my Feelings were such that I just wanted to purely celebrate the fact that this treatment was Complete.

'I discovered the Demon Disease Treatment Method, after all. Let's have a drink.'

Even though the "first" title was taken by my parents.

The world was highly likely to remember Yulian Schnabel rather than The Schnabel Couple.

It was obvious, considering an Autoimmune Disease has a bigger impact than a Parasite in any case.

'Fufufu......'

Yulian, unlike Freya, didn't make it obvious and explained the Demon Disease Treatment Method Magic to her.

How much Time passed like that?

Clack.

The door opened along with the sound of a Lock unlocking, and a Soldier entered holding up a Tray.

"It is the late-night meal, you two."

On the Tray, warmed bread and Cheese, and a single bottle of dark-colored Wine and two Chalices were placed.

Befitting a Noble-Exclusive Holding Cell, even the provided meal wasn't shabby.

"Wow, there's even Wine!"

Freya's face lit up as she raised her body.

Yulian also smiled lightly and picked up the bottle.

Downing about one Chalice in self-celebration wasn't bad either.

Glug, glug.

Yulian, having filled the two Chalices, put his lips to his Chalice first.

It was his ingrained Wine tasting Etiquette.

It was at that moment.

At the subtle sweetness touching the tip of his tongue, Yulian took the Chalice off his lips.

The type of sweetness was different.

It wasn't the sour grape flavor and earthy scent that should be felt from Wine.

Instead, what was felt on the tip of his tongue was a sweetness mixed with the Gamey Smell of Metal.

Yulian knew this taste.

How could I not know.

Since it was the sweetness created by that very substance which made him a Professor.

'Lead Acetate......?'

Sugar of Lead. Lead Sugar.

A poison that people of the past used to secretly mix in to deceptively sweeten cheap Wine, and which slowly drove numerous people mad and killed them as its Fault.

It was also a sweetener strictly forbidden by the Imperial Court after Yulian presented the large-scale control Scenario of the Black Sorcerers.

Of course, there were still those who secretly put this in, but at least such Wine was not an item easily distributed in The Legitimate World.

Yulian looked at the Wine bottle Label.

'This Wine is......'

It was a Wine sold by the Major Trading Company.

It was a Wine that Yulian often paired with Cheese.

At the very least, there was no way such a merchant company would put Lead in it.

Having quickly finished his series of Deductions, Yulian covered the Chalice Freya was just about to grab with his palm.

"It's best if we don't drink this Wine."

"......Yes?"

Yulian didn't explain and moved the Chalice to the corner of the Table.

And he turned his head toward the Soldier who brought the meal.

"Excuse me, but who sent this Wine in?"

A gentle smile was still hung on the corners of Yulian's mouth as he looked at the Soldier.

However, only his eyes were not smiling.

A Pallor washed over the complexion of the Soldier receiving that gaze entirely.

It was because of the rumors about Yulian circulating within The Military.

— "I heard that Black Sorcerer became an idiot unable to withstand Professor Yulian's torture?"

— "They say the Black Sorcerer kids who went to the Security Level 2 Prison throw up just seeing Meat or Bloody water."

Those who knew Yulian's Interrogation methods were few.

For Professor Yulian's Honor, it was the Fault of the Major who participated in the Interrogation at the time writing the Written report as politely as possible.

Furthermore, it was a known fact to everyone that Professor Yulian was a figure cherished by the Imperial Prince, who was the Chief of Personnel.

If he needlessly wrote strange contents, his head could physically fly off.

Taking into account that a significant number of figures who had been hostile toward Yulian were processed as a Disappearance on top of this......

"Yes? That......"

The Soldier who received the Question from Yulian panicked and rolled his eyes.

A Pallor washed over his complexion.

He had to confess his innocence no matter what.

Only that fact occupied his head.

"A person wearing Priest's Robes handed it over...... I thought they were an acquaintance of you two, so I just—."

"Did you say Priest's Robes?"

"Yes. They definitely said they were acquaintances with you two, so I—."

It was even before his words finished.

Crack.

The Soldier's waist bent at an angle that couldn't be called human.

As if an invisible hand grabbed his spine and bent it backward, the back of his head arched like a bow toward his heels.

The Soldier whose arm twisted once at an angle it shouldn't face, and whose legs suffered severe Convulsions.

Snap, snap. The sound of Joints shifting places rang clearly in the quiet Holding Cell.

The Soldier, who twisted his body for a bout like that, raised his body again without caring about his twisted limbs.

The amber Mana Stone Lamp cast his distorted shadow full across the wall.

"O-Older Brother!"

Freya stuck behind Yulian's back as if tumbling down from the bed.

From that twisted mouth, a Voice that did not belong to the Soldier flowed out.

"......I apologize for coming as an Uninvited Guest to your harmonious night."

It was a slow, polite, and somewhat empty Voice.

"My introduction is late. I am Wahrheit Jäger. The Chairman of the Round Table of Thirteen."

"......Yes?"

Freya was astonished.

Wahrheit Jäger.

It was a name that a Mage could never not know.

The worst Eldritch, who was dead yet not dead.

The master of the unreachable eternal utopia.

The abandoned Disciple who stole the Great Sage's right eye.

However, he had Deeds that made him the most famous,

"Father of the Defiers of Heaven......!"

That he was precisely the Black Sorcerer who combined a Demonic Beast and a human to create the existence known as Demonkin.

Freya wasn't the only one astonished by Wahrheit's appearance.

It was the same for Perisia, the Elf Bodyguard who had been hiding in the wall applying Camouflage.

However, instead of making a Voice, she quietly pulled out her Silver Thread and approached the Soldier's back.

Just as she had five steps left, an ominous Voice flowed out from between the Soldier's teeth.

"Sicut egon, sic illai. Sicut illai, sic egon. Quia egon sum, mundra est. Quia egon sum, illai sunt. Me ipsum in exemplum pono. Doleum meum doleum illorum fiat, doleum illorum doleum meum fiat."

Crunch!

Along with that, the Soldier's waist bent one more time.

Wahrheit, whose posture collapsed like a person who had lost their spine before raising his body once again.

At that moment, Perisia wrapped her Silver Thread around her own arm and twisted it, breaking her arm.

She staggered, distorted in pain.

The Soldier possessed by Wahrheit spoke toward Perisia.

"Amazing. I was planning to snap your neck, but by breaking one arm you escaped from the Condition of being a healthy Sacrifice. You seem to have faced this Curse before?"

"......"

Perisia silently bound her broken arm with thread.

Her hatred-filled gaze pierced into the middle of Wahrheit's forehead.

Wahrheit let out a deep Sigh while looking at her.

"If I knew you had such a Bodyguard, I would have prepared more. Things are not working out as well as I thought."

Saying so, Wahrheit plucked out one of the Soldier's eyes.

Wahrheit burst that eyeball in his grasp and sprinkled it at her.

"Rest somewhere else for a moment."

"Wa—!"

Before Perisia could even shout anything, she disappeared from the Corridor.

Beyond the bars, Freya shouted.

"Ms. Perisia!"

"I wasn't planning to cause a commotion, Miss Freya."

"Older Brother, Ms. Perisia has......"

"It's alright. It's just a simple Dimensional Transfer."

Although it was different from a general Dimensional Transfer.

Just as the Black Sorcerers applied a Fairy Ring when Kidnapping students in the past, Yulian deduced that Wahrheit had also applied some Black magic.

'I could analyze it if I wanted to, but.'

That wasn't what was important right now.

The important thing was why an entity you would only see in Endgame Content suddenly revealed his appearance here.

And it was about how we were going to survive from this guy.

Having finished his thoughts, Yulian feigned composure and spoke to Wahrheit.

"What suddenly happened to that Soldier? Was he perhaps your collaborator?"

"No. He's someone I'm seeing for the first time today as well."

Wahrheit spoke while opening and clenching the hand of the Soldier he was controlling.

Then he clicked his tongue while looking at that hand.

"Tsk. This guy secretly stole a sip of the Wine meant to be served to the guests on his way here. This is exactly why you shouldn't give precious items to rootless servants. For the disrespect of touching the master's Chalice first, an appropriate Price is bound to follow."

"......Was the Lead in that Wine an item meant to control our minds?"

"If you were Wizards who hadn't awakened your Magical Power, that might have been the case. But don't you know as well. With this level of Lead and lacking Symbolism, finding one's way into a dream is the most one can do."

"A dream......?"

"Originally, I had the Intention to politely visit you through a dream if you emptied those Chalices. However, since neither of you touched it, I unavoidably had to borrow the mouth of the one who drank first."

Wahrheit glanced for a moment at the space where Perisia had been.

He clicked his tongue once again.

"There was an Uninvited Guest, but don't Worry. I won't cause you any harm."

"I suppose so."

Yulian was also certain.

His gaze lingered on the Iron Bars for a moment.

The Iron Bars of the Prison deeply engraved with Old Testament Style Divine Symbols.

The symbols engraved on these Iron Bars covered the symbols needed for Magic to activate, just like the armor or Swords of Inquisitors.

Furthermore, Old Testament Style Divine Magic held an overwhelming advantage over Black magic.

No matter if it was Wahrheit, it was difficult to interfere beyond the Iron Bars while borrowing the body of a Soldier.

"That's why it was ideal for you to drink that Wine. Won't you drink it even now?"

"Would you drink it if you were me?"

"It was a joke...... Don't look at me with those eyes. I often heard that I was no fun even when I was human."

His twisted face mimicked a smile.

"Since there is no Time, I'll get to the Main Point. I have been watching you all along."

Wahrheit spoke while exaggeratingly spreading his two arms.

"You blooming Truth all alone in the middle of that white Corridor packed with hypocrites, and those eyes that showed not a single speck of shame even when shoving a Taboo at a dying person!"

Crack.

His Joints rang out once again.

"How beautiful that sight was. Even at the risk of having my Location discovered by my teacher, I wanted to exchange words with you like this."

The hand of the Soldier saying so slowly reached out toward Yulian.

For some reason, it seemed as if intimacy was dripping from those empty eyes.

"Yulian. No, Lord Yulian. Join me."

Yulian silently looked at that twisted smile.

He thought this was somehow a situation he had seen somewhere before,

'It's exactly the same as with Belgian. Is it a déjà vu?'

His Feelings were complicated in various ways.

He had intended to receive Obsession from people, but he hadn't intended to be obsessed over by a human like this.

Yulian was silent.

Wahrheit, accepting this as him pondering, persuaded Yulian.

"I intend to tear down the stronghold of those hypocritical Healers with this Black magic. And I plan to elevate Humanity to an existence one step higher than now. In that long and great journey...... where else would there be someone as fitting as you."

"......"

"If you join the Round Table, there is no longer a reason for us to live hiding in The Underworld."

The corners of his twisted mouth were pulled all the way up to the tips of his ears.

It wasn't a Metaphor, but literally.

Because he was controlling someone else's body, it was the Fault of the muscles moving inhumanly.

"We could replace that Sun Cult Order full of hypocrisy with our own hands, and establish an entirely new ideology upon it."

"......It sounds as if I could become the Cult Leader."

"If you want it, it's not impossible. That hypocrite, you could even replace that person known as The Black Saint."

Hearing those words, Yulian nodded his head full of certainty.

"There is nothing more to listen to. I refuse."

"......Why is that?"

"That's because......"

And with a Facial expression as if he had just seen a cockroach, he looked at Wahrheit with a face full of disgust.

"Because I need Divine Power."

For Yulian, who had lived in a world without Magic and had built everything up until now with the Miracles of Divine Magic,

a world without the Miracles of Divine Magic was unimaginable.