Chapter 60: The Bigger Picture

One would imagine that allowing a catastrophe to happen so close to the Royal Capital would cause many people to start questioning or maybe try to pry into the event.

Yet, no one managed to, mostly because Duke Adrian had sealed Eisenbran behind a wall of bureaucracy before the floodwaters had even receded.

No one was allowed to enter the city while witnesses were placed under protection. While any sneaky dealings were quickly dealt with from behind the veil of shadows.

That was likely why Adrian had appeared so detached during both his son’s posthumous judgment and the trial over the Eisenbran Crystal Mine. While everyone else argued over Felix’s crimes and ownership of the deposit, the Duke had already become engaged in a quieter battle.

Still, there were ripples across Eidelgard of a catastrophe that happened in the portside city just a few roads over.

It was also precisely why that same Duke was currently being called for questioning by the King about the event, because once again, a Disaster-Class Spirit showing up is no small incident.

With barely a night’s rest, the Duke was already prepared to depart from Eisenbran, leaving the troubles behind for Rosalia to deal with.

As for Nadine, after their conversation yesterday, she really had decided to move her Witch’s Spire to the mines, acting as a ’lighthouse’ of sorts, as well as continue on her quest to contract with a spirit.

That, or she could be waiting for Undyne to show up again, all nice and healthy, so she could strong-arm the spirit into a contract.

Either way, she was going to stay here, but Rian wasn’t sure if she was going to become a professor at Eidelgard Academy like she was supposed to be in the original story.

And speaking about Eidelgard Academy...

Rian had received a letter from his father addressed with the seal. He didn’t know what it was about, but by the look of Adrian’s face while handing it to him, Rian could tell it wasn’t anything good.

Dear Lord Rian Rosenheim,

Eidelgard Academy has received official confirmation that your previous medical condition no longer prevents you from traveling or participating in academic instruction.

Consequently, your medical exemption has been withdrawn. Despite this change, you have neither attended mandatory preliminary instruction nor contacted the Academy to explain your continued absence.

[Accumulated Demerit Points: 91]

[Demerit points required for expulsion: 100]

[Failure to report within three academic days will result in the termination of enrollment within Eidelgard Academy.]

"I haven’t attended a single class," Rian muttered. "How the hell am I already the worst student in the Academy?"

Alicia replied from behind him, dressed in her usual maid outfit. "Your absence is precisely the problem, Young Master."

"Well, not my fault that Eisenbran was getting destroyed!"

"If I remember correctly, the reason you came to Eisenbran was to steal the crystal mines—"

"Hey! And I was also the person who saved it as well!"

"According to the records," Alicia shook her head. "It was Lady Nadine who stopped Eisenbran from being destroyed."

"Ugh..."

Rian slowly lowered the letter, a part of him already regretted allowing someone else to take credit for what he did.

With nothing more to say, Rian climbed into one of the carriages prepared for Adrian’s departure. Alicia entered after him and took the seat opposite his own.

And just like that, the carriages began to roll out of the city, leaving what just happened a few days ago behind.

Rian looked back out the window, at the city that brought him many benefits that he would’ve never been able to gain alone.

Yet...it also exposed a huge problem.

He knew from here on out, the plot would be stirring, and they would finally step onto the main stage of the original novel...Eidelgard Academy.

And its protagonist, who would likely transmigrate into the body of this world’s protagonist—Orion Ascher, in just a few days.

Meaning...This world would have two transmigrators.

Worse, Orion would awaken in a world that had already changed. Rian Rosenheim was alive. Felix was dead. The Eisenbran Crystal Mine belonged to someone it had never belonged to before.

But that didn’t matter really, as Rian never wanted to stick to the original plot in the first place. The story was terrible, and the way Orion did things was wrong.

If someone had to correct it, then Rian would do it himself—

Even if that meant playing the villain.

***

Inside a mansion just on the outskirts of the Royal Capital, a knight staggered through the halls. Blood seeped through the gaps in his armor, leaving scattered droplets across the polished floor. A deep wound ran along his back, and part of the cloth that had concealed his face was still missing.

It was clear that he had just gotten out of some kind of encounter, yet reporting on his duties seemed more important. He wasn’t afraid of the bleeding, but of failing his mission.

Pushing the double doors, a blonde man sat at his desk, and another with dark hair and red eyes sat in the guest chairs, casually drinking a cup of tea.

"Oh? If it isn’t Don?" the blonde man commented. "Tell me what happened? I expect good news?"

The knight lowered himself to one knee, saluting both men before standing back up once more. Nervousness spread across his face, but his mouth moved regardless.

"Sir, Lord Felix is dead," he went on. "Leviathan has been banished, the Baron’s records were taken, and I was told the crystal mine has fallen under the control of Rian Rosenheim."

Once the name was mentioned, the dark-haired man leaned back into his chair with a look of amusement on his face.

"Rian...?" he asked, scratching his chin. "I did hear that he survived, but why was he all the way in Eisenbran?"

Don Leyen’s body trembled, expecting a punishment for breaking all but good news to his superior. But instead, a simple laugh carried itself through the room.

"Ha!" the blonde man laughed. "It is quite unfortunate. Still, a Disaster Spirit manifested within the territory governed by my brother’s greatest supporter. Father has already summoned Duke Rosenheim to the Royal Capital for questioning."

"What about the correspondence intended to implicate my brother’s faction?" the blonde man turned to ask.

"Lord Felix began the ritual before it could be placed inside the Baron’s records."

The prince’s smile diminished.

"Then the primary objective failed."

He casually turned one of the documents resting on his desk, sighing softly. "Still, every noble considering my brother’s faction will now have to wonder whether House Rosenheim can even control its own lands. Eisenbran may not have collapsed, but this was hardly a complete loss."

The dark-haired man, however, looked a bit more upset. "Really...after all those hints I gave Felix; how to summon Leviathan, how to build the mana extraction machine—"

"How did Rian even know where to look?!"

"A witness connected to Edwin Voller reportedly wrote Eisenbran in his own blood before dying."

The amusement disappeared from the black-haired man’s face. "So Edwin failed to silence all of them as well..."

"I practically spoon-fed Felix, yet he still managed to choke!"

His red eyes settled on Don, which prompted the scared knight to speak up. "If I may...Lord Felix decided to accelerate the ritual because he believed Lord Rian was about to expose him."

"So he panicked?"

"Yes, my Lord."

"Because of a terminally ill brat?"

"Tch..."

The red man clicked his tongue, looking up at the large family picture hanging just above the blonde man’s desk.

It depicted two branches of the same extended family. On one side stood the blond-haired members of Eidelgard’s royal household. On the other was the Rosenheims, distinguished by their black hair and red eyes.

Among them stood a pale, sickly boy who looked as though he might collapse before the painter could finish capturing his likeness.

Rian Rosenheim.

"Does he truly intend to step onto the main stage now?" the black-haired man muttered. "He was supposed to die before ever reaching it."

"Whatever the case..." The prince leaned back in his chair. "Our plan remains unchanged. Anyone who gets in our way will be crushed."

His eyes moved toward the same pale boy in the portrait. "Whether he is your youngest brother—"

A faint smile spread across the prince’s face.

"...or my youngest cousin."