STM 173

Tap, tap.

The sound of footsteps echoed through the interior every time I descended the stone stairs leading underground. The spiral staircase was narrow and dark, so we didn’t move fast, but this made it easy to converse with my companion.

“It has been confirmed that Hoiga secretly slipped out of the Montaine mansion. However, he took a carriage to an illegal guild and used a portal. We couldn’t verify the destination, but he appeared at the expected location: Montaine Castle.”

Solongo, ever efficient, reported on Hoiga’s situation.

“Is Kilu there?”

“No.”

I almost asked, “How do you know?” But I didn’t. Seeing as she knew even the moment Hoiga arrived at Montaine Castle, she had an information network inside.

“I heard Duke Kilu isn’t there either.”

“What on earth is he doing, and where?”

It bothered me that he had vanished after the party at the imperial palace. I naturally assumed he’d counterattack immediately. At the very least, I expected him to defend Hoiga and insist, one way or another, that he was Salvation.

The whole reason he chose Hoiga in the first place was for the Grand Duke Montaine’s imperial power. It was strange that he was already neglecting Salvation as if discarding him before even claiming the throne.

“I find that suspicious as well. It’s one thing to be gone for a day or two, but he’s been in hiding for quite some time. That is why Hoiga seems to be trying to meet Grand Duke Montaine instead.”

I paused for a moment and looked back at Solongo. Grand Duke Montaine. She was a woman just as puzzling to me as Kilu.

“Does Montaine do nothing if Duke Kilu doesn’t step up? I heard Grand Duke Montaine isn’t a fool.”

“No. She is closer to being greedy and crafty. However, her greed is focused on one thing: strengthening the power of the divine beast. I heard she spends most of her time training. Because of that, Duke Kilu has practically led Montaine.”

Training. That made sense. The Montaine divine beast must be very pleased.

“She must trust Kilu quite a lot.”

“Yes. The sibling bond of the Montaine family is very famous.”

“Does that include that rake of a brother?”

When I mentioned Bilge, who was acting like a pervert at the wine party, Solongo nodded.

“Yes. Even though Bilge is trash who spends his life indulging in pleasure, they look after him very well.”

“Their bond really is deep.”

To think they’re even looking out for a brother who only causes trouble.

“There is a high possibility that Grand Duke Montaine is once again trusting Kilu and focusing only on her training. It’s understandable that the Grand Duke, who has always been this way, remains quiet, but as for Duke Kilu, why on earth…”

Solongo’s voice trailed off. It seemed even she, with all her information, found it difficult to guess the reason.

Perhaps that was why I felt more concerned about the suddenly silent Montaine than about Sarne, who might soon go to war with Tairok.

My pace quickened involuntarily. If I had overwhelming power, I could stop anything Montaine tried to pull, for instance, if something incredible happened, like Tairok using the power of two divine beasts.

“We’re here.”

Solongo stopped in front of one of the many closed doors lining the basement. The locked doors were all reinforced with iron plates to block the view, with only a small window fitted with iron bars. I checked the person crouching inside through the small window. It was Ariona.

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Would Grand Duke Montaine actually believe my words? Hoiga clutched the stolen letter he intended to show as evidence, but he wasn’t convinced.

The sibling affection between the two was famous enough to be known throughout Tubain. Grand Duke Montaine trusted and left everything to her younger brother, and Duke Kilu followed the Grand Duke as if he were serving a divine beast.

However, Hoiga knew that the power of the divine beast was the most important thing to Grand Duke Montaine. He believed that craving would outweigh sibling affection. It had to. She was the only one who could help Hoiga now.

But the only response he received was that Grand Duke Montaine could not be disturbed. Perhaps because of the news that Tairok had become a threat, she was even more devoted to her training.

He could wait for days. The problem was that he had to meet her before Kilu appeared. Fortunately, he didn’t have to wait as long as expected.

“Hoiga.”

As evening descended, Grand Duke Montaine appeared, calling his name in a friendly manner.

“Grand Duke.”

As Hoiga quickly knelt to greet her, she grabbed his shoulder and helped him up.

“There is no need for such formalities between family.”

Was it because she’d heard so much about Grand Duke Montaine being an authoritative person? Hoiga’s hopes rose at her friendly attitude. If she considered him family, wouldn’t she believe what he had to say at least a little?

“So, what brings you all the way here? You have something to say to me directly, not Kilu?”

Yes. Hoiga didn’t want to miss this chance, he took a deep breath and pulled the letter from his robe first.

“Would you please read this first?”

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‘He keeps his mouth shut and won’t open it regardless of any threats or intimidation. You’ll find it difficult to talk to him.’

Solongo had expressed concern when I decided to meet Ariona. She warned me it might just be a waste of time. But I thought differently. I believed he would open his mouth to me, even if he wouldn’t for anyone else. Because I am the one who has secured Tairok.

I still remembered the look in his eyes when he saw Tairok at the temple. He was so infatuated that he sent me jealous gazes just because I was standing next to him.

If I had to pick the person he hated most in the world, it would probably be me. He hated me enough to participate in stealing the brazier. He was bound to react to me.

“I know you helped Hoiga decipher the Sarne texts. Tell me everything you know about how to lift Kun’s curse.”

Ariona remained silent, turning his gaze toward the wall. Well, I expected as much. But he had no choice but to answer to this next question.

“Alright. I’ll tell Grand Duke Kun that you crushed his hope.”

As soon as I turned away, pretending I didn’t care, I heard a small protest.

“I… I don’t know anything.”

“No, you know something.”

This was also just a guess, but I spoke with conviction. At the same time, I examined Ariona’s face. How much his pupils shook, what subtle changes appeared in his expression. After a short silence, Ariona shook his head.

“I don’t know. If I knew a clue to break the curse, I would have sought out Grand Duke Kun first. I know the Grand Duke tried harder than anyone to break that curse. It’s the truth. I don’t…”

“Your eyes moved to the top right.”

Startled, Ariona froze at my words. I had only mentioned the movement of his eyes, but he seemed to have understood the meaning immediately. A laugh naturally escaped my lips.

“Oh, did Hoiga tell you? That when a person makes up a lie, their pupils roll to the right, and when they retrace memories of the past, they roll to the left.”

Ariona’s eyes widened. He looked as if he couldn’t understand how on earth I was saying the exact same thing as Hoiga. Ariona couldn’t possibly know that this was common knowledge known to many people on Earth.

“Hoiga must have been quite arrogant with that bit of trivial knowledge I also know.”

“You must have heard it from Lord Hoiga as well.”

Ariona was now glaring at me. It was a good sign for me. People tend to make slips of the tongue when they get emotional.

“Why would he give me that kind of information? He’d need to watch me to see if I’m lying or not.”

“…”

I felt like he was much closer to Hoiga than I thought, so I took a chance and poked further.

“Did he happen to tell you about things like machines that fly in the sky or think for themselves?”

There was no answer, but his reaction told me my guess was right.

“Hoiga really trusted you. He must have been quite lonely being stranded here. Judging by the fact that he couldn’t hold back and let out a remark about his hometown.”

“Hometown?”

“The place where Hoiga’s soul originally belonged. Hoiga isn’t a person of Tubain.”

“What are you talking about? Lord Hoiga is a member of the Ma family.”

“Yes, only his body. Another soul took over Hoiga’s body right before he died. That person isn’t from this world. That’s why he knew so many stories you found fascinating. Didn’t you find it strange while staying with him? Weren’t you curious why he hid his true self to such an extreme degree?”

“…”

“Did you ever feel like he was acting as the ‘Hoiga’ known to the world, but as if he was following someone’s instructions or reading set lines?”

Ariona’s pupils rolled again. However, he soon raised his voice and denied it.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Are you trying to claim Lord Hoiga isn’t Salvation? That you’re Salvation?”

“No. I’m not either.”

I smirked.

“I’m not Salvation either. Do you know why? Because I came from the same place as Hoiga. My soul did, too.”

I tapped my head with my hand as I spoke.

“What… I… I don’t believe you.”

“I don’t care about your belief. I just want to know how stupid you are.”

Even in the midst of that, it was obvious on Ariona’s face that his pride was hurt.

“Even though you’re a priest who should help people, you were deceived by Kilu and started a fire. I’m sure you’ve already heard enough about how many people were injured and are suffering because of you, but hear it one more time.”

I deliberately looked at him in the eyes and lowered my voice.

“You turned the lives of countless people into hell. You did something only a monster would do.”

“I… I didn’t know. I did it without knowing such a huge accident would happen.”

“You wouldn’t have done it if you knew?”

“Yes.”

Ariona answered firmly. I glared at him and took a step closer.

“Then tell me. Everything you know about Kun’s curse. If you keep your mouth closed, you’re just repeating the same mistake. And this time, the excuse that you didn’t know won’t work.”

He still didn’t answer, but his shaking pupils were enough. I left him with a piece of advice before I departed.

“Think carefully about what the right thing to do is. Because Grand Duke Kun is at the center of the pain you created.”