Somehow, I persuaded ‘Sombra’ and received the Moonlight Sword, looking at it with an incredulous expression.
‘A storage ability for items, huh.’
It could be considered quite effective.
Now, I could carry ‘holy relics’ or ‘Soul Stones’ that I couldn’t usually carry around.
‘Oh, maybe not Soul Stones?’
Judging by Sombra’s current behavior, there’s a risk it might consume the Soul Stone just by storing them.
I guess I’ll have to exclude Soul Stones.
Blink. Blink.
Noticing something strange, several eyes simultaneously looked at me.
It might have been grotesque, but somehow, either because I adapted quickly or because of my bizarre sense of aesthetics, I found it kind of cute.
[⇒ You can increase intimacy by naming <Sombra>.]
At that moment, a system notification popped up.
A name?
Come to think of it, ‘Sombra’ is its name as a demon.
Although its current form isn’t exactly non-demonic, since we’ve become one and gained new abilities, giving it a new name wouldn’t be bad.
It felt like naming a pet.
“What would you like?”
At my question about choosing a name, Sombra stared at me intently, then shifted its gaze to the name tag on the pot it was sitting on.
“Angelica…”
A name that I miss but need to forget now.
If I keep dwelling on the memories with her, the other children might get jealous.
“Do you like this name?”
As I tried to pass that name to Sombra as a sign of complete farewell, it hugged the name tag tightly, seemingly pleased.
“Then, from now on, ‘Angelica’ is your name.”
[You have given <Sombra> a new name, ‘Angelica.’]
[You can now use <Sombra / Erosion Corridor>.]
***
After naming Sombra ‘Angelica,’ I returned to the duties of the ‘Closed Eye’ and began to feel uneasy.
‘Aiden is dead, and it’s quiet.’
Too quiet.
While it’s a well-known fact that the royal family shows little interest in the nobility’s actions or life and death, it was unexpected that even the ‘Dawn Society’ remained inactive.
The deceased wasn’t just an ordinary member or of monsignor rank but a ‘bishop.’
I had prepared to respond, expecting some movement, so this silence was disconcerting.
Knock, knock.
Just as I felt the unease, there was a knock at the door.
When I told them to enter, a familiar face stepped into the office.
“It seems you have urgent business if you’ve come all the way here.”
It was Eleanor, marked by her charming tear mole.
Though she had come here in her ‘Diana’ guise, it was clear she was here for Dawn Society business.
The connection between ‘Diana’ and ‘Julian’ wasn’t strong enough for her to visit the ‘Closed Eye’s’ office.
“It’s not that urgent. By the way.”
Clack.
As the door closed, Eleanor’s expression turned to her usual cynical one.
“Isn’t it too easy to reach the office of the so-called leader of the ‘Closed Eye’?”
“Hmm.”
I let out a short sigh at Eleanor’s words.
Where should I start correcting her?
“I am not the leader of the ‘Closed Eye.’ The leader here is Odwin Valadir.”
“I didn’t say that because I didn’t know, but doesn’t Odwin’s position hold little meaning to you?”
She easily uttered words that would have hurt Odwin if she were here.
“Of course not. Odwin is performing her duties well in her own right.”
Eleanor shrugged at my words and began fiddling with her earring.
‘It’s probably a magic tool.’
She was likely checking to see if anyone was eavesdropping on our conversation.
They say those who have experienced it know best. Korund and Aiden’s downfall due to eavesdropping magic must have left her uneasy.
“So, what brings you here?”
Regardless, if the ‘Archbishop’ Eleanor came personally, it must be significant.
It likely concerns Aiden…
“The Grand Archbishop has invited you to a meal.”
What? Tenellon and me?
And Eleanor, an Archbishop, came personally to relay this?
“It certainly won’t be an ordinary meal. The topic of Sir Aiden will undoubtedly come up.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, not many people seem to know yet, but it’s clear that Sir Julian, you were involved in Sir Aiden’s final moments.”
Watching her continue to speak, I shrugged my shoulders.
I thought it better to show such a reaction than to affirm her statement.
I did do it, but technically it was the ‘Black Knight.’
“And… Sir Julian, I trust you. There’s something I want to say.”
What do you want to say now?
You’re not about to invite me to dinner too, are you?
“I think we need to bring down the Grand Archbishop.”
Hmm.
Eleanor’s shocking statement nearly took my breath away.
Fortunately, this sly villain isn’t one to let his emotions show easily.
The traits of ‘calmness’ and ‘poker face’ support this.
But why say that to me?
I had thought of eliminating Tenellon, but I hadn’t revealed it or shown any inclination to do so.
Besides,
‘She’s surprisingly naive.’
Seeing her utter such words so casually, it seems Eleanor trusts me quite a lot.
If it were me, I wouldn’t reveal such intentions to anyone.
If I did, I would involve others as accomplices, and if they showed signs of dissent, right there…
‘This is going too far.’
I shook my head, feeling my thoughts becoming too ‘Julian-like.’
Clearing my throat to shift the mood, I turned my gaze to Eleanor.
“So, you’re thinking of rebellion?”
“Rebellion…”
Eleanor bit her lip slightly.
“It’s not rebellion; it’s to restore the Dawn Society to its original state.”
We call that ‘rebellion.’
“Moreover, Tenellon’s actions are vastly different from before.”
Different? I haven’t seen what Tenellon’s been up to lately, so I wouldn’t know.
“He’s gone mad, to put it mildly.”
What on earth did she see to say something so extreme?
“I used to think his obsession with something led him to make wise decisions. But now, it’s not the case.”
“What exactly do you mean by wise decisions?”
“Well, for one thing, he wouldn’t kill or banish bishops based on his own arbitrary standards.”
Killing bishops based on his own standards.
That somehow strikes a chord.
“Oh, Sir Julian, I don’t mean you. Recently, Tenellon has been making excessive demands on the members under the guise of ‘loyalty.'”
“Excessive demands… you say?”
“Impossible tasks, wealth, and even their children.”
As Eleanor continued, her face grew increasingly stiff.
“If these acts of testing the ‘loyalty’ of members continue, the foundation of the Dawn Society might crumble.”
Indeed, harming nobles under the guise of ‘loyalty’ could undermine the very basis of the Dawn Society. They gathered for power and relations with other nobles, not to risk their lives for extreme actions.
‘But Tenellon is doing that?’
Outwardly, he pretends to be bold, but he’s actually a coward who doesn’t take excessive risks. This made it difficult for ‘Sword Saint’ Hayden Reich to gather evidence, allowing him to quietly expand his power and eventually become the ‘Demon Lord,’ summoning the ‘Demon God.’
‘That’s why I joined the Dawn Society in the first place, to stop him in advance.’
Listening to Eleanor now, it seems like the royal family will handle it if left alone.
The Empire’s royalty is known for eliminating any noticeable threats.
“I understand your point, Miss Eleanor.”
In that regard, my position is difficult. If the Dawn Society comes to light, I, as a bishop, could also be in danger.
“The Archbishop wouldn’t lie, so it’s only a matter of time before the Dawn Society faces close scrutiny from the royal family.”
“Indeed.”
It is right to excise festering wounds. It’s a sizable part, but now is the time for extraction.
“As Miss Eleanor said, it seems the time has come.”
I chuckled briefly and looked at Eleanor.
“I see now. Miss Eleanor, you are moving for your own selfish reasons.”
“Huh?”
“You claim it’s for the Dawn Society, but isn’t it because you covet the Grand Archbishop’s position? That’s why you want to bring him down.”
Indeed, dealing with ‘Tenellon’ is the right thing, but the one who stands to gain the most from his death is Eleanor.
If the Archbishop’s position is vacated, Eleanor, as an Archbishop, will surely take that seat.
Hearing my thoughts, Eleanor looked slightly flustered.
“I merely stated that the time has come, Sir Julian, but it was you who were orchestrating things.”
Me, orchestrating things?
Eleanor, regaining her composure, continued.
“It’s Pintel who’s been gathering people and planning things beneath the surface. He said… he was acting on your orders.”
Ah… Pintel.
Hearing that name, I began to feel a bit dizzy.
I told him to stay put.
***
Even if something is brewing beneath the surface, for now, I must play along with the Grand Archbishop’s words.
In the end, I accepted Tenellon’s invitation to dinner.
He wouldn’t think highly of me if I refused.
“But… is this the place?”
The place Tenellon invited me to was one of the most renowned restaurants in the capital.
A place always crowded with guests, where even nobles, unless they are royalty, must make a reservation. It’s a place that stubbornly adheres to its own strict rules.
In a way, it’s akin to a place armed with the craftsmanship similar to ‘Dusk Flame.’
Such a place.
“Did Tenellon book it exclusively for himself?”
The amount of influence he has is staggering.
As I entered the restaurant, I saw Tenellon seated, holding a pre-meal bread.
“Here you are, Julian. Have a seat.”
At Tenellon’s gesture, a man in a sophisticated outfit approached and pulled out a chair for me.
Though his actions resembled those of a waiter, he didn’t seem like an employee. In fact, there were no staff visible in the restaurant.
The man who pulled out the chair seemed to be the owner of the restaurant.
“The soup and the pre-meal bread here are always excellent. I’m not exactly versed in the lifestyle of the noble elite, but I can say this much.”
As Tenellon praised the food, the noble attending him twisted his body in humble flattery.
Then, without even glancing at me, Tenellon tore a piece of the pre-meal bread with his hands, not eating it, and casually spoke.
“Did you kill Aiden?”
The straightforward question made cold sweat trickle down my back.
Just in case anything happened, I had brought along the ‘Bell of Justice’ inside Sombra, no, ‘Angelica.’
“He’s dead.”
“I see, in a way, it’s justified.”
After the simple meal, the main course served was a lamb steak.
Though the delicious smell tantalized my senses, I had no appetite.
“In fact, I was also contemplating Aiden’s fate.”
“Is that so?”
“While it’s good to conduct research on demons, I thought he had crossed the line.”
“Yet, despite that, didn’t you quite respect his actions?”
Tenellon gave a slight smile.
“After all, he was a bishop. I had to show some respect, didn’t I?”
Though he continued to speak as if he were kind, Tenellon’s emotions felt hollow.
Reflecting on Eleanor’s words and Tenellon’s usual behavior, it seemed something had indeed changed.
‘He has become strange… hm?’
While pondering the reason, I sensed that the ‘magic’ surrounding Tenellon had grown murky.
Something must have happened to him.
Realizing this, I quickly deduced the cause.
A story from “Let’s Kill the Demon Lord.”
It was an incident caused by the whims of the ‘Demon God.’
“Sir Tenellon, by any chance… have you stopped hearing the ‘voice’?”
Tenellon, who was reaching for his steak, paused and turned his gaze towards me.
“Julian, how do you know about that?”
Cliche Novel 