Act 128

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“Hoo.”

Looking at Colparan’s battered face, I exhaled lightly. Though he showed no signs of resistance and had fallen, he wasn’t dead as his chest was still moving with each breath. He had grown old and acted obsequiously, but it seemed he had trained somewhat. So, I gave him a bit of a rougher ‘education.’

“Sir Al Hazar.”

When I called his name cautiously, he flinched and glanced at me nervously while watching over Colparan. Well, my appearance was quite fiery. The flickering purple aura above his head seemed to reflect his anxious state of mind.

Seeing that he wasn’t approaching quickly, I frowned slightly and pointed at Colparan with my finger.

“Take him away.”

“Yes, understood.”

With a respectful bow, Al Hazar supported the fallen Colparan. Normally, Colparan would have refused Al Hazar’s help, but now he seemed to have discarded all noble pride and dignity. 

After being beaten like that, it’s only natural, I suppose. Looking around, everyone had lost their will to fight. The battle was over. 

With Colparan’s ‘acknowledgment,’ no one gathered here could lay a finger on me. They had no choice but to watch me beat Colparan into a pulp.

“When Sir Colparan wakes up, tell him this.”

“Yes, what should I…”

“Next time we meet, it should be in the capital, not in these mountains.”

“Understood.”

Nodding, Al Hazar began to gather the soldiers and support Colparan. Even as they walked away, everyone’s gaze on me was filled with fear. 

And awe.

Facing such a large force, yet remaining unscathed and calm.

“Ugh…”

Once everyone disappeared, the noble demeanor of ‘Julian’ started to wane.

“It seems I’m not perfect yet.”

Somehow… the result wasn’t satisfying. 

The wounds burned by magic no longer hurt, but that was because the mage’s skills were lacking. 

‘If there were a few mages of Valgo’s rank, it wouldn’t have ended with just burns.’

The original ‘Julian’ wouldn’t have allowed even a scratch.

“It’s ridiculous.”

I reject Julian’s nature but desire his skill.

Just then, a shadow wriggled inside my body, and an eyeball popped out.

“Sombra.”

I called its name, but it showed no reaction. 

What’s wrong with this thing?

Ah, I gave it a new name, didn’t I?

“An… gelica?”

When I called it by the correct name, it responded. Wriggling, it revealed its eyes and began to caress the burned areas.

“The wounds are fine.”

Only after hearing those words did it seem reassured and moved away from the wounds.

“By the way, how did you do it?”

During the battle, I saw it clearly. Colparan’s arrow flying towards me. 

There was no place to dodge, and I couldn’t block it, so I had given up. 

I had concentrated mana in the area to prevent a fatal injury, but…

‘In my haste, I forgot to harden the shadows.’

But then, how did it block the arrow?

Clink.

As if reading my thoughts, ‘Angelica’ spat out something from its body.

An arrow?

……So it didn’t block it, it ate it?

I stared at ‘Angelica’ in disbelief, and it blinked its eyes slowly, as if taking it as a compliment, and then smiled serenely, mimicking Julian’s half-closed eyes.

***

“I didn’t expect you to come so soon.”

A few days after the incident with Colparan, he visited my mansion. Naturally, the marks of the ‘education’ I gave him hadn’t disappeared yet.

I felt a bit smug, but Colparan looked at me with a sullen expression.

“Julian, my boy, you need to learn to respect your elders.”

Grumbling, he was a sight from head to toe, with no part unscathed, even needing a cane to walk.

“Do you need more ‘education’? From the way you’re talking, it seems you’re still quite lively.”

“Cough.”

Colparan Demias, a noble who gave off a rather lightweight vibe, cleared his throat. 

I remembered that he didn’t have many dialogue logs in the work, making me wonder, ‘Was this really his personality?’

“The incident the other day… was a grave mistake on your part, Sir Colparan.”

Pintel, who was by my side, reprimanded him. I hadn’t planned to involve Pintel, but he insisted on joining the conversation once he heard about the incident with Colparan.

‘Tsk. It couldn’t be helped.’

Because of this, my plan to pin the treason’s center on Colparan became harder to execute, but I thought it could also be an opportunity.

‘This is a chance to show strong resolve.’

Never!! Never put me at the center of the treason.

“Ha ha, it’s true that it didn’t seem you had much justification at the time. Except for the fact that I stayed quiet while being beaten, I have no regrets about my actions.”

“Click.”

Pintel clicked his tongue at Colparan’s attitude.

“Even though I stayed quiet, I thought of it as my way of acknowledging you. After all, it’s you who needs my power to bring down Tenellon, isn’t it?”

Although it wasn’t my intention, Colparan, knowing how Pintel behaved in the Dawn Society, began to act brazenly.

However, even with his triumphant smile, he couldn’t hide the fact that his legs were trembling from the beating he took, making him look somewhat pitiable.

“So!”

Thump.

After striking the cane down and placing both hands on it, Colparan wore a serious expression. 

An old man who had lived long enough, his face wrinkled, but the shadows cast by them gave him a severe aura.

“When would be a good time?”

None of the three bishops gathered here misunderstood what Colparan meant by ‘when.’

The usurpation of the Grand Archbishop’s seat. Further, the death of Tenellon. 

He was asking when would be a good time for the rebellion.

“Do not act rashly. It is up to Sir Julian to decide that.”

“Oh ho……?” Colparan sneered at Pintel’s words, giving him a sideways glance.

“It sounds like you’re willing to proceed with the plan as long as Julian permits it, regardless of whether we’re ready or not.”

“If Sir Julian desires it…………, we could do it right now………”

“Tsk.”

Are you out of your mind? What are you talking about? 

Although I know that Pintel has been showing immense trust in me lately, it feels like this has blinded him.

Hey, you idiot! Get a grip! This isn’t right!

“Sir Pintel. Please, calm down. What we want is success, not a meaningless death.”

“I apologize.”

Still, he listens well. 

Colparan gave Pintel a once-over and then spoke again.

“It seems nothing has been properly decided yet.”

Colparan chuckled, and although Pintel looked slightly displeased, he remained silent at my look urging him to stay calm.

“In that case, let me arrange the schedule from now on. How about it?”

Colparan began to reveal his true colors.

No matter how much he acknowledges me and participates in the rebellion, he can’t abandon his primal desires.

‘Yes, that’s exactly it!’

The reason I accepted Colparan was to hand over all the authority to him and step back from the danger.

Although Colparan might not have noticed my intention, I supported his actions.

Bang!

“What are you talking about, Sir Colparan!”

Pintel’s face turned fierce as he slammed the table with his fist.

“Haha, why are you so angry?”

“How could I not be angry!?”

He must be furious at the thought that all his efforts would be swallowed by Colparan.

“No matter how much Sir Colparan conspires with other bishops, all the authority lies with Sir Julian!”

“Ha ha ha.”

Contrary to the boiling Pintel, Colparan began to laugh leisurely.

Their emotions contrasted sharply.

However, despite the stark contrast, both fell silent, and an awkward silence thickened.

They knew there was no point in raising their voices at each other.

They must be waiting for my words.

In that case, it’s only natural to speak up.

“Let’s do as Sir Colparan suggested.”

Although my words broke the silence, the atmosphere grew even heavier.

Deeper, and deeper into the abyss.

Why? I said we should just do it that way.

Pintel’s face, flushed with anger, looked like it was about to explode.

“Wh-what do you mean by that, Sir Julian!”

Pintel’s voice, tinged with confusion and anger, lifted the flow of the conversation.

“This is a significant task that you, Sir Julian, must handle ‘personally’! Handing it over to Sir Colparan is…….”

“So what? As I said before, the important thing is to carry out the task successfully, isn’t it?”

Ignoring Pintel’s plaintive tone, I spoke firmly.

‘It doesn’t matter who succeeds.’

But stepping back is important.

What matters is my safety, my mental health.

Isn’t that an obvious truth?

Of course, I could step forward and succeed.

I could crush Tenellon and ascend to the position of the Grand Archbishop, commanding the bishops.

But if that happens, it’s only a matter of time before the imperial family reveals my identity, and I’d be abandoning the place where I can live freely and safely.

I’ve said it many times, but as long as it doesn’t harm me, I have no intention of caring about the Dawn Society or anything else.

Revival of the Demon God? Just give it to the dogs.

Of course, I have a bit of interest in the Sword Saint.

“If you seek petty personal gain and ruin something great………… hehe, there’s nothing funnier than that.”

In any case, as long as I succeed in that ‘task,’ that’s all that matters.

Adopting this stance, I observed Colparan’s reaction.

‘How do you like it? Now that I’ve said this, go ahead and devour me…………. huh?’

But Colparan’s reaction was strange.

His face, battered from being beaten, was drenched in cold sweat, and unlike before, he no longer seemed at ease.

Why…………… does it still hurt?

***

It is only natural for people to covet power; one could even say it’s a principle of nature.

‘From his actions, it’s clear he craves power…………..?’

Colparan lifted his head to study Julian’s face.

Eyes that couldn’t be seen and an expression that couldn’t be read.

Colparan thought that penetrating his ‘poker face’ was an impossible task.

‘Heh, it’s clear he has another agenda.’

Though he didn’t yet understand the true intent behind Julian’s words, Colparan inwardly chuckled, thinking it didn’t matter.

‘The guy’s done some scheming.’

Where did that idiot who used to play the imperial dog go, and since when did he start pulling these tricks?

‘Don’t let personal greed blind you to the bigger picture? Hahaha.’

Either way, it was a topic that could only benefit Julian.

If Colparan accepted his proposal here, as Julian said, he would be seen as someone acting not for ‘the greater good’ but for ‘personal greed.’

If he refused, he would be seen as a small-minded coward.

“What will you do, Sir Colparan?”

“Hmm…………. fine, then I’ll do my best as you suggested, Julian.”

How about approaching it this way?

‘The young fool doesn’t even realize he’s falling into his own trap.’

Even if he was to be seen as blinded by greed, Colparan had no intention of stopping.

While he could acknowledge that Julian was a suitable ‘talent’ to lead the Dawn Society, he did not recognize him as the ‘leader.’

“I’ll inform the bishops I’m acquainted with. First, it’s best to tell Gennin. He’s in charge of the monastery’s ‘management.'”

Clearly presenting the future plan.

By planting these seeds, Julian would be unable to pull out.

‘Well, what will you do?’

Why don’t you just curl up and say it was all a joke?

“Good, you’re indeed outstanding, Sir Colparan.”

Contrary to Colparan’s expectations, Julian smiled with satisfaction.

“If Sir Colparan takes charge, the chances of failure will decrease.”

Unlike what he expected, Julian was shifting the entire responsibility for the task onto him.

Is that why?

A storm of thoughts began to swirl in Colparan’s mind.

…What on earth is this guy planning?

Up until now, as a noble, as a bishop of the Dawn Society, he had survived many years by mastering the art of balance.

If he hadn’t, he would have been ‘eliminated’ while defying Tenellon.

Recognizing what’s on the negotiating table and discerning the opponent’s thoughts is fundamental in ‘transactions.’

‘Julian…….’

He couldn’t read Julian’s thoughts at all.

Are you really entrusting me with full responsibility?

‘Are you trying to say you have no desire for power?’

The person who wields significant influence in this situation is sure to rise to the position of the Grand Archbishop later.

There’s no way Julian, who initiated this, would abandon that.

“Heh, heh. Just kidding. If I really intended to take your position, I wouldn’t have shown up here at all.”

In the end, negotiations favor those who reveal their cards.

Looking at the man who seemed almost noble beyond the realm of possible understanding, Colparan decided to let this matter slide.

“No, you don’t need to dismiss it as a joke. I’m serious, Sir Colparan.”

Even after revealing his hand, Julian continued to pursue relentlessly.

‘This crazy hunting dog of the royal family… what is he thinking!?’

A raccoon skilled at walking the tightrope, was bewildered by the ‘hunting dog of the royal family,’ who thought this:

‘Hey, you need to do it! I’m giving it all to you!!’

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