Chapter 559

Ophelia seemed a bit flustered that most of the information she had uncovered was outdated. She probably thought this info would serve as an excuse for crushing Isabella’s soul, but that ship had already sailed.

Of course, I didn’t plan to scold her for it. Without her, interrogating Isabella would’ve been impossible in the first place.

Plus, finding out that Peirus could mobilize other races was a significant gain. In other words, by digging into the other races, we could trace Peirus and the Apostles’ movements.

It might not be immediately helpful, but it’s useful info for the future.

The fact that Nidhogg was buried beneath the underground waterway was also confirmed.

I’m not sure if that thing could wake up on its own without Isabella’s help, but since we’re certain the corpse is buried there, we need to find and dismantle it as soon as possible.

Even if it revives, it’ll come back as a cripple with no wings, legs, or tail, so it’ll just die again immediately.

Still… it’s a bit disappointing.

—

What Ophelia gained from torturing—no, interrogating—Isabella wasn’t just knowledge or information.

By repeatedly experimenting with manipulating souls, she apparently reached a higher level of Soul Extraction Technique.

The problem was, even if her Soul Extraction Technique improved, it had no practical combat value.

“What are you even going to use Soul Extraction for…?”

“Uh… well…?”

Ophelia, having no answer, just puffed on her magical cigarette.

If we were some evil organization, it might make sense, but since we’re on the opposite side, Soul Extraction is a spell with no real use.

A mage from an Imperial Marquis family openly using Soul Extraction would cause as much controversy as me eating people in the middle of the street.

“How about other spells?”

“I’ve improved mana efficiency, but the power itself hasn’t changed much. I haven’t had a chance to build up strength since defeating Isabella.”

Well, she’s been holed up in the lab doing weird stuff, so it’s no wonder she hasn’t gotten stronger. Not much different from Ja-han, who just trained nonstop in the mansion.

“Hmm… Then you should start participating in monster subjugation. Gain combat experience, increase your mana, and build your reputation. Staying cooped up in the basement all day will just leave you behind.”

I instructed Ophelia to go out and subjugate monsters under the name of the Median family, just like the Rose Knights.

I hired Ophelia to utilize her magical combat power, not to keep her as a perpetual researcher.

“I don’t mind subjugating monsters… but who’s going to take care of Claire while I’m gone?”

That is a problem.

A woman who’s the close aide of a supposedly dead witch, with her limbs severed so she can’t move on her own, and who’s even regressed to an infantile state. Without Ophelia, there’s no one to care for her.

“Can’t we just put her in some preservation fluid? Like we did before.”

“That still requires periodic maintenance. If something unexpected happens and my return is delayed, there’s a high chance things could go wrong.”

So, we need to find someone to take care of her.

Someone who won’t be shocked by the lab’s sights or Claire’s condition, and who’s loyal and tight-lipped.

…There’s one subordinate who fits that description.

“Ophelia, about the preservation fluid maintenance—does it have to be done by a mage?”

“Not necessarily. You just need to remove impurities and add nutrient fluid. Why, are you going to do it?”

“Not me. I have a subordinate who’s perfect for it. Hersh, a half-fairy I brought from the Holy Kingdom… She’s scared of me but follows me loyally. She’s also tight-lipped.”

Since she used to work for the Dream Paradise Society, she won’t be shocked by Claire’s state, and if I threaten her with secrecy, she won’t blab. There’s no better candidate.

“A half-fairy? You managed to find such a rare breed… Anyway, this isn’t something to decide lightly, so I should meet her first. Can I see her now?”

“Not right now. She’s drunk and passed out after Ferne got to her. I left her in the reception room, so let’s meet her tomorrow.”

Ophelia looked skeptical but, not wanting to refuse outright, eventually nodded.

—

After finishing my conversation with Ophelia, I left the basement and headed to my room in the mansion.

Since the mansion’s original owner was Isabella, my room was naturally the one she used.

Of course, I didn’t want to sleep in a room reeking of bodily fluids and perfume, and the thought of lying on her bed made me break out in hives, so I completely renovated the room, from the furniture to the wallpaper.

Still, it was ridiculously luxurious.

I left the remodeling to the servants, and they filled the room with high-end furniture, saying the master of a Marquis family should indulge in such luxury.

An ivory velvet-curtained bed, a table and shelves adorned with gold and jewels, a vanity with a mirror, and even a sofa made of beastman hide.

There were even two portraits of me hanging on the wall behind the bed, though I have no idea who painted them.

“Ah, sister! Are you done with your talk?”

As I entered the room, Rana, who had been rolling around on the massive bed in the center, greeted me.

“Yeah, more or less.”

I stubbed out the cigarette butt in the ashtray on the table, hung the uniform I received from the Imperial Palace on the coat rack, and sat on the bed in my underwear.

I was too lazy to change into pajamas. Physically, I was fine, but mentally, I was exhausted, and I felt like I’d fall asleep as soon as I lay down.

It was a bit early to sleep, but… I’ll be busy again starting tomorrow, so it wouldn’t hurt to get a good night’s sleep today.

…Just one more cigarette before that.

I loosened the bandages around my chest, opened the cigarette pack beside the bed, took one out, and lit it, slightly opening the window by the bedside.

A cold breeze rushed in.

A bit chilly. Maybe because I took off the beastman hide.

I grabbed the bedspread and draped it over myself like a cloak, and Rana slipped under it, leaning against me as if using my chest as a pillow.

“…The cigarette smell will bother you.”

“I don’t care! The priests used to smoke a lot too!”

Rana giggled, pressing her head against my chest as if it were her pillow.

Well, it’s not like I haven’t smoked in front of Rana before, so no need to worry. Just don’t blow smoke in her face.

I wrapped my arms around Rana like a doll, with the blanket draped over us, and turned my head toward the window to savor my last cigarette before bed. The wind was blowing in, but it didn’t matter much.

“Rana, what are you going to do tomorrow?”

“Hmm… I haven’t decided yet. What about you?”

“Me? Well…”

I spent time chatting with Rana until the cigarette burned out completely. The comfort and drowsiness of being home washed over me again.

Though, strictly speaking, this place isn’t exactly home.

After one more cigarette butt in the ashtray, Rana went back to her own bed and lay down. I closed the window and lay down on my bed too.

Rana seemed to want to sleep together, but I couldn’t grant that wish. According to Freide, my sleeping habit is to tightly hug whatever’s within reach.

If I let Rana sleep in my bed, I might wake up alone the next day.

“Yaaawn… Good night, Rana.”

“Good night, sister…”

It didn’t take long for my consciousness to drift into dreams.

Even though I’ve erased all traces of Isabella, since this was her room, I was worried I might have nightmares, but thankfully, that didn’t happen.

—

After waking up, things were hectic. I had to attend a political meeting in the morning, so I had to prepare as soon as I got up, and there were countless tasks to handle after the meeting.

I had to give instructions to my team, introduce Hersh to Ferne and Ophelia, who were now sober, visit Asha’s workshop to have my armor repaired, and pick up the other Heaven’s Sword Order members’ armor.

There was also academy business.

“What do you mean all the scales are broken? What on earth did you fight?”

Asha’s jaw dropped when she saw the state of the armor I handed her.

She never imagined the scales, which could even block a master’s slash, would be this damaged.

“I fought a monster that destroyed a city. If it weren’t for your armor, I’d be dead.”

“That’s the highest praise for a blacksmith, but… sigh… this is a headache. With the current materials, there’s no way to increase the durability further.”

Asha looked at me as if to say, “If I make it again, you’ll just come back with it shattered.”

Honestly, considering what’s to come, her prediction is likely accurate, so I just awkwardly smiled without answering.

“I have some spare scales, so the repairs won’t take long. About an hour. Will you wait here?”

“No, I need to go to the Imperial Palace. I’ll come back when it’s done.”

I left my Winter Armor with Asha and loaded the other Heaven’s Sword Order members’ armor, which she had finished, onto the carriage.

Milia, Damien, Ophelia, Leonor, Nigel, and Ja-han’s armor—all equipped with auto-repair functions like mine.

“Oh, and if you have any leftover hide, can you make something like this?”

I also ordered a new pair of pants.

Unlike the ankle-length leather pants I usually wore, these were hot pants that fully exposed the thighs. It was the best compromise to effectively use the Blessing of Invulnerability.

I couldn’t exactly go around naked, so at least I could shorten the pants a bit.

Hersela objected, saying it was vulgar, but coming from a woman who used to walk around in just a tank top, her criticism was laughable. I dismissed her objections, prioritizing performance over appearances.

“Pants this short… It’s doable, but they’re not suitable for horseback riding. Exposing your legs like this will increase the risk of injury.”

“That’s not a problem. I recently gained a blessing that toughens my skin. I don’t need it now, but I’ll wear them when it gets hotter.”

“Alright. I’ll make a prototype with the Paladin’s hide first, and the final product will be made with Ryu-rik’s hide, dyed properly.”

“Thanks.”

After ordering the short pants and other consumables like daggers, I left Asha’s workshop and headed to the Imperial Palace.