────I grant Yohan Miyatro, Watcher of the Abyss, full authority over the investigation of this case.

The king's declaration sent a stir through the great hall. Every noble was unsettled. Some looked troubled; others frowned. Most could scarcely believe their ears.

Yohan was far too young and inexperienced to be granted full investigative authority over this case. He was merely a child who had yet to undergo his coming-of-age ceremony.

Horentz Marcano spoke from his Council seat.

"... Your Majesty, forgive my presumption, but the Watcher of the Abyss is far too young to bear the weighty responsibilities of chief investigator. Given the gravity of this case, we must exercise the utmost care in choosing who will lead the investigation."

Horentz Marcano was the wealthiest man in the kingdom, known as the royal family's treasury. On the surface, he belonged to the royalist faction. The king always listened carefully to his opinions.

This time was different. King Roderick spoke.

"Lord Horentz, I am well aware of your concerns. The Watcher of the Abyss lacks experience. Yet my conversations with him have convinced me that he possesses the ability and intelligence to navigate this situation. I intend to use this opportunity to establish the full measure of his capabilities."

The king was openly supporting Yohan, personally lending his weight to a member of the aristocratic faction. No one could fathom why he was behaving this way.

Whispers spread.

"Appointing a wet-behind-the-ears brat as chief investigator? Preposterous."

"What on earth does His Majesty intend...?"

"This is bewildering."

Observing their mood, the king suppressed a groan. Even a king's wishes could not easily be put into effect when everyone opposed them. He was nothing more than a powerless figurehead.

Roderick glanced at Count Staviana. The Count had the power to break this impasse.

"Lord Cromwell, what are your thoughts?"

At the king's question, the Count slowly began to speak.

"Yohan von Miyatro. He certainly possesses the ability and qualifications to oversee the investigation."

No sooner had he finished than another stir swept through the hall.

"B-but Your Excellency!"

"Are you serious?"

Even the ministers of the aristocratic faction were expressing doubts.

The Count spoke.

"Lord Yohan is so exceptional that Margrave Wolfgang himself has chosen him as a prospective son-in-law."

Wolfgang Eisenfeld gave his daughters only to men of the North. Yet he had sought to take Yohan as his son-in-law. Until now, no man from outside the North, with the sole exception of Count Staviana, had ever become Wolfgang's son-in-law. Having earned Wolfgang's recognition, Yohan's capabilities were beyond doubt.

A few people murmured among themselves.

"The Margrave is accepting the Watcher from the south as his son-in-law?"

"That is certainly curious."

The Count continued.

"As outstanding as his abilities are, the Watcher of the Abyss is a busy man. Under the covenant made five hundred years ago, he must watch over the Abyss and take responsibility for every demonic incident in the south. In truth, he has no time to oversee this case."

One noble tilted his head.

"Are you saying that the Watcher of the Abyss cannot serve as chief investigator?"

The Count nodded.

"Correct. It would be wrong to impose any further obligations upon him."

Uncertainty flickered in King Roderick's eyes. He had expected the Count to support Yohan.

"B-but Cromwell..." he said, his voice trembling slightly.

The king needed Yohan to oversee this case. There were far too many secrets that must never become public.

The Count cut him off.

"Your Majesty, would you entrust this case to me? As chancellor of the kingdom, I shall uncover the whole truth and leave no room for doubt."

If the Count volunteered to take charge, no one could oppose him. Even the Church would have to yield. His influence extended as far as the Empire, and Wolfgang, guardian of the North, stood behind him. The very structure of power ensured that the Count always got what he wanted.

King Roderick looked somewhat puzzled.

"You would oversee this matter?"

He did not know the precise nature of the relationship between the Count and Yohan. It was difficult to entrust the matter to him with complete confidence.

The false Yohan (Ilea), who had been quietly listening to their exchange, spoke.

"Your Majesty, I agree with the Count. I lack the time and ability to handle this entire case. Might you entrust that weighty duty to the experienced Count instead?"

Yohan could not afford to devote much time to the Muel case. He truly was busy.

King Roderick spoke.

"Are you certain?"

The moment the Count began his investigation, every detail would come to light. That did not matter to Yohan. He and the Count were already in the same boat.

Yohan bowed his head.

"Of course, Your Majesty. Entrust it to the Count."

The king exchanged a look with Yohan.

"... Very well. I shall accept your wishes."

Count Staviana was now chief investigator for the case. With a royal command backing him as well, no one could object. All that remained was to decide the specific appointments and investigative methods at the conference.

The conference ran longer than expected. The night wore on.

* * *

Yohan was assigned to interrogate the archmage Lumina. Whatever methods he used, all he had to do was make her talk.

The dungeon beneath the royal palace. Clammy dampness greeted Yohan the moment he stepped inside. All manner of screams rose incessantly from every direction. The very atmosphere was chilling, and the dungeon's dark gray stone walls only deepened its gloom.

'... Something about this place makes my skin crawl.'

As he frowned, the priest walking beside him spoke.

"You will grow accustomed to it soon. I shall be at your side to assist you."

He was a torture specialist from the Church, assigned to assist Yohan.

The priest grinned. Yohan answered expressionlessly.

"Thank you for the offer, but I do not need help."

Yohan had no intention of working with him. If certain things reached the priest's ears, Yohan would be the one in trouble.

The priest spoke firmly.

"Yes, you will. Without specialist expertise, you will never make someone of an archmage's caliber talk."

The priest, Juris, took considerable pride in his torture techniques.

'They've saddled me with a nuisance.'

Juris was both a torture specialist and an observer sent by the Church. The Church intervened in every demonic incident without exception. They could not entrust the entire interrogation to Yohan, who was not one of their own. They had to plant at least one man at his side. That man was Juris.

Yohan clicked his tongue.

"I wonder whether mere torture will work."

Their subject was an archmage. Ordinary methods would not extract information from her.

Juris gave a nasty smile.

"Watch and see. I will have Lumina talking before the day is out."

He stopped before a barred door. The soldier opened it as soon as he saw Yohan and the priest. A chilling metallic screech rang out.

The archmage Lumina sat bound in the center of a spacious solitary cell. All manner of restraints encased her. Among them were holy relics that restricted her use of magic.

The priest strode over and stood before her. Lumina spoke first.

"... The Church sent a greenhorn."

Yohan watched the two from a distance. The priest twisted his lips.

"You filthy apostate. This greenhorn will have you sobbing and begging him to kill you."

Lumina gave a hollow laugh. There was something empty about her smile.

"Go on, then. Let's see what you can do."

She was an archmage who had lived for 150 years. She would not bat an eye at most forms of torture.

Juris spoke in a businesslike tone.

"I will now conduct the first interrogation of the archmage Lumina. As an interrogator appointed by the Bureau of Holy Inspection, I have been vested with the authority of the Great Saint and the Church. I hereby declare that all procedures performed from this moment forth are lawful and sacred acts."

He took a leather pouch from inside his clothes. It contained blades of every shape.

Lumina chuckled.

"What cute little things."

Juris laid the sinister instruments out in a row on the table. Yohan felt nauseated. The mere sight of those blades repulsed him.

Juris spoke.

"Lumina, the first question. You attempted to sacrifice the entire royal capital to summon the Archdemon Muel. Is that true?"

Lumina stuck out her tongue.

"Nyah."

Juris nodded.

"Let's have some fun, then."

From the instruments on the table, he selected a small, thin surgical knife. Lumina spoke with an untroubled expression.

"Starting with the fingernails? How predictable."

"Close, but not quite."

Juris slid the blade beneath Lumina's little fingernail. Then he began working it back and forth. Yohan grimaced.

'... I can't watch this.'

Lumina let out a piercing scream.

"A-aaaaaagh! It hurts! It hurts!"

The torture continued for quite some time. Only when Lumina's voice was growing hoarse from screaming did it stop.

Juris withdrew the blade.

"Ready to cooperate now?"

Lumina nodded rapidly.

"Yes, I'm sorry. I was wrong. I'll answer everything... Hee-hee. Did you think I'd say that?"

She stared at Juris with a mischievous expression. His brow furrowed sharply.

"Let's take this up a few notches."

Lumina scoffed.

"Before you do, here's something you should know. We archmages go through something called Molting. How should I put it? It's a process in which everything in your body is twisted and restructured. Muscles, blood vessels, organs—every part of your body screams during Molting. You'll have to inflict pain like that to make me talk."

Juris picked up a saw.

"Let's see how long you stay so confident."

Yohan murmured,

"... What a waste of time."

Juris turned to look at him.

"Please give me a little longer. I will make her confess everything."

Yohan shook his head.

"No. I will take over now."

He walked over to Lumina.

Lumina spoke.

"Your turn now, Watcher of the Abyss?"

Yohan answered expressionlessly.

"Lumina, what must I do to let you use magic?"

Lumina looked puzzled.

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"I will release your seals."

Her restraints currently prevented her from using magic.

Lumina stared at Yohan, then smiled.

"Cut off my left hand at the wrist."

The chain wrapped around her left hand was a mana suppressor.

Yohan seized the axe lying on the table and brought its blade down on Lumina's wrist. A fountain of blood erupted.

Juris recoiled in horror.

"W-wait! What are you doing?"

At that same instant, countless equations spread through the cell. Juris's body burst apart. Chunks of flesh scattered, sticking thickly to the stone walls.

Amid the spray of blood and flying flesh, Lumina spoke.

"Watcher of the Abyss, what do you want from me?"