Published at 5th of December 2025 7:57 pm

Chapter 179

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

Actually, bringing it up to him wasn't a good choice.

Because I have to do this alone.

But since Narce can read my thoughts with his ability—I have no idea how he's even processing the status window—there wouldn't be much point in being vague about my plan to him anyway.

It's better to go to Primrose Path together but have him do something else that isn't dangerous for him.

"You're not going to interrogate the councilor, but heading straight to Primrose Path?"

Narce's eyes went wide, then he clapped his hands as if he understood.

And then he seriously called my name.

"Lucas."

"...Why?"

"You have a truly amazing Authority. Enough that I'd like to try using it myself."

Authority?

Don't tell me this guy also has something like Leo...?

I tried to maintain the same expression as before and spoke.

"What do you think my Authority is?"

"It's probably something similar to Insight. In some ways, you seem to use your ability even more accurately than I do~"

"......"

I stared intently at Narce and smiled.

Is that really all?

I wish I had an Insight ability too, but this damn system never gives me what I want.

I wouldn't necessarily think about it, but it wasn't easy to trust him from the start.

Even now, I don't have the ability to judge whether Narce's words are true or not.

"Hahaha! I understand. Still, Luca trusts me. No matter what happens, I can't help but be grateful."

It's a situation where there's nothing else I can do but trust him for now.

But....

"Luca?"

"Elias calling nicknames looked cool~ Close friends call each other by nicknames, right!"

Ah.

I realized once again that this was practically the first time he was attending school and laughed.

"Unless you've been close since childhood, people usually don't call each other that. Elias... well, let's assume that's the case. Leo is actually called by a nickname too, but that's because his name is too long."

"Ah, really...? That's a shame...."

"...No. Do as you please...."

"Haha, no. I know your name, so that's enough. More importantly, that thing over there, that's the sentence we saw at Heike's house, right?"

A momentarily questionable remark flitted past, but I didn't have the mental energy to dwell on it.

I handed Narce the notebook he pointed to. It was a page where I had collected and organized the strange sentences I'd read so far.

"Yeah. Just in case it's a code."

I'm currently collecting all five sentences I've confirmed so far, reading them connected, and also reading them backward.

If a code is applied, it'll take a long time just to figure out what kind of code it is, so I should start slowly.

"Ah~ A code! That could be the case!"

"I'm currently assuming it's a Caesar cipher and trying to decipher it, but how about it? Do you get a feel for it?"

"Hmm, right now... in this state, I don't. I'm sorry I can't be of help."

Narce said, contemplating and stroking his chin.

"It's good that you're trying, but don't wear yourself out too much, Lucas. Don't think of it as too difficult either."

"Okay. I was only thinking about it briefly during breaks anyway."

I don't have the mental capacity to make that the main focus.

The moment I thought that, Narce rummaged through his bag.

"Ah, if you're not going right now, take this."

But what he took out was Pai.

"Huh?"

Pai, who had been sleeping, suddenly lifted his head and looked around.

"Oh, he was here."

"You didn't know either."

"Haha... I thought I left him in the room, but maybe he was lonely because I've been going out alone lately? He secretly followed me."

Narce put Pai back in and took out a small box from inside the bag.

It was a box engraved with the coat of arms of the Grand Duchy of Baden.

"...Tsheringen?"

"Yeah, Yulia told me to give it to you. She must have heard about you while going in and out of the faculty office yesterday."

When he opened the lid, a pearl was seen placed on black cloth. Naturally, it wasn't an ordinary pearl.

"It's an artifact."

"Yeah. She knows you use a necklace artifact too. Put it on the same chain you're using now!"

"...My sense of style.... But isn't this something only people from that family use?"

"Probably, right?"

If you carelessly accept something like this... to someone who doesn't know the full circumstances, it could easily escalate into a very political issue.

For example, it could be seen as the Askanian and Tsheringen families establishing friendly relations, or as having ambitions to rule the Grand Duchy of Baden.

Of course, they wouldn't immediately recognize that it was made by the Tsheringen family just by looking at the artifact without its case, but you never know what might happen.

As I was thinking that, Narce shook his head.

"She said she'd give it to you herself if you didn't take it~ Yulia asked me to deliver it to you first because she was worried you'd feel burdened, but you're not going to accept it?"

"Yeah."

"Yulia would hope you'd use it well~?"

"......"

With the continued coaxing, I gave a short, hollow laugh and opened the box again.

"What is this?"

"She said it has resistance magic on it. It's not specialized for defense, but she asked if you could use it well~"

Returning it without even seeing her face wouldn't be polite either.

And considering political relationships, it's much better to accept it and then give a corresponding gift in return, rather than flatly refusing.

I'll have to see her in person and thank her separately.

For now, after we go and come back.

"Okay. Let's get going."

"Wait, I want to hear your plan before we go. I understand what else you've found out about the Chairman. But I don't think it's quite enough to use as a tool to meet the Chairman... what are you thinking?"

Narce sat on a chair and patted the bed.

"......"

He's right.

In this situation where a subtle tension flows between Pleroma and the Chairman, I can only approach him through Ludovika Schneider, who is from Pleroma.

Even if I didn't want to go through her, there are no other options now that that district is controlled by Pleroma.

In other words, it's a situation where I can't approach the Chairman by saying, 'I'll help you abandon Pleroma and create a new religion.'

I'd have to say that to Ludovika, and she'd just love to pass that message along.

Of course, I have a plan.

What I need to consider now is this.

Can I truly involve Narce in this as well?

'No.'

Even if it's time that will disappear anyway, I don't want to make him experience something he doesn't have to, even for a moment.

It would be better for him to get different information at the same time as me.

"Narce."

"Hmm?"

"That person named Eugenie Schiller who sat next to you back then, you haven't met her again at the hotel, right?"

"Nope."

"Then today, just keep an eye on that person."

"......"

Narce stared intently at me and tilted his head.

When I deliberately cleared my mind and just looked at him, Narce laughed and asked.

"Lucas, you're not thinking something weird, are you~?"

"Thinking something weird?"

"Alright. Since it's our second meeting, it'll be easier to get more information."

"Thanks. Now...."

Saying that, I was about to ask Narce for a Warp, but I changed my mind.

"No, I think I'll stop by Bavaria for a moment first."

* * *

"You came early."

It was the voice I heard on the street at dawn.

That was Ludovika Schneider, right?

Narce, who had stepped into the bar they came to last evening once more, smiled upon seeing the two old humans.

Lucas, who had already emptied another bottle of alcohol before coming, stood in front of the table where they were sitting, smiling with a thoroughly drunk expression.

"We meet again. Could you grant me the honor of sitting beside you?"

"Hmm.... Didn't you clearly say there wouldn't be a time we'd sit together again?"

Eugenie Schiller said with a smile.

Still, perhaps having already heard the story of what happened at dawn from Ludovika, she wasn't genuinely questioning him but merely joking.

"I have no excuse."

Lucas said that and sat down abruptly.

Ludovika gestured to Narce as well, and Narce bowed slightly and sat down in front of them.

Lucas ordered new drinks and leaned his face close to Ludovika.

"About that test thing."

He's getting straight to it.

Although Lucas didn't convey this information verbally, I had already figured it out through the contents he had written down in his notebook before leaving. I even tried using Insight during training.

"I was so curious about what it was, I couldn't sleep?"

"Despite that, you were going out from dawn."

"Ah...."

Lucas scratched the back of his neck, smiling awkwardly.

"You knew? That's a different matter~ I went out to see if there's another street like this in the Empire. No matter how much I thought about it, I was disappointed."

"You're consistent. I didn't expect you to leave Primrose Path already. If you find a new place you like, will you do business there?"

"No. I made a promise with Ms. Ludovika."

Lucas lightly lifted Ludovika's hair, which was half-tied and flowing over her shoulder, and kissed it.

And then, looking into Ludovika's eyes, he whispered.

"I won't do it anywhere but here."

'Hahaha... Haha.... Hmm~'

Watching my friend's acting is giving me goosebumps. I couldn't help it.

Narce tried to maintain a serious expression, suppressing the laughter that was about to burst out.

His atmosphere is completely different from last night. I had a feeling he was putting more effort into his appearance before coming out; it seems he's decided to push in this direction completely.

Although Lucas was imagining himself abandoning everything and running out of the bar alone, as if disillusioned, the observers couldn't sense that at all.

'He's really paying attention to the role of a dissolute playboy~ Well then... shall I start reading the thoughts over here?'

Eugenie Schiller, that is, the person less understood compared to Ludovika.

[This is interesting.]

To read this kind of thought right off the bat~

Even while thinking that, Narce empathized with Eugenie's thoughts.

No matter how creepy Lucas's words were, because I wasn't the one saying them, observing was enjoyable.

[But he's no ordinary operator.... Your Excellency will handle it well, but if something goes wrong, she might fall for it.]

Lucas's acting worked perfectly on her.

But, wait a minute.

'Your Excellency?'

Your Excellency.

'If something goes wrong, she might fall for it,' based on the context, 'Your Excellency' was referring to Ludovika Schneider.

'...They wouldn't usually call just anyone "Your Excellency"~'

My neck instantly felt cold.

Narce looked at Ludovika and used his ability.

[.......]

It's not easily read.

Something is being caught, but being blocked like this means she's incompatible with me.

Even so, I can't back down here.

'A little more.'

Narce felt his chest growing hot and used his ability.

Ludovika smiled and drank her alcohol.

[She's impatient.]

I can read her.

Narce continued to use his ability, looking into Ludovika's downcast eyes.

[How should I bring it up? Perhaps it won't be as difficult as I thought, but giving him the baptism right away without saying anything seems like a good idea. After all, there are probably very few people the Empire is looking for like him....]

Baptism?

Narce finally understood why Lucas had told him to stick close to Eugenie.

"......"

Narce slowly swirled the wine glass placed before him and looked down at it.

I don't know exactly what conversation Leo and Lucas had at the end.

But what's certain is that I can understand both of their positions.

'...It's difficult.'

I can understand Leo's concerns, and I can understand Lucas's judgment.

Neither of them was wrong. In thinking of a friend, Leo is not being overly sensitive, and in thinking of the greater good, Lucas's decision is not reckless.

I also know that meeting the Chairman is not something that will happen easily. Perhaps I feel it even more certainly than Lucas.

They are trying to dominate the Empire using any means necessary, so there is no place for peace here.

'So I won't try to stop Lucas's decision, but... I'll need to be thoroughly prepared.'

It's a situation where I'd be lucky if I just don't become a hindrance.

Thinking that, Narce put his hand into the bag he had brought.

Meanwhile, Lucas turned his head towards Ludovika and propped his chin on his hand.

"What are you thinking so hard about? Surely your mind hasn't changed now, has it?"

"Of course not~ I like talented people. If I'm going to work with someone, it has to be someone like you."

Ludovika Schneider pointed outside with a gentle smile.

"You said you were curious about the test, right? Shall we go now?"

* * *

Because Narce pulled me out saying he needed to go to the bathroom for a moment, I also knew what he had found out using Insight.

'He's no ordinary guy.'

That's right.

They wouldn't just put anyone next to a risk factor like the Chairman.

But the information I found out during the time that has already disappeared, that is, the relationship between Pleroma and the Chairman, is not yet the time to use it.

For now, I have no choice but to go through Ludovika Schneider, so I need to play along with her rhythm a bit more, just like I did at dawn.

Returning to the hotel, we went up to the room I had stayed in yesterday.

"Did you like the room? It seemed like you barely slept properly before leaving."

"Of course~ But what is that in your hand?"

I pointed to the handbag Ludovika was holding.

Ludovika didn't answer and changed the subject with a smile.

"Now, shall we sit down first?"

"Yees. But I'm curious why you're avoiding the answer~?"

"Haha, later. To set up a shop here, one more condition is needed, first... do you have a religion?"

It's starting.

'Religion, huh.'

Ludovika Schneider can make me part of Pleroma. Her profit increases when she does that.

And, she is currently testing the waters regarding that subject.

From here, I need to create the situation.

If Ludovika has accurately judged my qualities, she won't try to let me go, just like the bishops of Freiburg.

In that case, I can afford to be bold in this part.

But a problem arises here.

No matter how much the Chairman's Mental-type magic is needed, as long as they regard him as a competitor, Pleroma will try to lower their dependence on him.

It's natural that they won't pass new information to the Chairman, and they will slowly bring the tasks previously entrusted to the Chairman back into Pleroma's internal operations.

By whatever means, it's a situation where the probability of Ludovika not taking me to the Chairman has become extremely high.

'What would I have done if I hadn't interrogated the councilors?'

I would have just kept trying to win Ludovika's favor. Because I had assumed the Chairman and Pleroma were in an absolutely friendly relationship.

In the current situation where I naturally cannot meet the Chairman, I must make it so that Ludovika 'has no choice but to take me' to the Chairman.

Therefore, this is the only method.

"I believe in Buddhism."

"Hmm~"

Ludovika nodded habitually, then slowly opened her mouth.

"...What did you say?"

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