Chapter 31 The Sword Of Judgment And The True Culprit
"Yumie..."
As Neil wiped Yumie's eyes, he gritted his teeth.
The once cute dress was torn to shreds, dirty with mud, sweat, and her own blood.
Her face was pale from a lack of magic, and combined with deep fatigue, she was taking shallow breaths repeatedly.
This ten-year-old girl had fought alone, overcoming her fear for the sake of other young ladies, and had become this battered.
Feeling proud of his sister's efforts made him want to die when he reflected on his own inadequacies.
He had come here to prevent Yumie from suffering, yet here he was.
"Growl!!"
"Shut up, just be quiet for a bit."
Neil infused his voice with magic to intimidate the roaring monster.
Just that alone made the beast, which had been wreaking havoc moments before, come to a complete stop.
It was as if it was trembling in fear before an unknown creature.
"I'm sorry, Yumie... just a little longer, please wait for me."
He gently leaned Yumie's body against the roots of a tree.
In truth, he didn't want to leave her side for even a moment.
However, if the still inexperienced Neil went all out, he risked involving Yumie in the chaos.
"I'll finish this soon."
Gently stroking the sleeping Yumie's head, Neil drew his sword and faced the monster.
His eyes burned with an unprecedented rage.
"...I'm not like Sigurt; I'm an idiot. I don't understand who did this or why it happened... I don't know anything."
Magic surged from every part of Neil's body.
It was an overwhelming amount, more than ten times that of Yumie, triggered by his anger, raging like a storm.
"But I can understand this much. You were probably just used. You should have been fighting the same monsters deeper in the forest, but you were brought here... I get why you'd want to lash out."
A massive magic circle formed around Neil.
It lacked precision.
An adult would look at its rough structure and think, "Not there yet".
Neil overcomes the immaturity of such magic circle with his innate magic capacity.
"But I don't care about those circumstances. No matter the reason, I will never forgive anyone who hurts Yumie!! The pain Yumie felt, I will return it a million times!! Grit your teeth!!"
A greatsword of light forms, growing larger according to the magic capacity poured into it.
Neil swings it down with all his might, having grown to pierce the heavens.
"(Sandalphon (Judgment Sword))!!"
* * *
On this day, a forest near the Belmont family loses a staggering 20 percent of its area in a catastrophic event.
Rumors whisper in social circles that the cause was a certain brother's rampage, trying to obliterate a 'low-level monster' that had hurt his beloved sister... but at that moment, Neil had no way of knowing.
"I've arrived, this is it."
While Neil was going all out in a grand and flashy manner at a certain place, Sigurt was visiting an empty house with Alvine.
"I didn't know there was a place like this in the suburbs. What is this place?"
"Well, let's just say it's my hideout. There's nothing in particular here, but no one will notice anything that happens."
"Oh, is that so?"
What could he possibly want in such a place? Alvine wondered.
Even if he had potential, wasn't it a bit too leisurely for a mere 12-year-old child to head towards a monster?
Sigurt accurately read Alvine's inner thoughts.
"Don't worry, Neil will be fine. He's still inexperienced, and he's never won against me in a mock battle... but 'even if he can't control it, if he fights to kill from the start, he's definitely stronger than I am.'"
Of course, in a mock battle, you can't use attacks that would kill your opponent.
Due to his young age, Neil is unable to fully control his overwhelming magical power, so he can only use very basic, weak magic.
If he were to unleash that power without hesitation against a monster, Neil's magic would already surpass that of even active knights.
This is partly why Yumie was considered a "failure" in the Granbell Family.
"I'm actually a bit worried that Neil might be overdoing it... but I guess I'll trust my best friend's self-control."
Sigurt said with a laugh, completely unaware that reason and self-control had long since flown out the window, and that he had even obliterated part of the forest.
The poor prince, who was unaware that he would later be busy cleaning up after Neil's reckless actions, turned back to Alvine to get back to the main topic.
"Now, right away... Lord Alvine Neithardt. I called you here because I wanted to ask you a few things."
"Me?"
"Yeah. But first, who do you think is the mastermind behind this incident? Your words here won't be recorded, so feel free to speak your mind."
Not understanding the prince's intentions, Alvine was confused.
However, thinking he had to answer since he was asked, he opened his mouth.
"There was a deal involving monsters at the Belmont family's warehouse. I believe the Belmont family is the most likely suspect."
"Oh, really? That's interesting... but 'how can you be so sure that a deal took place there when there was nothing but a maid's corpse?'"
Alvine's body stiffened slightly.
Ignoring that, Sigurt continued to speak.
"There are many other strange points. The head of the Belmont family is known for being fond of his daughter, so why would he choose the forest where she enjoys picnics as a transport route? Normally, he would at least take a detour. If we assume that the head of the family didn't know about it... how did you know the destination of Lady Monica, which even her real father and the invited young ladies didn't know?"
Neil talks a lot about Yumie, bragging about her, and he tries to dig deep into her plans.
And Yumie herself doesn't hide anything and tells Neil everything.
According to Neil, at least Yumie didn't think for a moment until just before that this gathering was a "picnic".
If there's someone who could know that, it would be──.
"From here on, it's a hypothetical discussion. The Belmont family is currently arguing that they should reduce the Monster Countermeasures budget and redirect it to their own noble academy project. If, hypothetically, an 'accident' involving monsters were to happen to the daughter he cherishes, wouldn't he be likely to change his stance 180 degrees?"
Sigurt is laughing.
With a smile on his face, he approaches Alvine.
"Even if that's not the case, if a scandal spreads that the Belmont family tried to use monsters for experiments and caused an accident, they would inevitably lose influence. Even if it were a false accusation, just giving that kind of 'impression' would reduce the number of people willing to listen to his claims. No matter how it turns out, it would create a favorable flow for the royal family──if there's a fool who twisted such a 'delusion,' then this incident would make sense."
"Hahaha, that's an interesting hypothesis."
Alvine responds with a smile to Sigurt's grin.
To him, Sigurt narrowed his eyes slightly and declared,.
"Incompetent allies are far worse than capable enemies. Remember that well."
"Hahaha... if I find such a person, I'll turn them into rust for this sword. Rest assured."
A tense atmosphere hangs between the two.
After spending some time in silence, it was Sigurt who broke first.
"That's reassuring. Well then, shall we go after Neil?"
"Understood."
As the two left the vacant house, Sigurt thought to himself.
If only something had attacked them in a rage, it would have been easier.
(For now, there's no evidence at all. But... don't think you can just talk your way out of this so easily.)
Muttering this in his mind, Sigurt mounted his horse with Alvine as if nothing had happened.
Thus, the incident that began with the sudden appearance of a monster came to a close, remaining unexplained for the time being.
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