Chapter 81 - Episode 24: "It Was an Accident"
Gokigenyou! I am Violia Nico Fortesia!
Right now, I am contemplating how I might go about half-killing the people of the Cathedral!
"Even if we talk about a forced breakthrough, the opponent is a group where no one can surpass them regarding certain types of magic. If we just charge in, we'll be the ones getting burned."
That is, after all, the biggest problem. Since it is certain that the opponent uses magic, I want to challenge them with a perfect state of preparation. At the very least, if this group of six, including Onii-sama, just charges in, there is no doubt we will suffer major burns.
"Setting the Saint-sama aside, the others are hereditary. If we go by the idea that magical power is tied to bloodlines, well, it means our opponents are strong in magic."
Ah, by the way, the reason the Saint isn't hereditary is probably about thirty percent due to that. I believe they avoid the blood becoming too concentrated by picking up suitable girls from the outside and incorporating them into the Cathedral.
"It's no good if we just destroy the building... Ah, if it weren't for that, wouldn't it be much easier?"
"But that would be such a waste..."
"...Well, I understand the feeling. Yeah."
If we just went 'boom' on the building, it would certainly be easy! But that simply won't do! I must remain particular about that!
"We should definitely have Keeb dress as the Saint!"
"No."
Aaaaah! Honestly! Why do you refuse!? You would definitely look adorable! Oh, honestly!
"...The Cathedral is on the sea."
Doran suddenly spoke up.
"They can get fish for food from the nearby waters, but everything else must be transported from Elsemarin."
...That is true. Now that you mention it, it is exactly so.
"Then, couldn't we infiltrate by sneaking into those shipments?"
"...That is worth considering."
The paths to the Cathedral are limited. Therefore, it wouldn't be so difficult to attack a wagon and hop aboard.
The problem would be after the infiltration. I must think about how to burn Fawn.
At worst, I can manage the kidnapping with a Spatial Bag, but the journey to and from the prison will inevitably involve some degree of forced breakthrough.
On top of that, if we are to avoid damaging the building...
"What if we release a massive amount of slimes inside the Cathedral beforehand?"
"Young lady. Won't that make it so we can't get in either?"
Ah, that won't work, will it? I know that! But I thought it was a slightly good idea. I thought that if we filled it with slimes, everyone inside the limited space of the Cathedral would be buried in slimes and die...
"Then it doesn't have to be slimes. Why not release dragons? We have some that are growing up and attached to us."
"I'm not giving these guys up!"
"...Dragons are definitely a no-go. The Cathedral would burn. Besides, Chesta doesn't seem likely to allow it."
Before I knew it, Chesta had become quite fond of the baby dragons... She doesn't seem likely to let them go. As for me, I would also rather dislike the Cathedral burning down because we carelessly released dragons!
"Then why not just scatter poison?"
But there, Onii-sama spoke!
"The Cathedral is a confined space. It is surrounded by the sea. In other words, they can probably only get fish for food, right? Then they must be transporting it from Elsemarin. We just need to mix poison into that."
...That's it!
"...Didn't we try to do something similar a little while ago?"
"That time it remained an attempt. If I had shed enough blood to poison the entire water supply for dozens of noble estates, I would have died."
I tried to use this method when I wiped out the noble district of Elsemarin, but in the end, I gave up because of the scale. But with the Cathedral, the story is different! The supplies transported there are limited! It is quite realistic to poison all of them!
And so, we executed the plan.
First, I investigated the merchants delivering supplies to the Cathedral. Then, I confirmed the goods flowing to those merchants. On the night before the delivery, I paid a little visit to the merchant's warehouse and took the liberty of mixing my blood and various other things into the food items found there.
...Honestly, even though it's supposed to be food for the Cathedral, they indulge in far too much luxury! High-end wine, fine meat, plenty of fruit. What happened to 'holy poverty'!?
But it's fine. The more those wretches eat, the easier it will be for them to die. Especially those high-ranking priests who bloat themselves by drinking massive amounts of wine, eating heaps of meat, fluffy bread, plenty of fruit, and cream sweets—they will all undoubtedly die...
By my calculations, only those who keep 'holy poverty' in mind and finish their meals in modest amounts will be saved. Therefore, let us consider this a trial from God. Now, it will be a sight to see who and how many die!
...And then, the evening of the following day.
Just as I thought the Cathedral was getting noisy, several apprentice priests and Cathedral servants came rushing out in a panic and started a commotion in the town of Elsemarin.
"A doctor! Is there a doctor!?"
"The priest-samas have collapsed!"
...It seems it went well, didn't it?
After that, Elsemarin became hectic, and the road to the Cathedral was filled with people coming and going. Doctors, exorcists, and merchants carrying medicine. By following the flow of these people, it was easy for us to slip into the Cathedral.
"...This is even better than expected."
Looking at the scene there, I realized that I had succeeded quite well. In the Great Chapel right after the entrance, several people had already collapsed. They were likely low-ranking priests. I suspect they were the ones who shared the leftover wine and were affected by the poison.
On the other hand, the apprentice priests and low-level servants seemed to have made do with meals consisting of black bread, rainwater, stored cheese, and vegetables grown in small plots, so even if they were poisoned, it was a very small amount. Many of them survived.
...Thus, in this situation where there are fewer people unaffected by the poison than those who were, it is the perfect time to bring Fawn from the dungeon and burn him!
I nonchalantly passed through the extremely chaotic Cathedral and headed for the dungeon. And as I headed deep into the dungeon... there was Fawn, looking completely emaciated.
It seemed meals were being delivered, but he showed no sign of touching them. Well, perhaps he wasn't in the mood. This is the eldest son of House Hornbone, which was at the height of its prosperity until just recently; it is quite a downfall.
"Gokigenyou, Fawn Tart Hornbone-sama."
When I called out to him, Fawn made a very surprised face. It was likely a double surprise: surprise at being called by name... and surprise at seeing 'Violia Nico Fortesia' standing before him.
"Wh... Violia Nico Fortesia!? You were alive!?"
"Yes. As you can see. Or would it have been more convenient for you if I were a ghost?"
Even if I were a ghost, my goal of dragging this man to hell would not have changed. Yes.
"Was it you who entrapped House Hornbone!?"
"One might say that, but I believe most of it was your own doing, don't you?"
One's own doing. The rust from one's own body. (T/N: 'The rust from one's own body' is an idiom meaning one's current suffering is the result of their own past misdeeds.) These words truly suit House Hornbone. Perhaps, if you had lived a bit more virtuously, you wouldn't have suffered such a downfall. Probably.
"...Why would you do such a thing?"
It is surprising that he can say such a thing at this stage. I want to say, 'Because you made House Fortesia fall!' ...But.
"Well, you were simply unlucky."
I decided to explain it that way.
"You were born into a noble house and simply lived the life expected of a noble. Without any particular malice, you nonchalantly framed Fortesia and caused our downfall, didn't you? As an upper noble, as a member of a long-standing prestigious family, as if it were only natural."
Fawn showed a flicker of something like resentment at that, but he shouldn't be able to offer much of a rebuttal. Because you probably never imagined that 'laying a hand on Fortesia' would lead to your own downfall. Whether it was House Hornbone, the other prestigious houses, or the Royal Family, everyone 'nonchalantly' caused Fortesia's downfall.
"Of course, kicking someone down to rise up, or standing upon someone's corpse, is not a bad thing. However, that is only if you are aware of what you are doing."
Fortesia cannot talk big either. We have done our share of dirty deeds, and even now, trying to burn Fawn here cannot be called a pure and honest act. ...But I am doing this while knowing, to some extent, what I am doing and what will happen as a result of my actions. And for the parts I don't know, I am prepared.
"Good and evil have nothing to do with it. It is simply a story of you being kicked down as much as you kicked others. And if there is a cause to be found, it is not that you 'kicked others down,' but that 'after kicking others down, you gave them the opening to kick you back.'"
Fawn is just staring blankly.
...I wonder if he has never even thought about such a simple thing. Yes. He probably never had to think about it. After all, if one is born into a prestigious family, they can crush those around them just by living leisurely, moving forward without thinking anything of it.
If that was the kind of birth he had... then he is extremely foolish and pitiful.
"Kicking down...? Even if it's kicking down, why go out of your way to do this!? Setting me aside, you've put Princess Scola through such a terrible ordeal... and on top of that, why have you come all this way to see me now when there's no need!? No matter how you think about it, this is going too far!"
I suppose Fawn's words are exactly like the howling of a loser.
I see. 'Going too far,' is it...
"If this is 'going too far,' then as I thought, you were simply unlucky."
"I happen to like stepping on and breaking frozen puddles on cold winter mornings."
Was that a bit sudden? While looking down at Fawn, who remained silent with a bewildered face, I imagined the winter cityscape. The day after rain that couldn't quite become snow. A puddle forms, it freezes thinly... and stepping on that thin ice to break it is a bit of a thrill. I think everyone has done it at least once as a child.
"If there was a frozen puddle just one step to the side of the path I was walking, I would move my foot one step to the side and walk while breaking the ice. If someone asked me, 'Why didn't you walk straight?' I would be at a loss. If I can have a little bit of fun just by moving slightly to the side by a single step, I will move my foot to the side. It is as simple as that."
...It is the same for Fawn. I'm burning him because it seemed like I could burn him if I just reached out a little. Because with just a tiny bit of effort, I can do something a little bit fun. ...Additionally, if I kill the opponent, I can reduce the risk of being sought for revenge. In a way, it is also rational. Well, for me, the enjoyment is greater than the rationality.
"...Fun? This is?"
"Yes. It is fun. And it means you were successfully made into the material for my enjoyment."
Fawn's mouth moved slightly, saying 'You demon,' but it's quite hilarious coming from the bastard who summoned a demon.
"If you had been able to maneuver better and distinguish between those you could make enemies of and those you couldn't, you might have avoided becoming material for my enjoyment. There were plenty of ways you could have handled it. But you all neglected that. If so, it cannot be helped if everything that follows is decided by luck."
"Is this meant to be revenge? Even though you yourself haven't suffered much..."
"My, for a noble, you aren't very well-versed, are you? Listen well. If you're going to kick someone down, keep kicking them down. So that you aren't kicked down by someone else. ...If you don't have the ability to do that, then as I thought, this is how you were meant to end up."
Any more chatter is a waste of time.
I reached my hand and the Spatial Bag through the iron bars and quickly put Fawn inside. Now then. With this, I have picked up the thing to be burned, so I shall head back to the surface immediately!