Surviving as a Villain at the Academy - Chapter 179



179 – The Devil Lives in the Magic Tower (6)

Edmund Lancel’s visit to the royal palace was the day after his talk with Frah. Apart from the jest he made to Frah yesterday, he was aware of the gravity of the situation.

The magic tower is a closed community. What happens inside is not properly disclosed to the outside world. However, Edmund, as the prime minister, receives reports on most matters occurring within the tower.

Naturally, the tower requires a substantial amount of funds to operate.

But the story he just heard was new to him as the prime minister. This meant the tower was intentionally concealing it.

Keeping it from him, the prime minister, meant keeping it from the emperor as well. If the tower had something to hide, it was likely to be inhumane.

No, it might not just end at being inhumane.

In severe cases, it could involve treason.

Given the seriousness, he went to see the emperor at the break of dawn.

“What’s the matter? To seek me out this early, it must be something serious.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

He relayed to the emperor the story Frah had told him the night before. About the magic tower abducting vagrants or those without kin.

“From the magic tower?”

“Yes.”

“Are you certain of this information?”

“Yes. An informant from the Holy Kingdom discovered it while tracking the traces of a demon.”

“An informant from the Holy Kingdom… Did the Pope send the saint because he was concerned? This is the first I’ve heard of it.”

“That means…”

“It’s a matter of them deliberately not reporting to me from the tower. Even kidnapping those who don’t pay taxes, it’s quite intentional.”

The emperor assessed the situation in an instant.

“So, Your Majesty didn’t order this.”

“Why would I kidnap such people? There’s nothing to gain.”

“…That’s true.”

“No, was I ever the type to do such a thing? This is truly disappointing.”

“Not at all. But perhaps it’s for some greater cause that I’m unaware of?”

A greater cause. At those words, the emperor glanced at Edmund.

It was a probe.

To see if he, the emperor himself, was directly involved or not.

“What kind of greater cause would justify kidnapping people and sending them to the tower? I say this, but to that group of madmen…”

The emperor said this with a laugh to Edmund. He understood Edmund. An issue not reported by the tower. Sudden intelligence from the Holy State.

There were more than a couple of suspicious circumstances. It wasn’t strange for him, the emperor, to be doubted. The reason he valued Edmund, and Lancel, was precisely this.

Always considering what is right. If he felt involved in this matter, he would have spoken up immediately. Even if it meant losing his head.

“That’s true. My apologies, Your Majesty.”

“Not at all. It’s a sensitive issue for anyone. But still… what is the Imperial Intelligence doing? It’s well known that the tower doesn’t report important matters promptly. And yet, to hear such a critical issue from the informants of the Holy State rather than our own Imperial Intelligence.”

“I will see to their reprimand personally. After the overflow of demonic beasts, it seems the surveillance of the border villages has been lax.”

With those words from the emperor, dark days loomed ahead for the Imperial Intelligence.

“Ha-ha. If you take care of it, it’s easier for me. Understood. I’ll handle matters related to the tower myself. That should get their heavy behinds moving. I’ve repeatedly told the tower.”

“What is it?”

“Don’t conduct human experiments. Magic that uses people must not become rampant. Yet, they’ve violated this. Prime Minister.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Prepare a thorough audit. Let’s see what we can shake out of the tower.”

“…The tower’s leadership won’t sit idly by.”

“But what can they do? They were the first to disobey my orders. No matter how precious the magicians are, there’s no need to sit by while they mock me from above.”

“Indeed.”

“Give it a good shake. If even a speck of dust comes out… tell them to be prepared.”

“Yes.”

Edmund’s expression brightened instantly. Seeing this, the emperor clicked his tongue. He had been thinking of improving the tower’s closed nature, and now a perfect opportunity had fallen into his lap.

What they intended to do with the kidnapped individuals was unclear… but if the matter was severe, it wouldn’t be bad to completely overhaul the tower’s leadership.

Even the Holy Kingdom itself had the corruption of the cardinals judged directly by the angel Michael, didn’t it? If even the Holy Kingdom could do that, why should the Empire grovel before a mere magic tower?

It would have been better to overhaul everything if necessary. Especially if they were scouting for human experimentation.

The Emperor himself was not always morally upright, but he had maintained a minimum standard of decency.

How could he, the Emperor, let those who did not uphold the standards he himself had kept go unpunished? They deserved retribution.

As long as there were missing persons, there was no escape for the magic tower.

The magic tower would have no choice but to succumb to the Emperor’s pressure. After all, most of the tower’s operating expenses came from the imperial coffers.

Then, it would be possible to find out who the instigator was.

The instigator was undoubtedly deserving of death. The mere idea of using the missing persons for human experiments was reason enough for execution.

“By the way, did you say the saintess is staying at Rancel’s estate?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“This is quite the predicament.”

“……Indeed it is.”

“Is it true that the saintess has taken a liking to your son?”

“Regrettably, it is true.”

“Huh… It seems like your blood, once sought after by many women in your prime, hasn’t gone anywhere.”

“I rejected all of them and married Lilia. I was devoted.”

“That’s what you say, but how is Lilia doing?”

“Yes. She says she will return to the family soon. She claims to have finished all her business at her parental home.”

“Anyway. She’s quite a vivacious woman. Who would have thought she’d leave the family to deal with the troublesome matters at her parental home?”

“It’s been about three years now. Well, it was possible because there were no issues with Rancel.”

“Do you know everything about Frah’s story?”

“How could I not? She must be overjoyed as if it were her own matter.”

“You seem happy as well.”

“Ha ha. It’s been three years; how could I not miss her?”

“Lilia is quite heartless too. I never thought she would stay away from Rancel for three years.”

“They were both busy. The matters at her parental home were not ordinary affairs…”

“Well, Lilia’s return is one thing… The real issue is your son, Frah. If the saintess loves him… there will certainly be problems.”

From noble mtl dot come

“Yes. It seems the highest figure of the Holy Kingdom is to be connected with a powerful noble of the Empire.”

“The nobles’ backlash will be no joke. I, the actual Emperor, am fine with it though.”

The union of the saintess and Rancel, the Empire’s most powerful noble, was indeed a story that could instill a sense of crisis in the Emperor.

Even if the Emperor himself does not care, the nobles wary of Lancel’s growing power would harbor enough resentment. They would likely incessantly pester the Emperor with the subject of treason.

“There’s not necessarily no way to handle it.”

“Indeed.”

“If one pledges absolute loyalty to the royal family, it wouldn’t be a problem at all. We just need to assure the nobles that Lancel will not wield the Saintess’s power. After all, within the empire, Lancel’s status cannot rise any higher.”

“You’re right. The nobles will probably end at throwing tantrums. And if they stumble over Frah…”

“Well, then it’s nothing but a show of force. The filth of the nobility isn’t easily concealed. There’s plenty of evidence already gathered… and I have countless tools to restrain them.”

As Edmund said, he was always prepared for any contingency, holding a heap of the nobles’ weaknesses. Lancel’s ability to pressure the nobles and exert force was not merely because the royal power stood with him.

Edmund, the weaknesses of the nobles that Lancel had been collecting.

Without bursting them open, Edmund always kept them in reserve, ready for when their blades would sharpen. Perhaps the moment their blades turned towards Lancel, the weaknesses the nobles desperately tried to hide would surface.

“How fortunate I am to have you on my side.”

Edmund laughed wickedly, and the Emperor laughed as if it were absurd.