Mistress Of The Evil Forest

Case 140: Into the story’s second half.

''So... erm... are we just going to accept that she's on our side?''

The first one to speak up is the assistant, Becky, and her concern is me. I have a feeling the emperor didn't inform them beforehand. What was he doing before I got here?

''Ah, about that.''

After finally disclosing my alliance with him, Kaiser goes straight into the focal point.

''As I've said in the letter, the capital is in grave danger. The attacks on us are so frequent and vicious that it is hard to consider them a coincidence.''

''Are they so hard to deal with that all of us need to be gathered here?''

''Yes.''

''...''

Having his question answered, Ivan mutters something along the lines of 'So even Graham can't...' while frowning.

As far as I know, Bianca and Ulaika are only here to follow orders, so they won't contribute much to the conversation. Becky seems eager to speak, however.

''So that's that, we can take care of it, but... why is she here, anyway?'' 

Beyond those brown eyes, there is a clear skepticism. Her eyes are perfectly fine anyway; why is she wearing glasses?

Before I can respond myself, someone has already taken on the role of my defender. Unexpectedly, it's Ulaika.

''Are you living under a rock? She has prophetic vision!''

''What?''

''It means she can predict the future! Tch, tch. You have a big body but a small brain, assistant.''

''No, not that. I know what 'prophetic' means. But do you know how outrageous that sounds?''

''...Huh?''

The moment Becky lifts her round glasses, it seems as though an unskippable cutscene is dawning close. And indeed...

''Not only would that ability lie within the authority of 'time,' which not even ordinary deities could handle, but the sheer unpredictability of such a user would be staggering. Hypothetically speaking, if you were the prophet, the future changes just from you knowing it in the present, no matter how you try to act like you don't know it.''

''Okay, stop—''

''In the first place, does she know the future as it continues to change? Or does she know the initial version of it? Based on what it is, the approach we can take will vary considerably. Moreover, how do we know that she's not just a demon herself? Demons know about demons. I'm—''

''Stop, stop!''

Ulaika's high-pitched voice rings loudly in the air. Perhaps because she sounds just like a child, the assistant is momentarily flustered.

''...''

''...''

''Sorry, I was going too far.''

''No, it's alright, smartass.''

''...'' 

''...''

Amidst this intense awkwardness, Bianca decides to speak up.

''She's not a demon.'' She says. ''I can feel it.''

Surprisingly, everybody seems to believe her words right away. I suppose her instinct is that trustworthy.

''She's very different from demons. First time I've seen something like this.''

...I would appreciate her more if she didn't utter those sentences, however. What am I? I'm wondering that, too. Not many people get to be reborn as themselves with owl wings, I'd think.

''The assistant is right,'' I utter, burying the growing doubt inside me as I talk. ''I don't possess a prophetic vision. I just know what I have to know.''

''Can you share some of that knowledge with us?'' The emperor asks in a subdued voice. ''If your goals truly overlap those of us, we can certainly lessen your burden then.''

The man seems earnest. Once again, I don't really care for the empire itself—not enough to risk my life over it—but I do value human lives, and having them help me will, as Kaiser says, lessen my burden.

''Efil, the Bane of Existence.''

'''' ...? ''''

''A high-ranking demon responsible for the falling of nations since ancient times. Expert at disguising, manipulation, and possessing the absolute power to 'cause' death to living entities.''

As the emperors and the grandmasters knit their brows, I continue, ''The precious authority that Efil has inherited from HIM allows it to weave strings of causality as we know it. Catching on to humans' desire to make an existence vanish, it can amplify that and 'convert' fates to turn those wishes into reality. To fuel that negative desire, Efil has a sub-skill that helps manipulate human emotions as well.''

The more I speak, the grumpier these people become. It is as though they think they are hearing a made-up fantasy.

''Such outlandish abilities...'' Ivan remarks. ''Assuming this demon is real, where can we find it right now?''

''That's right! If that thing is so powerful, we need to eliminate it ASAP!'' Ulaika follows.

Alright. They are willing to listen.

Now, it is time to seriously focus on dealing with this situation.

Firstly, I have something important to confirm here.

''Duchess Cecil.'' I utter.

''...?''

This person is a big reason why I am here in the first place. According to Chloe, Bianca Cecil is the only one in the empire with natural instincts reaching a fable level. 

I need her input on this issue.

''Do you feel something strange?'' I ask.

At this question, Bianca seemingly contemplates for a few moments before closing her eyes, fully concentrating.

''...''

''...''

''...Indeed. There's something... irky around here.''

''That's good enough.''

This confirms it. We are likely being watched by something, and that something might not be so peaceful. There is no rule that says a new demon with such powers cannot be created. Now, assuming this entity works with Efil, the cat is already out of the bag.

Efil knows that I know it.

''We are being monitored.''

So, I confidently declare.

''Assume the demons are watching you whenever you move. That's first. Second, Efil is likely living undercover among the heads of the empire by now. I can assert its presence.''

To the disturbed bunch, I then lay down my finishing statement, ''If you suspect anyone of being the demon, come to the Zircon forest. You will be my guest. That is all I can give you for now.''

The morning after the meeting with Astra's grandmasters.

School is ongoing as usual, and perhaps chaos is unfolding beyond the academy—is my thinking right until this moment. Now, the paranoid public has received a piece of good news.

''Damn... they're the real deal.''

''Hey, isn't the Duchess looking kinda baaad...?''

''Shh, you idiot! She's old as hell—''

For a moment, it looks as though the bitter snow has come back, even though it is the warm spring right now. I'm not the only one who feels that, seeing the other students at the plaza are shivering.

This is what you get from mentioning a female grandmaster's age. 

''C-Cold...''

''See that, i-it's all because of you...!''

''Heheh... I don't mind showering myself in her cold, too...!''

...These guys won't even give up. Poor Bianca. 

Either way, as Kaiser has decided the night before, the five grandmasters are to scatter and protect the capital for the time being. Since the academy is being targeted a whole lot more, two grandmasters will stay here instead of just one.

One is Bianca, and the other one is the kid. No, really, I would rather have Ivan here. He's at least calm.

''Uhahahah! Hear that, Bianca? You're old as hell!''

''...You're older than me.''

''People don't think so.''

''...''

With elegantly furrowed brows, Bianca steals a glance around the rowdy audience as we wait for the principal's speech.

Somehow, she stares at me a bit longer—no, she keeps staring at me.

What?