"For someone of unknown origin like me, your first thought is actually to recruit me rather than find a way to eliminate me?"
Realizing that the person before him bore no significant ill will, Mohg didn't rush to strike. Instead, he voiced the doubt lingering in his mind. After all, if he were in her shoes and discovered a spy had infiltrated his ranks, he certainly wouldn't let them off easily.
However, given the current state of the Mohgwyn Dynasty, the possibility of a spy infiltrating his side was slim to none.
"True, by conventional logic, that is what I should do," Rellana admitted, her eyes showing a flicker of agreement before her tone shifted. "But my intuition tells me that you would become a formidable warrior under my command and provide great assistance in the battles to come."
She paused, looking directly at him. "Besides, in my view, even if your origins are unknown, you aren't a pawn of any major power."
"Isn't it a bit rash to reach that conclusion based solely on a set of Astrologer robes?"
"If it were just the clothes, yes. But..." Rellana countered, "All your actions suggest you never intended to follow a standard path to gain higher status. In other words, if I hadn't come looking for you, the timescale you'd need to reach a position of influence would be far too long."
Mohg didn't argue that point. He had entered the Academy partly to reap some benefits and partly to plant "nails" for a long-term play.
"I want to know—if I agree to join you, what will you do?"
"I will make you a member of the Carian Inquisitors. You will fulfill your duties, and in return, you can use the authority of that rank to obtain the things you desire."
"I see... but more than that, I'm curious about your stance regarding the Erdtree. Also, you're mistaken about why I joined the Academy."
Rellana frowned. She had assumed Mohg's goal was simply to acquire sorceries. If he denied that, what else in the Academy was worth coveting?
He wasn't an original member of the Academy, nor was he of the Primeval Current. He wasn't even a traditional mage, so Azur's legacy likely wasn't his doing... As a realization struck her, Rellana's expression turned peculiar.
"You didn't... choose the Academy because of its neutral stance, did you?"
"Correct." Mohg nodded, a look of mock seriousness settling on his face. "I've grown weary of fighting for various factions. I chose the Academy to learn magic—on one hand to increase my knowledge, and on the other, so I wouldn't have to worry about my safety. It's just that the timeframe for 'peace' wasn't friendly to me, which is why I resorted to these methods."
His answer put Rellana in a difficult spot. If what Mohg said was true, then the Carian Royal Family held no attraction for him; in fact, he would likely want to stay far away from them.
As expected, persuasion has never been my strong suit... in that case...
"Rules have always been dictated by the strong. The Academy has no power to remain a bystander in this war, and neither do you."
As the words fell, Mohg instantly caught a dangerous glint in Rellana's eyes. Realizing things were going south, he cursed inwardly and prepared to retreat. But in a flash, a light greatsword sliced through the air, shattering the table and coming to rest against his throat with a razor-sharp chill.
To avoid exposing his true identity, Mohg didn't use Blood Incantations or Aspects of the Crucible. His raw "warrior" instincts weren't enough to dodge this strike, so he allowed it to happen.
Sinking into his role, Mohg darkened his expression and looked at Rellana with indignation.
"Princess Rellana, Commander of the Inquisitors, the renowned Twin Moon Knight of the Lands Between... are you truly resorting to force to coerce someone into your service?"
A hint of embarrassment flickered across Rellana's face, but her blade didn't waver an inch.
"Achieving the objective is enough. And as I said, the Academy has no choice. You heard my speech in the plaza. When the time comes, the Academy—which must provide half its members—will inevitably use the weak and the newly enrolled mages to fill the gaps."
Mohg fell silent. Rellana took this as him being swayed and pressed her advantage. She didn't know why she was so intent on recruiting him; a vague intuition simply told her that doing so would yield great benefits.
In reality, Mohg wasn't acting during his silence; he was weighing his options.
Given the situation, joining the Carian side was unavoidable, or Rellana might actually tie him up and drag him back. He didn't want to blow his cover yet, nor did he want to waste the "Larval Tear" disguise—a precious tool for staying alive.
"I have one last question," Mohg said, his voice grave. This was both part of the act and a genuine answer he needed, as it would dictate his future alliances. "What is your actual stance toward the Erdtree?"
Rellana blinked, clearly not expecting such a direct question. After a moment's thought, she answered.
"The Golden Order is powerful in the Lands Between. Though I loathe to admit it, it would be difficult for us to oppose them head-on. My goal from the start has been to secure a relatively independent status, not to fight a losing battle to the death against the Erdtree."
"Of course, we never intend to fully submit to the Golden Lineage either. We have our own trump cards."
"I understand," Mohg nodded. "Then I shall join the Carian side. However, do not expect me to sacrifice everything for Caria. And when your goals are achieved, I will leave. The Golden Order will not tolerate my existence."
Rellana looked at Mohg's (disguised) red hair and nodded thoughtfully.
"Then... the agreement is reached?"
"The agreement is reached."
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Elden Ring: As the Consort, I Reject Miquella (369 Chapters – Ongoing)
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