Chapter 52: Head-Eater (2) Jun Kandel weaponized the media. He didn't frame the issue as a personal dispute; instead, he tied it to the pride of the Magic Tower as an institution. Thanks to this, the incident grew significantly, becoming a common topic of conversation for ordinary citizens in taverns.
I didn't just sit idly by, either. I issued an official written statement through the Gemion Daily.
[…I wish to clarify that this decision was a necessary procedure to root out a heinous criminal threatening the peace of the Empire. Should my judgment prove incorrect, I shall take full responsibility upon my honor as a knight…]
Despite expressing my stance so clearly, high-ranking knights from the upper echelons of the order, including Adria, came to pressure me. However, I turned them all away with a single sentence, staking my life on it.
"If I am wrong, I will resign from the Knights."
I refocused on my work. I cleared the backlog of Active Residual Trace tasks and nearly finished the Empire Point manual explaining aerial knight descents.
Knock, knock.
A knock from an administrative officer interrupted me.
"Sir Knight. You have a visitor."
I nodded. The person he led inside was Ezel.
"Have a seat."
She sat in a chair and looked around the office.
"I think I'll finally get a sofa next year."
"Oh, really? I thought all knights worked in grand, magnificent offices."
I let out a short laugh and set down my pen.
"Anyway, you've come at a good time. There was something I wanted to ask you. It's definitely impossible for her to commit suicide, right?"
The Izenheim are the type of people who would willingly discard an individual for the sake of their species. If Pexy were to somehow commit suicide inside the prison…
"Yes. Theoretically, the moment she attempts self-harm, the defense mechanism of her brain energy will activate, and a forced mutation will begin. Pexy's brain is already no different from a chimera's. Even if she wants to die, she can't do so at will. The problem is poisoning."
"Poisoning?"
"There's a poison that coagulates blood and mana simultaneously. The side effects of a 'Brain Chimera' occur when the internal mana fluctuates out of control, but if this poison is used, the mana itself stagnates… and she could just die quietly. Be prepared for it. Just in case."
"Right. I'll keep that in mind, just in case."
Ezel stared at me intently and asked, "Max, are you okay? There's so much about you in the newspapers."
"…I'd rather ask if you're okay."
Right now, she was essentially a whistleblower against the Magic Tower. She was the most critical witness who had accused a fellow mage and the sole basis for all my judgments.
"It actually worked out well. Thanks to this, I think I might become a star mage right away."
"Does having your name in the media make you a star?"
"Identifying the reality of forbidden Chaos Magic, analyzing the grimoire to catch a suspect, and playing a decisive role in rooting out a threat hidden within the Magic Tower? This is much better than a few mediocre papers. I might even be promoted to the 6th rank immediately~"
I looked at Ezel. Her pale gray hair swayed. It looked so much like ash that it seemed fragile enough to crumble at a touch.
"What do you plan to do once you've raised your standing like that?"
"…I have my own ambitions. There are many things I want to do."
The Luncelot family was a Great House. They were also a prestigious magical lineage. However, the path Ezel intended to walk was ultimately revolution. She was always thinking about it.
"Max, what about you?" Ezel asked.
To me, it felt like a question about the Empire. The Empire was rotten to the core, far too gone to maintain its system, yet I had to become its sharpest sword. I had resolved to become that sword to prevent its destruction.
You and I were destined to walk different paths.
"I have ambitions too."
Revolution seeks to defy heaven. But even that is only possible if the world exists.
"They're probably much bigger than yours, Ezel."
Therefore, I desire preservation.
Ezel stared at me for a moment before slowly standing up. As she turned to leave, she tossed out a single remark.
"Cool. You've changed a lot from before…"
It was quite pleasant to hear.
*
In a secret office in the capital, Chiron was conducting an analysis session with the young knights under his command. He was discussing various social issues to instill a sense of politics in the youngsters.
"Next topic. It's the most important incident lately."
Chiron, sitting at the head of the table, spoke as he laid out newspaper articles.
"Question: Why did Maximilian detain a mage of Sentio using his authority as a knight?"
A knight had detained a 5th-rank mage. Considering the delicate relationship between the Magic Tower and the Knights, it was an excessively high-risk move.
"Everyone, feel free to speak. Even if it's nonsense. Just get it out there."
"Um… he couldn't have been unaware that she was Jun Kandel's lover. Or did he really not know?"
Lawin, a subordinate knight, blurted out an obvious piece of nonsense. Chiron's brow furrowed.
"That's too much nonsense. Think a little deeper."
"…To keep Jun Kandel in check?"
"One step, no, two steps further."
Right now, Maximilian had no reason to keep Jun in check. It was natural for them to be on bad terms as rival families, but their fields and domains were different.
"Then… perhaps he already has a smoking gun, clear physical evidence that the mage is a Head-Eater?"
"If that were the case, it would be easier to just hand her over for trial. This detention authority is a card an average knight might use once in ten years, or perhaps never in their entire career."
Even Chiron had only used it once in thirteen years. That was how immense the political burden was.
"Hmm…"
"Hmph…"
"Hrrrrm…"
The knights fell silent, and Chiron swallowed a sigh.
These are the elites of the Empire. They are weapons that transcend humanity, the Swords of the Empire, yet they are still spinning their wheels in matters like this.
"Think deeper. From Maximilian's perspective."
It couldn't be helped. They were fledglings in their early twenties who had grown up pampered. They would surely do their part on the battlefield, and even now, they showed above-average efficiency in general administrative work, but politics required a different kind of talent.
"Did Maximilian really think that deeply…?"
Some of them doubted Maximilian simply because he was only a few years older than them. To Chiron, it was absurd.
"Do not underestimate your opponent; respect them and think endlessly."
However, Chiron was certain of one thing from this incident: Maximilian was a very political human being.
"Politics is nothing special. It's seeing through the opponent's true intentions and taking what you need while hiding your own. Look at this incident on a larger scale."
When there was still no response, Chiron finally offered a hint.
"Look closely."
He placed a photo of Vice Commander Anton on the desk. With the Knight Commander's term nearing its end, he was currently the most likely candidate for the position.
The young knights fell back into thought. One could almost hear their brains churning. Then, finally, one of them raised his hand.
"It's because of Vice Commander Anton."
It was Reynel McQueen, Maximilian's senior by one year at Empire Point.
"Exactly for what purpose?"
"To… deal a political blow to Vice Commander Anton?"
Chiron grinned. He nodded with satisfaction and clapped his hands once.
Clap!
"Yes. You only get it once I give you a hint."
This was Maximilian's true intention, which Chiron himself had become certain of after long deliberation with his strategists.
"I'll explain in more detail. Listen well…"
Maximilian had detained a mage of the Magic Tower. The reason didn't matter. Even if she truly was a 'Head-Eater' as the rumors suggested, the Magic Tower's pride had already been severely wounded.
However, that anger would not be focused solely on Maximilian as an individual. The Magic Tower was that kind of institution. They couldn't just vent their frustration on an Ebenholtz alone. Therefore, the sparks would 'definitely' fly toward the leadership of the Knights.
The appointment of the Knight Commander was not a decision made solely within the order. Since it was entirely the prerogative of the Imperial Family, the Magic Tower could also voice its opinion to the palace. Thus, the Magic Tower would 'certainly' try to block Anton.
"Heh…"
"Certainly. If a knight commits such an act, they'll blame the superiors who couldn't stop him!"
"Does… does the intention really go that far?"
The young knights' faces were filled with genuine admiration. One corner of Chiron's mouth quirked up.
"Do you even know how many times Anton's cronies visited Maximilian just last night?"
Anton's lot must be miserable right about now, as their relationship with the Magic Tower was on the verge of souring because of Maximilian.
"But no one can break Maximilian's exercise of authority this time. Because he is an Ebenholtz."
This was politics possible only because he was an Ebenholtz. Maximilian was very efficiently exercising the 'might' of his family.
"What if his relationship with the Kandel family sours?"
This stupid question came from Zionne, Maximilian's senior by one year.
"She's just one woman anyway. Do you think the scions of Great Houses are as emotional as you? How many times must I tell you to respect your opponent?"
"Ah… yes, sir."
"Every action Maximilian takes has a basis and deep implications. That is the Ebenholtz way of education. This is why I always speak of birthright. Politics is an innate talent."
Chiron had—in his own view—grasped Max's ulterior motive the fastest and had already arranged a meeting with the Master of the Magic Tower.
"Now, next. The list of candidates for the next Knight Commander."
He pointed to the chalkboard in the meeting room. There was a list of next-generation candidates in case Anton was disqualified: Adria, Chiron, Yusef.
"Do we not need to consider Sir Julian?"
Reynel asked a foolish question, but it was understandable. Julian had received immense praise from the Imperial Family for the recent decapitation operation against Dune Khan.
"Julian is fine."
However, Chiron hadn't worried about Julian for a long time. Julian had squandered all of the massive reward money granted by the Imperial Family this time as well. He had wasted it all on orphanages in the lower districts.
The Imperial Family tracks the use of its rewards, and they do not like knights who excessively coddle the bottom rungs of society. At the very least, they would not place such a man in a key position.
"Julian is the only friend a man with a bit of ambition in this business can have."
Someone trustworthy and respectable. A man who would fail to rise to the top precisely because he was too much of a knight.
That was why Chiron liked Julian.
*
Tick— Tock—
Time passed. The media's frenzied interest gradually faded, and I looked at the creature locked in the Sentinel's dungeon.
"…"
Pexy, bound in mana-suppressing armor, sat on the cold stone floor and stared at me. She looked haggard yet somehow ethereal. It was the very appearance that had made Jun Kandel fall for her.
In other words, once that outer skin was peeled away, Jun would discard her as well.
"What… exactly are you doing this to me for?" Pexy asked in a frail voice.
"Because you are not an Imperial."
"…Do you think I am a sub-species?"
I replied nonchalantly as I turned a page of my book.
"Unless one is a sub-species, one wouldn't even dare to think of using such magic."
Pexy gave a weak smile.
"I didn't use such Chaos Magic."
"Then, wait in comfort."
I checked the date on my terminal.
"There are only 23 days left."
"…I have a chronic illness. At this rate, I will die here."
Pexy coughed. Blood trickled through her teeth.
"That is why I imprisoned you."
"Why?"
"Because you are an enemy of the Empire."
Pexy leaned against the iron bars and looked at me.
"Your certainty is peculiar. Is it that intuition knights are said to cultivate?"
"…"
The point of her question was ambiguous. This woman was trying to fish for information from me. Therefore, I had to hide my abilities as well.
"You poor man…"
Pexy stared at me with eyes filled with sorrow and gave a faint smile.
As expected, the Izenheim ultimately had no choice but to appeal to sympathy. Their greatest weapon was not the dimension eaters they had summoned before my regression. It was their very 'form,' which was identical to ours.
"You probably think you are a special member of this Empire's ruling class. Because you are the heir to Ebenholtz. A special being with free will…"
Pexy stubbornly continued her nonsense.
"You're not. Within this massive Empire, even you are ultimately nothing more than the Emperor's slave. A mere part… that can be swapped out at any time, replaced at any time."
I closed my book.
"Yes. I volunteer to be a part. For a knight is, by nature, the Sword of the Empire."
I leaned forward and looked at Pexy through the bars. In my wide-open eyes, I held the Izenheim I wanted to tear apart and kill.
"So, listen well. I will find and kill sub-species like you. I will find not only you but all of your kind, and by any means necessary, I will make you extinct on this continent."
Pexy's complexion wavered.
"…For what?"
Her eyes glistened, wet with tears. It was such a goddamn disgusting sob story. The problem was that members of the Revolutionary Group often fell for this kind of acting.
"Exactly for what…?" Pexy repeated breathlessly.
I let out a small laugh. I was always prepared for such a question.
"Only for the Empire."
*
…A knight is the Sword of the Empire. It is an authority rightfully granted by the Emperor. Therefore, knights monitor the Empire. However, they too are subject to the invisible supervision, surveillance, and checks of the Imperial Family, and much of every conversation and decision made within the Knights is recorded and transcribed.
In fact, even the term 'transcription' is quite laughable. For this entire Empire belongs to the Emperor.
"Your Majesty. These are the records from the dungeon."
In the dark of night. In the Sanctum where the Emperor resided. From that place where only a noble silhouette shimmered faintly behind a veil, a shadow-like minister presented the transcripts to the Emperor.
The Emperor opened them. The sentences and voices of the transcript were played simultaneously.
[Maximilian: That is why I imprisoned you.]
[Pexy: Why?]
[Maximilian: Because you are an enemy of the Empire.]
Maximilian, asserting she was an enemy of the Empire. The Emperor ran his fingers over the sentences.
[Pexy: You probably think you are a special member of this Empire's ruling class. Because you are the heir to Ebenholtz. A special being with free will… But within this massive Empire, even you are ultimately nothing more than the Emperor's slave.]
Words that were both obvious and sacrilegious.
[Pexy: A mere part that can be swapped out at any time, replaced at any time.]
[Maximilian: Yes. I volunteer to be a part. For a knight is, by nature, the Sword of the Empire.]
The Emperor's time is precious. He was devoting such valuable time to a mere transcript like this.
[Maximilian: So, listen well. I will find and kill sub-species like you. I will find not only you but all of your kind, and by any means necessary, I will make you extinct on this continent.]
[Pexy: ...For what?]
For what. To the question asking for the source of a knight's being—Maximilian answered thus:
[Maximilian: Only for the Empire.]
The Emperor's silhouette nodded quietly. As if it had been well worth his time.
— He is indeed Zebestian's son.
The Emperor had been with Zebestian since their youth. In the bloody war of succession, Zebestian had cut down countless enemies as his sword, and after he ascended the throne, he had become his most loyal shield.
— You have grown into a magnificent Imperial.
As expected of his son, he had grown up so splendidly.
The Emperor satisfiedly set down the transcript, and the minister prostrated himself before withdrawing.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Read 109 more chapters ahead on NovelDex!
https://noveldex.io/series/semi-coercive-imperialist
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━