Inside Story

After hearing the whole story, Frondier left the drawing-room.

Aten had called him, saying Philly had something to discuss separately. As expected, it would be about Bartello.

When Frondier returned to the hall, the atmosphere inside was more lively. Men and women were dancing in pairs to the music.

To actually see such a sight.

Frondier inwardly marveled and walked along the wall so as not to disturb them. He looked for Azier and Enfer, and then he saw something unbelievable.

...Enfer is.

Enfer was nowhere to be found where he originally was, so Frondier searched for him and found him waltzing with Malia in the center of the hall.

The way they looked at each other and their elegant movements matched wonderfully.

Frondier approached Azier, who was standing by the wall like him.

Im back, brother.

Yes. It must not have been easy dealing with Her Majesty the Empress. Youve worked hard.

It really wasn't easy. In many ways.

...Father is dancing too.

Its a rare sight. He seemed to be in a good mood today.

Azier said. However, it was difficult for Frondier to nod immediately.

...Is that so?

Enfer's face was hard to read, in a different sense than Philly's. Did he seem to be in a good mood? With that stiff face, nothing could be discerned. Could Azier see it with his eyes?

After you left with Her Majesty the Empress, His Majesty called for Father. And then the two had a rather long conversation. I couldn't hear it, but it was probably about you.

...Ah.

It seems he cleared up the past misunderstanding of you being called the devil's child. Didn't His Majesty say it to you directly, that you had a hard time at a young age?

He did. Bartello lightly defended Frondier in front of everyone.

The content of the words itself wasn't that great, but it was the utmost apology from the Emperor's point of view, delivered directly to Frondier in front of many nobles.

Enfer must have been happy to see and hear that.

Seeing Frondier finally realize it, Azier let out a small sigh.

I shouldn't say this, but you're quite dull, Frondier.

...That's exactly right.

He had nothing to say.

Azier changed the subject.

What did Her Majesty the Empress say?

...There was no special mention, but she was very interested in the three-dimensional map.

Frondier was a little late in answering because he hadn't prepared his words. But it wasn't that strange. The original reason Philly called Frondier was because of the three-dimensional map.

The three-dimensional map.

Azier nodded.

I was surprised at that time too. Compared to the existing maps, which could only mark mountains, foothills, and city buildings with symbols, the three-dimensional map itself was meaningful. Frondier, I see you in a new light every time.

Azier praised Frondier. When Frondier looked at Azier in surprise, something even more surprising came out.

Azier closed his eyes and smiled. Then, with his eyes slightly open, he quietly muttered.

I'm a little relieved.

... .

Frondier had nothing to say to that.

He guessed that Azier's murmur held more weight than he knew.

...Well, then.

He had finished reporting to Azier.

He had to do his job.

The most important thing is to find out who the Shadow is.

In fact, Frondier already knew. He had used the Analysis skill to pry into the information Angus had.

The problem was that the Analysis skill always conveys information in sentences.

The Shadow figure who led the Mana Injection plan, his name is Joseph von Wexler. Wexler is a noble family from the East. The upper echelons of the Shadow cannot solely dedicate themselves to the Shadow's work.

Most of them are the ones who created the Shadow, not those raised within it like Laurie.

Naturally, they live their daily lives doing their own jobs. Which one is the disguise is not a question that needs to be asked by the Shadow.

But I don't know who this Joseph is.

He already knows the identity of the mastermind through analysis.

He just doesn't know who that identity corresponds to. Moreover, since he had infiltrated the place where the Dragon Heart was, his actions would have become even more cautious.

Should I start by looking into the people here one by one using analysis?

But the probability of him being here is not high. Unless his guts have spilled out, would he show his face here where the Empress is sure to appear?

He would have sent someone else to deliver the information on his behalf. Of course, Frondier doesn't know who that someone is yet.

...It can't be helped.

Frondier sank his body. He gently closed his eyes, and in the coldly reopened pupils, pitch-black irises took their place.

The sixth sense he gained by killing the soul mass of Helheim. He slowly expanded the range of that sense, which he had been keeping closed for a while.

If he kept his sixth sense open all the time, it would be too noisy and sensitive, making it difficult to live a daily life, so he learned how to reduce the range when it wasn't needed.

So that it would only react to danger and killing intent directed at him.

If the bastard sent someone under him to grasp the Empress's movements, that bastard's presence will definitely be different from ordinary people.

Even though the Shadow's goal is Mana Injection, that's a thing of the past from the current point of view.

Now that their tail has been stepped on, it's hard to say for sure what the Shadow is thinking.

Whether they believe they won't be caught and push through with Mana Injection, or whether they worry about their own safety and withdraw from this plan.

Frondier saw the latter as more likely. Since the Shadow's existence is not meant to be revealed to the world in the first place, they could be wiped out with just one order from Philly.

Philly still judges that the Shadow is needed, so she wants to eliminate only the minimum number of people.

So today, they will be listening intently to Philly or Bartello's words. There's a possibility they've used magic or tricks to eavesdrop.

Just as Frondier was about to try to find the eavesdropping line through Mana Detection,

...What?