How a Reincarnated Warlock Lives – Chapter 76

Chapter 76: Trap (2)

Prince Arsen frowned, staring at the knight before him.

“Inquisitor?”

“Yes. I heard Sir Bazenhar personally requested help.”

At the knight’s words, he clicked his tongue in displeasure and muttered.

“Tsk. That dying old man is causing trouble until the very end.”

“Should I tell them to stop everything they were preparing? Still, if it’s an Inquisitor from Hesterica……”

The prince shook his head at the knight’s cautious question.

“No need. Proceed with the plan as scheduled.”

At the prince’s words, the knight looked around for a moment.

The quiet room. Prince Arsen’s luxurious room, equipped with soundproofing magic, was one of the few places in the kingdom where one didn’t have to worry about being eavesdropped on.

“What if he finds out that they are the ones backing us……”

Arsen scoffed at the knight’s carefully uttered words.

“Foolish Edgar is dead. His body has already been burned to ashes. There’s no evidence left. We don’t need their help for the time being.”

There wasn’t a shred of sadness on his face as he spoke of his brother’s death. Rather, his eyes were filled with a twisted satisfaction.

The prince took a sip of the red wine in the luxurious crystal glass, savoring the aroma before slowly continuing.

“Of course, we should take minimal precautions. That damn old man. I should have killed him sooner.”

Prince Arsen tapped the glass, which was reflecting the ceiling light in hundreds of ways, with a dissatisfied expression.

That stubborn old man, Bazenhar, would bow down to the Church. That was something he hadn’t anticipated.

But it didn’t change much.

He might have thought he was proceeding secretly, but his people were already spread throughout the Pain Kingdom.

No one could deceive his eyes, which held a tight grip on the kingdom’s secret informants.

Of course, the Royal Knights, rallied around Knight Commander Bazenhar, were still strong.

However, the kingdom’s military power, including the Knights, wasn’t a significant obstacle. The fight would end from within, not from the outside.

The object of absolute loyalty for the kingdom’s army was none other than the King. And now that his brother, Edgar, had passed away, he was the only remaining heir to the Pain family.

And there was only one way for him, the sole heir, to become king. The current king, Bier II, had to die.

“The day I ascend to the throne is not far off. When that day comes……”

As he spoke of his father’s death, his expression was filled with a coldness reminiscent of a cold-blooded animal.

When that day came, he would no longer need the help of those filthy black mages.

Glug.

Prince Arsen filled the empty glass with the red liquid once more and fell into thought.

“……”

In any case, if the Inquisitor caught wind of this, things would become complicated. He couldn’t openly touch someone from the Church. Secretly, perhaps.

“Gather some useful men. Those who can keep their mouths shut.”

Arsen ordered the knight as he swallowed his wine. He was quite a cautious person.

From disguising his brother’s death as a long-term illness to reaching out to his father, he had never let his guard down.

Money and women were enough for most of those he had drawn into the process of seizing the kingdom. Or he could get help from those black mages, just like he did with his brother and father.

But neither method was suitable for an Inquisitor from Hesterica.

He hadn’t met them directly, but he knew that Hesterica’s crazy fanatics wouldn’t be swayed by luxury and pleasure.

There was no reason to reveal his heretical tail to the Church now that his goal was so close.

“Understood.”

The knight, understanding the prince’s words, bowed and hurriedly left the room.

The Inquisitor wouldn’t be able to barge into the royal palace openly either. At most, they would start by secretly investigating him.

And before the Inquisitor could uncover anything, he would ascend to the throne.

“What? Who requested a meeting?”

Arsen asked, his face as if he had misheard, at the words of the attendant who entered the room after the knight left.

“Th-The Inquisitor. He wishes to see you right now……”

The first action taken by the Inquisitor from Hesterica easily exceeded his expectations. To come looking for him as soon as he arrived in the kingdom.

Thud!

At the attendant’s words, the prince placed the wine-filled glass heavily on the desk with a flustered expression. A few drops of spilled wine splashed onto the white paper in front of him.

“Where is he now?”

“He’s waiting in front of the royal palace, he says.”

Already? This was an unexpected situation.

Arsen’s expression hardened as he looked at the liquid creating a red stain like blood on the paper.

🔹🔹🔹

It was certainly unexpected that the Inquisitor, who had arrived at Bazenhar’s secret request, would abruptly request a meeting instead of secretly investigating him.

But there was no reason to avoid it.

Refusing the Inquisitor’s request would make him appear even more suspicious.

No, it might even be a good opportunity.

After all, his brother Edgar’s body had been burned to ashes, and there was no evidence left here.

“Ah, it’s you.”

A slight smile appeared on Arsen’s face as he looked at the figure slowly walking into the room. He’s younger than I thought.

The man, cloaked in the black mantle that symbolized an Inquisitor, slowly looked around. Armed knights stood on either side of the luxurious, spacious room.

“I didn’t say anything about a private audience.”

Arsen said with a sardonic smile, looking at the person before him.

Of course, he couldn’t openly do anything to an Inquisitor from Hesterica in the palace in broad daylight.

This was a show of force. To show who the real power was in the distant capital of the kingdom, beyond the reach of the Inquisition.

It wouldn’t have much effect on a seasoned veteran, but a young person like the one in front of him would inevitably feel intimidated.

“Ah, I am Inquisitor Luciel.”

But the young Inquisitor just smiled and introduced himself. His face was unreadable, making it impossible to guess what he was thinking.

Although he didn’t know the details of the process, the training to become an Inquisitor didn’t end in just a year or two.

No matter how quickly this young Inquisitor, who looked barely an adult, had become an Inquisitor, he couldn’t possibly have much experience.

“This room is quite spacious.”

The young Inquisitor slowly approached him, as if he didn’t even see the heavily armed knights.

Flinch.

Arsen briefly stepped back, feeling an inexplicable pressure, but quickly regained his composure. This was his kingdom. No matter how much of an Inquisitor from Hesterica he was, he couldn’t exert pressure on a prince of the nation.

Emboldened by the knights lined up around him, Arsen looked at the Inquisitor with feigned arrogance.

Smirk. The man chuckled softly and slowly raised his hand.

Arsen, who had been watching him with a wary expression, soon realized what the gesture meant.

A handshake.

It was a simple gesture that followed a simple greeting.

Feeling like he had shown an unnecessary weakness due to his nervousness, Arsen quickly grasped the Inquisitor’s hand.

At the same time, the smile on the Inquisitor’s lips deepened.

🔹🔹🔹

A handshake is a truly wonderful and clear greeting.

It signifies the absence of hidden weapons in the hand, indicating a lack of intention to attack.

However, for a black mage who has reached the pinnacle of his art, a handshake can be used a little differently.

For example, like this.

Slide.

A faint energy flowed from the small bone ornament hidden inside my sleeve into Prince Arsen’s body.

It was such a faint demonic energy that even the knights in the room, with their keen senses, wouldn’t notice. I smiled crookedly at the prince.

Flinch.

The guy who had grasped my hand hesitated for a moment before pulling his hand away.

Of course, he hadn’t noticed anything. He didn’t have the ability to do so in the first place.

It was just a psychological reaction. The kind that a sinner would show when facing an Inquisitor.

“What’s wrong? Is something bothering you?”

“……No.”

He quickly regained his composure and put on an indifferent expression at my question. I casually asked him,

“I heard rumors that there are treacherous individuals hiding within the royal family.”

“This is the first I’m hearing of it.”

Prince Arsen said with an arrogant smile, seemingly conscious of the gazes of the knights surrounding us.

“But if there are such individuals, it is the prince’s duty to uncover them. Tell me anything you need. I will support you without reservation.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

I looked at the prince, who was shamelessly responding. Then, I smiled and said,

“But I don’t think I’ll need any support.”

“……Why?”

“Because God has already told me everything.”

At my answer, the prince’s smile faded slightly.

🔹🔹🔹

Scratch, scratch.

The sound of the quill pen scratching across the rough paper echoed softly in the spacious inn room.

“……It’s a holy magic spell formula. It looks incredibly complex. Did you actually create this yourself?”

I didn’t answer Kazan’s question and dipped the quill pen in black ink.

A brief respite after a long time. Studying a new field was a great pleasure for a mage who sought knowledge.

Scratch, scratch.

The half-worn quill pen continued to move across the paper without a single hesitation.

It wasn’t a peace that would last long, but I had no major complaints.

After all, what I needed wasn’t to be confined to a small room to research new magic.

That stage had already passed long ago.

My current actions were, if anything, closer to a hobby to pass the time.

“Hey, self-proclaimed successor.”

Marchena, who had somehow slipped in through the open window, looked at me and said,

“You said you met the prince. What should we do now? I’m getting restless.”

I spoke to the vampire, who had the strange habit of entering the room through the narrow window instead of the perfectly good door.

“Wait, you’ll find out soon enough, even if I don’t tell you.”

“Tsk. You sound like that old witch in the meeting. As expected of a mage.”

Whoosh.

A small flame ignited in my hand. Marchena flinched and stepped back at the sudden appearance of the flame.

“I didn’t mean anything else─”

The small flame that had risen in the air burned only the pile of paper in my hand before dying down again.

Marchena’s face flushed red as she realized she had shown a slightly embarrassing side of herself under my gaze.

Not that it was noticeable on her pale vampire skin.

“What a waste.”

On the other hand, Kazan, who was half-hidden in the shadows, muttered calmly as he looked at the pile of paper that had burned to ashes.

“I’ve already memorized it.”

“……”

“……”

The two fell silent at my simple answer.

Creak.

Having finished my simple amusement, I walked towards the window.

Beyond the window where Marchena had entered earlier, the night sky of the capital city was visible.

Since I had refused Prince Arsen’s offer to provide lodging at the royal palace and stayed at a fairly large inn, the roofs of the surrounding buildings were clearly visible.

Inhale.

I infused my eyes with a bit of holy power and looked into the distance. Then, I scattered the remaining ashes in my hand and smiled faintly.

They’re finally here.

The dark night sky. Suspicious shadows were approaching us on the roof bathed in the cool moonlight.

Translator’s Blog

Blog

• Isekai’d: From Hero to Zero (and Back to Reality, Kinda)
• How to Deal with Your Cringey Otaku Classmate (Without Turning into a Weeaboo Yourself)
• What if Disney Princesses Were Real? (Spoiler: Not So Magical)
• Cat vs Dog in a Post-Mortem Snack Showdown
• Light Novel Addiction: How One Hour of Sleep Loss Can Ruin Your Day (and Your Life)