The Youngest Son of the Northern Grand Duke Wants to Break Off the Engagement-Chapter 107

Chapter 107
Although Alter had pushed the holy apostle's request onto the phantom thief, he was calmly strolling inside the bookstore.
The discussions with Berhan had already concluded, and he hadn't mentioned that the Holy King might be a monster.
Of course, there was a chance that this fact might be discovered during the tailing, but he had to accept the risk of a partial information leak.
'If it's the phantom thief, he probably could've stolen something from the grand cathedral too. But he didn't.'
The phantom thief had never broken into the cathedrals and churches of the Semerune order until now.
Of course, even the Semerune order was not without its share of corruption, but the phantom thief had simply stood by and watched.
It was likely that the only reason the Semerune order received fair treatment was because they had been extensively helping the common people.
'That's why the holy apostle accepted it too. There's a reason the person is called a chivalrous thief.'
Naturally, from the holy apostle's perspective, several risks came with the arrangement.
Trusting the phantom thief was already diffichurch, and there was a chance information obtained during the job could be misused.
However, since schemes and slander had been suggested from the Holy King, he had compromised to a reasonable degree.
'It's possible the thief could find out even better than I could...'
"Alter, do you think I could use magic too?"
Brillie Illenat casually brought up the topic while reading books about magic.
Alter appeared to hesitate for a moment, then eventually met Brillie Illenat's gaze.
"It's possible, but it probably wouldn't be efficient. It's very different from imbuing a weapon with magical energy."
"I know that much, but it's a little disappointing. Since I can't use magic, I have to rely on sword aura or arrows, right?"
"Everyone is born with different magical affinities. Someone like me would first condense my magic and then release it, but in your case, Brillie, you'd release your magic and then condense it afterward."
"So that's why our talents are different?"
"Yes. In reality, that's exactly how we distinguish between people."
For a knight who wields magical power, even simply projecting mana is a strength on its own.
However, a mage must convert mana into a specific element, then lock it into an abnormal form for use.
Of course, because Alter possessed a dragon's magic, he wasn't bound by such abnormality, but he couldn't stray from the basic principles either.
"So are priests similar to mages?"
"Similar, but a bit different. Sacred arts transform mana, but must maintain uniform flow and consistent form with the body. Only then can the body change stably."
"Is that how healing works?"
"If the body and magic don't harmonize, it causes repulsion. Ultimately, it would mean attacking your own body with magic."
"Hmm... I think I get it. Is that considered talent too?"
"With mana, it's always a matter of talent. Whether someone has mana or not is what we call aptitude, right?"
"Everyone awakens mana at a different time... I guess that's talent too?"
"It is. Some people can overcome that with effort, but it isn't easy."
Alter finished explaining and returned the book he'd been holding to its place on the shelf.
Since the eastern territory had reached its conclusion, the Agnes Empire had continued enjoying peace.
Thus, Alter and Brillie Illenat spent their days leisurely, yet still hadn't progressed past being engaged.
Perhaps, in the end, another conflict would erupt before they could even have a proper wedding.
"Even though you said we should wait, I still can't stop worrying about that person."
"You're concerned he might not carry out the job or perhaps even betray us?"
"Yes. People call the thief a hero, but in the end, isn't that person just a criminal?"
"But hardly an ordinary thief. Don't you see how he knows when to steal and when to hold back?"
"Well... that's pretty unusual."
"His methods may be wrong, but his intentions are clear. If someone is truly a chivalrous thief, he can distinguish right from wrong."
"Still... it bothers me a little. Didn't his sneak into our mansion before?"
"Yes. Just looked around and quietly left."
"And he looks down on you, Alter."
"Is that because of the way they address me?"
"Yes. Why does he keep calling you 'lord's lady'?"
"It's probably a mischievous tease. Maybe that's even why the request was accepted."
"You're close enough to joke around like that?"
"Not so much close, but it's a way of putting me in their debt. That way, even if he calls me 'lord's lady' again, I'd just have to let it slide."
"... Do you really think that's why he took the job?"
"It's a guess. That person is quirky enough that I can imagine it."
Brillie Illenat was about to ask more but then lapsed into silence.
Though it seemed a stretch, it sounded oddly plausible.
If you're a thief and chivalrous outlaw, maybe it was possible.
"He promised an answer within two days, so I expect he'll come tonight."
"Assuming he doesn't run off."
"If escaping was that easy for him, he wouldn't have come to see me in the first place."
"So... he's confident?"
"He has always acted that way."
Alter murmured quietly and then started walking slowly.
With the thief's skills, not only would they avoid capture, but they could even hide their very presence.
Even if they had found out the Holy King was a monster, wouldn't they remain unruffled?
'What matters is how much they found out. Only with decisive evidence can we lawfully judge the Holy King.'
* * *
Alter was seated in a chair, shrouded in darkness.
Brillie Illenat waited quietly in the hallway to keep watch over him.
By this time, their night visitor would soon arrive and open the window latch.
"... Looks like the job went well."
"Should I call it going well? I did find out a lot."
Clarke slipped through the window nonchalantly, then approached the table.
He drew a scroll from his clothes and set it down, spreading it open.
Alter quietly lit a lantern and picked up the scroll.
"Where'd you get this?"
"These were from the grand cathedral."
"The grand cathedral? You're saying the Holy King didn't leave?"
"He did leave. But it smelled like a trick, so I didn't follow."
"So... that means the stuff was hidden inside the grand cathedral?"
"The Holy King left on purpose. That way, the grand cathedral couldn't be under investigation."
"So if you'd tailed him innocently, you'd have just wasted time?"
"Exactly. I noticed right away. Who was he trying to fool...?"
Clarke replied proudly and relaxed into the chair.
Had anyone else been entrusted, they probably wouldn't have achieved much.
It was thanks to him that it could be wrapped up within two days.
"You didn't get caught?"
"No way to be caught in the grand cathedral. Just had to stay out of the holy apostle's way."
"And this links to the Holy King?"
"I picked these documents specially. What do you think is written there?"
"...."
Alter found the names of previous Holy Kings listed in the scroll.
The research process was meticulously recorded, and it looked like most attempts had ended in failure.
Yet a few successful cases were mentioned, mostly relating to bodily transformation.
"'Skin brightened, wrinkles disappeared...' Trying to escape aging?"
"Guess they don't want to be old. Seems like even that wasn't enough, though."
Alter gave Clarke a side glance and checked the next document.
It mentioned using young human flesh and blood and how that had increased vitality.
To make it worse, even experiments on the church's own priests were brought up.
"Not just anyone could do things like this."
"You'd need real power to control things behind the scenes. If you're the Holy King, you can get away with these crimes, right?"
"... You knew all this before coming here?"
Now, Alter finally set the documents down and turned his attention to the phantom thief.
The current Holy King's name wasn't stated, but some parts led to strong suspicions.
The words 'eternal life' and 'youth' appeared often, along with talks of monster transformations.
With all the supplemental details, they could easily piece together the whole story.
"How could anyone not know? Can someone called the Holy King really do these things?"
"So, what are you going to do?"
"Are you asking if I'll leak this information? I have no plans for that. What do I have to gain by tarnishing the church's reputation?"
"...."
"And even if I did leak it... would anyone believe me? Ah, and you wonder if I spirited away something valuable, right? I only steal what's worth money. This stuff doesn't interest me."
Clarke gestured dismissively at the papers on the table.
He'd simply collected them at the request of the duke's daughter.
It's unlikely he would have accepted the job otherwise.
"You said you'd take care of it, right? I'll be getting back to my real work. Haven't I done enough?"
"...."
"I said I wouldn't charge you, but... can I ask for one favor?"
"I'll decide after I hear it."
"It's nothing diffichurch. I just want the right to keep calling you the 'duke's's daughter,' all right?"
"Haa..."
Alter was exasperated, but had already expected it.
No matter how many times he said no, Clarke would stubbornly keep calling her the 'lord's daughter'.
No point arguing now—he might as well let that go.
"At least I'm not asking you to call me 'big brother', right? Gosh, I never knew I had this much restraint!"
"You're talking like you haven't been saying that nonsense all along."
"It's different now. There's a difference between hinting and saying it openly, right?"
"Were you ever actually subtle?"
"I have to be subtle, otherwise why would I only come by sometimes? The duke's's daughter's privacy is important, isn't it?"
"You really are out of your mind..."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
Clarke grinned brazenly, waiting for the reaction he wanted.
Alter narrowed his eyes and reluctantly spoke up.
"All right, just leave now. There's something urgent I have to do."
"Taking that to the grand cathedral? That is urgent. Well, in that case—for the sake of the duke's's daughter... Oh, almost forgot. At the back is a floor plan of the grand cathedral. I've marked the secret rooms for you, so just follow it."
"These documents came from there?"
"They still don't know it's missing. You'd better hurry and turn things upside down, right? Well then, I'll be going now, Duke's's daughter."
Clarke offered a quick salute then slipped back out the window.
Alter gathered the documents and immediately threw open the door.
"Brillie Illenat!"
"What is it? Did something happen?"
"We need to head to the grand cathedral immediately."
"So, you found something?"
"Yes. I'll explain on the way."
Alter and Brillie Illenat started down the stairs together.
Just as the phantom thief had said, if they didn't intervene quickly, the Holy King's faction might destroy the secret room and evidence.
That was why they had to have the first holy apostle surround the grand cathedral and thoroughly press the advantage.
'He became a monster just for immortality. How could someone called the Holy King do such a thing...'