It wasn't just the blooming of the mental power I gained while swimming in the sea of the Voice. Simply put, the body of the Iron Man now resembled that of a whale. Of course, in a world where humans break rocks and perform magic, it may seem like nothing much if one simply accepted whales as they are typically known. However, just as how tigers still reigned over the mountains, the whale was the sea's ruler.
Whether in the modern world that was now too far away or in the continent where I lived, that majestic form would make anyone feel awe.
"…Hmm."
That didn't mean my body was that overwhelming; I was still human in size. However, the current Iron Man was as hard as a whale's hide. It didn't grant magical capacity but instead advanced all my magical abilities, including Psychokinesis.
Advanced Psychokinesis. The last level, which I thought would take five years to acquire, I learned at sea.
"Time's up."
Tick-!
The minute hand of my watch announced ten minutes. I took a step forward. At the same time, the ground collapsed.
Rumble…
The soil, trees, and grass crumbled and swirled like a whirlpool under me as the magical trap activated. I was floating above it, standing in mid-air with no feet on the ground. As soon as I activated Advanced Psychokinesis, I applied a careful telekinetic movement to fly.
Swooooosh-!
From the other side, a huge cylinder sprung up, but I disassembled it with a glance before it could fire.
Hiss-!
The second was the archer line. Hundreds of iron arrows pierced the air but were caught by Psychokinesis and kindly returned. Their screams echoed faintly through the jungle.
The third was magic. A mass of mana in the air fell like a meteor above my head. The fourth was their warriors. A dozen men rushed me before the meteorite could reach them.
"…That's stupid."
I sighed. These guys didn't even know how to live. I would gladly explain the right way to them, but there were a lot of intelligence bureaucrats monitoring me around here. I dismantled their magic then tied the warriors up with Duct Tape. And, I raised the ground.
Rumble-!
I built a huge dome around us to seal off their escape route.
"…!"
The warriors hardened. I guess they were trying to buy time and evacuate the villagers.
I spoke while fiddling with my scattered sleeve buttons.
"You're short-sighted. Are the Demon Bloods always like this?"
I looked at one of them. They didn't avert their eyes. They were someone with a special determination and talent, which I could see with Vision. I smiled a little and walked over.
"…That's not a bad eye."
I took the wood steel out with Psychokinesis. Even then, they were still glaring at me. A moment later, the wood steel pierced their eyes.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah-!"
A desperate scream followed. I picked up the walkie-talkie, kicking them away.
***
Padahal, the Demon Blood village. The three thousand and four hundred prisoners detained there were now all in Rohalak.
Bang-!
I stamped the official notice of acceptance. However, Betan, sitting opposite me, wore a dissatisfied look.
"…Will that be okay? Rohalak already has too many Demon Blood."
"If you're talking about accommodation support money, I'll give you the full amount."
"No."
Betan shook his head.
"However, if too many Demon Bloods are gathered in one place, something could happen…"
"We just have to kill them."
As he said, there were quite a few Demon Bloods in Rohalak. It was the only camp that had never operated a gas chamber.
"Of course you're right, but… yes. You're probably right. And more importantly, what's going to happen to Primienne?"
Betan asked, putting away the file. I nodded.
"I heard she passed the blood test."
"Yes. She has, but I still have my doubts. She seems to favor the Demon Blood."
Primienne, who I sent away under the pretext of investigating the Voice, received a blood test directly from Betan. I don't know how she did it, but she confidently passed. However, the gaze of the nobles, including Betan, remained upon her.
"It doesn't matter. Primienne will come down from her home country anyway."
"Oh? Are you planning to send her on a business trip?
"To Rohalak."
"Haha!"
Betan smiled. From Deputy Chief of Public Security to Deputy Superintendent of Rohalak. It was a huge downgrade, but it was the only way for Primienne to live.
"If Primienne is a Demon Blood, or a sympathetic Imperial citizen collaborating with them, she will most likely show abnormal behavior there. Rohalak's operatives will watch over her twenty-four hours a day."
"As expected… from the Professor. But, these days, you have a lot of strange shadows."
I nodded. The Imperial Intelligence Agency, or the more intimate shadow of the Imperial Palace. I didn't know if it was either or both, but there were quite a few chasing me.
"I don't know what kind of bastards dare to follow after you, but…"
"It's none of your business."
"Yeah. That's right. Rather, what should I do with the power extraction schedule?"
Betan said as he opened the directory of Padahal. I glanced at their names and faces before pointing to a paragraph: to Lucy.
Even then, I expected it, but again, it was the Named Demon Blood active in the second half.
"Get this one out."
"What? She belongs to the vigilante group. If we don't extract her…."
Betan glanced at me. I answered.
"It is against the Demon Blood law."
"If it's a law related to the Demon Blood…"
"When accepting a Demon Blood, their power source or equivalent organs are removed."
Power source or equivalent organs are removed. Not both, but one of the two.
"I already took out their eyes."
"…Oh~. This is the one who was staring insolently at you. But that much is-"
"It's a law written by Her Majesty herself. I can't break it."
Of course, it wouldn't matter, but the pathological principles of Deculein were famous. Betan knew that too, so he smiled again and nodded.
"Yes. As expected, you're very loyal. I don't want to break the law either. I'm going to give just a little bit of drug treatment to this one then."
"Do that."
***
"It's damn hot."
Primienne arrived in Rohalak alone.
"Oh, you're here."
Yeriel approached almost immediately.
"Miss Yeriel. It's an honor."
"Honor, my ass. You were dragged here."
"…"
Primienne looked around Rohalak. Tens of thousands of Demon Blood were living in this desert-like place. No, they were dying. No, were they living?
"The prisoners are there."
Yeriel pointed to the top of a truck where people with their hands and feet tied up were trembling. Primienne glanced over them silently, then stopped breathing for a moment as she found someone with a familiar face.
Lucy.
"It's up to you to move them. Take your ID here."
After receiving all that Yeriel would give her, she swallowed. She cleared her throat again, not wanting to show her reaction.
"Yes. By the way, what happened to that prisoner with the eye patch?"
Yeriel looked over.
"Oh~, that one? I heard she got that after acting up to my brother. But instead of that, she still has her power source."
"Power source…"
"So, their eyes were removed instead of the power source. Oh, but I can't get used to talking formally. I'll just speak comfortably.
"…"
Primienne looked Yeriel straight up and down.
'She looks younger than me. Bitch.'
"Anyway. Why, do you know who it is?"
"Yes. She was wanted by the empire."
"Oh… who is she?"
"Just one of Padahal's pillars."
"Really? Then I'll have to cut her power source later when I get a chance."
Primienne stared at Yeriel with narrowed eyes. She, however, looked at Lucy again, and her face hardened with mixed feelings.
"What's wrong with your face?"
"No. I've been chasing her for quite some time."
Lucy. She was the direct descendant of the Grand Elder, the leader of the Demon Blood.
***
Elsewhere, the Imperial Palace, with its four beautiful seasons all year round. Outside the window, petals of spring fluttered by, and the gentle breeze blew through the Emperor's bedroom.
Sophien received news of Deculein today. It was a report from the Intelligence Agency and Shadow.
"How is it?"
Ahan asked cautiously. Sophien nodded with a sigh.
"He seems to be doing a good job."
"…That's fortunate."
"It may not be fortunate."
Sophien put Deculein's material away in a drawer. She didn't even read it properly. She just accepted it as it was written without further thought.
"If it's not…"
"Well."
Perhaps, this guy had other thoughts. Did he intend to embrace the Demon Blood?
"It doesn't matter."
If that were the case, she didn't even know how she would react. Her anger against the Demon Blood was so deep that she didn't know the source, and it burned more and more with each passing day, so she was only groping at the superficial parts.
"I just don't have to think too deeply about it."
…The Emperor Sophien. She wanted to believe in Deculein.
"Anyway. Since we cleaned out Padahal, there are three left, right?"
"Kelmac is already done too."
"Hmm? When?"
Sophien frowned. Ahan explained, showing the crystal ball she held.
"Ten minutes ago, we got a report from Professor Deculein."
"…He does work fast. As if he's being chased."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Sophien buried her body in the chair without a further word. Ahan carefully watched her. Then, she spoke slowly.
"The palace has been prepared anyway."
"Palace."
"Yes. Everything has been prepared for Your Majesty's event."
Event. It was one of the greatest powers that an emperor had. No matter how foolish the emperor was, all the nobles of the empire could be gathered in the Imperial Palace for a turnaround with this authority.
"It should be."
She nodded, her face grim. There, Sophien would uncover the guilt of the nobles and their families. All their faults of secretly protecting and hiding the Demon Blood, murdering her when she was young, selling the empire to the Altar to survive.
"I'm curious."
All.
'I will reveal everything…'
***
The Imperial Palace.
The Imperial Palace called this event a commemorative occasion, but the whole continent knew it was an exercise of the emperor's authority. When the emperor announced the event, important nobles from the continent gathered at the Imperial Palace to participate in the event hosted by the emperor.
However, what this event was and how it would be conducted was entirely up to the emperor.
"…Wow. But can I come to events like this too?"
That was why it might have been a mistake for Epherene to be here now. She wasn't even noble; she was just a promising youngster still growing.
"Of course! You're Professor Deculein's most famous disciple! And, the Emperor personally invited you!"
Adrienne, who certainly had the talent to be there, answered.
"The fact that Her Majesty personally invited you means that you stood out that much. Be glad, Leaf."
"I beg your pardon?"
Despite Ihelm's normal remarks, Epherene stared at him. She shook her head after looking up and down at him wearing the Imperial Palace wizard's attire.
"But what are we doing here?"
She asked me again.
"I don't know yet."
I couldn't know. Of course, where we were now was indeed the Imperial Palace. However, this place was a bit special. As soon as we arrived at the Imperial Palace, we were welcomed into a white room. We were locked up in this psychotic secret room, which was all white except for the furniture.
"Um… is this a magic test? Knock, knock- hello, hello?"
Epherene knocked on the wall.
Thud-
Then, something fell from the ceiling. At the same time, the room went dark.
"Looks like they're about to start the event. Sit down, Leaf. Don't make a fuss."
Ihelm waved his hands as if keeping away a fly. Epherene sat on the couch, puffing out her cheeks. And I – although I didn't show it – looked around, feeling that faint tension. This was…
"A death variable?"
"Yes? What variable?"
Death variables were spreading over us right now…