『If you don't want to believe it, then don't.』
Mephistopheles spoke with a tone that implied he had nothing to lose.
Elric didn't think it was a lie. There was no reason to try to fool him.
Though Mephistopheles occasionally showed a foolish side, he was a being who only ever acted in ways that benefited him.
'A manor hidden cleverly within an area full of ghosts… If Otto Han was behind it, it kind of makes sense.'
Elric wondered if the many ghosts rumored to reside in the Crimson Ghost Forest were actually a kind of guardians created to protect the manor.
"But why is my elder sister taking so long?"
If Elric wanted to confirm his suspicions, he needed to leave quickly... but for some reason, Heize hadn't returned yet.
Heize had stepped out briefly, saying she had some personal matters to attend to.
When she heard that Elric had scored perfect marks on all his exams, she had been thrilled, and Elric expected her to return soon. However, the person who showed up the previous night was someone sent by Heize in her place.
[There's been a sudden issue where I am. I'll return as soon as it's resolved. I should be back by tomorrow at the latest, so don't worry too much.]
The letter was written in Heize's own handwriting, so Elric wasn't particularly concerned.
Even in a world rife with danger and misfortune, there weren't many people capable of harming Heize.
Moreover, Elric had a hunch about why she was delayed.
'Red Phantom... It might have something to do with that.'
Like Augustine, Heize hadn't offered many details about them. But considering the man in the wooden mask seemed to recognize her, it was clear that Heize's organization had some connection with Red Phantom.
'Come to think of it, I haven't asked her much about Black Skull either. Hmm.'
Heize had always been reluctant to discuss her work, and Elric, feeling guilty that she had been working so hard to support his studies, had refrained from prying.
But now that he felt he had gained enough standing, he thought it might be time to ask her about it.
***
Heize finally returned late at night.
After eating some bread that Elric had specially requested for her from the servant, having likely missed a proper meal, he eventually began to speak.
"What kept you so busy that they didn't even feed you?"
"There was a lot to deal with."
"A lot?"
"Yeah. I didn't realize it, but quite a bit of work piled up while I was following you up north."
"I see. You were with your mercenary group?"
"Yeah."
Heize nodded and then asked Elric, "You said you were heading to the Wynz Territory, right?"
"Yeah. Since the Golden Bull was issued, what choice do I have? It's not just me; Sean is going too."
Elric nodded at her question.
The imperial decree wasn't limited to the Melvinger family.
It had also been sent to the Nerester family, one of the Six Stars of the Magic Tower, the Lion Duchy, the Eight Lion Families that supported them, and even the three ducal houses and various provincial nobles. They had all been ordered to send a portion of their forces.
Sean and the White Mamba, a special unit, were set to be dispatched from the Nerester family.
Word had it that the Weyl Family was also planning to send troops led by the Blue Lion himself, although internal issues were causing some delays in finalizing their decision.
In any case.
Elric saw this as a political move by the Imperial family.
By gathering the noble armies under one command, the Crown Prince could further solidify his position. Additionally, it provided an opportunity to deplete the noble forces, which was a win for the Imperial family.
"But why do you ask?"
"I think I might need to head there too."
"What?"
Elric furrowed his brow.
He had assumed that, since the Melvinger family had few assets left, Heize wouldn't be involved. After all, there was no one else of note to be sent except for Elric.
Sensing his thoughts, Heize shook her head calmly.
"Technically, it's my organization that received the conscription order."
The Black Skull was a mercenary group affiliated with the Empire.
It was only natural that the Imperial family wouldn't overlook such a battle-hardened force.
"But you don't have to go, right? You're not even a official member."
"I still need to go."
"Why—!"
"Everyone, including the provisional members, has agreed to participate. If I refuse, I'll be expelled permanently."
Elric almost blurted out, "Isn't this a good chance to quit the dangerous mercenary work?"
Now, they had plenty of sponsors willing to back them, including their alliance with the Nerester family. They no longer had to worry about money.
Especially since, as a fully recognized Magus, Elric would receive substantial support from the government. He was even planning to use that to restore their family's honor.
He wanted Heize, who had spent her life toiling to support him, to finally rest. But her next words stopped him.
"You're not going to tell me to quit just because you're finally standing on your own, are you?"
"..."
"I knew it. Sorry, Elric, but I'm not quitting my job. While I'm glad we no longer have to worry about money, I enjoy my work. I'm proud of what I've accomplished. And now you're telling me to put down my weapons and relax? If you even say something ridiculous like 'settle down and get married,' I swear I'll break your skull first."
"...I wasn't going to say anything like that. It's your life; why would I tell you what to do?"
Elric sighed lightly.
Mephistopheles chuckled from the side.
『Your sister is quite the warrior.』
[If she didn't have that kind of guts, how would she have dragged me this far by the collar? If she had even a bit of interest or talent in magic, she'd probably be the head of the family instead of me.]
Even though Heize had a calm and quiet personality, she was still a Melvinger, just like Elric.
In some ways, she was even more of a Melvinger than him.
Without anyone's help, she had awakened her aura and fought on the battlefield to raise her younger brother—an incredible feat in its own right.
"All right, if that's how you feel, I won't stop you. But can you answer one thing? What's the deal with Black Skull and Red Phantom? No matter how much I look into it, both are wrapped in mystery."
"You're mistaken. Unlike Red Phantom, we've never hidden our identity. It's just that most of our members aren't well known to the public."
"So, what's the connection between the two?"
"They're two organizations that started from the same roots but are now enemies. And our mercenary group's leader… I think you've probably heard of him."
"Who?"
Heize's lips curled into a faint smile.
"The Gray Lion."
"…!"
Elric was taken aback. He hadn't expected that at all.
The Gray Lion was known as one of the least active of the eight lions, aside from the Golden Lion.
His reclusive nature had earned him the nickname "Hermit Lion."
It was said that he had no real following to speak of.
And yet, he had a force of his own?
"The Gray Lion has been building up power all this time?"
"He is someone who really hates noisy things, so he is not well known to the outside world. The organization wasn't exactly his creation; it's something that's been passed down from previous generations."
Heize explained it simply.
Long before the Gray Lion, there had been a group called Anonymous.
At first, it had been a small circle of people united by personal connections, with no particular agenda or purpose.
But over time, rules and structure formed within the group, and eventually, "Anonymous" became its name.
The individuals in the group were highly skilled, and they began to operate as a secret society. However, internal conflicts arose regarding the direction of the organization.
One faction wanted to continue operating in the shadows, while the other wanted to reveal their identities and work more freely in the open.
"Obviously, the former became Red Phantom, while the latter turned into Black Skull."
Heize smiled bitterly.
"At first, there was tension between the two sides, but it wasn't enough to cause a split. Anonymous was small and largely unknown to the world, and most members remained neutral."
"So, when did the split happen?"
"When the previous leader died."
"…And there were two successors."
"Exactly."
Heize nodded as she continued.
"The Gray Lion and the man in the wooden mask we recently fought. If I'm remembering correctly, the two of them were once sworn brothers."
"The fact that two successors had different visions for the future and caused a split... It's a common story."
In any organization, when faced with different goals and interests, factions inevitably form. Those who successfully navigate such divides become part of great legacies, while those who fail simply fade into obscurity.
Anonymous had clearly failed.
Unless, of course…
'Perhaps they still consider themselves one entity, even though they're in conflict.'
In such cases, the losing side is often absorbed into the victorious side.
Elric didn't know the exact state of affairs between Black Skull and Red Phantom, but one thing was certain—they weren't on good terms.
Considering that Heize had reported Red Phantom's appearance to Black Skull headquarters, and they had been discussing the matter ever since, it was clear they took the situation very seriously.
"Anyway, it looks like Black Skull is making their own moves. The official reason is the conscription order, but…"
"In reality, they're preparing to confront Red Phantom?"
Heize nodded gravely.
Elric fell into deep thought.
"So, are you planning to fight through Black Skull?"
"Yeah. But I'll do my best to keep my identity under wraps. I don't want to get caught up in any unnecessary noise."
Elric knew that, although Heize said this, what she truly feared was drawing attention to herself in a way that could tarnish Elric's name or the family's reputation.
"Understood. Take care of yourself. I'll see you on the other side."
"Same to you. I hope everything goes well."
"You've been the one protecting our family all this time. Now it's my turn. Don't worry."
"You've grown up, haven't you?"
The smile on Heize's face was full of genuine pride.
***
The next morning.
Elric was preparing for his journey. Heize would be moving with Black Skull, and Sean was headed to the Wynz Territory with his family's troops, so it would be the first time in a while that Elric was traveling alone.
Augustine and Gility had insisted on accompanying him, but this time, Guy personally intervened to stop them.
While it might have been acceptable to treat the Black Snowfield as a simple vacation, traveling to a battlefield with Elric could be seen as a political statement on the part of the Nerester family.
As a result, Augustine and Gility, along with the magicians from the Senate and the Guest House who had also wanted to join Elric, were left disappointed.
For the first time in a while, Elric was able to relax and enjoy the ride as he made his way to the Crimson Ghost Forest.
[T/L: You can read ahead chapters and support me here: https://ko-fi.com/revengerscans ]