excel三国杀

Chapter 236: Preliminary Inspection

But that didn’t matter.

The moment Eve secretly saw Isaac’s face from behind a tree, her heart melted.

So cuute…

She felt an overwhelming urge to shower his face with kisses. She had a strong desire to hug her brother like a teddy bear all day long.

Even though it might be rude to treat an 18-year-old, who was also an Elemental King, like a child, she couldn’t help but still find her younger brother as cute as ever.

However, she couldn’t bring herself to approach him. She could only hope that Isaac would come to her first.

She had heard that Archwizards possessed a transcendent level of mana perception that could sense even undischarged mana. She hoped Isaac would sense her presence with that ability.

But Isaac merely crossed the academy grounds indifferently.

Soon, Isaac entered the training grounds.

“Haa…”

Eve hugged the tree and sighed deeply.

* * *

I had noticed Eve Ropenheim watching me earlier, but I ignored her.

I wasn’t sure how to deal with Isaac’s sister.

It was clear that Isaac and Eve did not have a good relationship until he committed suicide.

Isaac still had a lingering sense of rejection towards Eve. So, I didn’t want to get involved in complicated family matters that wouldn’t help in the fight against the Evil God.

I began my training after arriving at the empty training grounds. Shortly after, I confirmed with my [Clairvoyance] that Eve had left the academy in a carriage.

So she’s from the Ropenheim Barony?

Eve was adopted into the Ropenheim Barony and took on the Ropenheim name. The place where I had sent the Phantom Cat Cheshire was also on the outskirts of the Zelver Kingdom, in the Ropenheim Barony.

However, in ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱, the Ropenheim Barony had nothing to do with Calgart the Necromancer.

It just so happened that the place where Calgart appeared was an abandoned church in the Ropenheim Barony.

Well, that was that.

From now on…

With the troublesome person gone and almost no students remaining at the academy, there shouldn’t be any problem summoning a large familiar.

“Hilde.”

Hwaaaaa!

A massive creature appeared. Although it was still smaller than its true form, it was much larger than its usual hatchling state.

[You called, Master?]

Hilde gazed at me closely with her pale blue eyes and spoke with a beautiful voice.

I stroked Hilde’s head when she lowered it. The sensation of her cold, hard scales covered in frost was satisfying. She closed her eyes, savoring my touch.

“I’ll keep you summoned from now on. You’ll have more freedom than before.”

Since I was going to train anyway, I wanted to focus on solidifying my synchronization with Hilde as I had before.

At the very least, I wanted to max out my synchronization before I reached my third year.

The closer the familiar was to its true form, the faster the synchronization would increase. Since I had already revealed my true identity at the academy, summoning it at this size should be fine.

I might need to go to a more spacious place to occasionally summon Hilde at her full size.

[Does this mean you will be touching my body every day? I like that. In return, I will show you my cuteness…]

“It’s fine.”

I replied curtly.

Hilde’s elegant and noble voice didn’t suit the “cute” archetype. It would be like wearing an ill-fitting outfit.

Hilde narrowed her eyes and spoke in a slightly sulky tone.

[…Fine, do not regret it when you want me to be cute and I refuse.]

Finally, some good news.

***

[Meow, I’m tired…]

A few days later, early in the morning.

I was jogging along a deserted path lined with trees when I felt a weight on my shoulder and heard a distinctive meow.

Stopping in my tracks, I turned to see the Phantom Cat Cheshire floating in the air, resting its chin on my shoulder.

“Cheshire? You’re back.”

I grabbed its plump waist and gently laid it on the ground as I squatted down.

It had no injuries, as far as I could tell, it just looked tired.

“It took you quite a while.”

[There was more to check out than I thought, and it was very far.]

“You did well.”

[Meow…! No matter how charming I am, don’t stroke my belly.]

The Phantom Cat narrowed its eyes and glared at me.

While Hilde enjoyed being petted, this cat seemed to be the opposite.

The Phantom Cat stood up and looked at me.

[To report, there were traces of many humans coming and going at the church you mentioned. It seemed to have been going on for quite some time.]

The old abandoned church where Calgart the Necromancer appeared was supposed to be a place long abandoned.

So, if there were many traces of human activity, it meant that Calgart had already appeared.

“Traces, you say…”

[There was no sign of any demon like the one you described. It seems to have already left.]

Typically, Calgart would appear during Semester 2 Year 2 and march through the kingdom’s territory to Märchen Academy.

It would mercilessly destroy anything in its path, taking countless lives and turning them into its own undead soldiers. This would soon cause an emergency in the kingdom.

It was a bleak scenario.

But right now, everything was quiet. I used [Clairvoyance] to check out the usual path of Calgart in the game, but there was nothing unusual.

Therefore, Calgart was likely hiding somewhere, biding its time and plotting.

Is it wary of me?

In the game, Calgart could simply go after Ian, but now I was here.

Calgart wasn’t the type to act rashly like other demons, so it was likely preparing for me. It was probably also strengthening its forces.

Perhaps Mephisto, the Evil God’s proxy, was aiding Calgart.

For now, I need to protect Ian.

I didn’t know what threats might come after Ian, Amy, and Ciel. It would be wise to secretly send in troops from Düpfendorf.

[And Isaac, as you said, I checked the surrounding area for anything strange and I found something suspicious!]

“What is it?”

[Baron Ropenheim is gathering babies and young children.]

Baron Ropenheim?

[I watched secretly at night. Several carriages brought children to an underground location where they were confined. There was a dangerous barrier, so I couldn\'t go inside.]

Even the Phantom Cat Cheshire found the barrier dangerous and hesitated to approach.

It was hard to imagine Baron Ropenheim, who ruled a small pasture on the outskirts of the kingdom, setting up such a barrier. He would lack the resources and manpower.

“Did it seem like there was a demon underground?”

The Phantom Cat shook its head.

[If there was, I would have noticed it. But approaching the Baron directly seemed tricky, so I secretly followed the returning carriages. It seems the Baron has several outposts and is transporting babies and young children.]

Is it human trafficking?

It was all coming together in my head.

Calgart possessed a power known as the Curse of Instant Death. It was a transcendent ability that could kill anyone except for Heavenly Beings or someone like Ian, who wields the power of light.

To activate this power, two things were necessary.

First, pure sacrifices of the same species as the intended victim.

Second, approximately two months to set up the magic circle.

Calgart had to move without being detected by me or the kingdom, so he would need the cooperation of a human with adequate wealth and power.

A person with power but low authority, someone who would not be noticed by the Empire. It would be someone who lived close to where he had awakened.

Baron Ropenheim fit the bill perfectly.

They must be planning to use the curse on me.

I defeated high-ranking demons, including the Floating Island and the Abyss, and Mephisto the Contractor, who knew my full power, was still alive and well.

The timing was perfect. If I were in their position, I would have awakened Calgart the Necromancer in advance and would use the Curse of Instant Death to take me out.

[What will you do now?]

“Get ready to leave.”

I couldn’t afford to hesitate.

I stood up, and the Phantom Cat’s eyes sparkled at my words.

“Let’s go to the Ropenheim Barony.”

[Meow! Great! Let’s go, partner! I’ll rest for now, but make sure to tell Alice to summon me during interesting moments!]

It was time to hunt Calgart the Necromancer.

* * *

The carriage passed along the paved road and arrived at Baron Ropenheim’s mansion

Eve Ropenheim stepped out of the carriage and was greeted by two servants.

“Welcome back, Miss Eve. The Master is waiting for you.”

Following the servants inside, Eve swallowed hard.

Reporting her academy life to Baron Adrian Ropenheim was always a hateful and nerve-wracking task.

In the mansion’s study, a servant knocked and announced her arrival before letting her in.

Eve entered the study, and the servant closed the door from the outside.

In the deep silence, a middle-aged man stood by the window, gazing at the view outside. Though nearing fifty, he still exuded the noble elegance that Eve had once admired.

It was Baron Adrian Ropenheim.

Something’s off…?

Eve sensed a different aura about Adrian. It was an unsettling feeling, like a primal instinct warning her. It was separate from her dislike for him.

She dismissed it as her imagination and greeted him properly.

“I’ve returned, Father. Have you been well?”

“Thank goodness”

“Pardon?”

Adrian turned to look at her.

For some reason, his right eye was emanating a sinister dark mana.

“You qualify.”

A pure sacrifice was needed.

With the power of Calgart the Necromancer, Adrian knew that Eve met the conditions for a suitable sacrifice.

“Father…?”

Seeing the unexpected dark mana, Eve was terrified and stepped back.

Eve quickly ran for the door, but Adrian swiftly deployed a barrier and prevented her from opening it.

“Ugh!”

Adrian approached her and grabbed her chin.

“Weren’t you planning to leave anyway? Prove your worth by sacrificing yourself for me.”

Despite her struggles, Eve felt her jaw might break under the pain and she eventually lost consciousness, as she was consumed by dark /genesisforsaken