Honestly, this was a vile thing to do.
Imitating the dead… I hated it.
No, hated wasn't strong enough to describe it.
But I didn't regret it.
'The bishop really is different.'
Surprisingly, he was still clinging to consciousness.
For someone to resist my mind-altering magic this long…
Compared to him, Strauch had been pathetic.
Then, Ainsidel forced out a painful whisper.
The scent of blood filled the air again.
"…You should aim higher."
Was he clinging to his memories of Strauch?
He was desperately trying to resist my alteration spell.
"You figured out I was wiping everything, huh?"
"Hahaha…"
Of course, that meant his next set of memories was now completely vulnerable.
I pressed my palm against his forehead, forcing myself to focus.
'Think fast.'
Now that I had him pinned, I had to decide what to do with him.
Option one: Bind him with Enslavement Magic.
But that magic relied on a link.
And if I bound myself to a man hellbent on revenge, I'd just be doing him a favor.
Option two: Destroy his Core right now.
'…Tempting.'
But something felt off.
I needed to think deeper.
Destroying his Core would require pulling power from my mental spell.
Sure, he couldn't break free of my magic.
But if he had the mental endurance to hold out this long, he could reset everything the moment my strength slipped.
In that case—
I needed to deal damage another way.
"Who do you think erased the memories of Osnabrück's clergy?"
"You, obviously. Regrettable, really."
"No."
Ainsidel's dazed eyes slowly turned toward me.
"We should be precise. Who else but your enemies within the church could pull this off? Not even Nicolas could infiltrate this deep. Logically, this had to be the work of a rival diocese—one that stood to lose if spatial layering magic were shared."
"…Hahahah…! Now that's a scary thought…"
Even as his eyes fluttered shut, he laughed.
Quick thinker.
This was similar to what Narce had pulled earlier.
Back then, I had been briefly surprised.
But if I could stir infighting, it would cripple both Ainsidel's reputation and Pleroma's strength.
I twisted my lips into a smirk and drove my divine power into him.
Then, I whispered,
—The gate to destruction is wide, and many enter through it.
"Good… Climb so high that no one can ever touch you."
Ainsidel's voice was cracked and fading.
His breathing slowed.
"…And the next time we meet—prove to me that Bern didn't die in vain."
I didn't answer.
I just pushed more magic into him.
—The gate to life is narrow, and few find it.
His pupils lost focus.
The spatial magic he had woven shattered.
'He lasted long.'
My low mental strength was taking a toll.
The world spun around me.
I'd have to remember this for the next time I fought a bishop-level Pleroma.
Now, the cathedral had returned to the state I last saw it—
When I put the clergy to sleep.
Outside, Richthofen was resetting the spatial magic.
And—
Leo and Narce were staring down at me.
"You did it."
Narce reached out a hand.
When I took it, a soft warmth flowed through me.
The strength I had burned away slowly returned.
Even my aching fingers felt fine.
I stood up immediately.
"Yeah. It's over."
Well—almost.
I still needed to plant the fake memories I had fed Ainsidel into the rest of these small fry.
Lifting my staff, I chanted the same command I had used earlier.
Divine energy flooded the cathedral.
This time, I had truly exhausted myself.
For a moment—
Everything went black.
"..."
I needed to raise my fees for this kind of work.
Before I could finish that thought, Leo placed his wand against my shoulder and cast a healing spell.
—Dearly beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.
"…Ah, thanks."
"Don't mention it."
I stood still until the magic had fully settled—
Then nodded toward Richthofen.
"Let's go. Lead the way."
Richthofen tapped his ear as if relaying something.
Then, he led us toward the same cathedral we had first appeared in upon entering Pleroma's world.
"Nicolas."
"Yes?"
"You should wear a mask from here on."
That meant others were waiting.
I muttered a spell, conjuring a mask.
Once I was ready, Richthofen stepped into the center of the cathedral—
And slammed his staff against the floor.
BOOM—!
A flash of golden magic filled my vision.
And in an instant—
The Catacomb Council materialized.
Unlike before, the table was now surrounded by figures clad in pitch-black robes.
"You've arrived."
At the head of the table, Eberhard snapped his fingers.
Immediately, the faint magical presence that had lingered vanished.
So that's what he had been doing.
He had kept Richthofen connected between Pleroma's world and the Catacombs.
Richthofen lifted his wand the moment he saw him.
"..."
"The Catacombs cannot stand by while you side with Pleroma."
Eberhard stared into his glass, saying nothing.
"I understand your concerns and your goals. I also understand that you do not share Pleroma's vision. But you are not the absolute ruler of the Catacombs."
"..."
"You should have persuaded the people before making this decision."
"No one would easily accept a plan to procure Vitriol."
"No. But you should have made them. That's your duty. If you weren't prepared to face the people, then you never should have taken this seat. Do you still not understand that?"
Hearing those words from a noble was surprising.
Richthofen had been raised among nobles, but he had never been particularly noble-friendly.
Eberhard nodded slowly.
He showed no emotion.
He seemed prepared for this.
Richthofen's voice hardened.
"We do not want a leader who makes unilateral decisions about our lives and dignity."
His firm voice echoed through the hall.
Eberhard remained silent.
Instead, he lifted his glass, took a sip of wine, then calmly set it aside.
Then, he folded his hands together on the table.
"..."
Richthofen's lips pressed tightly shut.
Two members of the vigilante corps stepped forward—
And locked cuffs around Eberhard's wrists.
Silence filled the room.
Even though the enemy of the Catacombs had just accepted his removal,
No one said a word.
'Of course.'
If Eberhard had been a Pleroma spy truly trying to betray the Catacombs,
This wouldn't have been the reaction.
His methods were disastrous.
But his goal—to resist an empire that massacred mage commoners—
That was something everyone here shared.
Even Richthofen simply lowered his wand and stood in silence.
Then—
He turned to me.
"Nicolas."
"..."
He was asking how to deal with Robert Müller.
After all—
Both he and the Vigilante Commander had tried to kill me.
But if I dragged him to the surface and let the Empire execute him—
That would be throwing dirt on a hard-won victory.
I spoke quietly.
"If I separate you from the Catacombs and hand you to the Emperor…"
I met Eberhard's calm gaze.
"…You'll die."
"..."
"But I cannot do that. That would only satisfy the Emperor's desire to brand the Catacombs as another evil organization—like Pleroma."
Eberhard remained silent as I spoke.
"Your decision was a short-sighted mistake."
"..."
"But that's only my perspective—that of an outsider. I was never forced to fight for survival like you were. Unlike you, I could afford to step back and view this conflict from a distance.
"Even if Pleroma grew stronger, you had no choice but to keep your organization alive. To you, a future several years from now was an irrelevant concern."
Eberhard remained impassive, but I continued.
"So, I understand why you tried to kill me. I won't hand you over to the surface. You will be judged here, under Catacomb law."
The moment I said I understood, Narce and Leo both turned to stare at me.
Finally, Eberhard nodded.
Yet, he never spoke a word of apology.
Which was fine.
It was probably intentional.
"From this moment forward, Deputy Speaker Anze Dracher will assume the role of acting Speaker, per the Catacomb Charter.
"Take him away."
At Richthofen's order, several vigilantes took Eberhard's arms and warped away.
After instructing the remaining vigilantes to return to the plaza, he turned back to us.
"I think it's time for me to leave before I get removed as well."
His expression was still grim, but the fact that he could joke even in this situation was reassuring.
Leo asked,
"Has Elias woken up?"
"Of course. That's why my men were here in the first place. Or rather—thanks to him."
"Thanks to him?"
"After His Highness collapsed, the Defense Corps turned to Marianne Baum for leadership.
"They expected her to be furious with you.
"But… it turns out you had already told her everything."
"We did."
"She knew everything before she brought you in.
"It was obvious you weren't guilty."
"..."
"After that, my men spilled their own blood to present Vitriol as evidence.
"Things were already escalating when the Commander was overpowered… but after that, it got even worse."
That made sense.
Whether on the surface or in the Catacombs, the perception of Pleroma was the same.
"So, what's the situation now?"
"Once His Highness woke up, he persuaded the Defense Corps.
"After that, both the remaining vigilantes and the Defense Corps turned against the Commander and the Speaker."
Elias… persuaded them?
That wasn't in the novel.
I had no way of imagining how that happened.
I should have seen it myself.
Suppressing that thought, I asked,
"That's a relief. How is he?"
"No need to worry. He's just like usual."
As we left the parliament building, Richthofen warped us to the plaza.
"…..!"
A massive projection of the Council Hall hovered in the air.
It was just like the spatial magic Richthofen had used earlier.
I looked at the gigantic display and laughed dryly.
"Are you serious…?"
"Yes. Everything we said was broadcast here.
"Was there anything that shouldn't have been?"
"I figured your statement about forgiving the Speaker was something the people deserved to hear."
He really was broadcasting everything without warning.
Well, it saved me time.
No need to repeat myself.
I glanced around the plaza.
There were no speakers, and the projection was silent, but people remained.
They wanted to hear everything firsthand.
Richthofen looked at the podium, then at me.
"You have one last thing to say, don't you?"
"Yes."
There were still countless issues left,
But we couldn't stay here any longer.
We came only to stop Pleroma and capture Robert Müller.
Their political struggles were none of our business.
It was time to wrap up and leave.
I stepped onto the podium, where Elias stood.
This time, he didn't joke around.
Instead, he bowed politely and stepped aside.
Instantly, all eyes turned to me.
The projection displayed my face for everyone to see.
"..."
Who the hell set this up?
I never said I'd give a speech, but everything was ready.
I activated an amplification spell and began,
"Good evening. I am Nicolaus Ernst."
"..."
The plaza fell silent.
Calmly, I continued.
"I know this is not the right occasion for introductions.
"And I know that, as a noble, I shouldn't be here.
"But once I finish speaking, I will leave immediately."
I channeled Divine Power and spoke again.
"I stand before you today to apologize and to promise you something.
"No matter how it happened, the moment a noble set foot in this place,
"The only world where you could breathe freely became a battlefield.
"Whether on the surface or here, you have been denied the freedom and rights you deserve—
"And for that, I deeply apologize."
"..."
"First—those of us who entered today will not interfere in Catacomb politics from now on."
I had no intention of infringing on their autonomy.
"Second—we were ordered by the Emperor to monitor the Catacombs for possible Pleroma ties.
"But we came here to disobey that order.
"So, no matter what happens, we will never report today's events to him."
At the mention of disobedience, the silent crowd began to stir.
"Some of you may believe that nobles interfering in your affairs is an attempt to seize control.
"Even the Vigilante Commander implied as much when speaking to His Highness."
I couldn't let them think they owed us anything.
That would only harm their identity and our future relationship.
"Today, we severed all ties with Pleroma, annulled their contracts, and erased their stolen knowledge.
"But without your support, none of this would have been possible.
"This is not our victory—it is yours."
I met the silent crowd's gaze and continued.
"And the suffering you've endured is not your burden to bear.
"It was created and nurtured by Imperial nobles.
"I am not trying to infringe upon your sovereignty—
"I am simply clarifying who is truly responsible."
"..."
"So… with shameless audacity, I make this request.
"If you must choose an ally in your fight against the Emperor,
"Let it be us—not Pleroma."
The plaza remained silent.
Several people looked stunned.
Not that I expected a big reaction.
As long as they didn't see us as enemies, that was enough.
I tapped my staff against the ground.
BOOM—!
For a brief moment, the night became as bright as day.
"I swear it.
"This resolve will never change—until my last breath."
A contract spell.
If I broke my word, the magic would drain my life.
But that wouldn't happen.
I wasn't a noble of this era—
And I would never side with nobles who slaughtered for
power.
Then, I invoked a Latin scripture.
—"I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace."
A strong wind swept through the plaza—
Drowning out the whispers of disbelief.
Finally—
A system message appeared.
Ding—!