Chapter 17 – Analysis

On the way back to the scene of the incident with the teaching assistant mage.

Akard, who was sitting in the back seat, vented his frustration at the heavily congested road.

“Should we have just ridden wyverns? The traffic is too blocked.”

“If we did, we would probably have been stopped at the entrance. Wyverns when there is no war going on? The Magic Tower would have absolutely loved that.”

“Was the answer a magitech bike?”

“Perhaps. But our identities would have been suspected then. You would have looked like a mere knight, not the Vice Commander. Then the treatment would have changed.”

“Sigh…”

“Few things reveal an individual’s status and wealth as much as a vehicle. Since even reasonably rich people cannot afford this vehicle that burns mana stones, this was ultimately the answer.”

Leaving the two men conversing,

Luna, who had followed, thought to herself.

‘The monk and the vampire knight seem to be quite close? But how did they become close?’

The vampires Luna knew were authoritative and packed with a sense of superiority over other races.

Nobles from birth, so to speak?

It was quite fascinating to see such a vampire sharing a conversation with a monk, who did not even hold a high position in the Holy Order.

Moreover, since the monk did not even use completely polite language, their closeness was highly suspicious.

‘I’m jealous. I wish I were that close to the monk too…’

Thus, they who had been suffering on the road

soon arrived back at the scene of the incident.

“Is it here? The place where the candidate was kidnapped.”

Rashid reacted.

“It’s here. For us, it is difficult to track the traces left by the culprit. But it would be different for a mage equipped with professional knowledge.”

Luna fully understood their situation.

In the Holy Order, magic was generally taboo.

Even if it was used, it was mostly for combative purposes, and it was close to impossible to possess professional knowledge or conduct research like the Magic Tower.

There was also the time wasted on the road.

Akard, whose mind had grown urgent, stepped forward.

“We request your help. It is an extremely important matter for us. I am not ignorant of magic myself, but I do not possess professional knowledge as much as a teaching assistant of the Magic Tower.”

“Yes! Just trust me, Sir Knight.”

Luna, putting her large glasses forward, began to inspect the cluttered room closely.

“It’s quite messy. Not only the atmosphere of the messy room but the lingering mana is also similar. This was not done by a person who learned magic formally. It’s like… how should I put it, similar to the patterns shown by people who realized magic in a crude manner?”

“Or people who only learned it for combat usually do this. By any chance, is the suspected culprit a believer?”

The two men stood behind Luna and silently exchanged glances.

Although they did not say anything, both had satisfied expressions.

“Yes. Just as you said, we temporarily assume the culprit is a believer.”

At Rashid’s words, Luna responded.

“Right? Usually in this case, they are not professional in magic, or they are believers specialized in combat magic. Actually, magic is a very delicate academic field. Maybe even divine, creating something out of nothing…”

Instantly feeling a sting on the back of her head, Luna turned her head and saw the vampire knight looking down at her coldly.

‘Ah, I made a slip of the tongue.’

“Anyway! It seems that combat magic was performed. Combat magic usually prioritizes power over the completeness or delicacy of the circuit. The traces left here are all focused on power. So, my opinion is that a believer specialized only in combat magic could be the culprit.”

What Rashid wanted was more information.

“Is there nothing more you can find out from that?”

“But… looking at it again, they are not a complete novice?”

She began to inspect every corner of the cluttered room again.

“Normally, when magic is implemented, a circuit is manifested and a mana remnant is left along that circuit, and looking at that, I see traces of learning here and there.”

“Traces of learning?”

“Yes, I missed it earlier, but looking again, I see several textbook-like traces. I was confused because there was too much artifice in the circuit, but it’s certain. There was some learning. However, it seems to have stopped at a basic level. Since power is everything in combat magic anyway, they threw away efficiency and delicacy.”

The overall review that followed.

“So, to conclude in my own way. The culprit who kidnapped the Saintess candidate here is like a raw gemstone that has been polished just a little bit, if compared to a mage.”

“A raw gemstone polished just a little bit…”

“Which means if they learn properly, they are someone who would definitely shine as a mage!”

That was about the end.

Akard mulled over what she said.

“A combat mage with only a bit of learning…”

“Exactly a knight.”

Akard expressed his displeasure.

“Why do you conclude it is a knight?”

“Is there anyone else but a knight? We clerics do not even learn basic magic. In the first place, magic is a domain of talent, so if you cannot manifest it from the start, you just end up not learning it. Even if you can manifest it, you stop at that level and do not learn anything else separately. It would be more accurate to say it is not in the formal training course.”

Rashid discovered a bookshelf in the corner of the room.

Since she was a candidate to become a Saintess, she would have acquired various learnings.

If so, there would be something about magic as well.

Rashid searched and pulled out a book called ‘Knight’s Sacred Magic’ from the bookshelf.

It was the only magic book permitted by the Holy Order to cultivate combat knights.

“Indeed, it is here. I heard that unlike us, the knights of the Holy Order study this. They say that even at this level, there is no particular difficulty in implementing combat magic. Of course, the efficiency or completeness might fall somewhat short, but the learning stopped exactly at a level that does not reach the authority of the Holy Order.”

Rashid handed the book he brought to Luna.

Receiving the magic book in a daze, Luna began to scan it quickly as the two men stared at her.

It did not take very long for her, who was active as a teaching assistant at the Magic Tower Academy, to grasp the content.

“This… the content is too deformed?”

Although it was very deficient to be called a basic magic book, it was sincere in drawing out power.

It was a magic book intended solely for combat.

“I didn’t even know such a magic book existed in the world.”

“Since it is a book published by the Holy Order, it would probably be very uncomfortable for a professional mage to see. But that is the limit. In the Holy Order.”

“It is exactly according to this content.”

Only then did Luna begin to understand the traces here that had not been solved.

“The spells were implemented exactly as written here. Of course, there are artifices not present here, but that is the person’s talent.”

It was certain now.

It was the doing of a knight of the Holy Order.

“That it was one of our knights who kidnapped the candidate here?”

Akard wore an expression of disbelief.

“How… can comrades do that to each other? I do not understand.”

“It is still too early to conclude. Although it cannot be denied that a knight of the Holy Order is the culprit with a high probability, if we look broader, the inquisitors would also be included. Or since it is the only magic book permitted by the Holy Order, it could be someone else equipped with magical talent. Perhaps it could be among us clerics. Since it is not a forbidden book, there is no real problem in learning its contents.”

Rashid raised his index finger.

“First, this much is certain. The bastard is a very devout believer.”

Why devout?

Because if they were not devout, their learning of magic would have been deeper.

But because they were devout, they only learned up to the content permitted by the Holy Order.

Even though their talent was outstanding, they shackled themselves.

“Even with talent, they did not cross the line.”

“That is the same for everyone.”

“Is that really so?”

To that question,

Akard substituted it with a dry cough instead.

“Cough!”

“It’s not like learning it makes it particularly obvious, and moreover, just by being equipped with professional knowledge, one’s power increases twofold. Would knights who crave power refuse that?”

“Stop that useless talk. Our knighthood’s purpose is the safety of the Holy Order. Taboos can be sufficiently overlooked depending on the results.”

“That is an advocating statement.”

“I am speaking of reality.”

Luna was able to find a notebook in the messy room.

To others, it was an empty notebook, but what was reflected in her glasses was a bit different.

‘This is a diary? The content is hidden so that only she can see it.’

Examining its contents,

it contained the minor everyday stories of a girl who lived every day missing someone dearly.

‘If it’s the Saintess candidate…’

What should she do with this?

For something found by chance, it seemed to have a high potential to cause problems.

“What is that?”

Rashid stepped forward and asked.

“Ah… this is.”

“Nothing is written on it? By any chance, is there some hidden content?”

As a fellow woman,

it was right to keep the secret.

“N-No! It’s nothing. I just looked at it to see what it was.”

Saying so, she tossed it onto the floor.

“There’s nothing. Other than that, is there anything else? Shall we inspect over there too?”

Leaving her who vanished while feigning ignorance,

Rashid silently picked up the notebook she discarded.

‘She has absolutely no talent for deceiving people.’

Although what was reflected in his eyes was an empty notebook,

Rashid felt this notebook was familiar for some reason.

‘This is that woman’s only Achilles’ heel. Since she is a Saintess created by the vampires with quite a bit of care, she has almost no flaws.’

If she was nominated as the next Saintess,

it would be her shame and once-tender memory that must never be revealed.

‘I remember the content was about missing someone. Was it a knight? Well, I don’t care about the content, the problem is this notebook itself.’

Rashid put the notebook into his chest pocket.

‘There is always a what-if. For the sake of the future, it is right to keep this.’

Blackmail? A deal? Or a favor?

Anything was fine.

If only this matter was resolved well, she would be nominated as the next Saintess, and she would exert powerful influence over the Holy Order.

Holding the Achilles’ heel of such a woman,

‘is a very good thing. Looking at it differently, I might be painstakingly hiding the only flaw she left behind for her.’