Stigma Effect

Why were the Knights of Albraka in Mogris estate?

Upon hearing the news, Yuriel felt a surge of anxiety. During the long seven years of Raphlet’s absence from the estate, they never officially visited this place.

It was not a period of subjugation, nor was there a clear purpose for their visit. The fact that they came here meant that they found Yuriel’s traces.

“Since we decided to give the annex to the knights, we have to be more careful than we are now.”

Whether Yuriel’s prediction was correct, the Grand Duchess warned her by pointing out where the knights would stay.

“Don’t worry, they won’t come in here.”

“Were they looking for me?”

Yuriel asked with a trembling voice.

“They said that they found traces of you in the forest around the estate. They couldn’t find any signs of you entering the castle, so they’re going to search the forest.”

Thanks to Raphlet’s meticulous erasure of traces, they were only able to reach the entrance to the cave where Yuriel last stayed.

“Even if the High Priest came directly …. He wouldn’t dare go against my will.”

The Grand Duchess said in an arrogant tone. Even after hearing that answer, Yuriel could hardly contain her anxiety.

＊＊＊

Baraha was nervous on the train entering the Mogris estate. He often visited Mogris estate, but rarely came here by train.

It was because he had no contact with Raphlet, and that people who frequented the Mogris estate would have a pursuer.

The Mogris estate did not welcome foreigners’ arrival. Items coming from outside were also accepted through meticulous customs procedures.

Mogris was keenly observing the people who came in here. The place was like a huge kennel to lock in and hide something.

‘They don’t even have a desire to exchange, but the reason the railroad has been laid all the way here is probably for that purpose.’

After the train was created, it would have been easier to figure out the number of people entering Mogris.

The regular, dull noise of the train touched Baraha’s nerves. He was staring through the frosted and foggy window glass. His mind was cluttered as if he had become the child in that wagon.

The papers he was holding in his hand were crumpled.

The priest who was watching Baraha crumple the papers spoke to him.

“Commander Baraha. Did you check all the information sent by the tracking team?”

It was a document containing Yuriel’s information. The pursuit team found that Yuriel’s trail had been cut off in the forest of Mogris.

The information said that it was impossible to find her traces after the traces stopped in the cave.

“… I have confirmed it.”

Baraha answered, loosening the strength in his hand that was holding the crumpled papers. Anyone who knew the relationship between Yuriel and Raphlet could understand why the traces were cut from the short fragment contained in this document.

Commander Raphlet has turned away.

Since the last subjugation, he has not returned to Albraka, so he would erase Yuriel’s traces and protect her.

In order to be convinced of his betrayal, the High Priest boarded the train to Mogris.

“I didn’t know that the saint would be so blinded by a woman. Trying to beat Albraka just to get a maid….”

The High Priest clicked his tongue and said.

“If he wasn’t the saint, he wouldn’t have made things so complicated.”

Baraha turned his gaze away from the window and asked the High Priest. The High Priest, who saw Baraha asking a sharp question, contrary to his slack figure, narrowed his eyes and answered.

“Are you saying because Commander Raphlet is a saint, he cannot be killed?”

“… like that.”

Hearing the High Priest’s answer, Baraha ran his fingers through his hair, which was not properly groomed. After Yuriel disappeared, his hair was long enough to pierce his eyes, probably because he hadn’t trimmed it up any further.

Baraha asked, stroking his hair that had come down so much that it bothered anyone who saw it.

“What are you going to do with Yuriel? We have the order to capture her at Raphlet’s request?”

After Yuriel escaped, the first order issued was to kill her. They ordered that her body be recovered while her survival was unimportant.

It was then Raphlet used his strength and his orders to capture Yuriel without hurting her came into effect. Now that the High Priest had come, Baraha did not know whether the order would be valid.

The High Priest said with a straight face.

“I have no intention of killing her, since the alchemists begged me not to kill her. Baraha, you don’t even know they loved the maid….”

Hearing the High Priest’s words, Baraha ruffled his hair in an annoyed manner.

“You mean taking Yuriel and doing experiments on her. … No matter what happens, it doesn’t change over time.”

Baraha mumbled some cursing a little. The alchemist, nothing had changed.

It was deplorable that those who survived the imperial capital that the knights have shed blood on, still have such a personality.

They are not worth protecting.

“We can’t do anything to get rid of Raphlet because of one common woman.”

The High Priest, who did not hear Baraha’s muttering, was voicing his opinion.

Raphlet and Yuriel.

The High Priest, of course, put Raphlet first, but Baraha had a different opinion. If he had to choose between the two, it would be Yuriel without a second thought.

He couldn’t let Yuriel go through the terrible experiment he had been subjected to by the alchemists.

‘Unless he kills all the priests and knights, Commander Raphlet can no longer protect Yuriel.’

Once Commander Raphlet has renounced, no one will follow his order.

The High Priest saw Baraha not paying attention to his words, frowned and bit his mouth. The High Priest’s face, who had his mouth shut, had a hateful wrinkle on his face.

Long ago, from his face as he looked up, he recalled the memories of the moment when he was sent to the Alchemist Tower.

He would never reveal to them who the saint was. He thought of laughing as he watched them fall without being able to find the saint.

Although he had no intention of revealing that Yuriel was the saint, he could not deny that the effect of the prophecy he had hoped for remained.

‘In the end, the prophecy will be kept.’

It felt quite satisfying to be able to protect Yuriel, who was helplessly swept away by the prophecy.

He briefly glanced over the window where he could see the Mogris estate where Yuriel would be, and then met the High Priest’s eyes.

“The saint is not Commander Raphlet. High Priest.”

At the sudden words, the High Priest frowned even more. With his face crumpled as much as the crumpled papers in Baraha’s hands, he opened his mouth.

“The only person who has succeeded in a complete nuclear implantation is Commander Raphlet. He is the only one who possesses a monster, but if he is not a saint, who….”

“Yuriel.”

“Huh.”

Baraha cut off the High Priest’s words and said firmly.

The High Priest, who had been concentrating on Baraha’s words, let out a smirk and leaned back on the backrest.

“Are you kidding me? It’s the first time I’ve heard of Commander Baraha joking.”

“Have you ever wanted to know what was written in the torn prophecies? I know.”

“… It’s too much of a joke.”

The High Priest responded slowly. As if he was quite shocked by Baraha’s sudden words, his loose cheeks were convulsing.

It was the reaction knowing that Baraha, let alone joking, would never speak at length unless it was important to him.

Frowning his eyes in disbelief, the High Priest listened to Baraha’s voice.

Baraha said, recalling the last chapter of the prophecy book that had already been torn.

“I was the one who wrote the prophecy. I wrote it when I was young, so the handwriting is a little different, but I can still write with that handwriting.”

“The, the handwriting is something anyone can imitate.”

“What about telling you by whom the prophecy book entered the temple?”

“… tell me.”

“Commander Helio.”

The High Priest sighed in disbelief. As Baraha said, it was Helio who delivered the prophecy book to the temple. It was a fact known only to a minimal number of people in order to maintain the mystery of the prophecy.

The High Priest asked, leaning his body from the chair to Baraha’s side.

“… What was written on the last page?”

The High Priest’s face brightened with excitement. He was excited to be the first to learn something he thought would remain unknown forever.

Baraha only wanted Yuriel not to be the subject of experiments. He did not intend to convey the full content.

“The saint is a woman.”

“… woman, is a woman! However, even if it becomes a reason that Commander Raphlet is not the saint, it does not prove that the maid is the saint. She definitely came to Albraka on her own feet, but it has nothing to do with the saying that she possessed a monster….”

The High Priest said worriedly.

The High Priest, who rubbed his chin and muttered, flashed his eyes and said.

“If Commander Raphlet is not the saint…. How did he survive even after receiving the monster core?”

The high-pitched voice of the High Priest was mixed with the noise of the rattling train.

“Right, the Grand Duke was still experimenting. If the child who was born and died is Commander Raphlet, the reason he was still fine even after receiving the monster core… !”

His eyes glistened with anger and joy.