I’m In Trouble Because The Darkened Heroes Are Obsessed With Me

5. What, give me back my sweet kids (4)Arriving late, Cassian asked, “So, you’re saying that Rashiel is behind this incident?”“Yes,” Count Gale replied promptly, as if waiting for the question. Seizing the moment, he began to badmouth Rashiel.“I knew that scoundrel was trouble ever since he started dabbling in black magic. Hiding his whereabouts for three years just to plot something like this!”“…That’s just an unconfirmed rumor, isn’t it?” Astaire pointed out.“Where there’s smoke, there’s fire! There’s got to be something for those rumors to spread,” Count Gale insisted, unfazed by Astaire’s objection, clearly convinced Rashiel was the mastermind.Elsez, who had been silently listening, finally spoke up.
“Master Rashiel—”“Ah-ah! Master? He’s a traitor! A vile criminal who endangered innocent imperial citizens and dared to impersonate the crown prince! And you dare use an honorific for someone like him?”Oh, shut up, old man.Ignoring Count Gale’s outburst over a mere honorific, Elsez deliberately continued using it.
“How did you come to the conclusion that the Tower Master is behind all this?”It was a sharp question that needed to be asked.Count Gale, glaring at Elsez for addressing Rashiel respectfully, answered as though he had been waiting for someone to ask.“I personally interrogated Count Lort last night while everyone was away. You can ask the prison guards yourself.”He puffed up with pride, clearly pleased with his own ‘achievement.’Astaire, who had been observing the situation with his arms crossed and a stern expression, asked,
“What did Count Lort say?”“The Tower Master threatened him. Said if he didn’t cooperate, he’d destroy his entire estate. With his power, it’s more than possible, isn’t it? Such a ruthless man.”Count Gale clicked his tongue, adding,
“To think someone who was once a hero would fall so far. What a shame.”“Because of that, Count Lort requested protection. He confessed everything, saying Rashiel wouldn’t spare him otherwise.”“But Master Rashiel saved this world from the Demon God three years ago. Why would he go through the trouble of resurrecting the very Demon God he defeated?”“Well, who knows? Three years is a long time. Who knows what he’s been up to or what got into his head? Maybe he got hooked on black magic and now wants to destroy the world.”Elsez wanted to refute his words but couldn’t find a solid argument, biting her lip in frustration.‘I can’t blame him for being suspicious.’Rashiel was a person of interest, having killed the former Tower Master, turned his back on the empire, and vanished for three years.If Count Lort, who had encountered the masked man, named Rashiel as the mastermind, it was understandable why people believed it.Hoping at least one of Rashiel’s former comrades would defend him, Elsez asked,
“You three were his comrades. Do you believe the Tower Master could do something like this?”But—“Of course he could,” Tezette answered coldly without hesitation.His usually indifferent eyes now gleamed with what almost looked like murderous intent when speaking about Rashiel.Typical of Tezette, who had always been at odds with Rashiel.“That lunatic… I knew he’d cause trouble eventually,” Cassian muttered, clenching his fists tightly in frustration.Cassian, who had never trusted Rashiel and always called him ‘a shady bastard,’ seemed convinced Rashiel was indeed behind it all.Astaire, on the other hand, remained silent, lost in thought with a hardened expression. But even he didn’t seem inclined to defend Rashiel.Elsez sighed internally at their reactions.
‘Rashiel, what happened to your trustworthiness…?’They had fought side by side for ten years, back to back! How could their trust in him be so low?Yet, even Elsez couldn’t erase her own doubts.The masked man I encountered that night…Those eyes. That voice. That hand.It was Rashiel. No—if she were honest with herself now, it had to be him.She had simply denied it, hoping it wasn’t true.‘Even if his hair was a wig, using a magic tool to change his eye color risks blindness… Why go that far?’What could his reason be?Just then, Astaire, deep in thought, spoke up.“I’ll try reaching out to Rashiel. If he refuses to respond—”“That won’t be necessary.”Count Gale interrupted Astaire, cutting him off.“You were his former comrade, weren’t you, Your Eminence?”Astaire’s brows furrowed at the insinuation in Count Gale’s words.“…Are you implying that I’m in league with Rashiel? That I, the Cardinal, would help resurrect the Demon God?”“Of course not! I would never think that of Your Eminence. But, well, appearances matter.”Smirking, Count Gale continued,
“His Highness the Crown Prince, in his wisdom, has recommended that Your Holiness and Sir Cassian step back from this case to ensure a fair and impartial resolution.”A ‘recommendation’ from the crown prince was essentially an order.Cassian immediately exploded in anger.“Ha! So after all the work we did—even using guild resources to investigate this mess—they’re lumping us in with that bastard?”“Well, it’s not exactly that… It’s just that old ties can be… tricky, you know? Even if you’re not on his side, having to capture an old comrade yourself must be quite the burden. It’s only natural for His Highness to worry about that.”“You nobles sure have a way of beating around the bush, don’t you?”“What… What did you say?”“You’re just going to take all the evidence we’ve uncovered so far, cover up what you want, and expose what you want, manipulating everything as you please. Isn’t that it?”As Cassian, towering over Count Gale, approached menacingly, the count gulped nervously and backed away.He pointed a trembling finger at Cassian, raising his voice in a feigned bravado.“W-What a vulgar way to threaten someone…!”Before the escalating confrontation could go any further, Astaire stepped in between them.“I’ve already put my own father behind bars with my own hands. Do you really think I would hesitate to bring justice to an old comrade’s crimes?”Astaire’s cold resolve made Count Gale retreat even further.The subtle chill always felt beneath Astaire’s gentle demeanor was now fully exposed, exuding an intimidating aura that struck fear into those around him.In a voice lower than usual, Astaire calmly made his stance clear.“I am grateful for His Highness’s boundless grace, but the Holy Kingdom cannot be absent from matters involving the Demon God.”“……”“I started this investigation, and I will see it through to the end. Especially if Rashiel is involved.”Astaire’s piercing gaze, filled with unwavering determination, made Count Gale swallow his words.Reluctantly backing down, Count Gale ground his teeth in frustration and spat out,
“F-Fine! But don’t forget, Your Holiness, that if you’re not careful, people might start to suspect you of being in league with him as well. I’ve made myself clear.”With that final remark, Count Gale scurried away like a fish slipping out of a net.Astaire then turned his attention to Tezette, who remained expressionless as always.Notably, Count Gale had not asked Tezette to step away from the case, meaning the crown prince expected him to continue his involvement.Astaire, gazing at Tezette’s unreadable face, asked,
“Tezette, what will you do if you meet Rashiel?”“Kill him.”Tezette answered without the slightest hesitation.“I’ve always wanted to kill him.”Cassian seemed displeased with Tezette’s response, but he neither defended Rashiel nor tried to stop Tezette.Tezette glanced briefly at Elsez and the part of her jacket where Reti was hidden, then quietly left toward the temple’s exit.Watching him leave, Astaire spoke,
“I need to interrogate my father first. There’s a chance Count Lort falsely accused Rashiel out of desperation.”“I’ll keep digging into that masked gathering.”As Cassian and Astaire discussed their next steps, Elsez, who had been watching them, finally spoke up.“Um, there’s something I need to tell you both.”Both men turned their attention to Elsez simultaneously.“I’m stepping away from this case.”Though surprised by her sudden decision, Astaire and Cassian soon accepted it.“Fair enough. Now that the case is out in the open, there are plenty of hands to help. We’ll take it from here,” Cassian said.Looking at the two men, who seemed a bit regretful, Elsez added, “I hope you both find the ending you’re wishing for.”And that was her wish, too.“You’ve worked hard, lady. If you ever need anything, you know where to find us,” Astaire said, his previous sternness replaced with a gentle smile as he bid her farewell.“Don’t go getting yourself into any more dangerous messes. Just focus on making money, alright?” Cassian added, ruffling Elsez’s hair affectionately as usual.Nodding to them, Elsez turned away.Once the area cleared out, Reti peeked out from her pocket, gazing up at her intently.Elsez looked down at Reti, puzzled.
“What is it?”“Human. Am I your friend?”“Huh?”“You called me your friend earlier.”“Oh.”Recalling her conversation with Tezette a beat too late, Elsez scratched her cheek awkwardly.“Well… I guess we’re comrades and friends who’ve shared a lot together.”For some reason, Reti’s black eyes seemed to glisten at her words.After a moment of silently observing her, Reti climbed out of the pocket and perched on her shoulder, asking,
“So, are you really backing out of your friend’s case?”“No. I’m going to meet that masked bastard myself.”She couldn’t stand the endless doubts and anxiety any longer.“What if he’s not your friend?”“Then I’ll kill him.”“And if he is your friend?”Elsez, fiddling with the fingerless gloves on her hands, answered without a moment’s hesitation.“Then I’ll half-kill him. So he never tries something like this again.”