・・・・・
The story of how Constantine was taken into the temple dates back to his early childhood. He was born in a secluded alley of a slum but was taken in by a priest who recognised his divine power. He was like a gem buried in the mud. Everyone spoke in unison about this — until it was revealed that he had a flaw.
"Constantine, do you not feel pity for them? Do you not feel any compassion?"
Pity. Pity meant feeling sorrow and compassion for someone.
"Pity... Compassion..."
While repeating the priest's words, Young Constantine gazed intently at the beggars who had their foreheads to the ground and outstretched hands, begging for money. He blinked his innocent blue eyes and said.
“How filthy.”
"...They are filthy?"
“Yes. Didn’t the priest tell me that it is our duty, as those granted with divine power, to purify what is vile and evil?”
“...”
“If we kill them, wouldn’t this place be purified?”
From that day onwards, Constantine, the next candidate for the High Priest, picked up the sword and walked the path as a Holy Knight. Although both professions were recognised for their holiness, as a Holy Knight, he could legally kill. No matter the gravity of his sins, they were excused as righteous acts to ‘eliminate evil.’ His inherent divine power enabled him to commit murder while still being revered as a hero of the Holy Wars, not as a mass murderer.
As a child, he committed murder out of ignorance and curiosity, but as he grew older, he recognised that it was quite a troublesome affair. The priests admonished him, saying it was 'an act that strayed from human morality and was contrary to reason.' At times, they would yell at him and even resort to violence when he failed to comprehend what they were saying.
So, that was how it was. At that time, Constantine had already resolved to live his entire life as a servant of God Deseo. With that decision, he endeavoured to meet the temple’s expectations and obey its commands. Although he had never once heard the voice of God, he unconditionally accepted the priests' assurance that He was watching over him. Constantine made efforts to engrain this belief in his mind.
In the end, the priests' judgment was fortunately correct. No one had any inkling of Constantine’s darker side, though it certainly brought misfortune to some.
"Please clean it up.”
Constantine nudged the corpses of the senior priests at his feet with his boot and said.
"They are impure, tainted by evil. Burn them."
The bodies sprawled in a pool of blood were all elderly. Among them was the priest who had guided Constantine’s moral upbringing in his childhood, as well as the priest who had personally found him in an alley in the slums. Did he feel pity? Did he feel compassion?
"Looking at them now, they do seem pitiable. After all, they have wasted their efforts until now."
The time and effort they invested in him was pitiable and tragic. Likewise, his own time and effort, wasted on their nonsense, were equally lamentable.
"They have finally found their rightful place."
That was about the extent of his sentiment. With their disappearance, no one remained to point out Constantine's flaws or impose social or moral standards on him. Everything simply came to an end, so effortlessly and meaninglessly, without any coercion or change.
Constantine watched the young priests covering their mouths and swallowing back their nausea as they cleaned up the corpses. It was a stark lesson for these impressionable youths, a vivid demonstration of the consequences of defying him. In a temple where it was all too easy to close one’s eyes and ears, rebellion against Constantine equated to certain death. He was God’s representative, thus everything he did was justified by the belief that it was God’s will.
“Just how long do you plan to keep up this pretence? You're capable of becoming even worse than me."
At that moment, Benjamin's mocking laughter flashed through his mind, and Constantine suddenly found himself missing Claudia. He simply could not let go of her. Now, he even questioned whether his feelings were truly love.
But if he could not even have her, what would be left for him? No matter how much he claimed to have cut ties, the past — where he had been forced to live as a figure of benevolence — was not something that could simply vanish. So where on earth was he supposed to find meaning in life now, Claudia? What had he sacrificed for her?
As everything he had accomplished gradually dulled and eroded away, his strange obsession with the notion that he was entitled to a reward grew ever stronger. Constantine set out in search of the final remnants of his lost past.
He headed toward the Imperial Palace. If he recklessly went to the Chamberlain's mansion, he would undoubtedly be turned away. Constantine had no intention of acting impulsively like Lucas. Though he hated to admit it, there was much he could learn from Benjamin in situations like this. To win someone over, you often needed to gradually infiltrate their surroundings without them noticing. By the time they sensed something was amiss, it would be too late; any chance of escape would have already been blocked.
'Previously... that’s what happened to me.’
Having experienced it firsthand, Benjamin's approach resonated deeply with him. He understood that he had made the choice himself and that this outcome was inevitable. Yet, the realisation that he had been manipulated was inescapably infuriating. By laying all his cards on the table, he had made himself vulnerable to exploitation.
‘I am the only one who has realised Walter's true identity.’
Constantine was confident. Lucas was completely oblivious to the sense of discomfort, and Benjamin found it strange, but that was as far as it went. No matter how astute his mind was, Benjamin's physical abilities were those of an ordinary person, rendering him incapable of sensing even a hint of magic. Moreover, he remained unaware that the entity fighting alongside them in the last battle possessed the power of a spirit.
Based on the information gathered so far, it could be inferred that Walter was either a devil’s contractor or, at the very least, a sorcerer with significant connections to Claudia. Constantine decided to keep this knowledge to himself for the time being. He wanted to have at least one trump card in case Benjamin had ulterior motives.
Initially, it was just a light-hearted thought. If Walter proved to have any temporary value, he could use him as an excuse to approach Claudia; if he lost his worth, he would expose him and crush him. With that intention, he waited for the moment when Walter separated from Lucas before swiftly approaching him. However, the Emperor's dog said this:
“What do you desire in exchange for keeping silent about me?
Constantine, who had been questioning the nature of Walter's relationship with Claudia and his true intentions in approaching her, was momentarily at a loss for words. The Walter he had observed all this time would never have said something like this. Yet, the faint smile Constantine had seen was definitely not an illusion. Could it be that he had been acting all along?
"Are you admitting it? Your reaction suggests you expected me to say this."
"You’ve seen me fight on the battlefield, so it would be pointless to insist that I’m just an ordinary human."
"That doesn’t answer the question."
"One is correct, and the other is incorrect."
After saying that, Walter fell silent, as if urging Constantine to figure out the rest on his own.
"Is there no connection to Claudia?"
Wasn’t that exactly what he was implying now? It was absurd. There was no way there was no connection. Although Claudia's spirit had been an independent spirit that had gone unnoticed until now, as the first Spirit King summoned in the Empire, its abilities were widely recognised. No other spirit in this world could replicate a human form as perfectly as Claudia’s spirit could.
"Or are you suggesting that it wasn't the power of a spirit?"
At that, Walter chuckled softly and shook his head.
"Of course, it’s the power of Lady Chamberlain. But why do you view it solely in terms of the 'approach'?"
"Approach?"
"Think about it. Would the Chamberlains, who lost their son and brother to a devil, really want to hire someone like me who wields magic?"
“...”
Constantine narrowed his eyes, choosing his words carefully. Suddenly, the voice of a priest, who would always shout, ‘This is how ordinary people think, feel, and judge! Listen to your heart, not your head!’ echoed in his ears. Even in death, he was still so irritating. Constantine tried hard to shake off the voice of the spectre.
‘I don’t know. If one is driven by vengeance, can’t they hire a sorcerer or even a devil’s contractor?’
But Constantine, who had been told over and over since childhood that he was different from others, could not come up with a single counterargument.
"They know nothing. Not even that I use magic."
"Is that possible?"
"Even if they possess remarkable innate magic, coming from a family with no ties to divine power, what makes it impossible?"
Walter pointed out that even Constantine, with his outstanding divine power, had only recently become certain of his identity. It was a valid point, and he had no words left to counter it. Yes, it wasn’t impossible. However, the longer the conversation dragged on, the more peculiar Constantine felt. This way of speaking, this discomfort. It felt like something he had experienced quite recently...
“...Are you, by any chance, the one planted by Duke Lamberg?”
Now that he thought about it, it was Benjamin who had first discovered Walter and actively advocated for bringing him in. When Constantine considered that it could very well have been Benjamin, Walter shot him a surprised glance. Walter muttered, looking somewhat distressed as if he hadn’t intended to reveal this information.
"Well, since it has been revealed that there’s no relation with the Chamberlains, there’s only one answer left. Still, you’re quite perceptive ― unlike someone else."
"If you're comparing me to His Majesty, then please stop. It's unpleasant."
"Oh, I understand."
Walter nodded thoughtfully as if he had gained a lot of insight while staying close to Lucas. As he observed Walter, Constantine couldn’t help but think that Benjamin must have indeed planted someone like him.
"So, are you saying you’re a spy?"
Given that he was capable of manipulating magic among countless other abilities, Constantine felt an unmistakable chill run down his spine.
'Why was this kept a secret from me?'
If that person was a highly skilled individual who had mastered the power of magic…
'No, that statement could be a lie. There is clear evidence linking him to the Chamberlains, so why should I trust that person?’'
Constantine could not help but suspect Walter, who was a complete stranger compared to Benjamin. He could not overlook the possibility that this was a ploy to sow discord between the two. At that moment, Walter dropped a bombshell without giving Constantine a chance to dwell on his thoughts.
"His Majesty is currently with Lady Chamberlain."
“...What?"
"Did you not know?"
Walter asked, sounding puzzled. It was as if he were questioning why anyone would be unaware of it. If Benjamin shared his views, then it should be common knowledge between them — suggesting that even Lucas and Claudia's meetings were part of Benjamin's intentions.
"So, the playwright who is directly sponsored by His Majesty... Hmm, explaining it would take some time... You’re aware of the proposal, or rather, the suggestion to support the Empire’s artists at His Excellency’s command, aren’t you?"
Walter casually mentioned a story that only the three of them would know, naturally avoiding detailed explanations. Recalling that Constantine could recognise Ilypia’s doll, he quickly made a brief judgment.
"Regardless, how could I possibly fathom His Excellency’s will.”
He disclosed the place where Lucas was currently situated and added.
"If you have doubts, you can verify it with your own eyes."
・・・・・
"I really don't understand why I have to be here."
Claudia crossed her arms, wearing an expression as if she were drinking poison in real-time. I laughed as if I were clueless and smiled faintly.
"It is because you are a gracious person who believed in and continuously supported someone as insignificant as I am."
Although it was said from Shayne Speare’s perspective, it was not much different from reality, so I could express it with genuine emotion.
‘Claudia, you are my love, the saviour who recognised my true worth when I was just a mere extra!’
I had the urge to hug her tightly and say something sentimental, but since this wasn't the real Claudia, I quickly regained my composure.
"The Imperial Family has extended an opportunity that exceeds my worth; therefore, before making a decision, I felt it was essential to seek the Chamberlain family's opinion."
I trailed off, saying “His Majesty also granted permission…” as I glanced to my side. Lucas proudly occupied the seat next to me, wearing a look of satisfaction.
In fact, there was no way he would refuse to come to a place where Claudia would be. It seemed he had no inkling that she might use the spirit’s doll as a stand-in. After all, the doll could replicate not only her appearance but also her personality, tendencies, and behaviour to such an extent that it would be nearly impossible to tell them apart. Or perhaps, neither mattered to Lucas?
'He might prefer the doll.'
If the doll could maintain that form for a lifetime without Ilypia, I would have given it away long ago. What a shame.
“I suppose it doesn’t matter to me as long as I can leave this place."
Just like Claudia, the doll regarded Lucas with disdain as if he were trash. For a moment, I was even under the illusion of thinking, 'Isn't this the real Claudia?'
She continued to speak.
"It would be absolutely wonderful if an artist discovered by our family receives the support of the Imperial Family."
"Would that be acceptable?
I asked back, feigning concern.
"It would be dishonest to claim that I don’t have the desire to monopolise you, but I genuinely hope you can freely express your talent and gain widespread recognition."
Upon hearing those words, Lucas blatantly let out a hollow laugh and scoffed.
“Well, my thoughts are somewhat different.”
"What is different about it?"
Claudia retorted sharply.
“It’s obvious what an artist supported by the Imperial Family entails. I want you to be a caged bird, singing only the songs I desire, exclusively for me.”
Lucas asked, almost mockingly, if they truly didn't understand why they were called ‘palace servants.'
“Freely express your talent and gain widespread recognition? If you hope for such things, you should never receive support from the Imperial Family."
Lucas's words were entirely at odds with his stated intention to support artists. From what I had heard from Cedric, it was clearly an effort to distract the common people with entertainment, wasn’t it? This was a common yet effective tactic for keeping the masses uninformed. It seemed I wasn’t the only one who felt this way. Although Claudia appeared disinterested in the conversation, she still asked a question with a hint of suspicion.
"I have no idea what Your Majesty's intentions are in saying that to me."
In a way, this conversation mirrored Claudia's predicament of being overpowered by the Three Useless Brothers. Lucas also seemed to speak with a double meaning, which understandably warranted her discomfort.
"It means that if you and I continue to meet and converse, I could extend leniency that would allow him to pursue his dreams as you wish."
"Why should I go to such lengths for Shayne Speare?"
"Otherwise, I will kill him.”
“...”
"Death penalty for disobeying orders."
“Well, charges could always be made up,” Lucas said, mimicking a throat-slitting gesture with his hand.
He seemed to believe he had found a solid justification, smirking as he threatened, looking like a fish in water. [1] It sounded ridiculous, but given who Lucas was, it wasn’t far-fetched at all. After all, he was the type who could rip out his half-brother's heart with his bare hands...
“Caring for Lady Amber alone must already be overwhelming, yet you still continue to create precious things. You’re too kind for your own good.”
Lucas faced Claudia, who was desperately trying to suppress her anger. He was filled with the expectation that he could maintain a relationship with her, using my life as collateral. Well, to cut to the chase, Lucas's wish was granted. Although it wasn’t Claudia herself, but rather her doll, with whom he would have ongoing meetings. Since this seemed to align more with his preferences, he graciously offered her one last chance to create a happy memory.
Translator's Corner:
Hello, apologies for the delayed updates! I have changed my chapter posting frequently to just Fridays and Sundays so it fits in my schedule better. But, if I ever have a busy week and can't translate and post anything, I'll make sure to post extra chapters the following week to make up for it! Currently goal is to post 2-4 chapters per week as a minimum~ and if I manage to translate and edit more, I'll post those too as a bonus!
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[1] When someone is "a fish in water" it means they are in a situation that they're familiar with or in a place that is perfect for them, so they can be most effective.
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