Chapter 32: CH 31

Chapter 31

Translator: Yonnee

Raw Provider: Haebaragi_syk

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“It’s the same with things that cause people’s illnesses. You can’t even guess what it is at all because it’s so small that it’s not visible, and it’s something called a pathogen… Well, that is to say, it’s something very small. And it causes people to be ill.”

When Ethan heard her say this, he could no longer keep a straight face.

This was due to the fact that her words were extremely close to what had been discussed in a secret conference led by the imperial family and Duke Randell Carter.

“This epidemic is of course also an illness that is caused by pathogens. We’re lacking people to send, so Ethan, you need to be dispatched.”

Noticing how confused Ethan looked, Reina was under another assumption. She blurted out the following words as though she was a student who’d been caught doing something wrong.

“Uh, um… What I said just now must sound a bit vague or kind of awkward to hear, right?”

No. Not at all. What she said was so accurate that it didn’t feel real.

‘But…’

If he were to be honest, he couldn’t understand how it was possible for Reina to arrive at that conclusion.

It was a conclusion that he, who had been dubbed as a genius by others, couldn’t not even imagine until he learned about it from the imperial family.

Apart from that, it was also something that the head of House Carter, a family of which was well-versed scholars of human affairs, could not dare to guess.

So how did Reina guess it?

“I absolutely, positively don’t have any intentions to deceive the Imperial Family. It’s just…”

As she continued to stammer, he could no longer deny it. In a world overshadowed by God’s influence, she managed to pinpoint the real cause despite it all.

“The stronger the mana there is, the keener you’ll feel the energy of the cause. But for you too, Ethan, when it comes to ‘God’s influence’… I know you’re aware that it’s not such a power that causes everything.”

That’s right. This was the reason he was able to accept what the imperial crown prince and the grand duke said, without any resistance to their explanation.

‘But then…’

It’s also something difficult to realize unless you were someone who could wield divine power.

This truth could be realized by someone who was at least at the level of the pope. But how could Reina—someone who wielded poison instead—know such a thing?

Right on cue, Reina took one step closer to him. She had a serious expression.

At that moment, it struck him.

She knew. And… the emperor, the grand duke, and Ethan himself. She knew that they had stepped out of the shadows of God’s influence.

This was nothing like the sensible connection between rational judgment and logical causation. What this was right now felt as naturally as how ‘water flows from top to bottom’.

He looked straight into her light purple eyes. Would it be crazy to think that the look in her eyes, which was gentle yet full of determination, made it seem as if she held within her the keen insight of Zadahr, making it possible for her to see the truth of the world?

“When ’my love’ turns into my ‘honey’.”

The young woman who kept spouting those absurd proclamations… suddenly started to look different in his eyes. She had been clamoring for his attention all this time, but now, she was beginning to pique his curiosity.

‘Seriously, Reina, you… You always go beyond my expectations.’

But apart from this, he needed to warn her.

The members of the Pluntria Imperial Family were believed to be descendants of God, and so the empire was a place where indiscriminate faith was practiced.

With such a rigid and stern image of the majestic imperial family, it would be impossible to hastily reveal to the public words like ‘pathogen’ or ‘virus’.

‘…If the truth is revealed to the people of the country while they aren’t yet prepared for it, it might just trigger a retrogression of ideas.’

Therefore, it was necessary to refrain from such a bold move.

“In many ways, what you just said is very dangerous.”

As he pointed this out to her, fortunately, she understood and nodded.

“I know, that’s why I’m not rushing to tell other people what I think. I’m just saying it here because you’re you, Ethan.”

Yet again, her words rendered him speechless.

“……”

Yes. It’s that.

He was curious where that mystifying sense of certainty was coming from. Now that he thought of it, she always acted in such a way. She always ran in a straight line, holding not a single doubt in her as she did.

Of course, it’s natural for people to like him. No, even to be crazy for him.

Genius of the century. Hailing from a household of absolute power. An outstanding outward appearance. And sheer strength that could not be seen in just any other person.

From an objective point of view, he was attractive. To the extent that people would even drool as they looked at him.

Thanks to all this, his life became one that was filled with such annoyances. And to make matters worse, he was even more tired of it all because he kept hearing the echoes of people’s innermost thoughts—which he never asked to hear in the first place.

It was for this reason that he had always been cynical and temperamental. For as long as he reacted in such a way, at some point, he was even given a ridiculous moniker.

Cerulean Freak.

It was a nickname that he sometimes heard through people’s voices, but more through their thoughts.

It wasn’t a nickname that would please anyone, but he didn’t hate it. It was because of that nickname that people started avoiding him of their own volition.

But Reina was the only one who was different. He found her at his side without ever noticing her approach.

At the same time, there was never a time that he felt annoyed by her.

Whenever she’d be by his side, he’d find himself smiling.

And here, had he ever experienced being ‘worried’ about someone else like this?

No. Not at all.

Reina was the only one.

For as long as he lived, she was the only mystery in his life.

“Ethan, I usually wouldn’t say something like this to another person.”

For a moment, he licked his lips with his tongue.

One thought popped up in his mind out of the blue—that perhaps it would be a little upsetting if she would show the same trust and certainty to someone else other than him.

He didn’t exactly know what he was feeling right now, but there was something he needed to say right now.

“Let’s change that ‘usually’ to ‘absolutely’.”

And he knew that this was nothing but a childish wish.

“Huh?”

As she asked back with slightly raised eyebrows, he once again urged her.

“From now on, just talk to me about this. Absolutely never tell anyone else about this.”

“Oh… Okay, I’ll do that.”

At this moment, even as he hadn’t eaten anything, it felt as if he was full. When she agreed, he was filled with a strange sense of satiety and satisfaction.