Chapter 91
Chapter 91
Even after Jane’s return, Duke Hellis seemed overwhelmed with various matters.
Besides managing the accident scene, he was dealing with fierce protests from families of those who were injured or died.
Taking advantage of this chaotic moment, Cassis requested the corpses of the dead Demonic Beasts from the Duke, and so the four of us returned to the mansion.
“So, you’re saying this could raise suspicion?”
“Yes.”
“Irina, what’s the chance this is just your imagination?”
“That would be fortunate. But either way, the situation looks suspicious. So we need to take measures.”
Isiel seemed lost in thought, while Cassis was examining the Demonic Beast corpses he’d received one by one on a large table.
Seiren was looking at the strangely mixed liquid of ice cream and Demonic Beast smoke that I had collected.
I watched them quietly.
“Hmm.”
I thought at least one of those three might suspect me, but none of them made any such suggestion.
“But none of you seem to suspect me.”
If I were them, I would have suspected myself first.
After all, ‘ice cream’ didn’t exist before.
Couldn’t it possibly have been made using Demonic Beasts?
However, they didn’t seem to even consider such a possibility.
Cassis slightly furrowed his brow as if he didn’t understand my words, Isiel let out an exasperated sigh, and Seiren became indignant.
“Well, think about it. If a minor noble from the South suddenly appears with something called ice cream, and Demonic Beasts emerge from it…”
“Still. If the goal was to cause chaos by releasing Demonic Beasts, you wouldn’t be in Luwin.”
They would have seized my hand when I reached out.
Isiel added, “If I were you and wanted to eliminate everyone, I’d rather sell ice cream laced with poison.”
Seiren nodded and made some rather harsh comments.
I was momentarily speechless at the unexpected reactions from these two who should have no connection to me.
And Cassis, after thinking for a moment, also offered his response.
“Well… All I’ve ever seen is someone always doing their best.”
“…”
“I don’t see any reason to be suspicious.”
That makes my heart ring strangely.
As I was having my moment of being touched, Isiel added:
“Besides, ice cream looks too cute, sweet, and delicious to have summoned such hideous Demonic Beasts.”
I responded with an impressed “Ooh.”
“I should use that excuse too if problems arise later.”
Though I’m not sure if it would work.
“By the way, Lord Cassis, you mentioned that Marquis Cloi is on the Imperial Academy’s board of directors. So he must have significant influence within the Academy, right?”
“Yes. Especially since it’s the Imperial Academy.”
That’s right.
Marquis Cloi was someone who had curried great favor with the Emperor’s faction, and being on the Imperial Academy’s board meant he wielded enormous power within the Academy.
“Damn it.”
“Why Marquis Cloi?”
Isiel asked curiously at my quiet curse.
“…”
Well, I can’t exactly say ‘The quest says Marquis Cloi is going to slander Sir Cassis and me soon!’
How should I explain this?
While I was pondering, Cassis spoke up.
“Since the Demonic Beasts were sent to the Academy and Magic Tower. There’s a high chance they’ll be reported to the board. Then it’s only a matter of time before my uncle finds out.”
Cassis provided a plausible explanation to Isiel for me.
I nodded along as if that’s what I meant.
“True, Marquis Cloi is in the Emperor’s good graces. He’s in a good position to spread rumors.”
And he could probably fabricate evidence too.
For things to proceed as the quest indicated, fabrication was inevitable.
Of course, he could spread false rumors about ‘ice cream’ to the public without fabrication, but…
‘Come to think of it, this is an even bigger problem.’
Once public opinion is formed, it doesn’t change easily.
No, it should be considered impossible to change.
Regardless of the truth, if the idea that ‘ice cream is an ominous thing that summons Demonic Beasts’ takes root, that perception will never change, and my dream of preventing the world’s destruction through the ‘ice cream’ business will become a bubble.
‘No!’
Marquis Cloi, just go suck up to the Emperor instead.
That would be easier.
[SYSTEM | Sub-quest ‘Urgent Countermeasures Needed’ has arrived.]
Right. We urgently need countermeasures.
[Urgent Countermeasures Needed
We don’t know when or where something might happen.
In any case, pieces of the Demonic Beast have gone to the Academy, and the Academy is firmly in Marquis Cloi’s grip.
Let’s do what we can, one step at a time!
(1) Monitor Marquis Cloi’s movements
(2) Find connections within the Academy
(3) (Undisclosed)
* Undisclosed items will be automatically updated as you progress.
* Additional items may be added.]
I grabbed my head once and turned to Isiel and Cassis.
“You two are a Duke and Grand Duke, don’t you have any connections at the Imperial Academy?”
“Sorry. We sponsor Clide Private Academy, not the Imperial one.”
“It used to be the Grand Ducal family’s connection… but after my uncle became regent, it shifted to the Cloi marquessate.”
Oh, dear.
I never thought they’d be this unhelpful.
“Still, there seem to be some Luwin vassal families affiliated with the Academy.”
“Really?”
“Yes. And among the professors and researchers, there are still many who maintain close relationships with Luwin.”
According to the subsequent explanation, those who had received sponsorship when Luwin was still prosperous had grown up to become professors and scholars, now holding positions of their own.
And they seemed to have quite an affection for Luwin, their former patron.
“So I’ll try to contact them and find out about the current situation within the Academy.”
“Yes! Please ask them to report continuously.”
Busy, busy.
I thought I just needed to successfully launch ‘Lu & Cream.’
Instead, I’m fighting unknown enemies before the launch.
***
News that the Hellis mansion had been half-destroyed, and that unidentified creatures were the cause, spread quickly throughout the empire.
People began to tremble in fear at the existence of these unknown Demonic Beasts, and various theories about their nature started circulating.
And at the center of these rumors was ‘Luwin.’
“Here are today’s newspapers from the capital.”
Roen placed about ten newspapers on the table.
“They’re still talking about the Demonic Beasts, and ‘Luwin’ is being mentioned as being behind it.”
“Why?”
“The content varies from mentions of such allegations to suspicions about ‘ice cream.'”
I knew this would happen.
It was fortunate that we’d already cleared out the ice cream stands.
If we had been operating normally and suddenly stopped after this incident, it would have raised even greater suspicion and misunderstanding.
“Should we make a direct statement denying it?”
Roen asked with a troubled expression.
And the answer was:
“No.”
“No.”
Cassis and I answered almost simultaneously.
“We shouldn’t make explanations. Because Luwin truly has no connection. When no one has directly accused us of wrongdoing, volunteering an explanation…”
“Would make us look guilty.”
“Then should we just stay quiet? The Academy keeps contacting us!”
“…”
“…”
Roen asked anxiously.
Instead of answering, Cassis ran his fingers through his fine hair.
His black hair crumpled between his white fingers.
The Academy had indeed been sending constant messages.
That Marquis Cloi was continuously making suspicious remarks about Luwin at board meetings.
Professors and scholars reported that strange visitors were increasing around the ‘Monster Research Institute.’
“Has there been any discussion at the regular state council meeting?”
“No, not yet.”
“Nothing specific in the news I heard through Isiel either.”
But what good is that?
Marquis Cloi is already steadily preparing to frame Luwin through the press!
“… But we can’t just stay like this. Spring is almost over. Early summer has arrived, and summer will come in no time. Summer means the launch of ‘Lu & Cream.'”
“Time really flies.”
Sob, don’t I know it.
April is already over, and it’s May already.
Spring has passed while I’ve been promoting ice cream with Vroom-vroom since the New Year’s party.
These days, my daily routine starts with marking X’s on the calendar, counting down to the launch date.
I get anxious every time I hear news about how beautifully the ‘Lu & Cream’ showroom and first store are being completed.
Roen and I sat side by side on the couch, laughing “heh heh” with a sense of life’s futility.
Seeing us like this, Cassis finally rose from his seat.
“Roen, Irina. Let’s… talk about this.”
He sat down in front of us and began speaking with a rather serious expression.
“This was bound to happen anyway. My uncle has been too quiet lately, so I thought something was about to break.”
“…”
“So it’s alright. There’s no need for self-blame.”
I flinched at his words about not needing to blame ourselves.
Because I’d been constantly thinking that I should have stayed quiet until the ‘Lu & Cream’ launch instead of running around supplying to parties everywhere.
“But we can’t just sit idle, either. We’ve already invested enormous amounts in the ‘Lu & Cream’ launch, and even if we postpone the launch, if Marquis Cloi points to Irina or the Grand Ducal family as being behind this Demonic Beast incident..”
“…”
“And if the public accepts that as fact, it will damage Luwin itself.”
I let out a big sigh and sat up from my half-slumped position.
Right.
This is no time to lie around exhausted.
“Then let’s make a plan.”
“How?”
“We don’t have any connections with newspapers, right?”
“…”
“Then let’s boldly give up on that. They’ll keep pushing this narrative until clear evidence emerges anyway.”
They’ll keep pushing.
Not only that, but they’ll bring fabricated evidence through the Academy, and use that evidence to attack Luwin at the state council.
Then all newspapers will start condemning Luwin.
Once that happens, it will be irreversible.
So we…
“Let’s leak information to the Marquis first. That the ice cream was actually meant to summon Demonic Beasts.”
“Irina, are you crazy?”
Cassis’s eyes widened in surprise, and Roen blurted out, asking if I was mad.
Of course, I know.
I am crazy.
“However, we need to time it carefully.”
