A faint look of surprise flitted across Archbishop Fremlin’s face. Realizing the gravity of the situation, he rubbed his chin in thought.
“I suppose the Crown Prince formed the Subjugation Army because of Prince Kyle. Then accusing you of aiding the Black Flame Dragon’s escape means…”
“The Crown Prince fabricated that. When we arrived at the lair, the Black Flame Dragon had already fled.”
The archbishop exhaled sharply and closed his eyes, pressing his fingertips to his brow.
“If we cannot secure an acquittal, our only option will be to flee.”
“That would be tantamount to admitting guilt.”
I expected him to say that—Kyle had thought the same first.
“Are you saying Kyle and his companions should meekly accept an unjust death? They must live on, to clear their names or undo mistakes!”
Though I had no stake in their fate, I felt a surge of indignation. Fremlin pressed his fingers to his brow and sighed deeply. It was not an easy request.
Yet after a moment, he lifted his head decisively.
“We can obtain an acquittal at today’s trial. But we cannot prevent all of Crown Prince Reynold’s schemes. Even if they’re found not guilty, they must capture the Black Flame Dragon as swiftly as possible to exonerate themselves fully.”
In truth, once today’s trial was won, it would be up to the Hero’s party to handle the rest.
“That will suffice. The rest is Kyle’s responsibility. He’s ready to slay the Black Flame Dragon—once he does, their names will be cleared.”
Naturally, I had no intention of sacrificing myself to Kyle. They would need another way to prove their innocence.
“Understood. I will endeavor to persuade His Majesty the Emperor—please worry no more.”
At Fremlin’s assurance, I finally breathed a sigh of relief. The Hero’s party stood a chance of surviving. My task was complete.
“Very well.”
As I rose to leave, the archbishop suddenly grasped my wrist.
“And there is one more thing you must deliver to Prince Kyle.”
I froze mid-stand and sank back into the chair. Fremlin opened a desk drawer and withdrew a luxurious white-velvet pouch.
“Do you know what this is?”
How was I to know? I reached out cautiously and took the pouch. Inside lay a handful of smooth, black stones.
“I’ve never seen these before.”
“You don’t recognize them? They are magestones.”
I had read of magestones, but never seen one. They were mana-infused gems used as raw materials for various magical tools.
“Why not hand them over yourself…”
“I wished to deliver them discreetly, without causing alarm. Since Prince Kyle sent you, you seem trustworthy. When you convey my message, please give him these as well.
They treated me as if I were some official messenger. It wasn’t a difficult request—I nodded slightly.
“Lately, monsters have been attacking human villages with increasing frequency. I investigated and discovered these magestones. I’ve never seen such high purity. Higher purity means stronger mana…”
I knew from the original texts that one could inscribe runes into a magestone, or process it into a magic tool.
“If one attaches this to a beast, it transforms into a fiend.”
“A beast becomes a monster?”
I could not easily grasp his meaning; it was unfamiliar even from the source material.
“Mages say it’s due to runes carved in the magestone. We have yet to decipher them, but Gerard could.”
“You mean someone is intentionally turning beasts into monsters?”
I raised an eyebrow at this unheard-of claim. Perhaps it appeared later in texts I hadn’t read.
“It’s conjecture, but we must discover who mined these magestones, why they were rune-etched, and for what purpose they’re being distributed. If someone is deliberately spreading them, we must stop them.”
“Understood. I’ll tell him exactly as you said.”
I tucked the pouch away, bowed, and left his chambers. Even as I exited the chapel, my mind spun with confusion. I had just learned information not in the original story.
I glanced around and made for a secluded spot beneath the city walls. Behind a great oak, I opened my Subspace and retrieved my grimoire.
“Magestones…here we are.”
Fortunately, the original Rishian had summarized magestone lore. I traced the passage with my finger:
Magestones are mana-laden gems. The purer the mana deposit mined, the greater the concentration. One can engrave runes into a magestone; the rune’s nature alters its color. Based on the five elements—water, fire, wind, earth, light—an inscription of dark black sorcery turns it jet black.
A black magestone did not bode well.
To discern a rune’s nature, channel one’s own mana into the magestone; the rune will activate and reveal itself.
Following the text, I grasped the magestone and carefully infused it with my mana. It glowed faintly as the engraved rune surfaced on its face.
“Ah, this…”
I recognized the pattern instantly—it matched the scar on my chest exactly.
…Of all things, a jet-black rune of evil sorcery bearing the same mark as my own scar.
“This is unsettling.”
Why was the rune on my chest reproduced on this magestone? What connection did Rishian have to these stones? I was not certain I could hand this over to Kyle’s party.
I couldn’t shake the feeling I was implicated.
The next day’s trial ended in acquittal, just as the archbishop had predicted. His fervent defense swayed the Emperor, and lacking evidence, the Hero’s party was released at once.
However, an imperial decree ordered them to find the Black Flame Dragon within a month—failure would be considered proof they had aided its escape, and they would be condemned.
“Find the Black Flame Dragon in a month? Are you insane?”
Gerard grumbled, and I nodded in agreement. A month was impossible. Even a year would be unlikely. I would remain in hiding regardless.
No sooner had Kyle been set free than he sought out the largest tavern in the capital and ordered a lavish feast. Before I knew it, I found myself sitting beside them in that tavern.
“So, Rishian, what did you bring us?”
Only then did I draw the velvet pouch from my belt and hand it to Kyle.
“The archbishop asked me to deliver this.”
“What is it? Did he give us money?”
Kyle opened the pouch with mercenary curiosity, but narrowed his brow at its contents.
“A magestone?”
He recognized it at once, so no explanation was needed.
“They say someone is rune-etching these magestones and distributing them. Attach one to an ordinary beast, and it turns into a savage monster. That’s why monster attacks have surged.”
I grew weary recounting it all. Kyle, already well aware of the monster raids, did not seem much surprised.
“All this because of these? Who’d do such a thing?”
“The archbishop wants us to find out.”
“Right. Hunting the Black Flame Dragon is our top priority… but since he helped us, we owe him this too.”
If this was part of the story’s later arc and the Black Flame Dragon was involved, I thought it best I see it with my own eyes. If it got dangerous, I’d slip away then.
“So, here’s the thing. If your offer to me still stands… I’d like to travel with you.”