It’s Been 500 Years as an Extra, and the Original Story Still Hasn’t Begun - Chapter 170
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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500 Years as Just an Extra,
The Original Story Still Won’t Begin
Episode 170
“War…?”
What could this mean? Ailesia couldn’t find words to continue and looked at Termion with bewildered eyes.
“With Dusk Talon… then Duke Kaif’s family too?”
“That’s not it. To be precise, we should say our assumptions were wrong.”
“Everything I’m about to tell you is top secret, Teacher.”
Baron Gavin also added in a serious voice.
It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Ailesia. It was to emphasize how important this information was.
“It all started with a conversation with Priestess Cecilia, who was staying at the Grand Duke’s Castle.”
“Ah, that person. I remember her.”
The chief priestess of the Liriana Order, who was also acquainted with Termion.
Her short-cropped hair, just like a soldier from a past life, was quite memorable.
“After you left, Teacher, His Highness gathered the desk remnants in one place and stored them. He requested Priestess Cecilia’s help for analysis.”
Naturally, Cecilia discovered traces of demonic energy in that powder.
After hearing the full story, Cecilia received a portion of the remnants from Termion and immediately departed for the Vatican to make her report.
“After no contact for a while, she came to the castle around early July. She brought several other priests with her besides herself.”
“Then those people were…?”
“Yes. They were inquisitors from the Inquisition.”
“And we learned one of her secrets.”
Termion, who naturally picked up the conversation, let out a hollow laugh as he recalled those events.
Cecilia, whom they thought was an ordinary chief priestess, turned out to be a candidate for ‘Judge’ of the Inquisition and a prospective cardinal.
“…Why was such a person in the Duchy?”
“I didn’t hear the details, but apparently that’s how the Order’s regulations work.”
If she had been at the Grand Duke’s Castle temple since Termion was young, she would have stayed for about ten years.
Ailesia tilted her head in puzzlement, then set aside her questions for now and asked Termion.
“So, were you able to analyze that powder?”
“Yes. The Liriana Order has been tracking dark magic for a long time, so they had considerable research materials. We also entrusted them with investigating the Tamp Crystal we obtained from the Gardbail Mountain Range.”
While the Order’s priests were temporarily staying at the Grand Duke’s Castle, an unexpected heavy rain caused flood damage in some regions of the Duchy.
Though it wasn’t quite a flood, the river temporarily overflowed, causing considerable damage.
“The strange thing is, that region hadn’t suffered flood damage even once in the past 100 years.”
“…Just hearing about it sounds suspicious.”
“At the time, I was busy with outpost inspections and knight order training. I had no choice but to ask the Grand Duchess Dowager to handle the flood relief team, and Priestess Cecilia volunteered that they would go along as well.”
“Why?”
“She said it was natural duty as a priest. From Retis’s standpoint, it was fortunate.”
The techniques priests use based on divine power are called ‘holy magic.’
Unlike magic that focuses on combat skills, holy magic included many spells useful for daily life, including healing and recovery.
Even having ordinary priests come would be appreciated, but having the Order’s top elites skilled in holy magic step forward was beyond words.
“About ten more days passed after the relief team departed, and the Grand Duchess Dowager sent word. She said it was important and I absolutely had to come.”
“She found something.”
“Yes. They had detected evidence of dark magic being used in the flood area.”
The initial discoverer wasn’t the priests, but Iolene.
While directly investigating the flooded area, Iolene discovered that someone had artificially induced this situation.
She found traces of subtle magical power near the river embankment, emanating such an alien aura that even she, well-versed in elemental magic, couldn’t identify its properties.
Puzzled by this, Iolene requested cooperation from Cecilia, and the priests immediately succeeded in detecting demonic energy.
“After the relief team returned, we began full-scale cooperation with the Liriana Order.”
“So continuously from then until now?”
“Retis handled funding and information tracking, while the Order provided materials and combat support.”
The beginning was close to coincidence, but the process was thorough.
The Liriana Order with influence across the entire continent beyond national borders, and the Retis family with military and economic power greater than most kingdoms.
This alliance was not something even Dusk Talon could ignore.
“Dusk Talon was a group thoroughly organized into cells. Even when we managed to discover and raid their bases, it was difficult to find proper clues.”
However, as a result of persistent tracking, Retis and the Liriana Order finally succeeded in partially understanding Dusk Talon’s true nature.
“They are not simply a group of dark mages. Using the Liriana Order’s standards, they would be heretics, or more precisely, ‘cultists.'”
“You mean they worship a different god instead of Goddess Liriana?”
“Yes. Their most representative method of gathering the demonic energy needed for dark magic is human sacrifice. We’ve discovered that their methods are similar to ancient religious rituals.”
Termion briefly moistened his throat with the half-cooled tea.
Now it was time to reveal the most important conclusion.
“Ailesia. When I started this story, I said our assumptions were wrong.”
“Wasn’t that about Dusk Talon’s true nature?”
“That’s correct too, but there’s a more definite fact we need to address.”
“What’s that?”
“As I said, Dusk Talon is a kind of religious group. How could such people be subordinates of the First Imperial Consort and Duke Kaif’s family?”
“…We were completely on the wrong track.”
“Yes.”
Thud.
Termion set down his teacup and his eyes gleamed coldly.
“Dusk Talon is a completely separate group from the First Imperial Consort. Rather than a simple cooperative relationship, it’s possible that the First Imperial Consort and Duke Kaif are their subordinates.”
After the commotion from Elenora’s return, Retis’s Town House was overflowing with long-absent vitality.
Lady Herman achieved the remarkable feat of transforming the annex to nearly new building standards in just three days.
She completely replaced the interior decorations of all floors, including not only the rooms originally used by Elenora and Ailesia, but also the first floor lobby.
Thanks to this, the servants were half-dead with exhaustion, but whenever that happened, they would see Elenora running around here and there in the manor and burn with motivation again.
“Still, it’s satisfying work. It’ll be finished in a few days anyway, right?”
“Right. Did you see the Head Maid’s face? She’s absolutely brimming with energy.”
“B-but she’s still a little scary when she shouts.”
At the words of a young maid who hadn’t been there long, the other maids burst into laughter.
“She’s only like that during work. She’s such a caring person.”
“Where else would you find someone who remembers the faces and names of ordinary maids like us? She takes care of our vacations and bonuses individually too.”
“You’re lucky, girl. You’d be hard-pressed to find a better workplace anywhere in the Empire.”
“Really?”
“There are plenty of seniors who saved up money here and opened their own shops. There’s even someone who married a knight.”
“Wow…”
At this dream-like story for an ordinary commoner, the young maid’s eyes sparkled brightly.
“So don’t worry and work hard. If you have any difficulties, tell us anything.”
“Yes, yes!”
Ailesia made an interested expression at the conversation sounds coming from beyond the door.
“The manor’s atmosphere has gotten really good, hasn’t it? Before, it felt a bit stiff.”
Hilda, who was styling her hair, answered as if it were nothing special.
“The Head Maid has been making great efforts… but honestly, His Highness the Grand Duke’s influence is significant.”
“Why Termion?”
“Should I say his personality has become gentler as he’s gotten older? Financially we’ve become more prosperous, so the welfare has improved accordingly.”
“So it was because the master matured.”
“Pfft.”
Having finished tying the ribbon, Hilda finally couldn’t hold back and let out a light laugh.
“Teacher is probably the only person who could speak about His Highness the Grand Duke that way.”
“Of course. How much have I taught him.”
The moment Ailesia replied in a triumphant voice, a large shadow fell over her head.
“What teaching? You were just teasing me all the time and nagging.”
“Wow, you still remember all of that?”
“It was quite shocking for a growing boy.”
“Men who hold grudges aren’t attractive, you know?”
“It’s fine since I’m handsome.”
He had definitely changed. Now he could even make such shameless jokes.
Before, he would always glare with disapproving eyes or make annoying remarks while frowning.
The prickly boy Termion was quite cute too, but her preference was definitely for the mature adult Termion.
“You came in without even knocking.”
“Wasn’t it left open for me to come in? Let’s go.”
“Where’s Elly?”
“She couldn’t wait and went down first.”
Ailesia lightly took Termion’s outstretched hand and stood up from her seat.
It was time for an outing to Imperial Capital Downtown after a long while.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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