And back at the Roach mansion.
Late at night, I told Azier.
If I could decipher the ancient language.
Even without proof, it was obvious where and how Azier had learned about it.
Hagley. He must have met Hagley while investigating the ancient language and heard about it from him.
"Yes. I can decipher the ancient language. Even if there is no Mana remaining in the letters."
Azier's expression darkened as he listened to me, as if lost in thought.
Was it anger towards his arrogant younger brother who had been hiding his talent until now, or was it disappointment?
Azier muttered quietly.
"...I see. That bastard was right."
"What did that Hagley bastard say?"
Something about Azier's appearance doesn't seem right.
It's difficult to read his expressions, but the fact that any emotion is showing at all is surprising.
"Is it also true that you passed on your knowledge of the ancient language to Manggot?"
If I leave him alone, he'll probably confess to all the bedwetting incidents from his childhood.
"Yes, that's true. However, I didn't tell him the core of the ancient language."
"Yes. Deciphering it is impossible with only the knowledge I gave him."
I'm not sure if that will be enough to excuse me for passing on the knowledge of the ancient language to Manggot.
Azier furrowed his brow and asked.
"Even so, why did you do that?"
"Manggot approached me quite a while ago. At the time, I needed the power to protect myself. If I had given him all the knowledge, my usefulness would have disappeared, and if I hadn't given him enough, my value would have been lowered. So I kept a suitable gap." ŖαꞐοBЕＳ
On top of that, I needed time to bring Selena to my side.
"...The power to protect yourself."
He opened his mouth, then closed it, letting out a quiet sigh.
These were all actions that were difficult to see from Azier.
"...Why didn't you tell me beforehand? If you had such talent, if you needed to protect yourself, first,"
As if he had been contemplating whether to say those words, Azier's voice seemed to be tinged with regret.
Before I could even answer.
"No, that was a slip of the tongue. Forget it."
Then, shaking his head, Azier spoke again.
"There will be an opportunity to prove your abilities soon. The ancient language written on Manggot is currently of great interest to the Empire's scholars. Prepare to head to Manggot with me. It won't be a disadvantage for you."
With that, Azier turned his back. His straightforwardness in leaving once his business was done was typical of Azier, but today, to my eyes, he seemed to be running away somehow.
Looking at his back, I said.
"Brother. But there's a condition."
"Before we go to Manggot, I want to meet Hagley as well."
Azier stopped there and looked at me.
His eyes were clearly telling me.
But this time, I had no intention of backing down.
Not until I heard a clear reason from Azier why he couldn't allow it.
A brief silence. Azier warns me with his eyes, but I refuse.
"...Do as you please."
Eventually, Azier spoke.
It was less like permission and more like a sigh of someone who couldn't find a reason to stop me.
Azier refusing to let me meet Hagley.
He couldn't give me the reason, and trying to come up with another reason wouldn't be easy.
And I had a rough idea of the real reason.
'Let's see what nonsense he's been spouting.'
Morion Prison was one of the places I was quite familiar with.
There was a friendly and familiar face here.
I went inside and soon met that friendly and familiar face.
Esther's face contorted as if she had swallowed something rotten as soon as she saw me.
Hmm, my dear friend still had a unique reaction.
"Hello, Esther. It's been a while."
"I've wanted to say this for a while, but why are you speaking to me informally? Even your brother shows me respect."
"What are you talking about between us?"
I sat across from Esther.
"They let me in easier than last time. Morion has become much friendlier."
"Hmph. No need to beat around the bush. Your treatment has changed because of your achievements. Did you want to hear that?"
"Thanks for confirming it."
It had become a public fact throughout the Empire that I had saved it.
The victory in the war was the result of everyone's combined efforts, but this exaggerated situation was now holding me back.
"You know why I'm here, right?"
"...Well. I don't know."
Of course, she would never reveal her conversations with dangerous individuals.
"Let me meet Hagley."
"He's a criminal who has committed a serious crime and is difficult to handle. It's different from the time you met Cain. Hagley is currently forbidden from speaking with anyone."
"He met with my brother, didn't he?"
"That was an interrogation for investigation purposes. It wasn't a visit."
"I came for an investigation. Do you think I came here because I find Hagley charming or something?"
"...Come back when you have a certificate from the Imperial Palace."
Esther shakes her head.
Of course, the Imperial Palace wouldn't refuse if I formally requested it, but I didn't want to let many people know what I was doing.
"Esther, come on, help me out. It's for the Empire. I haven't done anything bad to you. I even solved the Indus problem."