Mia cautiously slipped out of the room. The surroundings were quiet, and there wasn’t single guard in the hallway.
Tsk. Mia clicked her tongue. Even though foreign army had barged in uninvited, they hadn’t even thought post guards. Were they being careless, or was this all just for show? Either way, it wasn’t something that could harm her now that she’d awakened divine power.
‘If troublemakers appear, I’ll just eliminate them.’
The baron’s room was top floor. Her past self hadn’t paid much attention baron, leaving her with limited information. But knowing approximate location meant finding it wasn’t impossible.
‘...Should work in theory. But first time trying this.’
If all else failed, she could search door door. Mia closed eyes focused.
Soon, thin thread light flowed from her fingertips. The faint glow seeped through long line doors.
While limited compared naked eye’s range, divine power allowed recognizing tracking people distance.
“Hmm.”
Last room. Alone. Mia withdrew power satisfaction.
Bang!
Baron Galois slowly opened eyes at sound door being kicked.
“Ah, Lady Blanchard. You found... Gah!”
“Chaten wholesaler’s location. Speak.”
Her commanding voice cut off as hand gripped his throat.
His confident eyes widened shock. Since rumors oracle leading vanguard crossed borders, he’d gathered intel Lady Blanchard—yet none mentioned combat skills. Fatal mistake assuming she average pampered noblewoman.
“Still think joke? Or loyal those bastards?”
Her crimson gaze sharpened. As grip tightened, baron frantically pointed own throat.
“Tsk.”
“Pathetic.” The pressure lifted. Galois collapsed legs gave out.
Cough Gasp
“Talk.”
“W-Wait! Must tell... Gasp!”
Thud! He collapsed again while straightening. Impact echoed before pain. Clutching stomach, he wheezed.
No sympathy stirred Mia seeing man who’d humiliated her now groveling. She pressed without mercy.
“Enough nonsense.”
“B-But crucial! N-No! I’ll talk!”
He recoiled Mia’s raised hand.
“Outside city gates—ask oldest tavern Glen!”
“Code?”
“No! Literally oldest tavern!”
Mia nodded stepped back.
“Wait! Ten seconds! Deal—”
Thud! Door slammed shut finality.
Etienne found Mia catching breath her room. For reasons unclear, she resisted letting him in.
He carried dessert unknown origin—no malice, just infuriating persistence.
“Shouldn’t rest after march?”
“Eat first. Are you alright?”
“Not hungry. Dislike sweets. You move more—should eat.”
“You know concern wasn’t food.”
His persistence surpassed baron’s act. Their lover charade needed remain facade, yet he overflowed genuine care.
Mia decided: better drag him inside than argue hallway over cake.
Weak grip. Dragged wrist. Etienne brightened.
“Changed mind eating?”
“Need talk.”
Door creaked shut. Plate clattered table.
“Etienne.”
“Yes?”
“Recall wine’s origin served today?”
“Unmentioned.”
“Exactly. Only unmentioned dish—strange for showoff.”
“Implies origin deliberately hidden.”
“Premium wine sold sans origin? Must’ve alternative purpose.”
“Received as gift post-Veridian diplomacy. Contains ingredient reacting western Veridian spices—becomes toxic.”
Ah. Hence spice remarks earlier. Baron’s stiff expression explained.
Puzzle clicked Etienne’s mind.
‘Alcohol unknown origin + spice = side effects.’
Everything—origin, distribution—shrouded secrecy. Buyers knew risks, making accidental consumption impossible. Pure poison.
Consuming caused immediate harm, but true terror lay aftermath.
Commander charging battles mad beast would collapse afterwards—days bedridden. 1st Holy Legion avoided intense combat. Frontlines crumbled.
Rochefort kept fighting harder. Illness duration matched battle frequency. Losing empire’s greatest combat asset devastated Etalon.
Veridian’s advancing forces caused daily battles Rochefort often missed. Half legion annihilated day he bedridden.
His illness turned tide Veridian’s favor. Etalon’s defeat loomed.
Cause discovered posthumously: captured Veridian priest revealed truths during interrogation-torture hybrid.
Two revelations:
Aetos Goddess’ influence Grand Temple Veridian remained overwhelming despite religious tolerance.
Suspect alcohol + excessive divine power usage caused illness—symptoms mirroring Rochefort’s.
