The first people we met were an elderly couple, nearing their twilight years.
They enthusiastically answered our questions, offering vigorous support for our stated goal of founding a local youth newspaper.
I left the building, hailed another carriage, and asked.
"How was it?"
"Well, the culprit seems to be the next one, right? Abin Asman and Gelda Asman, those two."
It seemed he hadn't found any clues suggesting they were Pleroma.
For us, it didn't matter whether this pair or the next were Pleroma.
We got off in front of the next house and knocked on the door again.
"Ah, come in."
A tall, gaunt old man greeted us with a smile.
This pair was around the same age. The difference was, these two were siblings.
Unfortunately, the novel hadn't highlighted the relationship between the two Pleroma much. Elias hadn't cared at all what their relationship was, simply referring to them as 'those with the surname'.
As we entered, I saw another person sitting inside with a shawl over their shoulders. According to our investigation, this was the sister.
Though clearly around the same age as her brother, she looked to be at least ninety, unlike her brother who appeared to be in his late sixties at most, perhaps due to poor health.
Narkey stepped inside and whispered to me using divine power.
"Strange."
When I glanced at him, Narkey continued.
"I don't sense anything at all."
"...That can't be right?"
"Exactly. Your speculation didn't seem wrong. I definitely... thought it would be one of these two."
Confusion flickered across Narkey's face.
If this was the case, then either his insight ability was wrong...
Or there was a problem with the timeline difference from the novel, or things were flowing in a distinctly different direction from the novel.
"Let's start anyway. Talking might give us something to grasp."
"...Alright."
Though it seemed unlikely, Narkey took a seat.
Whatever the case, we couldn't just come this far and then say 'we won't do it' and leave.
I needed to draw out more detailed conversation to make it easier for Narkey to judge.
"Thank you for agreeing to the interview today. I am Felix Weichel, preparing a youth new media venture to denounce the secret police who deprive religious freedom and the government authorities' press censorship."
Narkey almost failed to suppress a laugh, but when I nudged his elbow, he nodded with a perfectly serious face as if nothing had happened.
"Pleased to meet you. I am Michael Schultz."
Actually, the bastard had laughed during the first interview too.
When I asked for an explanation outside, he said he couldn't help it because I spoke words that fit my appearance too perfectly.
The tall old man smiled and asked obliquely.
"It's not dangerous, is it?"
"Not at all. In fact, we are very interested in the operation of the social safety net. Of course, our interests cannot be completely unrelated to religion or politics, but I can assure you that you will not face any trouble for such reasons, sir."
It was somewhat nonsense, but fortunately they laughed lightly and nodded.
"First, I heard you have been long-term sponsors of the orphanage here in the Highligenzi district. Was there a particular reason?"
"It will soon be ten years. As you can see, we have no remaining family except each other. We succeeded in business at the right time, but after all our family died, we had nowhere to spend this money."
"War and plague."
Narkey relayed to me what he had discerned using his ability.
Coincidentally, the old man continued.
"Actually, most of our family died from the plague. At the time, we didn't have the money to call a magical medic. Ironically, it was only after everyone had left that we gained money enough to call a mage dozens of times over. So since then, we started supporting children in the slums in the medical field, and slowly expanded the scope to move towards orphanages."
"I see. You must have suffered greatly, yet you rose up and are doing such meaningful work. It is truly admirable."
"Not at all. It is thanks to the children growing up well that we were able to rise again."
As I conversed with him, I shifted the topic towards magic, asking if any of the orphanage children had magical talent, how many children had received benefits from magical medicine, and so on.
About thirty minutes into the conversation, I moved into slightly more sensitive topics to allow Narkey to use his ability more fully.
"Then, what are your thoughts on magic? Did you never wish to become mages yourselves?"
For a moment, the eyes of the two elders changed slightly.
To non-mages, the question of whether they wanted to become mages could sound unpleasant.
'It's not a field where you can become one just by wanting to, and it's hard for the ruled class of non-mages to have a good impression of the ruling class of mages.'
Some worry about whether they have food to eat today, while others use that expensive mana to change their hair color, saying they will transcend humanity and stand by the gods' side. One can only laugh.
In a society where mana has become money, the only way for them to break the class barrier and possess mana is to join the Pleroma.
Even then, most fail in the resurrection experiments and die, so essentially there is no answer.
Seeing their expressions, I calmly continued.
"There is no other meaning. I often think it would be nice if I were a mage. Especially in Prussian territory, isn't there discrimination in the public magical medicine guarantee field against those who do not believe in the Protestant faith?"
The old man seemed to like this statement, clapping his hands.
"You're interested in this area! Yes. I also often cannot understand what those bastards are doing. We are of the same mind."
I am a mage, but...
Anyway, the state discriminating against citizens based on religion in the public sector was quite shocking from a modern Korean sensibility, so in this part, I did share his view.
Having lived over twenty years in reality, it's also true that my way of thinking is closer to a non-mage than a mage.
"When I was young, I was also envious of mage friends. But... I no longer think about wanting to become a mage."
"Could you tell me the reason?"
"If I obsess over what was not given to me, I will also miss the happiness I could have had."
Narkey looked at me and nodded.
It seemed he hadn't detected anything strange from him.
I smiled and asked his sister as well.
"Thank you for those wise words. Do you share the same opinion, ma'am?"
"Yes. I feel the same."
"Do you not think it's unreasonable?"
It was a question thrown for Narkey's sake, but these words were sincere for me. Even though I am a mage, and among nobles, hold a fairly high position.
The particularly aged-looking woman clasped her trembling hands together and continued with difficulty.
"Young man, you may have already noticed that our world flows unreasonably. That's not wrong. You've seen correctly. You must have often seen how, just by knowing how to use magic without any other ability, they easily rise to public office, and not understanding the suffering they have never experienced and never will, the lives their imagination can never reach, they often act outrageously."
He paused briefly to catch his breath.
I waited for his words to continue.
"My husband was dragged off to a war started by mages and died. All my children died because they couldn't receive treatment after the mage who was mayor that year cut the public magical medicine budget for street maintenance costs. What do you think is the way for us to live in this world without going insane?"
"..."
I waited without answering.
He looked at me as if piercing through my eyes, then spoke again.
"It starts by knowing that we are whole just as we are."
"...That's enough for now. Lucas."
Even through Narkey's ability, no signs of Pleroma were detected from him.
Even without hearing his words, one could immediately tell what kind of people they were.
Could those who say one can live with dignity in this absurd world even without becoming a mage, truly be the ones to fall for the lure of Pleroma?
"I understand, sir. I will take your words to heart."
I said that while looking at them.
"It has been very helpful. Thank you sincerely for taking the time to participate."
"Not at all. It was interesting thanks to you."
The tall old man laughed heartily as he saw us out.
As soon as we left the house, we hailed a carriage and sank into the seats.
'...No matter how I look at it, these aren't Pleroma.'
Of course, the same went for the first house we visited.
'Let's think. Why is there a discrepancy?'
The most plausible hypothesis was the mismatch in the timeline.
In the novel, the events happened about half a year to a year from now.
Surely the novel didn't frame an innocent person as Pleroma.
'Something definitely happened in between.'
But even if there were no Pleroma among them, there were suspicious parts.
The part related to Pleroma now seems to be moving differently from the novel.
But Elias hasn't changed. On top of that, missing persons had clustered in this area enough for him to notice a full year early.
The factors that make Elias act remain the same, whether in the novel or here.
Meaning, there were three or more Pleroma involved in this incident.
The novel just didn't catch them all.
I closed all the carriage curtains, took the sponsor list from my bag, and handed it to Narkey.
Narkey scanned the list and muttered.
"...Strange. This can't be. Your speculation was definitely correct."
Afterwards, since we had time, we visited other strong candidates on the list, but none were part of the Pleroma.
And two days later, on Wednesday, we found out why our predictions didn't match.
[Carriage Overturn Accident in Northern Capital Highligenzi... All Passengers Dead]
Both Narkey and I were at a loss for words.
Highligenzi was the area we visited on Monday, where the orphanage was. All the sponsors we met were residents of this area.
And the names of the deceased written under the article were...
Abin Asman and Gelda Asman, the people we met two days ago.
That evening, I headed back to Highligenzi.
I went to the front of that house, but could meet no one except those cleaning inside.
On the third day after the accident, I unfailingly took Narkey and went to that house.
Knock knock—
"Anyone home?"
No sound came from inside.
The neighboring residents were now starting to watch Narkey and me closely.
They probably thought we were people trying to seize the old couple's property. It was obvious even without hearing.
I knocked on the door once more.
To make matters worse, it started pouring rain. I heard the carriage had slipped and overturned due to the heavy rain; it seemed the dark clouds still hadn't cleared.
'If the novel's development is still correct...'
This is the beginning.
No, I witnessed the moment just before everything properly even began.
Clatter—
"Who is it?"
I hadn't really expected it to open, so for a moment I almost stopped breathing.
The person inside was a young woman I had never seen before.
'...No, is it really the first time?'
Somehow, she resembled that old woman I had seen before.
Without taking my eyes off her face, I spoke.
"...Nice to meet you. I am Felix Weichel. If it's not too rude, may I ask your name?"
"Where are you from?"
"A local newspaper preparing for a new launch. You can check if needed."
I handed over the business card I had hastily made a few days ago.
"Youth New Media? I see. What brings you here?"
"I came to meet Mr. Asman. Is he in?"
"Which Asman?"
Feeling my heart rate quicken from the inexplicable sense of déjà vu that had been rising since I saw his face, I spoke. Let's just mention one name here.
"I came to meet Gelda Asman."
Having said that, a sudden thought made me speak again.
Gelda Asman definitely said she had lost all her children.
Simultaneously, the disgusting slogans of Pleroma about immortality and resurrection churned wildly in my head.
"Are you a child of hers?"
I focused all my nerves on her expression.
At my words, the young woman tilted her head.
A curious smile spread across that face.
"I am Gelda Asman. What is your business?"
—-----------
T/N:
Free members get 10 advanced chapters every week.
Want more? Get access to 40 chapters ahead on Patreon:
[email protected]//hiddenmage