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chapter 16
The four companions, having left Roberto’s prison, gathered in Dantès’ temporary office to discuss matters. The issue concerning Monterno Aventurine was more serious than expected.
“A boy who can even handle magic that manipulates a gorgon… promising talent. If he has no malice, he could be useful. Delion is weak when it comes to magic—both offensively and defensively.”
Cesario spoke logically. Even if the boy’s magic was sloppy, the information he possessed could still be put to use.
Marco, however, shook his head as if he disagreed. Taking a sip of champagne from his glass, he continued.
“The risks are too great. He lies as easily as he breathes. It’s obvious he’ll look at us with those big eyes and deny everything, saying he doesn’t know anything. Even if we handed him over to imperial researchers, the problem would be the transport. None of us are skilled in magic, and we wouldn’t even be able to judge it properly.”
“What if we just beat him badly from the start to scare him into obedience?”
Günter thrust his fist forward as he said this. Cesario grabbed his hand and pushed it down.
“No. That’ll only increase the chance of him holding a grudge and going astray. He’s still a teenager.”
“That only happens if you go halfway. If you discipline him properly, he’ll snap to his senses.”
Günter sounded confident. Marco scoffed, replying as if Günter were spouting nonsense.
“If someone takes a proper beating from you, he’ll either die or be crippled. That won’t help us, will it?”
“…True enough.”
Günter quickly agreed. Dantès fell silent, lost in thought for a moment, then spoke.
“It’s too much for us to judge on our own. He’s the kind of person we’ve never dealt with before. We need to see how honest he is in front of us. After all, if we can neither leave him behind nor take him with us…”
“…”
“…then killing him would solve the problem.”
“Dantès, could you stop blurting out terrifying things so casually?”
Marco rubbed his arms as if he had goosebumps. But Dantès showed no intention of taking his words back.
“Are you letting personal feelings about Roberto cloud your judgment?”
“That guy has nothing to do with it.”
“Oh really?”
“Stop teasing. Günter, prepare the gear. Keep the baggage light. If those Terzes are lying in ambush, it’ll be to our advantage to shorten their prep time.”
“Yes, Your Majesty! I’ll prepare it at once!”
Günter replied with vigor and marched out. Marco drained the last of his champagne and asked:
“You’re not going to sit in on the Monterno interrogation?”
“Not interested in weaklings. I just want to clash with the Terzes again!”
Günter seemed ready to charge straight onto the battlefield. Marco only gave a half-hearted nod. Günter had never backed down from a fight. No doubt he wanted to simply push through, but he must have restrained himself.
Before long, the door opened again. Baron Aventurine entered with his son. The Baron’s face was pale, filled with desperation as though he were about to lose the son he had barely managed to save.
“Your Majesty, I have brought my son. But he is only seventeen, still a child who knows nothing. He is truly pure and kind. Even if he has done something foolish, I beg you to look upon him with leniency. It is my fault for failing to educate this foolish boy properly.”
As his father bowed his head, Monterno waved his hands and quickly followed.
“I don’t know anything! But… I’m sorry. Truly.”
Dantès regarded the two of them calmly.
“This isn’t to punish Monterno Aventurine, but to ask questions. It also concerns Roberto.”
“As for Roberto Brida, we know even less! This fool only failed to restrain his curiosity and brought him meals a few times, exchanging a few words. That man hardly even replied, according to my son!”
“Yes. I already heard that from Port. But it’s not you I wish to speak with, Baron.”
Dantès brushed his hand across the desk the Baron had provided.
“I’m grateful for what you’ve given us. When we return to the palace, I’ll see that you are properly rewarded. But right now, we must seek the truth, and that means speaking with your son.”
“Y-Your Majesty…”
“Please, leave us for a moment.”
The Baron’s eyes flicked to the desk. Rumor had it that Dantès, in a rage, had struck it twice and split it clean in two. If those hands struck his son, the boy would be reduced to powder. Dantès, sensing that thought, added:
“I give you my word—I will not lay a finger on your son while we are here.”
“…”
The Baron had no right to refuse. Reluctantly, he bowed once more.
“Then I shall withdraw for now. I beg your forgiveness. I will educate him properly so that such troubles will never burden Your Majesty again.”
Dantès nodded, cutting short the apology. As soon as the Baron left, Cesario shut the door firmly. Dantès fixed his gaze on the nervous boy, who glanced around fearfully.
“You know magic?”
“…Sir?”
“I heard you tried to control goblins.”
“Ah…”
Monterno gasped. He clearly hadn’t expected them to know that. After a moment’s hesitation, he spoke.
“It’s… not such an amazing technique. I can’t control goblins. Just communicate a little. They’re extremely stubborn—hardly the type to serve anyone. And their communication system is totally different from ours.”
“If you could communicate even to that extent, then your magic isn’t worthless.”
“R-right? I’m actually pretty smart! A wandering sorcerer taught me a few things. Most of it I studied on my own, so I haven’t advanced much, but he told me I wasn’t doing badly.”
Monterno puffed up a little. Dantès asked flatly:
“Where is this sorcerer now?”
“He keeps appearing and disappearing. Hard to say. But he told me he won’t be coming back here anymore. Said he was headed to the capital.”
“And you? Planning to go too?”
“If Your Majesty sees potential in me and takes me along, yes.”
He spoke as if Dantès would regret not bringing him. At his boldness, Dantès gave a faint, derisive laugh. Cesario took over the questioning.
“What else can you do with magic?”
“I studied herbology too. I can make smoke bombs. And… what else? I can try all kinds of things! Though, sometimes I fail.”
“How often do you fail?”
“…About half the time?”
“You’d better be precise. You’re speaking before His Majesty. Don’t joke.”
“…One in five times it works. Goblins fall into that one success. Though… even then, it’s not perfect.”
Monterno trailed off. Dantès eyed him coldly. His tone and expression could be lies. Goblins were high-level monsters—communicating with them at all was impressive. He was feigning arrogance in a way that undermined his credibility, acting like he was nothing special.
Inside, Dantès was classifying Monterno Aventurine as a more dangerous figure. Marco pressed on with sharp eyes.
“Why did you approach Roberto Brida?”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“You played dumb before too. Volunteered to serve meals just to get close to him. Then you even struck up conversation. What were you scheming?”
“…”
Monterno bit his lower lip. Dantès studied him carefully and added:
“You must have had an ulterior motive. You even offered to help him escape. Was that an act of treason against the Empire? Should I take it as the will of House Aventurine?”
“No! Not at all!”
“Then what? Were you playing some prank on Roberto?”
Dantès’ voice rose. The thought that Monterno had truly tried to aid Roberto’s escape filled him with fury—but the idea that he had only toyed with Roberto infuriated him in another way. Monterno frantically shook his hands.
“Absolutely not! Never!”
“Then what is it? You won’t fool Dantès with half-baked acting.”
“I wasn’t acting.”
“Of course you’d say that.”
Marco made it clear he didn’t believe a word. Monterno, looking frustrated, finally burst out:
“I just liked Brother Roberto.”
“…What?”
“Oh, for God’s sake.”
Marco covered his eyes with both hands, thinking this was the worst possible thing to say in front of Dantès. He wished someone would stop the boy’s mouth, but Monterno’s lips kept moving.
“I just like Brother Roberto. I wanted to be close to him, talk with him. Even if he still keeps me at a distance, I don’t care!”
His voice was almost cheerful. Marco buried his face in his palms in despair.
It was a disaster beyond repair.
