Chapter 315 The Aftermath
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The dead of night was silent, without a soul stirring outside. In the study of the Count Atmiras estate, the birthplace of Neil, the current head of the house, Diract Atmiras, sat in the dark. He worked in total shadow, as if trying to hide his very existence while he poured over documents.
Normally, if Dirac judged a matter to be beyond Neil’s current abilities, he would take it over and handle it himself. Viscount Pelant was a man even the Dukes were wary of, a figure the imperial nobility viewed with profound caution. He was not an opponent Neil could hope to manage. Yet, the reason Dirac did not intervene was his calculation that direct action from the head of the house would only escalate the crisis.
As it stood, it was merely a story of a Viscount harassing the heir of the Atmiras family. However, the moment Dirac stepped forward in Neil’s place, it would transform into a conflict between the heads of two houses. The situation remained at this level only because the opponent was Neil; if Dirac entered the fray, it would likely turn into something far more disastrous.
”…Phew,” Dirac sighed.
That didn’t mean Dirac was idle. While he could not strike directly, he had been operating in the shadows since the moment Viscount Pelant began his suspicious movements, preparing in secret just as he was tonight.
”The volume of imports from the Republic remains unchanged,” Dirac muttered to himself. “Medicine alone doesn’t show a visible shift in trade, or perhaps they have simply liquidated their existing stock. Now, which one was the report from three weeks ago?”
Before him were detailed ledgers regarding the types, quantities, and costs of goods the Viscount had imported from the Republic over the last year. These were not obtained through legal channels. Not even the residents of the manor knew Dirac held such intelligence.
”Hm, is this… from six months ago?” Dirac asked.
”The one from three weeks ago is right here,” a voice replied.
”!?”
In a room where he should have been alone, a voice suddenly manifested from his left. Dirac bolted upright, trying to put his back to the wall to face the intruder, but-
”Gugh!?” Dirac gasped.
”Oh,” the voice said.
His body could not keep up with his instincts. Dirac’s leg caught the edge of the desk, and he tumbled into a spectacular heap on the floor.
””…””
Had Neil been there to see it, his mouth would have hung open at the sight of his father, usually the picture of dignity, looking so pathetic. Dirac, fully aware of how he looked sprawled on the floor, spoke to the owner of the voice without getting up.
”If you wish to laugh, then laugh,” Dirac said.
”I am not Ronald; I would not dream of such behavior toward my master,” the woman replied. “Now, please do not stay face down like that. Raise your head.”
As the mysterious voice instructed, Dirac looked up to see a document being held out to him.
”This is the one from three weeks ago,” she said. “You have always been terrible at organizing these things.”
”I suppose… you’re right,” Dirac said.
As he took the document, Dirac felt a chill of astonishment. Though a person was undeniably standing there talking to him, her presence was so thin-¹keihaku, that he felt she might vanish into the shadows if he looked away for even a second. Her presence felt as fragile as the single sheet of paper in his hand.
”To think you could suppress your presence so thoroughly in such a short time,” Dirac remarked.
”No,” the woman said. “Though I initially said it would take two weeks, it took me six to return to this level. I should be rebuked for my lateness, not praised.”
”It is proof of how long you have lived in peace,” Dirac whispered. “And yet… I… I have stolen your peace…”
Dirac lowered his head again, his voice heavy with confession. The dignified Count was gone, replaced by a man drowning in regret and hesitation.
”Look at me again, Dirac,” the woman commanded.
The respectful tone was gone. The master-servant dynamic inverted instantly. As Dirac started to look up, the woman seized him by the collar and forced him to his feet.
”When did I ever desire peace?” she asked sharply. “When did you ever ‘promise’ to give it to me?”
”Nnh…!” Dirac choked.
He gasped at her intensity. He had been wrong-her presence wasn’t “thin.” It was a blade sharpened to its limit. With the edge of her hostility pressed against his throat, he realized instinctively that she was a being honed only for the taking of life.
”Our relationship is not so gentle,” she said. “Remember. What did I do to your family?”
”It was-” Dirac started.
”Tell me,” she demanded.
Pressed by her sheer will, Dirac’s voice trembled as he spoke of her crimes.
”You… you killed my parents,” Dirac said.
”Is that all?” she asked.
”You killed my older brother and my younger brother,” Dirac continued. “And you killed Nisha’s parents, who were in the manor with us that day.”
”Then, after it was over, when I chose death to atone for my sins, what did you say to me?” she asked.
”I said, ‘Do not run away through death,’” Dirac replied. “‘If you acknowledge your crimes, then live and continue to atone to Nisha and me.’”
”Exactly,” she said. “I do not live for peace. I live for my penance. That is why you, and you alone, must never stop hating me. That was the ‘promise’ we made.”
Dirac closed his eyes in silence for a long moment. When he opened them, the doubt was gone. He stood firmly on his own feet. Seeing his resolve return, the woman released his collar.
”Forgive me,” Dirac said. “That was a lapse in my resolve.”
”No,” she replied, returning to her previous tone. “I must apologize for my insolence toward my master. I am prepared for any punishment.”
”Then continue to work for the Atmiras family,” Dirac said. “If we settle this matter safely, I will overlook your behavior tonight.”
”I am grateful for your mercy,” she said.
The hierarchy returned. The lethal aura vanished, and once again, a quiet servant stood before Dirac as she had for many years.
”Master, there is a matter I must bring to your attention,” she said.
”What is it?” Dirac asked.
”Yes. Actually-” she began.
* * *
Three weeks had passed since the news of Pediros circulating in the frontier settlement first broke. A great deal had happened. First, we spread awareness of the drug to the entire settlement. To act as a deterrent, we established penalties for its illicit use. However, notifying the public of such a specific threat resulted in a lot of “What is that?” reactions, as most people were ignorant of it.
While it might have been enough to warn the prostitutes who were potential victims and the men who might abuse it, we couldn’t be sure the threat wouldn’t grow, so we opted for full transparency. The reactions varied: some were shocked by the existence of a drug that forced pregnancy without consent, others were skeptical, and some came to the manor with suspicious inquiries. A few people even fled the settlement the moment penalties were mentioned. Ultimately, most people were sympathetic to the victims, so I believe it was the right move.
Next was the counter-medicine we were trying to reproduce. It was completed-more or less-on schedule. I say “more or less” because, in the “Different Space” where time doesn’t flow, we couldn’t confirm its effects on a living subject. Theoretically, it should work. We used dolls to confirm it wouldn’t cause severe toxic shock, but to go further, we needed real cases. The two women from the Merchant Guild Gigu’s Playthings, the first victims of Pediros, stepped forward.
On the first day, there was no change. On the second, they had slight fevers and nausea, but the fertilized eggs remained. However, on the third day, we confirmed the detachment of the egg from the first woman’s uterus. The second woman followed on the fourth day.
The physical illness from the medicine lasted about a week, but they have since made a full recovery. With safety and efficacy confirmed, we distributed the medicine to all known victims, preventing several unwanted pregnancies. Since there may be silent victims who are unaware of their condition, we’ll be maintaining a public alert for some time.
”Phew… the paperwork is finally clearing up,” I said, leaning back.
I took a breather, looking at the stack of documents. I’d been trying to keep the settlement running while handling the Pediros crisis, but I couldn’t finish everything on the side. I’d been chipping away at the backlog for a week. Just as I saw the light at the end of the tunnel and started massaging my shoulders, there was a knock.
”Master Neil? It’s Diana,” she called.
”You can come in,” I said.
”Excuse me…” Diana said as she entered. “Why did you collapse onto your desk the moment I walked in?”.
”No reason… just the realization that I’m working late again,” I muttered.
Seeing the fresh mountain of paperwork in her arms, the finish line I’d finally reached vanished into the distance. Diana, however, remained merciless.
”I’m afraid your work isn’t just this paperwork,” Diana said. “Lady Espera has requested a formal meeting.”
”A meeting? Now?” I asked.
”Yes,” Diana replied. “And she requested that Betty be present as well.”
”…What’s the agenda?” I asked.
”I don’t know,” Diana said. “She said she would discuss the details in person.”
What could she want? And why include Betty? I started imagining the worst, but refusing would only make things more complicated. It’s better to resolve things while we’re still talking.
”Fine,” I said. “Today is too short for both sides. We’ll meet the day after tomorrow.”
”Understood,” Diana said. “I’ll relay the message. Also, there is one more thing.”
”What is it?” I asked.
As if to finish off my mental state, already battered by paperwork and Espera, Diana delivered the final blow.
”We received word from the main house. There are rumors that Viscount Pelant has officially put out a contract on your life. He has hired an assassin.”
—
Summary:
Dirac Atmiras is revealed to have a dark past with a lethal servant who killed his family, a history he uses as a source of mutual penance. Meanwhile, Neil successfully manages a medical crisis involving the drug Pediros, saving victims from unwanted pregnancies. However, his reprieve is cut short by a mysterious meeting request and an assassination threat.
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Trivia:
- Viscount Pelant is a figure even the Dukes fear.
- Dirac’s ‘shadow servant’ actually murdered Dirac’s own parents and siblings.
- The ‘Different Space’ makes time stop, which prevented live testing of the counter-medicine.
- The counter-medicine requires three to four days to work.
- Viscount Pelant’s contract on Neil is now official
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Character Insight:
Dirac is shown to be a man living in perpetual atonement, tied to his family’s killer by a ‘promise’ of shared hatred. Neil continues to show growth as a leader, balancing empathy for victims with the hard administrative labor of the settlement.
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Behind the Scenes:
The author notes that perspective jumps are necessary due to the many moving parts of the plot.
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TL Notes:
Notes:
• Count Atmiras – MC’s family
• Espera – An Inquisitor (middle clergy rank) of the Pentis faith from the Theocracy, serving as the official point of contact. She is characterized by her crisp tone and brutal honesty, defending the necessity of charging high fees (‘fair compensation’) to maintain their resources and aid the suffering. She possesses a cool, assessing gaze and is highly perceptive, noticing Bearty and closely examining her distinctive features before choosing to leave without incident.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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