It would have appeared as so to a third-party.
It wasn’t possible, they would say.
And Paimon would have judged that ‘it wasn’t possible’.
If anything, the next scenario was more plausible. Barbatos had created the Black Death and Lapis Lazuli had used some kind of method to spread it in the city. Afterwards, Lapis Lazuli had escaped to Barbatos’ pawn, Dantalian……
♦
The true culprit was Barbatos.
The pawn was Dantalian.
The person to execute the plan was Lapis Lazuli.
♦
This kind of structure was established.
I would like to turn that down as nonsensical drivel, but on the contrary, Paimon would consider my claim as nonsensical drivel.
If Paimon were to ask, ‘How could you predict the outbreak of the Black Death beforehand, and why was Lapis Lazuli there?’. I could only respond with, ‘I knew about it because of the game.’ And even if I were to lie and say ‘Because I had a precognitive dream.’, I could not say anything back if they were to deem it as nonsense. Paimon would only judge it while purely thinking rationally……
‘Although, she ended up attacking me because of that rationality.’
Okay then.
Paimon’s actions were all explained.
If that was so, then there was only one more question left.
♦
Who had told Paimon about Lapis Lazuli’s whereabouts?
♦
The entire time Lapis Lazuli was at the location she had been disguised.
Only a very small amount of people knew the fact that Lapis Lazuli was at the starting city of the Black Death, Syracuse, between 6/20 and 7/16. Speaking frankly, there were only two people.
(TL note: Note that Dantalian does not know about Torukel yet)
One person.
‘Myself who had ordered Lapis Lazuli to go there.’
Of course, I did not tell Paimon anything.
The other remaining person.
‘The person who had no choice but to know where Lapis Lazuli was working.’
In other words, her superior.
The person to receive her reports.
Lapis Lazuli’s old boss.
Ivar Lodbrok—
Turning my head, I looked at the old vampire. The old gentleman with a nicely grown beard was standing vacantly. As if he had no involvement with this situation whatsoever, like a praying mantis that was hiding within tall grass and lying in wait to ambush, this vampire’s camouflage was quite remarkable.
‘Yes.’
You have been controlling everything in the background.
‘It was you.’
The accomplice was revealed.
The second stage of my speculation was complete.
‘I will admit it.’
Ivar Lodbrok was a fairly decent predator.
Like a lioness, he had tried to hunt me carefully. From beginning to end he had planned and created a net around me. Greenhorns like Demon Lord Andromalius or adventurer Riff were different from birth.
He was perhaps the strongest opponent I had faced since falling into this world.
However, there was a chance that all of my assumptions were wrong.
Before going full-scale into the hunt of Ivar Lodbrok, there was a truth that I had to verify first.
I muttered in a low voice.
“Lapis Lazuli.”
As soon as I had moved my tongue.
The time that had slowed down temporarily had returned back to its normal pace. Paimon’s movements, the whispering of other people, and even the air that I could feel on my nose, everything had regained their speed.
“…… That is why, this lady requests for the immediate punishment of Dantalian. This murder is inexcusable!”
Paimon pointed at me with her fan and spoke passionately.
“It would ony be appropriate for him to pay a fine of 1,000,000 Libra as compensation for the murder of Andromalius, and Dantalian himself to be confined in the Frozen Prison for 15 years!”
I wonder if they had thought it was an excessively severe punishment. People here and there in the ballroom had begun to stir. Half the people were watching as if they were observing something interesting, and the other half were nodding seriously as if they were enjoying this situation.
In this circumstance, Lapis Lazuli responded quietly.
“Yes, your highness?”
“I want you to follow my next orders without objecting whatsoever. Take five steps away from me, and then, as if something urgent had come up, make your way to the entrance of the ballroom quickly.”
“…… Should this one walk completely outside?”
Lapis Lazuli’s voice was somewhat stiff. Well, in this situation where we were being accused by the rank 9th Demon Lord, it was inevitable.
In consideration to her, I whispered as softly as I could.