Copy Skills with Affinity! - Chapter 44

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Natty

◈ Copy Skills with Affinity! ◈

Chapter 44: Court Hearing (2)

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As Meyer once pointed out, Divine Power holds an overwhelming advantage against spirits. There was a reason he had demanded potent Divine Power from Aiden as a sure way to defeat them.

The Holy Empire even had dedicated departments and personnel for exorcisms. No one could question their expertise.

People naturally devote themselves to what they do best, and by the same logic, the nation that had accumulated the most knowledge of spirits was the Holy Empire.

Which was why...

“Oh, the Lord Protector attacked Lionheart because this side did something wrong?”

“...”

“Really?”

“...”

“That’s not how it looks to me.”

This line of testimony was enough to make the Minister of Administration clutch their face in dismay.

Someone at the very pinnacle of the field had appeared to speak on the subject of spirits, of all things.

And the problem only doubled when that person treated everything they said as worthless nonsense not even worth hearing...

‘... Even if I just leave this alone.’

Aiden tapped his cheek as he watched the Minister of Administration get verbally beaten down.

If things continued this way, they would naturally win by a landslide.

And it was equally certain that no one would simply allow that to happen.

“Is this not plainly taking sides, Your Holiness?”

The remark suddenly cut through the exchange.

It was not loud, but it carried enough force to interrupt both the Minister of Administration and the Pontiff and draw every eye.

“If you oppose us merely for the sake of opposition, there is no point in your standing in this court as a witness.”

The Prince spoke calmly.

The Pontiff snorted again.

“Since when were you lot so logical?”

“...”

“Want me to point out exactly what’s wrong with your argument and tear it apart piece by piece? Really?”

... When considered closely, it was an utterly chilling warning.

Even while behaving this unreasonably as the ruler of another country, she was still holding herself back. If they truly pushed her, she could not promise what came next.

But the person hearing it did not seem inclined to back down so easily.

“If you are the one who bears the Holy Empire upon your shoulders, you should show the dignity and conduct befitting it.”

Without even blinking, the Prince returned the words.

“Not allow yourself to be used as another person’s pawn.”

“...”

“Should a ruler not stand above all others? Without being swayed by them.”

The corner of the Pontiff’s mouth twisted.

“Prince.”

“Yes, Your Holiness.”

“If you want to lecture me, why don’t you bear a country on your shoulders first?”

“...”

“Let me tell you in case you don’t know. The Crown Prince is not the Emperor, no matter what you say.”

“...”

As the Prince fell silent, the Pontiff descended from the dais and slowly approached him.

She wore the smile of a mischievous child who had found an amusing toy.

“You.”

The moment that single word fell, the Prince’s expression warped.

Only Aiden understood the meaning of the Divine Power slowly rising around the Pontiff.

It was what he had suffered recently. The pressure she could exert merely by releasing Divine Power.

No one else in the courtroom was affected, but the Prince was likely enduring the same dreadful experience Aiden had.

“You haven’t reached a position where you bear anything yet. Understand?”

“...”

“Having a philosophy is good, but don’t overstep your place.”

With those words, as she took one step after another...

The Prince broke into a cold sweat and collapsed over the table. His pale face made it painfully clear that he was in bad shape.

Even so.

His raised eyes never stopped glaring at the Pontiff.

As if he had no intention of taking back what he had just said.

“...”

That strange confrontation, incomprehensible to those around them, continued for a moment.

Then the Pontiff gave a faint laugh and withdrew her Divine Power.

At the same time, the Prince let out a breath as though it had burst from him.

The Pontiff spoke with a chuckle.

“I’d give you seventy points. Not bad.”

“... What is the meaning of this?”

“The Emperor worries about his son so much. I was just teasing you a little.”

The Pontiff’s eyes slid to the side.

“If I hadn’t found someone worth ninety points recently, I might have liked you quite a lot too.”

Her gaze flew straight to Aiden, and he sighed inwardly.

‘... This woman, really.’

She was openly praising him while comparing him with the Prince.

He knew she did not care what others thought, but how many incidents had she caused in this short span of time?

If she were not close friends with the Emperor, he could not even imagine the level of diplomatic dispute this would cause...

Then, to put the finishing touch on it, the Pontiff walked over to Aiden and held out her fist.

As Aiden stared blankly at the fist, clearly offered for a bump, the Pontiff winked.

“This works, right?”

“...”

... She was making it obvious to everyone that everything she had done here was a joint effort with him.

With that one remark, everyone would remember Aiden as someone with some kind of connection to the Holy Empire.

Of course.

‘... Calling this cleanup work would be generous.’

There was no way this woman had handed him that benefit out as charity.

It was obvious from the words she spoke with shining eyes.

“I’ve done my part, so keep your promise.”

Aiden gave a faint laugh and lightly bumped the Pontiff’s fist with his hand.

He had never expected to exchange such a friendly greeting with the ruler of a nation.

“It’s more than enough.”

“Then.”

The Pontiff beamed and snapped her fingers.

Divine Power wrapped around her body as though it would burn her away. To someone unfamiliar with it, it might have looked as if she were harming herself, but this was spatial movement through designated coordinates.

‘... Divine Power can do that too?’

Perhaps later, he would even see someone freeze things with Divine Power. That was how broadly useful it seemed.

“See you again.”

With those words, her body vanished in a flash.

... In every sense, she was like a storm.

▣

Fundamentally, the Pontiff could not help but move freely.

She possessed strength that made guards unnecessary, so except when occupied with official business, she went wherever she pleased.

In that sense, the place she arrived at immediately after leaving the courtroom was clearly not somewhere suited to her status.

A dark, damp alley near the courthouse.

After transporting herself there, the Pontiff looked at someone standing where the shadows concealed her and spoke with a disbelieving laugh.

“I know there are people in this country who see you as a bug, but did you actually make a habitat for yourself here?”

“...”

“What kind of girl likes places this dark and damp?”

“...”

There was no answer.

Instead, only the quiet sound of an arm moving.

In truth, skin being cut made no sound at all. Unless, for some reason, someone disregarded pain, they might not even know when they had been cut.

There had been no sound when the other person drew a knife across her own throat, either.

“You.”

The Pontiff folded her arms and spoke evenly.

“Still can’t feel anything, can you?”

“...”

At that, the woman standing in the shadows lifted her eyes to meet the Pontiff’s.

Calling them gloomy would not quite fit.

There was simply emptiness in her gaze.

Nothing was there. Nothing had value. Nothing had meaning.

Anything stimulating.

Even if it was painful, terrible, or disgusting.

She wanted to feel even a fragment of that moment. Her eyes held an extreme nihilism.

“When Aiden isn’t around, you’re still doing this.”

She seemed able to act fairly normal before that man.

But without him, this woman was barely any better than before.

At her core, she had not changed at all.

Katia Heinkel Craven.

She was still a hopeless suicide seeker.

“Your Holiness.”

Katia answered in a sullen voice.

“What is this? Why are you suddenly pretending to care?”

The instant she said that, Abigail III snapped her fingers.

Katia’s head was flung backward with a ting.

It was a violent blow, enough to make her neck bones crack.

“Watch how you speak.”

“...”

“It’s not as though I never taught you manners. Hmm?”

“I’m asking how long you intend to keep playing that ridiculous mother role when you didn’t even give birth to me.”

“Tsk.”

The Pontiff’s eyes widened fiercely, and Katia looked away with a sour expression.

She knew there was no winning if she fought back, so she avoided the conflict like an adolescent child.

It was the reaction of a mother who had smacked her child on the back, and the child who had been smacked...

No, it went even further.

“... Why are you holding back when it doesn’t suit you?”

Katia answered as if it were absurd that someone who would normally blow her head apart without a thought had stopped at this.

The Pontiff folded her arms and replied.

“Someone warned me recently. He threatened to settle things with me if I touched his friend.”

“...”

“I met your friend.”

“... Your Holiness.”

Katia forced a smile across her creaking face.

That smile, forced onto such an empty face, was deeply unsettling.

“If you touch him, I really will settle things with you to the death.”

... Naturally, her head was immediately flung back again with a ting.

“I’m not touching him, idiot.”

As Katia avoided answering, the Pontiff glanced up at the sky and frowned.

“I only came to give you a warning. Protect him well.”

“... Pardon?”

More precisely.

The Pontiff’s eyes did not seem to be looking at the sky, but at something beyond it.

“I don’t think he’s lacking in any way. But to me, that thing looks quite... interesting.”

At the very least.

If things went even slightly wrong, it looked perfectly suited to give that mad bastard a serious wake-up call.

“Try to earn some points. If he’s that important.”

The Pontiff gazed at the firmament.

And at the soul pulsing beyond it.

▣

The trial had reached a lull. The Prince and the Minister of Administration’s side had requested a recess.

In the waiting room, Noel, whose expression was obviously much brighter than before, was gripping Aiden’s arm and shaking it enthusiastically.

“How, how did you do it?!”

“...”

“Not just anyone, but the Pontiff of the Holy Empire? You have connections to her?”

“...”

... He understood that it was surprising.

But he wished she would restrain her excitement a little.

Every time she grabbed his arm and shook him like that, Aiden’s feet lifted slightly off the floor. He felt less like a person and more like a human-sized stuffed doll being flung about...

“At this rate, the Prince’s side, which raised the accusation of treason, will suffer a severe backlash instead. I imagine they requested a recess because they have nothing at all to say in rebuttal!”

Certainly, every word was correct.

The Pontiff of the Holy Empire herself had spoken on the subject of spirits. Who could object to that? The most important evidence behind their claim that Lionheart had committed treason had been shattered.

“... Mr. Aiden?”

That was when Noel noticed something strange and tilted her head.

Aiden, the one who had created this situation, did not look pleased in the slightest.

“What is wrong? Did I say something inappropriate...?”

“No. Everything Lady Noel said is right.”

“Then why...?”

In truth, there was no need to ask why.

Everything Noel had said was true. The Prince’s side had been dealt a decisive blow, and if things continued like this, their defeat was all but certain.

And, when he thought about it.

That fact itself was the problem.

“This is only the beginning.”

As Aiden said that, he held something out to her.

It was the sword Noel always wore at her side. Aiden had brought it beforehand.

“...”

Noel blinked blankly, wondering why he was giving it to her. Aiden opened the window and glanced upward.

“I always think this, but both the Prince and I are the sort to plan ahead before charging into each other.”

“... Pardon?”

“Even if we’re pushed back, we only pick a fight after preparing a way to escape safely.”

Plans, calculations, preparations, improvisation.

Whether it was Aiden or the Prince, both had personalities that favored such things.