Author's Preface
"Alright," Yuma said softly.
"Let's continue."
He picked up one of the noble profiles from the table.
"...The Earl?"
"Investigate the Earl's younger brother."
Flint frowned.
"The younger brother... you mean that troublemaker? Rainer?"
"Hm."
Yuma turned the page.
"He's not as foolish as he appears. He goes out at night. Gets into fights. Attends... inappropriate gatherings."
Flint nearly choked on the tea he had just taken a sip of.
"Inap- inappropriate gatherings?"
"Sex parties," Yuma replied without changing his expression.
"The people he fights are information couriers. His sleeping partners are illegal drug distributors. The reason he goes out at night is for transactions."
The tea in Flint's hand nearly spilled.
"Bastard..."
His gaze was no longer fixed only on Rainer's name-
but on the world Yuma had come to know far too early.
Yuma tilted his head slightly.
"It isn't the Earl's fault, Uncle."
Flint blinked.
Yuma continued calmly.
"The Earl's wife and child didn't die from illness. It was because of those drugs. In that sense... he's a victim as well."
Flint let out a long breath.
"Victim or not, it's still hard to believe he knew nothing about what his brother was doing."
"It isn't strange," Yuma replied quietly.
"Their parents died when they were still young."
Flint fell silent.
"The Earl was old enough to understand the situation. He recovered more quickly," Yuma went on.
"Rainer didn't. He remained depressed for a long time... and since then, the Earl has spoiled him too much."
"Don't sympathize with him, Yuma."
"I'm not sympathizing."
A faint smile touched his lips.
"I just don't want us to punish the wrong person."
"Even so... it's difficult to accept," Flint muttered.
Yuma did not argue. He lowered his gaze back to the document.
"Noble status makes movement easier," he said calmly.
"That's why he built the image of a savior."
Flint remained silent for a moment.
"If only soul power could purify crimes like these..." he murmured.
Yuma smiled faintly.
"At the very least, we should be grateful that people like this don't possess power. If they did... who knows how much contamination would have already spread."
Flint nodded slowly.
"True."
Silence settled between them.
Behind every power lies a burden.
Those who possess soul power rarely commit crimes openly-
not because they cannot,
but because they understand the price of unrestrained emotion.
Contamination is born from emotions left unchecked.
Possession turns into obsession.
Affection becomes possessiveness.
Hatred becomes vengeance.
Even pride can become arrogance.
That is why purification is taught.
That is why many power holders choose to become soldiers.
But there is one emotion more dangerous than all the rest.
Fear of death.
Yuma lowered his gaze slightly.
Those who reject death-
who betray life itself-
can become Shadows even without contamination.
And worse still-
they can become Death Gods.
Yuma moved to the next document.
"And this one?"
"His record is clean," Flint replied. "He contributed greatly during the pandemic."
Yuma paused briefly.
"Not him," he said softly.
"His cousin."
Flint frowned.
"His cousin? That girl?"
He hesitated.
"According to the reports... she suffered from mental instability."
Yuma looked at him calmly.
"It's only natural for a child to lose her sanity," he said slowly,
"if she witnesses something she never should have seen."
Flint fell silent.
"What do you mean?"
Yuma lowered his gaze again.
"It happened long ago. There's no evidence left."
He paused.
"The house belonged to Gavra. The one speaking was a respected adult in the village."
Flint understood.
"And the other was just a child."
Yuma did not respond.
The silence answered for him.
"The village called her a liar," Flint said quietly.
"Hm."
"So you suspect...?"
"The one who saved the people during the pandemic wasn't Gavra," Yuma said calmly.
"It was that girl."
Flint stiffened.
"The alderia flowers were found in Gavra's greenhouse."
"The greenhouse belonged to his late wife," Yuma corrected lightly.
He lifted his gaze.
"Severe cases require soul power before alderia can take effect."
Flint remained quiet for a long time.
"And because she was considered insane..."
"No one believed her."
Silence.
"Do not elevate Gavra," Yuma said at last.
His tone was gentle-
but left no room for objection.
"So please investigate again, Uncle."
Flint nodded.
"I'll assign someone more meticulous."
"Don't alert the snake," Yuma said softly.
Flint paused, then gave a small nod.
"I'll handle it without drawing attention."
He exhaled.
"There still needs to be a reprimand. Otherwise, others may grow careless."
"Hm. As long as it isn't excessive."
Flint returned to his desk.
His eyes shifted to the final two documents in Yuma's hand.
"And these?"
"The two Barons," Yuma replied.
"They fund an orphanage in the eastern region."
"For refugee children?"
"Yes. Children who lost their families to war. And those who were abandoned."
Flint frowned.
"I received no official expense reports."
"Because the funds come from their personal assets."
Flint fell silent.
His hand almost moved to write something, but Yuma added quietly,
"Do not alter their titles."
Flint looked at him.
"They didn't do it for recognition."
A faint smile appeared on Yuma's face.
"If possible... tell them the Empire wishes to contribute as well. So they won't have to carry the burden alone."
Flint gave a small smile.
"That is a good decision."