There Is No Place For Fakes [EN]: Chapter 102

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The next morning.

Philomel and Le Guin returned to the Imperial Palace with the sacred object that the World Tree had barely found.

*Thump!*

And a strange rock fell in the Imperial Palace’s backyard. It was the meteorite rock. On the way, they stopped by the village where Ellensia lived and brought it.

“At first glance, there doesn’t seem to be anything special about it besides its shape, but let’s take it and examine it.”

That’s what Philomel said when she asked him to investigate.

But when the two entered the state guest house, they were greeted by a chaotic scene. The flower vases were overturned, and the pillows were thrown under the bed, their cases ripped off.

Moreover, the contents of the wardrobes and display cases were all dragged out.

At the astonishing sight, Philomel dropped the paper bag she was holding. The World Tree fruits, which she had brought as souvenirs for her brothers, rolled across the floor.

Just then, Jeremiah opened the door and found them.

“Oh… you’re back?”

“What happened?!”

At Philomel’s question, he scratched his cheek as if embarrassed.

“A thief broke in last night when Cardin and I had to leave for unavoidable reasons.”

“A thief?”

“They were palace staff working in other areas. They seem to have deceived the guards and infiltrated the Imperial Palace under the guise of delivering food supplies as usual.”

“……So this mess is the result of them searching for something to steal.”

“Yes. They must have thought it would be impossible to search this large place without leaving a trace in such a short time, so they really ransacked it.”

Philomel looked around the room and sighed.

“Still, it’s a relief. I’m glad I prepared in advance in case something like this happened.”

The magic circle faintly remaining on the floor flickered. It was the trace of magic that Le Guin had cast.

A magic that activates when someone tries to take designated items out of here without permission.

It was designated only for items that palace people who were working normally would never take.

In addition, the state guest house was warded with magic against various threats such as assassins, magical attacks, heat waves, floods, and so on.

She wondered, ‘Am I putting too many?’ but she didn’t refuse because he insisted on casting them.

Jeremiah described it as a magic fortress.

Philomel asked Jeremiah.

“What about the culprits?”

“We found them tied up with binding magic when we returned. Lexion is interrogating them now.”

“How many are there?”

“Three. Shall we go now?”

“Later. There’s something I need to check first.”

With that, Philomel headed to the study at a brisk pace.

That place was also in a state as if a storm had passed through.

The books pulled out of the bookshelf were lying on the floor. Without exception.

If they were ordinary thieves, there would be no reason to search the books so diligently, which were not valuables.

‘Their goal is… after all.’

Philomel groped the wall and pressed a specific part, and the wall moved to the left and right with a creaking sound.

Soon, a hidden small secret space was revealed.

Inside were two books: and Ellensia’s diary.

Fortunately, both were safe.

She had hidden them here before leaving on the trip. Either way, these also had anti-theft magic on them, but it wouldn’t hurt to be doubly careful.

‘They were after .’

Philomel guessed so, though there was no clear evidence.

And soon her guess became a certainty.

In the state guest house warehouse, where palace staff rarely entered, Lexion said.

“The one who instigated them to commit the crime told them to bring the novel starring Princess Ellensia.”

One woman and two men were lying on the floor.

“All three were in dire financial straits, to the point where you could say they were desperate. They only targeted people in that situation.”

When they couldn’t find a suitable novel even after searching the state guest house like crazy, they planned to disguise it as the act of petty criminals aiming for money.

To that end, they were about to take the jewelry on the dressing table when the magic was activated.

Lexion explained in detail that Jeremiah and Cardin, who had returned, found the criminals floundering like fish caught in a net.

Philomel looked at their unfocused eyes and asked.

“Why are they in this state?”

“It’s a side effect of mental magic. I got a little rough with them because they kept their mouths shut….”

He shrugged lightly.

“They’ll recover in two or three days. They’ll be able to testify then.”

“Testify… Did they know who instigated them?”

“They met him once in person. The person was covering his face, but judging from his voice and build….”

Philomel knew the answer just from Lexion’s subtle gaze.

“Ellensia.”

The name she uttered felt heavy.

Lexion nodded.

“That’s what they said.”

Ellensia probably didn’t sincerely intend to hide her identity either. She must have deliberately let them guess.

‘That’s how they’ll follow orders.’

It was an act of raiding a VIP’s residence within the Imperial Palace. No matter how much they needed money, they wouldn’t have done such a daring thing if they weren’t sure.

‘The certainty that the princess would protect them if the crime was discovered.’

But, thinking so, Philomel opened her mouth.

“It would have been a disposable pawn for Ellensia.”

“That’s right. If she had intended to make them her own people, she would have revealed her identity for sure.”

“The fact that the instigator is Ellensia is just their guess. It won’t be solid evidence. Besides….”

“Even if we accuse the Imperial Princess of the Empire of instigating theft, it won’t be a profitable deal.”

It would be difficult to have the crime recognized, and even if it were recognized, it would end with Ellensia’s reputation being tarnished.

“I have no intention of making this public.”

“Of course. That’s not our way.”

Philomel felt that the word ‘our’ gave off a villainous vibe.

‘But so what?’

Ellensia crossed the line.

Among the words and actions she had shown so far, there were many things that seemed to have bad intentions, but there was no crime at least. As far as Philomel knew.

‘Has her patience finally run out?’

If Ellensia is really an intruder from another world, and if she is such an evil being that God warned her to be wary of early on, then this is just the beginning.

The Divine Scripture warned that the intruder would bring chaos to this world. It is foolish to insist on only the right methods against such an existence.

‘Then what I have to do now is….’

Philomel grabbed the pouch containing the sacred object given by the World Tree.

Philomel’s residence.

She and her four brothers were gathered.

The messy room had been roughly cleaned up by Le Guin’s magic. The criminals in the warehouse had been moved to the Magic Tower for the time being.

Philomel cleared her throat for no reason and opened her mouth.

“There’s something I want to tell you all.”

She held up a book in front of everyone. “The thing they were looking for is this book. It’s a novel starring Ellensia. I’ve put a cover of another book on it now, but in fact, the title of this book is ….”

Her throat was parched with tension.

It was the first time she had revealed this book to anyone.

A secret she didn’t want to show anyone. The evil ‘Philomel’ that she should have been in the first place.

‘But it’s okay with these people. I can tell them anything.’

The time she had spent with them was only about three months, but Philomel was sure.

A long story followed. It was a somewhat slow and disjointed story, but no one urged her and listened to Philomel’s words.

“……And so, the ‘Philomel’ in the book was punished. When I was young, I learned about the future through this book and to change the predetermined ending….”

Suddenly, something welled up from within.

The past days she had struggled alone to change the ending flashed through her mind like a lantern.

There were definitely good memories, but there were more difficult memories.

“To change it….”

Lexion stopped her as she repeated what she had said, unable to continue.

“You don’t have to say any more if it’s hard to say. I understand enough.”

His expression was as soft as the spring sunshine.

Cardin ran over and hugged Philomel.

“Phil! You must have had a hard time all this while, right? It must have been hard.”

He tightened his arms, sobbing.

“When I was that age, the biggest worry in my life was ‘what to eat,’ but you were thinking about such things….”

She was grateful, but she was a little suffocated.

Fortunately, Jeremiah came over and pulled Cardin away from her.

“Eat this.”

Jeremiah took out a chocolate-flavored candy from his pants pocket. It was a snack that he often had in his mouth because he liked sweets.

“……There’s nothing like this when you’re feeling down.”

Philomel put the candy in her mouth without realizing it because he even peeled the wrapper for her.

Lastly, Le Guin put his hand on her head. He stroked her head gently and said.

“You’ve worked hard so far.”

It was a big hand. For some reason, it made her feel relieved. After making eye contact with everyone in turn, Philomel felt a strange shyness and said softly.

“……Thank you, everyone.”

That short word was enough to convey her sincerity.

After a while, Lexion playfully started.

“By the way, Jeremiah was originally supposed to like the princess, so I’ve come to see him again. His taste is really….”

It was a consideration to change the atmosphere, knowing that Philomel was embarrassed.

Jeremiah got angry.

“Nonsense! There’s no way I’d like such a woman.”

He pointed at .

“Surely that book is a subtle mix of truth and lies!”

“Don’t be too embarrassed.”

Cardin nodded.

“Yeah! I respect your taste.”

“Shut up.”

Philomel laughed as she watched her brothers bickering.

Le Guin, who was staring at the scene, said.

“So, have you decided how you’re going to move forward?”

It was about Ellensia.

As expected, she knew about the existence of . Moreover, she wants to get her hands on this book. So desperately that she would even send thieves.

Philomel smiled and shook the book in her hand.

“Since she wants it so much, I’m going to give it to her.”

She didn’t miss the next words either.

“Just for a little while.”