A registration law for mediums and a ban on the movement of Shartin clan territory was enacted.
Although it was temporary, the Shartin people were anxious as it was not known when the registration law and ban would be lifted.
For those who thought that the treatment of the Shartins would improve with the Empress of the Shartins on the throne, this was a bolt from the blue.
Even if only a new law had been enacted, the chaos would have been so great that posters with the faces of traitors from the Shartin tribe were put up everywhere.
What does that mean?
The Shartin tribe's weightlifter is being assisted by the Shartin tribe's medium. So we will restrict his movement and find out the medium's identity.
Anyone who saw it could tell that this was what it meant.
The imperial people already had a prejudice that the Shartins knew each other. If this happened, the imperial people would reject the Shartins even more, and their position in the empire would become even more limited.
The godmother and other family members also expressed concerns as soon as they heard about the law.
Although they are hiding in their comfortable Rhineland mansion and avoiding prying eyes, they must feel sorry for their compatriots who will face difficult times in the future.
In fact, the atmosphere in the capital became tense. After the joint funeral of the six members of the advance party, whose bodies were not found, was held, the security forces and the 1st Knights Division, who had lost their comrades, began interrogating any Shartins they saw.
“...Crazy guy.”
Erne, who had gone to the Marquis of Mosley to find out what had happened, clicked his tongue when he saw Cain sitting there with a grim expression.
“What if you threaten the Empress?”
“I don’t want to hear such words from you, the one who tore apart Her Majesty the Empress’s life and body.”
“I was trying to save the Empress’s life. This is like putting the Empress in danger politically.”
He wondered why the Emperor, who never did anything that would harm the Empress and the Prince, enacted such a law, and it turned out to be because of Cain.
On the day Erne was rescued, Cain also came to the capital late. And he went straight to the Empress instead of the Emperor.
Then he recited the names of six of the advance party whose bodies might not be found and asked the Empress.
“How many more knights and soldiers must die to secretly capture a Followers?”
Do not sacrifice any more innocent people to protect Your Majesty's people. That was nothing short of a threat.
There were already rumors that the Empress only sided with her own people, but it seems that she could not show favoritism to the Shartins even in the case of the death of the 1st Knight and the Constabulary Soldier.
Eventually, the Empress personally persuaded the Emperor to allow the registration of mediums and the prohibition of movement of the Shartin clan territory.
Of course, Cain was given a disciplinary order for personally visiting the Empress and making threatening remarks to upset her.
“I had a feeling you wouldn’t come to the incense shop.”
Although Erne looked fine, it would have been normal for Cain to stop by the store at least once to ask about his well-being.
He heard that the last troops had all entered the capital, but he couldn't see them at all, so he thought they were busy, but it turned out they were just locked up in the mansion.
“Even though I have lost His Majesty’s trust, I can still corner him.”
Cain murmured in a grave voice. The moment it was widely announced that there was a group of traitors among the Shartin shamans, the nobles who had been dealing with the priests would be cautious.
Also, other people would be less likely to seek out mediums. Followers would often find business partners through mediums who pretended to be ordinary, and that would be cut off.
“If the money supply is cut off, they will crawl out from anywhere. Especially that priest who is obsessed with accumulating wealth.”
As the Shartin tribe issued a movement ban, patrols around the gates, walls, and the perimeter leading into the territory were also strengthened. If a group of Followers escorting a priest moves all at once, they are bound to be caught.
“When you’re cornered, you tend to do stupid things. I’m waiting for that moment.”
Erne licked his dry lips as he looked into Cain’s eyes which were sparkling with vengeance. Erne was also well aware of Cain’s hatred for the Followers.
Rather, because he knew it well, Erne could not speak carelessly about the newly learned information.
'The idea that the priest's soul has been changed is nonsense.'
If he finds out that Judith and the priest have some kind of relationship, he will probably try to use Judith as bait.
He'll do it even though he feels guilty. So he has to catch him before the priest shows off.
Erne suppressed the impatience rising from within his stomach and repeatedly clenched and unclenched his fists.
“If they start acting strangely, we’ll go catch them immediately.”
“How are you going to catch him if you’re locked in the mansion and can’t do anything?”
“...Before that, wouldn’t His Majesty release the spirit of confinement?”
Anyway, he's a helpless guy. Erne clicked his tongue.
***
“Perhaps it’s because the atmosphere is so gloomy that there aren’t any customers.”
“It’s going to be like this for a few days, it’s serious.”
There were wanted posters posted everywhere, and the police patrolled in full armament, so the square was deserted.
There were some pedestrians during the day, but once it got dark, even that suddenly disappeared.
I took a deep breath and picked up the duster. Even if there are no guests, the dust continues to pile up.
'Who the hell is that priest?'
It would be over once the priest was caught, but I was worried that the bastard would start talking nonsense about me after he was caught.
'Now that Erne knows he is a possessed person, is he going to talk nonsense about Ern?'
That's it. I needed to know the identity to come up with a plan, but my heart was heavy because I didn't know the identity.
'As of now, the author is a strong candidate. No, but why was I possessed in the first place?'
Suddenly, I thought of the things I had left behind in my life. The apartment in my name that I had to pay back on a loan, the beef I had bought to eat with great determination, the savings that were about to mature, the stocks that were hitting their upper limits...
How successful was the coin laundry business that I ran as a side job to my stable job? I'm already dead so I can't go back, but if only I could go back.
My gaze, which was dusting off while imagining impossible things, stopped on Erne, who was standing in the corner with his arms crossed.
'If we go back to where we were, Erne won't be there.'
Of course, it's not that Erne is more valuable than an apartment, savings, deposits, or stocks, but that's definitely not the case...
It's such a shame to not be able to see Erne again.
I felt confused whenever I felt this way. It was the first time I had felt this way in my life, both in my previous life and in this life.
I don't even know its name and I don't know how to deal with it.
I knew that if I went any deeper, it would be dangerous, but I didn't know how to stop.
“...!”
Perhaps it was because I was staring at Erne too intently while I was dusting off. He suddenly got up from where he was leaning against the wall.
I flinched as if I had committed a sin.
He could have teased me for spying on him, but Erne's attention was completely focused on the back door.
He gripped the hilt of his sword lightly and nodded his chin to me and Ryan, signaling us to stay away from the back door.
I hear a sound behind me.
Erne whispered with his lips shaped like a mouth.
“Don't come out.”
Then he opened the back door and went out. After a few seconds, a faint scream could be heard outside the back door.
“Isn’t this a woman screaming?”
Ryan approached me hesitantly.
“I think so.”
Isn't it possible that Erne is catching the wrong people?
Just as I was contemplating whether or not to go out, the back door opened wide.
Erne opened the door and looked embarrassed.
“I need to come out for a moment.”
“What’s going on? No, more importantly, what is that smell?”
I wrinkled my nose at the foul smell coming in from the back door.
“I don’t want any smell in my store.”
I was traumatized by the stench coming from the store. I was wondering whether to ventilate the place or close the back door when a small figure slowly crawled out from behind Erne.
She was a Shartin woman with a shabby appearance.
She rolled her eyes anxiously. Her clothes were covered in dark stains as if she had rolled in a cesspool somewhere, and she was barefoot as if she had lost her shoes.
“I, I smell something. I’m sorry. Are you Miss Harrington? Can you, help me...”
For a moment, the woman staggered. Fortunately, she did not fall, but her condition looked precarious.
The woman cried out in despair as if I would not help her.
“I can give you some information about the Followers.”
“Follower?”
I, Erne, and Ryan were all startled by the unexpected words. We couldn't help but be embarrassed when someone came to us out of nowhere and offered to give us information about the followers.
“I know a lot. I, I’m his bride.”
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