Chương 56: Chapter 56: Do You Want Another Ring on Your Finger?
"I have to say, your behavior is quite perverted, Mr. Luca. I even suspect that you might have a habit of stealing women's underwear, which is why I suggest that Miss Bayonetta should call the police," Solomon said. "The police would definitely issue a restraining order against you. No need to thank me; it's my duty."
"That's slander! I don't do anything like that! I'm very popular with women!" Luca shouted. "Also, I was asking about what you said earlier. I need you to repeat it."
"Rosemary?" Solomon responded. "That's the scent of an angel."
"So, what you're saying is..." Luca turned back to Bayonetta. "On the day my father was killed, there was an angel present? One that I couldn't see?"
"Mm-hmm, kitty," Bayonetta said, satisfied, looking at Luca. "I'm tired of your delusions. It's about time you face the truth."
"So, all those times, I wasn't chasing a witch but an angel?" Luca, shaken by the impact on his worldview, couldn't fully process the situation, but that didn't mean he was stupid. He realized that if Solomon was right, then every time he had been tracking something, it was an angel. As for Bayonetta, hunting angels was simply her job.
"My father devoted his entire life to unraveling the mysteries of witches and sages, and he was torn apart right in front of me. I have to understand what happened back then," Luca said. "So tell me, was it that invisible monster who killed my father, or was it you, Bayonetta?"
"Ahem, Mr. Luca." Solomon had to speak up. "I think your father's pursuit of the mysteries of sages and witches was the result of a failure on the part of the Mage's Council. Otherwise, he would never have had access to those things. But people who chase after the unknown will inevitably die because of it. I believe your father should have been prepared for that."
"You!" Luca's face flushed, his anger threatening to burst through his skin. But Solomon cut him off before he could say more, using magic. The reporter's throat tightened as he struggled to breathe.
"I advise you to let me finish," the arcanist said coolly. "What I'm about to say may sound harsh, but you need to hear it. Don't give me any nonsense about how 'journalists must pursue the truth.' Truth has its audience, and if you're so eager to uncover it, why don't you report on all the dirty work the CIA does and expose it to the public? The truth about angels and demons must never be known by ordinary people. If they did, everything my mentor has worked for over a thousand years would be undone.
"Human technology is nowhere near capable of standing toe-to-toe with these beings from other dimensions. The Grandmaster barely got humanity on its feet, and we're not about to kneel again. If you destroy those achievements, I'll destroy you.
"Your father, an ordinary person, went chasing after dangers he couldn't possibly handle, so it was only a matter of time before he died. No one was going to babysit him or ensure his safety while he poked around in dangerous places. It's impossible. I don't care whose hand killed your father.
"But had he survived and actually uncovered something that caught the attention of a government, it wouldn't have been monsters standing in front of you—it would have been the Mage's Council. Your father might not have died, but he could have ended up a vegetable. And the same goes for you. Except, in your case, it might be me standing in front of you.
"Mr. Luca, the Mage's Council is fully committed to protecting the lives of ordinary people. We are prepared to sacrifice a lot, including innocent lives, even our own. My mentor taught me that. I'm young, so I may not yet have the resolve, but it's important to assess the weight of every life.
"The blood on my hands isn't just from dark magical creatures, but angels, and even ordinary people. So, drop your idiotic thoughts. I don't have Bayonetta's patience. Reality isn't some family-friendly movie that starts with brutal murder, like 'Bambi,' 'The Lion King,' or 'Saw 7.' It's colder and far bloodier."
Solomon was telling the truth, though he exaggerated some consequences. He was good at scaring people—the Mage's Council wouldn't turn someone into a vegetable or kill anyone in the know. That would be too extreme. They weren't some super-secret organization where agents dressed in black suits, wore sunglasses, and carried guns inside their jackets, with ranks strictly divided and information heavily classified.
Yes, I'm talking about you, Hydra!
However, there was truth to what Solomon said. The most they would do at Kamar-Taj was make those in the know believe it was all a dream. It was a spell Hoggoth excelled at, as recorded in the Book of Vishanti. Even when Thor came to Earth in the future, known to the public, he wouldn't be seen as an other-dimensional being. To Earthlings, Asgardians would just be aliens.
Aside from Kamar-Taj, no one could prove the existence of God, and so, the existence of angels and demons must also remain concealed. Why? The box-office numbers for The Passion of the Christ in Christian countries already explain enough.
"Hu... hu... hu..." Luca took a few deep breaths, his breathing returning to normal as he stared at Solomon in shock. He couldn't fathom how a boy of thirteen or fourteen could have such resolve. "You're insane!" he said.
"Humans are not alone in this world, and until we can stand as equals with beings from other dimensions, the mission of the Mage's Council will never end," Solomon replied. "Anyone with that kind of conviction must be a bit crazy, don't you think? Of course, I'll try to avoid sacrificing innocent lives—that's never a good feeling.
"I know we're walking a tightrope, one misstep away from falling into the abyss. But the Mage's Council has protected Earth until now. So, stop chasing after things you shouldn't know, Mr. Luca. If you insist, then no one will protect you."
"Wow, you really are a hard-hearted little guy," Bayonetta said playfully. "That makes big sister a little sad."
"If the stress weren't so overwhelming, do you think my mentor would have turned out the way she did?" Solomon spread his hands. "Her biggest joy now is competing with me for snacks. I want her to be happy, to relax, so I'm trying to ease her burden. I can't do much, but I can do what I can. That includes you, Bayonetta—you know very well you're under surveillance, and the one keeping an eye on you is me."
"And how long are you going to keep watching me, Boya?" Bayonetta asked, her eyes on Solomon. "How long is your mission?"
Solomon turned over his left hand, glancing at the ring on his left pinky. "I don't know, maybe for life. But don't worry, I can live a long time."
"Hmm~ So big sister will never get rid of you, huh?" The witch winked. "Or do you want another ring?"
"Enough!" Luca shouted, tears welling up in his eyes. His obsession with the truth, likely stemming from the mystery of his father's death during his childhood, was now reaching a fever pitch. "I won't make anything public! But I have to know how my father died! No matter what danger awaits me, I don't need any help—I just want the truth! This whole Easter of the Ragnar cult, the witches, I need to know it all! Even if it means dying, it's my destiny!"
"Fine, you're certainly brave, Mr. Luca," Solomon said. "Waiting for death is quite an ordeal. Do you know how to use a gun?"
"A gun?" Luca sniffled, confused.
"Well, I wasn't expecting you to be good with cold weapons," the arcanist snapped his fingers. "You'll need to protect yourself. And I don't know which angel killed your father... so go seek revenge on your own."
The protagonist follows a lawful path. For those who don't understand what a lawful character is and accuse the story of breaking character, feel free to leave.
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