Chapter 50 – Revelations

Ren sat in the most private chamber of the Schubert mansion, with Ada and Sakura at his side.

A room that could only be opened with a dimensional cut. No shadow, no ear from the outside world could ever intrude there.

“Why bring us to such a closed-off place?” Ada asked softly, her hand brushing over her belly.

Ren’s gaze was grave.

“Because there’s something I need to tell you. I believe there’s an infiltrator inside Opera.”

Ada blinked, startled.

“What are you saying? That’s impossible…”

“And yet, someone’s been leaking information.” Ren folded his arms. “Doesn’t it strike you as odd that I only learned about Lumius when I received Rin’s letter?”

Ada pressed her lips together, thinking deeply.

“Forgive my ignorance,” Sakura spoke timidly, “but what are you two even talking about? It sounds like some kind of ultra-secret organization…”

Ren and Ada exchanged a glance.

“I’d forgotten…” Ren sighed. “You weren’t even born back then.”

Sakura tilted her head, puzzled.

“Yesterday you recognized Versalles,” Ren reminded her.

“Yes. I read about it in one of the Church’s books.” Sakura answered naturally, like a diligent student. “Versalles is a divine weapon that Lumina bestowed upon the summoned hero… Takao Ryonosuke.”

Ada narrowed her eyes.

“And it doesn’t surprise you that a young man named Ren Sinclair is now its wielder?”

Sakura froze for a moment. Then she clapped her hands together, as though she’d just solved a riddle.

“That’s true! I didn’t even realize… Takao Ryonosuke should be at least fifty or sixty by now. But he died at thirty-five, struck down by a demon’s curse.”

Ren’s lips curved into a cold smile.

“So that’s the official story…”

He placed Versalles on the table. The divine blade gleamed, as if answering without words.

“Try to lift it.”

Sakura let out a nervous laugh.

“That’s impossible… a divine weapon only answers to its hero. Only Takao...”

Her words faltered. Her eyes went wide with horror.

“N-no… don’t tell me… you’re… Ryonosuke?”

Ren’s gaze never wavered.

“I was. Until your father poisoned me. That so-called ‘curse’ was nothing but a cover for my murder.”

Sakura collapsed back into her chair, trembling.

“I can’t say I’m surprised…” she finally whispered, bitter. “Father’s always eliminated anyone who stood in his way. Even his own family.”

Ada lowered her eyes, resting a hand on the table.

“Well then… you’ve been enlightened with the truth, princess.” Her voice carried a cynical edge.

“You didn’t have to say it like that!” Sakura pouted, her childish expression clashing sharply with the heavy mood.

Ren cut in, his voice firm and grave:

“The reason I brought you here… is because your father’s kingdom is going to fall.”

Sakura’s eyes flew open.

“W-what did you just say?”

“He isn’t the one ruling.” Ada’s stare bore into her. “Someone’s pulling his strings from the shadows. A traitor buried deep within his ranks.”

Ren pulled a cloth off the table. Beneath it gleamed compressed mana capsules, arcane munitions, and strange weapons—spoils taken from the slavers’ network he had crushed.

“This isn’t ordinary Solmaran technology.” Ada frowned. “Back in my days as a Solar Paladin, we were the ultimate weapon. But these things…”

Sakura leaned forward, eyes widening as recognition struck.

“No… these came from Lucy. My father’s adviser…” Her voice shook.

Ren clicked his tongue, rage hidden behind his measured tone.

“Tch. He didn’t even bother to hide it.”

Sakura’s gaze darted to him, terrified.

“W-what do you mean?”

Ren set his mask down on the table and met her eyes head-on.

“Lucy… doesn’t exist. What you saw isn’t a man. It’s Lucifer. The true Demon King.”

The air in the room dropped cold.

“He’s the one behind it all,” Ren said, his words sharp as a blade. “The slavers in Cegris. The assassins in the shadows. The traitor shogun of Yukihana and his lackeys. And your father.”

Ada nodded, her tone like ice.

“A puppeteer, pulling Solmara’s strings like it’s his plaything.”

Sakura pressed her trembling hands against her lap. For the first time, she realized Solmara’s ‘divine grace’ was nothing more than a grotesque theater propped up by a demon.

“You can count on me.” Her voice trembled, yet burned with resolve. “Lumina must be… so disappointed in us.”

Ada’s gaze hardened, her hand resting gently on her belly.

“What you need to understand is that many people will die. Including your own father.”

Sakura lowered her head, lips drawn tight.

“If that’s Lumina’s will, then so be it. Evil must be torn out at the root.”

Ren leaned forward, placing a steady hand on her shoulder.

“I know it’s a hard choice. This isn’t personal revenge.” His eyes glinted in the dim light. “But I won’t let the entire world fall into corruption. Once I defeat Lucifer, you’ll decide this nation’s future.”

“…Yes.” She drew a deep breath. “I just need time to take it all in.”

“Welcome aboard.” Ren’s faint smile flickered across his face before he turned toward Ada.
“All that’s left is to find the infiltrator in our ranks… and eliminate them.”

Ada’s expression sharpened.

“Yes. We can’t risk a knife in the back.”

Ren leaned back in his chair, thoughtful.

“You protect my mother. Take her to Lumius with Nia and Mia if you must… or I could send them to Yura.”

Ada shook her head.

“That would draw suspicion. And Emilia can’t survive Yukihana’s cold in her condition. It would kill her.”

“You’re right…” Ren clenched his teeth, frustration boiling under the surface.

Ada exhaled slowly, studying him.

“Then why not ask Yura to come here?” she suggested. “There are plenty of rooms in this mansion… and we could finally meet Yukina.”

Ren didn’t answer right away.

“…I’ll think about it.”

With that, the meeting came to an end.

The objectives were clear, but Ren’s time was running short. He couldn’t afford to die before his mission was complete. If someone inside Opera truly moved from the shadows, they had to be stopped—even if it meant sacrificing his strength.

Because an organization that doesn’t respect its leader… is doomed to collapse.