It seemed that last howl, a final desperate effort, had been enough to put Ashbourne’s monster out of its misery as well.

   He was too late. Faced with that reality, Lord El-Melloi II’s face twisted into a bitter expression.

   “I figured out one more whydunnit just now.”

   “Oh?”

   “You’re the one who killed Geryuon Ashbourne, aren’t you?”

   “–What?!” Having just arrived on the scene, Luvia exclaimed loudly with wide eyes.

   In contrast, the boy gave a dry laugh. His face was already beginning to wither, slowly returning to the appearance of the old Orlocke. Being a homunculus, once the source of magical energy that was supporting his body dried up, it seemed to begin aging all at once.

   “Granide Ashbourne was obviously obsessed with you. Even the way the whole thing was set up like some sort of ritual all seemed like it was designed to scare you as well. I can’t think of any other motive for why he would be so fixated on you.”

   “Revenge,” Orlocke replied. “…well, he probably knew that it was going to happen. After all, he had implanted Granide’s Magic Crest onto the Yamabushi beforehand. I’m sure he could have done with any other host, but he was probably chosen just because of his timing.” Keeping pressure on his stomach, Orlocke spoke with a faltering tone.

   As gently as possible, he laid Seigen’s body on the ground. After helping him lower the body, Lord El-Melloi II spoke again.

   “Why did you kill Geryuon?”

   “That’s a story far too old now. Why don’t you see if you can guess? You’re the type that likes riddles, aren’t you?"

   Without so much as a pause, he replied instantly. “Is it because you are Granide’s real father?”

   Luvia stiffened. Turning to look at her disarrayed state, Orlocke spoke again.

   “I guess I can’t hide anything from you can I, my young Lord?” Orlocke, who had returned almost entirely to his older state, paused to sigh deeply before giving a dry laugh.

   In the end, who was he laughing at?

   What was he laughing at?

   “Though there was a considerable difference in age, Geryuon’s wife was an old friend of mine. When I began working with Geryuon, it was my first time meeting her in decades…as improper as it was for someone my age, I had fallen in love.” His features now reminiscent of an empty skull, Orlocke dredged up his own past. “Thinking about it now, Geryuon must have known about it. The fact his wife lamented being unable to bear any children, the fact I took advantage of her, he must have known it all when we met.”

Case Files I, Chapter 5, Part 4