Torture the hero, why has the Demon King's castle collapsed again?

Tus wiped the sweat from his brow, pulled Prince Ota aside, and whispered, "I think we might have arrested the wrong person today... Your Highness Ota."

Even without Tuss saying it, Ota had already realized it. He murmured in disbelief, "The prophecy of the Round Table has failed?"

"Perhaps not," Tus said with a wry smile.

"After all, if these lewd works by Astrid scholars involving His Highness were published... it would indeed 'pose a serious threat to the human camp.'"

Ota felt inexplicably heartbroken.

He returned to the corridor, briefly dismissed the surrounding paladins, and essentially gave up the idea of ​​arresting Astrid.

"Astrid, I only have one question for you..." Otto asked calmly, controlling her expression:

"I've heard that you've acquired a lot of handicrafts related to the border demons. Is that true?"

Astrid blinked, a hint of surprise in her eyes: "As expected of Your Highness, even this can't be hidden from you."

"However, this is just something the Roth Merchant Guild asked me to sell. They think... this kind of niche art might be more in demand by some nobles in the royal palace with special tastes—in fact, I have received many high-profile orders over the years."

Obscure my foot! That's because you guys don't understand art!

Ota was furious. He snorted coldly and said expressionlessly, "Continue."

Astrid sighed with some regret:

"Unfortunately, not long ago, that anonymous buyer named 'Moe is Justice' seemed to have suffered some kind of blow, and hasn't purchased any new figures from me for a long time."

“Until recently, the other party re-established contact and requested that I provide a ‘three-year warranty and five-year replacement’ service… I did not make any decisions and am still in contact with the Roth Chamber of Commerce.”

Ota nodded, somewhat regretfully dismissing the last lingering doubt in his mind.

It turns out that the goods in Astrid's hands also came from the Lotte Merchant Guild. This merchant guild, which has a wide range of businesses throughout the kingdom, has incredibly diverse business channels, and its trade with the border demons is within the normal range.

As for Astrid, the distributor, it seems she was indeed unaware of the buyer's identity, indicating that the information did not leak from her side.

His gaze fell upon the filthy scraps of paper he had just torn up on the floor, and Otta's anger surged up again.

One thing at a time, even if Astrid wasn't the mole, such an insult to royalty is absolutely unforgivable...

"It's a pity, my warehouse is overflowing with border handicrafts, it's already overflowing—"

Astrid complained, "The Roth Merchant Guild is so inefficient..."

"What did you say?!!!"

Prince Ota's suddenly amplified voice startled Astrid.

"Your Highness, why are you shouting so loudly...?" Astrid touched her chest, which was pounding like a deer's, and looked at Prince Ota, whose face was unusually flushed.

“You just said… a warehouse full of art, no, border handicrafts?!” Ota coughed, his expression extremely serious.

In the darkness, he could only hear his own heart pounding.

"Uh, yes."

"Take me to see it!"

"But……"

"Take me there now!" Ota emphasized impatiently. Sensing everyone's gaze, he coughed and his face turned serious.

"I will absolutely not allow such a dangerous creation, associated with demons, to exist within the kingdom's library!!!"

Everyone suddenly realized.

Rumor has it that Prince Ota has always been wary and resistant to the products of the border demons, expressing his disgust without any attempt to hide it: Now it seems that it was indeed true!

As expected of a noble royal family that is irreconcilably opposed to the demon race!

Astrid had no choice but to take the lead. Urged on by Prince Ota, she led everyone to the end of the corridor, took out the key, and opened the warehouse door.

The moment the door opened, a dazzling light burst forth in Prince Ota's eyes.

The high-quality mahogany bookshelves were emptied of books, and on the polished shelves, neatly arranged were clay figurines of beautiful girls in various shapes and wearing revealing clothes... To prevent the figurines from getting dusty, the slightly modified bookshelves were sealed with transparent glass, and from the outside, it seemed that there was another world inside.

“This…this is…” Ota’s voice trembled.

This one wall alone is every Ota Kur's dream!!!

"Your Highness...?" Tus's puzzled voice came from behind.

Ota paused slightly, forcing a smile, turned his head, and issued the command as if it were normal:

"Move these utterly vile stolen goods, without touching a single trace, to my study! I'm going to examine them carefully!"

Otta's gaze shifted to Astrid in the corner, and his eyes softened with a saintly gentleness:

—I forgive you!

Chapter 86 The Border Library Does Not Accept Idle Letters

"Scholar Astraea, come here."

Looking at Astrid in the corner, Otta said softly.

“I’m not coming.” Astrid, who was hiding behind a paladin, shook her head vigorously, knowing that Ota was planning to settle scores later.

"If I come over now, you'll kill me..."

Ota's face hardened: "Scholar Astrid, do you know how serious your actions tonight are? If it weren't for your numerous contributions to the kingdom as the chief administrator, these discoveries alone would be enough to sentence you to a severe punishment!!!"

"Considering this is your first offense, I've decided to forgive you... on the condition that you promise me you'll stay away from those vulgar interests!"

Otaen said, using both force and tactic.

Even if he weren't an inside man, he wouldn't easily punish a renowned scholar with profound academic knowledge.

“Your Highness, these interests are not vulgar!” Astrid said bravely, “I’m just ahead of my time…”

"The Kingdom's Round Table has a prophecy that you are a dangerous person who will endanger the kingdom..."

“But then again.”

Astrid looked like she understood perfectly: "The forefront of the times is nothing more than a few abstract concepts."

"In that case, I promise you, I will never again indulge in such base pleasures as gambling or addictive substances—"

"Wait a minute." Otta raised his hand to stop him: "Did you forget the most important thing, the lewd novel?"

"Tsk."

"Hey! Did you just click your tongue?!" Tus exclaimed in surprise.

"No, it must be your imagination, Minister Tus."

Astrid blinked obediently, then helplessly raised her right hand: "I swear, I am mortal enemies with gambling addiction."

"Where's the yellow?! Where's the fuck is this yellow?!" Ota's eyes widened, his face showing an expression of utter exasperation.

After pursing her lips, Astrid had no choice but to say again, "I swear, I am Astrid..."

“Your surname is Ai!!!” Ota roared, veins bulging.

"Then, Heaven above, I, Astrid, and my gambling addiction..."

"Hey! Is this the kind of line you should be saying in this world?!" Even Erwin, standing nearby, was shocked: "Have you been reading too many Eastern fantasy novels?!"

Tus looked annoyed and turned to Ota: "Your Highness, I think we should reconsider the possibility that Scholar Astrid is a traitor among the demons."

"Okay, okay! I know! I promise, alright?!"

Astrid was about to shed a little pearl, and said pitifully, "I promise I won't write any more fanfiction for you guys anymore..."

Several of Ota's veteran victims nodded, then, as if remembering something, Ota added somewhat uneasyly, "Even supporting characters won't do."

"Tsk."

"Ok?"

"Oh……"

After sending people to search the library again and confirming that there were no other suspicious items, the group finally left the library... leaving behind only a new supernatural tale of a "library anti-pornography ghost" after tonight.

Otta stood outside the library and sighed with a touch of sadness.

This operation not only failed to find the mole, but also wasted the precious power that the Holy Round Table had accumulated over a long period of time.

Seeing Ota's dejected expression, Tus gently comforted him, "Your Highness Ota, it has been proven that the power of the Holy Round Table is not omnipotent, and we cannot be too trusting."

"Finding the mole requires careful consideration..."

“You’re right, I was too impatient.” Ota gradually regained his kingly composure: “The most important thing next is to complete the title of Hero, announce it to the people, and let the Hero once again receive the blessing of the Round Tower, becoming a new fighting force against the demons…”

"We don't need to resort to scheming like the demons; we can still defeat them decisively."

Ota confidently raised his head and looked at Tus, then looked somewhat puzzled.

"Minister Tus, why are you standing so far away from me?"

“Because…” Tus gave a troubled look, and following his gaze, Ota’s face darkened again.

At the library entrance in the distance, Astrid poked her head out, her face flushed with an unusual excitement as she looked this way. A silly laugh, "woo-heh-woo-heh," accompanied by drool dripping from her beautiful, intellectual, and pure face.

"Damn it! We forgot to strip her of her right to fill in the blanks for life!" Ota's expression collapsed.

He hurriedly climbed into the carriage in a disheveled state and returned to the palace with a heavy heart... In the end, he still couldn't stop the traitor's advance on the kingdom?

This traitor is hiding very well, as if he were completely invisible and not even in the kingdom—it can't be that he has already hidden in the Demon King's castle, can it?

Ota knew it was impossible.

Ultimately, it all comes down to my own inferior skills...

"I would call you: 'The Invisible Destroyer'."

With a sigh, Otta felt a mixture of hatred and admiration for the traitor.

However, he will not give up.

—One day he will definitely be able to find the mole by relying on the power of the Round Table.

Thinking of this, a flame of excitement ignited in Ota's eyes.

"Time to go home and play with my figurines!"

……