My claim that Alice was the Phantasm King. To be honest, I didn't have definitive proof yet, but it felt like a highly probable conclusion.
However, Alice said nothing. She merely watched me with a smile... Seeing that expression convinced me I was right. I looked her straight in the eyes.
"Wait... Her? The Phantasm King? B-But no matter how I look at her, she's human..."
"Lilia, it is true that those of our caliber normally identify a person's race by the nature of their magic power. However, the Phantasm King can alter even the very quality of their mana... Seeing through a disguise of that level is an impossible task, even for me."
Indeed, as far as I had seen, Alice had never exceeded the boundaries of a human.
In fact, Sieg-san and Lilia-san both seemed to believe she was human, and I had felt the same... But if she was the Phantasm King, then since she had the power to perfectly impersonate even Kuro, playing a human would be child's play.
"In the past, the Phantasm King actually slipped in among the Gods and went so far as to perform actual Blessings... I have no idea what the intent behind such an act was, though."
...Wasn't that probably just to earn some pocket money? A Blessing costs one Gold Coin per session...
My thoughts were drifting. I had to focus on Alice first.
"...Alice. If you had seriously intended to deceive me, I don't think I would have felt the slightest bit of suspicion. You don't make blunders."
"..."
"...You intentionally made me feel like something was off, didn't you? When we met at the Gate, you purposefully used the same phrasing about the Icarus story as you did when we first met. At Chris-san’s castle, you showed off how well-versed you were in information. You were dropping hints all over the place."
Yes, probably... No, without a doubt, Alice had intentionally given me a sense of unease.
If she could maintain a perfect disguise, she could have shown me a different face as the Phantasm King and I never would have doubted her. There was no reason for her to appear at the exact moment Chronoa-san—who knew her identity—was present.
"...Deducing your true identity—that was the Fifth Trial, wasn't it?"
"..."
Alice met my quiet words with silence. She pulled a handbell out of nowhere and began to ring it.
The sound of the bell echoed loudly through the garden. After it stopped a short while later, Alice finally opened her mouth.
"...Passed. I haven't a single complaint left. It’s a perfect pass-ssu."
"...Alice, then, as I thought..."
"Yes, exactly. I am the true Phantasm King."
Alice vanished the handbell and began to clap, admitting her identity.
Surprised voices rose from the onlookers, but Alice didn't seem to care as she approached me.
Then, she knelt on one knee before me, gently took my hand... and pressed her forehead against the back of it.
Well, she was wearing an Opera Mask, so technically it was the mask touching my hand, but...
"...Magnificent, Kaito-san. I sincerely apologize for my previous discourtesies. To you, who has exceeded my expectations, I offer both my respect and my loyalty..."
"...Alice."
"Phantasm King No Face... my true name is Shaltier. My power, my heart—from this very moment, I dedicate them all to you."
After declaring her oath of loyalty like a knight, Alice slowly stood up.
"...'Call'."
"Wha!?"
The moment Alice whispered the word, people dressed in black with their faces hidden suddenly appeared throughout the garden.
It wasn't just one or two people; it was an incredible number, easily exceeding a hundred. Alice threw a set of documents in front of them.
"This is an order. Collect evidence so undeniable there is no room for argument regarding the incident caused by the person in these documents four years ago. I will not wait more than three days. Understood? Then, commence operations."
""""""""""Yes! As the Phantasm King No Face-sama wills!!""""""""""
Alice spoke in a light tone, and the people dressed in black responded in perfect unison, kneeling with disciplined movements that showed their absolute consent.
Then they instantly vanished again—likely heading out for the investigation. Without me noticing, the Fake Phantasm King had gone as well.
Over a hundred people appearing with just a single word. It was undeniable proof that her subordinates were lurking everywhere, even within this Royal Capital.
The Phantasm King, who commanded a vast number of subordinates across the entire world... As I stood there, trembling in awe at this fragment of her power, Alice slowly turned back toward me.
Her presence felt majestic, different from her usual self. It was truly the bearing of a King—
"Uwah, I just got goosebumps. As I thought, keeping a serious face is tir—Ouch!?"
"..."
"Why did you punch me!? Kaito-san!?"
"You... Can't you stay serious for just a little longer?"
"No, no, I worked hard! I worked super hard! If I stay serious any longer than that, I'll get sick."
For a brief moment, I had thought Alice was indeed one of the Six Kings and that her previous persona was a facade for a majestic true self. That thought was short-lived. Alice had completely reverted to her usual tone, and I had reflexively given her a knuckle-bonk.
"Or rather, Alice... ah, no, should I call you Shaltier?"
"Nah, as before is fine-ssu. I’ve grown quite fond of this name myself... So, what is it?"
"No, I mean, Alice, you really are one of the Six Kings, right?"
"That's right! Alice-chan is a big deal-ssu. I’m basically like, 'Ta-da!' you know?"
Alice struck a pose, puffing out her small chest as if invisible sound effects were playing. I let out a heavy sigh.
I understood that Alice was one of the Six Kings, but somehow, the reality was quite different from the image I had...
"...Was saying you had no money also just an act?"
"...No, that’s for real. I seriously have no money-ssu. Please help me."
"...Even though you're one of the Six Kings?"
"Please don't think that all the Six Kings are rich!?"
It was a piteous cry. Her earnestness was so intense it almost looked like tears were streaming from the gaps in her mask.
"I have to pay salaries to a mountain of subordinates, you know!? My organization is 'white.' The welfare benefits are perfect! No overtime! Transportation expenses paid! There are raises! Bonuses twice a year!"
"...Y-Yeah."
"Thanks to that, I end up struggling just to get my daily meals! On top of that, the number of subordinates is still increasing every year!? Even if my subordinates' lives are 'white,' my life is 'black'!?"
"I-I see..."
I was instinctively overwhelmed by the torrent of words.
Alice snapped her fingers, and the Fake Phantasm King from before appeared.
"What do you have to say about this?"
"Ah, my apologies. I forgot to mention it... Please be pleased, Shaltier-sama! About one hundred additional members joined our corps the other day!!"
"...Are you even listening to me? Why are you casually increasing the headcount... I told you so many times not to increase them anymore..."
"I feel as happy as if it were my own matter that Shaltier-sama's greatness has reached more people!"
"...You can go home now-ssu."
"Yes! Excuse me!"
In contrast to Alice, who was clutching her head, the Fake Phantasm King’s voice sounded quite cheerful. I couldn't tell because her voice had been so high-pitched until now, but she was a woman. An executive, perhaps?
Once the Fake Phantasm King vanished, Alice clung to my clothes.
"Help me, Kaito-san! I'm going to be killed by my own subordinates!?"
"..."
Did this person have no dignity whatsoever? Now even I was starting to get a headache.
But I see. So the reason she always said she was broke was because she had too many subordinates... If that was the case, I felt a bit bad for having been so hard on her.
"I see. Then the reason you were always out of money wasn't because you lost it gambling, but because you were giving it to your subordinates..."
"Ah, no, about half of it was gambling... Gnyaaaah!? It hurts!? It hurrrrts!? Kaito-san, stop it, my cheek is gonna come offuuuu!?"
"Y-O-U—!"
Just as a shred of sympathy began to well up, she started saying something ridiculous, so I pulled her cheek with all my might.
I take back my sympathy! As I thought, I have to be even stricter with her!
Dear Mother, Father—Alice's true identity was the Phantasm King, and the fact that she possessed a vast number of subordinates across the world seemed to be true. However, I was a fool to have respected her for even a second. As I expected—Alice was just Alice.