Chapter 94
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 94
Chapter Title: Moving - 3
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The imperial family, which could be called the masters of the continent, commanded three knight orders.
The Eclipse Knights, dedicated solely to guarding the imperial family.
The Solar Eclipse Knights, who conveyed the imperial will to the nobles while simultaneously keeping them in check.
And finally, the incongruous Black Heaven Knights, who monitored the imperial family itself.
Among these, the Black Heaven Knights were notorious as the most ruthless of the imperial knight orders.
And the black knight who had now visited the Holy Kingdom was a member of the Black Heaven Knights.
Judging by the number 4 emblazoned on his armor, he held a position of rank within the order.
"In accordance with the Nymph Protection Act, we exterminated the entire household of Earl Anitul, and even executed those connected to him down to the third degree of kinship."
The Nymph Protection Act.
It was a law established by the founding emperor to protect nymphs, who could not contend with humans due to divine decree.
However, even among the nymphs, the Nymph Protection Act was viewed with skepticism. They were meant to lead humanity as agents of the gods, yet innocents were executed over trivial matters.
It was a law that could only feel uncomfortable to the nymphs, created by the Goddess Hestia in the spirit of love and compassion.
And the pope felt the same. No, the pope was even more uncomfortable with it, as she was the only nymph who truly understood the intentions behind the founding emperor's creation of the law.
The pope asked the knight who had come to see her.
"Did you come all this way just to report this?"
"No. I am here to relay the captain's opinion on the matter currently under discussion."
"Her Majesty's?"
The pope feigned surprise.
They hadn't yet reported to the imperial family about Sian, the Titan deity, yet they had already made the first move.
"There is no place on this continent beyond Her Majesty's eyes and ears."
"I know that. But I never dreamed she would be watching us."
"It's not surveillance. It's protection."
"Ha?"
"How absurd."
The other apostles were stunned by the knight's firm declaration.
The pope asked the knight,
"Then, what does Her Majesty think of this agenda?"
"She says no."
"The reason?"
"Because of his black hair."
"That's it?"
"Yes."
Everyone gathered there was dumbfounded by the knight's words.
...
"If the Hero had been there, I wouldn't have dared utter such unspeakable curses."
"Camilla, you know me too well?"
"Have we not spent enough time together for that?"
"We've only been together for two months."
"It's not the quantity of time that matters, but the quality of it."
"Hey, that sounds like something that'll get misunderstood if someone overhears."
"Does it?"
Was she trying to lighten the mood, or just teasing me? She smiled in a way that grated on my nerves.
I wanted to smack her one.
"By the way, isn't the pope's mother the founding emperor?"
"Correct. It's the Empress Astiren who founded the empire."
"She's still alive after a thousand years since the founding? The pope being a nymph makes sense, but still."
Even Helia, at 200 years old, maintained a youthful appearance, so nymphs were basically immortal. And since 200 was considered a young rookie among nymphs, it wasn't strange for the pope to have lived over a millennium.
But the founding emperor was an ordinary human.
No matter how much she halted aging with mana like Camilla, a thousand years was no easy feat.
"The founding emperor received twelve blessings from the nymphs, granting her immortality like us."
"I see... But a thousand-year-old hag meddling in the kingdom managed by her son? That's pathetic."
"Y-Yes."
It looked ugly when a parent acted like that after their child was old enough to be independent.
I'd make sure not to do that to Siel.
"As expected, Hero, you'd speak your mind even before the emperor."
"You think so?"
"When the imperial knights visit the village later, just think the time has come."
"Yeah, I look forward to that day coming soon."
Camilla gave a meaningful smile at my words.
It irked me a bit, but I had something else I was curious about, so I turned to Helen first.
"By the way, Titans are supposed to feel an appetite for you nymphs, right?"
Even during the month-long expedition with Helen, or when bathing with her and the other nymphs including Helia, I'd never felt any hunger for them.
"It kinda bothers me being treated like a cannibal."
"Hehe, the founding emperor is worried not that you'll devour us directly, but that you'll consume our divinity."
"Divinity?"
"She means the halo above our heads."
"This?"
At Helen's words, I stuck out my tongue and lightly licked her halo to taste it.
"Hweh?!"
"Gasp?!"
"It definitely tastes like sweet bread."
"S-Sian?"
"Impressive."
"What is?"
Helen and Camilla had wildly different reactions to my action.
Helen's face turned beet red like a ripe tomato, while Camilla spoke in a voice she couldn't hide her shock from.
"I never dreamed you'd sexually harass an apostle I've regarded as a mother right in front of me."
"Your tone is ridiculous—how is this sexual harassment?"
I'd only licked the ornament on top of her head?
"To a nymph, the halo is directly linked to the soul. It's like licking someone's heart—that's not sexual harassment, what is?"
"When you put it that way... Sorry, Helen. I really had no idea this was sexual harassment."
"I-It's fine. I was just startled by the unexpectedness."
"For someone saying that, your face is awfully red."
"Camilla, be quiet."
"Yes, ma'am."
It was the first time I'd seen Helen get angry.
So nymphs had this side to them too.
"And I should be the one apologizing."
Perhaps trying to shake off her embarrassment, Helen quickly changed the subject.
"I'm sorry. I brought it up unnecessarily and led you on."
"No. From the start..."
With Helen apologizing nonstop, I quickly corrected her misconception for her sake.
"My family had no intention of moving to the Holy Kingdom."
"Pardon?"
My decision seemed to shock her; her mouth fell open in surprise, and the sight was utterly adorable.
"Seeing you so flustered... Helen, you have more pride in the Holy Kingdom than I thought."
"Th-That's part of it, but I never imagined you'd refuse. I thought you'd want the culture of our advanced cities..."
"I might have before, but I've changed my mind recently."
I held Siel, who was sleeping soundly in Chloe's arms, as I spoke.
"Frankly, compared to other villages, Lugeron Village has plenty of flaws."
Monsters from the Dark Forest made security a serious issue, its remote location slowed infrastructure development, and access to advanced civilization was limited.
Even the villagers' morals weren't great. To survive in such an environment, they were selfish even with family and didn't hesitate to take private vengeance.
"Thinking of Siel, I couldn't raise a child in a place like this."
"Then why?"
"Because... it's changing."
According to the village chief, the village was slowly transforming under Father's influence.
In the old days, they wouldn't have banded together against the mercenary raid but scattered in panic, and no young generation like Carlson would have stepped up to change things.
"So I'm going to give it a shot and believe in it."
Siel had woken up and was staring at me with bright, sparkling eyes before bursting into giggles.
You like Daddy that much?
"Just like Father did, I want to have a positive influence on the people here."
It's still a mystery to me.
Why did Father stay in this village?
Even as a criminal, he didn't have to remain near Lugeron Village.
"And when I thought about it, I realized I haven't properly accomplished anything myself."
"Have you already forgotten your exploits during the expedition, Hero?"
Camilla snarked again with her expressionless face.
Minding Siel, I replied carefully.
"That was only possible because I'm a Titan deity."
Looking back now, my current family situation and expedition feats were all thanks to my innate physical abilities.
What I'd truly achieved on my own was barely implementing floor heating.
"As a father and head of the household, I want to build a village for my family."
There's a saying that paradise isn't found by running away.
Instead of weighing options and leaving, wouldn't it be better to try what I can do first?
"That way, I can proudly boast to Siel that Daddy did all this."
"I see."
Helen smiled brightly, pleased with my decision.
"That's a relief. The gift I prepared in her stead will be something you'll greatly desire, Sian."
"A gift?"
"If we can't bring you to the Holy Kingdom, we'll simply build a direct road connecting the Holy Kingdom to Lugeron Village."
Her words didn't click at first, so I mulled them over in my head a few times.
"You guys must have more money than you know what to do with, huh?"