Chapter 440
Chapter 440
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 110
Chapter Title: 2-110. Where the Wind Passed (1)
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"Hey, how are you feeling?"
"······."
"Come on, ignoring someone when they're asking? You still can't hear me?"
"······Ah, Ronan."
Illuan raised an eyebrow. The madness had faded from his eyes, now reflecting the clear blue sky.
Hearing his voice still full of life, I let out a sigh of relief.
"Phew, I thought you'd died already and got scared for a second."
"What happened?"
"Nothing like that, just... I've been waiting a while, so I wanted to chat a bit. That's okay, right? I'm not from Acalusia, but I did play a part in resolving this mess."
I scratched my head and sat down beside Illuan. He was no longer the mad mage on the brink of death.
"You're being modest in the strangest way. Didn't you handle it all by yourself?"
"I just cleared away one lump of crap. The real thanks should go to the family head and the adopted heirs. If they hadn't held together the scattered remnants, Acalusia would've been smashed to pieces long ago."
"Haha... You're probably the only one who sees a house-sized meteor as mere crap."
Illuan laughed. His upper and lower body lay separated on the arena floor. My handiwork, naturally. Erzsebet and Adrian, who'd already said their goodbyes, along with Acalusia's adopted heirs, watched breathlessly from the stands.
"I wanted to talk to you too, Ronan. I was curious about just who you are."
"Curious? I'm just a swordsman, nothing more."
"I've heard of dragon or demon slayers, but never a swordsman who cuts down falling stars. And you saved my daughter too... I don't even know how to express my gratitude."
"Nah, forget the thanks."
I shook my head as if fed up. It was a first—getting thanks from someone I'd bisected. Just as surprising as learning Illuan was actually polite.
As he'd said, the tragedy of Acalusia's destruction by meteor impact hadn't come to pass.
'Lucky we had all those mages.'
Even thinking back, it was dizzying. The moment I spotted the meteor, I'd gone on the intercept.
The rock from space shattered into hundreds of fragments about fifty meters from the ground. I'd braced for a few broken bones, but it turned out duller than expected—barely harder than a punch from the bald king after absorbing the Origin.
After destroying the meteor, I turned my destruction on Illuan (not sure if that's the right word).
I'd wanted to save him if possible, but unfortunately, he'd been mad too long—death was the only cure. Softer than the meteor, Illuan's body split in half without resistance.
And my hunch proved right. Screaming in pain at first, Illuan soon regained his senses, tormented by the atrocities he'd committed in his madness, screaming anew. His agonized cries stopped only when I brought Erzsebet, rescued from Liz's familiar.
"...Darling."
"Daddy."
Adrian bit her lower lip from the stands, watching us. Erzsebet gripped her hand tightly. This was essentially a deathbed vigil.
Glancing at his wife, daughter, and adopted heirs one last time, Illuan squeezed his eyes shut.
"...I'm sorry. Truly, I've done unforgivable things."
"Yeah, you have. To be honest, you were a total fucking bastard. If you hadn't been duped by Nebula Klazie, I'd have pissed right in your face."
"I'm sorry... Really, truly sorry. How could I have done that to Adeshan..."
"It's fine. Water under the bridge."
I lit my pipe. Rationally, he was just another victim, and yelling at a dying man was pointless.
Illuan didn't have much time left. The petrification, starting from his extremities, had reached his chest. The backlash from forcibly separating his flesh from the meteor was hitting late. Unlike Sarante, who'd left with hope, Illuan would never return to human form.
After a silence, Illuan turned to me.
"...Ronan."
"Yeah?"
"This might come out of nowhere, but... could I entrust my daughter to you? If you carry on Acalusia's line, I'd have no more regrets."
"That's sudden."
His voice was earnest. I glanced at Erzsebet. She was a real beauty, second only to Adeshan. Sole heir to a great house, daughter of a great mage, with Adrian's looks to boot—bright prospects. Most guys would spin headspins bowing to the father-in-law.
I chuckled dryly and shook my head firmly.
"Sorry, I've got a fiancée. And she likes girls."
"...Right. That's true."
"One of the few I can confidently say likes women more than me. And Acalusia can be great without my filthy blood mixing in. Actually, scratch that—it's already plenty great."
I exhaled, white smoke scattering. This incident had completely flipped my view of Acalusia. The prejudice of it being a den of talent-obsessed perverts was baseless. There were reasons it rivaled Grancia as an imperial powerhouse.
I glanced at my friend still sprawled in the stands and continued.
"And now with that guy joining, it'll be even greater. Asel—the next great mage's name. Remember it before you go."
"Ah... Truly terrifying talent. Countering five spells with counter-magic in that short time... I once thought myself a genius, but compared to him, I was nothing..."
Illuan's voice was growing weaker.
Thinking of the original world's Asel, I snorted.
"Well, he did stop a falling sky island."
Asel's feats today were nothing compared to his future. The Acalusia heirs, sharing my thoughts, watched him fondly.
"Sleeping so soundly. For a young lady as cute as the mistress was as a child to join us—such joy."
"I heard he's a boy."
"What nonsense is that? How could that be a boy?"
"Heh, boy or girl, he looks like the most talented Acalusian in history."
They were all itching to get close. No bullying worries there. Illuan's petrification had reached his collarbone. The end was near.
Gasping for breath, he mumbled softly, for my ears only.
"Th...is way..."
"What?"
"I can't die... like this... I still... have great magic..."
Illuan writhed. He seemed desperate to say something, but his vocal cords had hardened. Sensing the end, everyone stood.
With petrification at his jaw, a squeezed voice emerged.
"Glory..."
"Illuan?"
That was Illuan's last word. Within a minute, he turned fully to stone. Sighs and laments rose from all around.
"Hm. Still some lingering regrets, huh?"
I gave a wry smile at the stone figure. Whatever he'd meant to say last wasn't atonement or family. Delirium or true heart—who knew.
Rude as it was, the timing was perfect. Any nonsense there would've shattered the budding atmosphere of mourning.
'Human, I guess. Poor guy.'
I tapped out my pipe and pocketed it. Guards soon carried away the stone that had been Illuan.
Next up was clear. Maid Liz, arms severed, floated above the arena by telekinesis.
"Urk... ugh!"
Liz groaned in pain. Emergency measures had stopped the bleeding. Hateful glares poured her way.
"Everyone saw it, right? Nebula Klazie turns people into this. They seep in like rainwater, drive even great mages mad, and shake great houses' foundations."
I addressed the stands. As I'd said before, Nebula Klazie's danger bore repeating.
"Still can't believe it. That maid as the mastermind?"
"I even assigned her room cleaning... How did no one notice until now?"
"Yeah. Even the family head and lady missed it... Terrifying bastards, Nebula Klazie."
The heirs, now knowing the truth, hid their unease poorly. Talks of bolstering searches and alerting the continent flew fast.
Just what I wanted. Acalusia's far-reaching heirs would spread the word faster than an imperial decree.
Hands in pockets, I looked up at Liz.
"No one noticed because of this insolent maid. Cleaning genius isn't hype—she erased traces flawlessly. Even old man Rorhon might've shrugged and left."
No exaggeration. Liz was the weakest Nebula Klazie pawn I'd faced, yet paradoxically the trickiest.
If I hadn't split the swamp to find the basement passage, hadn't seen her colluding with Illuan, I'd never have pegged Nebula Klazie.
'Who'd think she hadn't even been baptized.'
Simple reason: no telltale sparkling mana from Nebula Klazie. Initiates prove combat prowess for Abel's baptism, infusing mana. Liz had zero combat ability, so no baptism.
Plus flawless cleaning spells—impossible to detect. First case like this had me stumped too.
Adrian, gazing up at Liz, spoke sternly.
"Liz. You'll be shipped to Rodolan by today."
"F-Family head."
"No escaping via death. Rodolan's interrogators won't stop until you confess everything. Maybe not even then."
"Eek...!"
Liz paled. Every imperial knew what happened in Rodolan. Losing arms was just the start.
"Pl-Please spare me, family head! Kill me instead!"
"Save it for Rodolan's interrogators. They won't listen."
"N-No! Please! Lady!!"
Liz wailed. Her composure gone. Clear urine dripped from midair. Erzsebet averted her eyes, unable to watch.
"This incident taught Acalusia a harsh lesson."
Suddenly, Adrian thrust her arm skyward. Mana spread from her white hand, forming a barrier over the estate. An inescapable dome—the start of a mass purge. Effective, no doubt.
'Thorough. One stroll and they'd catch 'em all.'
I liked the decisiveness. Erzsebet bolstered her with amplifying aura.
Adrian continued coolly.
"In three days, we'll exterminate every pest. To prevent this anywhere else, I'll report every tragedy to His Majesty and the five towers. Any objections?"
None. A bloodwind would sweep the continent. In the original world, Grancia's spy Dolan's exposure sparked it. No doubt more rats lurked in Acalusia beyond Liz.
"Hiiiaaak!"
Then, Asel screamed awake from his faint.
"Wh-What? Since when have I...?!"
"You're awake."
"Huh? What the hell happened?"
Asel gawked around, eyes wide. Everything differed from before he passed out. Adrian, chuckling at him, smiled softly.
"I forgot to tell you the result. Entrance exam: pass. Asel."
"...Huh?"
"The greatest test since I became family head. You're now Asel de Acalusia. If you wish, call me mother."
"Wha-What?!"
"Kidding. And Ronan."
No time to celebrate his nobility. My turn.
Adrian's gaze turned to me.
"My deepest thanks. Without you, Acalusia would've fallen. I nearly lost my beloved daughter twice."
"No big deal. Everyone helped."
"Not at all. As he said, modest in odd ways."
Adrian laughed.
After a pause, she continued.
"As promised, on Acalusia's honor, we'll provide the finest equipment."