Chapter 93
Chapter 93
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 93
Chapter Title: A Loudly Ringing (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Allen, Iriel, and the branch members were huddled together in the moonlit courtyard, praying.
All they could do now was drag every god they knew into it and pray.
Yuria finished her heartfelt prayer, opened her eyes, and tilted her head.
“Any more gods?”
“Ugh.”
Harab groaned and furrowed his brow.
Even with his eyes closed tight, combing through his mind, no more gods came to him.
In the long silence that followed, Yuria cautiously shook his shoulder.
“You’re not dead, are you?”
“I’m still fine, you brat!”
Harab snapped loudly in frustration. Seeing him so lively, Yuria giggled.
This time, Iriel turned to the revived(?) Harab with a question.
“But is it okay to pray to random gods like this? Won’t they get mad if you pray to a bunch at once?”
“The gods are all merciful, so it’ll be fine.”
Harab put on a gentle smile and acted nonchalant. He couldn’t admit he hadn’t thought that far.
It had already been two hours of praying...
He cleared his throat and continued.
“Ahem, I think we should stop praying now. Alright, everyone head back to your rooms. We can get up again when the sun rises. Sitting like this, my back’ll kill me before the night’s out.”
With a groan, he pushed off his knees and stood.
“Damn. My knees are killing me too.”
As he rose, his knees throbbed. He shuffled awkwardly toward the house. Yuria supported him at his side, and the others followed behind.
Even if there were more gods, they had nothing left to say.
But amid it all, Allen still hadn’t opened his eyes.
Worried she might disturb him, Iriel whispered softly.
“Brother, you’re not going?”
“Huh?”
Allen gulped and shuddered.
His eyes were bloodshot—he’d clearly been asleep.
“Let’s head in now.”
“Yeah, right. Prayer’s over?”
“Yes. When exactly did you fall asleep?”
“I didn’t! I wasn’t sleeping!”
Allen shook his head indignantly. Saying it with those bloodshot eyes made him look anything but trustworthy.
“Then who were you praying to?”
“Me? Lord Jenes.”
“......”
Iriel stared at him in disbelief.
Praying to Jenes for Jenes’s safe return.
Was that even allowed?
“It’s not really praying if you think about it. I just said what I wanted to say.”
“Oh. Mind if I ask what you said?”
“Nothing much. Just that when he comes back, I won’t doubt him anymore, so please return safely, that sort of thing.”
“Oh.”
Iriel nodded, convinced.
He’d definitely been asleep the whole time.
“It’s chilly at night, huh? Let’s go in.”
Following after Allen, who hurried along, Iriel suddenly turned and stared off into the distant emptiness.
The governor-general’s office lay beyond.
Could he really break through it alone?
Doubt crept in unbidden.
What if he was overconfident and made a wrong call?
Jenes’s words had always come true so far, but that only made her more anxious.
Everyone makes mistakes sometimes.
Just because it had always worked didn’t mean it always would.
No matter how strong, he was still human.
He might slip up one day.
A single mistake deep in enemy territory meant death.
That’s why she was anxious.
What if this was that time?
It wasn’t wartime, so the governor-general’s defenses weren’t at full alert, but it was still the governor-general’s office.
Countless troops garrisoned the vast former palace grounds, and the gates, reinforced with layered magic, were several times tougher than normal.
To kill Halent in the heart of it, one had to pass five such gates.
No wonder she worried.
But there was nothing she could do.
She could only stomp her feet and hope Jenes returned safe, as always.
* * *
A plain wall stretched on monotonously, unbroken by any sculptures.
The only light came from crystal orbs embedded at regular intervals in the ceiling.
I was sprinting down the long secret passage.
The unchanging scenery made it feel like I was running in place, but I already knew where this path led.
‘It’s just like before.’
Unlike the changed castle, the secret passage was exactly as I remembered from my past life.
Maybe that’s why.
The moment I’d run this path back then flashed vividly.
I’d dragged my feet then, following my father’s orders.
Now I raced down that corridor after long years.
At a speed incomparable to before.
Ahead, a blue curtain filled the square space at the path’s end.
The end of the line.
Whoosh—.
A cool breeze swept over me as the scenery shifted.
I stood alone in a forest thick with underbrush.
Cicadas buzzed shrilly, and leaves rustled in the wind, filling my ears.
The scene before me stirred memories of my past life, unbidden.
This was where I’d parted with Aidahal.
I’d realized the enemy pursuit had begun.
I’d wondered then how the imperial army knew my position, but Halent’s betrayal as my closest aide made it possible.
For a moment, Aidahal’s voice echoed.
-Your Highness, you must survive no matter what.
-It’s not heavy. I’ll hold the national seal for now.
-If you entrust it to me, I’ll never give it to anyone but Your Highness. How could a lowly one judge its true owner?
-I’ll just keep it safe. So please preserve your royal person and come to me.
I recalled those earnest eyes gazing at me.
So vividly it made me sorry for the time I’d forgotten him.
I lingered on the memory, then shifted my gaze to the lush greenery ahead.
There were traces of someone pushing through the tall grass.
They wouldn’t have known I knew the secret passage, so they hadn’t worried about pursuit.
Catching him was only a matter of time.
Now he was right in front of me.
Thud!
Kicking off the ground, the cool night wind rushed past as the grass parted behind me.
And soon.
Thud thud thud.
Footsteps crossing the grass reached my ears.
Not mine.
Coming from ahead.
I’d finally caught up to them.
From the steps, Halent plus three more.
Having grasped their path, I veered aside and picked up speed.
To circle and block them ahead.
I wanted to see their faces twist at my sudden appearance.
The greenery blurred past as I overtook them and turned to meet head-on.
With each step, their presence loomed closer.
And finally.
Flash!
Leaves scattered, revealing their faces.
First, the guard knight gasping as if seeing a ghost.
Then white lightning fell upon them.
Splurt!
The lead one spewed blood and tumbled into the grass.
They halted in panic, staring at me blocking their way.
“H-How?”
Halent’s face was frozen white.
His pupils shook in disbelief.
A defeated groan escaped his lips.
Just the expression I wanted to see.
I straightened from my downward sword stroke and spoke.
“It’s been a long time.”
Uncle.
I swallowed the natural follow-up.
His hair was streaked with gray and wrinkles more numerous, but otherwise just as I remembered.
“......Do you know me?”
Ignoring the question, I addressed his guards ahead.
“Come at me together.”
This long-awaited reunion.
First, clear out the nuisances.
“You arrogant—!”
“Die!”
The two guard knights charged as one. I tightened my grip and met them.
Slash—!
The white flash rent their bodies in an instant.
The field cleared in a blink.
In the darkened forest, only Halent and I remained.
Seeing his guards collapse limply, he hurriedly spoke.
“W-Wait. What do you want?”
I stared coldly at the wretch flailing pathetically before death.
To think such vulgar words would spill from his mouth.
His fallen state felt alien.
“Think about it. Killing me changes nothing. Even if you do, a new governor will come. It’s better for Francia if I stay governor. So tell me what you want. I’ll grant it.”
Watching him silently confirmed my suspicion.
“You ran pretty hard for someone who’s got nothing.”
Wiping the smirk from my lips, I gazed at him coldly.
“Who are you?”
“Don’t you even know who I am? I’m the governor-general, Halent Barrein! Whatever you want, I can make it happen.”
I examined him closely.
Uncannily, he looked exactly like the Halent I knew. Even his voice.
But he was a fake.
Our past connection made me hesitate at first, but I saw through it easily.
He’d reached peak Expert rank a full ten years ago.
This one was mid-level at best.
So one of two things.
Either this imposter had been running the governor-general’s office as uncle.
Or the real one was elsewhere.
My mind leaned toward the latter.
“Where’s the real Halent?”
“R-Real? What do you mean?”
He feigned ignorance.
But I didn’t waver.
Sword realm aside, the man I knew wasn’t so frivolous and light.
The real Halent wouldn’t grovel so vulgarly even before death.
“I know everything. Speak.”
“......What do you think you know.”
I stopped questioning.
No point if he won’t talk.
I’d make him want to.
“Gaaahhh!”
In the silent forest, the fake Halent’s agonized scream echoed.
Bone Shattering Palm twisted muscles and ground bones in excruciating pain.
Unable to endure the tearing agony, he spat out what I wanted in a shriek.
“Gaaah! S-Small Sea! He’s at Small Sea!”
I halted the Bone Shattering Palm at his words.
He curled up, gasping.
Small Sea? That would be...
“That’s all I know! Ugh. I don’t know the exact spot. I swear.”
He groaned, struggling to hold himself together. I didn’t fully trust him, but shifted questions.
“Then who are you? How do you look exactly like Halent?”
“T-That’s...”
He hesitated, so I raised my hand again.
He blurted in terror.
“I had surgery. Don’t know details. They said I could live luxuriously forever if I played governor sometimes, so I agreed.”
His eyes darted wildly, as if someone besides me might overhear. Not lying, but watching someone’s back.
My senses picked up no presences.
Just paranoia.
“Do you know the face of whoever operated on you?”
“No, never saw it.”
“Voice?”
“......Didn’t want to hear it. Like metal scraping.”
Probing confirmed the link to Dr. Jurha.
To mimic a face that perfectly.
It explained how the dead crown prince could return alive.
He’d likely undergone Dr. Jurha’s surgery too.
That made sense.
“How long have you been at the governor-general’s?”
“Not long this time. Can’t say more. This is the most I can tell you.”
With that, he suddenly pantomimed.
Mouth gaping like a fish, arms forming an ‘X’ over his head.
Then arms wide, depicting something.
No clue.
What the hell?
“What’s wrong with your head?”
“Mmmph!”
“Can’t say more?”
“Mmm!”
“Already gone mad?”
No answer he wanted; he thumped his chest in frustration.
“That thing you just felt? That’s Bone Shattering Palm. Forgot the pain already?”
“No, fuck! There’s a curse on my head!”
As I approached, the pale wretch bellowed.
Ah. That explained the antics.
“Then say so earlier.”
At my words, his face drained of color.
His head bulged and writhed.
As if something alive would burst from his skull.
Sensing it, he screamed and clutched his head.
“No! Mistake! I wasn’t gonna say!”
Light leaked from his eyes, ears, mouth,
“Gaaahhh!”
And with a scream, it exploded.
Only then did I fully grasp his pantomime.
His head would burst—that’s what he meant.
Couldn’t he show it better?
Anyway, Small Sea lay between the Crebon Empire’s east and Francia’s west.
The real Halent was likely on Imotel Island with the crown prince.
Dr. Jurha might be there too.
All roads led to that sea.
Pity I couldn’t kill him now, but it was a detour anyway.
Just delayed a bit.
I turned without regret.
Fake or not, I’d beheaded the governor-general in his seat—mission accomplished.
Now back to the governor-general’s office.
I still had business there.