Chapter 8: Deathwish
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 8: Deathwish
It was often said that those who casually traded harsh words actually understood each other best.
The sheer speed at which the Emperor and Dunadan reached the exact same conclusion lent considerable weight to that sentiment.
“…If word of this gets out, it’s going to be a total mess.”
“I agree, Your Majesty.”
There was one universal truth known to all who wielded supernatural abilities.
Every single supernatural ability was a unique authority bestowed by a god upon their subjects. In other words, it was power in its purest form—a force that must neither be damaged nor altered.
Anyone born under the domain of a certain god and granted an ability was bound solely to that authority. To wield another, they had no choice but to abandon the first.
Wielding multiple abilities simultaneously was an exceedingly rare talent. After all, it was practically synonymous with being chosen by multiple gods at once.
And yet, in the midst of all this…
That fellow, Aiden, had utilized two of the most peculiar abilities simultaneously.
The Pure White Qi, which only Noel could wield among all Qi users, and Divine Power, a force strictly exclusive to the royalty of the Holy Kingdom. When it came to the sheer difficulty of mastery, both were second to none.
“I expected him to show us something, but…”
Muttering to himself, the Emperor snapped shut the folder lying on the table.
Inside was a photograph someone had quick-wittedly snapped of the scene. It perfectly captured the moment Aiden tore through the defensive field Noel had deployed—shredding it as if it were mere cardboard—and burst forward.
“There are only two people among the Holy Kingdom’s royalty who can do something similar.”
“The Pope and Deathwish?”
“Yes.”
“…He is quite the remarkable uncut gem.”
Of course, it was far too early to place him on the same level as those monsters who represented an entire nation, but there was no denying he possessed the potential to reach those heights.
On the bright side, this single display would undoubtedly sweep away the prevailing opinion that he was unworthy of being the Lionheart’s groom. In that sense, their initial goal had been achieved.
However, the problem was that he had achieved it too well.
The Emperor narrowed his eyes as he relit his pipe. Like a man who had seen it all since ascending the imperial throne, he set aside his surprise and calmly calculated the situation.
“Dunadan.”
“Yes, sire.”
“Keep a tight lid on this.”
“Of course.”
“Just keeping a tight lid won’t be enough. If necessary, draft personnel from the Imperial Assassination Bureau and put everyone under strict surveillance.”
“Though it’s inevitable that word will leak to a select few.”
“I don’t expect ironclad security forever. But simply showing that the Emperor of the Empire cares this much will serve as a shield for the time being. Anyone trying to lay a finger on him will be picking a fight with me.”
It was impossible for a talent of that caliber to remain a secret forever. But at the very least, it must not spread right now. The continent had not even fully recovered from the direct damages of the war.
In the midst of this fragile peace…
If a prize smelling this “delicious” were to be dangled in the open, it wasn’t hard to predict just how chaotic things would get.
And there was another reason they wanted to avoid such a situation. Both the Emperor and Dunadan shared the exact same thought.
“…Too good to give to anyone else, isn’t he?”
“Indeed.”
The Emperor and Dunadan grinned at each other. Handing over a winning lottery ticket to someone else was simply too painful to bear.
“Since he’s already been reeled in by Noel, let’s keep him close through her for now.”
That girl, I thought she brought in some weakling. What a windfall.
With those thoughts, the Emperor looked down once more at the pillar of fire captured in the document. Frankly, it was a fascinating sight.
Noel’s Pure White Qi, combined with an ultra-high-temperature Divine Power rare even among royalty…
Qi inherently lacked any distinct elemental attribute, but it possessed exceptional strengths in raw output and total volume. On the other hand, Divine Power boasted destructive offensive power through its intense heat, but was notoriously difficult to wield at a high output.
Yet…
The pillar of fire Aiden had displayed felt as though the Pure White Qi, strong in “output,” had been seamlessly blended with Divine Power, strong in “offensive power.”
As if the two properties had “merged.”
Divine Power pouring forth with the sheer volume of Pure White Qi.
No way.
The Emperor chuckled, stuffing his pipe with tobacco once more. Even so, that was too wild an assumption.
To extract only the advantages of two supernatural abilities and blend them together…
If such a thing were truly possible…
…That’s omnipotence.
He couldn’t even begin to fathom what kind of monster the boy would become in the future.
* * *
— System Log
▶ Contact established with ‘The Emperor of the Empire’, Lionel XIII.
▶ Contact established with ‘The Dragon Hunter’, Dunadan U’zall.
▶ These are major and minor characters who can influence the story.
▶ Your influence on the main story increases.
▶ New special ability unlocked!
— Skill Info
◈ Weaver of Fate
【Noel Astria Seimurs】
— Bond: Level 2
◆ Pure White Heart
◆ Qi Reinforcement: Consecration
【Katya Heinkel Craven】
— Bond: Level 1
◆ First Vow
『Lionel XIII』
— Bond: Level 1
— You can copy 1 skill.
『Dunadan U’zall』
— Bond: Level 1
— You can copy 1 skill.
Aiden stroked his chin as he looked at the newly received information. It seemed his plan had worked exactly as expected.
I did stand out a lot.
He had figured there would be some reaction if things went well, but even Aiden hadn’t expected such devastating firepower. Thanks to that, he had obtained a Skill Copy Ticket from each of these formidable individuals. He had no reason to complain.
However…
— Quest Info
▶ Failure to complete the events listed in this category will result in a massive penalty!
◈ Sham Marriage
— You have been chosen as Dame Noel’s spouse. Maintain the contract with your partner until the end!
◈ Act 1, <Imperial Capital Rift>
— Your frequency of contact with key scenario figures is increasing sufficiently.
— Your existence will soon be officially integrated into the scenario. The direction of the scenario will be determined by your actions!
— A related event will occur soon. (D-3)
It was great that he got Skill Copy Tickets to prepare for the event, but…
He just wished the system would throw him a bone with something a bit more manageable. Wasn’t this going a bit too far?
No.
Absolutely not…!
The “main scenario” of this world, which he had tried so desperately to avoid, was now right around the corner. Gathering skills to prepare was only meant to protect himself from immediate dangers; he had absolutely no intention of actually replacing the protagonist!
Somehow, I have to escape…!
From the moment he was dragged into this world, his goal had never wavered. He didn’t even want to imagine what kind of hellish path would unfold if he were dragged deep into the scenario.
To make matters worse, it now explicitly stated that a new event dragging him in would occur within three days.
Looking on the bright side…
Since something was definitely going to happen then, he could at least “prepare” for it. Until now, he had merely been dragged around by events whose identities he didn’t even know, but he could guess the nature of the event written here.
The verdict on whether he could “escape” the scenario or not would likely be decided here.
“…”
Aiden began to carefully sift through the faint memories of the original work remaining in his mind. Considering the progression of the original story, he could roughly guess what kind of event this would be.
If it was an event explicitly stated to be formally related to the scenario, the chances of it being a peaceful chat were extremely low. Violence, blood, and someone’s suffering would surely follow.
In that case, what he needed right now was, without a doubt, combat-oriented abilities.
■ Omnipotence [Level 1]
You can combine two or more supernatural abilities to produce a more powerful effect than before.
▶ Currently Discovered Combinations
〓 Guardian’s Flame (Pure White Heart ↔ First Vow)
Attributes: High Output, High Firepower
Deploys Divine Power using Pure White Qi as a foundation. It possesses far greater firepower than standard Divine Power and can affect a much wider area than when Divine Power is used alone.
※ As the skill level increases, the number of supernatural abilities that can be combined increases, and additional effects are unlocked.
※ Increase the number of supernatural abilities you can wield to raise the skill level!
■ Source [Locked]
The skill is locked.
…In that regard.
Although it was hard to say the things listed here naturally suited his aptitude, they were quite reassuring. After all, they would be his lifeline when the event erupted in three days.
Mixing abilities to amplify their effects…
For Aiden, who was still hazy on the concept of supernatural abilities, it was hard to tell just how effective this was. Nevertheless, possessing such a trait made one deduction incredibly easy.
The more types of supernatural abilities he had, the exponentially wider his options would become.
In that case, the optimal choice right now was…
『Dunadan U’zall』
— Bond: Level 1
— You can copy 1 skill.
…Undoubtedly this man.
When he selected that window, the skills possessed by the Dragon Hunter filled his vision. Most of them looked terrifying, perfectly fitting for a man with such a title, but Aiden was looking for only one thing.
— System Message
▶ Copying ‘General-Purpose Ability: Dharmic Power’.
Dharmic Power forged through restrictions, wielded by the warriors of the Tribal Alliance.
He would have to learn how to use it over time, but given the nature of Aiden’s abilities, there was currently no other skill that would yield as much efficiency as this.
“…”
Of course, even in this situation, there was someone who remained completely unchanged. Aiden stole glances at Noel, who sat across from him.
Despite the sheer chaos of yesterday, her current attitude was virtually identical to any other day.
“Is there something you would like to ask?”
Sensing his gaze, Noel immediately offered a gentle smile and asked. Despite such a major incident occurring so recently, her demeanor remained perfectly polite. A smile worn like an immaculate mask.
“…No.”
He remembered her face turning pale with shock when he wielded Divine Power yesterday, but now that they were together in the office, she was just as she always was. When he pointed this out and asked her about it, her reply came in an equally calm tone.
“Certainly, I was quite surprised when I first saw it, but—”
“But?”
“Didn’t I tell you from the very beginning? I brought you here because you are someone whose ceiling cannot be seen.”
“…”
“…And to be frank, although I don’t remember it, you’ve been dropping heavy hints that you’ve known me for a long time, Aiden.”
Ah.
Right, he had.
Come to think of it, he had pulled that bluff just recently to get out of a tight spot. From Noel’s perspective, it probably just felt like another hidden truth had been revealed about this mysterious man.
“—And you still have no intention of telling me what you meant back then, do you?”
“…”
Dame Noel, smiling as she rested her chin on her hand and spoke in an insinuating tone, was honestly quite intimidating.
But there was absolutely no way he could tell her. Because he had never actually met Dame Noel before in his life…!
“Then you can just stay as you are. It will be more fun for me to find out myself.”
“…”
Seriously, there’s nothing to find out.
Aiden sighed inwardly and leaned all the way back in his chair. It was a desperate movement to find even a shred of peace.
Of course…
— System Message
…The window that suddenly popped up robbed him of even that modest attempt at rest.
▶ ‘Deathwish’, Katya Heinkel Craven’s Affinity toward you increases!
▶ Bond Level has increased!
— Skill Info
◈ Weaver of Fate
Only you know the truth of this world. Build bonds with key figures of the main story to obtain new rewards!
【Katya Heinkel Craven】
— Bond: Level 2
— You can copy 1 skill.
Aiden’s brow furrowed deeply.
…What on earth is this now?
* * *
Inside the royal palace of the Craven Holy Kingdom, there was a room everyone avoided entering.
A room where the lights were always off from morning till night, and bizarre noises echoed from within at all hours. It was a place senior officials frequently used to prank newcomers by claiming it was haunted, and indeed, the success rate was quite high.
However, no one would ever dare utter such a joke in a public setting. For everyone in the palace knew exactly whose room it was.
“Katya.”
The First Royal Prince of the Holy Kingdom, Alastor Pansius Craven, spoke again in a worried voice. Thanks to the faint glow of the golden ceremonial robes symbolizing the legitimate heir to the throne, he could make out what his “younger sister” was doing in the darkness.
“…Are you listening to me, Katya?”
A gunshot rang out instead of an answer.
The sound of crushing flesh and shattering bone filled the room. These were hardly sounds that belonged in a casual conversation, yet neither of the two in the room batted an eye.
Neither the First Royal Prince, who had just witnessed a gun being fired right in front of him, nor the Second Royal Princess, who had pointed the gun at her own forehead and pulled the trigger.
“I told you to stop doing that.”
Yet, Alastor’s voice as he watched this remained perfectly calm. His tone was like that of an adult scolding a child who lacked self-control. As if he had witnessed similar acts dozens of times before.
Indeed.
A voice as innocent as a child’s, perfectly matching his tone, answered back.
“Ah, I didn’t hear you. What did you say?”
She seemed completely unfazed, despite having just shot herself in the head.
“…”
Alastor stared into the darkness with a complicated expression. A squelching, wet sound that grated on the ears echoed continuously from the shadows. Though it was obscured and hard to see, he could guess exactly what was happening to his sister’s bullet-pierced head.
Incomprehensible, disgusting, loathsome, horrific.
No matter how generously one put it, the phenomenon undoubtedly fell squarely within those descriptions.
Katya Heinkel Craven. An unprecedented genius possessing overwhelming talent even among the royalty of the Holy Kingdom. A monster whose capabilities ranked among the very best of all Divine Power users in history.
However, the nature of her supernatural ability was something that, to her, could only be called a “curse.”
Alastor lowered his gaze and calmly continued.
“It’s a mission. Mother handed it down herself. She said an important person has appeared in the Empire.”
“An important person?”
“They said he possesses Divine Power. Even though he’s not of the Holy Kingdom’s royalty.”
These words seemed to surprise even Katya. Her golden eyes, strikingly visible even in the dark, locked onto Alastor and blinked with a translucent light.
“How is that possible?”
“They said he is a multiple ability user.”
“Isn’t that something that only exists in records?”
“Apparently, one was discovered this time.”
“How credible is it?”
“Highly credible.”
Katya blinked in silence for a moment. She was clearly processing the situation based on the information she had just received. Contrary to her bizarre behavior, Katya’s mind was remarkably sharp.
“Then, we have to bring him here, right?”
The fact that she instantly deduced what the Pope wanted without needing further explanation proved as much. Alastor nodded with a bitter smile.
“I think you’ll have to go yourself. You may use force if necessary, but you must bring him back.”
“Why me? Isn’t that like using a butcher’s knife to kill a chicken? Has Her Holiness finally lost her mind?”
At her blatant blasphemy, the bitter smile on Alastor’s lips deepened. Frankly, she wasn’t entirely wrong.
Bringing that man to the Holy Kingdom was by no means a difficult task. Divine Power belonged to the royalty of the Holy Kingdom, and if such a power manifested in an outsider, a basic investigation was warranted. Thus, the justification lay entirely with the Holy Kingdom.
Yet, even so…
The reason for sending such an incredibly unstable… “monster” was clear.
“He is the Lionheart’s groom.”
Katya’s eyes narrowed the moment she heard those words.
“Since it involves her groom, there’s no telling how the Lionheart will react. More than anything, the Emperor of the Empire has already declared his intention to protect him. A military conflict might even break out.”
“The Lionheart’s groom?”
“Yes. I believe his name is—”
“Aiden Kellermain.”
This time, Alastor’s eyebrows arched in surprise.
“…That’s right. How do you know him? He was completely unknown until yesterday.”
“I was a little interested in him.”
Saying so, Katya rolled around on the bed with a yawn. Except for the gruesome backdrop, she looked exactly like a lazy cat.
“Brother. That man, Aiden.”
“Yes?”
“How strong is he? What do you think, Brother?”
“…Judging by the rumors alone, he is formidable. Even if he isn’t right now, he will surely become strong.”
“Strong enough to kill me?”
At her still-innocent question, Alastor bit his lip hard enough to draw blood. For he knew the intent behind that question better than anyone.
“…The possibility is certainly there.”
“Ah.”
Katya smiled brightly.
“Then I must bring him back.”
They called her…
Deathwish.
In other words, one who yearns for death.
The woman bearing that moniker replied with a thoroughly pure smile.
“I’ll be off to the Empire, then.”
