Chapter 81
Chapter 81
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 81
Chapter Title: Home
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What’s with the atmosphere?
Something feels seriously off.
Sion thought that as he glanced at Risikida and Lucia, who had been eyeing him with strange looks for a while now.
It was like they had something they wanted to say, or maybe they were just staring—it was seriously getting on his nerves.
‘What the hell’s their deal?’
He wanted to ask, but some instinct told him not to, holding him back.
So instead, Sion decided to ask later and just enjoyed the gentle mountain breeze blowing through.
As they drew closer to the Margrave Territory, the noble lands and big cities thinned out. What they passed now were small mid-sized towns and rural nobles who came rushing out in a panic at the news of the Margrave Territory heir’s arrival.
In this situation, entering a city or fortress would just invite exhaustion, so Sion suggested they camp out instead, even if it was a bit tougher.
‘Young Lord.
Even so, we could get ambushed like last time. Isn’t it too dangerous?’
There was some valid pushback like that.
The knights didn’t want to see their little lord in danger again, so they countered by suggesting they rest in a city or a noble’s fortress instead. But Sion shook his head.
‘From here on, it’s all kingdom folk too busy scraping by.
Even the nobles are mostly barons stuck feeding their own domain’s people in their tiny little territories.
You all know better than me what kind of chaos it’d cause if we showed up there.’
‘True, but...’
‘Cloudzen’s only a few days away now.
I fought and rolled in the dirt with the soldiers on the battlefield—think I can’t handle a few days in a carriage?
Besides, suspicious types are more likely to sneak into those places.
If you really want to protect me, a space where enemies and allies aren’t confused would be way better.’
Even after Sion’s words, the knights still looked unhappy.
They were warriors used to hammocks strung up haphazardly in tents or sleeping in saddles rather than cozy beds, but their little lord was different.
He was the official heir to lead Cloudzen, after all, and they didn’t want him pushing his body like that if they could help it.
‘I get what you’re worried about, but no more objections.
We’ll tough it out in the carriage for the remaining three days.
Sure, it’s not as comfy as a bed, like you said, but it won’t kill me, right?’
With him putting it that way, the knights didn’t press further.
Truth be told, Cloudzen’s soldiers, knights, and even the family head spent far more time in tents and saddles than in the castle, thanks to constant border issues.
Nudia had been unusually quiet lately—thanks to Sion—but war could strike again anytime.
When it did, comfort could turn into a dagger derailing survival.
Grrr, grrr—
Taking a break, Sion sat on the carriage steps, feeling the breeze, when a cat’s purring came from beside him.
Watching the scene for a moment, Sion spoke up.
“Feeling good?”
“Grrr...
W-What?”
“I asked if you’re in a good mood.”
“W-What are you talking about!
I was dying cooped up in there!
And it reeked of humans—made it even worse!
Meow!”
“...”
How does she lie so blatantly without batting an eye?
This from the cat who’d just been sleeping on his lap a minute ago.
‘Should I scratch you again?
Hiss!’ Winnie bared her claws in threat, but Sion raised a hand to calm her.
His forearm still stung from earlier, when she’d gone wild just for touching her hand without permission.
Once Winnie settled, Sion held out his arm like, look at this.
“This hurt like hell.
Huh?
Is this how you treat your benefactor?”
“...Hmph!
W-Who told you to touch me?”
She whipped her head away!
Pretending innocence like ‘I did nothing wrong, meow!’
Sion muttered loud enough for her to hear, ouch, it hurts so bad, fiddling with his arm.
Winnie’s ears perked up as she sneaked peeks at the scratches.
After a bit, still facing away, she spoke in a much softer voice.
“...D-Does it hurt a lot?”
Typical cat—acting tough but still caring.
Sion chuckled inwardly and grimaced for effect.
“Not a ton, but yeah, it stings.”
“Ugh...”
“Beastkin, especially you feline folk, fight with those sharp claws more than your teeth, right?
A little harder and my arm would’ve been gone.”
“N-No!
I didn’t scratch that hard!
Meow!
Why would I cut off my benefactor’s arm!
Meeoow!”
Winnie flailed her arms, insisting her innocence.
The knights and soldiers, who’d been resting quietly, turned their eyes her way. Realizing, she went ‘uh-oh’ and clamped her mouth shut with a mrrow!
Then glared at Sion.
“What.
Why the glare all of a sudden?
You’re the guilty one here.”
“Hmph!
No I’m not!
On second thought, you’re the criminal for touching me without permission!”
Meow!
Whipping her head away again.
Sion was dumbfounded, but feline beastkin traits followed cats—aloof in most things. He decided to let it slide.
“Hmph!
Meow!
Nyaa!”
“...”
What the heck?
Why’s she huffing and puffing, even smacking her tail down?
Sion couldn’t figure out what this cat wanted.
The urge to pet her exposed nape grew stronger when Lily, who’d been watching him and Winnie, sidled over.
“Sion.
Can we talk for a sec?”
She whispered, glancing at the knights and soldiers nearby.
Sion nodded and stood. Winnie sneaked a look at them both.
Her ears twitching nonstop—she’d probably heard everything already.
Winnie watched Sion’s back as he followed Lily farther away.
“Something you want to say?”
Lily checked around, then flicked her hand.
A thin mana barrier enveloped them, blocking most sounds—a kind of wall.
“The slave market thing delayed us a bit, but anyway.
I’ve been thinking about why the Celestials are after you.”
“Oh.”
He’d forgotten about that part.
The ones who attacked him were none other than Celestials.
Radical fairies would’ve been one thing, but the black-hearted Celestial crew moving directly? That was no small deal.
“Not sure if you’ll believe me...”
“I do.
Of course. It’s you, Lily.”
“...Thanks.
Anyway, I considered a bunch of possibilities, and three stood out.”
“Three?”
Lily held up one finger at Sion’s question.
“First.
You did something bad enough to deserve Celestial punishment.
Like cursing them with something unholy, or slaughtering tons of their worshippers.”
“You know that’s not even possible, right?”
“...Yeah.
You’re not that guy.
Cunning little shithead, sure, but not total scum.”
Is that a compliment or shade?
He wanted to ask, but Lily was dead serious, so Sion shelved it and focused.
“Second.
Someone prayed desperately for it.
Like, ‘kill Sion.’”
“...Celestials aren’t hitmen, are they?”
“Mostly not, but I’ve heard they sometimes off people if the prayers are strong enough.
Not sure, but it’s common talk among demons.”
Celestials were all straight-up psychos.
Demons knew it—if fairy fanatics were one thing, did humans and other races still see them as good and just?
“I’ve laid out two reasons, but you feel how flimsy they sound, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Then the last one.
Honestly, I think this is the real deal.
But if you humans heard it, you’d foam at the mouth and curse me out...”
“I trust the demon lady trying to save me over the ‘good guys’ trying to kill me.”
“...Thanks.
Here’s the explanation.”
Lily steadied her breath, stared at Sion, then spoke.
“Ever heard of the Seven Trumpet Blasts?”
Sion nearly blurted, ‘Oh, the Celestial psychos’ batshit world-burning operation? Mission Impossible bullshit.’
But continent humans knew it as:
“...The legend where Celestials emerge again to make a just, pure world.”
“Yeah.
Your humans, most otherkin—probably think that.
Even most demons do.”
“But you’re saying it’s not that, right?”
“That’s why I hate sharp guys.”
She let out a short laugh and continued.
“I don’t know exactly, but I sense it’s not the whole story.
A Celestial who used to trail me bragging about it once.
Said something real fun happens when the seven blasts sound.”
“...”
“They talk ‘just and pure world,’ but the world’s too rotten and black to fix.
My personal take.
So then, Celestials move to the next step.
If it can’t be changed, wipe it clean and start over.”
Sharp.
Woman’s intuition?
Most races on the continent had blindly trusted Celestials until the spears turned on them.
Sion already knew, but he kept his poker face, voice full of confusion.
“What’s that got to do with them trying to kill me?”
“For Celestials to fully emerge from their sanctum, the world needs total chaos first.
Meaning they’ll stir it up however.
“...By assassinating me?”
“You’re a hero, right?
Hero blows up on the way home—wouldn’t that cause a riot?”
Lily explained calmly, but Sion caught the faint anger.
Demons were hated by all races, humans included. She knew the Celestials’ true face roughly, yet no one believed her.
Now they targeted Sion too—frustrating, enraging.
“Sion, not you, but most humans see demons as evil, Celestials as good.
I figured you might snap at my words.”
“Like I said, I don’t buy ‘good guys’ out to kill me.”
“...You don’t think I’m lying?”
“Huh?”
“Like, I’m not Celestial, but to get closer to you—a demon framing them.
Sounds plausible, right?”
Sadly, Sion knew the thug Celestial crew inside out.
Lily’s worry was baseless, but she couldn’t know that.
Sion thought a moment, then pulled her waist close.
“Eek?”
“So I’ll fall for it.”
“W-What?”
“If you’re tricking me, I’ll play along.
Not a bad deal.”
He knew she wasn’t lying, so cheesy lines came easy and bold.
Lily blinked ‘eh eh eh?’, then flushed beet red.
“Y-You idiot, what’re you saying?
G-Get off!”
“Yep, backing off.”
He let go and stepped back.
Lily grumbled at him, ‘Can’t let my guard down for a second!’
“A-Anyway, I crushed those Celestial bastards good, so don’t worry.
I can block others, but leaving the sanctum’s super limited, so they won’t hover around you for a while.”
“Tch, too bad.”
“Huh?”
“Wanted that damsel-in-your-arms rescue position.”
“...Grrr!
You doing this on purpose?
Want another hit?
Aang?”
As Lily shrieked, Sion pondered the Celestials.
Everything he was doing now was to survive their insane world scheme.
And they’d thrown the first punch openly.
‘Fuckers.
There’s such thing as basic courtesy.
At least come negotiate first, or demand a deal for not messing around?
Straight to elimination if it doesn’t suit?’
Killing annoyances? Fine.
Humans, otherkin—all the same.
Sion had zero issue there.
What pissed him off was zero negotiation offer before the preemptive strike.
‘Celestials should act like gentlemen.
This won’t do.
War it is.
You hooker-sharpshooters.’
―――――――Author's Note―――――――
5 in a row?