Finding the Lost Heirloom (4)
[Uwaaack!] 'You madman!' Orishin started to shout, but froze mid-thought.
He knew Kriel possessed an abyss detection ability that he himself couldn't replicate in any way. And he had a rough idea of where that power came from. If Kriel was smashing someone else's heirloom so decisively, it had to mean it was tainted by the abyss.
'Still, come on!'
In the Gabi family, he'd attacked the father on sight with Elder Assault, and now he was activating "This heirloom is mine now"? Did his hand just instinctively lash out whenever he spotted the abyss?
From Nawiden's perspective, it was even more baffling than simple theft. Stealing the heirloom would at least make sense if someone coveted it, but smashing it on sight? Orishin turned his head toward Nawiden. Even the ever-gentle Nawiden looked utterly confused, staring at Kriel in bewilderment at this sudden turn of events.
[Hey! What now? Fix this quick!]
"Ah. It was unconscious reflex."
[At least say something!]
Kriel had left the exact same single word—"talk"—to Mazhar Gabi before pummeling Tushkin Gabi. But unlike his two swords, Kriel considered himself a socially adept, upstanding young man (or so he thought), so he didn't attempt a full rundown of the backstory right there.
"I imagine this sudden event has left you quite bewildered. My apologies."
Nawiden wasn't sure how to respond. If he'd known, wouldn't this have been avoidable?
"But please, examine the Chalice of Truth. That is my excuse and my reason."
The Chalice of Truth lay in ruins, shattered beyond repair. It was a pitiful end for an artifact passed down through centuries since the ancient fairy noble houses.
Just as Nawiden drew breath for a deep sigh—
'Hmm?'
He looked at the Chalice of Truth again. That thing shouldn't shatter like this. Nawiden approached the fragments and picked one up. It gleamed silver, even carrying a faint sacred aura. But this wasn't the Chalice of Truth. The metal composing the real Chalice wasn't ordinary silver. It was a special alloy forged by the ancient fairies' unique secret arts, called fairy silver. It wasn't something that could be smashed so easily.
Nawiden realized a very subtle magic had been woven into the Chalice fragment. If he had to describe it, it was the power of imitation. A cup of similar shape made from different material, enchanted with imitation magic to mimic the real Chalice of Truth.
A bead of cold sweat trickled down Nawiden's temple.
The Chalice of Truth had been swapped out. By whom? Why? When? The questions raced through his mind.
Kriel continued calmly.
"After confiscating the Chalice of Truth from Alberik, has anyone entered or exited the annex?"
"...I'd need to check the visitor log to be certain, but probably not. We retrieved the Chalice from Alberik, returned it to its original spot, and were the first to visit the annex afterward."
"Which means it was likely already a fake by that point."
Kriel pieced together the circumstances.
The culprit who stole the Chalice had exploited Alberik's reputation as a wastrel playboy.
"The moment they stole it, Advisor Lurwayn's letter must have arrived unexpectedly, putting them in a bind. With security tightened on the annex, they couldn't return it to its place, so they thought to use Alberik to swap in the fake for the real one."
"That doesn't explain one thing. If they'd placed the fake there from the start, it would have been a perfect crime."
Kriel recalled the nature of the abyss. They lurked for ages, planting traps in secret that no one noticed. The abyss's goal wasn't mere destruction. It was the corruption of the world. Even the most devout could fall. Like esteemed holy knights tumbling into the abyss to become Dark Knights.
Kriel grimaced, remembering the first moment he'd laid eyes on the Chalice of Truth—no, the Chalice of Deception. Nawiden noticed the twisted expression and asked, "What's wrong?" Kriel shook his head, pretending it was nothing.
"I was just thinking for a moment. Do you remember the poison ring I brought earlier?"
"Of course. That's what got you in trouble."
"The Chalice of Truth and the poison ring have something in common. Different in direction, but both alter water."
Kriel viewed the water source contamination via the poison ring as a kind of experiment. What happens when humans—or the natural environment—ingest or contact water infused with abyssal poison? It had ended with mere stomach pains and vomiting because Kriel intervened early. If they'd surveyed the source with ordinary methods, shrugged "The water seems fine?" and looked elsewhere, letting it fester... The contaminated village might have become a monster breeding ground. Or worse, an abyss pit could have opened.
Nawiden, a veteran of the Demon King War, had witnessed countless regions collapse that way.
"The culprit's goal wasn't mere theft of a heirloom. They meant to corrupt the Chalice of Truth like the poison ring, turning it into a source of pollution, then return it to its place."
Such a plan needed to be executed swiftly, unnoticed by anyone. But before the corruption could complete, security on the annex tightened, and the theft was exposed.
"...They planned to use our heirloom to create an abyssal baptismal font?"
[Baptismal font, huh. Elves and their archaic flair.]
Initiation rites varied by faith, but the most common involved water—pouring holy water over the head or sprinkling the body. Washing away worldly filth. A baptismal font held the holy water for such rites. If the Chalice of Truth corrupted, its power would twist from purification to abyssal corruption. Nawiden's metaphor hit the nail on the head.
"That's my theory. But it hinges on some connection between the poison ring's creator and the thief who stole the Chalice."
Nawiden gathered the shattered pieces with a grim expression. The magic was dissipating as it broke, but the fragments themselves were proof.
"I intend to convene a family council. Would you be willing to testify?"
Kriel nodded.
"Young master."
Oipe called out to Alberik through the bars.
Alberik turned toward her with a sly grin.
"So? What happened?"
"Nothing. No clues at all. Just testimony that you were loitering near the annex that day."
"That wasn't me. You think I'd steal a family heirloom? I'm not crazy."
Oipe started to tease him as usual, but seeing Alberik uncharacteristically serious, she just shook her head.
Until recently, the Chalice of Truth had been used in Lady Pand's life-prolonging treatment. To halt the abyssal scars eating into her marrow from consuming her body. It couldn't cure the root cause, but it prevented the wounds from worsening.
That became old news when Lady Pand chose to end the treatment and prepare for death. But Alberik had wanted his mother to live even one more day, and he'd sworn never to sell off the Chalice that would be used when she changed her mind.
"But listen. You said you blacked out drunk that day too. If even you don't know your whereabouts, arguing doppelganger based on your testimony alone..."
"I don't plan to bring it up publicly in the family. Can't let whatever mimicked me catch on. That's why I called you."
Oipe sighed at her young master. A friend like this, and the man who'd become her lord once Elder Nawiden passed into eternal rest.
"Fine. I'll dig more. Don't get your hopes up."
She turned to leave the underground dungeon—
"Senior! Senior!"
"Huh? Niam?"
"Senior, we're screwed!"
"Screwed how?"
"Huh? Oh, you don't know? Figures, just half-baked elves here. Taffy is a dessert made from rice and barley."
Alberik chimed in with the explanation. Some bizarre plant-based food typical of world tree elves. Oipe clutched her head.
"Yeah, I get the vibe. What happened?"
"They said the Chalice of Truth got smashed! Or no, it wasn't even there!"
"What."
Oipe glanced at Alberik. He flashed a grin.
"See? Told you it wasn't me."
Convening a family council took considerable time. In the meantime, Kriel inspected his attire in the guest room he'd been shown to.
"Master. Come here. If you can't help your looks, at least your clothes need to shine."
"...I'm not ugly, am I?"
"Not ugly. But weird-looking."
Tuon cornered Kriel with her innocently brutal attack. The "weirdness" she meant was the alien aura Kriel exuded—a mix of his Dark Knight menace and his features, like he straddled the line between the living and the dead. A chilling impression.
Kriel gave up arguing.
"Don't you have anything besides travel light armor? A knight must dress with dignity befitting his station."
As Kriel opened his mouth to declare armor the true knight's uniform—
Tuon crushed his ambitions at a glance at his lips forming 'Ar—'.
"If you're gonna claim 'I brought an abyssal ring and wear super suspicious armor, but I'm not a Dark Knight,' I won't stop you."
Instead of countering that the armor was saint-forged holy plate from Eve Kaha's saintess, not abyssal make, Kriel meekly accepted Tuon's suggestion.
"Check the bag. Something's gotta be in there."
After brushing Kriel's hair and perfecting his style, Tuon rummaged through the bag. Orishin whispered to Kriel.
[Didn't Morgina give you that uniform? Perfect for formal occasions.]
A luxurious black dress uniform of night raven silk. But Kriel shook his head.
"It has the Eve Kaha emblem. No need to reveal my champion status unnecessarily."
[If this is abyss-related, you'll end up flashing that status eventually...]
"Wanna keep it under wraps for now."
[Why?]
"The moment I saw the fake Chalice of Truth, I heard... 'You and I share the same goal...'"