Chapter 122
Chapter 122
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 122
Chapter Title: Vermian Setilpian
-----------------------------------------------------------------
***
Deep in the night, nearing midnight.
In a quiet mansion quite a distance from the academy, an extreme chill filled one of the guest rooms.
“……”
The man who had entered the room, his lips wavering, finally approached a bed with careful steps.
His eyes trembled continuously, overcome with emotion. His name was Vermian Setilpian.
He was the successor to the head of the House of Count Setilpian, and he was here to check on his ailing younger sister.
He looked down at his sister, who was lying on the bed.
On the pure white sheets, he saw silver hair that seemed even whiter. Then he looked at her face, which was paler still.
Her breathing was far too shallow. Vermian realized his sister’s condition was not good.
He knew all too well that the chill pervading the room emanated from her, and that within her body, a pain even more severe than the cold he felt was constricting her.
*Tremble.*
Vermian, his lips still wavering, finally managed to speak.
“Beatrice.”
As he uttered the woman’s name with difficulty, the woman called Beatrice showed a faint reaction.
“Brother?”
Hearing her incredibly weak voice, the man nodded blankly and reached out his hand.
He warmly clasped Beatrice’s pale and impossibly cold hand.
“Yes, it’s me. Beatrice, just a little, just wait a little longer. You’ll be all right again soon.”
“Brother, I’m… I’m fine.”
As Beatrice replied in a weak voice, Vermian said no more.
No, he couldn’t.
His eyes wavered, his lips quivered, and he gripped the cold hand in his with both of his own.
He then circulated his mana, transferring what little warmth he could.
“…”
At the warm, affectionate touch, the woman called Beatrice offered a faint smile.
“I just… suddenly felt a little unwell, that’s all.”
As she continued, as if telling him not to worry, Vermian bit his lip and nodded.
*Slowly.*
Then, as Beatrice faintly opened her eyes, her unfocused gaze landed on the white ceiling.
“…”
Staring blankly at the ceiling, Beatrice arduously turned her head to look at the only family she had left, the one holding her hand.
Seeing her family member trying to forcibly suppress his emotions, his sorrow plain to see, Beatrice’s faint eyes filled with sadness.
“Don’t… don’t be so upset. I’m really okay.”
As Beatrice put a little more strength into her voice, Vermian, conscious of her gaze, tried his best to compose himself.
Then he managed a faint smile.
“…You’re right. Beatrice, you were always a strong child. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have… shown you this side of me.”
Though his emotions were in turmoil, Vermian forced a smile, and Beatrice, too, moved the corners of her lips into a faint smile.
To Vermian, it was an incredibly faint smile.
So transparent and, at the same time, so fragile that it wouldn’t be strange… if it vanished at any moment.
“…”
Etching that smile into his memory, Vermian was able to force himself to regain some composure.
His sister was holding on to her will, enduring strongly even in this difficult situation.
Then he, with all his limbs intact, shouldn’t be acting so foolishly.
The man then gently caressed his sister’s hand.
*Caress….*
At the incredibly gentle touch, Beatrice accepted the warmth she felt from his hand.
No matter how many spells were cast in the room or what special environments were created, the warmth never truly reached Beatrice.
Because the chill emanating from her own body stole away all the heat.
That was why, right now, unless someone who had reached a high state like Vermian forcibly transferred warmth to her, it was difficult for Beatrice to feel any warmth at all.
“……”
Beatrice looked at the worried Vermian and steeled her heart.
The cold chill she had to feel her entire life had improved in recent years, allowing her to lead a daily life. But a few days ago, her condition had suddenly deteriorated sharply.
It was so sudden, but this cold chill was familiar to Beatrice.
It was an unexplainable chronic illness that had followed her from childhood to adulthood. In an environment where it wouldn’t have been strange for her to die at any moment, she had somehow managed to cling to life.
In truth, Beatrice’s attachment to life… wasn’t very strong.
The purpose of her life had long since blurred from the pain she had to feel every day from the dreadful chill.
And as time passed, her family members passed away one by one, until the only family left by her side was Vermian, who was holding her hand right now.
The only person who could withstand her chill. Beatrice’s heart ached a little as she looked at him.
If only she were the only one in pain, it would be fine.
But when she started getting sick like this, her only blood relative suffered greatly, and all the other servants suffered as well…
Even in her faded senses, that weighed on Beatrice’s mind.
Afterward.
As they remained in their places, each feeling different emotions, an hour had passed.
“Brother. You can let go now.”
Beatrice spoke carefully, but Vermian slowly shook his head.
“I’ll give you a little more warmth.”
“You’re… having a hard time too, brother.”
Even though Beatrice smiled faintly and replied that she was really fine, Vermian did not let go of her hand.
“Compared to you, I’m fine.”
As he gave a rare, warm smile, Beatrice reluctantly accepted the warmth.
The warmth transmitted through her hand spread throughout her body, alleviating the constant chill she felt, if only by a little.
And soon.
When the warmth in Vermian’s hands also began to fade as if infected by the chill, Vermian was the first to let go.
“Beatrice. Please endure a little longer. I will definitely find a way.”
“Don’t push yourself too hard.”
As Beatrice saw him off with a faint smile, Vermian slowly left the inner chamber.
*Click.*
As he carefully closed the door behind him,
“Cough! Cough!”
Vermian let out a great cough, biting his lip against the vicious chill circulating inside his body.
It had only been an hour.
Just by being with his sister, his entire body was screaming in pain, as if afflicted by the cold.
No matter how he circulated the mana in his body to create warmth, the time he could withstand Beatrice’s chill was far too short.
“Lord Vermian! Are you alright?”
A few servants who had been waiting immediately offered him warm tea and a thick robe, and Vermian smiled faintly.
“I’m fine.”
As he drank the warm tea, trying to erase the chill lingering in his body, his vision blurred.
Just by facing his reality for a few days, it felt like he was facing hell all over again.
His sister’s condition hadn’t improved in the slightest.
Without Leteia’s power, his sister’s reality was crushingly heavy.
“…”
As he handed the teacup back, Vermian realized.
He knew what he had to do. There was no more time to think about moral concepts or ethics.
Beatrice’s condition had reverted to the worst it had been years ago.
This was the result of trying to exclude the Apostle of Sacrifice’s interference for just a few days, of rejecting Leteia.
He had no time to spare to consider others or hesitate over someone else’s life.
She was more precious than the lives of others.
Even if it meant taking tens, or even hundreds, of lives, to Vermian, his one and only family…
Beatrice regaining her daily life was more important than anything else.
He understood, deep in his bones, why he, who had made a pact with an Apostle, had to bend his own beliefs and offer others as sacrifices.
*Step.*
*Step….*
Vermian headed to his office, and once he was alone, he slowly opened his mouth.
“…Leteia.”
He could hesitate no longer.
The horrific experience of having his body forcibly taken from him a few days ago was still vivid in his mind.
He also knew what Leteia had done after taking over his body.
Although he had tried to reject Leteia’s interference since then, Vermian realized her consciousness couldn’t have disappeared completely.
“I know you’ve left a piece of your consciousness in my body. So, answer me properly. Leteia.”
At Vermian’s repeated calls, a strange thought was injected into his mind.
[I sensed you were trying to reject my influence.]
At the directly transmitted thought, Vermian gnashed his teeth and spat out his words.
“The fact that you forcibly took over my body a few days ago—I will let it pass. I will also provide the sacrifices you desire from now on without resistance. So, just… just return Beatrice’s condition to how it was before.”
[That is not unfavorable to me. I, too, regret having taken your body without permission. However, my power has been greatly depleted. I will not be able to suppress Beatrice’s chill as I did before.]
“What are you talking about…!”
As Vermian’s eyes widened in a daze at the unexpected words,
The thought continued.
[My power is greatly depleted right now. Even as a clone, I sustained significant damage. Therefore, I need sacrifices to replenish my strength. Far more sacrifices than before.]
At the demand for a greater sacrifice, Vermian’s eyes turned cold.
But that was only for a moment. Before his eyes, the image of Beatrice in pain flickered once more.
“Just how many… sacrifices do you need?”
[I will not limit the sacrifices to cadets. Instead, I need about ten sacrifices, individuals with a certain level of mana or higher. Then I, too, will be able to restore Beatrice’s condition to how it was before.]
At Leteia’s calm thought… Vermian bit his lip.
The number of sacrifices Leteia demanded was ten.
That was three times the usual demand.
Even so, Vermian’s deliberation was not long.
“…Understood. I will procure them.”
With a slight nod, Vermian completely hardened his resolve.
And what he had to do from now on…
***
At the same time, on a walking path within the academy.
Cheon-seong and Adelia had left the nurse’s office and were now walking together. As Adelia, holding Cheon-seong’s hand, walked carefully, Cheon-seong matched her pace.
*Click. Thud.*
The different sounds of their footsteps echoed in tandem for a moment. Cheon-seong carefully opened his mouth.
“Instructor Adelia?”
As her gaze met his, I looked down at our joined hands.
‘Do we really need to hold hands for physical therapy?’
It was clear this was also part of Adelia’s consideration, an act of kindness stemming from her gentle heart, but walking like this while holding hands couldn't help but feel strange.
The more I moved my body with its currently misaligned senses, the more I gradually felt a sense of disconnect.
Still, the way we looked right now was just too odd.
Two adults, a man and a woman, walking together hand in hand.
…Even if it was an instructor and a cadet, if anyone saw us, it wouldn't be the least bit strange for them to misunderstand.
“You don’t have to… hold my hand. I can keep my balance now.”
I spoke carefully so as not to offend her, but Adelia just smiled brightly and squeezed my hand tighter.
“Cadet Han Cheon-seong, isn’t my hand warm right now?”
“…Yes. It is warm, but.”
I was wondering why she was giving such a different answer.
Adelia then held up our clasped hands for me to see.
*Flash!*
The moment a gentle light shimmered from her hand, an even stronger warmth was transmitted to mine.
“Cadet Han Cheon-seong. I’m just asking, but… do you think I’m holding your hand with ulterior motives?”
At her playful question… I was momentarily at a loss for words.
Then, a belated heat seemed to rise to my face.
“I-I’m sorry, Instructor.”
As I apologized, my embarrassment only grew while looking at Adelia’s gentle smile.