Chapter 100
Chapter 100
Chapter 100
I managed to hear the gist of the story about Eleanor. A behind-the-scenes story I hadn't known.
I couldn't know the exact details of the life she had lived, but I could see how she had changed. Her life had been dramatic.
She wasn't the protagonist just because she was one; she was the protagonist because she had endured and overcome.
At least, that’s what I think.
Then what about Oz?
“Did he respect her, I wonder?”
“Pardon?”
“Nothing.”
Oz, whom I had been able to meet after my [Erosion Rate] reached 50%.
He had looked utterly exhausted. He had the same doll-like impression as the Eleanor of the past.
If he had compared his own state to the current Eleanor and felt even a little bit of respect…
Then I could understand why she was the protagonist of Broken Sky.
Not simply because her power was special, but because her will was special.
Perhaps that was why he had hoped she wouldn't be shipwrecked.
“Did Noah leave any other messages?”
“What I told you last time was all.”
“Did she not say a single word about a companion?”
“A companion? No, she came to the Papal States alone.”
“Excuse me…?”
The conversation, which had been flowing smoothly, came to a sudden halt. There was a crack in the sequence of events I had understood.
The members of Tenebris had said that Eleanor was currently moving with the Hero. But Lucia Domine said she had no companion.
That meant Eleanor had conducted her audience with the Pope alone.
“Are you saying there was no woman who came to have a curse lifted?”
“A curse… Many have been afflicted by curses. It seems your power cannot purify curses.”
Right, [Challenger of the Divine] only contained the power of healing; it had no power of purification.
“However… if the person you’re looking for was afflicted by a curse that would require the dispelling ability of a high-ranking cleric, there was no such person.”
“How does that make sense? It was a large-scale invasion, after all…”
“Arietta prevented anything beyond low-level curses beforehand.”
Come to think of it, Arietta had been continuously purifying the entire Papal States during this battle.
There was a reason she had collapsed from exhaustion, even with the geographical advantage.
She had been blocking not only the curse of the Grasping Hand, Pied, but all other vicious curses as well.
Then what happened to the Hero’s curse? Who purified it?
No, the Hero hadn't purified the curse.
Then why? Why hadn’t she purified the curse?
To prioritize Eleanor’s business? If so, wouldn’t it have been better to treat the curse before leaving?
It’s not like she didn't have the time.
“…”
“I don't know what the matter is, but you look to be in quite a bit of trouble.”
“You are absolutely right. I’m about to lose my mind.”
“Will you be going?”
“It seems things have become more urgent.”
If the Hero headed for Chrysos without purifying her curse, her life was on the line.
No matter how quickly she returned, the distance between the Papal States and Chrysos was too great.
Furthermore, Chrysos was no pushover. Wasn’t it a strategic point for the ‘Outer Beings’ preparing an invasion?
It wasn't a place that could be handled just by adding one more SSR-rank character.
“Could I perhaps ask Arietta…”
“You may not. That child will be busy from now on.”
“I figured as much. In that case…”
“There is a holy relic for dispelling curses. It’s an item that can be used about once every 30 years.”
As if she had been waiting, Lucia Domine opened a drawer in her office desk and took out a pale, bluish-white cross.
Don't tell me that's the holy relic she just mentioned. She just kept it in a place like that? There’s a limit to poor management.
“I will put this on your tab.”
“How frightening…”
If it was a holy relic that could only be used once every 30 years, just how much would it be worth?
Beyond its performance, the fact that it was a holy relic itself meant it was an item of absurd value.
“It feels like I’m just racking up debts all over the place these days…”
“That is none of my concern. Will you take it? Or will you not?”
“…Her personality is really something.”
She does this knowing I can't refuse. I pray that Arietta doesn't take after this damned old woman.
“I’m pleased to think we have a deal. Shall I offer you a blessing?”
“…Since you’re offering, please do.”
I snatched the holy relic from Lucia Domine’s hand and received her blessing. Having been strong-armed into a sale, I might as well receive the Pope's blessing.
“Well then, I’ll be on my way.”
“Shall I pass on your regards to Arietta?”
“If I entrust my regards to Your Holiness, you’ll probably say something strange, so I’ll do it myself.”
“You have no faith.”
“I’m an atheist.”
With those words, I turned my back on Lucia Domine and was about to leave the office when I paused for a moment.
Inter-kingdom political issues weren't my business, but I couldn't help but ask.
“How do you plan to announce this incident?”
The attack of the [Death King] Thanatos was no small matter.
Furthermore, wasn’t the Papal States a nation of clerics, who could be called the natural enemies of the undead?
The defenses of such a country had been breached.
It was only natural that every nation was paying close attention to the Papal States.
If so, talk would arise about the [Death King]’s invasion route.
Depending on how the Papal States officially announced the matter of the First Angel, their position could become quite awkward.
“You are curious about all sorts of things.”
“It’s the country where Arietta resides.”
“Ha! That is not a statement that should come from the mouth of someone who is about to leave that very Arietta to go meet another woman, Successor of the Mage king.”
“…Your words are painful, Your Holiness.”
That was a truly cutting remark.
Is she trying to kill people with words because the Papal States have no death penalty?
Before answering, Lucia Domine finally picked up the pipe she had put down earlier and lit it.
Was it just my imagination, or had her opinion of me just plummeted?
Lucia Domine exhaled a long, thin stream of smoke and then spoke.
“We will announce everything, including the fact that the First Angel was Thanatos.”
Even I, who knows little about politics, could tell. Announcing this incident was extremely risky.
Not only could it lead to international condemnation, but if mishandled, it could be an issue that affects faith itself.
“The blow will be severe.”
“Well, of course it will be.”
“Wouldn’t it be fine if you just smoothed over that part somehow?”
By some slim chance.
It was probably only that likely, but this incident could cause the Papal States itself to collapse.
“It wouldn’t be a problem to that extent.”
“Then…”
“But if you start piling up lies like that, one by one, they will soon become uncontrollable.”
Lucia Domine declared this with a look that was both annoyed and, at the same time, serious.
That in the Papal States of Hedenia, a state founded on faith, deception was something that must never exist.
“Well, if you were the type of person who understood that, the situation wouldn’t have gotten so twisted in the first place.”
“Stop hitting me. It hurts a lot.”
“I’m saying it to hurt you.”
For me, who ended up in this situation after piling up small lies during my encounters with Eleanor, her words were too painful.
“Well, you have nothing to worry about. I will handle it well enough, so you should just go and do what you need to do.”
With those final words, I was shooed out as if I were a bug.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
After my meeting with Lucia Domine, I indirectly passed on my regards to Arietta, telling her I had something to do.
Then, Lucia and I began to follow the trail of Eleanor and the Hero.
“They can’t even use teleport, yet they’re moving way too fast.”
Sitting at an inn table and checking the map, my mind went blank.
What the hell are these guys?
No matter how much stamina the warrior class has, does it make sense to push forward so relentlessly?
This can't continue. It's dangerous.
It might be one thing for Lustitia, the Hero, but for Eleanor, this is a forced march.
The two of them couldn't possibly be unaware of that…
“Are they getting impatient?”
If so, which one?
Eleanor, who is trapped in her own stubbornness?
Or the Hero, Lustitia, who can’t last long because of her curse?
Perhaps it was both of them.
“Prince Oz. Look at this. There's something quite interesting in today's paper.”
“What, is there a drawing of a cat? I won’t judge you, so feel free to cut it out and keep it or whatever.”
“…I’m begging you, I wish you’d stop with that misunderstanding.”
What misunderstanding?
She was practically dying of happiness.
Sorry, but I have a lot to think about. The reason why the Hero Lustitia didn't get her curse dispelled is giving me a headache because I can't figure out her motive.
Furthermore, I have no idea what state of mind Eleanor is in as she heads toward Chrysos. Even if she planned to go to Chrysos from the start, this is too radical.
If there hadn't been a change of heart, she would have at least left a word or two.
“I said it’s not true!”
I had been ignoring Lucia and continuing my thoughts when she shouted and slammed the newspaper down on the table.
Well, fine. That’s enough teasing. Any more and she might actually get pissed, so I should stop.
Right, I did get an energy bar, so I should honor the deal. Yes, I should.
“Anyway, what in the world is so…”
My eyes landed on the newspaper Lucia had slammed down, and I froze.
The paper was reporting on Hedenia’s official announcement about the First Angel. If it were just that, it wouldn’t have mattered since it was an issue I already knew about, but…
“Apostle of Dawn…?”
That’s how the newspaper described me. And it was an official statement released by the Papal States.
The Papal States had used me as a tool to handle the First Angel problem.
To be precise, they had taken my [Challenger of the Divine] ability, quoted a passage from their scriptures, and spun it as the power of God's apostle who punished a false apostate.
"She said she doesn't lie…?"
So fitting things together to suit her narrative is fine?
"To pull something like this without my permission, I'll have to protest later…"
As I was speaking, I instinctively remembered the holy relic I had tucked away.
This is it…!
This was it!
Is this how you're repaying the debt you said you were putting on my tab?!
That damned old woman!
"First the Successor of the Mage king, and now the Apostle of Dawn? I'm just envious of how many titles you have, Prince Oz."
I slid my eyes over to Lucia's face, and she was smiling as if she found this all very satisfying.
Then, with a bewitching smile, she spoke to me suggestively.
"How does it feel?"
"…Yeah, not a great feeling."
"Hahahaha! Now that's an answer that makes me happy just hearing it!"
She started chuckling as if she were a teenager going through a cringey phase.
This woman, her emotional expressions are becoming more and more varied.
Where in the world did the loyal soldier Lucia, who suppressed her emotions and blended in anywhere, go?
"Are you trying to have a 'cringey past' showdown with me right now?"
"If you wish for mutual destruction!"
"…"
"…"
Our gazes crossed.
The list of weaknesses we each held over the other flowed silently between us.
This is no good. If we really go down this path, we'll both be annihilated.
"What do you want?"
"From now on, don't even mention the topic of cats."
"Fine…"
Excluding that topic means losing a master key to tease Lucia, but I have no choice.
"I accept the terms of this treaty."
"Good, a wise decision, Prince Oz."
The negotiations with her, which could be called short or long depending on how you looked at it, had finally come to an end.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Lustitia and Eleanor were lying on a bed in a tavern.
Eleanor was already exhausted and asleep, but Lustitia, who had more stamina than her, was different.
She was looking down at her own hand with hazy eyes.
The curse she received after defeating the Demon King.
No, to be precise, it was the curse of sleeplessness from the [Black Dragon] Nicks.
"I can't fall asleep…"
Nicks had not interfered at all in her fight with the Demon King.
In the first place, if she had interfered, Lustitia would have had no chance of winning.
She never meddles in the fight between the Hero and the Demon King.
Because that was the rule she and the first Demon King had established.
But that was a different story after the Demon King was dead.
She could not tolerate the existence of Lustitia, who had the potential to kill the Demon King any number of times. Even if it wasn't Lustitia, she would have hated leaving such a possibility open.
"Sister Lustitia…?"
"If you don't sleep early, you won't grow tall, Princess Eleanor. If we're going to keep moving in a hurry, you have to rest well when you can."
"What about you, sister?"
"I'm still hungry, so I'm planning to raid the kitchen later. If you're sleeping, I'll bring back your share, Princess."
"Please, just pay for it."
"Then I'll swap the food and money secretly, like a phantom thief. So go to sleep."
"…That sounds like fun."
Lustitia stroked the head of the drowsy Eleanor and waited until she fell asleep.
Lustitia cannot sleep.
She was under such a curse.
It might seem like nothing, but the curse was eating away at Lustitia's stamina and mind in real time.
"Haha… If there was someone who could lift this curse, I'm confident I could fall in love with them on the spot."
At this rate, she might go insane.
That's why, if possible, she wanted to help Eleanor achieve what she desired.
'Even that absurd light I saw at the Papal States couldn't get rid of my curse.'
Lustitia remembered the blue light she had been able to see even from a distance that day. It was a light that had healed even the wounded and collapsed Eleanor in an instant.
But even that light couldn't purify her curse.
'If it's a curse that can't be resolved even with that much power, then there's probably no one who can lift it.'
The curse that was eating away at her was revealing itself even through that thought.
Lustitia didn't even realize that it was magic and not a divine art.
She didn't even suspect.
Even though she had no aptitude for magic or divine arts, it showed just how cornered her mind was.
'Before long, I might go crazy from being unable to sleep, or conversely, I might fall into an eternal slumber. That's why…'
I have to resolve my last lingering attachment.
Eleanor had told Lustitia that she was imitating Decentura's appearance.
She had said it with her head bowed, as if it were her own sin.
"Eleanor, you are not imitating us."
But that was wrong.
Lustitia looked down again at the sleeping Eleanor.
The silver-blue hair, as good as a symbol of the Chrysos royal family.
"We just happen to be similar."
But her eyes were a deep blue, like sapphires, resembling her own.
A power of severance similar to, if not quite, the [Key of Understanding].
"Because we're actually family."
She wasn't imitating; she had merely regained her original form.
Because she, too, was a descendant of the Heros bloodline.