Chaotic Claims and the Secret of My Birth
Explanation? What were you trying to say? I approached Has, who had died mid-sentence, utterly dumbfounded.
"Hey, finish what you were saying!"
I poked the corpse, demanding answers, but obviously, that wasn't going to bring her back to life. It was just frustration talking.
"Mother, why'd you have to kill her right away?"
Resigned, I turned to Ares, who had done the deed. Sibylius had already subdued her completely—there was no need to kill her. I figured it was a fair point; we'd lost the chance to extract info from someone who clearly knew something.
"It doesn't matter either way."
Ares clearly didn't see it that way. She didn't even glance at Has's body, her eyes fixed solely on me.
Ares gripped both my shoulders firmly and said,
"Nothing matters as long as you're safe, Seres. You're more precious to me than anything else in the world—the one and only person I've ever cared for, when I've never given my heart to anyone before. For you, I'd do anything!"
"…."
"I should have said this before you left last time. I'm sorry it took so long. At least hear my true feelings now."
She monologued one-sidedly and pulled me into a hug. Being taller than me, her arms enveloped my entire body.
…What was this? Before I recovered my past-life memories, I'd definitely longed for Ares to say something like this. But now it felt off. She'd never cared for anyone? Did that mean she really did cold-shoulder her husband? Then why treat me like this?
"…."
"Isn't that enough already?"
As I stayed silent in her embrace, Arios cut in. She must have sensed the weird vibe too—her expression was awkward.
"Lady Ares?"
"Shut up. Who said you're my daughter-in-law?"
"Then Seres's mother-in-law. I get that you're happy to reunite with your son after so long, but maybe look around at the situation?"
Right—she was spot on. This wasn't the time or place. Right in the heart of the capital, in front of the temple, demons had appeared and clashed with the empire's most important figures. The area was already a total warzone.
"Aaaagh!"
"Everyone, run!"
Citizens still fleeing in panic even though the fight was over.
"Is it… all done?"
"Y-Yeah, looks like it."
Temple priests finally emerging after peeking at the situation, unable to find the right moment to intervene.
"Over here!"
"Is this where the demons appeared?"
And finally, the imperial army arriving fashionably late. They rushed up, only to freeze at the sight of Viol.
"Your Majesty?!"
"Are you alright?"
Viol coldly glared at her subordinates, who were asking about her well-being after everything was over.
"Are your eyes just for show? Can't you see all these demon corpses everywhere?"
"W-We see them…."
"What the hell were you doing while all these demons were dying? Why show up now?!"
"So many demons infiltrating the capital was beyond imagination—we had to assemble our full forces!"
"So because you were late preparing, that's supposed to be okay? Should I have to clean up your mess myself? If I were any other emperor, I'd be dead by now!"
She had a point. They'd probably delayed to gather their full strength after hearing about the demon horde, but it was a blunder. They should've dispatched at least a vanguard unit immediately—casualties could pile up during delays like that. No excuse would save them from getting fired, or worse.
But if I let it go on, it looked like they'd all end up literally headless, so I hurriedly called out to Viol.
"Viol, don't be too mad!"
"How can I not be mad in this situation?"
"Even you, as emperor, didn't know about that secret passage under the temple, right?"
"…You're always taking everyone else's side over mine."
Viol grumbled but, thanks to my intervention, didn't escalate further. Instead of executing the soldiers, she walked toward me, pried me out of Ares's arms, and grabbed my hand.
"Let's go back."
She started heading toward the imperial palace, but of course, Ares wasn't having it.
"Stop it."
"What?"
"There's no need to stay at the palace anymore. I'll take Seres home."
"After ignoring him all this time, now you want him?"
"Who ignored whom?!"
The two of them glared daggers at each other, both insisting they were taking me. I quickly intervened.
"Enough! I'll decide where I—"
But mid-sentence, someone else yanked me away.
"Come with me."
"…Sibylius?!"
Sibylius had suddenly jumped in and grabbed my wrist.
"Why the hell would I go with you?"
"I just said. If you're fated to be the Maou's consort, then I'll become the Maou."
"What nonsense is that?!"
I didn't even accept the premise that I was the Maou's consort in the first place.
"Are you actually insane?"
"What do you think you're doing?!"
The two who'd been fighting over me—Ares and Viol—now turned on Sibylius in disbelief, blocking her path.
"Still spouting that crap? You really plan to oppose me?"
"Why would I oppose you?"
Sibylius shrugged at Viol's interrogation.
"Even if I become Maou, I have no intention of being hostile. I can just submit like the other kings under the empire."
"…Then what about Seres?"
"You just need to back off."
"Like hell!"
As the two bickered, I thought to myself: You can decide all you want among yourselves, but it means nothing without my say-so.
"Hold on."
Then Hames stepped in. I half-expected her to join this childish tug-of-war, but thankfully, no.
"What about the saint appointment and bloodline verification?"
"Ah."
She reminded me of why I'd come to the temple in the first place—something I'd forgotten amid the demon chaos.
"Should we go back inside and do it?"
I awkwardly pretended to head in, but Hames, who had brought it up, stopped me.
"No. Now that we know there's a secret passage leading into the temple, it's too risky to send you back in there."
Fair point. There might be more demons gunning for me.
"We can just say the saint appointment is done—emergency situation and all…."
Hames trailed off, glancing at the other priests. They nodded vigorously in agreement.
With permission granted, only the bloodline verification remained, but…
"In my opinion, the bloodline proof is already settled."
Niobe, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up. She stared at Has's corpse with a complicated expression.
"It's not certain yet, but if my suspicions are correct, no one carries purer Huferion blood than our lord."
"What do you mean?"
"…I'll explain later."
That sounded like it had some backstory, but just saying that didn't make it go away. I stood there awkwardly, glancing at Ares. She eyed Viol and Sibylius warily before pulling me back to her side.
"Has was a traitor anyway, so she couldn't perform the bloodline spell. …Your Majesty, if you're fine with it, can we just consider it verified and move on?"
"What about that nephew of yours, Nemeth?"
"Do as you please, Your Majesty."
"…Is that really okay?"
"I trust you'll handle it well."
"First sensible thing you've said."
She didn't specify what she'd do, but I had a bad feeling I'd never see Nemeth again.
"How about we all head to the palace for now?"
With the two biggest issues resolved, Arios suggested awkwardly.
"I'd love to whisk Seres away alone somewhere, but that's not the situation right now. There might be more demons after him, so the palace—the safest place in the empire—makes sense."
Logical enough. No one could argue, so they just scowled and agreed.
Problems more or less solved.
"But Seres, what about this?"
One exception. Arios pointed at Red with a face like she'd spotted dog poop.
"You don't plan on taking that to the palace too, do you?"
"Is there a reason I can't?"
"Of course there is! Seres, even if she helped you, don't let your guard down!"
Arios looked like she wanted to kill Red on the spot but was holding back since she'd helped me.
Not just Arios—everyone eyed Red with suspicion.
…But she did save me. Without her, I might've been dragged off. So I planned to let her go, even if not bring her along.
"Seres, want me to finish what Has started telling you? Why she targeted you, the secret of your birth—I'll tell you everything, just you."
"…Follow me."
Red sidled up and whispered so only I could hear. I changed my mind on the spot. I was curious about Has's unfinished words, and now she dangled my birth secret too—impossible not to bite.
Back at the palace, I called Red to my room to hear this so-called secret.
"You're a being Has created with magic using a feather from the heavenly god. Originally meant as a trophy for the Maou, but after he died, she repurposed it for practical resurrection. She had you adopted into the Huferion family to steal Black Pain."
…What?