Delphine's Story (2)
Originally, the survey unit's schedule had been planned for a minimum of three months.
The northern region of the Empire, Nosland, was extremely vast—even excluding the unexplored mountainous areas.
But they returned to the Imperial Capital in less than a month.
This alone was already shocking, but what came next was even more surprising.
“Your Majesty the Emperor. We must offer sacrifices immediately, immediately.”
“Delphine? What are you saying right now.”
“I did not say so? There is something in the north that cannot even be described!”
The Knight of Steel, called the Sword of the Empire, Delphine Lionheart.
The hero who has slain all kinds of evil beings is talking about sacrifices.
“Calm down and speak in detail. It has been less than a month since you left.”
“As soon as we reached the north, we encountered it. That red, gigantic being.”
Delphine, who had demanded alcohol instead of water, was now pouring out the content roughly.
Rude behavior in front of the Emperor, but she had no time to care.
She could not possibly speak with a clear head.
She needed to borrow some alcohol’s strength. Without it, it was impossible.
“Haa, haa…”
After drinking all the strong alcohol and calming her breathing.
“Your Majesty.”
Delphine was finally able to convey the conclusion she had drawn.
“It is a being that cannot be confronted.”
“Then, according to the cult’s words, it is not a monster?”
Upon the Emperor’s question, Delphine nodded her head.
Yes. How could it be a monster.
It must not be a monster. If it were, the world would belong to them.
“Then, the opinion that it is a phoenix.”
“It is not that either. Absolutely, absolutely not.”
Phoenix. A life form that burns itself to live eternally.
It is mysterious, true. But it is not great.
It is just strange. Close to immortality.
“If that being were a phoenix, the world would have called it a god.”
“…”
“Your Majesty, please, please listen to my words.”
The Empire has brave knights. Many trained soldiers.
Among them, Delphine is the one the Emperor trusts most.
The ear of all knights and the sword that cuts the Empire’s enemies.
The shield that protects the Empire from all evil beings.
If Delphine’s words are not listened to, whose words would be heeded?
“The one who killed the demonic dragon a year ago was definitely that being. The reason is unknown. But it is certain that that being did what it did.”
“…”
“We provoked that being, and eventually sent a warning. Even though it was not an attack, no one, including me, could dare to resist.”
It was hard to believe. It was Delphine, of all people.
How many evil beings had she slain with her hands so far?
The southern harpy, the eastern cannibal ogre, the northern iron-armored ghost, and so on.
It was not just a coincidence that the words ‘reincarnation of the hero’ came out.
She had proven her qualifications. Achieved great deeds.
If she had also caught the western demonic dragon, it would have been perfect.
“That being was enraged. If we do not appease its anger, something terrible will happen.”
“Delphine.”
But Delphine was in such terror that she could not even think.
The next words would be hard for even the Emperor who trusts her to accept.
“Then, we must offer sacrifices.”
“You cannot say such nonsense! Sacrifices!”
The number of monsters that had harmed the Empire so far could not be counted.
There were even more evil beings more vicious than those monsters.
Many lives had been spilled. Many sacrifices had been made.
Yet the Empire had eventually defeated them all.
Other kingdoms had surrendered and offered sacrifices.
Only the Empire had fought until the end.
They had won in the end and shown the greatness of humanity.
Delphine was the one who had stood at the forefront and swung the sword.
She had not received the qualification to be called a hero for nothing.
Yet now she was talking about sacrifices.
The hero who had never given up until now had completely broken.
“Delphine. Come to your senses. It is not anyone else, but you, if you do this, what will happen!”
“I experienced it right in front of me. I saw it right in front of me. Your Majesty. How powerful that being is.”
“Even if that is the case, you cannot do it. You have to think about winning, not kneeling down!”
Even at this moment, somewhere in the Empire, they might be fighting monsters.
They might be battling newly revived evil beings.
It was never the case that the Empire always won.
Rather, in terms of numbers, they had lost more times than won.
So, why did they not give up. Even if death was certain, why fight.
Even if they lost, the belief that victory would eventually belong to the Empire.
Because Delphine, the great victor of humanity, was firm.
Today, all the people of the Empire were struggling as humans.
“Think about it slowly. If what you saw ‘that’ was truly enraged, would it have sent all the people of our Empire who were there and the cult members alive?”
“…”
Thinking about it, it was not entirely wrong.
Even if it was for the purpose of warning, it would be enough to send just a few.
Sending all of them alive like this was strange.
No harm had been done. No one had gotten injured and returned.
It was as if the herbivorous animal had just given a mild threat.
“Sacrifices are also a problem. Did that being want sacrifices?”
“It is not the case…”
“Or do you know what it wants?”
“It is also…”
“You cannot decide based on our judgment without knowing anything.”
Upon the Emperor’s words, Delphine barely regained her sanity.
Yes. She knew nothing. It was all guesswork.
If it backfired, it was better not to do it.
“First, we should observe the north more closely. Delphine, go rest.”
“But…”
“It is an imperial order. Go rest well, and see you in three days.”
Although she had not gotten injured, Delphine’s appearance was pitiful to anyone who saw it.
Her eyes sunken in. Cheeks hollowed out.
One could tell how much she had agonized.
“I will obey the imperial order.”
Delphine, who had left the Imperial Palace, returned to her residence weakly.
Normally, she would have immediately started training upon arriving.
As a measure to not lose the battle sense from the battlefield.
However, today she had no such intention at all.
Her energy drained. No strength in her limbs.
“Haa…”
After barely finishing a shower, standing was impossible.
Delphine threw her body onto the bed and stared blankly at the ceiling.
――Whiuuu!
The sound of that being’s cry was still clear in her ears.
Just thinking about it gave her goosebumps. Her chest swelled.
The feeling that she could never coexist made her want to go mad.
If she was afraid, she was afraid, and if she admired, she admired.
Why were all these mixed? How was this possible?
“I still cannot catch even a glimpse. What on earth was that?”
The first encounter was during the demonic dragon subjugation last year.
But at that time, I had not properly confirmed it.
I had just seen the red world and burning sky.
And the second meeting that had happened recently.
Perhaps it might not be the same being, but Delphine shook her head.
It was definitely the same being. Her intuition was screaming that.
It had instantly annihilated the demonic dragon and suppressed her with just its gaze.
Even though it could have killed everything with just its mind, it had not.
Then, was it really saving the village?
If it was real, why? Why? Without any reason?
Was it not human but had sympathy even towards humans?
I do not know. I do not know anything. I cannot tell.
She tried turning her body to not think.
But the more she did that, the clearer the events of that day became.
The scene of kneeling down and begging for her life came to mind.
It was an action not befitting the Knight of Steel, the Sword of the Empire.
If she met again, would she be able to muster courage this time?
Could she overcome her fear and maintain the will not to submit?
Delphine tossed and turned her body again.
After trying to erase the shame, other thoughts followed.
“It was too beautiful…”
She muttered unconsciously.
It was truly funny. At that moment, she had been trembling in fear of death.
But now, she could not help but admire the beauty.
But the red bird she had met in the north had been beautiful.
It had been full of elegance. Noble and graceful, and brilliant.
It would be like if a burning sun came to life.
Suddenly, this thought came to mind. Wanting to see it one more time.
It was regretful, but it might run away again.
She wanted to hold that brilliance she had once seen again.
“…”
As if bewitched by something, Delphine slowly raised her body.
She looked out the window for a moment, then soon made a decision.
She changed her clothes, packed her sword. Checked the camping supplies.
Funny to say, now the luxurious residence was less familiar than camping.
Thanks to traveling all over the place for the Empire.
The Emperor’s order was rest. And waiting.
So far, she had never defied the imperial order.
So, she believed that the Emperor would overlook it once.
If she were to be punished, she could say she would cut her achievements.
At least she thought she had that much qualification.
“The gigantic red bird.”
To quench this inexplicable thirst. To resolve this inexplicable heat.
The Knight of Steel, the Sword of the Empire, Delphine Lionheart headed north.