Sylvia's Torment (3)

"Hah… hah…"

When she finished the letter, Sylvia felt as if something had clamped shut around her chest. She could barely draw a breath. The world before her eyes went black and dim. The light—was vanishing.

"Wh-what do I do…? What am I supposed to… do about this…"

If even Father would not take her side… then what in the world was she supposed to do?

"I-it's fine… I-if I just tell him honestly, Father will take my side in the end. He will. Of course he will… We're… f-family, after all. In the end, the only people you can lean on are your family."

Sylvia crumpled the letter and flung it to the floor. She returned to the Academy and packed her things. According to Minerva, she was already as good as graduated. Going home made no difference. No—right now, she had to go home. This was the moment she needed to talk with her family.

"If we meet and talk it through, it'll work out…"

With that thought, she climbed into a carriage. After so long away, she wanted to shake off the travel fatigue at home and calmly sort through her thoughts.

But—

"You will leave for the imperial capital at once."

She did not even have time to unpack. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠The father she had just reunited with said it flatly—over the dinner table. Sart Sarubia's tone was so absolute there seemed no crack left to pry open.

"Looking at you, you seem perfectly fine. There is not the slightest reason for you to retire. You will go to the imperial capital immediately, present yourself before His Majesty the Emperor, take your place as a formal member of the Hero Party, and continue to distinguish yourself on the Demon Continent exactly as you have until now."

"F-Father…"

"What is it?"

Sylvia spoke carefully.

"The truth is… as I wrote in my letter, I intend to retire."

"What did you say?"

Sart's eyes flashed sharp as blades.

"Absolutely not."

"Father!"

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"When I say no, it means no! Stop this nonsense! We have only just come this far, and you speak of retiring! The appointment to the Hero Party is made by His Majesty the Emperor himself! Do you not even understand that you have no right to refuse?"

"But… we are a Count family! With our house's influence… refusing something like this… shouldn't be impossible!"

"Enough!!! Stop this idiotic talk this instant!!! Please!!!"

"Father, please just listen to me."

"I have already made my will perfectly clear! You are a member of the Hero Party! This is the glory of our house and the honor of the nation! To refuse it is beyond absurd! Why do you keep throwing these ridiculous tantrums?"

"…I'm scared…"

"Scared of what?!"

"What if I go to the Demon Continent and die…"

"What?"

Sart dropped the fork he was holding, as if he could ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠not believe his ears.

"You call that a reason!! A girl who is supposed to be the heir of House Sarubia…!!"

"Dear, dear… calm yourself."

"You heard her too!!! That foolish child just spoke of fear!! With talent like hers, what could she possibly be afraid of…! How utterly pathetic!! Enough!!! I will not listen to another word! Let me make this clear—if you do not go to the Demon Continent, I will cast you out of this house! You will never see our faces again, so remember that!"

Sart stormed from the table in a fury. Sylvia's mother approached her bowed head and offered what comfort she could.

"Sylvia… are you all right? Your father may speak that way, but he is worried about you…"

"…………."

"Still, this really isn't like you. You, who were greedier for achievement than anyone, refusing this selection… The Academy contacted us saying your condition wasn't good. Shall I call a physician?"

"No…"

"Then what is it? If there is anything Mother can do to help, tell me anything at all. This mother of yours will always be on your side."

"Mother…"

Sylvia spoke in a voice thick with tears. She no longer had the courage—or the strength—to keep the secret.

"The truth is… there's a reason I can't fight."

"A reason? What is it?"

Sylvia poured it all out. Her mental state, and Jack. Her mother listened patiently to the very end, then encouraged her in a gentle voice.

"I see… Now I understand. Now I understand how a kind-hearted girl like you was able to fight so well. But Sylvia. If what you say is true, then as long as you have Jack, you can fight again, can't you?"

"It's impossible. Jack already left."

"Then why not ask him to come back?"

"I tried… He said no."

"Did you get down on your knees?"

"What?"

Sylvia was so startled she doubted her own ears.

"W-why would I… There's no way I would go that far. Why should I? It would be humiliating."

"This is not the time to be counting your pride. It seems you are not desperate enough yet."

"W-what did you say?"

"I will tell you why your father is so furious. Sylvia… the truth is, our house is currently on the brink of ruin."

"…………."

"You know that your father once backed Prince Charles as the next emperor, don't you? He believed the First Prince, Charles, would take the throne. But the one who actually became emperor is the current sovereign—His Majesty Carlos. In the end, your father backed the wrong horse. His Majesty is ruthlessly purging the nobles who supported anyone other than himself. Naturally our house was on the list for purging as well, but the reason we have survived until now is you. Because you performed so brilliantly in the field… that is the only reason we still have our lives."

"Th-that was why…?"

It was the first she had heard of it.

"In this world, falling out of His Majesty's favor means death… If, in a situation like this, you defy His Majesty's command, our house is finished. I am begging you, Sylvia… you are an adult now, aren't you? You need to understand how the world works. If we want to survive, we have to stay in His Majesty's good graces. In circumstances like these, is kneeling and begging Jack really so much to ask? If doing whatever it takes to get Jack's power means you can fight again, that is the absolute first priority. Think carefully… please."

"…Kh."

Get down on her knees? To Jack?

Impossible.

This was not even a matter of wounded pride.

Oh, Sylvia~ my beloved!

Get lost!

I love you, Sylvia!

I said get lost, you lunatic!

What do I have to do for you to accept me?

I'd rather die than be with you!

That was how it had always been between them—Jack chasing her like a madman, and her coldly shutting him down. That was the custom. The rule.

And now… she was supposed to reverse that relationship?

She was supposed to cling to Jack from her side?

No. Absolutely not.

No. Absolutely not.

Absolutely not!

Don't make me laugh…

Sylvia clenched her fist tight where no one could see. The option of clinging to Jack did not exist in her mind. Instead, she wrote a letter to her master, Grid Great—a detailed account of her situation, and a request for help. A few days later, the reply arrived.

"That's Master for you! He came through!"

Sylvia stared at the bottle of potion like an explorer who had just sighted the Cape of Good Hope. With this, she did not need Jack. See? There had been no need to grovel before that bastard at all.

She ran to her father and reported the news with a bright face.

"Father. I… I'll go. I'll go to the Demon Continent."

"Oh, Sylvia. At last you have come to your senses."

"Yes! There is no problem anymore!"

"Sylvia, my daughter!"

Overcome with emotion, Sart embraced her. The warmth of her father's arms.

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"With you here, our house can rest easy. Thank you truly, Sylvia. Never forget that the fate of our house rests upon your two shoulders. This expedition will be hard, but it will be a journey filled with glory. When you return to this house, we will welcome you with every preparation complete."

"Yes! Thank you, Father!"

"This is no time to stand around. We must throw a proper farewell banquet. The day my daughter Sylvia departs. The day she sets out on a journey of glory. I will send you off with a splendid party!"

"Haha. Oh, Father."

"Do not be so easily impressed. When you return, our house's fortunes will be far more vigorous still, and the welcome banquet will be far grander!"

"Hahaha! I'll look forward to it!"

That day, Sylvia enjoyed a happy party with her family. Her father dropped occasional hints that an even greater banquet would come next time, and Sylvia let herself sink into those imaginings—the thought that once the Demon Continent expedition was over and she came home, even happier things would be waiting.

From now on, only happy things are waiting in my life.

That day truly was happy.

But Sylvia did not know. She did not know that this was the last party she would ever enjoy. That what awaited her on the Demon Continent was nothing but a cruel hell. That even after she returned from there, there would be no welcome banquet of any kind—only her family's resentment and condemnation, lined up and waiting.

"Farewell, Sylvia! The hope of our house!"

"We will always love you!"

Ignorant of all those truths, Sylvia left home. Her heart full of love for her family, she kept waving from the carriage window. This was the last moment Sylvia Sarubia would ever spend in harmony with her family.

When she returned to this house again, she would have become the object of endless hatred. Sylvia still knew nothing of that future.