Chapter 88
Chapter 88
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 88
Chapter Title: Death March (2)
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Awkward silence filled the tent as Carlyle spoke up in a voice that sounded half-dead.
“⋯⋯Let me summarize.”
Between Siona, who was rolling her eyes, and Leona, Carlyle's weary voice dropped heavily, exhaustion thick in every word.
He clearly never imagined he'd be the one saying this.
“The thing we're dealing with now is a 'spirit body'—an extremely rare one that appears during a Death March.”
From what he'd heard, it was called the 'Black Omen'.
A special entity that drove nearby magical beasts into a berserk state just by existing.
'Magical beasts' consciousnesses merge into a collective hive mind.'
Most magical beasts had simplistic thought processes driven purely by instinct, but when enough gathered in one place, they could form some kind of 'existence'. Like a swarm consciousness.
It was a phenomenon observed very rarely in places where magical beasts numbered explosively, like during a Death March.
“⋯⋯Spirit body? What's that?”
At Leona's blinking question, Carlyle ran a hand through his hair and replied.
“I've heard various things, but... bottom line, normal attacks don't work on it.”
“Uh, but I'm a mage? Give me time, and I can fire off some amazing spells.”
“⋯⋯'Normal' attacks don't work at all.”
Not just physical attacks—even assaults created through abilities didn't land, he'd been told.
Hearing that, Siona shrugged.
“So, what's the conclusion?”
“They say if someone innately powerful in mana—like me and you two dragons here—creates a 'spiritual resonance' with it, the energy produced can deal damage.”
Siona's mouth hung open dumbly.
“Sorry, I'm not that bright. What does that even mean?”
“⋯⋯If I, and you two dragons who are innately powerful mana lifeforms, emit a 'positive force' that counters the negative power the Black Omen exudes, we can weaken it.”
“⋯⋯.”
“Without that, the entire subjugation force might have to prepare for total annihilation. It's that powerful.”
In other words...
The 'power of love' between the dragons and Carlyle.
⋯⋯Borrowing the messenger's phrasing, that's how it boiled down.
“⋯⋯.”
“⋯⋯.”
“⋯⋯.”
A horrific silence filled the tent.
Carlyle's mentality was one step away from collapsing too.
'Fuck.'
After finishing his explanation, he dryly washed his face with a motion soaked in self-loathing.
Somehow, just like Gray had said, he'd felt something off since the sky turned black...
But he never dreamed it'd come back to bite him like this.
“⋯⋯Ah.”
Siona barely squeezed out a response.
Her face flushed as she scratched her nose bridge, embarrassment plain as day.
“But, well— Hearing we need to suddenly get all buddy-buddy like this.”
⋯⋯Yeah, he got the sentiment completely.
Even hearing 'If you two don't like each other, we're screwed!' Carlyle couldn't imagine reacting any differently.
“Ah, it's not that I dislike you specifically, Carlyle? But that... positive emotion stuff⋯⋯”
“St-still, maybe we should... try??”
Leona at least stammered something out.
“If we don't, a lot of people could die or get hurt⋯⋯”
Leona's words cut off abruptly.
Siona's head didn't even turn her way.
Perfectly.
Utterly ignored.
As if she wasn't even there.
And Leona's face hardened as she watched.
Even she couldn't tolerate this treatment.
“⋯⋯Sister.”
“⋯⋯.”
“Sister. I'm calling you.”
“⋯⋯.”
“I put up with you vanishing without a word for over 200 years, no contact at all. You really gonna do this?”
“⋯⋯.”
Even as Leona's voice heated up, Siona scratched her head indifferently and kept silent.
Anyone would get pissed at that reaction.
So it made sense when Leona's face twisted and she spat out a venomous, blade-sharp sentence.
“⋯⋯Do you even remember the promise you made with me?”
“⋯⋯.”
“You said you'd stay by my side. No matter what path I took, you'd stick with me to the end.”
“⋯⋯.”
Siona remained silent.
Eyes closed, not even glancing her way.
“⋯⋯Ha.”
Leona swept back her hair.
“What a masterpiece. Makes me feel like an idiot for holding onto that all alone.”
“Don't spout nonsense.”
Siona quietly added.
“⋯⋯I don't care about some childish promise like that.”
“⋯⋯.”
“I have far more important matters.”
Leona's face went blank at Siona's words.
Then, erupting from beneath was a tsunami of rage.
“You call that something to say right now—?!”
“⋯⋯.”
As she watched Leona leap to her feet...
A disbelieving voice rose from the Holy Sword.
[⋯⋯Hey.]
'Yes?'
[The mood's serious, but isn't this just some petty emotional spat?]
'Pretty much.'
From what he'd gathered listening in...
After Siona killed her father and vanished, whatever circumstances followed were unknown.
But right now, between them was just 'emotional residue'.
Leona was resentful that Siona promised to always be by her side then ditched her.
Siona was consciously pushing her away, thinking her sister hated her, while Leona felt ignored by her sister.
Lack of communication.
Probably something a single honest heart-to-heart would fix easily.
'⋯⋯Though it's never that simple in reality.'
[What?]
'Some people find it easy to see from the sidelines but impossible to do themselves.'
[⋯⋯.]
⋯⋯The Hero had been like that too.
Problems that could've been solved with one straight word, she twisted into knots with creative flair.
If she'd just once sincerely told Vespa 'thank you'.
If she hadn't shredded Panhaima's heart searching for her sister.
If she'd listened even once to Drexler's plea to return home.
⋯⋯If she hadn't been trapped in the belief that she alone was right, that she alone must 'save the world'.
The catastrophe of the previous loops might not have happened.
'So, I've changed my mind.'
Gray had said there was no need to get deeply involved with people like this.
But watching, Carlyle couldn't just stand by without helping.
[⋯⋯What?]
'Siona here... she reminds me of the Hero right now.'
Twisting a simply solvable issue into knots due to her own thoughts and circumstances.
Exactly the flaw Carlyle had worked so hard to fix across countless loops.
'Can't just leave someone like this alone.'
Carlyle thought with a wry smile.
'Guess deep down, I actually like the Hero.'
[⋯⋯.]
'⋯⋯.'
[⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯.]
'⋯⋯Hero?'
The Holy Sword was emitting a noisy silence.
If it were in human form before him, it'd probably be opening and closing its mouth repeatedly, trying to speak.
[⋯⋯For real, you, fucking, absolute worst, scum, saying, that, so lightly⋯⋯]
'⋯⋯.'
Why did its voice sound... moist?
It could feel soft emotions like that?
'Touched? I mean it when I say you feel like a daughter to me.'
[⋯⋯That killed it stone dead.]
'⋯⋯.'
[Focus on fixing the situation, you pest.]
'⋯⋯.'
The chill in its voice meant it really had cooled off.
But Gray had a point.
Leona's momentum was turning dangerous as curses poured out. Leave it alone, and they'd really come to blows.
'Gotta step in soon.'
[How? Feels awkward meddling in personal stuff like this.]
'Uh⋯⋯ Somehow?'
These things were all about improvising.
That was the plan, anyway.
[⋯⋯Hmm.]
Gray snorted and cut in.
[Don't. I've got a good idea.]
'A good idea?'
[You need to build a good relationship with those two anyway. Still not thrilled about it, but.]
Leona had already handed him all the hints to seize control of the mood.
[Dragons are basically drawn to the strong.]
Well, precisely...
Not just raw power, but those with the 'charisma' to push strongly.
Leona herself had said dragons were instinctively attracted to such people.
In that case...
[Show off some charm right here.]
'⋯⋯Pardon?'
[You're pretty good at acting anyway. Just follow my lead.]
Eh.
Might not work for others.
But if the one doing it was 'Carlyle', it'd be pretty effective.
[Women melt for that gap moe anyway.]
'⋯⋯?'
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“-That's ridiculous. I was the fool for ever thinking someone like you was 'real' family! Selfish liar, vulgar trash—!”
Leona Libel poured her boiling rage straight into her words.
“Yeah, yeah, whatever.”
Siona, meanwhile, brushed it off indifferently or ignored her outright.
This had been going on for a while.
Parallel lines of conversation. Communication going nowhere.
“Um, everyone. Let's not do this—talk it out slowly again⋯⋯”
Carlyle desperately tried to mediate, but neither paid him any mind. Emotions were already sky-high on both sides.
To the point...
“P-please, you're scaring me—you might really fight, so calm down a bit—"
“Stay out of it—!”
Even as he tried smiling and wedging between them, her heightened emotions shoved Carlyle aside roughly.
And what followed was nothing like expected.
Carlyle, hit by Leona's forceful shove like a ragdoll, crashed to the floor with a thud.
Even if not a fighter, dragons were innately strong. A simple push could send a human skidding across the ground.
Blood trickled from Carlyle's scraped forehead.
“⋯⋯.”
“⋯⋯.”
Siona and Leona stared at Carlyle, momentarily stunned.
“⋯⋯Y-you okay? Why'd you butt in suddenly like that—"
“Carlyle, this is family business. Better to let us handle it ourselves than meddle—”
Their excuses sounded just like that—unconscious reactions born from thinking 'He'll be fine' about this man.
Carlyle Bellfast was fundamentally soft and fluffy.
Gentle, affable, always chuckling good-naturedly.
The type to forgive a slip-up like this with an apology. That image.
So...
“Everyone.”
When that response came...
It was 'different from usual', and both realized it instantly.
The voice of the man who always smiled warmly...
“I said stop.”
Was utterly, chillingly cold. Unlike ever before.
And in those eyes...
Undeniably...
Disappointment laced with contempt.
An expression this man would never make.
⋯⋯Something...
Just looking at it sent chills down the spine. That kind of 'gap' in his face.
“⋯⋯.”
“⋯⋯.”
⋯⋯Huh?
Siona and Leona's movements froze simultaneously.
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