The Crisis
The long-awaited Founding Festival was finally just one day away. This year’s event drew royalty and nobles from other nations, along with countless merchants, making its scale incomparable to any ordinary festival. That was why I had been dragged out of bed at the crack of dawn and forced into this elaborate grooming ritual.
I couldn’t understand why we had to go to such lengths, but then again, noble society lived and died by empty formalities and etiquette. After moving around in a half-dazed state for what felt like forever, I finally came to my senses and realized the preparations were complete. Merlin took one look at me and nodded in satisfaction.
“Now you actually look like a noble.”
“What about Diana?”
“She finished a while ago. Go inside and see for yourself.”
I walked in the direction Merlin pointed. The moment I opened the door and stepped inside, I froze. A girl stood there, completely drowned in pink from the tips of her toes to the top of her head. Heavy, dramatic makeup. A tightly cinched corset. A fluttering, delicate dress. And voluminous, perfectly rolled buns of hair. She was the very picture of a spoiled, aristocratic young lady who would glare daggers and snap at you in a shrill voice the second you dared speak to her.
“Well? Doesn’t she look perfect?” Merlin burst into loud, cackling laughter.
The sound filled the air, and Diana’s cheeks flushed a deep crimson. A chuckle slipped past my lips before I could stop it. At this level, she really did look like an entirely different person. I couldn’t help but marvel once again at the power of the disguise artifact.
“Her name is Odette Astoria. Just remember her as a tomboyish count’s daughter from the duchy. Keep it in mind. It’ll make it easier to match stories if anything unexpected happens.”
Diana’s hands, clutching the frills of her dress, were trembling violently. I didn’t have the energy to offer her any comfort. Swallowing back the laughter threatening to burst out of me was already taking everything I had.
“If you’re ready, let’s head down. We don’t have time to dawdle.”
I descended the stairs slowly with Diana. The constant swaying of the frills at my side made it difficult to focus my gaze. When we finally stepped out the main gate, a waiting carriage came into view. It was an extravagant vehicle decorated with pure white marble and golden engravings. One glance screamed, I am a noble, thank you very much.
“There’s only one carriage?”
“What more do you want? Two people riding in one carriage is plenty.”
“Two people? Merlin, aren’t you coming with us?”
“That’s right. I have no particular desire to run into those imperial types.”
Imperial types? Did Merlin have some kind of bad blood with the imperial family?
“Do you know anyone there?”
“A few. There’s no real reason to pay them any mind, but it would be troublesome if they tried to act familiar, wouldn’t it?”
She had a point. I nodded vaguely just as the coachman, who had descended from the carriage, approached and spoke cautiously.
“Young master, the hour is growing late. If you wish to arrive at the time you specified, we must depart immediately.”
“Then let’s leave right away. Diana… I mean, Odette. Follow me.”
“……”
Diana nodded, her face burning bright red. Once we had both climbed into the carriage, it lurched forward with the loud clatter of hooves. And so, our strange companionship began.
The time inside the carriage was pure torture. Not because of the bumpy ride or uncomfortable seats. No, the true culprit was the dazzling sight of Diana sitting directly across from me.
“……”
“……”
The cat-like, upward-slanted eyes actually suited her surprisingly well. But every time I met that face, holding back my laughter became an entirely different ordeal. A suffocating silence stretched between us. The entire journey, I barely managed to choke down the laughter that kept rising in my throat.
As we neared our destination, the carriage began to slow dramatically. I glanced out the window and saw a long line of carriages stretching from the entrance.
“Why is the line so long…”
“It seems the security checks are taking longer because of the Founding Festival, sir.”
“Security checks?”
“Yes. Since it is a festival hosted directly by the imperial family, safety is naturally a top priority.”
I nodded in understanding. If any incident were to occur here, the entire responsibility would fall on the imperial family.
No wonder it’s taking so long.
The warm sunlight pouring in made me drowsy. I nodded off several times, and before I knew it, our turn had arrived. The inspection didn’t take long. I was a member of the Winfred ducal family. On top of that, I was the imperial family’s chief alchemist. That alone was more than enough to guarantee my identity.
Once we passed through the entrance, a fairly large garden came into view, set a short distance away from the forest. Vibrant flowers in every color bloomed fresh along the stone paths. A tranquil fountain pond, ornate lights and decorations placed everywhere, a wide expanse of lawn, and tall hedge walls that provided shade. With every breath, my lungs felt refreshed.
Diana followed behind me, looking around with open curiosity. Servants belonging to the imperial household bustled between the tables of each family, carrying food. Beneath the tents set up throughout the garden, nobles who had arrived early gathered in groups, chatting among themselves.
I wandered around looking for an empty table where we could sit comfortably. That was when a snippet of whispered conversation reached my ears.
“It’s surprising. I can’t believe Duke Winfred isn’t attending the Founding Festival.”
“Even more surprising is Her Majesty the Empress. She has never missed a single Founding Festival before. I wonder if something has happened to her health…”
What was this about? The Empress and Duke Winfred weren’t participating in the Founding Festival?
“Still, the young duke and the duchess are here.”
“What about Luna Winfred?”
“I’m not sure. I don’t think I’ve seen her.”
Of course Luna Winfred wouldn’t be here. She was probably busy trailing after Isabelle’s every move right now. Which meant…
Both of them must be nearby.
Of all places, the Founding Festival was being held near the Alter Forest in the eastern territory, where the Holy See was located. Once the erosion of the Black Fog began, it wouldn’t be long before those two encountered each other here.
I had to meet Isabelle no matter what. Only then could I receive the Holy Solvent and complete the Elixir.
As for the Black Fog… I don’t really need to worry about it.
Yes, there was no particular reason for concern. High-risk monsters would certainly pour out and turn the area into a wasteland, but there shouldn’t be any significant loss of life. After all, this place, where the world’s key figures had gathered, was arguably the safest location possible.
With Isabelle and Luna here, it’s basically game over.
Isabelle was the central figure of this world, shaped by gathering every possible divine blessing. Purifying the Black Fog? That was merely a tiny fraction of her abilities. Her true power lay in the authority of annihilation born from her overwhelming divine energy.
The same went for Luna. The Winfred ducal family was one of the empire’s three guardian houses, but they were also the greatest swordsmanship family in the empire. There was no way Luna, a direct descendant, would have weak personal combat ability. In fact, if we were talking purely about raw power, she might even surpass Isabelle. It wasn’t for nothing that Luna had been a candidate for family head despite being a woman.
Above all, both of them were regressors. There was no need to worry about safety here. My task was simple: spend an appropriate amount of time with Rudine, then meet Isabelle at the right moment to receive the Holy Solvent. That would be the end of it.
Just then, a familiar voice called out from behind me.
“Kyle—!”
Rudine Eckhart. She was waving her hand and walking toward me.
Isabelle was walking along a forest path.
Ludwig had been revealed to be a spy from the duchy. And it wasn’t just Ludwig. Quite a few others had crossed over from the duchy to the Holy See through a series of routes. It had only been possible because the Holy See was relatively free from the empire’s influence.
Ludwig had died by her hand, and the duchy’s dogs connected to him had all been executed at once.
Isabelle muttered with a dazed expression.
“Kyle…”
She had heard the news from the Pope. Kyle was scheduled to attend the Founding Festival. And there, he would be escorting the princess.
“…”
Isabelle ground her teeth and made a vow. Rudine Eckhart. The moment this erosion ended, she would definitely tear that damned woman away from Kyle.
Step. Step.
Isabelle walked. To see Kyle’s face. And to save him from the Founding Festival that would soon be turned into a wasteland.
She had refused even an escort because she didn’t want anyone interfering with their reunion. At least for this moment, she wanted to enjoy it alone, without anyone’s interference.
She had been walking alone for quite some time when—
“……”
Over the steady rhythm of Isabelle’s footsteps, another set of footsteps overlapped. Heavy. Ominous. An unbearably unpleasant sound scattered across her ears. It was definitely coming from behind her.
When she turned her head, she saw a woman approaching. A familiar face.
“……Luna Winfred.”
Luna Winfred. She was dragging a sharply honed longsword across the ground as she advanced toward Isabelle.
Isabelle let out a hollow laugh and asked.
“Why are you here…?”
“Do you really need to ask? How annoying.”
“Wait, what’s with that sword?”
“This?”
When Isabelle asked, Luna’s lips twisted. She lifted the sword. Sunlight poured down, making the blade gleam.
“What else? It’s a sword.”
Luna smiled brightly. A ferocious killing intent pricked at Isabelle’s skin. At the same time, a lightning-like realization struck her mind.
“Ha…”
Those eyes. That aura. That attitude. There was no doubt about it. Luna Winfred had come here to kill her.
“With what right?”
A mocking sneer escaped Isabelle’s lips. A voice mixed with resentment followed.
“If it weren’t for you…”
Isabelle was dumbfounded. After driving Kyle to the edge of a cliff, she now wanted to punish her? The terrible contradiction made her sick to her stomach, and the hideous sight felt like staring at her own reflection in a mirror.
“…I wouldn’t have fallen for such ridiculous rumors.”
A sacred radiance burst forth from Isabelle’s body. The dense glow shimmered like haze before forming a hemispherical barrier that enveloped her.
Luna remained silent. Her sunken eyes gleamed with murderous intent. And then—
“Didn’t I tell you to shut up?”
The sword swung.
“……Ha.”
Slash—
A massive horizontal line was carved through the air. Countless diagonal lines overlapped atop it. At that moment—
Kiiiiii—!!
A distorted noise that tore through space filled the air. At the same time, streaks of light shot through the sky, colliding with the sword strike and exploding into flashes.
“What the…”
Crack—!!
The condensed sphere of light surrounding Isabelle began to fracture like glass covered in cracks. Overwhelming waves of magical power surged through the shattered fragments of space.
Boom—
The ground shook from the rippling vibration. Isabelle barely managed to steady her staggering body.
“……Crazy bitch.”
A curse laced with irritation slipped from between Isabelle’s lips. The divine power she had raised to its peak had scattered helplessly from a single sword strike. This was dangerous. A sharp warning bell rang inside her head.
Luna continued walking forward with unfocused eyes. The eerie sight made Isabelle swallow hard.
“Have you lost your mind?”
“Shut up.”
“No matter how much Kyle may hate me, do you really think your current actions will be tolerated? Kyle is probably waiting desperately for me beyond those trees right now.”
“……What?”
Luna’s eyes widened. Isabelle didn’t miss the opening and continued.
“You didn’t know? Rudine Eckhart invited Kyle to the Founding Festival.”
“…”
“And I only came here at Kyle’s request.”
Isabelle sneered. Then she pulled out the Holy Solvent from her bosom and shook it slowly, as if taunting her.
“What are you going to do? Kyle still needs me. Now, and in the future.”
“…”
“And in that situation, you’re going to kill me?”
Luna’s pupils rippled like waves. Isabelle shot out a voice as cold as frost.
“Can you handle the consequences?”