Vengeance in the Ashes, Vows at the Table
It seemed there was no escaping the tragedy.
"Mom... Dad... Waaahhh! You can't die!!!!"
Yuna searched through the burning ruins of her home, desperate to find her mother and father.
"Ah... no!!!!!!!!!!!"
But all she found were the bodies of Jason and Amy. At the sight of her parents' corpses, Yuna broke down and wailed, then collapsed from the shock — and Thaleon began to approach her.
Who is this brat? Appearing out of nowhere... Well, does it matter? She's just a kid — I'll grant her as painless a death as I can.
The moment Thaleon moved to kill her, Yuna rose to her feet. Slowly, she lifted her gaze to meet his.
"Was it you? Did you kill my mom and dad?"
Her eyes were hollow, as though life itself had drained out of them. Yuna stretched out her hand toward Thaleon — and in that instant, her immense mana enveloped the demons gathered there. Every demon on the field vanished, all except Thaleon himself.
Impossible! This much mana from a mere human child? The witch's report was wrong! But I cannot retreat!
"That's right. I killed your father and your mother. But now you, too, will soon—"
Before Thaleon could finish, his right arm was severed.
"GYAAAAAAAH! You wretched girl — how dare you wound me! I will not forgive this!"
Thaleon charged at Yuna, but he never so much as touched her — her mana bore down on him, crushing him where he stood.
"Does it hurt a lot? You know, my mom and dad must have hurt even more. So spare me the whining."
Yuna planted her foot on Thaleon's back. It was as if she had become someone else entirely.
"Hey. Why did you kill my family? Why did you kill everyone in the village?"
What kind of human possesses this much power? Who is she? A High Demon like me, suppressed this easily —
"Answer."
When Thaleon stayed silent, Yuna stomped down on him once more.
"Still not talking? Fine, then. Don't bother begging me to kill you — I won't. For every single person you took — my mom, my dad, and everyone in the village — I'll make you suffer that many times over."
From that moment on, Yuna tortured Thaleon, and at last he confessed everything.
"I see... So that was it... You killed my family just to gain power! I will never forgive you!!!!!"
The instant Yuna's vast mana erupted, Thaleon could no longer withstand it and was annihilated.
"AAAAAAAHHHH!"
Unable to bear the grief of losing her parents, Yuna fainted on the spot.
An hour later, Arhen arrived at Arcana, intending to take Yuna on as a student.
"What did you say? Is that true? Demons attacked Yuna's village?"
"Yes... but I cannot leave Arcana because of the World Tree's binding. And the fairies and spirits cannot go out either, with the demons roaming outside... I'm sorry."
The moment Kuras finished speaking, Yurihen teleported straight to Kurara Village. Nothing remained there except Yuna herself.
Yuna wiped out the demons on her own? First things first — I have to take her with me.
"Yuna, are you all right?"
At Yurihen's question, Yuna crumpled to the ground.
She's spent every last drop of mana... Now that I'm here, the tension finally left her and she fainted... Rest well, Yuna. Rest as long as you need.
The Secree family was making its way toward the Shadow estate.
Inside the Secree carriage, Erich sat beside Shiina, while Vic and Iris occupied the seats facing them.
"Mother, how much farther is it to the Shadow estate?"
"About twenty more minutes."
"All I can see are vineyards as far as the eye reaches. Is this truly the territory of the Shadow family, house of spirits?"
"The Shadow family are assassins by blood, but to the world they pose as an ordinary count's house that grows grapes. So in polite society they go by the name of House Liam."
"Ah — so that's why the vineyards stretch on and on."
"We've arrived. Iris, take a good look. This is a land you'll be visiting often from now on."
But Iris, who had little interest in the Shadow family, gave the scenery barely a glance.
How tedious. It's high time it wasn't strange for me to see Yuseong... I should pay Helena a visit before long.
"Iris, Vic, we're here. Prepare to step down."
"Yes, Mother."
"Okay, Mom."
When word spread that the head of the Secree family had appeared at the front gate, the members of the Shadow household gathered there as well.
"Mom, what kind of people are the Secrees?"
"Shiina Secree, their head, is trash as a human being — but there's no denying she's a superb warrior. And Erich, the lady of the house, is a saint with a genuinely fine character, so I expect they'll raise their children well."
Having finished her quiet slander of Shiina, Sarah composed herself with proper courtesy upon hearing that Shiina and her family had arrived.
"It's been a while, Sarah. I apologize for turning up unannounced."
"Haah... This is hardly the first time you've pulled some absurd stunt out of nowhere, but I'd appreciate a little restraint."
"Fine, I understand."
As Shiina tried to smooth the matter over, Erich stepped forward.
"I sincerely apologize, my lady. We will follow proper protocol from now on."
"It's quite all right — just be more careful next time. And Erich, today we've come as friends, so please, drop the formalities."
"She's right, Erich. There's no need for any of that between us."
"Thank you. Now then — children, this is your first time meeting them, isn't it? Let me introduce you. Come out, dears. The girl is my eldest, Iris, and the second is Vic."
"It is an honor to meet you, my lady of House Shadow. I am Iris Secree."
"Hello! I'm Vic Secree!"
"So well-mannered — they take after no one on Shiina's side, do they? Then it's our turn to return the courtesy. Children, come out and greet them."
At Sarah's word, Albert and Tiny stepped forward — and the moment Iris laid eyes on Albert, the memories of her past life came flooding back in a rush.
Ah... AH!!!!!!!!! This memory, this feeling — I finally found it! I finally found Yuseong!!!!!!!!! I will never let you go again. From this day forward, you are mine, Yuseong. No — wait, I should be calling you Albert now, shouldn't I?
"Hello. I am Albert, eldest son of the Shadow family."
"I'm Tiny Shadow! It's a pleasure to meet you!"
Having introduced himself, Albert held out his hand to Iris. She took it in both of hers and clasped it firmly.
"I am Iris Secree. I look forward to knowing you, Young Lord Albert."
"The pleasure is mine, Lady Iris."
At the word Lady, Iris's mood soured at once.
"No, please. I'm the same age as Albert, and there's no gulf between our houses worth bowing over — just call me Iris."
"Oh? If you insist, that suits me just fine. I look forward to it, Iris."
"Me too. It's a pleasure, Albert."
And so the two of them met again, as fate had decreed. Watching the scene unfold, Shiina was privately astonished.
What is this? She never showed the slightest interest in men. Something is off about her. I'll have to look into it separately.
The two families agreed to share dinner together that evening. It was Shiina who spoke first at the table.
"Sarah, you already know why I've come to the Shadow house today, don't you?"
"I do. For the survival of your house and mine."
"Exactly. We have need of each other. Therefore, I intend to marry my daughter to your son."
No one was more startled by Shiina's declaration than Albert himself.
"Wh-what???? Marriage? This is the first I'm hearing any of this — Mother, what's going on?"
Sarah set down her utensils, considered for a moment, and then spoke.
"Albert, as you well know, our house has always seated a woman as its head. That makes Tiny the next successor — which means you must marry out."
Albert spoke up in response.
"I'm not against Tiny becoming the next head of the family. But marriage still feels far too early..."
"True, I feel the same. So Shiina — rather than marriage, I was thinking of a betrothal. What say you?"
Shiina weighed the proposal in silence.
A betrothal, hmm... Does it really matter? Truth be told, marriage does feel rather rushed. Binding our houses through an engagement should serve well enough. We can settle the marriage once the children are grown — deciding then won't be too late.
"Very well. I agree marriage is too soon. A betrothal, then. And what do the children think?"
Iris was the first to answer.
"I'm in favor. At first I worried what sort of man he might turn out to be, but his face is exactly to my taste — and more than anything, he seems to have a genuinely good character. If it's him, I would gladly accept a betrothal."
"Good — Iris is in favor. And you, Albert?"
"I... I honestly don't know yet... The betrothal, the house, all of it... So please, give me time..."
As Albert hesitated, Sarah slipped him a private question through telepathy.
Al, thank you for being honest with me. It isn't that you dislike Iris, is it?
No, it's not that I dislike Iris. I just need time to think things through...
Having finished the silent exchange, Sarah spoke aloud once more.
"Understood. Then let us do this: Al and Iris will spend the next two years getting to know one another and building their friendship, and only then will we speak of it again. How does that sound, Shiina? Any objections?"
"None from me. That sounds best. Then let's finish our meal, shall we?"
And so the two families carried on with their dinner — but Iris alone found herself unable to eat a single bite.
What do I do!!!! I'm overjoyed — it's as good as having Albert in the palm of my hand!!!! And from the look of things, he hasn't even met that wench yet. Over these two years I'll seduce him slowly, bit by bit, until he can't live without me and me alone. But before that, I need to find that worthless rag of a girl... The moment I return to the estate, I'm going to the Church of Helena...
Albert's heart, meanwhile, was anything but calm.
No!!!! I have Yujin... But how am I supposed to refuse? I don't even have a reason to... What on earth am I going to do...