154. Immature, or Despair (1)
154. Immature, or Despair (1)
- 1 -
In her fifteenth year, Areupina entered the Royal Magic School of the Kakia Kingdom.
An age far younger than her peers.
"Miss Areupina's talent is truly extraordinary."
"But her bloodline is..."
"Ahem. Such things are all trivial before the great path of the magical arts."
By this point, she was already a skilled psychologist and, at the same time, an accomplished user of mental magic.
"Miss Mailtrom. Be careful. Peering into the human heart is a double-edged sword."
"Yes. Thank you, Professor."
Answering with thanks to the professor who was particularly fond of her, Areupina sneered inwardly.
She already knew.
The secret that he abused his own wife and child every night.
"I am already being sufficiently careful. Since I am still keeping your secret."
Watching the professor's face turn pale with a cold sneer, controlling him from behind.
Growing up in school like that, at twenty, Areupina became the youngest professor of the consultation office at the Kakia Royal Magic School.
"Professor. I have something to tell you..."
"Hello, Professor. I have a concern..."
By this point, she had earned fame as the kingdom's finest psychologist and counselor.
"Who says that what is in your heart is unjust...?"
"Confess your true feelings. And become free."
Students constantly visited her consultation room, and she made those countless students bring out their 'true feelings' little by little.
As a result, numerous individuals with twisted desires were mass-produced within the Royal Magic School, but that problem was completely buried.
"A high-ranking individual has taken an interest in your consultation room."
"It is an honor."
It was partly because the accused twisted by Areupina were all nobles, but more importantly, the ones presiding over it were the royal family, who had begun sponsoring her.
"Professor. I..."
It was one day while she was carrying on like that.
The day she made a great discovery that became the source of her new pleasure and desire.
"I want to erase my memories. Could you help me?"
- 2 -
Four days after the outbreak of war.
The frenzy and chaos enveloping the southwestern front grew denser at an even faster pace.
Of course, there were several reasons behind it.
Including a few tricks Libertas had devised.
"These mongrels are...? Ah, human mercenaries."
The mercenaries bribed by Evangeline had infiltrated Mathepit's rear and wandered about plundering freely. But their unrestrained rampage came to an end just three days after the war began.
Libertas had originally planned to 'deal with' them after some time had passed.
But what one calls fate is truly strange.
As it happened, a few days earlier than planned, the patrol routes of Nirvana's monsters roaming to harass Mathepit's rear overlapped with these mercenaries.
"What shall we do, Great Master?"
- ...
Kamellia, the Red Camellia Alraune leading the monsters, cleverly waited for nightfall as she received Libertas's orders.
- Do as you please. There is no need to commit other personnel.
"Run! Run away!"
"Where the hell do we run to?! We're surrounded on all sides!"
"Wh-where did these monsters even come from—!!"
Just before dawn broke, Kamellia commanded the monsters and brutally slaughtered them. Every last one, without exception.
"Let's go."
Her steps and those of the monsters headed straight for Mathepit's rear.
Currently, Damamolron's military strength was relatively high, but the humans of Mathepit also needed to have their bellies starved.
"Those bastards are dead? Ha! Serves them right!"
"Damn, Hrette is...?"
In Mathepit, their end was considered just retribution, while the Damamolron side gnashed their teeth in rage over the gruesome death of their comrades.
Because while this mercenary corps was infamous as plunderers in Mathepit, they were the ones who had brought back the remains of Viola, the daughter of the Lord of Damamolron.
The two camps held differing opinions, but they did share one thing in common.
Namely, that both believed the mercenaries' deaths were the work of the Mathepit knights.
It was due to the brutal marks carved into the mercenaries' corpses, reminiscent of 'personal vengeance.'
"Here! There's a body!"
Meanwhile, another incident occurred on the riverbank where the lizardmen had withdrawn and vanished.
There, where supply disruptions were taking place due to unidentified attackers, the knights of Damamolron discovered equipment belonging to the Mathepit army.
"This equipment... it's Mathepit's standard-issue gear! It was those bastards after all!"
"Wait. This seems somehow strange..."
"Let's make them pay the price!!"
"These fucking bastards... they tampered with our food?"
The opinion that it was strange to bring standard-issue equipment for a rear assault and disruption was swiftly swept away by a wave of rage and resentment, easily disappearing.
Moreover, when the mercenaries heard that the reason they were fighting on empty stomachs was the doing of Mathepit, they were seized by even greater fury and hatred.
"Let's kill the monkeys...!"
"Tear the Imperial dogs to death!!"
Retaliation called forth further revenge, and revenge again led to resentment.
It was all the more vicious because the direction of all that revenge was wrong.
"Ah, Siena...!"
"Viola... Viola..."
Now, only their families remembered the girl who became the starting point of all this tragedy, and Viola.
"But why is that culprit here?"
"Well..."
Except for these women, who unintentionally came to recall that first grudge.
- 3 -
According to the analysis of various national leaderships and Libertas's plan, the ignition point of the Hysen southwestern front was the gruesome death of one girl.
This incident provoked public outrage in Mathepit and created the first emotion that would become the fuse of war.
Damamolron amplified Mathepit's anger by refusing to investigate the incident, and as a result, it was a ploy to draw out their declaration of war.
According to the original plan, this matter would have ended as a small-scale war.
It would have concluded with a few casualties.
Although the feelings between the peoples of the two nations would have deepened further, they would nonetheless have learned the lesson that a peaceful state was better.
"But why is that culprit here?"
"Perhaps he simply fled after seeing things escalate."
The culprit who created those feelings was originally scheduled to be discovered by the Damamolron side later, handed over to Mathepit, and finally end all grudges through an execution ceremony.
But by an unexpected coincidence.
That culprit, fearing the threat of death, hid in the mountains and ended up encountering Kamaya's party, who had been hiding there first.
"I-I was wrong...! Please! I only did as I was told!"
"No, I am in a position where I ought to thank you, but..."
"Excuse me...?"
"So I shall send you off in one go."
The hand gripping the polearm rose toward the sky.
It was thanks to this mercenary that Libertas's faction had gained a great opportunity.
But there was no reason to keep him alive.
As it happened, he had discovered the sight of 'suspicious humans' staying with the sleeping Viola.
"Wait a moment, Your Majesty."
"Hm?"
Josephine stopped Kamaya. It was because she had discovered something interesting in his last words.
"Who told you to do what?"
"Huh...? Aren't you from Mathepit? To investigate that incident..."
Kamaya's and Josephine's eyes met.
The culprit seemed to have misunderstood, seeing Josephine's noble attire and their appearance of hiding in a shabby cave.
That they were investigators dispatched from Mathepit.
Josephine acted swiftly before the culprit could grow suspicious.
"Yes. That's right."
"Oh... I knew it. But I only did as I was told as well! I followed the words of those who kidnapped my wife! They said they'd return her if I did as instructed...!"
As Josephine nodded calmly, the culprit began to spill everything without hesitation.
He didn't say it directly, but his words were full of elements implying that the fundamental cause of this conflict lay in Mathepit's plans.
Chwak—!!
Immediately after confessing the whole story, the culprit collapsed under Kamaya's blade.
Just as she had said initially, it was a strike so swift he could not even perceive his own death.
There was no reason to keep him alive in an uncontrolled state.
Even if they were to use this information, Libertas anyway possessed the power to reproduce everything necessary using only his corpse.
"Killing one's own kin to maintain power. Cherishing one's own children so, yet treating the child of a neighbor, not even an enemy, as a mere tool?"
"..."
Josephine nodded silently at Kamaya's murmured words as she wiped her crescent-shaped blade.
It was a sentiment she shared.
Kamaya and Josephine were people who, as much as they loved their own children, also knew how to cherish the children of others.
Only cold enough to make a 'choice' when the time came.
"Reporting to Master."
The Harpy Queen opened communication to Libertas.
Her calm, weighty voice was composed as always.
- Well done. There was no particular need to report this.
"I judged you should know of any changes."
- I see... Your sincerity always pleases me.
At Libertas's words, a small smile graced Kamaya's lips.
Though fleeting, the emotion it contained was unmistakable elation.
- Wait just a little longer. There will be movement from the north. The harpies surveying the battlefield will be a great help to Elena.
"I am aware."
After nodding, Kamaya clenched her fist and tapped her chest near her heart.
"I eagerly await the time we meet again, Master."
- Yes. Take care.
When the communication ended, Kamaya turned toward Josephine.
The human noblewoman had already finished all preparations for her journey on foot. In order to deliver Viola to Libertas.
"Do you truly not need an escort?"
At Kamaya's blunt yet caring question, Josephine smiled while struggling to hide her slightly flushed face.
"It's fine. Now that war has broken out in the south, it's natural for the margrave to tighten control over his territory, and all the bandits will be lying low as well."
"What I am concerned about is your faces being discovered by that margrave."
Kamaya's worry was reasonable.
Josephine possessed an appearance that marked her as a noble at a single glance, and Viola, being the daughter of a high-ranking noble, also boasted outstanding beauty.
A self-conscious noble lady and a noble girl sleeping in a cart would draw eyes anywhere.
But Josephine only offered a relaxed smile.
It was because she already knew there was reliable insurance nearby.
"Then, I think we can receive help from Miss Elena. Perhaps she may have already made preparations."
"Indeed."
Kamaya readily agreed.
The area nearby was already within the palm of their hand.
To be precise, within the palm of one small but great dungeon lord.
"Then, I shall return first as you said. I will see you at the dungeon."
"Well..."
As Josephine hesitated and opened her mouth, Kamaya's eyebrows rose slightly.
"Is something the matter?"
"Was I truly of help?"
"Of course. You were a great help."
"Then..."
Josephine's voice grew smaller.
Though puzzled by the embarrassment contained within it, Kamaya lent her ear.
"May I ask that you give Queen Kamaya a reward?"
"A reward...? If it is something I can grant."
Kamaya nodded readily.
Thinking that she must have a desire for recognition as well.
It was a common occurrence for a subordinate who had distinguished themselves to ask the head of a group for a reward.
She was more a second-in-command than the head, so to speak, but since it wasn't as if she lacked the authority to give a reward, it was easy to accept.
"Then..."
And immediately after, Kamaya's eyes widened upon hearing Josephine's request.
Because it was far too simple and humble a request.
"Yes."
"Understood."
Peolleok—
The Harpy Queen unfurled the wings she had hidden under the mercenary's hood without hesitation. And she wrapped them warmly around Josephine's entire body.
'Ah...'
Within the comfortable, warm embrace, Josephine's face flushed bright red.
Kamaya, who hadn't properly grasped the situation, simply comforted her affectionately.
Thinking that there must surely be a reason she had asked for this kind of reward.
"Human woman. I see potential in you. You will be able to do even better in the future, and the Master will acknowledge you as well. Your family shall also be able to prosper again."
"Thank you..."
There was no way Josephine could not feel that sincere consideration.
Her face, after separating from Kamaya, was still red.
"Are you alright? You seem to have a fever."
"No, no. I'm fine. Thank you."
Watching Kamaya's expression full of questions, Kamaya's clever daughter, who had been observing from the side, cast a subtle glance.
'Aha...'
It was a meaningful smile, having noticed something.