226. Sky Silk (2)
226. Sky Silk (2)
- 1 -
A woman walked through streets thronged with nobles and knights.
Her appearance—a traditional ceremonial robe of the Hwa Empire worn over a black martial outfit—was striking and exotic.
Strangely, no one paid her any particular attention.
A perfect concealment that slipped through the blind spots of perception.
She glided through the gaps between people's gazes, like a shadow.
'This feeling is good.'
An unusual lightness buoyed her steps.
An inexplicable flutter tickled one corner of her heart, a sensation whose source she herself could not discern.
She had spent the past few days examining the mansions in this area one by one, but today, there seemed to be no need.
Her 'premonition' was telling her so.
The place where her steps halted was before one particular mansion.
"It's here."
It was extraordinary from the entrance.
A crow perched above the main gate fixed its gaze precisely on her presence, the very one that had eluded all other eyes.
Peolleok!
When she raised her finger, the crow spread its wings and alighted upon it.
Its weight was heavier than expected.
A single purple feather atop its head shimmered with light.
She cleared her throat. Her 'true voice' must not be heard by others.
Even if the other party was a nameless monster, she had to be careful.
- Who are you?
- Who are you?
She felt a smile spontaneously bloom on her lips.
The playfully mimicking voice resembled her own.
But the subsequent words were different.
- Are you mimicking me?
- No. I've been waiting for you.
This time, it was a cute and lovely voice.
The crow's pitch-black eyes sparkled in her direction.
Her eyebrows rose slightly at the unexpected answer.
- You've been waiting for me?
- Not I, but my master.
The crow smiled with its eyes.
It was strange that such a subtle emotion could appear on an animal's face, but at the moment, she had no mind to dwell on it.
Something was calling her.
- How do you know that?
- Fate.
Huk!
A black mist bloomed with that single word, chilling yet sweet.
As the crow vanished into the mist, she stepped into the mansion without hesitation.
There was no longer any need for concealment.
Now was the time to walk in openly.
As expected, someone blocked her path.
"...Ah. It's you."
A long-haired woman with silver hair and red eyes.
At first, she seemed wary, but upon seeing her, she relaxed her posture.
However, the warrior did not miss it. The lethal ferocity hidden within that relaxed stance.
'A demon tribe member...?'
A pair of wolf ears rose atop her head.
She had never imagined meeting a demon tribe member near a human royal castle.
What was even more surprising was that she had not felt her presence at all before entering the mansion.
- You are.
"I'm Lin Xue. Your comrade."
- ...What?
"It'll probably be hard to believe even if I say so now... Just follow me for now..."
The warrior followed the wolf while observing her surroundings.
On the surface, it was an ordinary noble mansion, but the interior was entirely different.
The flow of mana was far too calm. As if it lay under someone's perfect control.
'If they can completely control a space of this scale... They would have to be at the level of those lords connected to the Demon Realm.'
Realization dawned, and the warrior's eyebrows twitched.
Her 'premonition' was affirming her conjecture.
'No way. Could it really be true?'
A small Demon Realm created near a human royal castle.
Even she, who possessed ancient memories, would not have believed it had she not seen it with her own eyes.
"Your eyes are busy..."
At the wolf demon tribe member's words, she looked ahead again.
- How is this...
"Possible, you ask...? No explanation will be necessary. You will come to know soon enough..."
The wolf, who answered in a languid voice, seemed to have no interest in her curiosity.
That was when.
"Oh my. A guest has arrived."
A soft and gentle voice was heard.
'This time, a fox?'
Another demon tribe member, with golden eyes, greeted them.
Her delicately made-up face, elegant bearing, and the Western Continental-style ceremonial robe she wore brought a noble lady to mind.
'So that was a disguise identity.'
The warrior recognized that she bore the appearance and attire of 'Countess Volonté,' who was actually making waves in the royal capital these days.
"It has been a while. Amatsu."
- How do you know that name...?
Startlement flickered across the warrior's face.
It was her family name, unknown even to the prince, known only to the emperors of the Han and Hwa empires.
The fox answered while covering her mouth with a fan.
"We know more about you than you might realize."
With an enchanting smile, she took the lead.
The warrior's heart began to beat even faster.
Ttubeok. Ttubeok.
Ttogak. Ttogak.
After passing through a large hall and climbing the stairs, a door engraved with magnificent flowers appeared.
Another person was waiting in front of it.
A woman in a knight's uniform with blonde hair and green eyes.
Her neat bearing and cool gaze were striking, but upon looking this way, that chill melted into a gentle smile.
The warrior knew intuitively.
'After the fox and the wolf... a human hero?'
She was not a mere knight but a 'champion.' But something was different.
- Undead...
"Correct."
The hero nodded without any particular concern.
Although the death aura characteristic of the undead was nowhere to be seen, a powerful gleam flashed deep within her eyes.
"You really did come."
"Didn't I say she would?"
"It isn't that I didn't believe it."
The hero, who exchanged a brief chat with the fox, soon turned to face the warrior.
"Prepare your heart."
- Ah... Why?
"Aren't you already feeling it?"
Indeed. The warrior was certainly feeling it.
Her heart's mad pounding.
The cry resounding from deep within her soul.
She asked in a trembling voice.
- Be... Beyond this door, is there truly...?
"Whatever you were looking for, it is more."
- ...
The warrior wavered between the impulse to open the door immediately and the desire to flee.
If she opened this door, something would change forever.
Because she had such a premonition.
"If I may offer one piece of advice..."
- Hm...?
"It will hurt quite a bit. Your head, that is. So that's why we tell you to prepare your heart."
- What does that...
"Well... I haven't experienced it myself, so. I've said all there is to tell. Let's go."
The fox's words were incomprehensible, but the warrior steeled her resolve.
Fear had already vanished.
The sense of anticipation was far too great, and if she turned back now, all that would remain was...
'Living as a concubine.'
If that was the case, she would rather embrace the change.
As the warrior nodded, the hero and the wolf each took hold of one side of the door.
And then...
"Welcome, child."
The door opened.
An interior where a soft light lingered like a forest at dawn. The rich scent of coffee brushed her nose.
In the center, 'she' was there.
"I have been waiting for you to come."
A woman sitting on the throne with her knees drawn up.
She was a presence that shone by herself even within the darkness.
A violet aura flowed over her black hair, and deep purple eyes tinged with dark mana looked this way over porcelain-white skin.
'Libertas.'
That name surfaced naturally.
- Hik...!
An impulse surged.
She wanted to immediately kneel at her feet and pledge loyalty.
She wanted to seize that white hand extended toward her, press her lips to it, and pour out all her heart.
She wanted to cast everything aside and offer it at her feet.
And more than anything...
'I want to confess my sins.'
Such feelings filled her entire being.
"My..."
Memories flooded in.
Memories that were not hers, yet were hers.
They surged in like a torrent and began to fill in the missing parts of her that she hadn't even known existed.
It felt as if she had recovered half of her life—no, her lost heart.
"Shadow."
At the woman's words, something awakened within the warrior.
"My master, ruler of the Cintamani."
When she came to her senses, she was already pressing her lips to the back of her 'master's' hand.
She had been speaking aloud with her voice before she knew it, but she already knew that it did not matter.
That her master was not so weak as to crumble from her 'killing intent.'
"Please..."
Tears of blood streamed down.
Guilt, rage, hatred, disgust, self-destructive impulses, sorrow, disillusionment, fatigue, loneliness, agony, resentment, a sense of betrayal, jealousy, impatience, confusion, suspicion, fear, despair, solitude, grief, lethargy, wretchedness, depression...
All misfortunes crashed over her at once.
"...Bestow punishment upon this faithless fool who could not protect you."
At the same time, bliss bloomed across her face.
Longing, thirst, fluttering, fervent hope, anticipation, rapture, deep emotion, relief, courage, self-assurance, joy, bashfulness, gratitude, comfort, warmth, loyalty, hope, composure...
And above all else, love.
"What I shall give to you."
Libertas's hand stroked her hair.
The warrior lamented that her hair was short.
That the places for her master's touch to reach were so lacking.
But her master smiled tenderly at her and said.
"Is only commendation and welcome."
Her face was lifted at the touch that raised her chin.
Her 'master,' meeting her eyes, smiled with her eyes curving gently toward her.
"You have returned well."
Sangoyo Saya, the Sheath.
The woman who bore the forgotten true name 'Amatsu Saya' felt.
A bliss that felt as if she might faint at any moment.
- 2 -
Thus passed a reunion that was deeply moving for her and merely gladdening for me.
I rose from my seat at once and took Saya's hand, helping her up.
"This is already the umpteenth time someone meeting me for the first time has been so overjoyed to see me, and it still feels awkward."
"Please, simply accept it. Then, all of us will simply rejoice and leap for joy."
Her eyes were filled with profound loyalty.
As if she had been dedicated to me since primordial times.
I had no memory of her.
But I could feel it. That she and I were connected by destiny.
At the time of Ibna Shue, it had merely been a vague sense of familiarity, but now it was different.
I had grown stronger, and accordingly, the threads of destiny had become clearly visible to me.
At the same time, I already knew. How deep the wounds were that she carried within.
"The path you chose was right. Up to now, and onward. However..."
"Yes, master?"
"The path that lies before you from now on might be a little difficult for you."
She bowed her head.
Her loyalty was unchanged. Only its target had shifted.
But for that, there was a price that had to be paid.
"This thing embedded in my body can be undone with the power of Miss Yuran and Miss Evangeline now. But if we do that, the Han Empire and the Hwa Empire will sense it."
The seal carved into her inner self was visible.
The Mark of Subordination, inscribed by the Hwa Empire and inherited by the Han Empire.
Ordinarily, it would be proper to remove it at a more leisurely time, but that was not possible now.
Because those who sought to bind her immediately were waiting.
"Tracing the location is... to be expected, I suppose."
"Yes, master. Not only that, but if this is removed carelessly, a significant portion of my power will cease to function. Even borrowing their power, quite significantly... As I am now, I am nothing more than a burden."
Saya's face clouded over with gloom.
I seized her waist and pulled her close.
Before she could even perceive it, she was in my arms.
"...Master?"
Her small face was tinted with the color of cherry blossoms.
As if she had not expected this situation at all, the gallant air she had possessed had long since vanished without a trace.
Without hesitation, I stroked along her jawline with my other hand.
"Do not worry, Saya."
It had been unnecessary heartache.
For I would have welcomed her even if she had come charging as an enemy, not a burden.
"For now, let us lighten your burden and go to greet the child who cannot yet come to us freely."
"Ah... Yes..."
I released her, still unable to collect herself, and returned to the throne.
I could see Eve fixing her gaze on me after looking at Saya with jealous eyes.
The other two were no different.
"Are you ready?"
"Yes. We need only wait for the council to begin."
"Good. I place my trust in you."
I had wished to greet another star in person as well, but it was not possible.
Seeing Saya's case, I knew how violent the synchronization of memories could be.
It was only manageable right now because only 'the one to whom she could pledge loyalty' was present in this place.
If Saya had recovered her memories in a place where 'those who drove her into a corner' were present, she might have rampaged madly with rage.
'Still, it's not bad, in its own way.'
A comfortable role after a long while was not necessarily unpleasant.
I had no intention of doing nothing and simply waiting, anyway.
'There are many things hidden in this royal capital.'
While they searched for another star, it sufficed for me to find what I myself desired to obtain from this place.
I leaned back against the throne once more, and Saya, still not free from the effects of the synchronization, quickly approached me.
As she was now, she was probably far more honest than she would be a short while later.
Perhaps knowing this as well, the other women clearly showed signs of turning a blind eye for the moment.
"Let us pray it ends safely. Together."
"Yes...!"
Trusting them and leaving it in their hands.
That was the wisest choice I could make at this moment.