Chapter 127
Chapter 127
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 127
Chapter Title: Oceanis (3)
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Cled and Erwin, too.
Neither had ever directly clashed with a Gem Mage.
It went without saying. If they had, they wouldn't have survived to this day.
But they had experienced it indirectly.
No matter how rare Gem Mages were, they weren't so scarce that someone from a prestigious family, living six or seven decades while building connections, would never encounter one.
"…!"
That was why they could tell. They had no choice but to recognize it, whether they liked it or not.
The awe felt upon first seeing the sea at birth. The despair of an endless horizon, no matter how far one sailed. The helplessness realized in the face of storms and tidal waves, understanding that humans were insignificant specks.
The pride of being a Gold Mage, shattered in a single blow—that horrific yet beautiful experience.
It was replaying now, in a situation they never could have imagined.
"Reformed… world…!"
"Wh-what is… this…!"
Cled muttered in a half-dazed voice. Erwin bit his lip so hard it drew blood.
Seeing each other's reactions, the brothers once again realized this sensation was no illusion but harsh reality, leaving them stunned.
"Good thing you recognize it."
Galen spoke calmly, sipping the tea he had been served.
"I was a bit reluctant to force open the eyes of elders from a family I once belonged to, even if just for a time."
They wanted to retort that if this wasn't forcing them with sheer power, what was? But it wasn't entirely wrong.
The Reformed World itself held no lethality. It was terrifying only when casting magic within it. Galen hadn't cast a single spell yet.
Of course, simply being within an opponent's Reformed World crushed a mage's spirit with overwhelming pressure, which was torment enough.
In fact, Elisa, sitting beside Galen, was trembling slightly herself.
She had known in advance and was trying to maintain a composed expression, but the primal fear of prey before a predator was an instinct no mage could control, even among allies.
Galen glanced at Elisa with pitying eyes and withdrew his Reformed World.
The immensely vast presence was sucked back into him like a vortex.
Elisa's complexion eased, and the two elders inwardly sighed in relief.
But the shocking experience wouldn't fade so quickly.
Erwin forced his reluctant lips open.
"Are you… a Gem?"
Even with his gruff personality, he lacked the courage for casual familiarity in this situation. Galen shrugged lightly.
"As you can see."
"How in the world…?"
"I worked hard, and it happened."
Galen was being honest, but to others, it sounded dismissive.
Yet neither Cled nor Erwin pointed it out.
Any excuse would have rung hollow anyway.
The reason Rius and his siblings hadn't easily believed reports of Galen's feats was his age.
Reaching Gold in one's twenties was hailed as generational talent, yet he had performed at a peak Gold level. Who would buy that?
Gem was even more unbelievable.
Even doubling Galen's age, he'd still be called a shockingly young Gem.
Not even a contract with a demon, the fastest path to ascension, could achieve that. If it did, hordes would sell their souls without hesitation, and Gems and Golds would litter the world.
If they hadn't heard he stuck close to the bishop, they might have seriously suspected a demon had descended in human guise.
"Then why?"
Cled asked in a heavy voice.
"Why what?"
"If you're a Gem, why handle things in such a roundabout way?"
"Should I charge straight to the main house as you wish, Lord Cled, and hang Rius and his siblings?"
"N-no, that's not what I…"
"Well, that's how it'll end anyway."
Galen continued with a light laugh.
"I just didn't want my actions dismissed as mere rampage. I took it slow to show I have legitimate grounds."
"…Legitimate grounds?"
"Do you think Rius would have confessed his crimes like he did if I'd revealed I was a Gem from the start?"
A chill ran down Cled's spine.
No matter that the half-moon ledger was vouched for by both the church and House Drauf, if Rius stubbornly denied its fabricated contents, there'd be little to say.
Yet Rius had admitted its truth before Cled.
Convinced the elders couldn't abandon him for Elisa, he saw no need for pathetic excuses.
He never would have done it knowing Galen was a Gem.
By blindly denying the ledger, he could paint Elisa as a "traitor blinded by power, colluding with outsiders to topple the family," and Galen as a "lawless brute meddling in others' affairs"—rallying public opinion for a slim chance at resistance. But Rius had unknowingly thrown it away.
"Hah, but… you haven't announced it widely. He only admitted it before me…"
"You two know now, and the other elders will soon. That should suffice."
Another point on the mark, leaving Cled speechless.
House Oceanis was in a generational transition.
The old Golds of the parent generation hadn't fully retired, while young Golds emerged from the children.
In short, the elder Golds still held strong sway.
Put simply, even if Galen lopped off Rius's head, convincing the elders would let it slide.
It just wouldn't be done with words.
"By the way, aside from when Young Master Jerbon was attacked, another assassin came once more."
"Wh-what?"
"The night we left the family grounds, one of the family warriors tried to kill me. I couldn't pry out who ordered it… but I have a pretty good idea."
At Galen's words, Cled's vision darkened.
Whether true or not didn't matter.
Either way, it declared he had no intention of letting Rius off.
"What… exactly do you want?"
Erwin asked in a slightly trembling voice.
"Just deal with the three siblings."
Galen smirked.
"Of course, it'd be even better if Young Lady Elisa got recompense for her suffering."
"…Like making Elisa the new heir?"
"Once those three are gone, wouldn't it naturally be her turn? Assuming she wants it, that is."
"This… is interfering in internal affairs."
"If you disliked it, you should have resolved things before they reached this point. Why else would she come to me of all people?"
Neither Cled nor Erwin could retort to Galen's sarcasm.
"And if I weren't a Gem, wouldn't you two have 'tearfully' decided to remove her for the 'greater good'? Since ousting Rius was impossible."
"Absolutely not! We planned to persuade Elisa somehow!"
"Ah, I see. Then you must have a plan to protect her from a vengeful Rius, of course?"
The two elders were speechless again at Galen's cynical question.
They had intended to persuade her, but hadn't planned the details.
They hadn't even grasped the situation fully, intending to assess it first, then convince step by step.
"Uncle."
Elisa quietly spoke up.
"When you said you understood my feelings earlier, was that sincere?"
"It was."
Cled nodded immediately.
"Both Erwin and I lamented greatly when we learned of Rius's villainy. But Elisa…"
"If it was sincere, then I ask you this."
Elisa cut off Cled's regretful words firmly.
"I won't ask you to capture Rius. I don't want to force filial impiety on you, Uncle. Nor will I ask you to take my side. I know it would weaken the family's strength with my own hands."
She stared straight at her uncle and granduncle, speaking clearly.
"Just… don't stand in my way. If you truly understand, don't stop me. I have no intention of backing down."
"I'll give you a fortnight."
Galen added bluntly.
"In a fortnight, we'll set sail for Solta. Tell Rius I'm a Gem or keep it secret—your call. Fight, surrender, flee; I don't care. Though I doubt Rius will choose the latter two."
If unaware or disbelieving Galen was a Gem, no reason to surrender or flee.
If believing, no guarantee of mercy even in surrender, and abandoning all to run wasn't a choice for a direct heir of a prestigious house.
Either way, battle was likely. Naval combat had more variables than land, so even against a Gem, victory wasn't impossible. In theory.
"Maybe sinking us then would ease the elders' minds. Do as you like. We'll do the same."
A different kind of frustration gripped Cled and Erwin's chests.
Unable to respond, the two elders left the annex and fled Quinis by ship.
A fortnight passed.
Mid-early winter.
The southern seas remained calm even in winter, ideal for sailing as it avoided autumn typhoons.
On the promised day, Galen's group boarded a sleek warship from Quinis.
"I hope things go smoothly for you, Young Lady."
Quinis's mayor, Roxana, saw them off.
She spoke circumspectly, as the assassination wasn't public, but still handed over the ship upon hearing they might battle the family.
"I've assigned crew with strong loyalty, so even in an emergency, there won't be much unrest."
"Thank you, Lady Roxana. If questioned, say I forced you."
"I appreciate the consideration."
"But it probably won't come to that, so don't worry too much."
Roxana took it as low chance of battle; Elisa meant they wouldn't lose.
The ship headed south anyway.
Flying House Oceanis's flag proudly.
Solta, heart of the Sun Archipelago, was three days' sail from Quinis absent issues.
The first two days passed uneventfully.
They spotted Oceanis patrol ships from afar a few times.
With the flag openly displayed, reports must have reached the main house.
On the morning of the third day.
As noon approached.
"They're coming."
Terti murmured lowly, standing by Elisa, who had been on deck the whole three days.
Merchant ships aplenty clogged the route these past days.
But fleets of warships in tight formation like that meant only one thing: battle.
"Lower sails. All crew below deck."
Elisa ordered the captain. The crew looked flustered but obeyed.
Even maid Mary hid safely in the cabin. Now only four remained on deck.
"Terti, protect the Young Lady."
"Don't worry."
"Lilia, stay put this time if possible."
"Yes!"
"Let's see how they play it. They might try talking before fighting."
The justification was known only to top brass, so Rius might try verbal tricks.
"Hm, doesn't seem likely."
Lilia gazed at the approaching fleet.
"The mood?"
"Th-that thing? Bows laid sideways."
"Crossbows?"
"Yeah. And lots of people holding them."
Come to think of it, such weapons existed.
As Galen recalled old memories, their ship—sails down, adrift—was slowly encircled.
Soon.
Shwick shwick shwick shwick shwick shwick shwick!
Hundreds of bolts from heavy crossbows rained down on the deck like a storm.