Chapter 132
Chapter 132
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 132
Chapter Title: Oceanis (8)
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The sea where the battle had unfolded was no more than half a day's sail from the Sun Archipelago, allowing them to arrive that very same day.
As the sunset began to the sky in soft reds, the medium-sized ship gently docked at Solta's pier.
Having deliberately lagged behind a bit, they found the Oceanis Family's large ships already returned.
"Ah, Young Lady?!"
"It's been a while."
The harbor guards, unaware of whom the family fleet had set out against that very morning, were startled yet delighted to see Elisa.
Among the Family Head's five direct siblings, she was the one furthest from authoritarianism, making her the most popular with the subordinates.
"We'll prepare a carriage!"
"No need. It's been ages, so I feel like walking. Go tend to your duties."
"Yes, ma'am!"
The main residence was atop a gentle hill overlooking the sea, so the pier wasn't far— a leisurely stroll would take less than thirty minutes.
The group proceeded at an easy pace.
The Young Lady, her former attendant, and maid savored the sights of their hometown after so long, while the two outsiders were engrossed in the exotic city.
"This seems like the biggest port city I've seen so far!"
"You've only seen a few."
"Still!"
"Well, objectively speaking, it is a major port."
Unlike the Dawn Archipelago in the east, limited by its countless tiny islands unsuitable for development,
the Sun Archipelago's islands were fewer but vastly larger, rich in local produce and thus prosperous.
A central hub where locals lived well independently naturally thrived through active trade with the continent.
"Being at the southernmost tip of the south makes it uniquely distinct in every way. The architecture, the attire... It's winter by the calendar, yet."
"The southeast is fairly warm too, isn't it?"
"Even there, we get occasional snow. But here, it never comes at all?"
"Plenty live their whole lives without knowing what snow is."
"At least no one freezes to death. Though I wonder about the summers."
"Not as hot as you might think."
On one side, Terti and Elisa chatted idly.
"Oh, that inn."
"You know it?"
"It's where the assassin came for me."
"Ah."
"If I'd slept just a bit deeper, I'd be dead. Come to think of it, I hid the body in the nearby sewer."
"No one found out?"
"I'd snuck into those sewers plenty during my wandering days. Even vagrants don't dig through the filth."
On the other side, a peculiar reminiscence unfolded, the parties involved utterly nonchalant.
In any case, the group soon reached the Oceanis Family's main estate.
What could have changed much in a mere two years? The mansion remained grand and imposing—save for the subtly subdued atmosphere.
Elisa led the group to her private annex.
Evidently, word of their passing through the main gate had raced upward at terrifying speed; before they could even unpack, a summons for her arrived.
"Make yourselves comfortable."
With those words, Elisa departed, not returning until after dinner.
"Have you eaten?"
"We'll grab something later. More importantly, Galen, could you meet with my father?"
"The Family Head?"
"He wants to see you."
"Of course. Now?"
"If it's alright with you."
Since the Family Head, Droi, wished to meet Galen alone, Lilia and Terti stayed in the room.
Elisa guided Galen to a secluded annex, deliberately landscaped with trees for utmost tranquility within the estate—the quietest retreat.
In the small garden, bathed in moonlight now that the sun had set, stood a pavilion where Droi awaited.
"It's been a long time, Family Head."
Galen offered a measured bow. Droi's complexion had never been robust, but in these two years, he looked even more gaunt.
"It's chilly out—why not meet indoors?"
"I needed the night breeze to clear my head."
Droi managed a faint smile. Having heard the full story from Cled already, he spoke deferentially to Galen, his former servant, regardless of the past.
"Sit. Elisa, would you give us the room?"
"Yes."
Elisa withdrew, and Droi's attendant served tea before retreating. Only the two remained in the pavilion.
Droi wet his throat with tea and rasped the opening words.
"Rius and Tarina are dead."
A weighty start.
"Their wounds were too severe; they never woke."
"I see."
Galen replied flatly.
"And Raven?"
"Locked in the dungeon."
"Not asking about his current treatment."
"A cruel question."
Droi gave a bitter smile, but Galen remained impassive.
"Not asking won't change the outcome. Cruel to you, perhaps, but not to the Young Lady."
"...True. My failure in raising them all. Raven will be dealt with as you expect—swiftly, before other opinions form."
From the moment Elisa learned of the three siblings' assassination attempt on Jerbon, no happy ending was possible.
Galden's intervention escalated things, but without him, Elisa would have withered away regardless.
It boiled down to three deaths or one, and to uproot future discord, one side had to be eliminated.
Droi's misfortune was that all four were his children; he had to endure a child's death either way.
"Should've killed Raven with the others. Never thought I'd order my own son's death, no matter how insolent."
"For the family's sake, you must endure and command it."
Galen responded coolly to the sighing Droi.
"Better you share the burden than an outsider slaughter the bloodline or the Young Lady stain her hands with siblings' blood."
"It'll brand us as a notoriously filialess house."
"Rius brought that on; you should've braced for it. External reputation's ruined anyway—better tighten internal reins."
Droi knew this better than Galen; it was mere lamentation, knowledge not easing the frustration.
To soothe the gloomy Droi, Galen tossed in a remark.
"Look on the bright side. Someday, you'll be convinced this choice was right."
"...I already think it's the best option."
"I'm talking about the family's prosperity. If the Young Lady outshines the three siblings combined, it will."
"What? You don't mean..."
Rius and Tarina were Gold; Raven was poised to become Gold soon.
To surpass three Golds combined, she had to exceed Gold.
"Didn't you hear she became Gold?"
"She beat Rius, exhausted as she was. But she never claimed to be Gold herself."
"She hasn't realized it yet. Growth was too rapid. But she's crossed the wall. She'll adjust in days."
"Really?"
"I confirmed her genius while teaching. Not soon, but she'll reach Gem someday."
This was Galen's sincere belief.
Lilia was an overpowered cheat, but Elisa could rank among history's greatest geniuses.
Gem realm was for the rarest of geniuses, yet Elisa had that indefinable spark.
Having breached Gem himself, Galen sensed she wouldn't be eternally barred.
"I hope so."
Droi's expression brightened slightly.
Even if distant, a Gem mage affirming the heir's talent was joyous.
Elisa's Gold status confirmed, the stability difference for a great house like Oceanis between Gold and Silver heir was immense.
"Anything else you desire?"
"She's the new heir, confirmed?"
"She didn't refuse."
"Then no."
Galen answered crisply.
"Her matters resolved, my personal grudges settled. What more business?"
"...Truly over?"
"We might exchange occasional aid later."
The 'aid' scope left to Galen's discretion, but that alone was generosity.
He seemed a polite youth, yet was a monster who could raze the family solo.
To the silent Droi, Galen shrugged.
"No need to worry, Family Head. I have more good memories of the family."
"...Do you?"
"Just soured at the end."
"..."
"But the culprits are gone now. Young Lady's heir. I want mutual assistance. Sincerely."
"...I entrust you with it, then."
Droi had no choice but to trust Galen; distrust changed nothing.
Galen grinned affably.
"By the way, how about a check-up while we're here?"
"Check-up?"
"We have a high bishop with us. Not easy to meet one normally."
"High... bishop? Not just any bishop?"
"A bit unusual, yeah?"
"Understatement."
"But her skills are top-notch."
"How blind were those three..."
Droi lamented the siblings' folly anew.
At this point, Galen's goodwill alone warranted profound gratitude.
Droi truly resigned himself, and peace surprisingly followed.
As the Family Head declared, execution was swift.
Raven, the sole survivor among the three siblings, lived just one day longer than his brother and sister before being executed the next. Charge: kin-slaying.
Oceanis had always avenged kin-killings against outsiders ruthlessly, but punishing blood kin thus was unprecedented, naturally stirring repercussions.
Meanwhile, Elisa received new writs as the Family Head's proxy.
Gag orders could only stem widespread leaks, not internal whispers.
Yesterday's sea battle was too shocking, and leadership subtly allowed rumors to curb backlash on the heir change.
Focusing on the siblings' grave sins minimized succession noise.
Yet the incident wouldn't fade quietly; pains ahead.
But that was Oceanis's problem, not Galen's concern.
Regardless of outside matters, he was wrapping Elisa's training.
"Silver is like memorizing all the answer keys. That's why 'Silver takes effort alone'—and your rapid growth."
"Thanks to you picking the answers for me."
"Your genius absorbed them all. Anyway, Gold differs. Needs application, personal insight. Can't cram like before; you'll need more self-study."
"But am I really Gold?"
"Yes. Just not settled yet."
Galen himself had auto-Gold at level 50 with Fantasy Realm, so he wasn't expert.
But her Fantasy Realm confirmed; she just hadn't noticed. Undeniable.
He planned to stimulate her senses maximally.
Mid-intensive training,
"Brother! Sister!"
Lilia scampered back to the annex.
She'd gone at Galen's request to examine Droi—more premium medical service than expectation.
"Done already, Lilia?"
"Had to stop. Needs family permission."
"For what?"
Lilia asked the tilting-headed Elisa gravely.
"May I cut open the Family Head's stomach a bit?"