Chapter 89
Chapter 89
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 89
Chapter Title: The End of the Three Days (完)
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It's hot.
Even though summer hasn't fully arrived yet, it's so hot.
There are so many things to do, yet I have no energy.
"Hoo..."
The First Princess, Luriel, let out a long breath. The breath she exhaled was hot. It wasn't just her breath that was hot. Heat rose throughout her entire body.
Cold sweat trickled down her back.
She couldn't tell if her eyes were open or closed. It felt like she was walking the boundary between dream and reality.
It's hot.
Sweat drips down.
The sweat soaking her nightgown feels utterly sticky and unpleasant.
With such thoughts, Luriel closed her eyes. Closing her eyes brought a flood of images. They rose and then quickly faded away. Memories scattered easily.
-You must wash up.
-I'm going to die. I can't survive. I know that better than anyone. But you can't, sister.
-Sister, you have to survive no matter what.
Even amid the scattering memories, a few stood out intensely. Slowly, very slowly, Luriel traced them.
'Was it a spring day?'
Or was it midwinter?
Luriel let out a hollow laugh. Laughter flowed with the sweat drops. It pooled at the nape of her neck.
'It was both.'
The Second Princess died on a spring day.
The Third Princess died on a winter day.
A funeral was held on a spring day when cherry blossoms were in full bloom.
Another funeral on a winter day when snow piled up thickly.
She recalled the scenes of them being placed in their coffins.
Luriel remembered the priests of the church praying that they would reach the other shore.
Memories filled her mind to the brim. Why were they surfacing now? Because she herself had death right before her eyes.
"......"
Death was colorless and odorless.
It approached without sound, form, or scent... yet its approach was vividly felt.
Before encroaching death, a person reflects on their life. Luriel was no different.
Luriel reflected on her own life.
She wanted to live freely as she pleased, but she couldn't. Though called a mad dog, she always had an invisible leash around her neck and an invisible muzzle over her mouth.
She wanted to live.
To survive, she had to obey her brother.
So she did. She barked when her brother said to bark, stayed silent when told to, and crawled when ordered to. She became a dog like that, prolonging her life.
'Is that truly living?'
That thought came after seeing her two sisters' coffins.
'No.'
So she decided.
'Even if I die tomorrow, I'll live today.'
She tore off the leash. She removed the muzzle.
She barked not for her brother, but for the youngest. No one else wanted it, but Luriel herself did.
Death took one step closer.
Luriel felt the death. She felt it but did not tremble in fear. She faced the approaching death with composure.
Death took another step closer.
Luriel opened her eyes. Unnatural smoke gathered before her. The gathered smoke was grotesque. It seemed like the death bearing down on her.
The death that had swallowed her sisters.
The death that had torn and devoured her sisters was right in front of her.
Kirrik, kiririk.
The pattern engraved on Luriel's nape began to move slowly. The completed circuit gave form to the smoke.
Eye sockets formed in the smoke.
It stretched, tearing open to form eyes and a mouth.
Death smiled. If death had types, this one was not noble. There are those who harvest others' lives, and those who greedily devour them. This was clearly the latter.
Not noble, but vile.
Not proud, but servile.
It was not a death befitting her. Luriel curled up her trembling lips.
"Ji..."
She forced out a voice with difficulty.
"...old, Professor."
The latter part was closer to a breath than pronunciation. Still, the meaning was clearly conveyed.
Tak.
The sound of a chair shaking was heard.
Someone reached out toward the death gathered before Luriel's nose. A pure white glove pierced the smoke.
The smoke tried to scatter without being grasped.
However, the hand did not let it escape.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Capture Mana rose up.
The rising mana was ashen. Though ashen, within it, a cluster of stars twinkled.
The starlight seen from the youngest.
Beautiful starlight that inspired hope in the beholder writhed between the ashen mana.
Kwaduk, kwaduduk!
The sound of the captured smoke crumbling was heard. The materialized death, gripped in the hand, began vomiting up the lives it had swallowed.
Kirrik, kiririk...
The circuit engraved on Luriel's nape rotated in reverse. The more it rotated, the fainter the pattern became.
Pasak.
Finally, the circuit shattered and scattered.
Along with it, the smoke lost its form. Amid the scattering smoke, ashen mana billowed.
"Ah."
The held breath leaked from her lips.
"...Cough."
Luriel spat dry breath and slowly raised her body. The heat that had scorched her body was gone. Cool wind blew in from the open window beyond. The blowing wind cooled her body.
Sararak.
Her hair swayed in the blowing wind.
Wiping the sweat pooled at her nape with her collar, Luriel lifted her head.
"......"
Before her eyes was the professor.
A mage named Lania van Trias. She was looking at her.
Meeting that gaze.
"Is that so."
Luriel smiled.
"You."
Not a sneer, but a faint smile as she slightly tilted her head. Platinum hair flowed down her nape.
"You saved me."
The wind blew.
The blowing wind was cool and felt good.
"You kept your promise, Professor."
"Did I?"
"Yes. Would it be rude to ask how?"
"Rude? Hardly."
The professor shrugged her shoulders.
Then, with a slightly playful smile, she uttered one phrase.
"It just worked when I did it."
"Ah-ha."
Luriel smiled.
"A very you-like answer."
A week had passed since the pattern appeared.
Luriel had successfully survived the seventh night that no one had ever overcome.
'Since I succeeded, I must prepare for the next.'
There was no time to rest.
Tak.
Luriel slowly got down from the bed.
She draped the outer garment placed beside the bed over her shoulders. Seeing that, the professor asked.
"Where are you going?"
"Didn't I break through my brother's trap head-on? Won't those expecting me to be dead be filling the corridors of this annex palace?"
She pointed to the bedroom door.
"Then I must show them."
What?
"That I am so hale and hearty, with energy left not just to bark at you all, but overflowing."
She brushed back her hair.
"Don't you think I should show them?"
Then, as always, she flashed a mischievous smile.
"Open the door, Professor."
2.
The seventh night passed.
When the morning of the eighth day dawned, not a soul remained in the annex palace corridors.
Where had all those who had been lurking in the annex corridors until nightfall gone, after hearing the First Prince say, 'Wait, somehow it'll be resolved after tonight'?
Had they sunk into the earth or risen to the heavens?
No one knew.
They simply vanished without a trace. Rumors only swirled that the annex palace basement was bursting at the seams.
A rumor circulated in the annex palace.
『A mad dog lives in the annex palace.』
It wasn't even much of a rumor.
***
"You should have seen my brother's face."
Princess Luriel smiled brightly.
With an expression of utter satisfaction, she walked beside me.
By rights, I should be following behind her. But the princess didn't want that.
-Didn't I say it?
-Everything of mine is now yours. You will be treated as my equal.
She said it so emphatically that I didn't bother adding anything and just did as told.
'The fact that I'm doing as told from the start is a bit...'
Thinking too deeply would just tire me out.
"I ran into him this morning, and his face was rotting away. He openly grimaced, and it was quite the sight."
She chuckled out loud.
"My brother won't be able to lay a hand on me anymore. He won't even guess what I have or how far I know."
"Won't it still be dangerous?"
"What danger? My brother never moves without certainty. And more than that..."
After a brief pause, she spoke.
"If I return to the annex palace right away, the royal hounds will protect me."
"You mean the Hounds?"
"Yes, and the most capable and proud among them will serve as my guard knight."
No matter how much he's my brother, he can't act freely with the hounds glaring.
Princess Luriel muttered as such.
I suddenly felt curious and asked.
"Who is the most capable and proud Hound?"
"It must be Sir Kalt, the Tracker who's experienced both the front lines and the demonic realm."
"...Pardon?"
"Hm?"
"That snout... no, is Sir Kalt truly the most capable Hound?"
"Yes. He's always rigid, speaks little, and is a stickler for principles, which is his flaw... but to me, his knightly demeanor on the battlefield makes him all the more appealing."
That Kalt guy?
"Rigid? Speaks little...?"
"He even has the moniker 'Knight of Silence.'"
I tilted my head.
'Is it the same snout-faced Kalt I know?'
Being a Tracker fits, but it felt oddly off.
"...Is something bothering you?"
"No, just... I thought I knew him."
Muttering that, we walked side by side. The place Luriel and I walked was the garden behind the annex palace.
The garden managed by Princess Luriel's closest aide.
There was said to be a secret passage leading to the Royal Library, so I planned to leave the annex palace through here.
And the princess was walking beside me to see me off. As we walked, Princess Luriel suddenly spoke.
"...Do you remember what I said? Everything of mine is yours."
"Pardon? Ah, yes. I remember."
"Then why haven't you asked for anything?"
"Nothing comes to mind right now."
I glanced at the princess walking beside me.
She seemed dissatisfied.
"Is everything of mine worthless to you?"
"Pardon?"
"That's quite... hurtful. Even I was quite confident in what I possess."
"Uh..."
Do I need anything right now?
Honestly, I didn't do it expecting compensation.
'It's not like I need money.'
My status isn't lacking either.
I just had nothing pressing to do... and felt the need to intervene after hearing her story.
I pondered briefly and spoke.
"Nothing now, but maybe later?"
"Is that so?"
"Probably?"
Princess Luriel let out a small chuckle.
"Then take this."
The princess handed me a magic tool.
It was a magic tool I knew well.
'...Isn't this a message orb?'
A magic tool used on the battlefield.
Two paired ones: write a letter on one side, and it transmits to the other.
As I gave her a puzzled look, the princess said.
"They say it's a message orb knights use on the battlefield. Write a letter there and send it; I'll reply."
She continued.
"If you need anything I have, or if I can help, call me anytime. The royal family—no, at least I—do not forget favors."
I nodded and pocketed the letter orb. Looking around, we had arrived at the edge of the garden.
The princess at the garden's end stomped lightly.
The grass parted, revealing a hidden passage to the Royal Library.
"Follow this path straight ahead."
"Got it."
"Change into appropriate clothes based on the situation. Here are the clothes you came in."
Grabbing the clothing bag at the passage entrance, I turned back. Come to think of it, there was one thing I wanted to ask.
"Um, Your Highness?"
"What is it, Professor?"
"It's quite personal."
I rummaged through my memories and spoke.
"I heard... "
"Cut the preamble and get to the point. I have no intention of asking where you heard it or how you know."
"...Did you ever say to the Hero, Sir Kyle Toven, 'Seeing a retard like you as the Hero makes me realize how fucked the world is'?"
"Hm? No. Slightly off."
The princess tilted her head.
"'Seeing a retard like you as the Hero lets me see just how shitty the world is,' I said."
...Isn't that the same thing?
"Why do you ask?"
"I was curious why you said that."
Hmm, the princess touched her lips.
"I've seen several Heroes. About five, I think. Among those I've seen, the worst was Kyle, that retard."
"Ooh..."
"Of course, I know Kyle has exceptional skill. Superior to other Heroes. However, skill and mindset are separate."
As if recalling Kyle in her mind, she frowned and continued.
"That Hero's eyes lack spirit. No conviction, no stubbornness to achieve beliefs. What filled his eyes was the same as my brother's. Something I've seen enough to sicken me."
"...The same thing?"
"Lust for power. Desire to show off. And inferiority complex."
"......"
"Wanting to show himself to others. Intoxicated by his own greatness. The face of one thirsting for extravagance."
Such a guy as the Hero.
She muttered and chuckled.
"The ones clinging to that retard, except one, were all mediocre. The Saintess seems to have learned life from dog shit, and the Divine Archer elf cares only for her own safety."
I desperately wanted to nod vigorously but held back, listening intently to her words.
"Seeing a party meant to save the world in that state, it's no wonder I've grown disillusioned with the world."
"I can see that."
"Right? Still, their skills are top-notch, so they seemed helpful on the battlefield. Of course, that's ending now too."
Ending? What?
As I looked at her questioningly, she shrugged and continued.
"A person like that needs someone to rein him in. The Saintess and Divine Archer don't seem up to it. So who's left?"
Didn't I say one was excluded earlier?
Princess Luriel pointed at me. For a moment, my heart sank.
"Your brother."
'Scared me, fuck.'
I calmed my pounding heart.
"He was the one leading them—the Ashen Mage. I suspect he was practically the center of gravity, more than the Hero."
"......"
"But that person retired."
The princess sighed in response.
"I predict the remaining three won't last long. A party without its center falls apart or crumbles."
What?
I blinked. I had never told anyone about the Hero Party's true state. Even Knight Commander Heinkel doesn't know the details.
'The only one who knows is...'
Probably just Kalt, who was with us.
Even Kalt retired when Kyle started seriously corrupting... so he might not grasp the severity.
Because I didn't tell him.
More precisely, I couldn't inform him.
I simply couldn't say it.
I couldn't bring myself to say that the Hero Party, maintained by countless sacrifices, had decayed that far.
'...The knights' morale would shatter.'
I didn't want that.
Even if Kyle's brain was ruled by his lower half, he was still a symbolic figure.
So I hid it.
'I hid it so thoroughly, yet...'
'This person saw through it.'
For some reason, it felt amazing.
"...Really?"
"Hm? What's with that voice? I haven't heard it before."
"Mm, hmm..."
I covered my mouth.
The corners of my lips kept trying to rise. Embarrassed to show it, I nodded with my hand over my mouth.
Mm, hmm.
A subtle sound, neither affirmation nor laughter, leaked out.
"Hrng."
Looking at me like that, the princess narrowed her eyes.
"Professor, you seem to get along quite well with your brother."
"...Pardon?"
"Enviable. Hearing praise for my brother sounds like praise for me, and you're delighted."
...Does it?
As I blinked, the princess spun around once.
"I should go now. If I linger longer, the Hound might come all the way here."
She turned only her head back to look at me. Her cascading platinum hair sparkled in the afternoon sun.
"These past three days were quite enjoyable, Professor."
She smiled.
"Go back safely."
It was quite a different smile from when I first entered the palace. Leaving those words, she walked away. I watched her for a moment.
...Over the past few days, I rampaged here and there. But there was one place I ultimately couldn't touch.
The First Prince's residence.
To breach that, even I couldn't do it 'simply.' Something alien had taken root there.
'If I do it, I have to blow it away completely.'
Going easy is impossible. If needed, I'd have to collapse the palace. I didn't go that far. It would only amplify the chaos.
'I left it alone, but...'
Inevitable, but the unease lingered.
"Your Highness."
She turned at my call.
What to say? I called her, but words didn't come easily.
"That..."
"I don't know what you saw."
As I chose my words, she cut in.
"But that's not for you to worry about."
She smiled.
"The rest is my part. You successfully finished your task. Return to where you belong."
Her voice was filled with conviction.
With confidence exuding, she continued.
"I'll clean up the royal family. No matter what my brother prepares, I won't fall for it twice. And the materials you gathered were a great help. I'll handle it step by step."
She stopped and looked at me.
The corners of her eyes, holding pale golden irises, curved slightly.
"Tell Aila this."
She said.
"Leave the palace to me and focus on her studies. Learn much, see much, hear much, experience much, and return."
Princess Luriel smiled at me.
"Finally, get along well with Professor Lania."
"...Ha."
I unwittingly let out a laugh.
'Always such a unique person.'
With those final words, we turned our steps.
The princess to her annex palace, me to where I belong—Aphria Academy. On the way back to our respective stages, the spring sunlight stretched long.
Truth be told, it was quite hot for spring.
As if signaling the end of spring.
Spring ends, and summer approaches.
Summer might be a bit busier than spring, I thought.