Cain Valenos
Time had passed. There was no small amount of frustration, but his body had gotten sufficient rest.
“Now what do we do?”
“I just tried spreading out a mana zone, but they really did conquer Snowfall.”
“Damn...”
“Wasn't there that statue?”
Lucius asked. If the enemy brought golems, Rowen knew their chances of winning were close to zero. Lucius knew it too. That was why they'd chosen flight over confrontation.
“Fucking hell, but there wasn't just one.”
“What?”
“They're planning to seriously devour the North.”
“If that's true, at this rate...!”
“Yes. Without help from the other continents, we'll be helplessly crushed by Arkanthia.”
They'd erased their traces while moving, but the enemy had persistently used tracking magic to pursue them right up to the edge of Albrin Forest. The fact that Arkanthia soldiers had conquered Snowfall meant they would subjugate Winterer sequentially. Winterer's nobles wouldn't forgive that. But there might be traitors in this land who would betray them and side with Arkanthia.
That made him all the more uneasy.
“This place is safe.”
“We can't hide forever, young master.”
“But there's no need to go outside either.”
“Then what should we do? I don't know much about magitech, but if it's that powerful...”
Rowen could tell what Miyabi was worried about. The emperor of the entire continent, Lucius, was afraid. He seemed to think even this barrier was at risk. But that was just unfounded paranoia.
“This barrier is safe.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“I've seen it in Father's study. In the past, the heroes eradicated magitech from the world. This is that hero's space. They're strong.”
“So magitech can't interfere with this barrier?”
“Exactly.”
Rowen had no doubts about Abel's shadow barrier. The greatest and most powerful assassin's concealment technique was perfect. Miyabi could see mana traces only because her 'eyes' were special. But for others—even elves—to spot traces of the barrier? Ordinary humans? It was impossible, an absurd notion.
“Putting that aside, Cain. Where the fuck did this idiot go?”
“Second brother went outside a little while ago?”
“...What?”
This fucking idiot! As he'd said just moments ago, the outside was crawling with Arkanthia bastards. No matter how stupid he was, Cain had to know it was dangerous out there. Rowen truly couldn't comprehend it. He didn't want to understand, but Cain's actions defied logic.
“Where are you going?”
“To find that bastard.”
“The soldiers are pretty strong. Even if they're lacking in raw power, their entire bodies have been modified with magitech.”
“Then come along if you're coming.”
Rowen climbed the shadow stairs. The divine blessing bound to his soul began to glow. The barrier responded immediately to his movement.
“The barrier is safe, Mother. Please stay inside with Karin and don't come out.”
“...All right.”
Arahan moved naturally behind Rowen. A sudden movement caught her eye—Lucius had grabbed her arm. Arahan frowned at his abrupt action. She didn't want to know why, couldn't understand it. She just found it repulsive for anyone but her master to touch her body.
“What is it?”
“You stay here.”
“My will is to be with my master.”
“What about Madam Miyabi? Who's going to protect her?”
Arahan's brow furrowed. Irritation bubbled up unexpectedly, like a loose stone displacing a firmly embedded one. She was surprised by her own reaction.
“...Your Majesty, please stay with the Madam. I'll go with him.”
“I must atone. If you'd been a little faster, I wouldn't have abandoned Kadan.”
“Your actions won't bring my master back.”
“That's exactly why I have to go.”
Rowen sighed at the sudden situation. There was no time for this. Cain might already be in the enemy's sights. Rowen hated Cain, but he had no choice but to save him. He really hated it. Even though the guy had tormented him as a child until rage boiled over. Just because they shared blood, his body moved on its own. What a rotten feeling.
“Enough, both of you.”
“...I'm sorry.”
“Arahan, stay with Mother for now.”
“But!”
“If you and I get taken down, who's going to protect Mother and Karin?”
“...You said the barrier is strong, young master.”
“I know. But when that certainty shatters, the despair hits even harder. Don't forget the world has words like 'what if.'”
Arahan bowed her head. She bit her lip hard. This emotion was new to her. Obsession? No. Or was it? She didn't even know what expression she was making. She had no idea why this was happening. She just knew she couldn't let Rowen see this face.
“Arahan?”
Rowen looked at her sudden deep bow, a bit flustered, but relieved she seemed to accept it. She was worried in her own way, after all. Rowen placed his hand on the head of his maid and instructor, Arahan, stroking it gently as he often did with Karin. A gesture meaning there was no need to worry.
“Don't worry too much. Worry about Cain right now, not me.”
“...Understood.”
A little. Just a very little. The flushed emotion felt somehow warm and comforting. She was startled by the sudden feeling. Arahan didn't know why it arose. But she realized one thing: being separated from Rowen terrified her.
“Then I'll be back. Your Majesty, don't make that face either. It's not like you've sinned.”
“...Got it.”
The two emerged from the barrier. A blizzard raged. Stronger than the day before. It was still summer. But the landscape before them was fiercer than any Winterer winter. Anxiety enveloped him.
Whirling gale-force winds shook the trees. The piled snowflakes were swept up by the wind, turning into a full blizzard. The Arkanthia Imperial Army shivered in the gusts blowing from the northern fringes. It had been four days since they'd conquered Snowfall. The operation had been delayed because the higher-ups held back golem production. But it wasn't a real problem. The advance unit had already seized the Pentagon. Suppressing Kadan Valenos was finished. Everything was proceeding according to Arkanthia's plan.
A wind blew through Snowfall. It came from far away too, but less intensely here. Still just as cold, though. Amid that chill, one man savored a warm cup of tea alone. Inside a tent. Magitech fused rune language into objects or living beings, allowing magic without mana consumption. Thanks to it, he could block out the outer winds and enjoy his tea comfortably in a warm space.
“General Klaus, the scouting unit reports they've found the second son of the Valenos family.”
The noisy clamor outside. Probably the cold. That's what Klaus thought.
“Just one?”
“Yes!”
“Where are the rest? His Majesty ordered all of them captured.”
“If I may be so bold, only Cain Valenos has been spotted.”
“Tch... Fine. Better than nothing. They're just kids anyway. Lots of mana or not, they won't be combat-trained.”
Klaus set down his teacup and rose. He moved slowly from his seat. Out into the cold, toward a building. A half-collapsed house. He hadn't planned to smash it with a golem, but the landing had gone wrong. An ironic tale.
“This the place?”
Originally Kadan's room. He examined the map spread out there.
“A hero's room in such a state. What a letdown.”
Fallen chess pieces and scattered piles of documents. He had no idea how they'd noticed and fled, but the situation wasn't all bad. Klaus glanced at the map and asked the soldier.
“So where is he now?”
“Seems lost near Albrin Forest. Wandering aimlessly, trembling in the cold.”
“Lost? Puhahaha! The rumors of his stupidity must be true!”
Klaus laughed heartily, wiping tears from his eyes. He liked this space. The room of the North's top noble, once unofficially called the king of the North. It seemed frugal compared to his wealth and fame.
“Capture him first.”
“You're not searching for the other Valenos family members?”
“Grab any random Northerner and threaten them—they'll come crawling out. If not, torture that Cain bastard. They won't stay away, right?”
“...Understood.”
“Got a problem?”
“No, sir!”
The soldier stiffened rigidly. Klaus didn't like it but let it slide.
“No need to be so uptight. This is the surest way to draw out Kael Valenos. He's the strongest of Kadan's kids. He must've fled with the rest.”
More than that.
“How much he cherishes his siblings—you know that too, right?”
“The rumors are everywhere.”
“Yeah. They say he even embraced that famous Valenos family's illegitimate son.”
What magnificent brotherly love! Illegitimates were doomed in this world. Born from illicit, depraved unions—fallen beings, personifications of fallen angels, despised and envied. But Kael was different. He'd embraced the shame of the Valenos family. Acknowledged him as a brother. It was a famous story even on other continents.
“If you get it, go.”
“Yes, sir!”
Klaus dismissed the soldier and sat in Kadan's chair. He had no interest in the piles of documents. They were fakes meant to avoid suspicion anyway. Winterer's external communications had long been cut off, isolated. Slowly, bit by bit, swallowed by Arkanthia. Klaus laughed. Laughed like a madman. Sitting here, he could almost feel the taste of power. The strength to move others with a single word! A dangerous, intoxicating seat. Klaus smiled.
Brilliant light filled the sky. Cain had no idea what was happening to him. Light simply adorned his vision. He couldn't even tell if he was looking up, forward, or back. The disorienting sensations made him feel like he might lose his mind.
But one thing he was certain of. Dumb as he was, he knew what it was.
“Rune... language?”
The language mana formed to construct magic. Runes. An alien sensation flowing through his mana circuits made Cain exhale sharply. A single heaving breath. His irregular breathing made his chest tighten repeatedly.
“...Who... are you?”
His senses began shutting down one by one. Cain shook his head desperately. Hallucinatory magic? Energy drain? If not, poison? He hadn't studied magic, so only basic rune language came to mind. Regret flooded him. That's why Rowen had told him to train enough to protect himself. That kid, so immature yet unlike a child. The illegitimate who got Father's and brother's love. In the end, Cain thought of him. Left hand on the ground, he pushed with his arms to hold on.
Can't fall!
If he fell, something bad would definitely happen. He was certain. Strong conviction made it fact. The distant rune language was suddenly close. Orange runes circled him. Arkanthia soldiers, wielding magitech-enhanced precision magic, surrounded him. Cain forced his eyes wide. He wouldn't forgive them drooping shut.
No.
They drew near. He wanted to run, but couldn't. His legs were gone.
Gone...?
Not gone. Paralyzed. Unmoving. Cain poured all his strength into moving his arms. Cold snow soaked his body. He felt like he'd freeze to death. He'd rather freeze than face the terror of those bastards.
Save me.
The words wouldn't come. That made it all the more pathetic. He couldn't cast magic. So he clenched his fists. No one would hear, but he clung to hope.
“Save... me...”
The Arkanthia soldiers sneered. They no longer saw him as human. Revolting. Those bastards were demons! Demons who didn't see humans as human! Thinking that, he sobbed. Sobbed and sobbed and sobbed. It was all he could do.
Schwick!
Blood sprayed before his eyes. The sound came from above his head.
“Ah... I'm dead.”
His neck severed, yet no pain. No. His neck wasn't severed. This blood wasn't his.
“...Rowen?”
Rowen and Lucius stood there, holding an Arkanthia soldier's severed head.
Thud.
Rowen tossed the bleeding head at Cain. He'd look insane, but it was Rowen's way of snapping him out of it. If the guy passed out, it'd be a pain to drag him back.
“You idiot, I told you not to go out.”
“Rowen, your brothers baffle me so much I can't even get mad.”
“I agree. He's definitely a dumbass who can't understand a word people say.”
Lucius and Rowen vented their complaints at Cain. Sticky flesh clung to the ice sword dripping blood. The bloodstains stood out starkly on Lucius's pure white sword, Rosmerta.
No nausea came. It was his first time seeing someone die, but it wasn't disgusting. Relief washed over him instead.
“...Why'd you come so late.”
Cain sobbed as he spoke. Rowen frowned at the sight.
“Don't you even know thanks?”
“What the... fuck.”
“This guy...!”
He showed the sword. Blood trickled eerily down the icy blade. Cain managed a faint smile at the sight.
“...Thanks.”
“Took you long enough.”
Rowen gave a faint smile and turned to the enemies. His core was already raging on the verge of overload. Because they'd touched his family? Or anger at Cain's stupidity? He wasn't sure. He was just pissed right now. Lucius erupted in flash-like speed. If he was the vanguard, Rowen was the follow-up. His ice sword began to dance in his wake.