Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Bring the Heart
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We’re enemies. That’s what Lin had said to Lena before. She hadn’t even pretended to listen at the time, but in truth, Lena knew it all too well. Sharing the same goal didn’t mean they were on the same side. In fact, having the same goal often made them rivals or enemies. On top of that, as a mercenary, Lena had to prove her own worth.
So for now, it was better to stay silent. To shine uniquely and secure her precarious position, keeping her mouth shut was definitely the smarter play.
“……I hope you don’t get hurt, too, Lin.”
But Lena couldn’t bring herself to do it. Purely because this kind young man was so admirable. Because he was cute and endearing, because she liked him.
“So listen carefully to what I say from now on.”
Lena finally confessed with a sense of surrender.
“It’s about the tomb expedition in two days.”
“The expedition?”
“Think of it as a trap if you want, but I hope you’ll hear me out.”
Lin looked at Lena at the unexpected words. But it was too dark to read her expression still.
“You don’t need to bring a lot of people. Just select ten knights. Ones with strong mental fortitude and quick reflexes.”
And the advice that followed was even darker than the shadows.
“Plan to stay in the tomb for about ten days. Pack only salt for food. You won’t get hungry there anyway. But if you eat normally, you’ll need to rest normally, too.”
“What does that…….”
“Avoid fighting the wraiths as much as possible. No matter how many you kill, they come back, so fighting just puts you at a loss.”
Lin needed explanations. But Lena didn’t stop, pouring out her words.
“The castle of the King Who Swallowed the First Cry is between valleys. Even if you find it, don’t approach. You’ll just come back empty-handed.”
“Don’t approach?”
Not to approach the castle they had to conquer. It was absurd. When Lin asked in disbelief, Lena said with maximum grace,
“The only one who can conquer that castle is me.”
***
Early in the morning, the Southern Duke urgently summoned Lena. But the one who appeared before him was a tiny little girl.
“Hello, Gramps.”
When the Southern Duke stared in disbelief, Uni spoke first.
“I know why you called. I’ll just relay what the Young Lady said and go. First, the betrothal meeting had some noise, but she said it was still a meaningful time. Second, advancing the expedition was the best choice, so trust her and leave it to her.”
“……And?”
“That’s it?”
The Southern Duke’s face twisted at Uni’s reply.
“Uh, you’re not making that face to make me laugh, right?”
Of course not, but the Southern Duke didn’t change his expression. In fact, he was so preoccupied he didn’t even know what his face looked like.
“What in the world are you……!”
“If you say the same thing, she told me to reply that you should cast aside all worries and wait.”
As Uni naturally continued, the Southern Duke’s scowl deepened. He’d heard right away that the expedition had been moved up and the South would take the vanguard. That’s why he’d urgently called for Lena, but she hadn’t come last night, saying she was absent, and now in the morning, she’d sent only this carrot-sized kid. The Southern Duke was truly going mad.
“I’m well aware of your recklessness.”
Finally unable to hold back, the Southern Duke said in a suppressed voice.
“But do you not know what happens to those who’ve been indulgent with me? Do I need to teach you?”
His boiling voice made the secretaries and attendants shrink like turtles. Preparing for the Southern Duke’s rage. But Uni, as if the furious Southern Duke was the strange one, said,
“Gramps, don’t you trust our Young Lady?”
“Trust my ass……!”
The Southern Duke raised his voice, and the retainers squeezed their eyes shut. But what followed wasn’t thunderous shouting, but a weak groan.
“How can you just tell me to trust blindly, with no countermeasures……!”
The lamenting Southern Duke seemed less angry and more aggrieved.
“Taking those ragtag bunch to the vanguard, and tomorrow of all days. I might come out fine, but will the others? I told you just to hold the middle, so why volunteer and throw the knights into the jaws of death……!”
The old man vented while slapping the armrest. He couldn’t understand Lena’s decision at all. The vanguard was attacked first and exposed to danger first. Many died and were injured, and if unlucky, wiped out entirely—not rare at all. If she had any sense, she’d avoid it, and if forced into it, she should come discuss countermeasures. But Lena hadn’t come until summoned, and after a day, sent only a maid. And she calls it the best choice. The Southern Duke was about to burst inside. He even wondered if Lena was doing this on purpose because she was mad about the betrothal meeting.
“Excuse me, seems like there’s a misunderstanding.”
“What misunderstanding!”
As the Southern Duke huffed, Uni quietly added. He bellowed at that, but Uni didn’t flinch and continued.
“If you’re worried about your knights, Gramps, no need. Those people won’t be heading out tomorrow anyway.”
“How can they not be involved!”
“The Young Lady’s going alone.”
“What?”
The Southern Duke’s bellowing face went blank at Uni’s out-of-nowhere words. Uni thought the expression was funny too, and spelled it out clearly to the ill-tempered old man.
“The Young Lady’s going on tomorrow’s expedition alone. No knights, and she’ll take the vanguard by herself.”
The Southern Duke understood Uni’s words very slowly. And when he fully grasped it, the old man’s face turned ashen.
. . .
The marquis had ruined the Southern Knights’ betrothal meeting, and the cardinal had demanded that Lady Lena take the vanguard. Die with the incompetent Southern Knights, or if lucky return as stragglers and shoulder all the blame—that was the intent. So Lena chose to go alone instead. When told to jump into the fire pit with dry reeds on her back, she rolled up her sleeves to show them. Lena’s decision like this spread widely through the little maid’s mouth. Thus, the imperial palace buzzed once more with tales of Lena Rubel.
First, the Southern Knights, who’d rejected Lady Lena only to be excluded themselves, pretended to be angry while secretly weeping. They were honest folk who valued life over honor. The young nobles doubted Lady Lena’s mental state. Some even gossiped she’d flee in the night. The cardinal laughed heartily, and the Eastern Duke stayed silent.
Meanwhile, Marquis Rubel was the first to hear the news through his butler. The news that his daughter was heading out on the expedition alone was very unexpected to him too. But that changed nothing. He quietly prepared his own tasks to the end.
. . .
The day passed quickly, and on expedition day, knights from the East and North gathered at Do-um Palace. The departure ceremony was at the Main Palace, so only priests were at Do-um Palace, and among them, a boy priest greeted Marquis Rubel gladly upon seeing him.
“You look radiant with divine favor today, Your Excellency.”
“It’s all thanks to your prayers, priest.”
The greeting was a bit odd, but the marquis replied familiarly. Then the boy priest cheekily retorted,
“I don’t pray like that, though?”
“But you did last night, right?”
“Didn’t last night either.”
“Really didn’t?”
“Nope.”
“……Having a son is such an unfilial thing.”
As the marquis sighed, the boy priest giggled. Then he stopped joking and smiled brightly.
“Take care, Father.”
Enji Rubel, the reserve priest and heir to the Rubel marquisate, said that and hugged his father. The marquis smiled too, stroking his son’s head that reached his chest. Just then, the Southern Duke and Lena Rubel entered Do-um Palace.
Seeing Lena first, the marquis thought she was truly vicious. Then Lena spotted the marquis too, and father and daughter’s eyes met. Seeing his daughter walk confidently in uniform stirred various emotions in his heart. Even so, the marquis’s resolve remained firm. To him, his daughter should be buried deep in the grave, occasionally stirring sad feelings. But annoyingly, Lena had come back to life on her own. That shouldn’t have happened. So the marquis decided to correct the mistake. For his life and future, his family’s honor, and his now-grown son.
“Are you prepared?”
“Yes.”
Lena, facing the marquis, turned her head at the Southern Duke’s question. She wanted to look again at the boy priest in his father’s arms but held back. Instead, she steadied her mind and carefully surveyed the surroundings.
The only ones from the South here were the Southern Duke and Lena. In contrast, the East and North were quite imposing. First, the North had Prince Rubid and Marquis Rubel leading countless knights lined up even outside the castle. The East had gathered around Rig-nan Aiterner, far fewer than the North. Still, their numbers seemed to exceed a hundred easily.
‘Lin’s going like that, huh.’
Lena smiled weakly at the Eastern knights.
‘No helping it.’
Lena had given him various advice last night. But seeing that force, it seemed Lin had decided not to follow it. It was natural, really. As the head of a faction, it was hard to act solely on someone else’s words. Lena fully understood his decision. But separately, her heart stung at her goodwill being rejected. Swallowing a sigh, Lena turned her eyes to the rift. The cardinal stood before it, and the vanguard spot was empty. Prepared for Lena Rubel.
“They really prepared just one spot.”
The Southern Duke murmured lowly, seeing the same.
“Solo departure—never heard of such a thing.”
“There’s a first time for everything.”
“First and last, probably. Who else would pull this stunt besides you?”
“Being unprecedented makes it all the more glorious.”
Even at the subtle sarcasm, Lena just smiled prettily. At her cheek, the Southern Duke groaned in pain, then suddenly muttered something inexplicable.
“I’m an old-fashioned man.”
“Pardon?”
“I’ve lived long, and that makes me conservative.”
At the out-of-the-blue remark, Lena looked at the Southern Duke. But the old man avoided her gaze and continued.
“Normally, I wouldn’t tolerate it. Appointing a mercenary-born woman as proxy.”
“You believe black cats are ominous too, Your Grace.”
Lena teased lightly, but the Southern Duke didn’t mind and shot back.
“Not just cats—crows too.”
“And finding a four-leaf clover brings luck?”
“Luck’s in a rabbit’s foot.”
Lena tilted her head at the natural back-and-forth. Yesterday, she’d heard through Uni that the Southern Duke had nearly teared up. She’d expected him to be down today too, but oddly, he was chattier than usual. Wondering what was up, the Southern Duke continued.
“Old men don’t like adventures. We judge based on long experience. ……But you’ve already made a mockery of my lifetime of experience.”
The Southern Duke said with resignation. It sounded relieved, depending on how you heard it. Lena stared, wondering at the whim, and the Southern Duke thought her gaze quite impudent as he finished.
“I’ve given up trying to figure you out, so go do well.”
“You’re encouraging me now?”
“……If you get it, fine. If not, just go.”
The Southern Duke scowled unnecessarily and shooed Lena away. Then asked her back.
“You’ll just hold the middle and come back?”
At the old man’s dishonest question, Lena finally laughed. Then she turned and replied gracefully.
“If so, I wouldn’t have taken the vanguard.”
The Southern Duke thought it a truly impertinent answer. And with that, Lena turned and headed to the vanguard spot before the rift. Countless gazes fell on her. Filled with malice and goodwill, killing intent, doubt, rivalry, and curiosity. As Lena walked through them, Clavis, waiting before the rift, smiled in welcome.
“Welcome, brave Lady Lena.”
Clavis’s voice was light as ever. As Lena stared silently, he lowered his voice and added,
“Come back safe. I have really high expectations for you.”
He whispered once and stepped back. Then piously made the holy sign and raised his voice.
“Lady Lena, knight of His Majesty. We grant you the first opportunity—go avenge the South and bring back the heart of the King Who Swallowed the First Cry.”
To catch the King of the Wraiths alone—it was nearly impossible. But if you somehow pull it off, I…… Clavis smiled sharply and swallowed the words on his tongue. Then, to swallow his inner thoughts, he muttered like a parrot.
“Then, under His Majesty’s glory, to new horizons.”
At that signal, Lena turned. And before everyone’s eyes, she headed into the tomb once more.
. . .
Lena, who’d squeezed her eyes shut against the red light, opened them again to the thick sulfur smell and chill. The familiar world appeared. Feeling a strange nostalgia, Lena carefully looked around the tomb she’d returned to after so long. Fortunately or unfortunately, Lena wasn’t the only one glad to see her. This world welcomed her fervently too. Countless wraiths were rushing from afar to tear her apart.