Chapter 266
Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 266
Chapter Title: Part 2, Chapter 25: Together! (2)
Jamie doubted his ears at Piyon's sudden nonsense.
Benna's little sister had been born out of the blue?
Was it possible to learn something like that so abruptly, and right now?
Benna was just as flustered.
"Pi, Piyon? That's a bit much for a joke."
"It's no joke, Princess."
"No, no. That doesn't make sense. It's not like a dragon dropped her off. A sister just appearing suddenly? Anyone would think you're pulling our leg."
She had a point.
Babies didn't just pop into existence, and who would react with "Wow, amazing!" to news of a sibling appearing out of nowhere?
Piyon nodded as if understanding.
"Does the Princess know how Valkyries are born?"
"Huh?"
Come to think of it, she had never heard how Valkyries came into being.
And for good reason—no new Valkyrie had been born since Benna returned to her mother's embrace.
It was simple.
Valkyries didn't propagate through sexual reproduction like ordinary creatures.
They were an all-female race to begin with.
Instead, they extracted Valkyrie factors to create seeds.
Planting those in the soil of the "Forest of Birth" caused flowers to bloom, from which Valkyries emerged.
Normally, this happened once every ten years.
But the Queen was different.
The Queen's factors were planted in a tree.
The so-called "White Tree," deep in the Forest of Birth.
Planting factors there produced a red flower, from which the Princess was born.
"It's been about seven years since the Princess went missing. We had nearly given up searching for you. No matter how hard we looked across the world, we couldn't find you."
The black sorcerer Gav, who had kidnapped Benna, had hidden her where no Valkyrie could ever find her.
So, no matter how they searched, it was futile.
"Your absence was a grave crisis for our race. It threatened our very survival. So the elders proposed to the Queen..."
The Queen sustained the Valkyries, but she was advised by four elders.
Normally, the Queen's word would hold the most weight, but this was a dire situation involving the race's continuation.
The elders demanded she create a new Princess.
"Even the Queen couldn't refuse at that point. We planted her factors in the White Tree... but nothing happened."
It was serious.
Normally, the Queen's factors in the White Tree would bloom into a flower over ten years.
But despite planting them, no flower appeared.
The entire Valkyrie race trembled in anxiety.
Already insular, they grew even more so over those three years.
The fear of extinction gripped them all.
"Just when most Valkyries had given up, word came that we'd found you, the Princess."
With the royal Princess recovered, the Queen's factors planted in the White Tree were forgotten.
Then five more years passed.
"So the flower is blooming now?"
"More precisely, it seems it was growing inside the tree."
"...To think such a thing could happen."
Jamie could hardly believe it as he listened.
For eight years, a red flower destined to be Benna's sister had grown inside the tree undetected.
And what were the odds of a flower growing inside a tree to begin with?
It was miraculous that it had grown at all.
The powerful Queen's factors had allowed it to endure within.
"Lucky or unlucky, I suppose."
Not knowing about the flower for eight years was certainly bad, but now that it had surfaced, Benna had a reason to stay.
But Jamie thought differently.
"So it means Benna's sister will take another two years to be born."
"That's right."
"So she hasn't been born yet?"
"No, not yet."
In the end, she would only emerge after the Queen's death.
Even Valkyries born through this special method started as infants.
Meaning she couldn't claim the vacant throne.
"The second Princess's imminent birth is cause for celebration, but..."
Jamie glanced at Benna with a troubled expression.
"Benna. I think you need to hear this."
"Hear what?"
"Jamie Welton!"
Piyon tried to stop him, realizing what he was about to say, but she couldn't.
"Enough, Piyon. I originally thought it best for Benna to learn this after returning home, but with things as they are, she has to know."
"..."
Piyon grimaced without retort.
Benna's face filled with confusion at the sudden turn.
"Wh-what are you trying to say?"
"Benna. You're still the only suitable heir to the Queen."
"But Piyon said it's fine..."
"No, it's not."
"Why? Is it really because you don't want to travel with me...?"
Jamie cut her off, his voice grave.
"The Queen—your mother."
"What about my mother?"
"She has just over a year left to live. So you have to become Queen."
Benna froze at his words.
She stared blankly at Jamie's face before finally opening her trembling lips.
"My mom... why?"
"Princess."
"Piyon? Why... why does Mom only have one year left?"
"That's..."
"The shock of losing you, and the strain of creating a new Princess, must have rapidly deteriorated her health."
Jamie finished what Piyon couldn't.
"A Valkyrie Queen bears only one child during her reign. Her bloodline must be strong. Creating factors takes immense power. Heartbroken over losing you, she forced herself to produce new ones for the race's sake. That was the fatal blow."
"So... in the end, it's because of me that Mom..."
Benna's legs gave out, and she collapsed.
Tears streamed down her vacant face as her shoulders shook.
Piyon turned away, unable to watch.
Jamie knelt to meet her eyes.
"Benna."
"It's my fault. My fault that Mom... Mom..."
"Benna."
"No. I don't want Mom to die. Why does she have to die? Why because of me..."
"Benna."
"It can't be. It's a dream, just a dream. We were only together for five years, just five!"
"Benna!"
"Mom, I'm sorry. If I hadn't gotten lost that day..."
Slap!!
Piyon's eyes widened.
Benna felt the stinging heat and pain on her right cheek.
Jamie lowered his hand from the slap.
"Snap out of it."
"Master..."
"You can't change the past, and regretting it only brings pain."
"But Mom..."
"Yes. For your mother's sake, you can't stay like this."
"..."
"Before becoming Queen, be her daughter and stay by her side. Until your sister is born."
Benna began sobbing bitterly.
"I want to see Mom. I want to see her."
Ten years apart.
Then five years together, but it hadn't filled the void.
The time left.
She planned to make up for what she couldn't as a daughter.
She knew her mother wasn't well, but not this serious.
Her mother always showed strength.
If only she'd paid more attention.
If only she'd been a daughter her mother could rely on.
"I want to see Mom right now."
"Yeah. Let's go see her now."
Jamie helped Benna to her feet.
Piyon approached from behind with a bitter expression.
"I'll come too."
"Give me the coordinates."
"Read my mind. That's easy for you."
"Got it."
As soon as Piyon permitted, he scanned the coordinates in her mind.
"Grab my shoulder."
"Okay."
"We're going, Benna."
Benna nodded.
Jamie teleported using the coordinates from her memory.
Ariazad Great Forest.
Within it lay a vast plain incongruous with the name "great forest."
Mana rippled once, and three figures appeared.
Jamie, Benna, and Piyon.
"Not an insane distance from Abrakasas, but not close enough for a single jump. What kind of monster is a 9th-class mage?"
"Quit the pointless chatter and follow me."
Piyon spoke in awe, but Jamie replied nonchalantly.
"This way."
Piyon gestured and walked toward the plain's center.
The space rippled like water, and she vanished as if by magic.
He had thought it odd for such an open plain to exist in the great forest—this seemed to be a gateway to another realm.
Jamie supported Benna and followed in Piyon's direction.
The surroundings turned rainbow-hued, then shifted to a pastel world in an instant.
A beautiful spring came into view—the "Spring of Flowing Time" where Valkyries lived, no doubt.
Piyon, waiting ahead, spoke to Benna.
"Welcome home, Princess. Let's go see the Queen right away."
"Okay. Master, I can walk from here. Thank you for helping me."
"Alright."
At her insistence, Jamie released her shoulder.
Her strength hadn't fully returned, but in her homeland, Benna felt a bit recovered and began walking slowly.
Valkyries flew nearby but held back from speaking due to the grave mood.
Then a Valkyrie with striking indigo hair blocked their path.
She bowed politely to Benna first.
"Second Elder Centina greets the Princess."
"It's been a while, Centina."
"I need to speak with Piyon briefly."
The Valkyrie named Centina glanced at Jamie in the rear before grilling Piyon.
"Piyon, what is this unannounced return? And why bring a human? Why does the Princess look so unwell?"
"We're here to see the Queen."
"The Queen? I informed you of the second Princess's flower blooming."
"The Princess wanted to see her. I'm just the guide. And this man is Jamie Welton."
"Jamie Welton...!"
Centina's eyes widened.
Likely due to his connection with Benna.
Jamie shrugged at the stare.
"I see. Princess, please wait a moment. I'll inform the Queen of your arrival."
With that, Centina vanished swiftly.
Jamie watched her go and asked Piyon.
"She's one of your elders."
"A strong one. My direct superior and the Queen's advisor."
"Figures."
True to a Valkyrie elder, her aura was at least Master-class.
Valkyries weren't as long-lived as the Three Great Races, but ancient ones wielded commensurate power.
Elders, second only to the Queen, would disappoint if not Master-class.
Soon, Centina returned.
"Piyon stays. The Princess and you, enter."
Benna nodded and went ahead; Jamie followed.
Inside, a massive tree loomed first.
A large hollow gaped beneath its beautiful hues.
There sat the current Valkyrie Queen in an alluring pose.
The Queen beckoned Benna.
"My daughter. Come here."
"Mom!"
Benna rushed into Hifen's arms at the sight.
Jamie stood quietly, watching the mother and daughter.
Hifen, startled by her daughter's sudden tears, wiped them away.
"Why are you crying all of a sudden? Did something sad happen?"
"Sniff... No, nothing like that."
Benna shook her head, not wanting to worry her mother even as she wept.
Her tears soaked the Queen's dress, but to Hifen, it was trivial.
"Then why cry? Tears of joy for your sister?"
"I... heard about the sister."
"Yes. You have a sister now, Benna. Two years until birth, then we'll love her together."
"..."
Benna couldn't respond.
Hifen, puzzled by the silence, stroked her hair.
"Why won't my daughter answer?"
"Mom..."
"Yes?"
"Is it true you only have one year left?"
Hifen's eyes trembled at the question.
She quickly composed herself and denied it.
"What are you saying? Why would your mom only have a year? I'll be with you forever..."
"I heard everything. Because of me... because I was gone, you strained to create new Queen factors..."
"Benna."
"I'm sorry. Truly sorry, Mom."
Benna tried stifling sobs, but tears flowed freely.
Hifen's heart shattered at the sight.
She had hoped Benna would never know.
Or at least learn after she was gone.
"I'm sorry, Benna."
"Why didn't you tell me sooner? I wouldn't have left the forest even briefly. I could've stayed by your side longer."
"Yes. I'm sorry. Mommy's sorry."
Hifen embraced Benna, patting her back soothingly.