Holy Relic Amor
“You want to borrow the holy relic, Amor? And you claim you can even move it? That massive crystal? Even if you could, wouldn't it be too conspicuous?”
The Crown Prince's words drew an immediate response from behind him.
“They say they've used just the core of the relic before. Back in Karon.”
“Is that so? Possible, huh? Heh, what a remarkable fellow he is, the more I learn.”
“……Isn't it actually a good thing?”
At the Crown Prince's admiration, his guard knight Iksiran quickly chimed in. The Crown Prince, who knew well why he said that, nodded.
“Indeed. For those bastards, they could breach the palace barriers with inside help somehow, but the relic—they'd have no choice but to destroy it directly……. It was tricky just watching, but this works out perfectly.”
The rebellion that would erupt at the wedding ceremony. Monitoring the movements of those plotting it had one major headache: this very issue.
The relic was now deemed meaningless in effect, but it still held symbolic value. Was it right to let such a thing be destroyed?
'Especially after what happened in Karon recently…….'
It was a dilemma even for him, who sought to lead the empire into a millennium of glory.
“Still, it's a holy relic. Better than letting demon-possessed scum destroy it, right?”
“Of course. I'm indebted to that friend Tiny in so many ways. He's eased a burden from my mind.”
But the Crown Prince had already half-decided.
“It's all thanks to Your Highness's grace. You didn't forgive that tragic incident back then, either.”
As Iksiran grimaced recalling a past event, the Crown Prince merely smiled.
“Yeah, and he's already exceeded expectations in results. What do you think? Don't I have a good eye for people?”
“Even so, that guy back then clearly crossed the line.”
Iksiran clenched his fist, trembling with anger. But the Crown Prince just laughed and patted his shoulder.
“Your flaw is being too rigid.”
“No, it's that Your Highness is too unique…… Hm, my apologies.”
“Haha, it's fine. I know I'm unique. But couldn't you say 'exceptional' instead?”
“Your Highness is naturally exceptional!”
The booming response to his casual joke made the Crown Prince chuckle again.
Iksiran was a veteran knight who'd served long in the imperial court's viper pit, yet his loyalty was beyond doubt.
“Good. Tell him it's approved right away. I felt bad for not overriding Father's veto before—this request is the least I can grant.”
That afternoon, sooner than expected, the Crown Prince made his decision. Shortly after someone visited the relic guard post on the palace outskirts, the holy relic Amor vanished from there.
The imperial palace brimmed with the light of constantly active grand magic. Only a rare few sensed the disappearance of the relic's transparent glow within it.
But those few reacted instantly.
– The holy relic has vanished.
“……Why?”
The Emperor, about to retire to his chambers, tilted his head at the sudden voice echoing in the air.
– It seems Crown Prince's doing. It disappeared right after a knight named Toren from Valentia entered the palace.
“Not destroyed?”
– No signs of that. It appears they've somehow carried it away.
The Emperor's brow furrowed at those words.
“Ho, so that's possible? If it could be carried, no one would call the relic meaningless.”
The Emperor tilted his head briefly, but truthfully, the relic meant little to him. Karon's warnings were dismissed as nonsense from a minor kingdom.
'That relic? Who cares if it's there or not.'
Honestly, as a symbol of the old era, it had even been an eyesore.
“Where's that guy now?”
– Vanished from the capital immediately.
“What?”
– Guessing from ties to Valentia, probably headed to Karina.
“What!? Then what about Valentia's other elites?”
– All still in the capital.
Hearing that, the Emperor ground his teeth unwittingly.
“He slipped the noose I so carefully laid that easily!?”
– Per imperial law, arbitrary relocation of the relic warrants reprimand. You could use that to pressure the Crown Prince…….
“No need to check my own son before the big event. Valentia matters more right now.”
Grinding his teeth, the Emperor sighed at the air, then asked again.
“Assuming he carries the relic to Karina, what happens there?”
– The demon followers in Karina will melt in the holy light or be repelled like hitting a wall, unable to approach. And the soldiers and civilians presumed bewitched by black magic will regain their senses.
“……Without Valentia taking any damage?”
– ……Yes.
“Infuriating. Kill him.”
– Pardon?
“Kill him before he reaches Karina. If not, before he returns.”
– But Your Majesty, our forces are already committed to that matter…….
“Just one guy? A mere knight! Can't you handle that!?”
– ……As you command.
The leader of the imperial secret assassination group had no choice but to reply thus. Unusual ability to handle the relic or not, it was just one knight. No need to overthink.
But to be sure…….
'I'll send that child.'
The secret weapon they'd raised staking the organization's future. Thinking of the child, it actually seemed fortuitous. Better than wasting that future on a dangerous mission against Duke Valentia directly.
“……The holy relic vanished?”
A dubious voice echoed from the head of the dark chamber. A small shadow in the corner immediately bowed.
“Yes, urgent report: the palace relic is gone. Good for us, but……”
“Strange, isn't it.”
“Yes, exactly.”
“Checked with the Blue Fox?”
“They inquired first. Asked if we've already started.”
“Heh, then what? Is there someone else who could destroy the relic besides us?”
“No traces of destruction. Even without destroying, there are ways, right? Like moving that massive crystal with immense physical force……”
“Too many witnesses for that. If neither destruction nor movement, only one guess: the one that one mentioned……”
“Ah……!”
“Yes, that Morse bastard took it.”
“But how could he pull it off in the palace? Even with Valentia backing him.”
“Forgot? He's linked to the Dragon's Eye too. Not just Valentia's guest.”
“Then……”
“The Emperor—or Crown Prince—plans to use him and the relic to uproot one of our seeds.”
“He must've gone to Karina on Valentia's orders. Shall we act?”
“Hm. We should. Need to learn how he handles the relic so easily. That ability might be our biggest threat, separate from his origins or affiliation.”
“Then……?”
“Inform Karina and the other seeds. If he appears, observe how he carries the relic. Prepare demon-free seeds or whatever…… Get clues by sight or sound, report back. To capture him, permit use of that.”
“Pardon? But that's……”
“Don't you know why we stirred those remote imperial territories? Events there won't reach the capital until that day—even accounting for that spirit user's speed. Proceed.”
“……Yes, understood.”
With that, the dark chamber fell silent again.
Papapapak.
A massive silver wolf nearly 2 meters at the shoulder raced down a dark mountain path like the wind, carrying a rider on its back.
The new moon hung serene in the sky. Monster lairs typically teemed in such starless midnight mountains, but…….
“Nice and clear.”
As Tiny, the wolf's rider, said, not a monster—or even a trace—lurked nearby.
It was the power of the holy relic Amor now in his arms. An invisible barrier, imperceptible to ordinary eyes, spanned a 500-meter radius around him.
A divine gift harmless to this world's demon-free lifeforms aided his smooth ride.
Of course, the biggest factor was…….
Paaaaang!
Wolrang, charging the mountain path relentlessly, air bursting with its speed.
As Tiny grew, Wolrang had bulked up and strengthened further. A reliable, joyful development—but one lingering regret.
“Wolrang, still no feel for Spirit User 4th stage?”
“Woof!”
A no. Tiny swallowed his disappointment again.
Recent insights had realigned his growth, teaching that maximizing innate power wasn't all.
Precisely: a shortcut, yet surer great path existed.
Growth as a Spirit User.
'Spirit User growth expands my soul. Definitely……!'
Obvious to others, perhaps. Mana users and mages describe advancing stages as elevating the soul's tier.
Those wielding mana—power beyond flesh—feel their souls outgrow bodies as realms rise.
But not for current Tiny. His soul had known superhuman heights; retracing past realms brought no change.
Except as Spirit User bound to Wolrang.
'As soul grows in size and quality, path to Aura Master and beyond eases.'
Combat gains aside, he prioritized Spirit User progress.
Unlike Wolrang guiding 3rd stage, 4th felt elusive.
'Well, it'll come eventually. Or ask Estina.'
A bit regrettable, but too much else filled him to obsess.
“……Plenty to do anyway.”
So shake off distractions, focus on now.
Not time for worries.
Time to ride.
“Alright, Wolrang! Let's go wild!”
“Awooooo!”
Wolrang, bathed in moonlight under the night sky, howled joyfully without slowing.
And for those pursuing, it was pure disaster.
“……Too fast. Treats mountain like plain. Can't chase.”
A slender masked figure muttered flatly at Wolrang's massive pawprints.
“Not normal mount. Orc direwolf kin, presumed. Not normal knight. Intel error……”
Mumbling continued. Low voice, syllable-by-syllable recitation—his habit, barely audible even nearby.
“Asrian west gate, straight to Karina. Ignores terrain. High chance same return. Ambush passes, wait.”
Decision made, the masked figure moved. A few steps, and it melted traceless into the dark night.