Chapter 75
Chapter 75
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: A Promise and a Badge
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The flow of mana, originating from the heart, radiating outward.
That was Convection.
This time, however, it was in the form of multiple bundles of fine streams.
Just as Lazarus had once tapped thin strands of mana onto Loan's palm, Loan now examined the ghoul's body, ceaselessly stimulating the areas consumed by darkness.
It required intense concentration. Moreover, the consumption of magical power was substantial.
Moment by moment, his body felt drained of strength, his head grew hot, and a headache set in.
*This is just the beginning.*
Both Loan and the ghoul's body needed time to adapt to each other.
Just as a small sense of anxiety began to creep in, wondering if he could see this through to the end.
"It seems the fatigue from the battlefield still lingers."
Magda continued, whispering by his side.
"Two duels, followed immediately by a large-scale area-of-effect spell. On top of that, you even faced Franco. It's a wonder you haven't collapsed. You're still so frail."
As she spoke, her hands gently rested on Loan's shoulders.
He was too focused on the bundles of Convection threads to react, but Loan didn't find her touch unpleasant.
In fact, it felt as though she were encouraging him, cheering him on, and a moment later, he actually began to feel a surge of strength.
A warmth spreading from his shoulders enveloped his body, and with every breath, energy began to sprout within him.
His trembling knees straightened.
Magda's magical power was being transferred to Loan.
"Use me."
Her words were reassuring.
As he accepted her help without reservation, the worries that had taken root vanished completely.
An uncertain amount of time passed like this.
Gradually, a specific pattern began to emerge in the timing of the ghoul's screams.
It no longer shrieked in a frenzy. A change had occurred as its breathing became regular.
At last, perfect synchronization had been achieved.
It was as if they were breathing together with a single heart.
*In that case.*
*Faster.*
Loan accelerated the circulation of mana. The same change occurred within the ghoul's body.
A strong current creates pressure, drawing in its surroundings.
It was only natural for the dark mana, stirred up by the stimulation of Convection, to be swept away by the greater current.
As if determined not to leave a single seed behind, Loan gradually increased the speed of the circulation until all the darkness that had transformed the human into another species was drawn out.
No matter how long it took, he wanted to save even one person and find a glimmer of possibility.
After a long while.
Loan confirmed that the Convection circulating inside the ghoul's body was tainted and murky, then looked at Hans.
Their eyes met, and Hans gave a slight nod.
He stood at the ghoul's head and neatly clasped his hands together.
His meteoric iron knuckles, which had been emitting a mysterious glow, were now suffused with a blue light.
A ritual prayer flowed from Hans's lips.
"Soul trapped in the net of evil. Find the path of light in the abyss of darkness. Under the Great Mother Goddess's benevolence, agony and pain shall vanish. The fame of light will rise in sunken eyes, and at last..."
As his voice echoed, even the somewhat dreary air of the treatment room seemed to turn fresh and clear.
Understanding that the time had come, Loan slowly drew the current circulating within the ghoul's body outward.
For a moment, a peculiar light shone in Hans's eyes.
He had clearly felt it.
The tainted mana flowing out through the ghoul's pores.
The darkness being drawn toward his hands, which were now bathed in a brilliant light.
"Ooh..."
A gasp, almost like a chorus, erupted from the second floor of the treatment room.
It was the moment they witnessed Hans's hands beginning to glow brightly.
Proof that the purification was taking place.
Everyone knew what it meant.
A short while later, the moment the tainted mana that had dominated the ghoul's body became fuel for the light and was completely extinguished.
The light that had filled the treatment room also faded.
But the problem was now.
Had the man's humanity been restored after the purification ritual? More importantly, the key question was whether he was even alive.
Everything up to this point had merely been a process for that purpose.
One encouraging sign was that the man who had been a ghoul had recovered a significant portion of his human appearance.
His dull skin had regained some of its color, and his sharp claws and teeth had broken off and fallen away.
However, there was still no sign of life.
The onlookers held their breath, watching the former ghoul.
Loan's heart was no different, if not more desperate than theirs.
*He has to wake up.*
He continued to circulate Convection through the former ghoul's body.
Hoping the internal organs that had ceased to function would regain their vitality, he drew mana from the atmosphere into the man's body in a clear but thin stream.
In what felt like an eternity, suddenly.
"Keoheok!"
The man's body contorted as he vomited the contents of his mouth.
A few teeth were mixed in with what looked like viscous, bloody water.
He soon began to breathe, his eyelids fluttering rapidly as he became aware of his surroundings.
But he only gaped, unable to speak.
They waited for a moment, but he remained in that state.
Hans spoke.
"It seems he'll need some time, but..."
His voice trembled as he trailed off.
His expression was incredibly bright, so Loan waited silently for him to continue.
"This is a common occurrence after a purification ritual. The darkness is gone now. I can feel a pure life force, so it's safe to say it was a success, young Loan."
Before Loan could react, cheers erupted from the second floor.
"What is this miracle..."
"I wonder if I'm dreaming."
"No. It would be no exaggeration to call this the advent of a saint."
Amidst the emotional outburst, Magda briefly lifted her hand from Loan's shoulder before patting it several times.
"You don't seem to realize just how incredible what you've done is."
Loan was meeting the eyes of the man who could now be called human again.
The Barcino Autonomous Duchy officially declared the annihilation of Libertha.
Although the fugitive Franco had not yet been found, it would take a considerable amount of time for him to gather a force that could pose a threat.
The people of Barcino, who had refrained from going out after dark, were overjoyed that the latent terror had finally disappeared.
Through word of mouth, they spread the tale of a boy who had been at the center of the decisive battle that made it all possible.
The story spread far and wide.
Naturally, it became embellished, and a story that was hard to believe even when told as pure fact was recounted like a legend.
With the addition of the claim that he had turned a ghoul back into a human, people were divided between those who accepted the anecdote as myth and those who dismissed it as falsehood.
Loan, who heard these rumors directly from the Duke of Barcino, smiled calmly.
"It wouldn't do for a member of the Union to be swayed by public opinion. I only hope this serves as a good precedent to deter those Grave bastards from any foolish acts."
"It will be as you wish."
The Duke of Barcino was deeply moved by the boy's unwavering humility.
"My decision to entrust Barcino's fate to you was an excellent one. That makes me all the more pleased. I wish to commend your deeds, so is there anything else you desire? I hope you won't be so modest this time."
"I was only doing my duty, so the accolades I receive from the Union are more than enough, but..."
Loan trailed off, conscious of Magda and Oscar listening from behind him.
The Duke of Barcino said with a smile.
"It's alright. Speak your mind."
"May I stay in Barcino a little longer? I thought if Your Grace granted permission, the Governor-General would also understand."
"Ah... are you perhaps planning to search for more of the kidnapped children?"
"No. I am of no help in pure purification."
"They even call you a saint, yet you remain so humble. Then what is it? I heard that all the captured ghouls have now regained their humanity. Is there more to be done?"
"I wanted to see the sea..."
After a moment of silence, the Duke of Barcino burst into loud laughter.
Similar laughter arose from the duchy's retainers and from behind Loan.
"Hahaha, for once, you're saying something befitting your age."
The Duke turned to the smiling Oscar and Magda and urged them in a feignedly stern voice.
"I shall send a letter to the Governor-General myself, so what say you to granting our Loan's request?"
"As if that's such a big deal. You audacious boy."
Loan blushed slightly at Magda's response.
Oscar added.
"As it happens, we were already scheduled to meet with the Stability Division in the east. Commander Hans specifically designated a location, and it happens to be by the sea."
"Ah, is that so? Then this request was also unnecessary."
The Duke smiled and said to Loan.
"Since your request is so modest, I too shall make a promise. Barcino owes the Union a great debt for this. In the future, should the Union have any request, we will lend our full support without regard for our position as an autonomous duchy or any political calculations."
It was an incredibly unconventional statement for the occasion.
This was at a time when rumors were rampant about a subtle rift forming between the kingdom and the duchies since the reorganization of the Grafton royal family.
To top it off, the Duke of Barcino had publicly stated that he did not recognize the new Grafton royal family.
It was no exaggeration to say that the Duke of Barcino was at the center of this rift.
To the members of the Union, who knew the full circumstances, the Duke's offer could only feel all the more weighty.
The Duke did not stop there.
"Furthermore, I give this to Loan."
Loan dazedly accepted what the Duke handed him. It was an exquisitely crafted badge in the shape of a bull.
"It is an investiture of knighthood from Barcino. You will receive treatment befitting a knight anywhere in the duchy. It is by no means excessive to bestow this upon a benefactor of the duchy. Accept it."
Seeing Loan's bewildered expression, the Duke of Barcino approached and pinned the badge to Loan's chest himself.
On his left breast was the mark of Oz. On his right, the torch and bull-shaped badge now sat side-by-side.
The Duke of Barcino, gazing at the sight with satisfied eyes, spoke in a low voice.
"Now that we seem to have a moment of leisure, let us finish the conversation we started on the battlefield."
Loan hadn't forgotten either. The words about him reminding the Duke of someone.
He also had a question of his own. The crest engraved on the Duke's sword.
When Loan lowered his head in lieu of an answer, the Duke addressed the entire assembly.
"I have something to discuss with the young knight. Everyone, leave us."
A moment later.
The Duke of Barcino and the newly recognized knight stood by the window, their gazes fixed side-by-side on the clear blue sky.
The Duke spoke.
"I said you remind me of someone."
"I remember."
"I feel it again now... It is truly so."
"Is that so? I do not know who it is, but they must have been quite handsome."
The Duke turned his head at the unexpected reply.
He might have suspected it was a joke, but Loan's expression was utterly serious.
"Why do you think so?"
"If I remind you of someone, it must be a resemblance in either inner character or outer appearance. I have yet to attain the level of character of my teachers and seniors."
"Character..."
"Yes. Just recently, Commander Hans scolded me to control my heart. My inner self is neither well-established nor exceptional enough to be compared to anyone."
"So it must be the appearance?"
"I have yet to see anyone with better looks than myself, so I surmised that must be it."
The Duke of Barcino was speechless for a moment.
It was the sort of thing most people would find difficult to say about themselves, yet coming from Loan, it felt perfectly natural.
A strange boy, both humble and not.
The Duke laughed in disbelief.
"Yes. Your appearance is remarkably similar to that of a dear friend of mine. So much so that it makes me miss him..."
His voice trailed off.
Loan found himself turning his head to look at the Duke.
The corners of his gently curved eyes were moist with tears.
*I wonder if he, too, had buried someone in his heart.*
For some reason, Loan felt a sense of kinship.