You Don't Need to Do That

"You don't need to do that."

As usual, Lilian was watering the tree in the manor courtyard. It was Noah, the one Cael had brought back and planted some time ago.

Lilian lifted her head and gazed up at Noah.

"Haven't you grown a bit too much in the meantime?"

Noah was growing at a conspicuous rate. Only a month earlier it had been the size of an ordinary sapling; now it stood as tall as an ancient tree.

The sole difference from a true ancient tree was that it bore no leaves at all—only bare, stark branches.

"Aren't you cold?"

"……"

Naturally, no answer came. Lilian smiled softly and sat down at the base of the trunk.

"Well, it's summer, so I suppose you'll be fine."

The night sky was dark. A cool evening breeze drifted slowly past.

"Look there. It'll be a full moon again before long."

The moon looked ready to become perfectly round at any moment.

After watching it for a long while, Lilian let out a quiet laugh as some thought occurred to her.

"Seeing that makes me think of old times for no reason."

She began to talk in a low, rambling voice—stories too embarrassing to tell anyone else, yet too lonely to keep entirely to herself.

"When Cael and Aren were little, they often lay out in the yard staring up at the moon. At that age, everything is a mystery, after all."

"……"

"But what set Cael apart from other children his age was that his competitive streak was just as big as his curiosity."

Lilian's eyes grew soft with memory.

"He said he didn't like how the moon opened its eyes differently every night, or something of the sort. Then one day he simply vanished. Aren cried, and we searched the entire territory."

"……"

"We couldn't find him anywhere. Just when we had no idea what to do next… Cael came back to the manor on his own. And do you know the first thing he said?"

I wanted to get a good look at the moon's face, but no matter how far I ran, it never got any closer.

Lilian covered her mouth and laughed.

"Does that make any sense? Running away without a word just to see the moon's face. If something like that had truly been possible, Cael would have come home after picking a fight with the moon itself."

"……"

"Still, I was grateful. Grateful he came back safe."

Strangely, she had not been angry that day. She had only felt deep relief that he was alive.

"Unlike quiet Aren, Cael was a complete little terror and a troublemaker. There wasn't a single day he stayed still."

"……"

"Even when he was still in my belly, and even when he finally came into the world…. Back then he was so tiny."

Lilian opened her palm and waved it through the empty air. Then a bittersweet smile touched her lips.

"And before I knew it, that little thing had grown so big…."

"……"

"Winning recognition from the villagers who once avoided him, important people coming all the way to the manor for his sake…. It's a future I never could have imagined before."

Tears pricked at her eyes without warning.

Lilian quickly wiped them away with her fingers. She was glad no one was around to see.

"A great many things must have happened during that half-year pilgrimage…."

Everyone knew Cael had changed after returning from the pilgrimage.

Yet no one had asked him about it—partly because he never brought it up first, and partly because whatever enormous events he had lived through were simply beyond their ability to guess.

"You shouldn't grow up too quickly either."

Lilian stroked Noah's bark with her palm. The soft texture met her hand.

"Growth hurts, and affection only keeps growing without end."

"……"

Once again there was no reply. Lilian closed her eyes for a moment and prayed.

Goddess Ella, may peace settle upon Cael's heart….

She opened her eyes and leaned her back comfortably against Noah. In a quiet murmur she said,

"I wonder when Cael will come home…."

All at once moonlight flashed from directly ahead. It closed the distance so swiftly she had no time even to register it.

It was a sharp dagger someone had thrown. The blade flew straight for the space between Lilian's brows.

"Noah, stop it."

A dull thud rang out.

But a voice from somewhere, and something with it, intercepted the dagger.

The dagger was lodged in a branch—a branch that had shot out from Noah, the very tree she was leaning against.

A soft thud.

A man landed in front of Lilian a moment later. Hair tied back in a single tail. Eyes like deep pits.

"Alturo…?"

"Are you unharmed?"

"Yes…. Thanks to this child…."

They both glanced at Noah.

Alturo had long since realized Noah was no ordinary tree.

But because others might grow uneasy if they knew, he had told only Cael of the fact.

The branches that had remained still until now began to writhe and thrash as though threatening someone. They almost ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠seemed angry.

"What is that."

A cold voice carried from a distance. Near the manor entrance stood roughly twenty figures in black robes.

"We don't know either. It may be Apostle Bloom's tree…."

"Tsk. So it is."

Alturo kept his eyes fixed on them. The air they gave off was thoroughly ominous.

"Lilian! Alturo!"

"Mother! Lord Alturo!"

From the upper floor of the manor Benedict and Aren burst out, swords in hand. They had been watching over Lilian from the study the entire time.

"Are you all right? Any injuries?"

"As you can see, I'm fine…."

"Thank goodness…."

Aren exhaled in deep relief. Benedict stared at the moving Noah.

From the moment Cael had brought it, he had suspected it was no ordinary tree—but he had never imagined it would be this extraordinary….

"Thank you."

Noah answered by writhing its branches like an octopus.

Benedict asked,

"Alturo, do you know what this is about?"

"Yes. A letter just arrived from Young Master Cael. The Evil Book Society is going to attack this manor."

"The Evil Book Society…!"

The Evil Book Society—a notorious heretical cult infamous not only in the Holy Empire but in the Empire as well. As if to prove it, a razor-edged killing intent radiated from the group.

Benedict swallowed dryly. A bald giant among them twisted his lips into a smirk.

"How convenient of you to gather all in one place."

Benedict clenched his teeth and demanded,

"For what possible reason are you doing this?"

"None of your concern. Weaklings should know their place and submit."

Their savage presence stabbed at the skin. True to the Evil Book Society, every one of them was dangerous.

Alturo spoke.

"I will handle this place. Viscount, take your household and evacuate."

None of the manor servants were combatants.

Until recently the territory's situation had been poor, and Benedict alone had been enough to deal with most bandits.

At best there were only a few guards posted around the territory itself.

"No. I will fight as well."

"I will fight too, Lord Alturo."

Benedict and Aren raised their swords. As though he had expected the response, Alturo answered quietly.

"Young Master Aren—can you swing a blade against another person without hesitation?"

"……"

"It will be impossible. More importantly, as you are now, you cannot face them."

Aren gripped his sword tightly. Suddenly the words Cael had once spoken to him rose in his mind.

A sword exists to protect you. Swinging it that way is completely useless.

It was true. With this mindset and these skills he could not protect anyone else—or even himself.

"And the same goes for you, Viscount. Your strength is enough to protect your own body, but against them it is not enough."

Benedict would certainly be of help in a fight. Yet two among the enemies stood on an entirely different level from the rest.

They were almost certainly Apostles of the Evil Book Society.

"…Then are you saying you can face them alone?"

Alturo had introduced himself only as the man who would solve the plague; he had never once spoken of his own combat ability.

"Yes. I am no ordinary scholar."

Benedict studied the look in Alturo's eyes, then bit his lip.

"Even so, I cannot leave you behind. How am I supposed to abandon my benefactor and run?"

"But all of you are my benefactors as well."

"……"

Alturo continued with grave seriousness.

"I made a promise to Young Master Cael. That I would protect all of you while he was away. I am simply repaying that debt."

"But…."

"Forgive me, Viscount."

Alturo opened his hand in front of Benedict's face. Star-like glittering powder slipped into the man's nostrils, and Benedict's eyes slowly closed.

"This is…."

Alturo caught Benedict's collapsing body, laid him gently on the ground, and spoke to Aren.

"He will wake in ten minutes. Take him far away before then."

"And you, Lord Alturo…?"

"Do not worry. I am not the sort of man who would throw his life away for anyone. I will buy enough time and then withdraw."

"Ah…."

They hesitated for a brief moment. The Alturo they knew was awkward, but at least a kind man.

"Hurry…."

Just as Alturo was about to urge them on—

A branch whipped out from somewhere and wrapped Benedict's body like a cocoon.

A tree no larger than a child held Benedict while stretching its branches long and thin.

"What…?"

The little tree, still holding Benedict, began hopping away down the rear path on short roots. Apparently the enormous Noah that had been planted in the courtyard had transformed into this form.

Even Alturo had not known it was capable of such a thing.

"Father!"

"Darling!"

Aren and Lilian had no choice but to chase after Noah. The servants who had gathered inside the manor bowed once to Alturo and turned to leave as well.

What a curious place this is. The people… and everything else….

Alturo let out a quiet snort of laughter and walked slowly toward the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠enemies. They watched him warily, making no move.

He stopped at a suitable distance.

"Thank you for waiting."

The giant twisted his mouth.

"Did you think we wouldn't notice you deliberately showing us your back? We're not stupid enough to jump into a poison pit."

"I see."

Alturo gave a thin smile. Then he flicked a long needle sideways.

The needle shot forward at high speed and buried itself in the throats of two men who had been trying to slip away unnoticed.

They panicked and yanked the needles free, but moments later they coughed up blood and collapsed. Poison.

Alturo's pit-like eyes grew deeper.

"Do not imagine you can simply walk past."

The giant clicked his tongue and ordered the others.

"We'll take care of this one. Watch for openings."

"Yes."

In the next instant the giant's skin turned ashen gray. He had undergone demonization, enhancing his physical abilities.

As though leaping through space itself, the giant appeared right in front of Alturo.

He swung a double-headed axe wreathed in black demonic energy. Alturo bent his waist back with fluid grace and avoided it.

Then he lightly slashed the giant's forearm with a dagger and immediately opened distance again.

"……"

Poison from the shallow cut began to spread up the arm. The giant seized the axe with his free hand and severed his own arm near the elbow.

He was trusting in a demon's unique regenerative power.

I'll have no choice but to aim for the head or neck.

The giant, now aware of the poison's danger, did not rush in carelessly.

At that moment two subordinates who had been waiting for an opening turned and headed toward the Luminara household.

Alturo launched his body like a bolt.

For some reason the giant simply watched.

But Alturo's priority was stopping those two, so he paid it no mind and ran.

One of them brought his sword down on the approaching Alturo. Alturo twisted his body aside, then drove his dagger deep into the man's throat.

To the remaining one he flicked an extremely thin needle coated in deadly poison. The man tried to deflect it, yet never even properly saw the needle before it sank into his throat.

Before the man could even fall from the poison, the giant—who had somehow already closed in—swung his double-headed axe with a fully regenerated arm.

Alturo crossed both hands on his dagger to offset the force.

It was not enough. He threw himself backward of his own accord to absorb as much of the impact as possible.

He tumbled across the ground several times before barely managing to regain his balance and stand.

He deliberately sacrificed his subordinates. To create an opening while I was dealing with them.

A method as vicious as one would expect from them.

Alturo fixed his gaze on the giant. For a time the two stares crossed in silence.

Suddenly an ominous presence flared. From the sky a massive flame was falling like a meteor.

…Magic?

There was no time to be startled. He kicked off the ground. With a tremendous roar the spot where Alturo had stood was obliterated.

The giant made a small sound of admiration.

"Oho. Quick on your feet."

Alturo looked past the giant at the figure whose robe was pulled low over his face, and his eyes grew cold.

A mage…. A bad matchup.

Alturo's physical abilities were not particularly strong; his true skill lay in handling poisons.

To poison someone he somehow had to inflict a wound, yet simply approaching a mage was difficult.

And with the giant present as well, closing the distance was close to impossible.

I cannot be certain I can kill them all.

Even a demonized opponent could be brought down for ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠certain if he used poison. One, at least.

But with a mage added, far too many variables appeared. If he failed, every member of the Luminara household would die.

Then I have no choice but to use that method.

Having made his decision, Alturo spoke to them.

"Why are you committing such a foolish act?"

"If it weren't for the variable called you, this would already be over."

"No. Because I am here, you have been spared the worst outcome."

The giant narrowed his eyes.

"What nonsense is that?"

"To Young Master Cael, they are the absolute minimum safeguard. Because they exist, he is able to live like a human being the way he does now."

Alturo delivered the warning with grave weight.

"I beg you—do not try to remove that safeguard. If they disappear, he will become a colossal catastrophe that will swallow every last one of you."

Cael was a being one must never turn into an enemy. As an ally he was reliable and cunning beyond measure; as an enemy he was catastrophe itself.

The giant snorted in derision.

"That sounds promising. Whether a single Inquisitor will bring about our ruin."

They were fools. They had never once met Cael in person.

"No. There is no need for that."

Alturo shook his head and drew from his coat a sphere the size of a walnut.

"I will not allow it to come to that."

This was a bomb of condensed extreme poison he had originally crafted to kill Baron Viper.

The poison within could melt even mana, making it impossible to block with magic.

If it detonated here, everyone present would die.

Sensing something ominous by instinct, the giant narrowed his eyes.

"…Planning to die together?"

Exactly as the giant said—if he set it off here, Alturo would die as well. Originally it was a bomb designed to be detonated remotely by other means.

But this was insurance for the case in which Alturo failed to kill every enemy.

"No. I have no intention of dying with you. However, this is linked to the flow of my mana. If I die, the bomb will detonate that very instant."

"……"

"Whether you die by my hand or kill me yourselves, there is no way for any of you to leave this place alive."

Under Alturo's venomous gaze their spines crawled.

He was a viper. It felt as though a long snake's body were slowly coiling around their throats and tightening.

"…Madman. Are they worth that much to you? It's not even as if you're bound by blood."

At the question Alturo considered for a moment before ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠answering.

"I do not know. But Young Master Cael pulled me back when I was sinking into darkness. Because of him I was able to see a little light, if only for a while."

After his peer Lunatic had died, Alturo had not glimpsed even a handful of light.

Yet after coming to this place called Luminara he had received far more light than he deserved.

All of it because Cael had visited his shop that day.

"So this time it is my turn to help him. So that he may continue living like a human being from now on."

Alturo returned the poison bomb to his coat and let his eyes settle into perfect calm.

Realizing the man was completely serious, the giant ground his teeth.

They could not move rashly. There was no telling when Alturo might charge, and even if they blocked him, killing him would mean everyone died in the blast.

While they remained frozen, Alturo lowered his stance.

"Then let us see this through to the end."

That was when it happened.

"You don't need to do that."

A cool voice rode the wind and drifted in.

Alturo looked at the man who had suddenly appeared before his eyes.

Black priestly robes that carried a proud air. A blade that seemed to hold the cold moonlight itself.

He stood with his back to Alturo, the poison user.

"Young Master Cael…?"

Cael kept his eyes on the enemies as he spoke.

"Go to my family. Do not return until the full moon has set."

Only then did Alturo recover his senses enough to reply.

"I know you are strong, Young Master, but they have undergone demonization and there is a mage among them as well…."

"Alturo."

Cael cut him off. The voice was flat, devoid of any particular emotion.

"Thank you."

When Cael glanced back at him, a faint smile curved his lips. Alturo had never seen him smile in quite that way.

Nor had he ever seen him so deeply, thoroughly enraged.

"…Understood."

For some reason an unnameable tension rose in Alturo's throat. He swallowed dryly.

There was no way Cael did not already know the facts Alturo knew. Just as before, the young man would have a plan of his own.

Once Alturo left the manor, Cael turned fully toward the enemies. Oddly enough, their expressions seemed more at ease now that he had appeared.

The giant opened his mouth.

"You appeared as if you already knew this would happen. You weren't even in the territory—how did you get here?"

Cael gave no answer. He merely fixed his gaze on them and lowered his stance.

He gripped the sword with both hands. The blade did not tremble. Yet the flames rising along its edge fluttered wildly.

A cool wind settled into the blade and fused with the fire. Beneath the night sky the flames blazed as madly as if a sun had risen.

This place was not one they were permitted to set foot upon. Even letting their gaze linger for a single moment made his teeth grind.

To Cael this was the nest where he could rest without care—and a place filled with long-held memories.

Therefore he intended to erase every last trace of them that remained here. Their blood and flesh, and even their souls.

That, without question, was right.

The giant's eyes flew wide and he shouted,

"Protection magic!!!!!"

By then it was already too late. Cael's sword was already cutting through the empty air with unhurried grace.

The enemies could do nothing but stare blankly at the approaching wave of Wrath.

It was a catastrophe. A disaster their power could never hope to evade.

In the next instant their vision was dyed a vivid, burning red by the flames.