Chapter 30
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: I Will Teach You Fear (4)
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Finally, they arrived at Ruipl.
A man stepped down from the carriage. His white hair and impeccably groomed cold air evoked images of a frost dragon or snow spirit at first glance.
Exhale—
He exhaled a long plume of Sunweed smoke.
"Inspector?"
The one addressing him was none other than the knight. Balton, Hedera's guard knight, spoke to Zekiel.
"How's your condition?"
"Itches."
"...I'll keep it short."
Balton continued as he polished his sword.
"This bet—how confident are you?"
Zekiel merely blinked slowly in response.
Confidence.
His entire being had been filled with it for a long time.
Always, already, now. That was his life.
So.
"Even I can't know that."
The question of how much was unanswerable.
Ruipl.
A place where safety could never be guaranteed at any moment. Ruipl was known in the world as such a region—and it was true.
Thus, merchants who had to pass through always traveled in groups. To slightly increase their chances of survival if demons or magical beasts appeared.
Today was no different.
"It's extra eerie today. What if a magical beast shows up?"
"Quiet down. Words can become seeds."
"I regret it. They said not to pass through Ruipl..."
"No choice. This is the fastest route! We have to sell everything to feed the kids. All we can do is pray no demons show up today..."
But demons wouldn't care about human circumstances.
"D-Demon!"
"Run!"
Starting with someone's shout, shadowy figures in human form charged at the merchants.
"Arghhh!"
"Help! Somebody help...!"
Everyone thrashed desperately to survive. If they were mere bandits, maybe they could negotiate—but demons were only interested in human lives.
It was then, as hell unfolded in an instant.
Whoosh—!
Suddenly, a massive greatsword cleaved through the demon's body. No, it was more like crushing it with sheer force.
—How dare... who are you...?
The mid-level demon muttered in derision.
Bam—!
But its head shattered from a single downward strike. A feat accomplished by one woman alone.
Under the sunlight pouring like spotlights, a single woman stood with a greatsword slung over her shoulder.
"Huh...?"
The tide turned in an instant, and the merchants blinked in daze. To smash a mid-level demon with one strike—that was an extraordinary powerhouse.
"Deal with them."
The woman murmured softly.
Her companions immediately pursued the fleeing magical beasts. In less than ten minutes, not a single one was left breathing in the vicinity.
As the merchants rolled their eyes in unison.
One of her companions climbed onto the cart's load.
"Everyone, listen up!"
Who would defy the call from their lifesaver? In an instant, all eyes turned to the cart.
"Once again, Lady Tirbi the Righteous has protected the Empire's citizens in Ruipl! We've settled here to guard it, so cast aside your worries!"
"...!"
The merchants' eyes widened.
Anyone familiar with Ruipl inevitably knew the name Tirbi.
"That iconic greatsword!"
"Lady Tirbi—the righteous one who's been purging demons in Ruipl for years? She really exists!"
"She must be the messenger sent by the Sun God!"
Faces full of question marks soon lit up with joy. The commotion drew more people gradually.
Of course, the Imperial Palace didn't simply abandon Ruipl, but what terrified residents was demons respawning after purges.
Disasters recurred the moment Imperial forces left. So, someone settling in to purge demons would skyrocket in support.
Newly gathered residents cheered.
"With Lady Tirbi here today, we're safe...!"
"Lady Tirbi! Thank you! Truly, thank you!"
"So noble, yet where does that monstrous strength come from?"
Tirbi's figure, greatsword over her shoulder, was exquisitely beautiful, as if descended from heaven. Just standing there smiling elicited even louder cheers, thanks to her charm.
Tirbi parted her lips.
"Ruipl will have a festival starting today. If you'd like, merchants, why not join and enjoy a bit?"
"A festival? In Ruipl?"
"Of course. Because I, Tirbi, am here."
"No way!"
The merchants' eyes bulged. Her companions chimed in, confirming it wasn't a lie.
"Since it's come up, let's move to the site now. Please leave this area! It's dangerous with all the demon and beast corpses! We earnestly request it!"
The messenger of the Sun God, the messenger sent by the Sun God.
People praised in unison as they withdrew.
.
.
.
.
.
"Hahaha... hahahahaha...!"
Once the residents led the merchants away, Tirbi burst into laughter. Her expression was utterly vile.
Moreover, her sclera gleamed purple. A sign of immense demonic energy, akin to a high-level demon.
"Human emotions are so simple and easy."
With just a few acts, she had gripped Ruipl's public sentiment.
Anyone stepping foot in Ruipl would revere Tirbi like a god. And desperately cling to her. That was the point of the play.
Tirbi swept her greatsword over the beast corpses.
Ssshhh—
The magical beasts and demons dissolved into black energy and were sucked into the greatsword. Tirbi stroked the blade.
"Delicious? Hmm? How's this fear?"
Grrrr—
The greatsword growled like a beast.
A fear-eating demon sword. A fear-eating demon.
That was Tirbi. She summoned demons and beasts artificially, harvested fear through them, then absorbed it herself. This was how she steadily collected it.
One of her demon companions approached cautiously.
"Lady Tirbi, when should we generate the next beasts?"
"At least a week from now. The key is giving them time to grow accustomed to safety. That's how you extract more fear."
"As expected of you, Lady Tirbi."
"Good... A few more years, and it'll get really fun."
Tirbi was running Ruipl as a full-fledged fear factory. At this rate, in a few years, she could even aim for that monstrous 1st Princess.
Then, another demon companion rushed up panting.
"Lady Tirbi!"
"Hm?"
"The Empire's dispatching people to Ruipl!"
Tirbi quietly examined the paper handed to her. The info was straightforward.
"Three Magic Tower guys, three Imperial knights... That's it?"
No trace of worry crossed Tirbi's face. Just a derisive smile.
"Perfect. Time to feed the greatsword a special treat."
Grrrr—
The sword resonated eagerly. Meanwhile, the reporting demon seemed uneasy.
"What bothers me is no info on the Inspector. What if a big shot comes? Like a snow spirit..."
"Nonsense."
Tirbi cut him off sharply.
"Fool. Snow spirits don't exist."
The snow spirit and his sleet followers.
Of course, just names fancifully coined by demons.
Human-born. Yet undefeated against any demon in any situation. Even Tirbi knew it only from distant tales—mere legend.
But legends remain legends for a reason.
...Yes, legends don't exist.
Something as absurd as a snow spirit couldn't possibly.
"Fictional character the Demon Realm invented to soothe their shame after failing to conquer the human world. Got it?"
"I see. Yeah... that makes sense."
"You have one job from now on."
Tirbi stroked her greatsword fondly.
"Watch closely with your own eyes how hilarious their fear-stricken faces will be."
The woman's smile was utterly wicked.
Around the time Zekiel was arriving in Ruipl.
The Dragon Blood possessor, the Empire's 2nd Princess, Hedera.
"...".
She was still stationed at the departure point.
Zekiel's reaction was keeping Hedera bound.
'Did the Dragon Word... work?'
Hedera recalled distant memories.
—Teacher! Don't go!
—Play more with me!
In her innocent childhood, she'd tried using Word Command on trivial things to keep Zekiel with her.
—See you tomorrow.
But it always failed.
Obviously, because Zekiel defended against Word Command perfectly—immune, one might say.
He was that remarkable.
Of course, her Word Command had grown stronger since. She'd never neglected training.
But one possibility she couldn't ignore.
'Does he have a serious health issue?'
—Teacher, you didn't smoke Sunweed back then.
Solana's words suddenly flashed through her mind.
Chewing Sunweed whole meant no ordinary ailment. He looked fine outwardly, but something rotting inside.
If that hypothesis held, the mystery deepened.
Body failing, yet why take the Inspector role?
"...Happiness?"
Zekiel truly prioritized Hedera's happiness over his own health? Just imagining it stirred complex feelings, questions piling up.
And right then.
"Hmm~ hum~"
Someone passed by humming a tune. A very familiar face.
Recognizing Hedera, the other greeted first.
"Oh? 2nd Princess? You're all still here."
"Solana."
It was the Empire's 3rd Princess, Solana.
"No idea why you're wandering around here."
"Ah, planning to head to Ruipl now."
"Ruipl?"
"Yes. Hearing the Erosion Phenomenon is worsening there—it's my role to check it out, right? To spread the Sun God's grace, I must lead from the front."
"...".
Hedera stared at Solana in disbelief.
She carried a lunch bundle, dressed for an outing. Intentions obvious.
Then, recalling her recent worries.
"Solana."
Hedera called the 3rd Princess's name.
"Yes. I'm listening?"
"Tell me everything you know about the Inspector's health."
"...".
But Solana fell silent for a moment.
"Hmm..."
Soon, she wore her usual benevolent smile.
"Well, let's talk later."
As Solana boarded the carriage.
The instant she flung open the door.
"Stop."
Hedera's Word Command erupted.
Solana was fine, but the horses meant to pull the carriage froze in place. Impressive power.
Hedera added calmly.
"Well, you might have to tell me now if you want to leave."
"...".
Solana turned slowly.
Very slowly.
Extremely slowly toward Hedera.
"...".
Sun-like eyes.
Displaying the Pure White Eyes.