The Mark (2)
Spirit and Nature.
As they are closely related, so are their similarities.
However, unlike the natural environment that affects the activities of all humanity,
the ecology of the spirit realm is purely influenced by the mind of the individual.
~Spirit Scholar Estelle, [Following the Breath of the Spirit]~
Red light.
“…!”
Hot, it’s on fire. This is fire. No, this is the evening sunset. My flesh is burning. No, it’s not burning. There’s a burning smell. My friends’ faces are melting. I hear screams. “Save me!” I’m in pain. I’m okay. It hurts, it’s not okay. It’s hot. Please forgive me. Someone, please save me! Mom, Dad, it hurts so much.
Breathe. Breathe. Breathe.
Otherwise, you’ll die. You’ll kill me.
If I don’t breathe, you’ll kill me.
Where am I? This is someone’s room. Why? Why didn’t you kill me and bring me here? Ah, right. Today is the day I sing for His Majesty the Emperor. I survived again. Ramon died. I killed him. No, I couldn’t save him. It’s not my fault. Ramon saved me and returned. So I killed him. I abandoned him. Like my friends. Like my family.
[You abandoned again, Noru Deanea.]
[The betrayer of the contract, my cursed slave.]
“Ugh, ugh-!”
No. No. No.
I didn’t abandon you. No.
Please forgive me. I did everything wrong.
Breathe. Breathe. Breathe.
“W-what is it!”
Sorry.
Please forgive me.
It’s nothing.
I’m not in pain.
I can never be in pain.
It hurts, but it’s not painful.
It’s just my imagination.
“Miss? Miss!”
“…Ah, ugh… ah….”
Armor. Black armor.
The person in black armor.
No, I’ll be hit again.
He said to endure it.
He said it’s for my education.
Don’t scream.
If you scream, you’ll be hit.
He said the whip doesn’t hurt.
He said bleeding is good.
He said to smile. Smile brightly.
“Uweeeek-!”
Don’t vomit. Don’t vomit.
He hates dirty things.
If you vomit, you’ll be hit all day.
“Captain Sonia, why is the child like this!”
“I-I don’t know either, Your Excellency Andarlef.”
I’m not in pain. I can endure it. I’m happy.
I haven’t broken yet. I haven’t broken yet.
I can become the toy of the one who lost.
“Your Majesty, call the royal council to treat the child quickly-”
“Ah, no! I’m not in pain, I can sing!”
“……?”
His Majesty the Emperor.
His Majesty the Emperor has come.
His Majesty the Emperor is merciful.
Ah, he’s watching over me.
Did I please him? I’m happy. Happy.
“I-I can sing better than anyone here! Your Majesty!”
Don’t stutter.
His Majesty hates stutterers.
I have to beg, praise without stopping. Don’t stop.
If I don’t get chosen now, the endless darkness will come again.
“I can sing for His Majesty the Emperor. I’ll sing until my voice breaks. I was born for that. That’s the only reason for my existence. I can do it, I can do it, don’t hit me. Thank you. It hurts. Ah, no! I’m not in pain! I was wrong! His Grace’s education is always fun. I’m always happy because of him. He always gives delicious food. Even if the food is bad, I won’t vomit. I won’t bleed from the wound. I won’t scream even if it hurts. I’ll smile more brightly. I’ll make you happy. I’m not a failure. I’ll be an unbreakable toy. The underground prison is scary. Please save me. Please forgive me. Ah, long live His Majesty the Emperor, long live His Majesty the Emperor!”
Long live the authority of His Majesty the Emperor and the glory of the Empire.
Long live the authority of His Majesty the Emperor and the glory of the Empire.
Long live the authority of His Majesty the Emperor and the glory of the Empire.
Long live the authority of His Majesty the Emperor and the glory of the Empire.
Long live the authority of His Majesty the Emperor and the glory of the Empire.
The girl holding the hem of the Empress’s skirt.
Form of despair incarnated into the human world.
With an ominous bell sound, behind the girl.
“Your Majesty, Your Excellency! Step back!”
From the pond of pitch-black mana-
something huge and dangerous has been summoned to this world.
“W-what is this…?”
My spine froze.
A being that could only come from nightmares.
What kind of terrifying thing is this.
“Long live the authority of His Majesty the Emperor and the glory of the Empire.”
Skull of an unknown beast.
The vomit was a voice from hell.
The black evil spirit spoke directly to them.
“Long live the authority of His Majesty the Emperor and the glory of the Empire.”
“Decay Mana! Sonia, protect the Prime Minister!”
Decay Mana creeping towards the weakest being in the space. Instinctively seeking life, the aura of death. This is the root of destruction that evil black magicians worship. With the Empress’s shout, Sonia snapped out of it and pulled up her Aura to the maximum to block it desperately.
“Kyuuu! Your Majesty, the Death Qi is too thick!”
“Long live the authority of His Majesty the Emperor and the glory of the Empire.”
The evil spirit placed a hand on the girl’s shoulder.
A red gaze stained with hatred looked this way.
“Bring me a sword!”
“H, however Your Majesty!”
“Quickly!”
The Empress received the sword from the knight and without hesitation pulled the child to herself. The child, like a withered straw, was brought weakly. The polluted Decay Mana was spewing out non-stop, but she didn’t care and firmly held the child in her arms.
“Long live the authority of His Majesty the Emperor and the glory of the Empire.”
“Daring…! The sin of the phantom who entered the imperial court without permission, deserves to die a thousand times!”
Deeply refined golden Aura.
With a flashing light, the Empress’s sword slash split the space.
“Long… live… the authority of His… Majesty… and the glory of the Empire…”
Tearing final words.
The remnants of the evil spirit dispersing.
As it disappeared, the Decay Mana also vanished without a trace.
“…….”
And silence.
The Empress was silent for a while.
The atmosphere as if a storm had passed.
“Prime Minister, summon the Tower Lord here immediately. If you delay, I’ll personally cut off your head.”
“…Yes, Your Majesty.”
The child who lost consciousness in her arms. The Empress bit her lip. Despite purifying with Sword Master’s Aura, the Decay Mana still clung to the body stubbornly. In a battlefield where all kinds of evil spirits were rampant, this was the most vicious she had ever seen. It felt like it was pulled directly from the bottom of hell. She couldn’t even imagine the end of the abyss.
“Damn it.”
The curse word came out naturally. After hearing that the child was sleeping, she was about to turn her steps to the palace. Well, it wouldn’t have to be today. Deep down, she was relieved that she could delay the uncomfortable meeting a bit more. But then the incident happened. Unable to look straight at the child’s face due to the guilt piercing her heart.
“Sonia, report to me everything you know about this situation.”
“Lady Rebecca mentioned the young lady’s outburst, but since it’s at the level of a nightmare, she said not to worry too much….”
In the end, the one who lit the fuse was my father.
The Empire’s Emperor. That is, my existence.
“Today, I will relieve you of all your duties as a knight. Always stay by the child’s side.”
“I will obey.”
“I’ve never seen such an evil spirit on the battlefield. Do you know anything about it?”
“I’m sorry.”
Of course.
If there was, I wouldn’t have known.
“It wasn’t just some ordinary evil spirit scattered around.”
Skull of a beast with horns. Bells and unknown accessories hanging on the body. Unlike other evil spirits, it had a decent outfit and a staff in one hand, as if proving it had intelligence. It reminded me of a corrupted guardian spirit summoned in a defiled holy land, as described in black magic battles. And more than anything-
“I’ve never seen an evil spirit that speaks either.”
An evil spirit that speaks, or has will. This is the “Sign of the End of the World” written in the continental prophecy. If this news gets out, people who are after the child’s life will flock from across the continent. If something like this happens again… My head already started throbbing.
“Your Majesty, it would be inconvenient for you, so give the young lady to me-”
“No, for now, let her stay like this. I need to remove the things clinging to the child’s body a bit more.”
Light. Is a girl this light? No, of course not. A few days ago, when I went out for inspection in the streets, the child I held was heavier than this. Realizing it, the sigh came rushing in. It was only a few hours ago that I swore to act as a cold monarch, so what should I do. How can I say such cold and indifferent words to this child. Now, I don’t know how to deal with the child at all.
“…Being scolded by the Prime Minister would be a hundred times better.”
The Empress muttered with a smile.
Let me show you the appearance of the evil spirit drawn by Captain Sonia who was with me in the room that day.
She is so talented in art, I’m glad. I guarantee that there is no exaggeration or lie in this picture between His Majesty and me. Please investigate quickly based on this. I only learned late through the Tower’s relations that you went on a secret mission to Shinmuhwaryeongguk Tenrin—
but His Majesty was greatly displeased and issued an imperial order to return to the imperial capital of the Empire within two days. I hope you recognize that this is a power beyond our understanding and understand the seriousness of the situation.
Burn this letter after reading it.
— Andarlef —