Chapter 130
Chapter 130
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 130
Chapter Title: The Jewel in My Palm
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I revealed to Cynthia and Maria Theresia the secrets I hadn't told them until now.
On the day we rescued Theresia, Rox had also gotten Joanna Arc out. She had then met a man named Meteorichi through some route.
And not only that—they were currently hiding in a safe place.
"So, Lady Joanna Arc was at the Luines Academy, got ambushed by the enemy, and fled north?"
Rox shook his head.
"No, the opposite. She was ambushed and then went to the Luines Academy."
"Then what's this about the north?"
"That's the story about how the academy got dangerous after being attacked by monsters of unknown origin, so the dean took the students and headed north. Meteorichi and Joanna Arc are hiding in the mountains right now."
"The mountains?"
"We haven't pinpointed the exact location yet. But Berddin sent out scouts, so we'll know soon enough."
"Scouts?"
"Yeah, he told me to keep those two alive. No idea why, so go ask him yourself."
Rox jerked his chin toward me.
Cynthia cast her gaze downward, pondering for a moment, then shook her head slowly and spoke to me.
"If I asked about Lady Joanna Arc right now, it'd just confuse you, right? With the war keeping you so busy—"
She was struggling to control her own emotions, yet here she was considering my position.
"No, ask whatever you want. I'll tell you everything I know."
"...Why didn't you tell me until now that you'd rescued Lady Joanna Arc?"
"Because it felt like you might leave."
"Me?"
"Yeah. Wasn't your reason for climbing the tower all about her? To complete the mission from the Papal Court and learn her whereabouts."
She couldn't deny it.
I had already shown everyone her past through Timeless.
"How did you know that?"
"Know what?"
"That I was looking for Lady Joanna Arc."
"Can't tell you that part yet."
"Just to check—did you learn it from the Papal Court? That's all I want to know."
Did she think I'd heard about it during my visit to the Papal Court?
"No, they're not involved in this. And this isn't just to reassure you—Archbishop Juda is close to being my enemy."
"The Archbishop?"
"Yeah. As you know, I consider anyone who harms my family an enemy."
"......"
"And he's one of the factions in the Papal Court backing the Glazer Family right now."
"One of the factions? So there are people in the Papal Court who haven't sided with the Glazers?"
"Yeah, but I can't tell you who yet."
Rox shrugged.
"Hey, Cynthia. Berddin's tired, so let's wrap it up. While we've been resting here, he's been out on the battlefield."
Cynthia glanced at him, sighed, and turned to me.
"Sorry."
"No, let's end the talk here for today."
"Berddin."
"Yeah?"
"If I said I wanted to meet Lady Joanna Arc... would that be too greedy?"
"......"
"Not right now, of course. After the war ends and things settle down. If that happens... even just for a little while... I'd like to meet her and talk."
There was no reason she couldn't.
Even if Cynthia met Joanna Arc, she had promised to climb the tower with me.
She was no longer an obstacle.
Of course.
There was one problem.
The Joanna Arc I knew was about to die soon. At the hands of a secret group within the Papal Court—ones with special powers.
And I had no justification to stop them.
"This war will end in as little as three days or as much as a month. After that, I'll arrange a meeting."
"Really?!"
"Yeah, it won't be hard. We'll just have to avoid the Papal Court's eyes, so figure out a way to slip past them too."
"Got it. Something like searching for a book's whereabouts should work."
I lightly patted her shoulder and said,
"Just so you don't get any funny ideas—don't even think about getting revenge on Juda later."
"......"
"He's quiet now, but as you know, he was once a knight called the legend of the Holy Knight Order."
Cynthia nodded with a displeased expression.
"I know. Lady Joanna Arc told me. Revenge only breeds more revenge."
"Exactly."
"She said I should learn to forgive."
"Good advice. Keep that in your head."
"...Got it."
Maria Theresia, having heard everything, gave Cynthia a light hug.
"You've been through a lot."
"Lady Theresia."
"I'm sorry to Cynthia, but honestly, I wasn't too worried about Lady Joanna Arc. I see even death as a blessing from God."
"......"
"But she didn't just get an orphan like me into the Holy Knight Order—she gave me a gift no one else has. She's the treasure of my life."
Theresia clasped Cynthia's hands and prayed softly.
"My power is small, but I'll help however I can. Not because you're a party member, but to fulfill Lady Joanna Arc's will."
Cynthia's eyes welled up as she replied.
"Thank you, Lady Theresia."
"No need to thank me."
Theresia gently touched the ring on her finger and looked at me.
"It's all thanks to Lord Berddin."
Defeated by Berddin, Edward lay on the ground staring at the sky. Blood pouring from his abdomen soaked the earth, turning it red.
It was enough blood loss to kill any ordinary person.
Shiiiik—
The mages who had come with him to this battle swarmed over, starting treatment.
Some immediately began surgery to staunch the bleeding, while others cast healing spells to mend the external wounds and ease the pain.
"Hoo—"
Edward covered his eyes with the back of his hand and asked his adjutant,
"Zaios, did you watch my fight?"
"...Yes, Young Master."
"His sword piercing me too?"
"Yes."
"Then can you find a way for me to beat him?"
"Berddin? Simple. If we all use 7th-circle or higher area magic on Strange territory—"
"No! A way for me alone to kill Berddin."
Zaios started to say something but clamped his mouth shut, then continued while eyeing Edward's wound.
"Forgive me, but honestly, no one on this continent can beat Berddin right now."
Edward knew this too. Fighting him firsthand had driven it home.
That's why he asked Zaios. Even if he couldn't win now, was there a way later?
Zaios grasped his intent and continued.
"It's regrettable to lose to Berddin this time, but there are still ways to beat the Strange Family."
"No need. If I can't beat him, his descendants will eventually come for me."
"......"
"Ones with the same power as him."
"Young Master."
Edward shoved aside the treating mages and sat up.
"Halt the advance. Everyone return to Glazer Castle. Looks like the real fight starts after I find a way to beat Berddin."
"B-but that would disobey Hagen and Rothschild's orders to strike swiftly—"
"Don't worry. Father will respect my judgment anyway. And the Rothschilds' wishes? Ignore them."
"...The Imperial Family won't stand for it. The God's Knights even descended for this operation."
"Doesn't matter. If they complain, I'll explain to the Rothschild Family Head myself."
"The Family Head?"
"Yeah."
Somewhat recovered, Edward stood abruptly, wrapping his wound tightly in bandages as he continued.
"If they really want to crush Strange, stop using us and fight themselves."
A sly smile curled his lips.
"Got it? Zaios, Rothschild spy."
The war was intensifying.
The Glazer mages, having lost their mercenary band, struck the southeast with guerrilla tactics, turning land the size of a kingdom into scorched earth in a single day.
A passing merchant reported that the ground shook so violently it felt like the world was flipping,
and lightning bolts relentlessly crashed from thunderclouds filling the night sky.
Then the enemy must have used two magics.
One was the 'Meteor' series for wide-area devastation.
The other, 'Blow' series based on storms, thunder, and wind.
Meteor and Blow.
This meant they intended to settle it in this war. Fight until one family was gone.
"Family Head, give the order and I'll head southeast myself to deal with those mages."
Bess's face burned with rage. Veins bulged on his forehead, his flushed skin mirroring his fury.
"No need. The southeast is already empty land. No point wasting troops to catch them."
"I see."
"They know it's empty too. Using magic there is to provoke us."
"Provoke?"
"With all their spies in our family caught and the Fenrir-led advance failed."
I lightly tapped the southeast on the map Bess was eyeing and continued.
"They're trying to lure us there. To reach Strange Castle, they'd have to push deep south—but timid Hagen won't risk that."
Bess rubbed his chin and nodded.
"Makes sense."
"What we do now is stick to the plan: wait for the right moment, ambush, cut supply lines, and drag out the war."
"...Even without their mercenaries, will the supply plan still work?"
"Of course. Mages need to eat too. Plus, most eastern knight orders are Glazer-aligned. They have to supply thousands of knights even without mercenaries."
Supplying in their own territory is easy enough.
The issue is marching south for war—they'd need to carry matching rations.
Can they fight us after exhausting themselves like that?
Unless they just use regulars as shields.
"From now on, the Guardian Knights stay at the castle. No matter what, be the final bastion here."
"Understood, Family Head."
"One exception: if Sister Valentine orders a unit move, obey that."
"Noted."
As expected of Father's loyal retainer. Even one word to me—a much younger man—dripped with respect for superiors.
"Our operation this time: 'Ambush'. Target isn't Glazer—it's Rothschild."
"Rothschild?"
I pointed to Midgard's peak, where the Rothschild Family stayed atop the world tree Ragnarok, and continued.
"Yes, Rothschild. Time to sober up the shameless ones who invaded our castle while I was away."