Chapter 59
Chapter 59
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Birth
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The aftermath of facing off against Baron Mongcle lingered longer than expected.
His swordsmanship was far more exceptional than anticipated, and the stamina lost in the prolonged battle hadn't recovered even after two days.
Whew-.
'From now on, I need to move a bit more cautiously.'
Having rushed into action without fully completing my growth, this battle had clearly shown that I needed to assess unseen enemies more carefully.
After all, facing an apostle stronger than Baron Monestier had felt easier by comparison.
I lightly brushed the talisman hanging around my neck.
'If it weren't for this thing.'
The battle would have been much tougher than it was.
Thanks to Dark Star expanding my ki limits, I could wield aura and mana to their full extent.
'Well.'
I wouldn't have lost without it, but it would have been a grueling fight.
Swish-
I drew back the curtain and looked outside.
I could see the knights of the Strange Family bustling about the estate.
Even after the battle ended, they had no time to rest as they dealt with the remnants of Marquis Pierre.
Potential reversal assassination attempts, various traps secretly hidden in the estate for intruders.
These were tactics from battle-hardened mercenaries.
"We've found a curse array!"
Curse arrays used for spells were discovered throughout the estate. Though not crafted by expert mages and thus weakly effective, continuing the fight here would have hindered our full strength.
Slurp.
I took a light sip of the black tea from my cup, then tossed the question to Rox as if discarding it.
"How was the battle for you?"
Rox, who had been devouring the bread on the table gluttonously, wiped his mouth and replied.
"It was fun?"
"That's so you."
"So you? What does that mean?"
Alfred, sitting beside him in my stead, answered.
"Simply idiotic."
"Simply idiotic?"
"Yes. Why do you think Berddin is asking about the battle? Obviously to hear what you felt, yet you brush it off with 'it was fun.'"
"Then what should I say? It really was fun."
"Explain what you experienced. Tell us the shortcomings you realized and the areas to reinforce."
"I don't have any?"
"None?"
"Yeah. I don't know about others, but I handled everything Berddin said from start to finish with ease."
Indeed, Rox's performance in this battle was flawless. He'd learned to read the battlefield in the goblin village and mastered fighting large numbers of foes in the jungle.
Not just increasing the number of marionettes with guardian spirit power, but maximizing their capabilities.
"Well done."
Rox wiped the tip of his nose with a satisfied expression.
"Right?"
"Yes."
"Hah... Getting a compliment from you is this hard."
"Do you need one?"
"It feels good."
"Why?"
"Because you're strong. The strongest among everyone I know."
Rox wasn't the type to glance at others' reactions, but it still sounded like lip service.
"Berddin, by the way, what happened to that old geezer Pierre? I overheard Devery saying he died."
I nodded slightly.
The downfall of Pierre, head of the Bourbon Family. In negotiations with my father, he chose life over honor.
As payment, all Bourbon assets were confiscated, and everyone except direct family and a few servants was beheaded.
Even in this situation, he felt relief at preserving his life, but he couldn't withstand the storm that followed the war's end and vanished.
"He's dead."
"The Emperor's something else too. Just letting his family die like that."
"Family in name only—they just share imperial blood. Not all monsters are family just because you have demon blood, right?"
"Ah..."
"And it wasn't the Emperor who handled this—it was the Papal Court."
"Papal Court?"
"Legion is neutral territory, so multiple parties get involved in incidents like this. When things escalate, the Papal Court usually takes charge."
It showed the immense influence of the clergy across the continent.
"I see. So Pierre was judged by the Papal Court?"
"Yes. Apparently, the Five Cardinals came to Legion themselves."
"Five Cardinals? What's that?"
Explaining everything one by one like this would never end.
'Still, I need someone to inform him about these things.'
I turned my gaze to Cynthia. The quick-witted girl cleared her throat a few times and answered in my place.
"The Five Cardinals are the powerhouses selected by the Papal Court to maintain this world's balance."
"Maintain the world's balance?"
"Yes. If the balance of power breaks, wars will erupt. That could endanger the entire continent."
"Ah..."
"It's a group formed at the Pope's request, not the Emperor's. To uphold God's will of preserving peace."
"So God told them to create the Five Cardinals?"
"Yes."
A concise and precise explanation.
"So are those Cardinals allies or enemies to us?"
"Allies or enemies?"
"Yeah. Before coming to this city, Berddin definitely said, 'On the battlefield, you must know how to distinguish between enemy and ally.'"
Rox glanced at me slyly before continuing.
"Enemies are always close by, so trust no one. He said he's been targeted for assassination by his family since he was young."
"Ah..."
"But Berddin, is it okay to say this?"
What's not okay? I was just sharing my experiences and thoughts.
Besides, it was already all out.
"Do as you like."
Cynthia looked at me with a serious expression.
"Assassination attempts from your family?"
"Old news."
"Why?"
"You know the reason. It's not just us—famous families all go through similar things."
The issue boiled down to one thing.
The woman who had targeted my life was staying in this very city.
'Well.'
I knew all about it before coming.
'Someday, for revenge.'
The repercussions of Valentine personally entering the battlefield were truly astonishing.
Just her appearance caused half the adventurers in Legion to flee, and even the imperial troops guarding the city withdrew on their own.
"We shall begin the judgment of the traitor, Baron Monestier de Strange."
A red crow flew above her head and let out a cry.
-Kaaaak!
The black crows perched nearby soared high, swirling in a circle across Legion's sky.
-Kak, kak, kaaaak!
There were so many they blotted out the sun shining on Legion. Darkness fell over the execution ground where judgment was to be carried out.
The three men with their heads on the blocks wailed.
"Pl... Please spare my life. I'll do anything, I beg you!"
One was an aged vassal of Marquis Pierre.
"I won't beg to be spared like that one. But... please don't touch my family. They're innocent!"
Another was the Bourbon Knight Commander.
Valentine looked down at them and said quietly.
"Do you have nothing to say?"
She asked Monestier.
"...Nothing. Kill me."
The exchange was brief.
Valentine flicked her hand in the air, and the blade of the guillotine severed two necks.
Clang!
Valentine's dagger pierced the heart of the remaining man, Baron Monestier.
Thud!
"Keurgh!"
"You already know—you won't die easily."
"Kuh..."
The Strange Family's crime of treason was never taken lightly.
If left as is, everyone connected to Monestier would be summoned to Legion and executed.
Not just family and friends, but even those from the same village.
The most agonizing punishment among them was the family beheading via 'guillotine,' where one executes their own kin.
"My final request. Can't you just kill me?"
Monestier looked up at her with a wretched expression. But Valentine gazed down coldly and spat two words.
"No."
A soldier rushed up and whispered in Valentine's ear. She nodded briefly, and soldiers began dragging in another guillotine.
Creeak, creeak, creeak.
As the second guillotine arrived before Baron Monestier.
"Spare us!"
His father and mother, bound tightly with ropes, were dragged forward and tied to the opposite guillotine.
"M-Mother, Father!"
What followed from the executioners was utterly brutal.
They turned the execution rope from the opposite guillotine into a gag and stuffed it into Monestier's mouth.
"Mmph! Mmph!"
Monestier thrashed in rage.
His parents, faces pale with terror, stared at the blades of both guillotines and screamed at Valentine.
"V-Valentine, give us one chance!"
"Valentine! Your mother and I were the closest of friends. You know that, right? We crossed from west to east to save her. So please, just this once, forgive us out of consideration!"
Valentine shook her head firmly.
Her response froze everyone on the platform.
"I am the Judge of Strange. I offer no consideration to sinners."
"Valentine!"
"Pray to God, not me. That's the path to greater ease."
Swish, swish, swish.
The gag began slipping from Monestier's mouth.
His parents frantically looked up at the blades above their heads, unable to stay still.
They knew they would die. They just didn't know when the blade would fall.
As time passed in this terror, their minds gradually shattered.
At first, they pleaded for mercy and salvation.
"You damned bitch!"
"If I die, I'll pray to God in the afterlife that you and your family never find peaceful death!"
Realizing no chance remained, they spewed curses.
Drip.
Tears fell from Monestier's eyes to the ground.
He despaired deeply at being forced to kill his own parents.
So he prayed.
'God, if you truly reside in the highest place, grant this one plea.'
Just once, truly just once, if granted a chance to escape this crisis, I will do anything.
'I swear.'
Life and death—the will of God unfolding between them.
This signified a chance to escape the fragments of karma that came once every century, if at all.
The chalice of an unnamed, awe-inspiring being summoned in the name of He who dwells on high.
[The contract has been established.] [Worship the Most High who sent me for your sake.]
'Worship?'
[The twelfth apostle who received God's will, Demon King Monestier.]