Chapter 73
Chapter 73
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: Holy Sword-4
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The Elder Council was, on the surface, temporarily frozen, but in reality, it had been utterly dismantled.
The reasons were many, but the decisive blow was undoubtedly the wild card named Leonardo.
The Q&A from the hearing had been recorded by the clerk and preserved as documentation, which was forcibly seized from the Elder Council's side under the Family Head's authority.
Thanks to the Family Head's swift action, the Elders had no time to pull any tricks, and with Marken and Chris—who had been present—vouching for it, the credibility was more than sufficient.
All members of House Reinhardt who learned the contents of that hearing showed reactions consistently falling into one of two categories.
1. The Elders had collectively lost their minds.
Or
2. Even I would have walked out if subjected to such an inquiry.
In truth, the Elders' actions amounted to nothing less than undermining the merits of a knight who had upheld loyalty and honor, while grasping at straws to punish him for nonexistent crimes.
Leonardo hadn't failed to defend or explain himself either; his argument was so logical and valid that even those who harbored no goodwill or outright resentment toward him had to acknowledge it.
No matter how distasteful it might have been, diminishing his achievements was one thing, but trying to impose punishment was an utterly unforgivable act—that was the prevailing public opinion.
In the end, fueled by this outraged public sentiment, the heavyweights of House Reinhardt—including the Family Head—proceeded to freeze all activities of the Elder Council.
Even then, the Elders resisted and tried to sow discord, but Family Head Gladio Reinhardt shut it all down with a single remark.
"How many more young people must sacrifice themselves for your twilight years before you'll be satisfied?"
Above all, Jairon Reinhardt, the Elder Council Chairman, offered no resistance whatsoever, which played no small part.
He had anticipated this turn of events and was already prepared for the freeze.
And so, the Elder Council was officially frozen, implicitly disbanded, and internally buried.
Meanwhile, a hectic meeting began at the mansion.
Preventing information about the Elder Council from leaking to the press as much as possible, and organizing a system to lead the house without them—it was no simple task to wrap up leisurely.
Among these matters, the most shocking revelation came from Leonardo's injury treatment.
"...That is... there's absolutely no abnormality."
Due to the current circumstances, they couldn't summon a healing priest or holy knight, so they'd called a healing mage for a house visit as a fallback measure. But no one had anticipated such an answer.
"...What do you mean by that?"
"He fainted, but... his pulse, blood pressure, internal injuries, external wounds—none of them exist. The only thing is that the scars on parts of his chest and abdomen from acute mana depletion can't be erased..."
Just moments ago, Leonardo had fought on the brink of death. Even a berserker would have been horrified by that battle... so the idea of zero injuries was simply unbelievable.
"...I'm a mage, so it's odd for me to say this, but... without a miracle..."
At the mention of a miracle, everyone reacted in their own way. The power of the holy sword that Ariasfil had demonstrated back then truly resembled a divine miracle.
'...Even the founding hero, Ruben Reinhardt, drew the holy sword himself...'
In Ariasfil's case, the holy sword had flown to her of its own accord and placed itself in her hand.
That was less inheriting the hero's legend and more forging a new one—no exaggeration.
"Understood for now. Good work; you may head out early."
At Gladio's words, the healing mage packed his bag with an unconcerned expression and departed.
"The current treatments are mana stabilizers and nutritional supplements, so once his vitality recovers, he'll wake right up. If any issues arise after he does, just contact us. I'll come immediately."
As the healing specialist mage left, the entire household of House Reinhardt finally grasped the reality of this cauldron of chaos and confusion.
"...What in the world is all this...?"
Rios was the first to speak. Uncharacteristically—and rarely—his face was crushed under fatigue and burden as he posed the tense question.
"My granddaughter became the hero and defeated that sorry excuse for one with the holy sword... That's the short summary."
Perhaps because he had spent the most years in this hall among those present, the old knight Marken boiled down this tangled mess into a single line.
"...Certainly... it started as an iron sword..."
Even Ariasfil, the very instigator of the incident, wore an expression of utter incomprehension. It hadn't been a conscious action, nor could it be called instinctual or intuitive.
It was like a typhoon sweeping from the sky, a tsunami rising from the sea, an earthquake rumbling from the earth.
Like the forces of nature that no mere human could command.
"Right—at some point, the holy sword flew over and took its place."
A sensation like the dawn breaking had imprinted itself in her hand.
"...Can you wield the holy sword, Aria?"
Chris gazed at the holy sword in Aria's hands as she asked. It had been wrapped in cloth for secrecy, yet even through it, a sacred aura like the sun seeped through.
"...Well..."
Aria unwrapped the cloth to reveal the holy sword. Then she thrust it forcefully toward her own palm.
"What are you...!"
Everyone was left speechless. Whatever the case, it embodied House Reinhardt's legend itself—the divine relic that had saved the world from the Demon King, a peerless blade unmatched by any sword in existence.
And yet, such a holy sword...
"The edge is completely dull."
It couldn't even scratch her palm, let alone slay a Demon King.
"...It seems she hasn't received its full acknowledgment."
It was obvious enough without deep contemplation. She hadn't formally drawn it from House Reinhardt's vault, nor had any oracle descended from the temple.
Therefore...
"By the way, no word from the temple yet?"
"...That's the issue."
The temple—more precisely, the kingdom's largest religious order, which worshiped the God of Light as its sole deity.
And House Reinhardt: descendants of the hero who had received the holy sword bestowed by that God of Light.
These two entities were inextricably linked.
"The temple has likely already mobilized. They would have sensed the holy power too, so it won't be long before they arrive."
Traditionally, receiving oracles and uttering prophecies was the clergy's domain—especially matters tied to the holy sword. It would be harder for them not to know.
"...Then what about her duties as the hero...?"
"We'll need to discuss that too. Aria, for now..."
"Ah, that is..."
Aria was gazing at the soundly slumbering Leo. Rios caught the meaning from her expression and line of sight.
"Come on, let's step out and talk among ourselves first. Aria must be exhausted; she needs rest, right?"
"Then let's step out..."
To Chris—who equated perceptiveness with superficial flair—Rios shot a silent message through eyes brimming with intensity.
"Then let's step out... and we'll contact the temple first."
"...Understood."
Marken seemed to grasp the true intent as well, nodding with a curt reply.
"Rios has a point. We'll head out first then; if Leonardo wakes, let us know."
Unexpectedly perceptive of Leo's true feelings, Gladio exited the sickroom oblivious to the undercurrents.
"Yes. Understood."
Aria gave a dry response, lightly waving to her departing family.
As their footsteps gradually receded into silence, the spark of life in Aria's eyes dimmed in tandem.
Thud, thud. Click.
Ariasfil waited until no sounds remained, then walked to the door and locked it.
"...I know you're awake."
"..."
Leonardo lay utterly still, breathing in and out peacefully.
The fact that even the Sage remained silent was suspicious, but to survive longer, he had to maintain the most natural feigned unconsciousness possible.
"If you get up now, I won't be as mad."
There was no room for negotiation. Relative "less" anger wouldn't cut it; he needed an absolute promise of "no" anger before he could muster the courage to...
"Dad! From the magic tower, Leo and...!"
"I've committed a mortal sin, Miss. Please spare me."
Still, instant death wasn't an option.
"Lied again? Is it a hobby? Or a specialty?"
"...Well... you see..."
Slap!
A crisp smack echoed, leaving a red welt on Leonardo's cheek.
"Since you're injured, this will suffice for now."
Ariasfil had delivered the slap; compared to Leo's transgressions, it was an exceedingly lenient and humane punishment.
"...Yes... thank you..."
Slap!
Another strike to the cheek. It would have been preferable anywhere else—she hit the exact same spot dead-on.
"Thank you? Is that what you have to say right now?"
She was right. This wasn't the moment for comfortable sentiments like gratitude; it was time for self-confession of his sins.
"...I'm sorry."
Her mood remained foul. Leo's offenses wouldn't dissolve so easily.
"What did you do wrong?"
The wrongs were legion.
Attempting to leave the house on his own whim. Trying to abandon knighthood. In the duel, intent aside, he'd hurled brutal words and attacks relentlessly.
Moreover, women swarming him like a dog in heat, and his oblivious dullness to her feelings—grave sins both.
"...I betrayed your trust, Miss."
With that single phrase, Leonardo pinpointed her ire.
"...You know it well."
Somewhat assuaged, perhaps—Aria stayed her hand. But unresolved tension lingered.
"...Then why did you betray me?"
A query on that very point. With the suspected betrayal unspecified, the answer might lie in an unforeseen place.
"......"
"Answer me. Why."
After a moment's hesitation, Leo spoke.
"...I was afraid."
Aria momentarily lost her words.
Leo—the Leo, who faced any foe with unyielding confidence—was saying he was scared?
"...Nightmares plague me constantly."
Soon, Leo unveiled his frailty for the first time. His deepest scar, one he never wished to bare to anyone—Aria sensed as much.
"Without warning... you... vanish... and that calamity dooms the entire world..."
For some reason, it felt like a tale from a past that had always existed.
"Each time, time in my body freezes solid."
And each time, Leo's mind was forced to witness that suspended eternity unendingly.
"Every worldly food turns to molten iron slag, water and air to sulfuric acid... so acrid it nearly makes me retch..."
Why had she never realized?
"A human grasp feels like sandpaper flaying skin; even whispers of joy... foreshadow the next doom... I couldn't even respond..."
Leonardo had always lived in fear and torment.
Why had she assumed he was invincible on his own?
"...That's why I was afraid... if it truly came to pass... what would become of me..."
Suddenly...
Ariasfil found herself embracing Leonardo.
No prelude, no cause.
Simply: it wouldn't do for this boy to stifle his sobs.
She thought as much.
"...Hear that?"
Their chests pressed close, heartbeats intertwined. The pulse proclaimed life's persistence.
"If you're scared, I'll keep holding you."
She wanted this boy to know happiness.
"I'll keep proving to you that I'm alive."
She wanted him to regard his own happiness as a given.
"So don't leave."
The boy's shoulders shuddered in fits. Tears without sobs—likely his final shred of pride.
"Stay by my side forever."
She whispered it softly.
Their shared warmth lingered long within each body.