Chapter 4
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Liberic of Merirose Mansion (4)
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"I still can't believe you're Instructor Eldrian's son."
They'd been messing with my hair so much that my fine strands were now scattered in every direction.
"Look at this pale blond hair. He takes after Madam way more than the instructor."
My cheeks stung from all the poking and pulling.
Even if they thought they were being gentle, having two guys bigger and taller than me crowding around was pretty intimidating.
I stood there frozen, clutching my book tightly.
It was on my way back after lunch, meeting my tutor, and finishing afternoon studies.
The moment they spotted me, they came charging down the hallway with heavy footsteps, and I flinched back against the wall in surprise.
The two students my father had brought introduced themselves as Railin and Joel, all friendly-like, but to me, they were just threats.
On top of that, the young man named Joel was a Loran, and he carried the scent of sweat mixed with a beastly musk.
A dog Loran, maybe? There was something like a black dog's tail wrapped around his thigh.
"You two, that's enough. You're scaring him."
Another unfamiliar voice came from behind me.
The speaker had a calm, steady tone. It belonged to yet another guest my father had brought along.
He was a young man a bit older than the two students, dressed in knight's attire with a blue cape.
"Vice Officer Erner? Afternoon training starting now?"
"Yeah. Quit harassing the kid and go get ready."
"Harassing? We were just looking because he's cute."
"Yeah. Being a Luar and all..."
Railin and Joel shamelessly made their excuses, but when he shot them a sharp glare, they both stiffened up.
"Yes, sir! We'll go prepare for training."
The two bolted down the hallway like they were fleeing.
"Sorry about that. They're still just students."
The young man let out a small sigh, his expression visibly softening.
He approached carefully, then knelt down to meet my eye level.
His gaze was warm—completely different from when he'd chased off the other two.
"I'm Erner Belliuud. Your father, Instructor Jayden's vice officer."
I glanced at his outstretched hand for a moment before lightly grasping the tip of it.
"I'm Liberic Eldrian."
"Nice to meet you. I've heard a lot about you from the instructor."
Erner smiled warmly.
He was a handsome Denan youth with brown hair.
"We're about to start afternoon training with all the knights and guards participating. Want to come watch?"
I shook my head slightly.
"No, I have plans to meet a friend in the study."
"I see. ...I can't just let you go alone, though. Want me to escort you to the study?"
I decided to accept Erner's polite offer.
Clutching my book, I headed to the study with him.
"That..."
Erner noticed the small crystal orb hanging around my neck.
I pulled out the crystal orb and showed it to him. It was called a Melgram, right?
"Father gave it to me. It changes color if something scary or dangerous is nearby."
"That's right. It's valuable, so keep it safe."
I nodded.
The Melgram was a tiny orb, so light I barely felt its weight.
Hanging at my chest, it emitted a faint mana glow that was pretty, and it made me feel warm inside.
We stopped in front of the study.
I gave Erner a small bow, and he gently ruffled my hair.
"See you later."
After Erner left, I settled into the empty study to wait for Selena while reading my book.
It wasn't long before Selena peeked her head into the study, just like always.
I waved with a smile.
We sat facing each other and began reading our books as usual.
In between, I told her about what happened yesterday.
About the various guests who came with Father. I skipped the part where I got so scared at first that I cried.
When talking about the stories I'd heard from Father, I regretted not asking for more details about the hero.
Selena was especially intrigued by the fact that Prius knights had come.
"Will Lib go to Prion too?"
"Huh?"
I looked up at the sudden question.
Selena had propped her small chin on her hand and was staring right at me.
"Lib's dad is an amazing Prius knight, right? So doesn't that mean Lib will become a knight when he grows up?"
"Well..."
Come to think of it, I hadn't heard anything like that yet.
Father was always away, so if I became a Prius knight too, it might be too harsh on Mother.
Not that I had much interest in swordsmanship anyway...
"If Lib leaves, it'll be lonely. No one to read books to me."
I smiled and stroked Selena's rust-colored hair, just like the adults did to me.
"If I go, I won't leave you behind. Happy now?"
"Yeah! Promise?"
Seeing Selena's bright smile lifted my mood too.
It wouldn't be hard at all.
Selena was Madam Amara's daughter, so if I went to Prion, she'd naturally come along.
I had no idea when that might be, though...
Maybe that's why Selena made an unexpected suggestion.
"Lib, wanna go play in the rear garden?"
"Rear garden?"
I blinked.
The rear garden was behind the mansion. I'd heard Selena mention how the flowers there had bloomed beautifully while coming and going from the mansion.
"Yeah. It's noisy outside with all the sounds. The rear garden has lots of flowers and it'll be way quieter."
As Selena said, the study wasn't as quiet as usual.
Ever since afternoon training started outside, the shouts of knights and guards and the clashing of wooden swords echoed loudly all the way here.
Cheers from the onlookers drifted in now and then too.
The training would go on for a while. Maybe we should change spots.
"But we'll get in trouble if we go out without permission..."
I stood up, but a sudden worry hit me.
Selena led the way out of the study, saying it was fine.
"It's just the garden right behind us. No problem. I pass through here all the time."
Fair enough. I relaxed, hugged my book, and followed Selena.
Not a single maid, butler, or servant was in sight the whole way down the wide hallway.
They'd all gone to watch the training, probably. It was a rare sight they wouldn't normally see.
Thanks to that, we crossed the eerily empty hallway without worry.
"This way."
After going down the stairs, Selena pointed down a long hallway.
A narrow corridor next to the kitchen—unfamiliar territory for me. It led to a side door, it seemed.
"Wait, someone's coming."
Selena pulled me into the gap between the stairs and wall.
She pressed a finger to her lips with a tense face, signaling silence.
A strange tension and thrill filled the narrow shadows.
A maid hurried past from the kitchen.
Only after she was completely gone did we creep back into the hallway.
"Why hide?"
I asked as I followed Selena again.
It was a hallway I didn't use much, but no one would scold us just for passing through.
Selena giggled.
"'Cause it's more fun that way. Makes your heart race, right?"
A very girl-who-loves-hero-and-adventure-stories thought.
I couldn't help but laugh along and chase after Selena.
"We go out this way..."
At the end of the hallway, Selena reached up on tiptoes, grabbed the handle of the small side door, and opened it.
I worried it might be locked, but luckily it opened easily with a click.
Of course—Selena went through it every day, so why would it be?
As the door swung open, bright white light poured in from outside.
Selena held out her hand to me, and I squinted against the glare, took it, and stepped out.
The first thing I saw outside was the vast blue sky stretching overhead.
The early summer sky was clear and endlessly high.
Beneath it lay our home, Merirose Mansion, and a forest thick with large trees.
The fresh scent of trees and grass hit my nose, mingled with sweet flower fragrances.
"Come here, Lib."
The warm afternoon sunlight felt nice on my forehead.
Led by Selena's hand, I crossed a grassy lawn dappled with scattered leaf shadows and entered the shade of a large tree.
The rear garden was much bigger than I'd imagined.
Flowers bloomed in profusion everywhere, and sturdy trees dotted the landscape.
"Which way's your house?"
"That way. Go out the fence gate and down the hill—it's quick."
I looked where Selena pointed, but trees and bushes hid any sign of a fence.
"Let's play here."
Selena plopped down onto the flower-covered grass.
A flower field under the wide blue sky.
White and yellow flowers I couldn't name tickled my ankles, and sweet, soft scents rode the breeze to my skin.
It was peaceful all around.
Far from the training grounds too, so the shouts came only as faint echoes.
I spread my book on the flowers, while Selena hummed a tune and gathered little blossoms around her.
"Hey, Lib."
Selena dumped her handful of tiny petals onto the book I was reading.
The scattered petals made it impossible to read the words anymore.
The dazzling sunlight, swirling shadows, and flower scents from all sides made my vision spin...
"...Yeah?"
I shook my head to clear the dizziness.
It didn't help much, so I looked up at the sky—but the bright light stung my eyes, forcing me to turn away.
That's when the world spun wildly. I squeezed my eyes shut.
When I opened them again, Selena was right in front of me, very close.
Behind her shoulder stretched the blindingly blue sky.
Sometime in that moment, I'd collapsed onto the flowers, and Selena was leaning over me, looking down.
"Selena...?"
Selena smiled faintly, her face shadowed.
"Lib, you promised. To stay with me forever."
I froze, eyes wide.
An unbelievable darkness began emanating from Selena's tiny body.
Her pale green eyes turned blood-red as black spots spread across her white skin.
Her smiling little mouth split wide on both sides, filling with rows of sharp teeth.
I knew this sight all too well.
Demons—the fiends that lurked in the world's shadows, devouring the living.
Why... Selena...?
My mind went blank white. Even so, instinct drove my limbs to flee.
But the demon in Selena's form gripped my shoulders tight.
Her hands turned pitch black, sprouting sharp scales.
The demon spoke in Selena's voice.
"Stay with me, Lib. With just you, I can..."
Selena snatched the Melgram necklace and tore it off.
She flung it onto the flowers to my right. The Melgram had turned jet black.
Inside the once-small, transparent crystal orb, ominous darkness swirled.
"I can live forever..."
Crunch.
A horrifying sound, and I stopped breathing.
A chilling pain surged up. Heat and the smell of blood rose from my chest, clouding my mind.
Strength drained from my body. The blue sky gradually turned gray.
The dark aura pouring from Selena's small body grew clearer, taking solid form.
"...Lib!"
It felt like someone far away was desperately calling my name.
But I couldn't open my eyes for a long time.