Chapter 79
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: Denial (6)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Crystal magic is certainly powerful. If you can control it right, it’d make for an incredible spell.”
“......It’s still too unrefined.”
I let out a sigh and cupped my face in my hands.
Crystal magic was undeniably powerful and efficient.
It was willful and greedy, but in the past, I’d managed to rein it in to some degree.
Back then, I wandered the battlefields alone, so even if it spread a bit wildly, it wasn’t an issue.
The battlefield had enemies that needed killing, allies who were little more than expendable, and me—that was it.
But now, I had so much more to protect.
Until my combat instincts fully sharpened again, I had no choice but to be cautious.
“Well, it’s partly my fault for rushing into your spell’s range without thinking. Luwen chewed me out once before for jumping into his magic mid-cast.”
Father chuckled dryly as he spoke.
“He yelled that magic has no eyes, so if you don’t wanna die, never do it again.”
I could practically picture Luwen bellowing it.
The image made me miss him so much that I couldn’t help but smile faintly.
“That sounds just like Teacher Luwen.”
Still, Luwen’s magic probably wasn’t as dangerous as mine, which greedily hunted for sacrifices.
“Lib!”
Just then, Clemence and Wedin burst into the room looking for me.
The moment Clemence spotted me, her eyes welled up with tears, and she threw her arms around me in a fierce hug.
The momentum nearly knocked me off balance. Caught off guard, I froze in place, unable to move.
“I was so worried! All those dangerous magical beasts were chasing you, and I couldn’t do a thing.
And then you just vanished out of nowhere. I wanted to go look for you, but I had no idea where you’d gone, and your father kept saying the most ridiculous things……”
“Clemence, calm down.”
Clemence didn’t seem to hear, burying her face in my shoulder and sobbing.
Wedin, who had followed her in, watched us with a deep sigh.
I shot him a pleading look for help, but he just averted his eyes.
“Well, looks like you three have some catching up to do.”
Father stood with a grin.
I glanced up at him in surprise.
Both Father and Grain wore knowing, pleased smiles as they gave me meaningful looks.
“The White Guard Knights and the delegation will arrive soon, so, hmm, I should go prepare.”
“Ah, I need to check on the other patients anyway.”
Mumbling awkward excuses, Father and Grain hurried out of the room.
Clemence kept hugging me tight, still sniffling, even as their footsteps faded away. Wedin stood there awkwardly, the silence growing uncomfortable.
I hovered there, arms half-raised, unsure whether to pat her shoulder or just let her be.
The awkward position started making all my bruises throb.
Cold sweat beaded on my forehead.
“Clemence, maybe let him go now.”
Finally, Wedin spoke up. Clemence lifted her head slightly, her sobs easing.
Only then did she look at me properly through tear-streaked eyes.
She noticed I was just draped in Father’s cloak and blushed, pulling back a little to sit down.
“Sorry, Lib. I just…… I was so worried. You got dragged into this because of our parents, and if you’d gotten seriously hurt……”
“I’m fine. I’m just glad you two are safe.”
Clemence wiped her tears and smiled.
“The Blue Guard Knight and the knights rescued us. They said Ash found us.”
“Those coward family knights wouldn’t go back in until then. I kept telling them we had to go help you.”
Wedin pulled up a small chair and sat close by.
He looked visibly upset.
“And then they brag to the Prius knights like they’re the ones who saved us. It’s ridiculous. The one who saved us was…… you.”
Wedin’s last words came out strained, like they pained him.
I chuckled.
“What? I just did what needed doing. No need to thank me.”
“I didn’t say thanks!”
Wedin’s face flushed as he yelled.
Ah, there it was. He’d been bristling since earlier—this was the itch he couldn’t scratch.
Wedin leaned in, face heated, grilling me.
“You…… even in a situation like that, weren’t you scared? Diving into danger like it’s nothing, taking down the Gatras alone, facing off against demons!”
I laughed.
Wedin yelling at me, getting mad—it was because he’d been worried. It was so him.
“I had to. Someone has to stand up to those terrifying magical beasts and demons to protect what matters. It just happened to be me.”
Wedin groaned, at a loss for words.
I looked at them both.
“When that moment comes for you two—when it really counts—you’ll be able to do it too. Whether it’s magical beasts, demons, or something else.”
“......Show-off.”
Wedin grumbled curtly, his face still red.
“I know I’d just get in the way in a spot like that, damn it. I just felt shitty. You turned into someone else entirely, and I couldn’t just stand by, but all I could do was run.”
“Wedin……”
He was still stewing over the anger and helplessness from back then.
It might look like he was mad at me, but really…… he was furious with himself.
“Running was the right call there.”
I gave a wry smile as I spoke.
“You’re a holy mage. You’re supposed to stay out of the thick of combat. That’s what they teach at knight school.”
“It made sense when I learned it, but going through it for real? It just pisses me off.”
Wedin sighed.
It was a perfectly reasonable guideline, really.
Holy mages had to guard the rear so knights and mages could fight without fear of injury. It might be tough for someone with Wedin’s personality, though.
“I couldn’t do anything either.”
Clemence clasped her hands together.
“Running from the magical beasts, when Mr. Barkus got attacked…… and when I saw him turn into a demon at the end…… my whole body went cold. I couldn’t move.”
Her face paled as she recalled it.
I reached out and covered her hand with mine. The terror from then lingered—even her fingertips were still cold.
“That’s normal. Demons are beings that defy the laws of the world. Anyone seeing one for the first time instinctively feels fear and revulsion.”
That was why knight school encouraged fresh graduates to shadow knights for a time.
New grads often froze when facing demons in knight squads, so the shadowing built experience.
For Wedin, who hadn’t even graduated, and Clemence, raised behind Prion’s high walls, this must have been unimaginable horror.
“I…… wasn’t seeing one for the first time.”
Memories from my childhood flashed before my eyes.
Clemence and Wedin stared at me, wide-eyed.
“You mean that time when you were twelve? The night of your birthday.”
Clemence asked uneasily.
Talking about it was practically taboo among us. It was one of the knight order’s classified incidents, too.
“That time too, but even younger, I went through something similar.”
I spoke calmly.
I’d always planned to tell them everything eventually.
Once I reached Elgrace and joined the Silver Moon Knights, I wouldn’t see my friends for a while. If I put it off longer, I’d regret it.
“Really?”
“What do you mean?”
Clemence looked shocked; Wedin frowned.
She’d met me at Erban Medical Center when she was seven, but didn’t know why I’d come to Prion.
She was too young then—no one had told her the truth.
“It happened back when I lived in my hometown, Meribel. I had a friend named Selena……”
Just then, a clamor of voices rose from outside.
We all turned toward the sound.
“Sounds like the White Guard Knights and the delegation just arrived.”
That meant it was time to report everything to the White Guard Knight.
Then we’d plan countermeasures and head to Elgrace.
I swallowed a sigh—relief, regret, I wasn’t sure which.
“I’ll finish the story later. After this all wraps up.”
“No skipping out.”
“Yeah, once we reach Elgrace.”
I promised as I stood.
As the rest of the White Guard Knights and delegation arrived, the quiet ruins bustled with activity once more.
I was heading out of the makeshift clinic when Shuren grabbed me. Where did I think I was going in that state?
He’d just brought a bundle of my spare clothes.
True—I couldn’t meet the White Guard Knight wearing nothing but Father’s cloak.
Clemence and Wedin went ahead to see the White Guard Knight, while I followed Shuren to the second floor of a sturdier building to change.
I slipped into light-colored cloth garb and leather guards, then draped a loose-fitting blue robe over it.
Fresh pants too, and I cinched my belt tight.
As I straightened my outfit, Shuren went “Ah” and handed me my staff.
“Forgot about this. Found it in Clemence’s room.”
“Thanks.”
I secured the black staff at my waist. It felt strangely unfamiliar now.
“You handled magic just fine without it, though.”
Shuren remarked suddenly.
“True, but it helps me focus when casting kingdom-style spells.”
I replied while double-checking my items.
Eternal Emblem, Ecronium, knot-untying key, Althur’s library, Luwen’s token, and the dagger Duke Lesis had taken from me.
“Alright, ready.”
“Let’s head down then.”
Shuren grinned and stood.
I packed my laundry and gear into my bag, then followed him out.
The White Guard Knight had called a meeting right after entering Cornick to assess the situation and discuss countermeasures.
The delegation’s clerks, Father, the Silver Guard Knight, Kingdom Knight Order Captain Sir Jenard, and even me, Clemence, and Wedin.
Duke Lesis and his wife—under watch—were there too.
By the time Shuren and I reached the citadel’s northern hall, the meeting was in full swing.
“It’s simple, Father. What could be simpler?
Barkus was a demon from the start, with evil intentions. Prius upheld the world’s justice as always, and we just lent a little help.”
Duke Ozric Lesis ranted beside the White Guard Knight.
His voice boomed through the vast, high hall.
“Quiet, Ozric. Stay silent until I give you the floor.”
In contrast, the White Guard Knight—perched on the table—looked more irritated than ever.
Deep furrows creased his brow, shadows darkening his face.
Duke Lesis shut his mouth under the pressure but showed no sign of dropping his argument.
“Ah, Lib.”
The White Guard Knight spotted me entering with Shuren and beckoned with a smile.
I felt the weight of everyone’s stares as I approached him.