Chapter 290 – Memory of Battle

“I apologize for the intrusion with so many people today.”

“Not at all. Well then, good night.”

“Indeed. Farewell.”

“Thank you for today.”

I saw King Melvin and Princess Stephania off to the entrance. After exchanging greetings, they boarded their carriage.

“Well then, Ambassador-dono. We shall take our leave as well.”

“Yes. Please be careful on your journey.”

I also exchanged words with Mildred and Mercedes. And so, King Melvin and the others returned to the Royal Castle.

It was a quiet night. Perhaps it was the lingering memory of all the earlier commotion, but it felt especially so. As the sound of horse hooves and carriage wheels faded into the distance, only the moonlit night streets remained behind.

Now then, Elliot, Old Sigmund, and Valentina were staying overnight. First, I should show Elliot and the others to their guest rooms.

“You can adjust the temperature—raise it or lower it—with this Magic Tool,” I explained once more the functions and usage of the Magic Tool in the guest room to those staying over.

“Understood.”

“When the bath is ready, a servant will come to call you. It shouldn’t take too long, so please relax in the meantime.”

“Thank you. Then, we’ll take it easy for a while.”

Elliot nodded.

“Good night, Elliot brother.”

“Good night, Ashley. Well then, Theodore-dono.”

“Yes. Good night.”

After exchanging pre-sleep greetings, Elliot closed the door with a gentle smile.

Next, I showed Valentina to her room.

“I haven’t left the student alliance much, so I think Theodore-kun’s home feels safe.”

Valentina said this with a smile.

Indeed, that’s true. Valentina must have been a child when the memory seal was placed, and I imagine she’s been through a lot, being tossed about… yet she doesn’t show a single unpleasant expression.

I hear she’s inherited several magics as part of the elders’ clan… That’s probably why she couldn’t remain an outsider.

The fact that she’s striving to assist Old Sigmund right after awakening suggests she has a much stronger will than her soft demeanor implies. I think it’s fitting that she was close with Mother.

“…During your stay in Termwills, please feel free to stay at this house without hesitation. If anything comes up, let me know. As for the bath, I believe it can be prepared quickly.”

“Thank you. It’s a nice room, so I think I can rest well.”

Valentina’s words made me smile wryly, feeling a bit tickled.

“Thank you. Well then, good night.”

“Yes, good night.”

After exchanging greetings with Valentina, I went to Old Sigmund’s room.

“My apologies for the trouble.”

“Not at all, Grandfather.”

Old Sigmund also smiled, but then his expression suddenly turned serious.

“…About your father…”

“Yes.”

I had informed him that Father would arrive tomorrow or the day after. It wasn’t hard to imagine that Old Sigmund had complex feelings toward Father. He probably wanted to blame him for not being able to save Mother, and likely felt self-reproach as well.

As for me… I don’t want to see their relationship worsen. Even if there’s no clear answer as to what could have been done better… from my position, I can say it wasn’t Father’s fault, nor the elders’.

“I think… at that time six years ago, no one else could have done anything about it. Sometimes I think, if only I could have used Circulating Ki back then, if I could have fought.”

“…That itself is an unreasonable expectation. Even you now are beyond what was hoped for. No… perhaps it’s because of that that you are as you are now.”

The current me. I don’t know why I became like this, but I can definitely say that the reason I dive into labyrinths and try to accumulate my own strength lies there.

“What do you… think? But I’ve always wanted to become stronger. I still do. I’m happy that I have enough power to fight demons.”

“…I see.”

“Yes. When Father returned from Termwills, he was deeply saddened. So I don’t think of blaming him.”

I remember that expression of Father’s, and how he shed tears at the gravesite… that figure.

“…I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Of course, it’s not your fault or the elders’ either.”

At my words, Old Sigmund showed a slightly surprised expression.

Yes… Without that incident, the current me and Grace wouldn’t exist.

“Please, don’t blame yourself.”

Old Sigmund looked at me for a while, then nodded quietly.

“…Understood. But let me ask you one thing. About… what Patricia fought against…”

The story of the King of Deathly Slumber attacking Verdgar is somewhat famous… but by that time, the elders were probably cut off from outside information.

“It was a demon who spread a disease called the King of Deathly Slumber. …Do you know of it?”

“Deathly Slumber… a disease-spreading demon.”

High fever, coma, and weakness. A slow but certain bringer of death. That’s why his epithet is Deathly Slumber.

“Demons… when given epithets by humans, they apparently enjoy using them as their own titles. They know that infamy becomes their sustenance.”

“Indeed. Once a powerful demon rampages, their activities tend to calm down because of it. Hence, humans try to pass down the tales. But that one is different. The demon who spreads the sleeping death disease has been known since ancient times, but he doesn’t reveal his name. I hear he’s an evil being who doesn’t proclaim his own name and delights in killing.”

That’s right. So his name remains unknown, and he’s simply called the King of Deathly Slumber.

An ancient demon who doesn’t proclaim his name to humans, killing whimsically when hungry. That’s why he’s called a king with fear.

“After rampaging in neighboring countries, he suddenly appeared within Verdgar… spreading disease everywhere… eventually crossing the Barony of Silun and coming to Gartner County. He avoided Termwills probably because, for him, it would become sustenance later.”

“…That would be so.”

The greater the fear, lament, and sorrow of the people left behind, the more it becomes the demon’s sustenance. So I think he avoided Termwills. If the urban population had survived, their emotions would have entirely become his nourishment.

In fact, in other countries, he didn’t cause damage in urban areas, and even in attacked places, he seemed to leave survivors to pass down tales of the King of Deathly Slumber.

Throughout history, battles with demons have been long, but the reason humans haven’t been destroyed despite demons having overwhelmingly superior power probably lies there.

“And Patricia defeated him, did she?”

“Yes. There was someone who fled from the Barony of Silun. Mother heard the circumstances from that person… and confronted him.”

Upon hearing the story of the person who fled from the Barony of Silun, Mother intercepted him. The adventurers present in Gartner County also cooperated in fighting the King of Deathly Slumber.

Mother flew with alchemically crafted wings. Using Teleportation Magic, Sealing Technique, every technique at her disposal, she fought the demon in the skies above the county. The intersection of light and darkness. Bursting sparks. A giant Magic Circle. Countless Magic Slaves. Fire and lightning. Explosions and roars.

I… watched it all, together with Grace.

She beheaded the demon with a blade of light extending from her staff—I’ll never forget that scene. The demon turning to dust and scattering, and Mother, having been exposed to miasma at close range, falling onto the snow—

When I recounted that battle and its outcome, Old Sigmund let out a deep breath.

“…She was brave, wasn’t she? Patricia.”

“—Yes.”

Old Sigmund narrowed his eyes, smiled sadly, and nodded.

“…Then, I won’t blame your father. Patricia splendidly protected you and your fiancée Grace, didn’t she? She upheld our clan’s and our ancestors’ will, protecting what was important through to the end. As a father, he should be proud of such a daughter. To blame someone for the result would only tarnish Patricia’s feelings.”

“That… might be true.”

I returned a smile to Old Sigmund.

“You must be tired too, and I made you listen to a long story. My apologies.”

“Not at all. But I think I’ll take it easy and rest today as well.”

“Indeed. Well then, until tomorrow.”

“Yes. See you tomorrow.”

The door to Old Sigmund’s room closed.

“Theo…”

Grace’s voice.

“Sorry. Did I say something that brought back memories?”

When I answered, Grace hugged me tightly.

“No. It’s a painful memory, but I don’t want to forget it. It makes me happy… to know there are people who are proud of her.”

“…Yeah. That’s right.”

Grace and I embraced for a while. Then we slowly separated.

“Lady Lisa’s story of that battle has also been a constant support for me.”

“Yeah. Ashley.”

I drew Ashley close. Ashley pressed her cheek against my chest, clinging to me.

“Theodore. Cheer up, okay?”

She said in a bell-like voice. I hugged Marlene, who was looking up at me, and answered.

“…Yeah. I’m fine.”

Ashley and Marlene. I felt their warmth and heartbeat. When I separated from them, this time Claudia pulled me close, embracing my head.

“—I remember a little about when she came to the Full Moon Labyrinth.”

Claudia said this while holding me.

“…You saw Mother?”

“Probably. At that time, I didn’t know her name, and we didn’t exchange words. But thinking back now, I believe so.”

I recall in Adventurer Guild Master Auria’s story, there was talk of Mother going to the Full Moon Labyrinth to rescue adventurers.

“When I sensed something wrong and went to check, she was fighting monsters. I understood she came to help those who had lost their way, so I also suppressed the monsters for a little while.”

“I see… Thank you.”

When I thanked her, Claudia smiled and loosened her grip.

Then, I drew Rosemary close. Rosemary showed a slightly flustered reaction but then relaxed into it, wrapping her arms around my neck.

“…I’m not in a position to say anything particularly admirable. But as one born into royalty, if I may say so, I think she’s a person worthy of respect.”

As royalty, huh. I think that’s the highest praise coming from Rosemary.

“Is that so? Regardless of methods, if Marie became queen, I think she would have fulfilled her duties properly.”

“Really? I’m glad you say that, Theodore.”

Rosemary seemed to give a small laugh.

By the time she slowly pulled away, she was already hiding her mouth with her feather fan, so I couldn’t see her expression.

“…Well then, let’s rest easy too.”

Turning around, I smiled and nodded at Sheila, Irmhild, and Seraphina, and they returned the smiles.