Chapter 36: Holy Land? Pilgrimage?

“Is this the Treasure Vault?”

“Yes.”

“What a strange affair. Is it really alright to let an outsider into a place like this?”

“…….”

Melineos, renowned as the Magic Empress.

However, the Fae girl before her seemed entirely unfazed by such a title or the authority derived from it.

“It may be a national issue… but you are my teacher. Besides, in a position where I am the one asking for a favor, how could I possibly be so picky?”

“Is that so? Well then, I’ll have a bit of fun. It’ll be good for the eyes.”

“…Um, Teacher?”

“…What?”

“…Why are you intentionally speaking in a provincial dialect?”

“Got a problem with it?”

It seemed her playful side had been triggered.

There is a saying that the appearance of the Fae Folk is determined by their level of mental maturity.

While that might not apply to everyone, the girl before her seemed to be a living testament to that rule.

“I hear your Emperor is too busy to even look your way, but aren’t you busy too?”

“This is also a type of official duty.”

“Look at you, becoming flexible.”

Geornia, the Elf girl, shook her fingers as if brushing something off and nodded her head.

The Imperial Palace was divided into various sectors, and once one began touring them all, it became a labyrinth like no other.

However, unlike before, the number of those with Royal Bloodline had decreased exponentially, leaving nearly half of the Imperial Palace as a virtual no-man’s land.

Melineos believed that while these spaces would eventually be filled with owners one by one, it would likely happen after Elhermina ascended to the throne.

“Let’s see.”

The Treasure Vault was divided into stages based on value and rarity.

Among them were countless treasures whose value had yet to be proven.

The areas were also separated; some places were filled with things that were nothing more than antiques to a knight, while others were places that would make one’s eyes spin with greed.

However, this area was where unidentified treasures—those whose value and rarity remained unproven but were piled up just in case—were gathered.

“Quite flashy, isn’t it?”

“They are spoils of war, in a sense.”

“There are even national treasures from fallen kingdoms here, eh?”

“…….”

“Well, not that it has anything to do with you lot.”

Geornia chuckled, scanning the scattered gold and silver treasures with curiosity, as if she were on a sightseeing tour, treating the surrounding items as if they were ordinary.

Melineos followed closely behind her, as if acting as her attendant.

The reason there were no other attendants was likely because this matter was deemed grave and required a secret investigation.

“Finding Kariel’s traces here will take an eternity.”

“…It would have if it were me. But you are different, Teacher.”

“Tsk tsk tsk! Instead of letting me enjoy myself, you want to put me to work!”

On the surface, she looked like she was pouting and clicking her tongue mischievously.

But as someone who knew her true nature, Melineos found that slyness uncomfortable in many ways.

“Well then, let’s begin.”

Tension seeped into her relaxed expression.

Her loose green eyes suddenly turned sharp.

“”

She chanted in an unknown language.

Lines of deep blue light drew themselves, sweeping through the surroundings.

One might hear accounts that to those who cannot see Spirits, they sometimes appear this way.

But this was something qualitatively different from that.

‘Spirit-Magic Fusion.’

Magic Fusion and Demonic Fusion.

Among them, the one praised as one of the three great masters of the Magic Fusion School.

Geornia Dei Adelweiss.

A technique that went beyond merely commanding Spirits, allowing her to convey specific instructions and deliver demands and orders more clearly than ever before.

For she was one of those who elevated Spirit Arts—which had been handled strictly based on nature, aptitude, and talent through simple empathy and affinity—into the realm of academic study.

“Watch closely.”

Geornia beckoned Melineos to come closer, and as she touched Melineos’s forehead with her tiny index finger.

All the colors of the world vanished, leaving only a strange world composed of a bluish light.

There.

Melineos and Geornia could see Kariel, who had arrived here while talking to someone, looking bewildered.

“Do you know who he’s talking to?”

“…I wonder.”

“When he was with us, he communicated well with Spirits, but the energy and ecology here aren’t great… it shouldn’t be that easy.”

“W-was that so?”

“Why? Didn’t Kariel tell you?”

“…….”

As the conversation ceased, the two began to focus on the scene unfolding again.

Then, as if suddenly realizing why he had come this far, Kariel tried to withdraw belatedly.

But suddenly, as if seized by something, he stopped in his tracks.

Then, as if he had seen something, his eyes widened.

[Who… on earth… are you?]

…….

“Looks like he saw a ghost.”

Or.

“Or something similar to one? What do you think?”

“I cannot tell for sure. Nothing is clear yet.”

“Then just call Kariel and ask him. It’s simple.”

“That’s…”

“I heard the engagement ceremony is tomorrow? But… I saw as I came, and it seems he doesn’t intend to make a big deal of it. Planning to keep it simple?”

“…….”

Geornia, who had been looking around the Treasure Vault a bit more, asked abruptly.

“If you’re hiding something, come clean. Once I start digging… it won’t be a matter you can easily brush off.”

“You… you know everything, don’t you?”

“No. Not at all. I don’t know a thing.”

Her voice and attitude remained playful.

But in Geornia’s eyes, which met hers at that moment.

A vivid anger had settled.

“Take the opportunity while I’m giving it to you.”

Geornia said as she walked out of the Treasure Vault as she pleased.

“It’s not a good place to talk here, so let’s do it while we eat.”

Or.

“…Should I just go straight to your Emperor and ask him personally?”

====

“Are you alright?”

“Uh… huh? W-what?”

Lueld blinked blankly at Patina’s question.

“You haven’t looked at a single page of the documents.”

“I-is that so.”

He couldn’t bring himself to work.

Such a thing rarely happened, but this time was certainly different.

He wondered if this was right.

He wondered what he had been doing all this time.

Was he feeling a sense of skepticism?

Or….

Whatever it was, his mind was more clouded and unfocused than it had been in a long time.

“Still, it’s such a relief that Kariel finally came to his senses, even if it was late.”

“U-huh? Uh… yeah. I suppose so.”

That child does not know.

No, most likely, most of them do not know.

“…….”

The day Kariel was presumed to have left.

Conversely, that day was a day of unprecedented blessing for Lueld.

But….

“I have returned from seeing them.”

“…Your Highness?”

“Please speak comfortably. We are alone; there is no need for such formality.”

“…….”

He had returned to the Family Home, but everything felt empty.

He had arranged for Ermina to recover at the Great Church rather than the Family Home.

He feared that returning would make the void left by Kariel feel more direct.

But coincidentally, Princess Elhermina had visited.

“I see. Then, Kariel. How was that child?”

“He has grown, in a way that is unexpectedly reliable.”

“…….”

“However, he will not forgive Lord Lueld and Lady Ermina. Nor will he forgive the Empire.”

“That is….”

“Still, it will not lead to a tragedy born of resentment. Though some venting of anger must be expected.”

“…….”

He felt as if he were constantly oscillating between a dream and reality.

This sensation, like ascending to heaven only to suddenly plummet into hell, was something he could not adapt to.

He thought he had long since grown accustomed to hardship, fatigue, and pain.

But this was far harder to endure than he had imagined.

“Are you alright?”

“…Sorry. For showing you such a pathetic sight.”

“There is one thing I wish to ask.”

“If it is something I can answer, ask me anything.”

Elhermina seemed to be organizing her thoughts for a moment.

In other words, her gaze questioned whether it was right to bring this up.

“When dealing with Kariel, did you ever feel a certain sense of dissonance?”

“…In what way?”

“Since Mother has summoned Lady Geornia, we will find out once she arrives, but I am asking just in case.”

“I would like you to explain the point of doubt more precisely.”

“I have watched Kariel for a long time. As such, I am well-versed in all the circumstances surrounding him.”

However, there is something strange.

“Those who deal with Kariel tend to have their way of treating him change quite extremely.”

“What? What do you mean by that?”

“For example….”

The Princess spoke self-deprecatingly, gesturing with her hand toward Lueld and herself.

“Lord Lueld and I share a similar tendency in how we treat Kariel.”

“In what way?”

“Blind faith. This is also true for Father and Mother.”

“Blind faith? Not trust?”

“There is a great difference.”

Elhermina’s lips twitched for a moment.

“And those who react hostilely toward him also, upon observation, have their reactions and attitudes divided in various ways.”

Complete ignorance.

Contempt and ridicule.

At times, even hatred.

“And some went beyond simply harboring emotions and carried those behaviors into action.”

The prime example was her brother, Alessius.

And a few others.

“Normally, I believe I would have stopped that long ago, or restrained it in some way.”

If it had been the usual me.

“…However. Only after he left, in the process of reflecting deeply on myself, did I feel that dissonance. I realized that the result was quite divergent from my usual behavior and attitude.”

“…….”

“As if my eyes were clouded by something.”

And that.

“I believe Lady Ermina was no exception.”

“Ermina?”

“It is still at the estimation stage, but I wanted you to be aware. Because it is possible that a malicious trick of a form we do not know was carried out.”

“…….”

Lueld thought.

If that were the case, perhaps his own attitude would be somewhat understandable.

And so, toward the malicious entity that played such a trick, with all his heart.

…He felt he could express his hatred and rage.

“What if that suspicion was merely a wild guess?”

“If that is the case… then I must simply admit that I am not only lacking in virtue, but beyond deficient, I am wretched.”

Rather.

“That might be better. However, if there are those who can carry out such malice to a degree that we cannot even guess.”

Would Kariel not be in a very dangerous state right now?

====

“…….”

Dusk falls.

Lueld suddenly took out the letter he had kept in his inner pocket.

It was crumpled, making the contents hard to discern without unfolding it.

He spread it on the desk and smoothed it out gently with his hand.

[I sincerely pray that no misfortune occurs to Lady Ermina during childbirth.

I sincerely pray that no abnormality occurs to the newborn child.

With that as a premise, I speak.

I convey my sincere gratitude for the birth of the child between Lady Ermina and Lord Lueld.

With this, I can now leave this place with a light heart.

I will lay down the name Brandiar.

It was hard being your son.

It was grueling being your child.

I cannot bring myself to say… that I wish I had never been born.

However, I may have repeated that same feeling dozens, hundreds, perhaps thousands of times.

I prayed for a long time.

Nothing changed.

If it was because my sincerity was lacking, my effort was lacking, and my desperation was lacking.

Then, perhaps, the only way is to truly die?

But what I fear is whether I will remain in your hearts even after death.

No, I am not afraid of that.

Rather.

…If only I had never existed.

If not a single trace of me remained in this world.

Then all the memories that torment me would not feel so cruel.

If I have any regrets, it is that I became your disgrace and your flaw.

Therefore, I will say this.

I am sorry for being born.

So please, forget someone like me and live happily.

I will probably return.

However, that will not be for a reunion with you.

So, please understand that point.

Lastly.

When we cross swords in the future, I hope you will give it your all, without ever showing mercy or letting your heart waver.

Naturally, I shall do the same.

But do not worry.

As your son, I will not be a burden to your lives.

In that sense, I am laying down the surname Brandiar.

I tried to understand you.

I empathize with the pain you suffered.

I saw many times as a child how you could not sleep at night and trembled in anxiety due to past wounds.

That is why, as much as I hate you, as much as I resent you.

I simply could not bring myself to loathe you.

But that has nothing to do with the child, does it?

So please, treat the child born this time with love.

I sincerely hope that you will help them so that you can show interest, give care, and be able to say in your daily lives that you are grateful the child was born.

Because that is a duty that no one else can fulfill on your behalf.]

“…….”

There was no postscript, nor did the letter end with a conventional closing.

But it had to be so.

Because there were no blank spaces left.

The reason it didn’t feel like it was left unfinished was likely because he had placed a proper period at the end.

However, there was no more margin.

He wanted to see more.

He wanted to hear more.

How did it end up like this?

He had not yet given this letter to Ermina.

No, he would never give it to her.

“Sorry for….”

For being born.

What does that even mean?

How could he say such words… to him….

He wished this were all a dream.

No, something was wrong.

He must be having a nightmare.

Perhaps the Demon King is still active, and he has been hit by some mental magic or delusion magic? A curse of some sort, leaving him unable to wake up.

How many times had that happened?

In fact, Ermina almost never opened her eyes for her entire life because of that.

Even then, she wailed in a fantasy, clutching her child and saying she could not leave.

…Yet in the end, she accepted reality.

For us, sadness is a far too familiar process.

There was so much of it that it was impossible to count them one by one.

Why was he, despite that, able to endure?

Because everyone was there.

But within that.

…To make his own son write with his own hand that he is sorry for being born.

How on earth is one supposed to accept this, in what way, by what means?

“…….”

Is it right to be sad?

They say when you are too sad, you cannot even cry and no thoughts come to mind.

Lueld had experienced such things countless times.

But this time, it felt as if not his bones, but his very soul was being torn apart.

“…But.”

He must not stop.

Giving up and collapsing now would be nothing more than an escape.

He must find him and ask.

He must face him.

If the resentment has reached its peak and cannot be resolved even by killing him.

…He cannot die for him, but he must persuade him or reach a compromise in some way.

No, that’s wrong.

It is not a matter of compromise or persuasion.

An apology… an apology saying he is sorry….

Yes, that is all.

But….

‘Where on earth did he go?’

He does not know the destination.

Furthermore, he cannot be found even with the Empire’s search network.

How is that possible?

“Get a grip.”

If he collapses, Ermina collapses too.

After that, the All People of the Empire will waver, and even the Emperor, a comrade like a brother, will become precarious.

Were they not the ones who had to walk on eggshells around the nobles until very recently?

Those people carry out filthy and shameless schemes without hesitation, but he could not.

No, to be precise, Lueld himself could not.

All sorts of constraints binding his entire body wove around him like dense chains.

He was, of course, the one who resolved to bear it.

…But right now, he just didn’t want to think about anything.

Just for a moment, just a very brief moment.

Please give me a small amount of time to accept and endure all of this.

Father.

Sky God.

Our Lord.