Book 7 Chapter 10
Chapter 159
“From now on, I will explain how to thwart the enemy’s plan.”
The scale of the reinforcements Yuliana spoke of was beyond imagination. No, rather than scale, it would be more appropriate to discuss their prestige.
Three censers were placed on the altar in the sanctuary chapel, and from each of them, spirits emerged.
Dadan Karain, the dean of the Rivendell School.
Lekkair, the head of the investigation team dispatched from Mushingyeon.
And… Fayquario Milone Alter Gaumris, humanity’s strongest soldier, who exuded an overwhelmingly powerful presence, too formidable to be called human.
Yuliana reportedly left Mythos Peak because she intended to cross the continent herself to meet them.
– Because there was no one trustworthy.
This meant that there were few reliable witch subordinates, and at the same time, no witch would have been able to escape Luzayhyen’s grasp and reach the destination.
Yuliana handed over the enemy force deployment chart and magic circle layout, which she had received in detail from Valentisidis, to these three key figures.
Combining Yuliana's North Republic witches, Dadan's Rivendell School mages, Fayquario's three hundred soldiers, and Mushingyeon's investigation team of over thirty ronin, the number would be considerable.
[But is the opponent really *that* person?]
Dadan Karain, the dean, asked in a voice filled with disbelief.
“Only the gods would know her exact identity.”
Yuliana drew a light line and began her explanation.
“The auxiliary components of the array have been installed in three locations: Jiseon Peak (止善峰) in the northwest, Hwayeon Peak (花宴峰) in the south, and Yeomgyeong Peak (炎傾峰) in the southeast.”
[…!]
“The ritual will begin at midnight of the new moon, when the moonlight is at its dimmest, which is in 14 hours. Once it starts, nothing can stop it. We must stop it before then.”
Yuliana didn’t explicitly state it. That the baby dragon would be used as the core of power to activate the magic circle.
Apparently, only Yuliana, who received a revelation from the Water Dragon, and Milone, who received orders from the College of Cardinals, knew for certain about the dragon’s protector.
“It is said that if the ritual proceeds, Nariaduk, a subordinate of the Queen of Time, will awaken. She is one of the old nobles known as Samjungheon. A tragedy will unfold.”
[…!]
“The ritual can only be stopped if all three magic circles are neutralized. If even one operates normally, the ritual will proceed…”
I bit my lip weakly.
At that time, the same tragedy as when Shar'kas awakened would occur. By Tureina’s hand.
Milone Alter Gaumris opened his mouth.
[I heard that almost half of the North Republic witches have joined the enemy. Is that true?]
“It is true. To be exact, it will be two-thirds. They will be guarding the array. Even if the authenticity is uncertain, Tureina is like an idol to us.”
[Ha, they said the Age of Dragons was over, but isn’t the Age of Witches ending too? Are there really that many empty-headed witches who chase after ghosts of the past and become lackeys of the Abyss?]
When Lekkair, the head of the Mushingyeon investigation team, snorted provocatively, Yuliana gave a bitter smile and calmly replied.
“Lekkair, you are still young. You haven’t lived through the era Tureina lived in; you’ve only heard about it.”
[What does that imply?]
“Like Lady Friede’s disciple, Tureina used her power for all people. Even after stepping down from the maiden’s position. She repelled monsters, created cures when plagues spread, and soothed the heavens to bring rain during famines.”
[…?]
“All witches of my generation grew up benefiting from those miracles. The majority of them became witches with the desire to live such a great life someday. That’s why they ended up following her. Not the Abyss, but the person Tureina.”
[But the probability of her being the real Tureina is almost zero, isn't it? The real one died at least 10 years ago! They’re following someone with a 99% chance of being fake?]
It was Milone who cut through the seemingly aimless conversation and hit the core of the issue.
[So, how will you punish Tureina? If she is the real Tureina?]
Yuliana glanced at me.
Since I hadn't used the spirit separation spell, neither my movements nor my voice could be heard by them.
Yuliana was now making one final confirmation of my intentions and will, which she had heard before this meeting began.
“…We will capture her first.”
Yuliana relayed my words to the spirits as if they were her own will. There was no particular objection to this.
“We will neither interrogate nor kill her.”
[Pardon?]
“Because interrogating her to damage her body or burning her at the stake feels like wasting her talent and achievements in vain.”
Silence fell for a moment.
The spirits each made bewildered gestures, staring at Yuliana.
“First, as I said before, Tureina’s influence is absolute, and I believe that power can be used to reunify the currently divided Republic.”
I know.
I know what Tureina has done. I know, but…
[No, that’s true, but… is it really that simple? I’m not even sure if the completely chaotic South Republic can be reunified, and if she’s the real Tureina, what she’s done so far…!]
I truly am a selfish person.
I want to meet her, I want to talk to her again, I want to save her somehow… This feeling takes precedence over my anger.
I even feel disillusioned with myself.
“That’s why we save her. Killing and interrogating are too easy. We’ll make her atone for her actions to the world using that power, and then leave the final judgment to the Water Dragon.”
[…!]
“Of course, if she has fallen to the point where there’s no possibility of such redemption at all, then with my own hands…”
She couldn’t bring herself to say, ‘I will kill her.’ Yuliana, like me, painfully bit her lip and only said this:
“…I will end it all.”
The Water Dragon had said that she entrusted the final decision to me. Perhaps knowing this, Yuliana did not object to my judgment.
Valentisidis merely stared at me with eyes tinged with perplexity, but for now, showed no other reaction.
Dadan Karain retorted in an incredulous tone.
[End Tureina? Yuliana, is that possible with your power alone? The opponent is a three-chapter witch who uses 5-star sorcery and psalms, and has also attained the level of a Grand Archmage.]
Not only Dadan Karain, but Lekkair, who had confirmed the demise of Cheonhwapa, also strongly objected, but the one who quelled the commotion was Fayquario Milone.
[The Water Dragon has commanded the College of Cardinals to delegate the primary decision-making authority to Yuliana, the Maiden of the Star Cluster. So, for now, we will follow her will.]
With the Mad Dragon having withdrawn from the front lines, Fayquario’s will was, in effect, the will of the Papacy.
That alone was powerful enough to suppress any opposition, but with the Water Dragon’s oracle, to object to the divine dragon’s will was akin to blasphemy.
It took not a moment for all objections to subside. As silence fell, Milone looked at Yuliana, or rather, at me, who was invisible to her.
[So, what should we do, Yuliana?]
* * *
The temple was bustling with the noisy movements of witches preparing for battle.
Excluding those who had converted to dark witches, like Alene from <Aurelinople>, almost all of the North Republic’s elite red witches had gathered here under the command of Yuliana, the Maiden of the Star Cluster. Their number reached a staggering four hundred.
I, too, struggled to move my incomplete body and put on Ceresia when Valentisidis approached with a sigh.
“I saw that parrot in <Aurelinople> call Tureina’s name affectionately.”
“Call, call, call.”
Valentisidis hesitated for a long time, uncharacteristic of him, then offered an interesting conjecture.
“Your absurd genius, and your emotions when you spoke of Tureina earlier… You must have been like Tureina’s disciple too, right?”
No, that kid was my disciple.
My first disciple.
Left behind in the distant past 300 years ago… It felt like a waste of time to even respond, so I silently bent down and tightened the leather laces of my boots.
“And that sun parrot is probably the real Pipi from the hero legends 300 years ago.”
“Genuine, genuine, genuine.”
“I know I have no right to say this, but… you must have heard everything from Yuliana. The Tureina there now isn’t the Tureina you remember.”
As I continued to tighten the laces of the other boot without responding, Valentisidis, unable to suppress his frustration, spoke.
“Listen carefully. Tureina didn’t embrace the power of the Abyss; she’s only utilizing it, and in exchange for that power, she has to sacrifice her humanity.”
“Humanity? Humanity? Humanity?”
“Memories, emotions, everything that makes a person human. Tureina is using that power for eternal life… and in return, she can’t remember most people. She forgets them if she doesn’t see them for even a month.”
Ah, so that’s what it was.
I gave a bitter smile.
So that’s why I forgot the texture of my soul, Pipi. She hasn't completely sold her soul to the Abyss yet.
“The current Tureina is nothing more than a twisted desire for Lynn wearing a skin. Decide whether to kill or save her after seeing her? I know you’ve become incredibly strong, but this is not a choice─”
“─Valentisidis, I’m not going to decide whether to kill or save Tureina.”
Was he surprised that I suddenly let out a snort, or by my voice, which was chillingly cold, even to myself?
“I’m going to decide whether I deserve to live.”
When I said that and concluded with a miserable smile, Valentisidis fell silent. Instead, someone else made their presence known.
“Why are you still dawdling around, not having finished your preparations yet?”
Making a clatter of metallic noises, wearing a sword belt with a dagger sheath attached around her waist and firmly fastening a shield to her wrist, the one who appeared was… Miria.
Valentisidis raised an eyebrow.
This time, even I, who had shown no emotion throughout the conversation with Valentisidis, couldn’t help but tilt my head.
“What are you doing?”
“What am I doing? I have to go to Mythos Peak, don’t I?”
“You can’t.”
“Can’t, can’t, can’t.”
I don't know why that word instinctively popped out. Was it that I didn’t want to take her to a place where unknown fears and dangers might lurk?
“You've already been paid. You don't need to do this.”
Wherever that may be.
It's enough if she's just alive.
“Can’t? Aki means a lot to me too. You entrusted him to me, but I couldn’t protect him, did I?”
“No, that… the opponent was too strong. It wasn't your fault.”
“Is that so? Even if that’s the case, if you really want to save Aki, you’ll need my help. I know the terrain of the Red Mountain Range like the back of my hand.”
As I fumbled with my lips, speechless, Miria placed her index finger before her lips and gave me a faint smile for the first time.
“And in the Empire, it seems high-ranking individuals can give orders so simply, but this is a Republic, and I am a legitimate free citizen. If you don’t want to follow the Republic’s constitution, then take me to a hell without one and then give your orders.”