CHAPTER 72…………………………………
. Land of Monsters (3):
But Callion only kept a calm face.
As if it were nothing more than a stray dog barking.
Then Ares piped up.
“Sion, Master! We have to hurry! They said the ship’s leaving within the hour!”
Minte was already preparing to head out.
“We need to inform the Count and Countess of Terraine as well. Straight to the lake port.”
“But Minte!”
Still holding me in her arms, Rete hurried after him.
“We don’t even know what they’ve loaded on that ship. If you rush a search—”
“I know. They’ll make a huge scene, obviously.”
Minte clenched his teeth, glaring out the window.
“But if they cross into the middle zone of the lake, we won’t be able to stop them!”
“That’s…!”
Rete bit her lip, frustrated.
The lake’s middle zone—
On either side of the lake rose massive hills.
And beyond those hills lay Iliod territory.
If fugitives crossed that boundary, even criminals from Tartarus couldn’t easily be pursued.
The Terraine Count and Countess, arriving at the corridor by the lounge, were pale as ghosts.
Especially the Count, who flapped about like a startled white bird.
“S-Sir Epikus…! Surely you must be mistaken?”
“Mistaken? This is testimony directly from the princess.”
“N-no, not that I doubt Her Highness, but…”
Of course, he wanted to cast doubt on something overheard by a child.
Especially since it involved his own domain.
“My men at the harbor always inspect ships thoroughly. I’ve been told there were no issues with Burten’s vessel today—”
“This may involve Halcyon itself, Lord Terraine.”
“…!”
“If you hesitate and something truly happens, your whole house will bear the blame.”
The Count’s round face went even paler.
If contraband that must not reach Halcyon slipped through—
Even if they hadn’t known, their house would be punished regardless.
At that moment, the Countess snapped back to her senses first.
“Sweetpea, quickly! Cancel the ship’s departure order!”
“Ah, yes, dear…”
“Sir Epikus! Take some of our knights with you. The fastest, those who know the terrain best.”
“Thank you, Madam.”
Preparations to depart moved swiftly.
But before Minte could set out, Callion stepped forward.
“Sir Epikus. Please, let me come too.”
“Prince Alcyone. I told you back in Belled as well!”
I shrank down in Rete’s arms.
When cheerful Minte raised his voice in anger, it was terrifying.
But Callion cried out desperately.
“But if this involves priests…! I must be there when you capture them!”
“…!”
Minte flinched silently.
And I whispered from Rete’s arms.
“Minte. Let Callion go with you.”
“…”
“Hm? Please.”
Of course, I didn’t want to send a child into such darkness.
But I knew why he had to go…
At last, Minte sighed, heavy with pain.
“…Very well. Come with us, Your Highness.”
“Good! Be careful.”
Then Ares stomped his feet and made a fuss.
“I’m going too! I wanna see Master Minte smash them all!”
“No! Young Lord, please stay put!”
“Aw, whaaat—!”
What do you mean “what”? You’re the youngest, that’s why!
I pressed my hand to my forehead.
Ugh, so people are already headed to the harbor.
The next thing to do was—
“Rete. Let’s hold Count Stenel here.”
It was time to find out whether that man was simply a fool, or truly a traitor.
Rete nodded.
“Yes. I’ll summon him to the lounge right away.”
“Mm!”
The music festival was still in full swing.
If word of this leaked before the crown resolved it, chaos would erupt among the gathered nobility.
Better to settle it as quickly and quietly as possible!
Beside me, the Terraine Countess clicked her tongue.
“What on earth is Count Stenel thinking? Did he lose his brain?”
“How could anyone know the thoughts of a man blinded by greed.”
“In any case, it is fortunate indeed that Her Highness and the other prince were here!”
“Yes… ha… but honestly…”
Rete tilted her head back and sighed toward the ceiling.
“I had hoped for Her Highness to establish her dignity in peace…”
“…”
I gazed at Rete silently.
Sorry. I was just born under too unlucky a star.
And then—
“Rete.”
I tried to sound calm, though my insides were in turmoil.
“Yes, Your Highness?”
“Where’s Ares?”
“…!”
The youngest, who had been right at Rete’s side until moments ago, was gone.
* * *
A night without even a crescent moon.
Callion recalled the words of that “human” who had sneered at him earlier.
‘So the demon princess raises a human prince. What fine education he’s had.’
Mocking him as if he’d been brainwashed by demons—it was laughable.
People are strange.
When he was beaten and kicked, no one ever helped him.
But now, just because he shared their outward form, he was supposed to stand with them?
As long as I can be at Lord Sion’s side, nothing else matters.
He had no need for the homeland that had abandoned him.
As he ran after Minte, another thought struck him.
Why did Sir Epikus make that face earlier?
When he had shouted his reasons for joining the mission, Minte’s face had gone stiff.
…Was it the distaste of accepting help from one with divine power?
The incident was caused by a Halcyon priest—naturally, taking aid from another Halcyon-born boy would feel unpleasant.
That was the conclusion Callion reached.
When they reached the lakeside shore, he gasped out between breaths.
“Sir Epikus.”
“…”
“If my presence displeases you—”
“That’s not it.”
Minte cut him off sharply.
No, it wasn’t anger at this boy.
It was the earlier words that were intolerable.
‘So the demon princess raises a human prince.’
And it was the painful reality—that a child prince had to bear the weight of such filth so young—
How could it not wrench the heart?
No matter how much he tried to hold back affection, it hurt.
Just then, someone came riding fast from the harbor.
“Sir Epikus!”
“A retainer of Lord Terraine?”
“Y-yes!”
The man bowed quickly before Minte.
He must have received the Count’s urgent voice-spell—departure had been canceled.
But…
“There was no problem with any of the ships currently in port. What should we do?”
Callion looked up at Minte and whispered.
“Sir Epikus. I think a few slipped out secretly.”
“….”
“They’re already out on the lake.”
“…Then, Your Highness, show us where.”
“Yes. But—”
Callion frowned, staring ahead.
Four or five figures were definitely moving swiftly across the water.
But it’s too dark!
Even pointing, one couldn’t be sure—the night was absolute.
And then.
In the blackness where even the horizon vanished, sparks began to flicker.
At first, they glimmered like fireflies.
But soon—
On the glassy-black lake surface, yellow flames began to ripple.
“Wha—?!”
Callion and several knights gasped.
None of them had the power to conjure flames like this.
Wait, who…? This power—
Then Callion heard what he had missed while focused on the lake.
The sound of bright flames crackling.
And from behind them, a boy swaggered forward.
“Heh. I’ll handle this.”
Ares grinned, full of himself.
