It felt like, given how things had gone off the rails, curses would spill out before long.
“…Mari?”
In the middle of that, Ernhart hastily ran to Mari Egbert, who had awakened.
Suddenly Esther looked like she had been the one causing a scene in front of Mari Egbert, who had just sat up in bed.
“Esther?!”
“I heard you were ill — how are you feeling…?”
“Child!”
“I never thought you’d be alive…!”
“…When did you even arrive, Kaelos? And who’s the woman behind you?”
“…Esther, you.”
It was a complete mess.
“Everyone, quiet! It looks like we have a lot to talk about.”
While they stared at one another with baffled faces, Mari Egbert collected the situation.
So, under the pretext of tea time, everyone sat around the table.
“…So you’re saying that if we send only Kaelos to the battlefield, he’s sure to die?”
“Yes… sniffle, sniffle, wuhuh—!”
Esther deliberately made sobbing noises, even pretending to sniffle.
…And then she actually ate something.
Ptooey, ptooey, spuht.
“Wahhh, give it all to me….”
Of course, she was lying.
In truth, she didn’t know for sure whether everyone would die.
But extreme explanations have power.
Esther knew the power of words.
Words are not blades, and yet sometimes they leave deep wounds; sometimes they can turn a good person into a villain, or elevate a con artist into a national hero.
Words are crafty and can be trained invisibly.
“They’ll be torn to shreds… monsters will nibble away… they’ll slither forward… then — uwaaah! — swallow everything… Father will die too….”
Ernhart Egbert, who had been listening quietly, spoke first.
“Wait, let’s go over one thing.”
He raised his hand.
When Mari Egbert solemnly nodded, he continued.
The room fell silent.
“After you disappeared, I — unintentionally — heard from Mari about you. About your birth and… those kinds of details.”
Esther flinched.
“If you’re from the Kingdom of Surtr and of royal blood… that would mean demonic blood runs in you. Is that correct?”
At Ernhart Egbert’s words, Kaelos slightly furrowed his brow but nodded.
“That’s right.”
“That means demonic blood flows in you, and the god who protects you would be a demon god.”
“…….”
Ernhart Egbert rubbed his chin.
“According to scripture, Armos’s blessing and the demon god’s blessing are opposites. Armos treats the demon god and demons as heresy.”
He trailed off but persisted.
Kaelos clenched his fist. Freya, sitting beside him, covered his fist with her own hand.
“Here’s the question. The thing you possess is clearly a sacred relic. So if Armos descended upon you, that must also be true.”
Esther nodded.
‘So Michael Enoch is Armos after all?’
If that were true, why had he changed his name?
“But you… in principle should not be able to receive Armos’s blessing. For you, Armos’s favor or holy water would instead be poison….”
Esther swallowed.
‘Mother, Father were too dull to notice or point it out!’
The duke, who knew how to handle court life, was different. Esther tensed.
Tsk.
‘Sharp-eyed.’
Who would’ve thought he’d so deftly sense the contradiction in the setup.
‘But… every story always finds a breakthrough and a protagonist. There can even be a stylish villain.’
Esther wanted to be a stylish villain.
“I’m a genius; I can handle both!”
Yes — in novels there were always characters like that.
For example, someone who controls both fire and ice, or who wields light and darkness together — the ultimate villain.
Esther wanted to be that.
“The god told me I’m the one who will save the world! He asked me to help! So I’m helping.”
“…Armos spoke to you?”
“Yes!”
Ernhart Egbert bowed his head to Mari Egbert with a grave expression.
“Is this possibly a fraud….”
“No way, could it—”
“No matter how… preposterous… a con….”
They spoke in low voices, but Esther had decent ears.
Even though the voices were hushed, she could catch snippets. Esther’s face fell.
‘It’s not as cool as I thought it’d be.’
Her lips stuck out.
“Anyway, the god did give this to me.”
Esther said in a slightly tired tone.
“I know it’s a sacred relic, but for you….”
He moved his lips as if to say something, then fell silent.
“I understand for now.”
He nodded.
“Even though I think it’s absurd that everyone would die… given everything this child has shown, it seems to have been by divine power.”
No — it’s all in my head.
Ernhart paused, as if gathering his thoughts, then continued.
“Besides, this child has resolved things before, so there’s some credibility.”
“No matter how you put it, saying everyone will die is nonsense! That’s impossible.”
“Right! I think so too. Uncle, you’re strong. Besides, sending this child to the battlefield — that can’t be allowed.”
At Ernhart Egbert’s words the two young men immediately reacted strongly.
‘I have no allies.’
Feeling the danger, Esther pretended to cry again and buried her face in her palms to hide.
“Waah…”
Ugh, boring and exhausting.
Gasp — I almost said it for real.
“Esther Egbert.”
At that call, Esther paused.
‘…Has anyone ever called me that before?’
Including the family name.
And it was Mari Egbert saying it. Flustered, Esther listened as she continued.
“Are you saying that everyone can only live if you go?”
Esther forcefully nodded at the one person here who might be on her side.
“Yes…! If I go… the god — no, the deity… uh — the god will give another revelation…!”
Of course nothing like that had happened.
That’s why her stomach hurt.
All the credit would go to that god who didn’t so much as lift a finger.
‘Maybe the only thing that will increase is the number of that god’s followers.’
Esther grimaced.
“I oppose it. I can be more careful and take care of things. I won’t send a child to the battlefield.”
Kaelos Egbert declared firmly.
‘No, Father! Please don’t interfere with my plan.’
Esther scowled.
Didn’t they hear I was going to die? Didn’t I get a revelation or something?
“Kaelos Egbert, this is for everyone to live. It doesn’t end with only your sacrifice.”
“Those who accept such a sacrifice are the Paladin Order. Among the knights there are none who don’t face death; if they die in war, it would be an honor.”
“If there exists a way for everyone to live, are you saying you refuse it? Is that your best?”
Grandfather is great!
Grandfather is great!
Ernhart Egbert was truly different.
“If the way for everyone to live requires one person’s sacrifice, I will decline. Even more so if that person is my child.”
He muttered fiercely.
Freya, who might have been expected to oppose him, unusually kept her mouth shut and sat quietly.
“The battlefield is not a pleasant place for a small child to see. Your Grace would know that.”
While Ernhart Egbert watched Kaelos in silence, he rose from his seat.
He was calm but angry.
Seeing that expression, Esther stopped throwing her tantrum.
“…Do not continue treating me like trash. I will try to live. If that is impossible, then my life ends there, and a replacement will appear.”
A cold look swept over the duke and duchess.
It was a barren gaze devoid of trust. It was not the look of parent and child.
“You’re saying if I die, the Egbert family will have no one fit to take the position of Commander of the Paladin Order….”
“Well said.”
“…Yes?”
Esther froze at Ernhart’s remark, and Kaelos, unusually, even retorted.
“Well said indeed. Had you tried to carry this child on your back and march out, I would have struck you.”
At Ernhart Egbert’s words, Kaelos stood there as if his mind hadn’t finished processing what had been said.
