CHAPTER 101……………………………………
“Isn’t it quite a simple system?”
He smiled and looked at Esther.
As Esther’s gaze touched the exclamation mark, a sheet of parchment unfurled before her eyes.
[Raksa’s Curiosity]
The demon Raksa, under his master’s command, saw something unusual on the battlefield against the beasts.
Deep in the land humans fearfully call the Abandoned Land, he saw a seed coiled upon itself.
The blood it shed became poison, and the breath it exhaled turned into miasma, corrupting the land around it.
He wonders what lies at its center. He wants to uncover its true nature.
When Esther lifted her head, Raksa bowed deeply at the waist.
“What was that? How did you do that?”
“It’s 念 (thought).”
Thought?
So if you wish for something hard enough, it shows up like that?
Understanding dawned on Esther, and she nodded. He stepped back quietly. Kardem, standing in the middle, looked puzzled.
“That servant of yours gives off a strange presence. Where did you find him?”
“Hmm, nowhere special! He just suddenly showed up saying he’d be my guard and butler! I didn’t have money or people, so I said okay.”
“…Really?”
“Why?”
“Nothing. It’s just—his presence feels… a bit like a monster’s.”
At Kardem’s words, Esther’s eyes narrowed.
So, as expected of someone blessed with strong divine power—he’s sensitive to demonic energy.
Especially since he had just returned from battle, it was likely that some of the demonic energy he’d unconsciously released in the heat of combat still lingered around him.
The problem was that Esther, whose senses weren’t yet sharp, couldn’t detect such things easily.
“Maybe it’s because you just fought monsters?”
“Oh, maybe? That might be it. I did think his presence was odd before, but not like now.”
Kardem nodded at Esther’s words.
Sharp kid.
He might need to warn Raksa to be more careful.
“Anyway, my niece seems to have great companions. That butler looks skilled, and the maid seems quick-witted.”
“Yup! Genius attracts geniuses, after all…”
“……”
Kardem’s expression darkened.
What? What!
It was true—what could he say?
Esther turned her head away with a huff and flopped down onto the bed.
When Father comes later, I should act a bit.
How should she do it this time?
She’d already used the “I saw a light descending” line… Maybe she should scream like she’s seeing a vision?
“Phew.”
“Why the sigh?”
“I just thought… it’s tiring being good at everything.”
“What…?”
Honestly, being a genius, cute and lovable, looking good in any outfit, having a kind heart that saves people—and now being good at acting too.
“Haa, what if someone kidnaps me one day?”
Of course, she already knew the answer.
If that happened—well, she’d destroy them. Or kill them.
“…You’re quite generous with yourself, aren’t you?”
He gave a helpless laugh and shook his head. Esther looked up.
Seeing his amused smile, she couldn’t help but grin back.
“Uncle, are you too strict with yourself?”
“…Why is it that you never lose a single exchange?”
“Hmm… lose? How do you do that?”
“Wow! You’re being so cheeky right now! I think I finally understand those nobles a little!”
He exaggerated his frown dramatically, pretending to stomp his feet in frustration. Esther burst out laughing.
“Ahahaha!”
As the child rolled around on the bed laughing, Kardem’s eyes widened.
“Niece, this is the first time I’ve seen you laugh like that.”
“Hmm… really…? Oh? Dad?”
Behind Kardem stood Kaelos Egbert, who had appeared without anyone noticing.
“Ah, sorry. I forgot to knock—or rather, to announce myself.”
His hair, damp and dripping slightly, showed he’d changed into lighter clothes.
“…I was just surprised by the sound of laughter inside.”
He really did look surprised; his widened eyes didn’t seem to close anytime soon.
Esther stared at him silently.
“May I come closer?”
“Mm-hm.”
He approached, opening his arms slightly toward her.
Still lying on the bed, Esther raised her arms, and he gladly bent down to hug her.
Warm, as always.
His heartbeat was steady and calm. It always made her feel at peace.
Strange.
It was just a human’s embrace.
A human she would one day have to kill with her own hands.
Esther slowly blinked, her eyes drooping. Maybe it was because she was still a child—perhaps that’s why a parent’s arms felt comfortable.
Ah, right. The act!
She couldn’t just sit here dozing off. Esther’s eyes widened as she lifted her head—
—and froze.
Kaelos Egbert was looking down at her with a gentle smile. Seeing the soft curve of his lips, Esther quickly lowered her head.
…Why did I avoid his eyes?
It wasn’t like she’d done anything wrong.
Still, it felt like she’d glimpsed something she wasn’t supposed to—like she’d seen the tender inside of someone’s shell.
“…Dad, you’re not hurt anywhere?”
“I’m fine.”
“My brother wasn’t hurt by the monsters—he has the divine power of purification.”
“Purification?”
“Yeah, though it’s more like restoration. Anything tainted with impurities can be restored to its original state.”
Esther’s eyes widened.
“He can turn dirty water into clean water, or make stale bread fresh again. A wound is, after all, just an impurity in an otherwise sound body.”
Apparently, the gods really did love the Egbert family. That kind of divine power wasn’t something they granted easily.
When a god bestows divine power, it means they give up part of their own strength.
If a god shares half the power they’d use to save a hundred people with their believer, their own strength is halved—now both can only save ten each.
It’s not a good deal for a god.
So, for a deity to still grant such a power—it meant the Egberts were deeply favored.
“Wow, that’s amazing.”
“…It’s nothing.”
Kaelos’s earlobes flushed slightly as he replied.
“Can you use it on people too?”
“No. Not on anyone but myself. That’s why we need a healer like Kardem.”
“But it works on monsters, right?”
“…Yes. Monsters are made of impurities—purifying them destroys them.”
Esther nodded. She thought Kaelos’s power might come in handy after all.
“Dad! I want to go outside!”
Kaelos obediently carried Esther in his arms and stepped out of the tent. Kardem followed after them.
The moment Kaelos stepped into the sunlight—
Esther clapped her hands over her ears and squeezed her eyes shut.
“Ugh—ahhh!”
It was, without question, terrible acting, but the shrillness of her voice made it pass.
Nearby, Raksa and Shiphon—who were building Esther’s black tent—froze mid-task. Ross, in human form now, stopped moving his luggage and stared blankly.
“…Esther?”
Kaelos’s face showed his alarm as he held her closer.
“Dad…! There’s a dark place… They said I have to go…”
“A dark place?”
“They said… if I go there, the Abandoned Land will disappear…”
Esther deliberately raised her voice.
If it were Kaelos, he’d surely oppose her going—so she needed the others on her side.
“What did she just say?”
“She said the Abandoned Land will disappear…?”
“Is she… receiving an oracle right now?”
“She truly is a saint…”
Whispers spread through the crowd.
The priests slowly knelt before Esther, clasping their hands in prayer.
Seeing them bow their heads, even the knights and soldiers hesitated before lowering themselves to one knee.
“Esther!”
Kaelos called her name loudly, but Esther—hands still over her ears—pretended not to hear.
Then she spoke:
‘If you go to the Abandoned Land, you shall erase its root and heal its sorrow…’
Her clumsy voice recited the words in ancient tongue.
Everyone’s eyes widened.
Even learned scholars and high priests found ancient language difficult—but the child spoke it perfectly.
An old priest, whose shin was still bandaged from injury, looked up at her with tears in his eyes.
“The Saintess…! Our god Armos has sent his divine message—through his chosen vessel!”
His cry rang out like a shout, and belatedly, the crowd erupted in cheers.
