Chapter 94
I believed that Gloriana’s Emblem would be of great help to the Castrain family above all else.
Especially in strengthening and maintaining the barrier.
The northern barrier was weakening day by day.
And there was no real solution in sight.
The First Emperor, Alcarius, had created the barrier by borrowing the powers of himself and other heroes.
The powers of all elements intertwined, complementing one another to sustain the barrier.
But as centuries passed, that power inevitably faded.
Originally, the annual Offering Festival was held for the purpose of repairing the barrier.
However, one of the maintenance conditions set by the First Emperor for the barrier was the proof of all powers.
So what good was it for the Castrain family to desperately protect, intermarry with, and keep alive the bloodlines of fallen heroes—when even the imperial family could no longer wield the power of light?
Occasionally, a noble-born child like Lysiancius would be born, gifted with divine power. But never had there been one in an entire generation who could wield all powers. And even if one did appear, lacking the power of light meant they would still be incomplete.
That was why the reason for giving a weapon that even the ducal house couldn’t wield was simple—
Whether by melting it down or absorbing it somehow, it was to be used as an item to strengthen the barrier.
But now she was offering to lend it to me?
“Even Big Brother, the acting head, said it was a good idea.”
I stared blankly at Vivi, too stunned to speak. Vivi gazed straight back at me.
“It’ll help you, won’t it, Sis?”
“…That was something exchanged under a deal with the Castrain family.”
Then again, considering how I’d swung that emoji sword around slaying fiends and even asked to borrow Gloriana’s Emblem for a bit, it wasn’t unreasonable that the Castrain family assumed it would be useful to me.
The emoji sword suddenly piped up:
–<Gloriana’s Emblem> will definitely be of great help to you, Contractor!٩(๑
へ´๑)۶ If you don’t complete the proper owner’s ritual, my abilities are limited, and it’ll be hard to bash monsters to bits! (›´ω‹ ) So if you’re not planning on doing the ritual anytime soon, I highly recommend wearing <Gloriana’s Emblem> at all times! (｡•̀ᴗ-)✧
I instinctively glanced sideways at Lysiancius and Devi. How long had it been since Lysiancius gave me those cards and badges as part of the deal?
The Duke of Castrain wasn’t a fool. If he said he would watch over me, then he surely was. Yet he still gave permission for the artifact to be taken out…
“All right.”
Pride is something you only worry about when you can afford it.
Just yesterday, I’d nearly died in a monster ambush and only survived because Raymond came personally to save me. Screaming “I can’t accept this!” would be pointless—better to accept it now and find a way to repay it later. I made my decision quickly and nodded.
“Thanks for caring, Vivi. I’ll gratefully borrow it for the time being.”
Vivi blinked in mild surprise, as if she hadn’t expected me to agree, then broke into a bright smile.
“…Okay, Sis! I’ll come see you soon too!”
“Good grief…”
The thought of her voluntarily coming to such a dangerous place made me want to stop her right then and there. But what could I do? She was proudly calling herself a daughter of the Castrain family—better to hope she’d bring a full escort and stay safe.
After exchanging a few polite words, I ended the connection with Vivi.
I sighed, half exasperated, and went to wave my hand—only then realizing, to my horror, that I was still gripping Raymond’s arm. My palm was even clammy with sweat! I hastily let go.
“Eh?! I was still holding on?! You—you could’ve just said so… or pulled your arm away… That must’ve been annoying.”
Raymond looked at the arm I’d been holding for a moment, then said quietly,
“It wasn’t annoying.”
“Ah… okay…”
“It didn’t hurt, either.”
“…It’s not like I was trying to hurt you. I’m not that strong, you know?”
“When you pinch people, you’re plenty strong. Guess you pick who to use your strength on?”
Lysiancius’ very pointed remark came from behind me. I snorted. Raymond’s brow twitched at his brother’s words.
“…Did Lysiancius do something inappropriate to you?”
“Why?”
“You said you pinched him…”
“Oh.”
Typical eldest brother—always worrying when his younger siblings cause trouble. I laughed lightly.
“It was nothing serious. Anyway—come on! Since Vivi’s coming, we really need to focus on preparing for the Offering Festival now~.”
I clapped my hands. “Everyone, gather up so we can plan properly!”
Raymond’s gaze lingered on me—quiet, unreadable.
* * *
A foul stench filled the air.
It was a ruin.
Blood, pus, black stains, and ashes mixed together in grotesque patches. Severed animal limbs lay scattered like garbage. Just by looking, one could guess the scale of the tragedy that had occurred here.
But instead of panicking, a calm, professional voice reported from behind:
“Another mutated monster site, sir. No survivors, and no remaining cores.”
Duke Orto took a long drag of his cigar, soaked in a special drug, and exhaled slowly. Each breath dulled the searing pain in his body a little. When the tingling in his fingers faded enough for him to move confidently, he stepped forward toward the grisly scene.
“The names of the beasts?”
“…Still unidentified, sir.”
The aide bowed deeply, apologetically. The duke said nothing for a while.
It wasn’t that the aide was incompetent.
There were simply far too many species of monsters—hundreds, thousands even. Over long years of slaying them, the Castrain family had recorded and named many of the most dangerous and notable ones, building their own internal database.
But there were countless nameless monsters as well.
Since the barrier began to weaken, stronger monsters had appeared—creatures so powerful they had never been seen before or since. Once a season, a monster might appear that required the captain of the knights himself to fight. Once every five years, one so strong that the entire knight order had to engage. And once every ten years or so, a monster emerged that could only be defeated if a direct heir of the Castrain family, one possessing great divine power, personally took the field.
About fifteen years ago, Duke Orto had faced one such beast alone.
It had resembled a three-headed wolf. Had he not slain it, it could have easily destroyed several cities.
He’d won and survived—but that was all. The wounds he’d received were irreparable, and though he lived, his condition had only deteriorated since. Vivi had managed to find a rare flower that eased his pain, but it was only temporary. Even when brewed, distilled, and smoked as a drug, the relief never lasted.
The duke spoke slowly.
“I’ve never heard of monsters devouring their own kind.”
“Yes, sir! As you said, I checked the records, but there’s no mention of such a case. I even asked young master Rasper at the main house to review it, but he also confirmed there’s nothing like this in the archives.”
“Mm. He’s young, but no one’s more of a bookworm than that one. We’ll just have to accept this as an unprecedented occurrence.”
The duke gave a dry smile.
Ever since Raymond had grown strong enough, the duke had entrusted him with acting as family head while he personally patrolled the most dangerous areas. So far, he could still handle most threats. Even if he were to die, Lysiancius and Raymond together would be enough to protect the family.
He had done it all to lessen the burden on the next generation—
Even though he had warned his wife not to, she had insisted on bearing three children.
“If I strain myself to have three children capable of awakening divine power… yes. I’ll share my strength among them, and die early. But that way, they’ll each inherit enough of me to survive.”
The duke still remembered that fragile smile vividly. That willow-like gentleness. The woman who looked at the fearsome Duke Orto—whom even the Emperor secretly feared—with eyes full of compassion, as if gazing at a child.
‘…Don’t you pity me, even a little?’
Perhaps that had been the first and last time in his life the Iron-Blooded Duke had ever spoken weakly.
He hadn’t stopped his only sister when she left the family in protest of its policies.
He hadn’t faltered when his father, injured in battle with monsters, finally died, nor when his mother collapsed from overwork managing the family’s affairs. He’d expected it; and they wouldn’t have wanted him to waver.
But even knowing everything, even choosing marriage and children with open eyes—there were moments when he thought he couldn’t bear it anymore. That he didn’t need children, or this damned empire, or the ducal house, or even that cursed barrier. That he could abandon it all, because as long as she was alive, he could face the end of the world itself.
“I love you.”
He had felt, in that moment, that he could not live without her.
