Chapter 202 : Chapter 202
Chapter 202 : Crow's Time (3)
In the end, Roxy fainted again.
This time, the shock seemed significant as she even foamed at the mouth.
Since it was late, there was no more strength to discuss further.
For now, we each scattered to the lodgings provided by the Lord of Pretoria.
And as soon as I entered the bedroom, I operated the Benkou Vision.
***
“It is an unexpected flow.”
Kuhn said as she wiped the orchid leaves with a cloth. She was in a polite kneeling position.
“A war between Springeus and Windermere. I cannot help but think it feels like intended chaos.”
I sat in a meditative posture and stared blankly at Kuhn.
Kuhn maintains her original form here at the Altar of the Abyss, and only appears in a body fused with Rosaria when summoned to reality by the Heavenly Demon.
‘This side is certainly more comfortable.’
…….
I quickly shook my head. I’m talking nonsense like I’ve lost my mind.
“What do you intend to do, Young Head?”
“I don’t know.”
“It would be best to always assume an enemy.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean you should assume that Deganelo or Zisair is behind everything. There is no harm in being cautious.”
A snort came out. I wondered what great thing she was going to say.
“It would be stupid not to think that way when Deganelo killed Masa and took her away.”
Still.
The hand that was carefully grooming the orchid leaves faltered.
In that split second, I saw Kuhn’s eyes widen slightly.
“……Ah. That is a scene I missed. As you know, I do not share every single moment with you, Young Head.”
What, quit joking.
You knew all along.
It was even mentioned when we discussed future plans.
She must have not heard it or forgotten it because she was too busy acting sophisticated in front of the Bolero.
Well, whatever.
Now is not the time to get hung up on words.
‘Deganelo incited the fight between Springeus and Windermere.’
Is he succeeding the great work of the Phantom Demon?
Is that why he was lurking around the place where the Book of Eternity is?
‘……No. They are separate.’
I felt it repeatedly, but the possibility of cooperation among the Eight Demons is slim.
Let’s not worry about that.
It was the Phantom Demon who corrupted the beliefs and spirit of the Kingdom’s knights, the intangible values.
But perhaps that is only a part of a larger conspiracy hatched by the Phantom Demon.
Because the Phantom Demon’s true goal would not have stopped at breaking the spirit of the Kingdom’s knights, but would have been to break the memory and will of all the people of the Kingdom, and further, the reason of the era itself.
‘The reason the Springeus family did not exist in my past life is simply because they lost in this war.’
Why Springeus?
—There was a time when Springeus symbolized the Sharon Faction and Windermere symbolized the Langster Faction.
The destruction of Springeus symbolizes the downfall of the Sharon Faction, and this soon becomes the full-scale catalyst for the swords of the Kingdom to be broken.
‘This is exactly Deganelo’s plan.’
Somehow, I felt like I knew Deganelo’s alias.
“……Sword Demon.”
I met Kuhn.
Before I knew it, she was holding a spray bottle in one hand.
“Yes?”
“The next opponent is the Sword Demon.”
“Ah.”
“…….”
“…….”
Kuhn blinked her eyes and then went back to fiddling with the orchid in her hand.
I stared at Kuhn without a word.
She was preoccupied with her own work, not caring at all about my gaze.
‘……I don’t think she was like this at first.’
To be precise, she seemed to have become a bit foolish somehow.
“Are you comfortable?”
“Yes?”
“Why are you even growing an orchid in this dark place where not a single ray of sunlight enters?”
“Sunlight is not necessary anyway. This orchid is merely a form where my wish has been implemented into reality.”
……Well, that’s true.
“And it is not dark. Look.”
Kuhn raised her hand as if supporting the air.
I looked around, following Kuhn’s gesture.
‘…….’
Golden stars were packed tightly across the pitch-black walls and ceiling.
There were far more of them than last time.
I don’t remember exactly when that last time was, but—
Regardless, the twinkling stars were like shimmering waves.
Surging golden waves were pushing away the darkness of the altar.
Adding to that, the flames of the brazier symbolizing achievement brightened the surroundings…….
Now it was to the point where I was confused whether the Altar of the Abyss was originally bright or dark.
‘Why did I only see it now.’
No, that’s wrong.
To be precise, why did I only realize it now.
This is my subconscious world.
Therefore, it is right that the landscape looks different depending on my mindset.
Like Kuhn’s orchid.
Ultimately, everything is something that bloomed from me.
“Do you remember the flame of the brazier that I lit?”
I looked at Kuhn and nodded. It was probably a black flame.
“It was an attempt to increase the sensitivity between me and you, Young Head. So that I can directly intervene in reality to help you. To put it simply, I have created a passage connecting this Altar of the Abyss and reality. Of course, I designed it to operate only when there is your permission, Young Head.”
“So it’s similar to the summoning principle of Rosaria and the Legion. Why are you making it sound so difficult.”
“It’s not.”
“What? You just now—”
“It is now possible to resonate with me even without the method of manifesting as Rosaria. If your stream of consciousness rises above a certain level, I can detect that current and respond. Although it is only brief for now, I will be able to give you advice immediately at necessary moments.”
Hmm, as long as she doesn't pop out whenever she feels like it, it's not bad.
“And.”
Kuhn spoke with a bit of strength.
Somehow, I felt confidence in her eyes.
“The sword that cuts through sorcery. It might be possible.”
***
The next day, we gathered again, skipping even breakfast.
“Can’t I sleep just a little more.”
Roxy had a face that wasn't fully awake. I thought that I would probably never understand that girl’s mental world until the end.
The Lord of Pretoria sat with his back to Roxy altogether, as if he intended to deal only with me and Bolero from the start. For now, Bolero and I were Roxy’s steward and escort.
“It has already been a week since this fight, called the War of the Roses, began.”
“War of the Roses?”
“Is it not obvious? It is because the red rose and the white rose symbolize the two families respectively.”
“Hrm, I do not understand. No matter how long-standing a knight family is, in the end it is just a quarrel between noble families, is there a need to grandiosely call it a war?”
My way of speaking was not suitable for hiding my identity.
So in a place like this, it was a long-standing implicit rule between us that Bolero would open his mouth as the representative.
The suspicious gazes of the Lord of Pretoria and myself were pinned onto Bolero at the same time.
As for Bolero himself, he was currently forgetting his status as a follower of the Windermere family.
It seemed he had lost his mind a little because of Krnock and Deli.
The Lord of Pretoria moved his lips noisily.
“Is it not because there is a sufficient reason for that?”
“A sufficient reason? What is that?”
“External forces have intervened in this fight.”
“Are you talking about the Imperial Capital Knight Order? As for them, originally—”
“No, it is mercenaries and other nobles.”
Both Bolero’s and my eyes widened at the same time.
“Pardon? What does that……?”
“In fact, did all sorts of grim rumors not circulate even before this war broke out. Well, it is a fact everyone knows that the relationship between the two families is bad, but this time it was a bit serious.”
The Lord of Pretoria glanced at Roxy while feigning a dry cough. After hesitating for a long time like that, he finally opened his mouth.
“Sigh, since it is a fight that has already broken out……. Do you not also vaguely know. Since Lady Roxy and Lady Masa were in such an exceptional relationship, all sorts of rumors are going around.”
Neither I nor Bolero bothered to look at Roxy.
In the eyes of the Lord of Pretoria, it might have looked like we were showing a slightly unpleasant sign.
“It, it’s not that, I, I mean, since the emotions of the two families had reached their peak due to such rumors anyway, this time when words came out that the Windermere family was determinedly recruiting other nobles, everyone thought there was a reason for them to do so.”
“…….”
“However, when rumors circulated that the Springeus family was hiring mercenaries to counter this, only then did everyone realize the atmosphere was unusual.”
“Ha, mercenaries. What kind of—”
“It’s not just mercenaries. There were even rumors that they had joined hands with no less than the Mercenary King.”
Bolero’s complexion darkened in an instant.
The Mercenary King is a name he had mentioned alongside Luke and Deiron when discussing the formidable candidates for the Kingdom's Finest Sword.
My gaze returned at the sound of a sigh from the front.
The Lord of Pretoria wiped his face. His mouth seemed to be going dry.
“With Lady Masa’s death as a justification, the Springeus family declared war, and it has been revealed that all those rumors were true.”
The Lord of Pretoria’s gaze turned toward Roxy. His pupils trembled.
His gaze met with Roxy’s, who was now wearing a serious expression.
“I’ll tell you in advance, Lady Roxy. I believe it wouldn't be true. But I must hear it directly from your mouth.”
“Are you asking if I killed Masa?”
Roxy said with an expressionless face.
At times like this, she was quick-witted.
When the Lord of Pretoria slowly pulled his chin in, Roxy gave a smirk.
“There’s no way that would be the case.”
“……I see.”
His voice was weak, as if he were answering reluctantly.
Well, there wouldn't be anything else he could do besides acknowledging what he heard.
“How was Lady Masa’s corpse said to be found?”
I couldn't help but ask.
“From what I heard, a follower of Sir Deganelo delivered the body directly to the Springeus mansion.”
“Sir Deganelo’s follower…….”
“That’s right. That she suffered such terrible things from the mercenaries hired by Lady Roxy—”
Thump!
Roxy slammed the table and stood up abruptly.
“I must go to Springeus! I’ll say it myself!”
“No! That is dangerous, Lady Roxy!”
“No! I have to go! Even for Masa’s sake!”
Troublesome. Still, it was worth praising that she didn't bring up the story of Deganelo in front of the Lord of Pretoria in the midst of this.
“Could you leave us for a moment.”
I said to the Lord of Pretoria. I even thought it was quite a rude request.
“A, alright.”
Despite the insulting words of a mere follower, the Lord of Pretoria stood up without a word of complaint.
There was no way a country lord could withstand the wrath of a young lady of the Windermere family.
I spoke after confirming that the presence of the Lord of Pretoria had moved away.
“I will go.”
Roxy shook her head left and right.
“No. Whether it’s the War of the Roses or whatever, this doesn't make sense from the start. To end the fight, there’s no other way but for me to go and speak to myself.”
“That won't do.”
“Why! You don’t think I’m in danger, do you? No matter what, as long as I come in the capacity of an envoy, they won't be able to harm me as they please. Unless they hold me hostage and demand a ransom.”
Isn’t that equally dangerous?
Anyway, it won’t do.
This is not a simple fight now.
Other nobles and mercenaries have stepped in.
It means it is impossible to know what will happen.
Above all, whether it's true or not, the young lady of the Windermere family, who is the cause of this fight, appears in person at the Springeus mansion?
‘It’s like walking into a viper’s den of one's own accord.’
Just as Roxy was about to raise her voice again, Bolero approached gently and tapped the back of her neck.
Roxy’s eyes went dull, and she collapsed just like that.
Bolero looked at me and asked.
“Will it be alright?”
I nodded calmly.
“Of course. I’ll bring Krnock and Deli, so don’t worry, and you keep a good hold of Roxy. She’s a girl who doesn't know where she might bounce off to.”
There is a high possibility that the members of the Springeus family did not recognize the transformed Deganelo, but rather his followers.
‘If I go to Springeus, I can find out the whereabouts of Deganelo.’
Whether it was right or not, anyway, I have secured the custody of Roxy, who became the spark of the war.
Now only one remains: Deganelo.
It was a matter that would end easily.