Chapter 195 : Family Reunion (2)
Family Reunion (2)
"Did you return from Woodrock safely, Estelle?"
"Yes, father."
"Good. You've had a lot of hardships."
The Emperor greeted the Princess with a bright expression at her safe return.
In the garden behind the Imperial Palace, Estelle was spending pleasant time with her father, the Emperor.
It couldn't help but be a precious time as a family, but in truth, they were taking time alone for a work report.
"Did you check Woodrock's condition?"
"Yes, it was far more serious than you anticipated, father."
Since the past, there had been reports from the Imperial Court's Magic Tower and various nobles in the Empire, detecting suspicious movements.
There had been reports suspecting that, as they collectively approached the 7th Legion, they were barely getting involved with the demon realm.
However, it was unthinkable for the nobles to set foot in the demon realm by their money alone.
Even those nobles who had become close with the 7th Legion near the demon realm were no different.
After all, no one wanted to get involved with the demon realm where common sense did not apply.
"It seems an event has occurred that far exceeded even my expectations."
It started with the nobles blinded by vengeance, even trying to borrow the power of the demon realm.
Of course, it was an impossible endeavor, but as the demonkin got involved, the nobles' plan actually progressed.
That led to the incident last time in the Seifert domain.
They even performed a crazy ritual, summoning monsters of the demon realm right in front of the Emperor.
But the real ringleaders were the demonkin, not the nobles; the nobles had just been brainwashed.
"Monsters from the demon realm came out too easily. And they were advanced-rank monsters, too."
It was only thanks to the special task force's subjugation that a catastrophe was averted.
"Even though they used whiffs, the monsters appeared far too easily."
"Yes. Things that should never have happened were already happening by then."
There was also the incident of soldier desertion from the 7th Legion.
It was hard to attribute all of this to coincidence.
"The cause must be..."
"It's the World Tree, isn't it?"
The death of the World Tree, which had sustained life on the continent.
Thanks to that, a positive event occurred where the Holy Nation had to bow under the Empire.
Of course, the World Tree wasn't completely dead.
"That girl Pram was acknowledged as the new World Tree, but..."
"She's hopelessly weaker compared to the previous World Tree."
Pram had become the walking World Tree, but her strength was a pale shadow of the former World Tree.
In fact, ever since Pram became the World Tree, the demon realm had stabilized even more than before.
"Is everything that's happened until now really because that enormous tree withered away?"
"The demon realm has grown stronger than before, and the monsters' range of activity is now able to infiltrate the Empire. But the problem doesn't end there."
The torture spell used by the 7th Legion.
It originally came from the World Tree, so its power is also influenced by the World Tree.
If the World Tree's power is weakened, it can be easily dispelled through someone else's intervention.
"In short, now that the demon realm has become active, there's a region I've found most suspicious."
"That's Woodrock, isn't it."
It was only a small city-state now, but in the past was a mighty kingdom rivaling the Empire and half the continent.
"Our Empire had acquired records of Woodrock long ago. According to those records, Woodrock used any means for victory during the war."
"I've read them as well. There are even records that they once joined hands with the East Continent to attack the Empire."
"If that's all, I'd have brushed them off as mere ambitious people... but they ended up meddling in something far more dangerous."
It wasn't just the East Continent they conspired with.
Out of pure desire to win, they even contacted a devil.
"After Woodrock made a deal with the devil, they gained some strange power, and..."
"At the same time, monsters across the continent became more ferocious, and that's when the first demon realm was formed."
At that time, the demon realm wasn't as large as it is now.
People considered it safe as long as they didn't enter, but it eventually expanded out of control.
"After learning of Woodrock's true nature, the then-Emperor of the Empire attempted something similar."
"He tried to make use of a devil to gain an advantage as well."
This was the content of the records left by Isaac, which had been kept in the secret room underground the Imperial Palace.
Even though Isaac opposed it, the insane deed was carried out by a previous Emperor, who was an ancestor of both Estelle and the current Emperor.
"Ha... It's ridiculous, even now that I think about it."
"Yes..."
"In the end, the present demon realm was created because of the two leaders who once fought the war. Our ancestors left us a mess they couldn't clean up."
"But what if..."
Then, Estelle shared what she found out after returning from Woodrock.
"What if the King of Woodrock from the past still exists today?"
"What do you mean?"
"Not that he's entirely alive. I mean, what if his soul is possessing his descendant's body?"
"Could you explain in detail?"
In truth, there was no need for great detail.
"When the King of Woodrock came out briefly on an inspection, I secretly looked at him with the Mind's Eye. I saw the soul of the old King residing inside him."
"Are you saying the current King is... the old King himself?"
"Yes. But he himself doesn't seem to be aware of it."
In other words, the King who helped plunge the continent into chaos centuries ago still existed in this era.
"On top of that, all the prisoners from the 7th Legion had gathered in Woodrock."
"It's certain that something is there."
"And... my older brother, Orbel—I was able to confirm him with my Mind's Eye as well."
"......"
At the mention of his abandoned son, the Emperor's expression hardened.
Luckily, Estelle did not meet him in person.
"So he fled there after disappearing from the 7th Legion."
"But Orbel, too, had another soul dwelling in him. A soul vile and rotten for hundreds of years."
"......"
Hearing that, the Emperor fell deep into thought.
"What will you do?"
"I want to meet him and investigate, but I must hold myself back. All we can do is trust and wait for the special task force."
"You want to meet him in person? That's quite a coincidence."
At that moment, a voice was heard from somewhere in the garden.
With the Imperial Palace's security everywhere, there was no way an outsider could've entered so easily.
Alerted, both the Emperor and Estelle grew wary.
"You...!"
At that instant, both of them were shocked at the intruder's face.
"How did you get in here..."
A former royal, who once shared the same blood as them, greeted them warmly.
"Hello?"
"Elder brother... No. Maybe the body is his, but you are not."
"You catch on quickly. As expected, that Mind's Eye is no ordinary thing."
"Who are you!"
As the Princess and the Emperor simultaneously questioned him, the intruder, wearing Orbel's face, smirked.
"Have you heard... of Isaac?"
"Isaac? Don't tell me—!"
One of the five Heroes who fought the Chaos Dragon alongside Mirianne and Frederick.
As the Emperor was about to show his surprise at that name—
"Don't lie! It's true your soul is centuries old... but it is not human."
"......"
At the Princess's outburst, his expression became serious.
"As expected, it's no use."
He sighed, realizing he could not deceive them further.
"You people call us this."
Ultimately, he revealed his true identity.
Great Devil.
Among them, the very first—Hartmon.
He radiated a sinister aura.
****
"I never thought... we'd meet like this again!"
Even with an arm cut off, the King of Woodrock was awestruck to reunite with his child.
Of course, it was not because he truly loved his child—he was merely pleased that she had used red Sword Ki.
"That swordsmanship just now, it was definitely the Blood Sword Technique. Am I right?"
"... Yes, that's right."
Rio felt an odd sense of discomfort at the King's suddenly delighted expression.
"Aren't you hurt?"
"Hurt? I have so much to say right now, this pain is nothing!"
Watching the scene, Kaid was left speechless.
So, that woman is actually the King of Woodrock's daughter?
The information was so sudden that it was hard not to feel something was off.
"What on earth is going on here?"
Kaid whispered to Louis, who seemed to share his confusion.
"How can the king suddenly insist that's his daughter? Not even novels pull this kind of stuff!"
"Is that so?"
Of course, arguing logic in a game world was pointless, but the fact that those two were parent and child was unquestionable.
"Are you really my father?"
"Of course! Didn't you just resonate with me now? Our family has inherited a special power for centuries—others can't do what we do."
That resonance just now was one such ability no one else could manage.
Louis was curious—just what had they done centuries ago to gain such a trait?
"I do still have one child I didn't abandon, but the guy's talent is mediocre. But you're different."
The King took Rio's hand again and spoke.
"You must return to our side. With that Blood Sword Technique of yours, it's time we... no, we as a whole, realize our centuries-old dream!"
"Why?"
"Why? The royal family of Woodrock is bound as one soul! Our hearts are as one! What I do, you cannot refuse."
The soul of the king from centuries ago still lingered in the current royal family.
So even without memories, it meant the king from centuries ago was reborn.
"Which is why you must use the Blood Sword Technique for us. Isn't it a light request for a father?"
"But I have something to ask."
"What is it?"
We're one, so what is there to question, right?
But then Rio asked something the King never expected.
"Why did you abandon me?"
"What?"
"I just don't think it's right to come asking for favors after abandoning me."
The King's face grew stern at those words.
Among the royal family, there was no place for such doubt.
Even the son he had not abandoned had never once questioned him about his actions.
"I asked. Give me an answer."
But what was with this child?
He was certain she was of his blood, but her actions seemed somewhere beyond his reach.
"Well, it was to make you strong."
"To make me strong?"
"A royal can't live a life of luxury without hardship. If you can't survive a harsh environment, you're not fit to inherit the Woodrock line. In fact, you grew strong, didn't you, and learned the Blood Sword Technique?"
It was true that she grew strong in a harsh environment.
One only had to recall life in the 7th Legion to understand immediately.
"So? That's your only reason?"
"Of course. Thanks to me, you came back so strong, shouldn't you be grateful instead of doubtful?"
"Pfft!"
Unable to help it, Louis burst out laughing.
Since Saber, he hadn't seen this type of character, and the sight was so funny he couldn't help but laugh.
"So you're saying abandoning me was a good thing?"
"Of course!"
As Rio feigned understanding, the King smiled.
Just as he thought the matter had been resolved, Rio suddenly pointed her blade at him.
"Then I'll do something good too!"
"What?"
"I'll abandon you, dad."
What is she talking about all of a sudden?
"W-why are you doing this!"
"Hmm? Isn't abandoning someone a good thing? No?"
"That is...!"
"Hmm?"
Seeing her looking so honestly clueless, the King was even more aghast.
He couldn't understand why someone connected to his own soul and blood felt so much doubt at his words.
"Oh! There's someone I wanted to introduce to you if I ever met you, dad."
At that, Rio grabbed Louis standing next to her.
"Let me introduce you. This is my husband."
The most shocked person at those words was Louis himself.
For a moment, wearing a stiff expression, Louis glanced at the frozen-faced King and sneered.
"Pleased to meet you, father-in-law."
After all, he was the one who raised such an excellent daughter.