Chapter 287 : Vortex (2)
Chapter 287: Vortex (2)
“……Take him and leave the capital? Where to? And why in the world?”
At Berenistella’s question, the Saintess answered.
[Because if he continues to remain in the capital like this, he will die.]
She then added firmly, as if declaring a certainty.
[Not only that, he will suffer a fate far more dreadful than in the previous life.]
“……What.”
[In the laws of the empire, it is written that traitors are punished by displaying their severed heads.]
The Saintess said.
[His head will be hung upon a pole, and his body will be thrown onto a pile of firewood and burned. And the people around him will also suffer. And…… I will not say any more.]
“…….”
[If we are to avoid such a terrible future, the only choice is to take that child and leave the capital. Please believe my words and act upon them, Berenistella.]
Berenistella asked,
“……I understand that we must leave the capital. Then where should we go?”
[That depends on your choices.]
“So you mean…… no, never mind.”
Berenistella let out a hollow laugh.
“Only now do I finally understand the feelings of those who once clung to me, begging me to tell them.”
[……Sorry. This was the best I could do.]
“There is no need for an apology. I understand. Though I cannot compare to you, I too was once called a prophet.”
She nodded her head.
“I shall take your advice and warning with gratitude.”
[……Hearing gratitude from you really feels strange.]
The Saintess said.
[A few days ago you called me a fattened livestock and a whore of the Holy Sun Church.]
“……I do not recall that. Do not fabricate words that were never spoken.”
[You remember it and you’re still lying. And you really did say it…….]
As if genuinely wounded, the Saintess muttered in a gloomy voice.
I’m not fat…….
The murmuring voice drifted over, but Berenistella pretended not to hear it and remained silent.
[……Anyway, this is truly the end now. I have nothing more to say. And…… the time permitted to me is running out.]
“I see.”
Berenistella said,
“……Once again, I thank you.”
[Ahaha, thank you. Honestly, hearing gratitude from you feels nice.]
“And furthermore, I pray for the repose of the one speaking sincerely with me now. Also…….”
She nodded her head.
“When this matter ends, I will visit your grave and perform a sacrificial rite.”
[…….]
After a brief silence, the Saintess, Anastasia Mayblin, spoke.
[If possible, I hope you will comfort all of their souls.]
Her voice carried the weight of many suppressed emotions as she spoke again.
[Our lives, our journeys, the path we walked, and our sacrifices…… that none of it was meaningless. That in the end, we achieved what we set out to do.]
“I promise.”
[And if possible.]
She spoke in a hurried voice.
[If you could hold the rite for everyone except one person…… I would truly be grateful.]
“……I will consider that as well.”
[Thank you. Truly…… truly, thank you.]
The Saintess’s voice gradually began to fade.
It was proof that the time had come.
[Farewell, Berenistella. Though we were enemies in the present, you are a friend in the future, and the one who will bring the end to our journey—even if it was never your intention.]
[May fortune favor you. And also the choice you will make…….]
That was the end.
The Saintess’s voice vanished, and before long even the remnants of Talia that had remained within her disappeared like snow melting away.
“…….”
Berenistella turned her head and looked toward a certain place.
There, Arpentia was still crouched down with his body drawn in.
“…….”
Fragments of emotion left behind by Talia.
The Saintess’s message.
Strictly speaking, all of it was nothing more than a single drop of ink falling into a vast lake to Berenistella, who had lived for such a long time.
No matter how intense and desperate their emotions were, they could never overwhelm her heart.
Yet even if they were faint, what had mixed together had still mixed.
And in the end, it led Berenistella to speak words of consolation in her own way to Arpentia.
“Your companions all vanished while believing in you and wishing for your safety.”
“…….”
“To be honest, I do not know why you are so important…… but every enemy and friend whom I acknowledged also acknowledged you. Then you must certainly be someone worthy of that.”
Berenistella said,
“Do not let the final moments they left behind become meaningless.”
“…….”
“……I will be going now. Unfortunately, I no longer have any obligation left to worry about you.”
Yes. She had to go now.
To Lian.
To the other destiny born from her choice.
Before long, the incident was gradually beginning to settle.
“Whew…….”
Even though he was not the one responsible for the cleanup, Lian felt a headache coming on and let out a deep sigh without realizing it.
Too many things had happened in the blink of an eye.
‘It feels like someone wound the clockwork of today extremely fast.’
No—perhaps it would be more accurate to say it had been wound slowly.
Either way, this was the first time he had experienced such a dense day.
“…….”
So many things had happened.
A day filled with more events than he could count on his fingers.
“More importantly……”
What exactly had that strange sensation he felt earlier been?
A very faint feeling, as if something had been altered.
Lian was certain he had felt it, but it had occurred so suddenly and faintly that he could not grasp it clearly.
‘But something definitely happened.’
In fact, ever since he felt that strange sensation, the presence of students—something he had not sensed at all before—began to appear.
Not only that, but students, professors, and staff alike gradually began revealing themselves, as if emerging from wherever they had been hiding. It was enough to send chills down Lian’s spine.
‘……Let’s think of it positively.’
Thanks to that inexplicable sensation, the Academy had miraculously suffered almost no casualties.
As for the tragedy and victims that occurred out in the streets…… all he could say was that it was unfortunate.
“……I’m more worried about the aftermath now.”
“Yeah, seriously.”
At Lian’s mutter, Professor Windymay nodded vigorously in agreement.
“I wonder how many times we’ll be summoned, how many investigations we’ll have to undergo, and how many documents we’ll have to write……. Ugh, I’m seriously thinking of resigning and running away.”
“Ha ha ha…….”
Lian gave a small bitter smile.
In truth, the aftermath he was referring to concerned Cardinal Bruyant and the Agents he had killed.
‘I’ll definitely be put on trial.’
Regardless of the circumstances, the fact remained that he had personally slain one of the few Cardinals of the Holy Sun Church.
And he had also killed several Agents.
A trial would be unavoidable.
Despite that, Lian was not overly worried.
After all, this incident had been unprecedented, one that had struck not only the Academy but the entire capital.
And the one who could be named as the mastermind was none other than Cardinal Bruyant.
Furthermore, there was clear circumstantial evidence that the Agents he led had attempted to seize key facilities within the Academy and had launched attacks.
That was more than enough to receive leniency.
‘Besides, it’s a shame to use it, but…… I still have an Indulgence.’
In reality, it would not be an exaggeration to say that Lian would suffer almost no direct harm from this incident.
Yet the reason he still worried was because of his family.
“…….”
Even if it were self-defense, news that he had killed a Cardinal and become involved in a trial would do nothing good for them.
And of all things, the Countess—his stepmother—had happened to be visiting the capital.
She would certainly end up being questioned as well.
That was Lian’s greatest concern at the moment.
“Don’t worry.”
As if immediately noticing what Lian was thinking, Professor Windymay lightly tapped his shoulder.
“Yeriel and I will handle it somehow. You didn’t actually commit a crime, after all.”
“……Yes, thank you.”
“We’ll make sure no one dares to mess with you, your family, or your acquaintances.”
“Ha ha ha.”
At Windymay’s confident declaration, Lian burst into rare, hearty laughter.
Her words truly eased the tightness that had been in his chest.
‘……Right.’
He could not stop over something like this.
He still had something far more important left to do.
First, he had to meet Talia with Berenistella and finish hearing her story.
And then there was something even more important that he had to deal with properly.
The thing he had done.
That is……
‘What was it again?’
Right, he remembered.
Getting acquainted with the future heroes and escaping from Velita’s grasp……
“……Hm?”
Lian suddenly frowned.
The voice that had just brushed past his mind.
What was that?
Just as he began to question it—
“Shh.”
Suddenly, Professor Windymay placed a finger against her lips.
Then she lightly tapped Lian’s shoulder and chest before pressing a finger firmly against her lips again.
“……Invisibility magic and silence. Don’t make a sound and stay still.”
Despite Windymay’s sudden actions, Lian did not panic.
The question he had just been pondering had already faded beyond the edge of his consciousness.
Whether intentionally or not.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Soon afterward, with the heavy sound of metal, knights clad in golden armor appeared in large numbers.
They spotted Windymay and immediately approached, surrounding her as if forming a siege.
“……What is this?”
“My apologies, one of the Five Archmages—Windy May Maddown.”
At her question, an elderly-looking man among the knights stepped forward.
“We are currently moving under an urgent order. Please forgive our rudeness.”
“An urgent order? From whom?”
“Please understand that I cannot say due to regulations.”
The man continued, brushing aside her question.
“And because of our mission, we respectfully request your cooperation.”
“…….”
Windymay stared at him blankly.
Realizing his mistake, the man immediately knelt on one knee so that she would be looking down at him.
Even if they were members of the Imperial Knights, provoking unnecessary conflict with an Archmage would be foolish.
“You should at least explain what this is about if you expect cooperation—or refusal.”
“This is under an imperial decree……”
“The Magic Tower and the Imperial Household have a mutual non-aggression agreement. Are you saying the one who gave you orders is greater than the Great Emperor?”
“…….”
The knight let out a small sigh.
“……We are searching for a criminal.”
“A criminal?”
“Yes. The one suspected of being the mastermind behind this incident.”
“Are you talking about Cardinal Bruyant?”
Windymay shrugged.
“If it’s him, he’s probably lying somewhere as a corpse, so go look for him. I’m far too busy with things to deal with to spare the time.”
“It is not him.”
The knight said.
“It is not Cardinal Bruyant.”
“Then who is it?”
Windymay asked.
For some reason, Lian instinctively realized the name that was about to come out of the knight’s mouth.
“Lian Gwendil.”
The knight answered.
“We have received an imperial order to arrest him immediately.”