episode_0059

000

“What… is this.”

Cleon finished showering and returned to his room—.

No, originally it was Count Gortian’s bedroom.

There, Iona was pinned to the floor by Galatea, who had transformed into a human form,

lying face down.

Rubella, still half-asleep, yawned and sat on the bed,

her eyes half-open with an unfocused gaze, doing nothing.

“Hey, Galatea. Get up.”

Cleon, feeling sorry for Iona pinned underneath,

approached her and lifted Galatea, who was lying on top.

Galatea, with a slightly droopy expression unlike usual, said,

“M-My body is heavy.”

“Same as always.”

Galatea’s words were taken literally by Cleon, and the incarnation of the Demon Sword made a slightly sulky face and was laid down on the bed.

“It’s not that… I feel sluggish all over. Like there’s a hole in the vessel that holds magic power…”

“What…?”

Her voice was quiet, but the content was quite serious.

For Cleon, Galatea was his one and only partner.

That partner was a `Demon Sword` whose lifeblood was `magic power`.

If there was a problem with the magic power state of such a Demon Sword,

it meant there was a problem with her life as well.

“Hey, how long has it been like this?”

Cleon looked into Galatea’s face and said,

“…Since the day before yesterday, after contacting the Boundary Tree.”

“Why didn’t you say anything…”

Cleon furrowed his brow and touched Galatea’s forehead.

For ordinary humans, their body temperature usually rises when there is something wrong with their condition, but

Galatea was not human, but a body made of magic power.

Therefore, her body was still cold—

“…Huh?”

It was warm.

Not hot with fever, but

felt like a normal human body temperature.

Cleon’s eyes widened in surprise,

and he woke up Iona, who had been passed out under Galatea.

“Galatea’s condition is… strange?”

Iona tilted her head at Cleon’s words.

“Yeah… well, Iona is a mixed-blood of a Holy Sword and a human, so I thought she would know more about this kind of state than I do.”

Iona nodded at Cleon’s words and slowly examined Galatea’s body.

Then, as if tracing the flow of magic power, she slowly moved her hands from head to toe.

Then, her hand stopped above her abdomen.

“Here… it is. There’s a strange clump of magic power here.”

“Is it caused by contact with the Boundary Tree?”

At Cleon’s words, Iona made a troubled face and shook her head.

“I’m not sure… at least I’ve never experienced anything like this…”

“Let’s have Barisada look at it.”

Rubella, who had regained her senses sometime, staggered out of the room.

Cleon looked at Iona and said,

“But why were you pinned under Galatea?”

“W-Well… Galatea was lying against the wall in sword form, and she was making groaning noises. I was worried, so I went closer…”

“Suddenly she changed into human form, and as a result, you were crushed.”

At those words, Iona gave a wry smile, and Cleon sighed and shook his head.

Ugh… Galatea groaned unpleasantly.

Then, after a while.

Rubella entered the room, opening the door.

And a girl who looked exactly like Rubella, as if she had aged down by about 10 years.

Iona and Cleon’s eyes widened at the sight of the girl they had never seen before.

“I-I’m Barisada. Rubella has been taking care of me…!”

Black hair, black eyes.

And white skin.

Her limbs were short, but they were covered in black tights,

and her body was wearing a maid outfit that looked like a scaled-down version of the one Rubella originally wore.

Rubella seemed to have mixed feelings as she looked at Barisada’s appearance.

Almost nothing has been revealed about what form the incarnation of a Demon Sword takes.

However, most of them are said to be influenced by their psychological state…

Perhaps Rubella herself had some idea about Barisada’s appearance.

“Barisada. The one lying over there is a Demon Sword, the same kind as you.”

“Yeah, I know.”

At Rubella’s words, Barisada nodded and approached Galatea, who was lying on the bed.

Cleon and Iona made way and moved next to Rubella.

“Did her magic power become sufficient enough to enable the manifestation of a Demon Sword?”

“Yes… it’s thanks to you. In a way, she’s like a child between you and me.”

Rubella spoke expressionlessly.

Cleon frowned, flustered by that.

“Tch… What are you talking about.”

“What. She’s a body made half of your magic power… or rather, your semen.”

Rubella looked at Cleon, raising the corners of her mouth as if enjoying his reaction.

Conversely, Cleon closed his eyes to maintain a poker face, realizing that Rubella was teasing him.

In contrast—

“W-Wow… It’s a loli! Loli Rubella!”

Iona was overjoyed beside them.

Rubella could only look slightly embarrassed at Iona.

First a shotacon, and now a lolicon… Iona, there’s no saving you.

In the meantime, Barisada examined Galatea’s body here and there, but

she only tilted her head as if she didn’t quite understand.

“What is it… It’s like I can feel two souls in one body.”

“Two souls?”

At Barisada’s words, the three people also looked puzzled.

Barisada stepped away from Galatea and looked back at the three people.

Then, she carefully opened her mouth.

“It seems that the soul that Galatea is holding inside has been stimulated by something and has begun to activate.”

“A soul she’s holding inside…”

Cleon recalled the previous incident with a start.

The incident where he dissolved and absorbed the body of the woman from the Execution Department who was controlling Albein with magic power.

Could it be that he had absorbed her soul at that time?

If so, it was a big problem.

If such a human soul was absorbing magic power and gaining power inside Galatea…

That alone could be dangerous.

“Cleon? Perdia is here…?”

As if interrupting Cleon’s thoughts.

Cleon turned around at Kuon’s voice from outside the room.

After thinking for a moment, he opened the door.

There, Perdia was standing with Kuon, greeting her good morning.

“Good morning, Cleon-nim. I thought it would be a busy day today, so I wanted to see you before the council started…”

As she said that, she looked into the room.

Rubella, Iona, Barisada.

And even Galatea lying on the bed.

Her eyes widened at the sight of four women in Cleon’s room.

“Last night… Was it a 5P?”

“No… that’s wrong. It’s true that a total of four people did something…”

He corrected Perdia, who seemed to have misunderstood something, and brought her into the room.

“If you don’t mind, could you check Galatea’s condition?”

Perdia tilted her head at Cleon’s words.

“I’m sorry. I don’t have much knowledge about swords…”

“No, it’s okay. Just think of her as a normal human and take a look.”

Then Perdia nodded and approached Galatea, examining her body.

Then, after a while, as if something was bothering her.

She placed her hand on her abdomen and closed her eyes as if trying to read something.

Possible because she was well-versed in the human body, including the vital points of humans for efficient killing.

A scan of the entire body using magic power.

A faint light of magic gently swept across Galatea’s entire body.

After a while, Perdia let out a small sigh and smiled.

Then, she looked at Cleon and spoke.

“Congratulations, Cleon-nim.”

“…?”

Perdia blushed slightly, but conveyed to Cleon.

“She is pregnant.”

001

“She’s definitely pregnant.”

After hearing Perdia’s story, they took Galatea to Layla.

Layla examined Galatea through the Magic Eye and said.

Her hair was a little messy as if she had just woken up, but

her intellectual curiosity and magical skills were still there.

She was carefully examining Galatea’s belly.

Galatea herself just narrowed her eyes as if she didn’t quite understand.

“Me, a Demon Sword, pregnant…? No way.”

“Did you eat something wrong?”

Layla spoke with a somewhat dissatisfied tone.

However, at Layla’s words, Cleon could only think of that incident.

“…Is it the woman from the Execution Department after all?”

“”Huh?””

Layla and Galatea voiced at the same time at Cleon’s words.

However, Galatea closed her eyes as if thinking about something for a moment.

“Ah.”

And opened her mouth as if she had remembered.

“Could it be… Caliburn?”

At those words, Layla and Cleon’s eyes widened.

`Caliburn`

It was the golden Holy Sword that Albein wielded in the past.

It was a broken sword that was now sleeping in the Ruins of the Lake’s Trace.

“…Ah, come to think of it. Galatea ate that core, and I spewed blood from my whole body…”

“Such behind-the-scenes circumstances… But why now?”

At Layla’s question, Galatea closed her eyes for a moment.

“I think it reacted to the other-dimensional magic power of the Boundary Tree.”

Magic power that is a threat to the body creates a state of alert in the body, leading to a temporary increase in performance.

Cleon’s magic power, which activated Iona’s functions, was also such a catalyst.

For Galatea, the other-dimensional magic power of the Boundary Tree became such a catalyst.

As a result, it reacted with the core of Caliburn that Galatea had absorbed.

Also activating the dormant functions of Caliburn.

“W-Wait a minute. So, the thing growing inside Galatea is a Holy Sword?”

Layla’s words made Cleon’s expression complicated.

“Caliburn is Caliburn, but it will be a slightly different being from Albein’s time. It must have absorbed my and Cleon’s magic power as much as possible while it was inside my body.”

“…Then, is it a Demon Sword instead of a Holy Sword?”

At Cleon’s question, Galatea shook her head and answered.

“I won’t know that much until I give birth…”

“Give birth…!?”

It was Layla who reacted to that.

“W-Wait a minute! You’re thinking of giving birth!?”

Galatea tilted her head, watching Layla stand up from her seat and raise her voice.

“Of course. Isn’t it my and Cleon’s child?”

“Tch… Certainly. If so, then trying to give birth is a natural thought…!”

Layla spoke as if frustrated by Galatea’s answer, which was as if it were obvious.

No, is it natural?

Cleon swallowed those words that had risen to his throat and sighed.

“But it’s troublesome. Not being able to take the form of a sword.”

Galatea spoke with a frown.

Perhaps the reason she forcibly transformed into human form was because she could no longer ignore the existence of the core located in her belly.

In other words. Until Galatea gives birth to the Caliburn in her belly…

Cleon cannot use the Demon Sword.

Of course, it would be possible to borrow power from the women connected by the Sign of Domination…

But still, the story of not being able to fight together with the Demon Sword Galatea was a little lonely.

Layla narrowed her eyes as she looked at Cleon.

Then, she seemed to think hard about something—

“Wait a minute. Everyone get out of here because I have something to prepare. Gather Sasha and Kuon later and come to the reception room.”

“O-Okay.”

Cleon took Galatea and left her room, watching Layla suddenly get up and rummage through her bag.

002

That evening.

Sasha, Kuon, Layla, Cleon.

And Galatea and Iona were gathered in the reception room.

Perdia and Ruti were absent.

Both of them seemed to be busy with work in the city.

In particular, Sasha was trying to hide the pair of animal ears on her head and her wagging tail from Cleon.

She sat with her hands raised above her head, blushing.

“Where’s Rubella?”

“She left first. Now that the Marquis’s bondage is gone, she’s going to the royal capital to find other members of the Black Magic Clan.”

Iona answered Layla’s question.

Cleon and Iona had read the one letter of farewell she had left behind.

“She’s been tied to the Marquis family for years, so it’s right for her to act freely.”

Iona nodded at Cleon’s words.

“So? Layla. What’s the story?”

“Yeah. First of all, about the Memoria Cube.”

She took out the cube that Cleon had left behind and placed it on the table.

A light blue light was slowly emitting, but

“Sorry. I failed to decipher it.”

“… …”

A heavy atmosphere lingered in the reception room at those words.

Of course, the Memoria Cube was made with ancient technology.

They didn’t think it would be so easy to decipher it successfully.

“But there’s another way, right?”

Layla’s face had not given up yet.

So Cleon read her intentions and asked.

That was the correct answer.

Layla also nodded at Cleon’s words and continued the story.

“Yeah. If I had to say which side failed to decipher it, it would be `lack of equipment` that’s the reason…”

All of the analysis tools that Layla had were small portable items.

It seemed that their capabilities were lacking compared to complex structures or large facilities.

Perhaps even the items in the magic tool store in Elessia – the city – would be insufficient.

Therefore.

“Hey everyone. Why don’t we go to the Academy?”

Kuon and Sasha’s eyes widened at those words.

“There are several reasons.”

Layla said, beginning to spread her fingers.

“First. Deciphering the Memoria Cube. The facilities here or in the city are insufficient, but I can decipher it with my workshop at the Academy, and there are a lot of materials.”

“Second. Galatea’s condition. A Demon Sword’s pregnancy, it might be a similar situation to Iona’s mother. But the circumstances might be a little different, so that needs to be investigated as well.”

“Third. Sasha’s body. Animalistic features that appeared on the body due to the Sign. Human ears are still there, and if you look closely, the tail is made of magic power. …I don’t know what kind of influence the Sign will have in the future. If it can be dealt with, it would be better to have a place with a lot of magical materials.”

Everyone nodded at the story so far.

Certainly, they had to leave the mansion somehow.

Considering the purification operation that would soon cover this place, it was a reasonable decision.

“Fourth. It’s about Kuon.”

“…Me?”

Kuon’s eyes widened at Layla’s words.

“Ruti told me earlier. People from the Order who came from the royal capital are looking for Kuon. After the Albein incident, she’s been staying and hiding here. But she’s shown herself to the people of the city again with her recent activities.”

“… …”

A heavy atmosphere flowed once again.

The reason they were looking for Kuon was probably…

To use her abilities as a Saintess Candidate.

A Saintess basically has the power to find the Holy Sword, but

in order to overcome the trials for that, they often receive powerful divine magic power.

The Order could not leave such talent alone.

However-.

“The upper echelons of the Order are deeply connected to the Returners. It’s better not to trust them.”

Layla also nodded at Cleon’s words.

Sasha grabbed Kuon’s hand as Kuon’s face darkened at those words.

“So, you’re saying we should go to the Academy.”

“That’s right. The Academy is at odds with the Order. Of course, there are departments related to divine magic power and theology inside, but they are at least distant from the `Saint’s Protection Order`.”

To protect Kuon from the Order.

Cleon closed his eyes for a moment.

“Okay. Let’s do that.”

“Yeah. I think that would be better too.”

For the time being, there was a reason why the entire group had to head there.

When Cleon and Kuon accepted Layla’s opinion.

Sasha also nodded cautiously.

“What about Iona?”

Iona had received a will from Talcheck that she could leave the intelligence agency if she wanted to.

She also seemed to be struggling for a moment.

“I will return to the royal capital first. Even though my father has passed away, it would not be right to leave without saying anything.”

“…I see.”

So, a temporary farewell to her as well.

But Iona smiled and placed her hand on Cleon’s shoulder.

“It’s okay. I’ll definitely find you.”

Cleon quietly nodded at the voice as if soothing a child.

“But. We can’t just go to the Academy and do nothing, can we?”

Layla looked back at Sasha at her words and answered.

“That’s right. So, Sasha and Kuon will enter as Academy students, the same status as me.”

“S-Student!?”

Sasha raised her voice in embarrassment, and Kuon also made a troubled face.

“Don’t worry. It’s possible with the recommendation of the top student. The tuition fees can also be paid with the scholarships I’ve saved up.”

Layla looked back at Sasha and Kuon, laughing `hehe`.

What should I say, she seemed to be having fun.

“Wait, what about Cleon?”

Layla looked at Cleon at Galatea’s words.

“Ah~ Cleon. It would be more fitting for him to be a teacher rather than a student.”

Iona also made an expression that she strangely understood at those words.

“Indeed, Cleon doesn’t have a `student`… vibe.”

“…Do as you please.”

Cleon spoke as if he didn’t care, but then he opened his mouth again as if there was something that bothered him.

“But is it okay for you to go back to the Academy? Layla.”

Layla closed her mouth for a moment at those words.

She also knew the meaning of what Cleon was saying.

She had been in this city to recruit Albein as an assignment entrusted to her by the Academy—

No, to kidnap him.

But that mission had failed due to Cleon.

Even if the Academy did not give Layla any other punishment for failing her mission.

If she returned to the Academy, she would suffer some disadvantage.

“It’s okay. It’s for everyone. It’s okay if something happens to me.”

But Layla spoke with a firm determination.

“And. The Academy seems to be concerned about the Dragon Language magic I used that day. My teacher contacted me asking when I would be returning to the Academy.”

Although the telepathy had been cut off until the day before, Layla added.

“If so. That’s a relief.”

“Yeah.”

Layla smiled at Cleon’s relieved voice.

That day, everyone stayed in the reception room and talked until late.

The story so far.

And the story of the future.

A new life in a new place.

Could not but be an exciting thing for adventurers.

That was the same for Cleon as well.