episode_0026

far away,

A splash of water rose at the starting point of the lake.

The sight of a person being sucked under the ice was chilling to the viewers.

“No way…”

Lucia was no exception. I didn’t even realize right away that Siron had not passed the succession ceremony. The results were so unbelievable.

I expected that about one out of three people would not pass the succession ceremony, but it was even more so because I did not even think that it would become a theory.

‘Why did you fail? ‘What is lacking in poetry?’

Lucia opened her eyes wide and looked at the lake. There was a hole in the lake I had just passed by that I had not seen before. This is the place where Siron was sucked into.

The ice, which did not leave a single scratch even when it was struck with all its might, mysteriously collapsed miserably when Siron stood on it. Even though I knew it was unusual ice, my heart sank.

‘If poetry doesn’t have qualifications, then who does?’

Lucia’s eyebrows furrowed. My fist clenches at the absurdity. A succession ceremony that only requires crossing over ice. Aside from yourself, didn’t Siriel also pass without any problems?

‘It’s a succession ceremony?’

If the purpose of the succession ceremony is to continue the legacy of founder Kylie, then Lucia, Kylie’s reincarnation, is the person most suitable for the purpose of the succession ceremony. There is no problem understanding up to that point.

Lucia turned her head and saw Siriel holding the hem of Hugo’s clothes tightly.

Siriel seems to be in the exact opposite position to Siron.

This girl looks so soft, as if she couldn’t even kill a bug. At first glance, you might mistake it for the daughter of an ink dealer.

What about poetry?

Siron Prien. Lucia’s half-brother. He holds a holy sword.

Therefore, the fact that Siriel, who is not the reincarnation of a hero and does not possess a holy sword, passed the test makes us question the criteria.

I didn’t really want Siriel to fall, but…

Was it a time when you were struggling like that?

“Failed.”

Hugo crossed his arms and clicked his tongue in disappointment.

His brows furrowed slightly, but Hugo didn’t particularly feel like blaming Siron. Even if it didn’t pass the succession ceremony, it’s not Siron’s fault.

‘I hope you don’t get too upset.’

It’s just a pity.

Hugo looked down at Lucia at his feet. A girl with red hair like her younger brother Glenn said that she had recently come to Dawn Castle and lived with Siron. Did Yuma tell you that he was Glenn’s bastard son?

His wife’s child, Siron, had black hair and eyes, but Lucia had red hair and golden eyes. Ironically, perhaps because she inherited her blood, Lucia’s appearance resembles that of Glenn when she was young.

‘He is a legitimate child worse than a scholar…’

Hugo groaned and stroked his beard. A deficit worse than that of a scholar. At first glance, he is more, not less, than Hugo, who was labeled as an older brother who is worse than his younger brother.

It was obvious that being the only one to be eliminated from the succession ceremony passed by his half-brother and cousin would cause great pain in Siron’s heart.

The face of Siron I saw yesterday comes to mind.

Siron smiled at Hugo, who was insulting his father in front of him, saying he understood, and showed a proud appearance that was unusual for his age.

‘A pitiful thing.’

At what point did it start? A weak feeling of sympathy settled in Hugo’s heart.

The feeling was by no means spontaneous.

5 years ago,

The funeral of Siron’s mother, Irina, was held.

The face of Siron I saw back then is still vivid.

A child who stood blankly looking at the workers shedding tears.

Six-year-old Siron was too young to understand the concept of death. Siron wandered around the castle, calling for his mother, who he didn’t know existed in this world and who couldn’t answer.

‘And yet Glenn… that guy named Abi didn’t even show his face at my wife’s funeral.’

Since they grew up without even being cared for by their father, let alone their mother, it is natural that they grow up early.

Grumbling.

As expected, Glenn was an asshole.

“… … father. What happens to Siron oppa now?”

“… … It’ll be okay.”

In response to Siriel’s question, Hugo frowned and exhaled.

“There were some who did not pass the last succession ceremony, but everyone was safe. The succession ceremony does not exist to kill children.”

“Then I’m glad.”

Siriel held Hugo’s clothesline and looked at Yuma across the lake. I quickly waited for her to rescue my cousin.

“But why are you staying still?”

Lucia, who had not taken her eyes off the lake, narrowed her eyes. Her gaze remained on the ice lake.

It was rude behavior, but now was not the time to be concerned about such trivial superficiality.

“Hasn’t quite some time passed now?”

“… … That’s right.”

“Yuma told me before crossing the lake. Don’t worry, I’ll use magic to rescue you. Are you using magic that takes some time to take out?”

“That’s probably not true. Even when I was holding the succession ceremony, there were some who fell into the lake. But every time, Yuma used his magic to save us. It didn’t even take a few seconds.”

“Then, why now.”

Lucia had an ominous feeling.

Didn’t Yuma himself say that he would use magic to rescue them? However, the one-horned demon seen in the distance was steadfast.

Like that for 10 seconds and 20 seconds…

As time passed, Yuma did not move. Just quietly close your eyes and put your hands together in front of you.

Lucia turned her head and looked at Hugo. I became anxious.

“Hugo. If things continue like this, Siron might die.”

Hugo stroked his chin and lowered his head.

“Yuma is a little strange today. Yuma is a demon, but… um… it’s never been like this before.”

“If you ask me anything, I will come in.”

Johan, who was watching the situation next to Hugo, spoke to Lucia.

“Surely, problems will not arise just because an outsider intervenes in the ritual, right?”

“You know very well.”

At what point did it start? The demon who was particularly friendly to Siron blocked their path.

“… … Encia.”

That action distorted Lucia’s eyes even more viciously.

“Are you planning to make Siron die?”

*

Can you open your eyes in cold, icy water?

I was worried about that until I fell in.

‘He really looks like a dog.’

Siron’s eyes widened even as he fell to the bottom of the lake. It’s not because I knew it in advance. It’s simply because of the heat.

‘It’s turning off without any warning.’

I definitely made up my mind from the moment I took my first step.

When will it fall? It should be done by now, right? At this point, it’s time to let go…

However, as I moved forward step by step, I gradually began to delude myself that I would pass safely like this.

If there had been any sign of the ice cracking, he would have been mentally prepared, but unfortunately, the lake betrayed Siron’s expectations in a spectacular way. I never would have thought that the next time I let go and walked, the floor would evaporate.

‘Anyway. It’s like a fucking game.’

Siron pondered his burning emotions, but at the same time tried to calm his excitement. I wanted to avoid the fact that the more excited I was, the faster my heart beat, which shortened the time I could last in the water.

Siron opened his clenched fists and moved forward.

Thanks to the ice water, it was easy to control my emotions. The training you’ve done so far shines through. Even when submerged in cold water, my entire body did not become stiff.

However, the under the ice was darker than expected.

A lake with no bottom visible due to lack of light appears to be very deep. It was like an abyss that you couldn’t get out of if you got sucked into it, which caused fear.

but.

It’s less scary than dying because you don’t pass the succession ceremony.

I hate even more the shame of not being able to pass by myself when even Siriel, who is neither reincarnated nor possessed, and who is two years younger than me, passed.

‘Fuck you.’

Siron swam like he was crawling under the ice.

Don’t waste your breath.

I didn’t move my arms needlessly and only waved my legs.

slowly

forward

crossing the current

moving forward

How long did he swim like that?

As the water depth became shallower, grains of sand began to become visible.

It’s arrival. Beyond the thick ice above is the target.

‘then.’

Siron stepped into the sand. The purpose is solely to transmit power. A clenched fist was thrust upward to break the solid ice.

thud-!

thud-! thud-!

The moment the heavy blow hit the ice, a series of waves rang out in the water. I feel like I’m going to pour out all the energy I saved while coming here.

thud-!

‘… … I thought it wasn’t just ice.’

Siron looked alternately at the unmoving ice and at the slightly bruised fist.

I haven’t felt much pain since being possessed. My fists were numb now. Blood began to seep from my fist.

‘It may have been up to you when you came in, but not when you left? ‘I think someone is doing this because they want to die trapped in ice.’

Is it because I made quite a fuss in the water?

It’s quite noisy outside.

I could vaguely hear people murmuring across the ice.

Luckily, no help was extended.

‘It’s a good thing I told you in advance.’

Siron laughed bitterly. If you come this far and get help from someone, it’s a shame. In that case, it is better to fail outright from the beginning and gain sympathy.

Siron touched his solar plexus.

It seems that all the wealth that came out after the relics were dismantled was digested. My stomach, which had been bloated and bloated, felt much more comfortable.

‘I was nervous about getting caught.’

Fortunately, the wealth that had begun to be digested was not detected by the detection ability. That means that he has already become one with Siron.

In this way, I became able to draw the holy sword from anywhere in my body. Nevertheless.

‘I wanted to try something like this once.’

The boy opened his mouth and pulled out the holy sword.