Ch.24982. As Long as We Live, We Cannot Abandon Politics (2)

The King was precisely absent from the royal capital.

That must be why there was no particular ceremony required for me not meeting with him.

And only a handful of those residing in or passing through the royal palace were aware of his absence.

Still, there was an unspoken atmosphere that everyone seemed to understand or be aware of.

Unlike the Empire, where even half the palace staff commuted to work, there was ample opportunity for such information and rumors to spread beyond the palace walls… but Kariel himself probably didn’t need to worry about such things.

In any case, it wasn’t that they were nobles who could freely come and go from the palace.

It was simply that their employment system worked that way.

What was unique was that there were no slaves in the royal palace of Dabas.

Even if there were, they would be slaves in name only, essentially being exclusive employees.

In a sense, within Dabas, those with slave status were actually positioned above commoners.

Thus, when you think about it, since continental traditions and customs hadn’t deeply taken root in Dabas, their customs and formalities seemed quite distant from the rigid conventions and etiquette that other traditional royal families and self-proclaimed nobles insisted upon.

That’s not to say that the royal family and nobility weren’t respected—they certainly were.

This is also why the Wolf Prince could become the crown prince.

If bloodlines, lineage, and legitimacy were strictly enforced… he would still be treated as a dubious bastard.

And this issue applied equally to the Wolf Prince’s younger sister.

After all, she wasn’t even of noble blood, let alone royal.

The fact that she was accepted as a member of the royal family solely because of the Wolf Prince was exceptional in itself.

“So what is it? You can’t remove that helmet? Not even for me?”

“…That’s right.”

When I presented the excuse of a cursed armor, she initially seemed disbelieving.

But after explaining it several times, she reluctantly accepted it, as if she would at least pretend to believe me.

Her dark gray hair resembled a wolf’s mane.

With her eyes being bright yellow, she might truly look like a wolf.

Her fierce appearance and imposing presence were incomparable to other girls and women.

Perhaps the Wolf Prince’s description of her fiery temper was an accurate portrayal.

Her light red dress with white frills around the edges wasn’t particularly striking, but her overwhelming presence more than made up for it.

In terms of build, she was nearly twice as small compared to the fully armored Kariel.

While she did appear healthier than other girls her age, she didn’t have the physique of a female warrior.

“I wanted to see how your face has changed after not seeing you for over ten years.”

This girl, known as the Mud Flower or Marsh Flower of Dabas, was the Wolf Prince’s younger sister.

In a way, she wasn’t a princess, but her ambiguous status as the Wolf Prince’s sister put her in an awkward position.

“Still, I’ve made our brother into a proper person, including what you asked for. What do you think? Did I do well?”

“…Anyone listening would think you raised me all by yourself.”

“Am I wrong?”

She placed her hands on her hips and proudly thrust out her chest.

Displaying her bosom, which some might have found lacking in femininity, she was remarkably confident.

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

The Wolf Prince clicked his tongue and snorted.

“……”

Kariel simply observed the scene quietly.

Being guided to a temporary guest room inside the palace was fine, but…

“So when are we going to hold the ceremony? Or should we start with an engagement?”

“What engagement? You’re an adult now.”

“If the situation isn’t immediately favorable, we can at least formalize it that way. Don’t you know that? Are you stupid, brother?”

“No, if we’re going to do it, let’s just get married. Why have two big events like an engagement and then a wedding? It’s troublesome for everyone.”

“Do you think I’m doing this for the gifts? Your mind always goes in that direction.”

“……”

It was interesting to watch, but considering that the subject they were discussing was related to Kariel himself, it was somewhat unsettling.

After all, if a woman were to directly propose marriage to him…

“Before that, you must know that Kariel is supposed to be paired with the Imperial Princess? Even if she prefers polygamy, I don’t think she would allow Kariel that privilege.”

“I’m not so sure. From what I can see, she seems like the type who would allow it and more. Besides, I’m quite attractive, aren’t I?”

“Aren’t you embarrassed to be so forward?”

“If you can make up things that don’t exist, why can’t I speak the truth? In this world, those who can’t speak their minds are called fools, idiots, and simpletons. Like someone’s past self.”

“Do you always have to insult your brother in front of others to feel satisfied?”

“Then do better. If you do well, I’ll praise you, won’t I? Have I ever been stingy with that?”

The journey wasn’t boring, but…

After being shown to his guest room, Kariel found himself accompanying these two again to see Ases, and he felt somewhat awkward in this situation where the conversation never ceased.

Come to think of it, since Golden’s disappearance, he had habitually kept his mouth shut except when necessary.

Even when Golden was chattering away, he would only speak when needed.

He wondered what he should say, or if he even needed to speak at all.

Was it due to his dried-up emotions, or his paranoid temperament that pursued only necessity and rationality?

If he had to say, he was sparing with his words to avoid creating flaws.

He was bothered by what impact his words might have.

If he stayed quiet, if he didn’t speak, at least problems wouldn’t arise.

“You say something too. You used to wag your tongue like a snake and flap your mouth like a fish, so why have you suddenly become mute like a bear with honey?”

“……”

And.

Naturally knowing it would come to this, there was no reason to initiate conversation.

“How do you expect me to live if you’re discussing engagement and marriage with me?”

“That was our promise, wasn’t it? Or what? As Aseratt said, do you really not remember because it was from childhood, or are you pretending not to remember?”

“……”

This is truly troublesome.

Even knowing there’s no malice, it’s troublesome that this agreement somehow feels unrelated to me.

She must have been honing herself for this day, preserving herself to the end in the name of a promise.

Is it right for me to disappoint her here? Is it a just judgment? A proper action?

“Even if your position in the Empire hasn’t improved, even if you’ve become a worse person than when you were young… that’s for me to judge. I remember who you were then, but I don’t know who you are now. Just as you don’t know me. So I think that’s something we should experience together and then decide.”

“…And you’re willing to stake your most precious time and life on that? Istia. Do you think I’m worth that to you?”

“I told you. That’s something to experience and then judge. Do you want me to repeat myself, smart one?”

“……”

Want me to repeat myself?

This was also an expression that Golden often used.

If she thought I had forgotten or missed something she had explained, she would promptly…

“…Right. It might be good to explain at this opportunity.”

Eventually, they passed through the corridor, descended the stairs, and headed to an open space outside the palace.

It was a training ground of considerable size. A place that appeared to be for martial arts practice.

And there, a guest who had arrived earlier was swinging a sword.

Clank.

Until they approached to a certain extent, she didn’t stop swinging her sword.

It was just raising and lowering it.

Her movements were extremely slow and deliberate.

However, without a moment’s pause, wavering, stopping, or trembling.

At a constant speed, she was slowly bringing down the sword.

While the upward motion seemed unremarkable, the concentration when bringing it down was so intense it was reminiscent of facing an opponent in a life-or-death situation.

The powerful force transmitted was so strong that even observers involuntarily tensed up.

“I can’t believe such intensity can come from such a static movement. It surprises me every time.”

Istia rubbed her arms as if she had goosebumps, letting out a short “Woo!” groan.

“……”

After a few minutes and about two more sword strikes from Ases.

She sheathed her sword, wiped the sweat from her nape with her hand, and turned her head.

The impact caused her long blonde hair, tied back, to swing like a horse’s tail, hitting her opposite shoulder before settling.

“Who’s that? Someone you want to introduce to me?”

Ases tilted her distinctive green eyes indifferently, alternating her gaze between the Wolf Prince and Istia.

“Sister. Don’t you really recognize him?”

“Is, if you hadn’t given me a hint, I would have missed it too.”

“But that’s inevitable, isn’t it? Who would wear such a gloomy and ominous armor? It looks expensive and high-quality, but still…”

“That’s true. I was a bit uneasy when I saw it from a distance too.”

While the siblings exchanged looks of understanding.

Ases, who had slowly approached, tilted her head.

“So who is it? A devotee of Grandeus? A member of the Salvation Knight Order?”

“……”

I knew Ases would make such an association.

“You might not believe it, sister, but this person is Kariel.”

“…?”

Ases tilted her head to the other side with an expressionless face.

As if thinking, “Did I hear that wrong?”

“…He wasn’t this tall.”

“Must be the armor effect, right?”

Istia added wings to Ases’s opinion with a somewhat cheap expression.

“So. Is it really you?”

“…Ah.”

Kariel nodded his head with a soft sound.

Whoosh.

As a heavy breath echoed through the helmet, Ases gave him a strange look.

“Why are you dressed like that? Imitating Grandeus? Or did the Salvation Knight Order tell you to go around like that?”

“Sister. They say it’s a cursed armor that he can’t take off at will.”

“What did he do to deserve that?”

“Maybe he’ll explain that now?”

As Istia led the group toward a place to sit, saying they shouldn’t stand while talking, a few people who had been waiting somewhere quietly approached and set out small meals and drinks on the space where they would sit.

“It might be a bit early for us, but you brothers must not have had a chance to eat properly during your journey? Let’s have something together.”

Even when it doesn’t seem like it, she’s quite thorough.

Is this what you’d call being attentive?

“First, I’ll tell you only what I can summarize in conclusion.”

Kariel began.

“I fought alongside the elves against the invasion of the Demon King of that era, and in the process of defeating and suppressing them, I temporarily took this on. This armor is a seal that contains various Demon Kings.”

More precisely, it was a seal that contained the fate of the Demon Kings, but… saying that would be difficult to understand, so he explained it roughly that way.

“……”

“……”

“Kariel. You did something stupid again…”

As the siblings’ expressions darkened, Ases’s previously indifferent face once again filled with anger.

“It’s not meddling. Don’t mistake it for self-sacrifice or devotion.”

This was a promise, a deal.

In exchange for separating Lutesia from that fate, I received this.

And by obtaining this, I’ve come to understand something.

This armor, just by enduring it, is teaching me many things.

Just by withstanding and enduring it, I am becoming immensely stronger.

The fate of the Demon Kings, and the multiple thoughts entangled with it.

The series of actions of confronting them was strengthening the parts I couldn’t fill on my own.

Precisely, it was training.

…I might end up taking on the yoke of a Demon King if I let my guard down, but that’s fine.

Whether Golden anticipated even this future, to me now, this is a training tool, nothing more, nothing less.

From an armament perspective… personally, I couldn’t say it was particularly good, but obtaining Caligula was a positive development.

Grandeus’s beloved horse.

In that sense, Caligula should be considered the real gift.

“And this next part is probably the most important.”

Kariel spoke in a calm tone.

“My past self sacrificed the previous me to save the World Tree and the will contained within it. That’s why I’m not as naturally gifted and capable as before, why I was a foolish and dull human.”

“Huh? Brother? What does that mean? It’s not like some absurd mythological story.”

“I’ve recently regained some memories, but… there are still countless awkward points.”

This is also half a lie, but… I laid it out anyway.

“In other words, I have no awareness of having done the things my past self did. If my past self was a genius among geniuses, then I am now a dullard among dullards, a fool, a slow-witted person.”

“Hmm.”

“……”

“Kariel. Then all the more reason, having such power doesn’t make sense.”

“Grandeus, seeing me sacrifice everything, glimpsed the future from the distant past, and from then on marked me as his successor. That arrangement is what made me who I am today.”

And then, Kariel explained in detail about the sword he had received from his father through various means and Grandeus’s arrangements related to it.

“That sword… was the key to Elbat?”

Even in the Valley of the Lake Dragon, Kariel had never clearly explained about it.

He seemed to have been carrying it from some point.

But that sword… what?

“You gave it to Venus?”

“Without it, he would have become just a demon or monster. A sword equivalent to a holy sword was needed to suppress that, and at the time, that was the best option.”

Of course, it wouldn’t have mattered if he had stayed by Kariel’s side… but since both Kariel and Venus clearly knew that wouldn’t happen, Kariel chose the next best option.

Even without it, Kariel himself would be fine, but not him.

At that time, Venus had nothing else to replace it with.

Besides, the actual Elbat was already his as well.

So he also briefly told them about the episode he experienced in Phaesran.

Since it was essentially what happened after parting with Ases at the Lake Dragon’s lair, it might have been something she was curious about.

“I always knew that idiot would rush in recklessly and fall hard someday.”

Ases, perhaps because a familiar name came up, had a small glimmer in her eyes.

“And you’ll get it back someday?”

“When the time comes, he’ll come to return it himself.”

Because I’ve seen that future.

I didn’t know when I gave it to him, but now I can see it.

Although I intended to give it away, being human, I couldn’t help but feel some regret.

Naturally, if I had kept it, some situations might have been less difficult.

…While the initial fate was clearly that of a destructive great hero.

He twisted that by dedicating himself to the World Tree, and was revived and transformed into the destiny of a saint.

But in reality, by having all possibilities stolen by the World Tree, Kariel himself lost even the most fundamental affinity and adaptability for mana.

More precisely… it was a disaster that occurred because he had truly died for a while due to the spear attack of the dull-witted commander.

With all his talents completely ruined, he was even abandoned by mana.

Although he was granted some of the aptitudes and talents of elves through the blessing of the World Tree…

If he had wanted to properly awaken that, Kariel should have continued to stay in Ardisus instead of the Empire.

If he had… he could have honed those related skills more definitively.

In fact, despite not particularly training with or handling bows and throwing weapons, Kariel had handled most of them skillfully.

“…Right. So that bastard Rupert was seeing things correctly after all.”

Ases seemed to have understood something, but she still appeared dissatisfied.

However.

“Then what, Kariel? The one who promised me was a different Kariel, so the current you doesn’t know? Are you claiming it’s invalid because of that?”

Istia, fidgeting nervously beside him, barely held back her contorting face as she took a deep breath and asked.

“I have no choice. I have no right to choose.”

And.

Kariel expressed his opinion with what seemed like resignation or surrender.

“Because I can’t even tell how long I’ll live normally, or if I’ll even be alive.”

More precisely…

He wondered if there was any reason to stay alive that long.

If he achieved his purpose, and established all the things he needed to do.

He felt like he wouldn’t have any lingering attachments to anything anymore.

Life is suffering.

It’s also hell.

Even life in paradise would be suffering for me, and hell would be even more terrible.

…Because I’m trapped in a swamp of absurdity and irrationality.

The world is a blazing fire and bone-freezing ice crystals.

Having fully realized that the cursed abyss formed between them.

There would be no more salvation for me.

Knowledge was the curse.

Even if everything were washed away from me by the river of oblivion, that fact would not change.

Even death now could no longer be an escape or refuge.

Just becoming ignorant.

Just becoming helpless.

“……”

So I will enlighten those who need to be enlightened.

And then, I will tell them how to escape from there.

That is the only responsibility and mission that the current me can embrace.

May my frustration become someone’s hope.

That was the simple ideal I could hold.

And that was also the only way for a dull-witted me to save the foolish existence that is myself.