Ch.26086. They Have Never Trusted Me.

“Yes. The one whose head your father personally severed.”

At those words, both Nedes and Loroana were simultaneously gripped by extreme tension.

What did it mean to reveal this? Kariel surely must know.

“Hey, Kariel. Revealing that to us, of all people… you do understand what that means, right?”

“……”

“There are things that should be said and things that shouldn’t. What you just said… is something that shouldn’t be said.”

“I’m not saying I approve of all the evil deeds committed by the Demon Lord.”

Because of that, I was never able to have a proper, comfortable, uninhibited conversation with her.

She never particularly blamed me for it either.

We didn’t coexist.

We were in positions where we gave and took from each other one-sidedly.

“But it’s an undeniable fact that she led me to where I am now.”

And.

She rescued me from the trap designed by the will of the World Tree.

And for Lutesia’s sake, she deliberately eliminated the option of me sacrificing myself with her own will.

She wouldn’t consider that a sacrifice or devotion.

She would probably say something like:

…What a pathetic thing to do. It was so irritating to watch that I had to step in.

“……”

Even if she never told me directly.

The her that I remember would have glossed over it like that, or brushed it off, or grumbled something vague.

I could have asked her specifically.

What purpose she had lived for. What she had tried to live for.

What she had pursued.

What kind of life she had lived, how much she knew.

…Whether she could have made better choices with that knowledge.

At any rate, I could have asked about her past like a child would.

But that would have meant understanding and empathizing with her.

Whether villain or hero, everyone has their circumstances.

And when those circumstances are understood and empathized with, regardless of good or evil…

From that point on, they’re no longer someone else’s problem.

Even if you can’t forgive a stranger for murder,

Just as few people would condemn a family member the same way they would a stranger.

The absurd thing is that in such situations, whether you forgive or not… everything spirals into tragedy.

“Kariel.”

Nedes called his name with hardened eyes.

“You’re not saying that you… intend to stand against the Empire, including your father and mother… and us too, are you? This isn’t something that will end with just throwing a tantrum or being unreasonable. You’re smarter than anyone else, so you must know that, right?”

“And what if that is my will?”

“…Then I must stop you.”

A will like a raging storm hidden within that calm voice.

So vivid and clear that I could sense it was about to materialize at any moment.

She was indeed someone who could collapse the surroundings with will alone.

“I apologize for saying this, but assuming I’ve honed my strength with the premise of defeating my father… do you possess the power to stop me?”

“…But this is the sea.”

Though it’s an uninhabited island, the land isn’t that vast.

It would take only half an hour to walk from one end to the other.

Despite the moderately lush grass and seemingly abundant trees,

This is too small a territory to exist in the middle of the sea.

“On the sea… even that bastard Lueld has to yield to me.”

“I have no spatial constraints.”

Kariel calmly revealed the truth.

“The sea, the land, even the sky… all of them.”

“Words can say anything.”

Nedes sighed.

“But by uttering those words, you must have anticipated what attitude I would take and what actions I would pursue. Knowing that, you still came here. Did you think I would let you go peacefully if you declared war?”

“Of course not.”

I just wanted you to know.

Appearing suddenly to surprise you might be effective in its own way, but.

“I wanted you to be vigilant.”

“Vigilant? What kind of vigilance?”

“I’m too old to be throwing tantrums.”

The Demon Lord of Wisdom.

When I made a contract with her.

The precondition was clear.

That my father would confront me with all his might.

And that I would overcome it.

For that to happen, father would need to clearly feel the intent, the threat.

Also.

In the prophetic dream that the Empress once had, father only resolved to subjugate me after Elehermina’s arm was severed, the Emperor died, and the Empire was in peril.

Only after experiencing many such calamities did he finally make up his mind to hunt me down.

…What is the point of all this?

“Experience it yourself, and then go tell him personally.”

What I have become.

What I intend to do.

Why I…

Why…

…have ended up in this ridiculous state.

I hope they let their imagination run wild.

I eagerly await it.

I’m also curious about how they will react.

I could already predict it, and I could peek at that scene if I wanted to.

But I won’t look.

I won’t consider it.

I didn’t want to waste one of the few pleasures left in my life in such a futile way.

“What will you do?”

“……”

Nedes turned her head to look at Loroana.

“I’m out. I don’t want to struggle with something so obvious.”

“Is that all?”

Loroana said, continuously backing away.

“It would be difficult even if Gazef joined us.”

“…My goodness.”

“What about mobilizing our kin as planned?”

“He’s probably anticipating that too.”

So it would be better for her to handle it alone.

In other words, it’s not like they’re going to fight to the death right now.

…At least not immediately.

After all.

“…I understand your resentment, but I don’t understand why your sword is pointed at the Empire, at your father. Is there something I don’t know?”

“……”

Nedes, with gloved hands, held a short spear and a strangely structured small stick in each hand.

“You two weren’t wrong.”

Yes.

By worldly standards, by the world’s criteria, the two of them weren’t wrong.

They might have had some flaws, but those were naturally overshadowed by their achievements and usual conduct and actions.

“But as parents, they went astray.”

No one can be good parents from the start.

It would have been their first time being parents too.

Even my father, having lost both his parents at a young age, might have yearned for parental love and attention, but probably didn’t know how to provide it.

My mother would have been the same in that regard.

In fact, she probably had it worse than my father.

Suddenly, I imagine:

If the two of them, in a secluded place, regardless of being a hero or a saint, had set aside all duties and responsibilities.

If they had only, only looked after each other.

If they had lived simply, modestly, just caring for their family.

If that had been the case.

Perhaps I too…

“……”

But they couldn’t do that.

The weight they carried was too excessive to be satisfied with just saving the continent.

They had to normalize the world in some way, to lead it correctly.

Guilt and remorse, regret and wounds must have driven them in that direction.

And.

That must have become another obsession.

Moreover, I was clearly… born that way.

When it’s natural for parents to expect their children to live better lives than themselves.

…They lacked the know-how.

They lacked the ability.

They lacked the sincerity.

And…

They lacked trust, faith.

They never trusted me when it mattered.

That’s the decisive reason why I crumbled.

This wound will never be washed away or healed until the moment I die.

They didn’t do wrong, but they wronged me.

For that reason alone, I became unable to forgive them.

But the world has determined that even resenting them is a sin.

Because they are on the side of the world, and the world is on their side.

What about me?

…This is a strange structure.

Why did it turn out like this?

Why is no one on my side…

…

“Just know that.”

I form a jet-black sword.

“The conversation ends here.”

====

In close combat, Nedes employs two methods of fighting.

First is her destructive ability using spatial compression magic that utilizes the space itself.

Because of this, if you enter close combat with half-hearted resolve, everyone will be shredded, regardless of numbers.

Nothing is exempt from this, be it iron, steel, or solid rock.

But the range is extremely limited.

So one might think that keeping a distance would be sufficient, but…

…That’s when her second specialty activates.

Throwing.

With just a metal short spear thrown by hand, she can launch destructive throwing attacks capable of penetrating solid castle walls.

But even this, by her standards, is still considered close combat.

When it transitions to long-range, she starts using a peculiar tool.

A throwing technique where she attaches the short spear to a wooden stick and uses it to throw.

…In ancient times, it was called a spear-thrower, an auxiliary tool designed to throw farther than by hand.

I know about this because she became famous for primarily using it.

She’s also famous for using a long string to handle stone projectiles like siege weapons.

As in the past, even now in naval battles, she throws stones, metal pieces, and various enchanted projectiles over extreme distances, making naval warfare one-sided.

It’s because of her that the Empire’s naval defense has stabilized, and pirates in the area have been virtually annihilated.

After the news spread of how pirates, thinking they could approach if they risked death, sent dozens of ships only to have even the one that barely reached the warship sink right before their eyes, it became widely accepted that apart from pirates, only Lutania’s underwater monsters, the Demon King, and a few deep-sea monsters could stand against her at sea.

“Ugh?!”

In that sense.

My compatibility with her could be considered the worst possible.

I handle abilities, powers that are superior to all spatial magic.

So if she wants to face me, close combat is absolutely impossible.

But even at long range, she loses her advantage.

…The situation can only be one-sided.

Moreover, I’ve also acquired the ability to cut distant targets just by swinging my sword.

…Unlike before, I can now use it freely.

“Beyond… expectations.”

Moreover, even if we engage in swordplay or hand-to-hand combat at close range.

Even without armor, I would have the advantage, and now I’m clad in armor.

And not just any armor.

Even when all her abilities were neutralized, she tried to restrain me or knock me down with her uniquely trained physique.

But that’s actually my specialty now, if anything.

Thud!

“Kuhak!”

Nedes, thrown to the ground with her shoulder and back.

She reflexively rolled to create distance, then somehow picked up a stone, attached it to a leather strap,

and after rotating the sling several times to use centrifugal force, she threw the stone at me.

It’s not just a simple stone.

She probably made complex preparations for hardness change, weight increase, and additional damage from explosion after destruction.

And all this in the brief moment she was rolling on the ground.

“……”

It would be a strike that could penetrate my head if I recognized it at the moment of impact.

But I had been preparing for it even before it occurred.

Recently, I’ve become able to glimpse a bit of the future even in battle.

It creates a disconnect with reality, but compared to being tormented by the thoughts of Demon Lords, this is just a matter of concentration.

So I avoid it effortlessly.

And then I neutralize the stone that comes for the back of my head by sweeping it with my jet-black sword.

More precisely, I absorbed it into another space.

I’ve become capable of handling not just mana but also material things to a certain extent in terms of volume, properties, and nature.

This too is not something I could easily attempt, as mishandling it could cause the entire spatial domain to be swept away or collapse.

…If I were to deliberately harbor malice and decide to self-destruct, I could reduce the world itself to nothingness.

How ironic.

The fundamental power that Delica and Lutesia desired is now in my grasp.

“…Let’s stop.”

Finally, Nedes declared what amounted to surrender.

“The fight itself cannot be established.”

“Not alone, I suppose.”

“Yes. Not alone.”

For a long time, she had lived like another king.

But she never lived her life carelessly or dissolutely.

…Well, occasionally relieving stress or venting accumulated irritation is unavoidable, they say.

“So, are you really going to come?”

“Yes. I will go there.”

To the heart of the Empire.

“The timing is also appropriate, isn’t it? All nine of you gather at this time, don’t you?”

“…Kariel.”

Nedes momentarily felt dizzy at the situation that exceeded her expectations.

“You must have heard of the Wild Hunt.”

“…The Hunt of Madness?”

Loroana, who had joined at some point, frowned with her yellow eyes.

A name mentioned in myths, and a myth itself, encompassing tales, fairy tales, anecdotes.

In some places it’s fairies, in others evil spirits, in others demons, in others dead heroes or spirits.

And in yet others, all kinds of beasts.

In the northern part of the continent, the content changes again to refer to times when monsters run rampant.

And in much more ancient times, it was said that the god of hunting, the god of war, the god of death personally led hunting parties, subjugation teams, groups, and swept through the area under the pretext of hunting…

Whatever the content, it symbolizes only ominousness.

“That, the joke seems to be going too far… Kariel. You’re not seriously saying that, are you?”

Nedes, with a forced smile, tried once more to ask for reconsideration in different terms.

But.

“……”

Kariel did not respond.

“Loroana.”

Then, as if that subject was over, he directly addressed Loroana.

“There’s something you need to do for me.”

“…Why me of all people?”

“Let’s call it a debt for neutralizing the Demon Lord in Ardisus and stopping their commanders.”

Kariel didn’t try to hide it.

“You can reveal what I’m asking to others or keep it to yourself, it doesn’t matter. I want you to find an item for me from the imperial treasure vault.”

“Wait! Kariel! Given our relationship… your position… it’s not appropriate to ask for such a thing…”

“I understand.”

“Loroana!”

“So after this, there will be no debt or repayment between us, right?”

“Yes.”

As if satisfied with that, Kariel answered in a heavy tone.

“That’s enough.”

====

Afterwards.

Kariel truly disappeared into the darkness as if unbound by space.

Nedes, who had been dazedly following him with her eyes, finally had to ask.

“…Why is Kariel making such an odd request? And specifically to you?”

Seeing him, it seems like he could go look for it himself.

To Nedes’s question, Loroana flicked her tongue and quietly answered.

“I think he’s saying he wants to take it legitimately, not steal it.”

“Steal? But between us, what’s with stealing…”

“What do you think that thing Kariel needs is, and whose possession is it?”

Loroana found it difficult to explain.

Kariel had conveyed the location of the object through thought rather than words.

It had to be that way because it was an extremely ambiguous object to describe.

“Whose possession, perhaps?”

“If that ‘perhaps’ is predicting the Demon Lord’s, then you’re right.”

The Demon Lord of Wisdom.

Or also known as the Golden Demon Lord…

The continent deliberately defined this name and alias to despise and demean:

The Golden Beast.

However, unlike other high-ranking demons, the Golden Beast was also famous for not possessing a separate demon artifact, or in their terms, a demon weapon, that symbolized itself.

Naturally, those that were mainly used as primary weapons or armaments were scattered throughout the continent and treated as spoils of war.

But the Golden Beast left behind neither corpse nor even skin when it died.

“……”

It might be a misconception, or something entirely different, but

Loroana’s intuition faintly whispered that it had belonged to the Golden Beast.

“So, what are you going to do?”

“……”

The means were left to Loroana.

Whether to secure it quietly like a thief, or to reveal everything and secure it publicly.

And whether to try to conceal or hide it.

All of that was also part of her options.

“What did Kariel say earlier?”

To Loroana’s sudden question, Nedes asked back as if wondering about her intention.

“Kariel? He said a lot. What do you want to hear from me?”

“……”

Loroana had heard it.

And it was perhaps the question that she, who could not blend with the world, had been asking and contemplating all her life.

“Didn’t he say something like: They have never trusted me.”

What does that mean?

“In your faith, doesn’t blind and arbitrary faith, trust, not count as true trust?”

“I’m not an Irenis believer, so let’s skip that. So… you’re saying this is about whether we’re trustworthy, not in words but in actions? Is that how you felt?”

“……”

For a woman who lives without much thought, she’s always sharp.

Being a high-level magician, she’s far from ignorant, but anyone can become stupid if their eyes and ears are covered or rusted.

Strangely, their comrades, despite the passage of time, have not rusted or faded.

How many arrogant intelligent beings have collapsed so miserably?

Loroana had encountered this point too many times, knowingly or unknowingly.

“What’s certain is… there’s something we don’t know. And it’s our role to find out what it is.”

Having concluded that, Loroana flicked her tongue as if sighing.

“This trip to the islands doesn’t seem very pleasant.”

To Nedes’s complaint, Loroana showed no particular reaction.

On the small island with no people, even the sparse vegetation tasted of salt.

“Ah, right. I forgot something important.”

On the way back to the ship, Nedes suddenly hit her forehead with her hand as if she had just remembered.

Loroana, who exhaled through her nose instead of sighing, forced herself to ask.

“What is it?”

“El! El! Kariel said he would raise the fallen El, so what does that mean?”