Ch.303100. Why Does Someone Like You Exist Openly on This Land! (2)

# One Hour Ago

“Her contributions to the En Draig dynasty are beyond measure.”

Two silhouettes entered the forest.

The one explaining was none other than Asess.

Here she might be called Aseratt or Asheratt, but what difference did that make?

“Generally speaking, she was a partner to our ancestor, a companion to the third king, a traitor to the fifth, and an advisor and observer from the sixth onward…”

Her long golden hair was partially braided around her head like a second crown.

The flowing locks at the back tickled the red mantle she wore.

“Is there more to the story than that?”

“…More precisely, she’s a benevolent puppet master. At least for those who listen well.”

She also has a particular fixation on the Lutanian royal bloodline, the En Draig family.

“Basically, it’s her own bloodline. Half of our lineage, no matter how diluted, cannot deny her roots.”

“……”

“I’m not saying it’s bad. Just that… she’s rather obsessive.”

Currently, Asess—or Asheratt—is the only one left in the En Draig family.

The fact that they summoned her as an alternative after banishing and cursing her seemed explanation enough.

“If I had been even slightly incompetent, I would have had to spread my legs under some undeserving man due to her matchmaking.”

“……”

At this blatant remark, the black-haired man, Kariel, coughed briefly.

His dark hair, tied back with a string and reaching just below his shoulders, resembled a horse’s tail.

“From the beginning, it’s because I’m a woman with an unusual mindset that I don’t submit to her. Our bloodline inherently cannot defy her. It’s like a second nature that isn’t really nature.”

“…That sounds like a curse in its own right.”

“And, well, she’s quite beautiful. Most men lose their minds when they see her.”

But are you an exception?

“……”

Kariel showed no reaction.

The standards of beauty and attractiveness are… abundant.

Yet he had never experienced love at first sight or been captivated by beauty.

He had never been immersed in such things or felt possessiveness or desire for exclusivity.

Even her golden appearance, which was close to his ideal type, he simply accepted as it was.

…Or perhaps she was so terrible that he couldn’t possibly think of her in that way?

Kariel felt that, like Asess had implied about herself, he too was broken.

More precisely, to reach the realm he sought, he had shed all the trivial baggage and old skins.

What remained was just embers and the faint ashes of what had crumbled away.

The world’s restraining force, its coercive power, tries to deny his existence.

His existence is, in other words, a destroyer of balance and a harbinger of order’s collapse—an anomaly.

That is, the opposite of order, the antithesis—chaos.

That’s why he’s called a child of chaos, a descendant, an heir.

…Before sacrificing his memories for the World Tree, perhaps he had been perfectly normal in that regard.

From what he’d heard from others, it seemed back then he had even been desperate for female attention.

“Anyway, if she doesn’t approve, it becomes quite troublesome. Even if we suppress her by force, the legitimacy issue would be talked about for ages.”

“…Wasn’t it that there was no one else who could replace your bloodline except you?”

“Exactly my point. In the end, she just wants to control everything her way.”

This could hardly be called interference in internal affairs.

Rather, for those who worship and revere fairies… it would be an excuse to push Asess out.

“Plus, she has a record of not having her domain invaded even when the golden beast appeared, which makes her even more arrogant.”

“……”

If she could handle multiple dragons attacking her lake domain, and if that wasn’t just exaggeration or rumor…

“That’s certainly reason enough for arrogance.”

Kariel nodded.

“…She’s already detected our movements since we’re in her domain.”

“……”

“I’ll be counting on you. Is that okay?”

Kariel exhaled softly as he took in the seemingly endless forest path.

After walking for more than ten minutes…

Suddenly, the view opened up.

Unexpectedly, a vast green meadow filled their vision, and beyond it lay an enormous lake, rivaling the sea in its immense scale.

“……”

Based on maps and the size of the forest, a lake and domain of this magnitude shouldn’t exist.

This means…

-How dare you! By whose permission do you tread here with your dirty feet?

With a voice that resonated through space, the massive lake water shot upward, beginning to take form.

The lake water took shape and was colored… reborn as a living being.

More precisely, it was a formality, a display…

“Sigh.”

It’s not exactly deception.

Nor is it fraud.

From the beginning, forcing and demanding humanity from a fairy who isn’t human is the problem.

“Granny. I’m here.”

-……”

Despite clearly knowing who had arrived, she acted this way—was it because she valued formality and procedure?

That’s not it.

It’s not entirely wrong either, but…

As Asess had mentioned, the being that originated from the lake and took the form of a human woman had a remarkably impressive appearance.

Generally speaking, she would be adorned with adjectives like beautiful, pretty, and charming—her physical beauty was truly exceptional, but…

After all… it’s just a form.

-You, who look upon this beautiful figure yet brazenly refuse to bow or lower your head—who are you?

“……”

“Him? My husband?”

-…What? Who gave you permission to choose your own husband?! Who allowed this?!

“Who else? I did.”

Asess displayed her usual fresh smile, yet it felt dry and even cold, creating a truly absurd expression that thoroughly provoked the other’s displeasure.

-How impudent. Do you truly believe you’ve become the rightful ruler of Lutania just because you’ve won some battles?

“I don’t care.”

An unexpected response.

-What? What do you mean?

“I never intended to come here or fight for the crown in the first place.”

-What nonsense are you spouting? How can you say…

“I came because he told me to.”

Asess gestured toward Kariel.

“Otherwise, why would I come here? Sitting on the throne is such an uncomfortable affair. Once you climb up, all that’s left is to fall down. Why would a woman as great as me volunteer for such madness?”

-Asheratt En Draig!

“I came because he told me to. In return, I set a few conditions.”

-This is out of nowhere, but I’m curious. Very well. When you saw me before, you said nothing, yet now you reveal everything. Was this man your source of confidence?

“Of course. Do I look like someone who would indulge in emotions to make you understand or move you? That’s impossible.”

-Your attitude remains as impudent as ever. Hah!

The conversation between the fairy and Asess resembled a battle of nerves between a family elder and a strong-willed descendant.

…Not entirely wrong, perhaps.

“First condition: since becoming king and serving the people is hard labor with a wide-open path of suffering, I demanded compensation from him.”

-And what was this compensation?

“One month each year dedicated solely to me. Even saying this, I wouldn’t truly be selfish enough to demand he only care for me, right? But that’s how I framed the demand. He agreed.”

-If there’s a first, there must be a second. What’s the second condition?

“Having a child between us.”

-……”

Asess went straight to the point without any euphemism.

-And the third?

“Since you would interfere, I asked him to either persuade you or make you accept it somehow.”

-The fourth?

“There isn’t one. That’s it.”

-…Why? Wouldn’t it have been good to have him help you deal with those who oppose you?

“You know why. Don’t our islanders despise relying on outsiders?”

-Yet you try to pass on my existence? That’s inconsistent.

“You’re special. I’ll say ‘special’ instead of ‘peculiar’ since you might take that as an insult.”

-Impudent one.

Finally, after this exchange that was hardly a friendly chat, the fairy began to glare at Kariel.

-Listen, child of humans. I am the faith that descended upon this island when outsiders began calling it Lutania.

“……”

-My existence is the hope of all who live and breathe on this land.

“Except me, right?”

At those words, the fairy’s eyes immediately turned to Asess.

-…I don’t know who you are, but I do not wish to see the pure blood of the En Draig royal family tainted.

“So when a man plants his seed it’s pure blood, but when a woman receives it, it’s mixed blood and impure? What strange arithmetic.”

-Silence, Asheratt En Draig.

“All those who fell for such words are already dead and gone. You know it won’t work, so why persist?”

-You! Ugh! You are truly a vile and wretched woman.

“Thank you for the compliment?”

Asess grinned as if she’d been praised, though she knew it was an insult.

To the fairy, this must be beyond annoying—perhaps even hateful.

-Anyway, I cannot accept this. If outside blood mixes in, the pure blood will be diluted, and the special characteristics of the En Draig royal family will be dulled. Nothing is more tragic than incompetence and ignorance inheriting the crown and throne.

“……”

-Even within this small territory of Lutania, countless conflicts and disputes have continued endlessly. What ended them was the En Draig royal family. This child’s ancestors, their bloodline, and their loyal subjects! And me! We have a duty to protect this land and lead it properly.

“That’s what they call senility.”

-Asheratt En Draig! Can you not hold your tongue?!

“No, did I say something wrong?”

Her expression remained unchanged from beginning to end, but her tone and rhetoric were diverse.

-If you were a woman, it wouldn’t matter, but as a man, this is a taboo that cannot be allowed. Therefore, I will not recognize your union.

“It’s too late.”

-What?

“I could have come earlier, but why do you think I waited years to bring him here?”

Asess brazenly patted her lower abdomen as she spoke.

“It’s already far too late, isn’t it?”

-You, you, this! Insolent! Have you ever seen such an impudent person?!

“From the beginning, with only me left, all your child-rearing efforts have failed, haven’t they?”

-But with you here! Even with diluted blood, I could have used my power to continue your lineage! But what’s this?! What have you done?!

“Then do it now.”

-Didn’t I say?! Even diluted blood is necessary!

“Ah, so that’s why you made such a fuss about me joining with that family, making them look down on me? But guess what? I got so annoyed that I beheaded them all.”

-Wh-what?!

If her previous statements were insolent, this revelation seemed to shock the fairy greatly.

-S-somehow I wondered why they hadn’t come to offer tribute… So that was the reason… Ah!

“Surprising, isn’t it? If I hadn’t come to the island, they might have established a new royal family.”

-……”

“So what will you do now, Granny?”

-Rather.

“Hm? What did you say?”

-Rather, perhaps ending your bloodline with my own hands might be the solution.

“Granny, just a moment ago you were talking about your duty to protect Lutania. But now you’re going to dispose of me here? Do you want the entire island to be in turmoil again?”

-When Arseus’s bloodline disappears from this land, why should I care? They are his possessions and his servants, so I have a duty to protect them. Should I just watch as they are transferred to another bloodline?

“Why are you so narrow-minded? What’s so important about bloodlines?”

-Don’t pretend you don’t know! It is because of that bloodline that your ancestors can exist as guardians and protective deities of this land even after death!

Despite the fairy’s heated outburst, Asess’s expression remained unchanged.

-You! Your father! Your siblings! None are exceptions! Do you have any idea what it means for the fortress built on accumulated merits and achievements after death to disappear? You! You know nothing!

“Of course I don’t. No one ever taught me.”

-…It’s content that cannot be revealed to the living. Even beings like us who don’t live as you do barely know a fraction of it. How could I tell such things to an insolent woman like you?

“But you do tell those who wear the crown, right?”

-…What’s the point of telling you? The En Draig bloodline has already ended with your generation.

“Wait, I’m the one giving birth, so why are you so one-sidedly judging whether the bloodline ends or not?”

-…The difference between men and women is stark. Women are to be revered and men use that foundation to pacify the world. A farmer can choose the land, but the land has no choice. That is the natural order.

“…So being born male is automatically better?”

-It comes with greater responsibility. If you don’t fulfill your duties, you bear an even greater sin.

“Ah, enough! I don’t care about such things! Say something that makes sense!”

Suddenly.

The fairy looked at Kariel.

Her blue eyes, with their varied hues, examined his impassive face and gaze.

-You… are strange. Why? Why do you understand my words?

“What is that old woman saying?”

At Asess’s grumbling, Kariel softly sighed.

“You haven’t said anything wrong.”

“Kariel?”

-Hmm?

“But revealing the laws of space and the afterlife to the living in this material world is, in another sense, irresponsible. Do you, who know so well, really mean to do this?”

-Yes. That point is valid. But such words can only be spoken by someone who knows. You are… indeed peculiar.

You, living one.

-How do you know this, or rather… how can you be so certain and assured? What have you seen and heard?

“……”

Kariel quietly shook his head.

“I didn’t hear or see it… I know it. According to principles and natural order. According to providence.”

-What nonsense! Don’t speak such absurdities. Have you communed with the heavens?

“……”

“Kariel?”

Was that silence a denial or an affirmation?

-No. That’s impossible. Absolutely!

The fairy trembled with an inexplicable fear.

The calm lake water around her began to surge violently, rising and being drawn in.

-I have made my decision! The end of the En Draig clan is the destruction of Lutania! Rather than have my servants humiliated by outsiders! I would rather with my own hands!

Swoosh—

-……?

Suddenly.

When did this happen…?

“This is… No, no! How can this be?!”

The fairy was shocked.

Clenching her fists tightly, she immediately understood.

This was not a borrowed form.

This body was her actual self.

The fairy was instantly overwhelmed with confusion.

She looked around.

The unknown paradise had vanished.

The vast meadow and the enormous lake.

All had disappeared as if extinguished.

What remained was pitch-black darkness and emptiness.

And.

…Densely packed within that darkness, countless stars of various sizes, starlight, and massive star clusters that could hardly be called stars, appearing larger than the moon.

But.

More terrifying than anything else…

“You, you……”

The man of darkness.

Behind him, far in the distance, that thing.

A radiance that endlessly shattered the dark world.

Yet deeper and darker than anything else.

A massive black star surrounded by a vast ring of light.

…The fairy had never seen such a thing before.

Not even in her dreams.

“Stubbornness and arrogance.”

Suddenly, he spoke.

“Their magnitude, as you now see and feel with your own eyes, is this vast in depth and domain.”

“Explain so I can understand. So… this sight is the emptiness created by my sin? That can’t be! This! This isn’t right! Something’s wrong! I don’t know such an abyss! Such darkness! Such emptiness! I don’t know it!”

“……”

?!

With just a few blinks of the eye, she returned… to the realm of green meadows and the vast lake.

-……”

“Once sin crosses a certain line, you cannot be my opponent.”

Kariel spoke calmly.

“What’s going on? Why is the atmosphere suddenly like this?”

For Asess, who was excluded from that momentary experience, the suddenly reversed atmosphere elicited an ambiguous response.

-……”

Until now, she had been indifferent.

But even to Asess now, it was clear that Granny was extremely wary of him, of Kariel.

In this domain, she was certainly more powerful than any king.

Perhaps even more magnificent, powerful, and great than the emperor of the empire over there.

But.

Look at her now.

Isn’t she trembling finely, like an injured fawn?

Asess shuddered slightly at the sight.

It was as if, as if…

She had just faced a traitor who would assassinate a king.

The woman who had always been confident and relaxed had been severely watching her husband’s reactions since earlier, as if she had suffered some kind of defeat.