Ch.337111. Why Do We Have a Dad…(3)

“I heard that my mother inherited the crown because of my father.”

The only surviving member of the Endraig bloodline.

If the Empire had the Golden Blood, the Lineage of Radiance,

Then Lutania had them.

A noble bloodline with an ancient history blessed by dragon’s blood and fairy’s consecration.

The sole, sacred, and singular legitimate guardians of Lutania.

An ancient covenant.

A duty formed by promises.

“The reason being: to care for and benefit all people.”

In that sense, the current Queen of Lutania is close to what ancient philosophers and mages have touted as the ideal ruler, a Philosopher King.

Though she herself seems to take that as an insult.

“So she was particularly… harsh on my brother and me.”

Depending on how you act, the thousand-year kingdom might not even last a hundred years before collapsing and falling into ruin.

“She told me that how I raise my children in the future would be my business, but we, as her children, had to become the heirs she wanted without exception. That’s how she always was.”

“…Hmm.”

It’s a heavy conversation.

Eileen, who had never particularly concerned herself with such matters, unconsciously scratched her brow as the atmosphere grew heavier.

“That deranged woman would be the same whether she indulged in luxury or pursued extreme asceticism.”

Venus added with a cynical snort, as if she knew the Queen of Lutania well.

“But if you’re a prince, shouldn’t your speech and etiquette be ingrained? Shouldn’t you give off a mature, adult vibe?”

Eileen suddenly broke the tension with a curious question.

“Well…”

Iriel gave a bitter smile.

“Rather than learning such things, I was busy managing stables and focusing on farm work.”

“Even though you’re a prince?”

“Precisely because I was a prince, they said I needed to do those things.”

“They establish predetermined positions by creating disparities in education and discrimination based on birth.”

Venus added that explanation.

“What does that mean?”

Eileen tilted her head.

After thinking for a moment…

“Ah, I get it now. So that’s what it was.”

Perhaps it was somewhat similar to Eileen and Kael’s situation.

The difference being that those two had found their own paths without anyone forcing them.

But in Iriel’s case, that wasn’t what happened.

Though he was a prince, the knowledge, skills, and virtues necessary for a clear successor and ruler were taught to his brother.

In Iriel’s case, they made him learn what common people would do, making him know his place? Something like that?

“…Yes, that’s right.”

When Eileen asked if her understanding was correct, Iriel nodded slightly in affirmation.

“Aren’t you resentful?”

“……”

Iriel showed a bitter smile.

His true feelings were impossible to discern.

Was he resigned? Had he given up even hoping long ago?

Or did he harbor some other dark intentions?

Eileen couldn’t glimpse his inner thoughts at all.

The person himself seemed… lacking in distinctive features.

Yes.

Like the blowing wind, he had no form.

Or perhaps so common to the eye that one eventually gives up trying to distinguish whether it’s there or not.

…Like a mountain.

Or like the sea.

Though he was a tree swaying and shaking in strong winds,

In the end, he was merely a small part of the sea, a fragment of the mountains…

“Girl. Do you still think the same?”

“About what?”

“That your younger brother will find you.”

“Probably when I reach the island?”

“What if he can’t find you? Or if there are special circumstances preventing it?”

“I guess we’ll find out as time goes by.”

…She’s so unprepared.

Should I call it carelessness, or lack of awareness?

“Your drifting to the island was close to a miracle. I still don’t understand how you can have zero concern for your brother in this situation.”

Even Venus, who was known for being quite insensitive, couldn’t understand Eileen’s nonchalant attitude.

“They say it’s as meaningless as a human worrying about a dragon.”

“You speak as if you’ve seen a dragon.”

“My senior… I mean, my uncle was a dragon. Oh, not the winged kind.”

“……?”

“……??”

Even Venus, whose expression rarely changed, blinked at this.

Was she talking nonsense? Or sleep-talking?

Of course, Venus had seen dragons a few times.

But that wasn’t a reason not to be surprised.

“I heard that dragons also live far away in the East, and there they form countries or hold noble titles like in our continent—”

As Eileen calmly rattled off such things, the two couldn’t help but grow more suspicious about her origins.

Language-wise, she seemed to speak the Imperial tongue, yet she was also familiar with Lutanian dialects.

Moreover, whatever life she had led had made her approach to life unusually proactive and carefree.

…And all those skills she had picked up from who knows where.

While lacking in common sense, she possessed remarkable insight.

“……”

But Venus didn’t bother to pry further.

She wasn’t interested enough in others to devote attention to such matters.

Therefore, Iriel seemed to know more about Eileen’s circumstances.

But even he knew very little about her.

All he knew was that she wasn’t specifically from any country, but had lived in the mountains with uncles, aunts, and mothers(?).

He had just now learned that one of those uncles was a dragon, which only made things more confusing.

“……”

Nevertheless, the fact that Iriel and Eileen got along well wasn’t due to any romantic relationship.

More precisely, it was because neither had a father.

Regrettably, that was the biggest point of connection between them.

And Eileen had come all the way to Lutania to find another sibling who was presumably born to that father in another region.

…Perhaps her circumstances were equally complicated.

Yet she lived so vibrantly and brightly.

If there was a reason why the gloomy Iriel had brightened somewhat, it was probably because of this.

It was also why their unintended island life had flowed so smoothly.

He had picked up a sword for the first time in his life and had his talent recognized just a few years ago.

But reality’s walls were high, and no matter how much Iriel struggled, he was still just a boy with some strength compared to his brother and other aspiring knights and warriors.

‘Even so.’

He didn’t want to sit helplessly.

That was why he had followed Venus to this island.

He had clearly grown.

…Though he felt woefully inadequate since his point of comparison was Eileen.

And this misconception was vividly revealed during their self-directed training on the ship.

“……”

As soon as a scuffle broke out with some sailors, Iriel effortlessly neutralized the seafarers—men who were two heads taller than him with forearms thicker than his thighs—with surprising ease.

“That’s quite nasty when you’re on the receiving end.”

Eileen, sitting on one side of the deck, said matter-of-factly to the bewildered Iriel.

“……”

This technique that uses an opponent’s strength against them, and when mastered more deeply, eventually reaches a level where even an opponent’s mana and magical power can be turned against them.

“……”

Though not highly renowned, the Devil Eater of the Salvation Knight Order was known in certain circles.

It was because of these rumors that Venus, and Iriel who followed him, had come.

But that such skill would develop in himself in just a few months…

And Venus corrected this misunderstanding that wasn’t really a misunderstanding.

“You may not realize it, but what you’ve been through isn’t an ordinary process.”

Most people can’t even handle half of that training and either flee or give up.

“…Is that so?”

Farm work was harder, and taking care of horses in stables, tending to sheep, training hunting dogs… compared to those, this wasn’t much?

“But Eileen seemed unfazed.”

“…She’s an exception.”

While Iriel’s common sense was half-broken…

“……”

Eileen was truly special in that regard.

From what he’d vaguely heard, she had frequently hunted not just beasts but magical creatures.

In fact, she had a strong scent of blood about her.

More precisely, the musk of magical beasts.

…This was completely different from the smell that permeates human cloth, and the stench of blood, oil, and decay that seeps into the body.

‘Moreover.’

After returning to the surface after hunting a sealed demon, Venus had seen it.

The pure white flames that emanated from her entire body.

That was… also someone else’s characteristic.

Once, on the continent, that and the reputation derived from it symbolized truly absurd majesty.

Though Venus himself had never witnessed it… the rumors were widespread.

“……”

Nevertheless, he didn’t show interest or interfere.

Facts that were meant to be known would enter his eyes and ears regardless.

When that time came, accepting it would make no difference.

…I don’t know about Iriel, but is that any of my business?

“……”

Moreover, because of the gaze of the young man who had been constantly following her free-spirited figure, Venus seemed reluctant to shatter that illusion.

Taking interest in someone, having affection, cherishing, and liking them… these are truly not easy things.

If someone with a personality that makes such feelings difficult had unknowingly harbored seeds of such emotions.

…That might be worth watching.

Because of what Aseratt had asked of him, Venus pretended not to notice.

Not knowing what kind of karma this would build up in the future.

****

Upon reaching the island, the three prepared anew.

“So… you’re checking the sealed sites on the island and surrounding islands, and dealing with demons as well?”

“It’s said to be an ancient wish of the royal family. They kept postponing it due to lack of resources and knowledge of the secret arts… Now, while the Empire is in turmoil with demon worshippers, some of their forces have figured out these secrets and are infiltrating… stirring things up.”

Currently, Venus and Iriel have dealt with two sealed sites.

Two remain.

“Sounds tough.”

“Yes. But so far… it’s been enjoyable.”

“Hmm…”

As the time to part ways approached, Eileen seemed to ponder for a while.

“Maybe if I stick with you, it’ll be easier for my brother to find me.”

“Hmm?”

“Word will spread, won’t it?”

“I’m trying to keep rumors to a minimum, actually.”

“Ah, is that so? And I guess you can’t just use your prince status to have people search for him either.”

Hmm…

“Alright. Then hire me.”

“Hire… you?”

“With the money, I can pay people to search. Nothing’s as inefficient as me personally searching everywhere. Or he might find me on his own… but it’s not easy to stay hidden, so I can travel around, see mountains, rivers, and sights…”

The point is… she doesn’t know where to start either, so for now, she wants to tag along.

“…I have no reason to refuse.”

Having experienced Eileen’s skills and character(?), Iriel welcomed her joining them wholeheartedly.

“……”

Venus seemed indifferent either way.

And.

The tale of how the group, which grew from three to five, traveled to all the sealed sites and vanquished demons over the next four months would later be passed down as an anecdote and another obscure myth, but that’s a story for the distant future.

Rather, it was thanks to the minstrel—one of the five—who spread songs, poems, and the travelogue he had jotted down and left to his descendants that this fragment of history was eventually rediscovered.

But even that happened hundreds of years later.

Because.

A far more dramatic true story and history unfolded at the Lutanian royal palace after they had completed all of this, overshadowing their demon-hunting journey.

Of course, even this history was only superficially known and passed down.

“Is it such a great sin for me to claim my rightful place?”

Iriel.

And his only brother, Günter, known as the firstborn of Lutania.

The succession duel that erupted between them began in earnest from that moment.

…But.

That was merely the superficial form recorded in history.

“…Brother.”

“Iriel! What are you hesitating for? Quickly! Quickly strike down with that sword! Hurry!”

And for good reason.

When the firstborn brother became a demon worshipper intent on plunging the country into ruin, the rightful heir to the throne, who had awakened anew from unfortunate circumstances and undergone a holy pilgrimage, appeared to save the country.

A capable but fallen prince and hero who had to be executed by his brother who had become a hero reborn—a brother whose ideals were too deep and grand, leading him astray.

And all of this was actual history.

How could…