Ch.49Failed Desserts Can Still Be Delicious

# 1. The Celestial Barrier

The Celestial Barrier.

A transcendent-grade artifact that absolutely blocks any attack once per day.

However, due to Nahan’s absurd mistake, a guaranteed enhancement right was used, turning it into an Ex-grade bound item.

The heirloom of the Gardner family, where the soul of their ancestor, Balak Gardner, had been sleeping.

It was an exceptional artifact in many ways, but…

“Ugh, war is such a hassle.”

“Excuse me? War?”

“The Celestial Shield is gone. There’ll be a war soon enough.”

Wait, why exactly?

With that question in mind, I looked at Marine, who opened her mouth with a serious expression.

“Give me back my cookie.”

“…I’ve already crushed and swallowed it.”

“……”

As I watched her languid shock, I wondered, ‘Are there no normal people in the Light?’

Around that time, Tehelan, who had been maintaining silence, handed Marine a candy from the desk.

“This will have to do for now.”

“Ah! Thank you, Tehelan!”

“It’s nothing.”

Crinkle, crinkle.

While Marine was distracted with the candy, Tehelan quietly began to speak.

“As you all know, we Gardners have protected this place from the Empire’s founding until now.”

The Gardner Marquisate.

A family of iron-walled guardians who built sturdy walls on the demonic beast frontline between the lands of demons and humans, protecting the Empire for generations.

Because of this, they were filled with brave warriors and even mercenaries were abundant.

However, if someone were to ask if they were the main reason for holding the frontline, Tehelan would shake his head and answer like this:

That the barrier built over a thousand years ago handles more than 90% of the frontline’s defense.

“The barrier is solid on its own, but it demonstrates its true value when it resonates.”

When the guardian stone ore mixed among ordinary rocks resonates with aura, it creates a barrier as solid as an iron wall across the entire structure.

“But as you can see from the size and length of the barrier, it requires an enormous amount of aura each time it resonates.”

Tehelan glanced at Hestia, who nodded in agreement.

“All the guardian stones in the barrier are raw ore. Even my brother couldn’t endure for a full day. Maintaining the barrier consumes a massive amount of aura.”

“You have to compare to know which is longer…!!”

When Balkan was about to burst out, Tehelan glared at him slightly to stop him.

“Don’t act rashly.”

“…I apologize.”

Only after accepting Balkan’s apology did Tehelan continue speaking.

“In any case, the reason the Gardner barrier has been maintained until now was solely thanks to the ‘Celestial Barrier.'”

The founder of the Gardners.

An artifact created by the iron-walled hero Balak Gardner after completing the barrier.

That shield, recorded to contain ancient dragon technology, continuously generated aura like the heart of its owner and Balak.

And not just any aura.

“Not ordinary artifact-grade aura, but aura of the same caliber as our founder.”

According to natural law, there’s no spring that never runs dry, no oil field that never depletes, but the Celestial Barrier made it possible.

“Thus, the heads of the Gardner family have operated the Celestial Barrier for generations, activating the guardian stones of the barrier daily.”

However, recently.

After the Black Wolf’s attack, the Celestial Barrier was lost, and as a result, the barrier is now on the verge of collapse.

Thanks to Tehelan pouring out aura every hour, it’s being maintained at a minimum level, about 1% of normal, just barely enough not to collapse, but…

“Even that will end in three days. After that, the barrier’s protection will disappear.”

Which means,

“Soon, there’s a high probability that demons will invade, and if war breaks out, we’re likely to fall within just a few days.”

When Tehelan finished speaking, a dark shadow fell over everyone’s expressions.

“The situation is more serious than I thought.”

“Ah, Asha, couldn’t you just stay here throughout the war?”

“Even if I defend this place as you suggest, Balkan, what if a Legion Commander appears on another front during that time?”

“…Damn it.”

Even amid this, Tehelan calmly continued his explanation.

“According to yesterday’s reconnaissance magic, movements have begun on the demon front that borders us.”

“Already? How many days has it been since we returned?”

Demons.

Beings with poor reproductive abilities but physical capabilities far exceeding humans.

They’ve fought with humans for a long time due to their characteristically aggressive nature, but they retreated to their territory after the great clash around the time of the Empire’s founding.

As strong as each individual is, they were scattered into factions among themselves, not interfering with each other and leaving each other alone, but…

“This time is different. Right after sensing the anomaly in the barrier, they seem to have completely restored the damage inflicted by the Light’s breakthrough.”

Just as Tehelan said, this time they were quickly recovering from the damage done by the Light and reorganizing their frontline.

To put it differently,

“If we don’t recover the Celestial Barrier, war will break out soon.”

War.

Most of them had experienced it, so they maintained a heavy silence, while Nahan, inside the free priest Ian Red, thought:

‘We’re fucked.’

He had taken it thinking a transcendent-grade item might be helpful, but it turned out to be a war suppressor between the Empire and demons.

‘If they’d told me earlier, I wouldn’t have taken it. There was nothing like this in the setting guide.’

He wanted to put it back in its place immediately, but it had become Nahan’s bound item after using the enhancement right.

And with that,

-[Hmm. I thought you were a knight belonging to the family, but you’re the head. You’ve grown weak, pampered by peace.]

Along with a useless bonus gift.

While Nahan was pretending to contemplate, suffering from a stinging sense of guilt,

Asha, who had been silent, quietly turned around and spoke.

“All members of the Light, listen. From now on, we’re going to hunt down the Black Wolf.”

We’re really fucked.

A direct confrontation between the Light and the Black Wolf was the 14th of 15 episodes.

He had expected the bad ending to be accelerated based on the speed at which it was being prevented, but if it was this accelerated, they would surely fail to save either the Emperor or the Hero.

‘Think. Think, think…!!’

While Nahan was frantically racking his brain to come up with the best move,

“…Ah.”

Marine, with a completely distorted expression, exploded with a terrifying killing intent.

What’s going on?

Did she discover that I also have an imprint?

Nahan swallowed unconsciously as he watched Marine with caution.

Marine’s terrifying killing intent passed by Nahan and headed toward Tehelan.

“Do you want to die, Tehelan?”

“…I apologize. This all happened because of my inadequacy.”

Tehelan, equally surprised, bowed his head in shame, but,

“What are you talking about? The candy you gave me.”

“…Pardon?”

“This is red ginseng candy.”

That wasn’t it.

Marine warned with a very stern attitude, her golden eyes flashing.

“Tell them to bring something else quickly. Cookies or cake. I’ll really get angry if you’re late.”

“I’ll bring it myself.”

“Strawberry.”

“Yes. Strawberry cake.”

Tehelan dispelled the barrier and went out to bring it himself.

Ptooey!

Marine finally spat out the candy and was about to throw it away but hesitated.

“Why are you doing that?”

“…Well, it is still candy.”

Marine’s setting: she doesn’t forgive any dessert being wasted carelessly.

No matter how tasteless a dessert might be, she never gives it to others and swallows it herself.

She believes that’s the minimum respect for desserts that were born into this world.

‘She’ll handle it herself, I guess.’

Now wasn’t the time to think about such things.

‘What should I do? Should I secretly come by once a day to fill it with aura? What if I get caught? I’m still too weak to fight alone.’

His mind was racing.

‘Ah, I need some sugar.’

The moment he thought that unconsciously…

…Click.

Something sweet and savory rolled into Nahan’s mouth.

Followed by a healthy fragrance.

Breaking his concentration, he looked down to see Marine lowering herself from her tiptoes and asking bluntly.

“How is it?”

To be honest, it was the kind of taste where you might grab one or two if they were available.

But not something he’d go out of his way to buy.

“Well, it’s not inedible.”

When he answered honestly with a mix of thoughts, Marine nodded with a languid smile.

“That’s how it is.”

“Pardon?”

“There need to be a few failed desserts for more delicious desserts to be born. And those failed desserts are tasty in their own way.”

A clear golden light gleamed in her languid eyes.

Just as Nahan unconsciously realized why Marine was a great sage and nodded along with her words, she whispered softly.

“I’ll trust you and go to sleep. When it becomes more delicious, I’ll help you too.”

“What?”

“Don’t pretend. You can see everything too.”

Following Marine’s chin gesture, he turned his head to see Balak Gardner standing there.

-[…Oh, did that child just see me?]

Balak’s surprise was momentary.

“Ah, let me explain how this happened…!”

Even more surprised than him, Nahan reached out his hand to make excuses, but Marine dodged slightly and spoke to Asha faster.

“Don’t worry, Asha. The founder of the Gardner family is dwelling within him.”

“…What does that mean?”

“Hmm. Not dwelling but lingering? Or captured? It would make sense to like him… Ah, I don’t know. I just want to go to sleep. Anyway, ask him to solve it.”

Rubbing her sleepy eyes, Marine used mana to snatch the cake and cookies from Tehelan’s hands, then waved at Nahan.

“Bye. See you again soon.”

That was it.

Crash!

Marine scattered and disappeared brilliantly, like glass shattering in the sunlight.

Left behind were Balkan and Hestia.

“Our family’s founder!! What does that mean, red-haired priest?!”

“Don’t shout, brother. Let’s talk calmly. Actually, I’ll ask the questions. First, may I ask what kind of ability this is?”

Tehelan and Asha.

“Both of you, stay still. He’s our benefactor and honored guest. May I ask what kind of power you’ve awakened?”

“…So the second power was real. Priest, how exactly…”

And surrounded by four people, each with sparkling eyes, was the smiling,

‘This is driving me crazy.’

Everyone’s friend, Ian Red.

‘I haven’t even figured it out properly yet.’

What kind of power should I say it is?

Communication with souls?

Soul guidance?

Something to do with souls anyway?

In the end, after a brief contemplation, he came up with the best move and opened his mouth.

“My second power is…”