Ch.52. She Never Makes a Bet She Can’t Win (2)

“Ah, let me correct myself. To be precise, I don’t need any power that becomes stronger by receiving it.”

-…….

Is this because he’s the child of a hero?

The golden woman curled her lips with satisfaction.

Quick-witted and sharp-minded.

Bold, and not swayed by desires.

Disciplined and patient.

But.

Why.

…Why is this boy so ostracized here?

‘Yet he’s immature. Still incomplete. Naive and innocent.’

Also, since childhood, all kinds of pressure and demands like brainwashing.

Requirements that don’t match his aptitude and inefficient efforts.

If he was injected with meaningless endurance without rest, used only as a tool for emotional expenditure.

If that was repeated for years, completely crushing his self-esteem and dignity.

…It’s no wonder a person would collapse and rot away.

She had encountered many of this kind in the past.

And they always ended up twisted.

Among them.

There were severely distorted ones who contributed to the collapse of their own countries.

‘How very interesting.’

The child of a hero who deserved blessings more than anyone was alone in a pit of misfortune.

Without anyone who understood.

‘Someone has dug a very deep trap.’

Though not certain, she could smell it.

And.

If she had internally judged such a development to be true.

It usually turned out to be correct.

Without fail.

====

The next day.

Contrary to expectations, what became the talk was the news of Elehermina and Kariel’s engagement.

It seemed natural that rumors about the treasury intrusion didn’t spread once heads cooled.

‘It would be a disgrace to the imperial family.’

Also, it wouldn’t be good for the reputation of the Brendiar family to which he belonged.

Every time something happened, bad rumors spread, and he was slandered as if it were natural, so he accepted that this would be the same.

-That’s learned helplessness. From what I can see, you’re showing late-stage depression symptoms. It’s because your brain isn’t working properly. It’s also partly due to inefficient glucose absorption.

The Demon King reciting strange physiological knowledge.

And now Kariel was visiting the academy library after a long time to identify the true nature of that golden Demon King.

‘Here it is.’

He picked up a thick book and opened it while standing.

He deliberately avoided sitting at a desk to thoroughly examine related books.

…Reading a book about the Demon King right after causing trouble yesterday?

If someone were monitoring him, this could raise further suspicions.

So he looked at other books as well, examining these alongside them.

-Are you even concerned about surveillance?

Though he hadn’t mentioned it, the Demon King seemed to have immediately grasped his intention.

-When your intention is clear but your actions differ, the reason becomes obvious when you deduce it.

“……”

Not simply the King of Demons, but an entity called the King of Wisdom.

The Golden Demon King was said to have contributed somewhat to human civilization and technological development.

Yet the reason everyone called her, or perhaps not her, the Golden Beast was…

“……”

The book contained illustrations depicting what was presumed to be the Golden Beast, though not entirely accurate.

It looked like a giant fox.

Or perhaps a wolf.

A wolf or fox standing on two legs.

A long tail and sleek body.

Though the illustration was only in black and white, it surely emitted a golden radiance strong enough to pierce through the darkness of the world.

Such metaphors and descriptions were actually written there.

Also.

In the partial memories the Demon King had given him through their contract.

She had been looking down arrogantly at the nine battered heroes.

“Kariel. So you were here.”

A girl approached with clear footsteps, making no attempt to hide her presence.

He closed the book and turned his head.

“…What is it?”

Seras Esdina.

A hateful face, though not the person herself who was hateful.

More precisely.

It was her twin sister who… was hateful.

Dark blue hair and matching blue eyes.

Her features were distinct with her forehead clearly visible.

It couldn’t simply be said that she had good posture and appearance because she was born into a noble family.

There was a strong sense that she had studied what style would give others an appropriate, suitable impression.

The combination with her predominantly white academy uniform was quite good.

“I was curious about something.”

“…From me?”

“Yes, from you, who else?”

Also, the girl before him was currently one of only two direct descendants and granddaughters of a great noble, prestigious family.

Perhaps if she had survived the war, she might have been called the 10th hero instead of one of the nine heroes.

Her family, Esdina, rivaled the fame of the heroes.

They were also currently the actual core of the court nobles.

Come to think of it.

He and she were in positions that would inevitably be politically opposed.

…Though the memory was vague, it seemed that Kariel himself had often associated with her when they were young, being descendants of heroes.

“The engagement with the princess, or perhaps future empress. What do you think about it?”

“…Why are you asking me that?”

“Are you going to accept it obediently? Really? When it’s obvious what will happen to you?”

“……”

Is she worried?

Or….

“You know well that this isn’t simply about uniting hero bloodlines, right?”

“Do I have a choice?”

“Choice or not, isn’t it your life?”

Her tone was very sharp.

She was always like this when things didn’t go as intended.

She too.

…was a dropout who had been pushed and kicked to the periphery by talent, not unlike Kariel himself.

Nevertheless.

Even she ranked in the top 5 of the entire school academically.

Though grades weren’t everything, if she was treated as a dropout despite being in the top 5, then those above her must be truly extraordinary.

“This is a scheme to strengthen Elehermina’s foundation. And you will be used as a tool for that purpose. Someone like you should have figured this out already, right?”

“……”

Was that so?

He hadn’t calculated that, being preoccupied with other matters.

No, that’s not it.

He had simply given up thinking about it.

When matters are this significant, they’re beyond his will.

Besides.

…Since he was planning to disappear once his sibling was born, what was the point of worrying about a future beyond that?

Even enduring this reality with eyes open was overwhelming.

Just breathing was exhausting.

…Rather, investigating the Demon King was so attractively distracting that he had been focusing on that.

Now she’s making him remember unnecessary things again.

“Or what? Should I paint you a picture of the future? When your parents’ generation of great heroes exits the stage, Elehermina will become mainstream. And you, as the empress’s consort, will be thoroughly pushed to the background. Only your influence will be thoroughly exploited.”

“……”

“You don’t want to be a bird in a cage, do you? Am I wrong?”

“So, are you saying I should reject the engagement? Did you come looking for me just to say something similar to what the prince said?”

“……”

At that point, Seras paused briefly.

“There’s more than one way.”

“What?”

Kariel was startled.

Surely not, but could she have guessed his intentions?

Accept the situation.

If not that.

Refuse or reject the situation.

In the end, just two options.

No, that’s not all.

Don’t panic. There’s no reason to be agitated.

The person before him was perceptive.

If he carelessly revealed fragments of emotion, he risked being seen through, whatever it might be.

Because.

The options were ultimately limited.

“You and I could get engaged.”

However.

This answer was completely unexpected.

So much so that.

-Wow….

Even the Demon King, who had been lying above my head with her chin resting on her hand out of boredom.

Was gaping as if she’d been caught off guard.

Indeed.

…I wonder what expression I was making.

====

-You’re unexpectedly a bad boy? I suspected it might be so since you’re fairly good-looking~ my, my!

“Please don’t say such… nonsense.”

This is clearly a political decision.

The seat of heroes and warriors.

However, as a new family, their position is overwhelming for now, but it’s clear that by Kariel’s generation, it will fall.

Well, if his younger sibling turns out to be more outstanding than his father, that might be different.

But even such a family, if joined with the imperial family and their blood mixed, would immediately be incorporated into the golden bloodline beyond the blue bloodline.

Probably, his parents and the Emperor’s side had calculated this.

Ensuring his future while considering their present and after their deaths….

Also, the princess, who might become the official successor based on this and inherit the imperial throne, Elehermina’s….

“Haa.”

He detested complexity.

Moreover, political issues were always just disgusting.

Probably.

If he disappeared without notice, the repercussions would be considerable.

‘But there’s no reason for me to worry about that, is there?’

It makes him shudder.

He wants to just breathe without thinking about anything and die.

Without pain, worry, concern.

Without anxiety, sadness, irritation, or unfairness.

“……”

But is that even possible?

Life is nothing but pain.

…He seemed to have heard this from someone before, but couldn’t remember who.

-The proposal itself sounds reasonable. But your parents would find it difficult to accept.

Because they’re nominally opposing factions.

His father is of the Emperor’s faction, and Esdina is the head of what’s commonly called the noble faction.

…If he leaned toward that side, wouldn’t the structure become quite interesting?

At the same time.

-Since she said she’d even give up the position of Esdina head, this sounds like quite a calculated move.

“……”

He doesn’t want to think about it.

Whether the proposal is appropriate, suitable, or whatever.

It’s all just troublesome.

Imperial family or nobility.

Heroes and warriors.

Their children and all that nonsense.

-And, that girl. She probably has feelings for you.

“…For me?”

-Though politically opposed, yet associating with the prince’s faction under the pretext of being a hero’s descendant, that wasn’t something she wanted to participate in.

“……”

Coincidentally, the Demon King was right.

She had merely been securing a position appropriate to her status to prevent unfavorable or unreasonable situations.

Therefore, even when other hero descendants were clinging to the prince.

Even during the process when they bullied and ostracized Kariel, when they were about to cross the line, she had mediated and dissuaded them.

-Why? Do you think she joined that group to protect you?

“No. That’s not it. There’s no reason for her to do that.”

Whether it was affection or goodwill.

For a very brief moment, he had such a futile thought.

That can’t be.

Why would she take on such trouble for someone like him?

…Wait?

“Then, does that mean her proposal for engagement could be somewhat sincere?”

-Yes. That’s what I wanted to say. With your decent looks and sharp mind… if she has feelings for you and likes you? I think she could become your faithful ally. What do you think?

“……”

He calmly cooled his heart that had started to stir slightly.

Don’t expect.

Don’t trust.

Don’t dream.

He repeatedly recited these three things to himself.

“Don’t make me laugh.”

Such a nice-sounding story.

Could never be given to me.

Absolutely not.

I have now.

Resolved not to believe in anything.

Never.

I will not repeat the same mistakes as before.