Ch.5518. Among All Those Countless Stars (3)

Philbar examined the sword emitting a soft glow and said.

“I’ve heard about it in stories… but to witness the birth of a holy relic with my own eyes.”

A broken sword, only half of its original blade.

Yet, it contained something clearly different from ordinary weapons, something inherent within it.

Ordinary people couldn’t perceive it.

But Alesia, as a saint, could see through this better than anyone.

“Truly…”

It happened just moments ago.

Yet it felt like an eternity.

When Ruel, or rather Kariel, revealed his name, she wasn’t particularly surprised.

Even when he mentioned Grandeus, a name she’d vaguely heard before.

But when he said that Saint Kariel and she were from the same school, she wondered what was happening.

She had been prepared to crush that insolence at any moment.

She certainly had the ability to do so.

But what stopped her was…

-Let it be.

-This is a battlefield prepared for him, a test for him.

-It’s not for outsiders to interfere.

Outsiders?

And so she continued watching.

She understood from their attitude that they shouldn’t have come here in the first place, let alone glimpse Saint Kariel’s memories.

Which meant…

…that Kariel over there was the reason they were here.

We had glimpsed Saint Kariel’s memories.

We discovered his footsteps and were able to follow them.

…Was that what it meant?

Perhaps they were lucky.

The Baron’s family’s open-minded attitude toward outsiders, and even Alesia herself, who liked Kariel and wanted to keep him close.

Had all those coincidences driven them to this place as if by fate?

No, not driven… but guided them here?

“Come to think of it, didn’t the old woman who prophesied in his memory say this?” Baron Roia spoke as if suddenly remembering.

“Among the many, many stars, one will come to you.”

“…The many stars refer to the numerous children named after Saint Kariel.”

Alesia, of course, remembered it too.

If that was the case, then one of those many stars was…

Even the great warrior Rueld and Saint Ermina.

They chose Kariel as the baptismal name for their first son.

Thus, the old woman’s prophecy had now been fulfilled.

“Father, now that I think about it…” Ludhi spoke cautiously, as if something had just occurred to him.

“While the name Kariel has become common, someone so young with such distinguished skills and character isn’t common.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“…When I was at the academy, I caught a glimpse of him.”

A handsome boy with black hair.

Eyes like gold.

“I wasn’t sure, but could that friend be… the child of Lord Rueld and Lady Ermina…?”

“……”

Baron Roia suddenly remembered.

He had been invited to their wedding with his young children.

It was also when he had lost his wife and vowed to raise his two children well no matter what.

It was when the Demon King’s invasion had ended, and peace had finally arrived.

The union of the Hero Emperor and the Magic Empress.

And the union of the Radiant Knight and the Saint.

Everyone deeply accepted that peace had arrived precisely when they publicly declared that they were laying down their duties.

Luke grumbled as if he couldn’t grasp the situation.

“So what, are you saying Ruel is the son of the heroes?”

“It’s too early to be certain, but probably.”

Although Ludhi couldn’t definitively confirm it, he was half-convinced.

“……”

Alesia herself had been able to become a saint entirely thanks to Lady Ermina.

If not for her, she would have been thrown to the Demon King’s army as food by the false Pope, or exploited in some way and met a miserable end.

It was they, including Rueld and Ermina, who had detected and prevented that conspiracy and brought down the false Pope.

In fact, Alesia herself had been one of the many children standing with flower baskets to congratulate them at their wedding at such a young age.

That memory was like a faint, dreamlike vision.

A distant memory occasionally seen in dreams.

“Look, look! Amazing. Let’s watch over there!”

The boy faces warriors twice his size.

With that small, seemingly frail body.

He skillfully brings them down.

“…His movements are artistry.”

“I saw him briefly before… but now he’s even better.”

Luke added a comment to Baron Roia’s admiration.

“……”

Yes, it was like that then too.

In the battle that Alesia herself had joined by chance.

That child’s movements were especially unique.

And watching him climb the church’s outer wall this time, she became somewhat certain.

‘Those are elven movements.’

Humans can’t move like that even with mana.

Flowing like water, following the wind.

Yet dancing, flowing.

The dance of fairies.

The wing-wind of wind spirits.

Steps that defy the gale.

She noticed because she had seen it before.

She had heard that such movements were possible through natural affinity and adaptability, not mana.

It was more of a racial characteristic than a technique or skill.

An elf from the forest tribe had explained it to her back then.

And now.

In the distance.

There was a small boy skillfully using all of that to face an opponent who couldn’t be resisted.

His appearance was like a butterfly caught in a storm.

Like a moth swept away in a gale.

It seemed precarious.

Yet somehow.

He doesn’t fall.

He doesn’t collapse or break.

Instead, he brings down the enemies one by one.

It’s not an overwhelming sight.

But I feel something beyond that, or comparable to it.

Moving without rest to disrupt the encirclement.

Taking advantageous positions to target weaknesses.

At a glance, he seems relentless.

Even his evasions are natural, and his defenses are smooth.

Even when hit and sent flying, he turns it into another opportunity for counterattack.

Using his small stature as an advantage to outwit his enemies.

What a lamentable sight this is.

It’s self-evident that the weak cannot defeat the strong.

Yet if they can.

Is it mere coincidence?

Or is it a miracle?

‘Everyone.’

Has weaknesses, has flaws.

He acknowledges this and uses it to his advantage.

To crush the weaknesses of his enemies.

A simple story, but is it really that easy?

And so, the relentless, nail-biting, unfair battle.

Eventually comes to an end.

Suddenly, he looks in one direction as if seeing something.

Then he walks slowly and moves his lips.

As if conversing with something.

-The test is now over.

-A satisfactory result.

The souls of the ancient barbarian warriors who had been watching alongside them.

Their faces seemed relieved.

As if it was finally time to put down the burden they had been carrying.

Their shoulders appeared particularly light.

“You all…”

Alesia couldn’t bring herself to ask.

What was she going to ask?

She herself didn’t know.

Turning her gaze, she saw Philbar already urging the servants and vigorously wielding pen and brush.

The rest of the group focused on this scene, as if trying to engrave it in their memories forever.

A miracle descended upon this reality.

The whole world bathed in light.

Eventually, those warriors who were once invaders but now guardians.

They too began to disperse, as if called somewhere.

And so they were.

Gathered in one place again.

And they watched.

As the sword in Kariel’s hand shattered.

Yet still.

Everyone’s gaze was drawn to that half-sword, which now emitted a more sacred, soft light than before.

And the boy who held it.

Walked slowly and handed it to the Baron.

“Please take it.”

“……”

The Baron felt as if he was receiving an absurd divine object.

Instinctively taking it with both hands, he said.

“This won’t do.”

He immediately turned and handed it to Alesia.

“This seems beyond my capacity to handle. So… please take charge of it, Saint.”

“Me?”

“You’ll need to report the miracle that occurred here to the Papal Office anyway, right? This will serve as proof.”

“……”

He could have been greedy.

Yet he brought up such a cool, realistic point.

Even she, a saint, had been thinking of something else.

“Do you know our family motto?”

The Baron said with a faint smile.

“…Before Saint Kariel, it was ‘Achieve glory.’ But after Saint Kariel’s death, it changed to this.”

Agonize over your inability to give. This is a lack of courage.

“On one hand, it also sounds like a warning not to be led by greed.”

It’s common for those who have to give.

When those who don’t have give, why is it praised as noble?

Because not everyone can do it.

The fact that not everyone can do it is proof that I am a slightly better person.

Therefore.

“We’re just desperately trying to improve by reflecting on the past. If relics and treasures try to shackle us with the sin of greed, then to us, they’re not holy objects… but bribes offered by demons.”

“But isn’t this the church’s holy relic?”

“Then you can return it when you come next time, can’t you?”

“……”

“Similarly, treasures tend to cloud everyone’s judgment. I believe you will return it to where it belongs without being deluded.”

It was an unexpectedly clever calculation.

“Hmph.”

However, no matter how she handled it, the Baron would neither resent nor blame Alesia.

He spoke that way to make it easier for Alesia to accept.

And if she returned it, that would be fine too.

After all, treasures cause further disputes.

The Papal Office’s monopoly on holy objects and relics includes the purpose of preventing such dangers.

…That’s why they’re accused of monopolizing and hoarding treasures.

That’s also true.

It’s not wrong.

Bearing such dishonor is also a responsibility that leaders must shoulder.

…Rather, by shouldering it, they are constantly put to the test.

“On my honor, I will personally come to return it to the church. But before that…”

Alesia asked Kariel.

“This object should rightfully be yours, are you sure you’re okay with this?”

“I don’t need it.”

I’ve already received what I needed.

Expecting more would be greed.

…And if by chance.

If Kariel truly is its owner.

It will return someday.

Though I don’t wish for it.

The barrier had already been lifted, and the sky was still dark.

That long time was actually an extremely short moment.

“Everyone! While night outings are fine for us, with the festival just around the corner, isn’t it time to get some sleep?”

Philbar expressed his opinion to them.

“That’s true.”

“There’s much to talk about, but resting a bit… would be good.”

The Baron and Luke agreed with his opinion.

“Or how about some drinks as an afterparty?”

“……”

Luke added one more comment, still feeling regretful, but turned his gaze away when the Baron glared at him.

“I’ll go to the church to report this incident, at least briefly.”

Philbar asked Alesia in a subtle tone.

“Would you need my assistance?”

“…If you could help with the report writing, by all means.”

Suddenly, Kariel’s eyes met Philbar’s.

Something they shared that others didn’t know about.

‘Let’s talk later.’

His silent whisper carried that intention.

It must be about Grandeus.

Kariel just nodded as if it didn’t matter.

The night is still long.

Festival preparations were in full swing somewhere, and lights still flourished except in the dark paths.

Boarding Philbar’s four-horse carriage heading to the Baron’s mansion.

Kariel calmly closed his eyes.

Nothing has ended.

But still.

Someone’s long-cherished wish came to an end today.

There’s no need to lament.

No need to sigh.

Just keep it and engrave it in memory.

Everyone pretends to be calm, but they seem to be continuing the afterglow from earlier.

With individual fatigue added, the carriage interior became even quieter and more serene than before.

Even after Alesia got off midway.

Continuously.

Suddenly.

He recalls the night sky he saw earlier.

A sky without a single cloud.

Colorful stars, large and small, forming countless numbers.

That brilliant yet cozy sight.