episode_0025

It’s dawn.

Even before the sun rose, the sky was still dark.

There were no clouds, so the stars were clearly visible. The weather looks good today too.

Siron separated the string from the necklace.

This friend, who is well used as an inventory substitute, has no special decorations and looks like a simple bead.

However, this is not just a bead, but a holy relic. I don’t remember the name of it because it is such a priceless item, but I have not forgotten that it has uses other than simply storing things.

In ‘Rebirth Sword God’, relics can be used according to each unique effect, but they can also be used to add their unique effects to the player’s character. For example, since this relic can be used as a substitute for inventory, it was expected that inventory slots would increase when strengthened after dismantling.

‘Dismantling and strengthening. Once separated, the important thing is what comes next… ‘

Siron looked at the tangled jewel and then sighed.

Disassembly is simple. All you have to do is separate the core, the jewel, which is the core of the relic. However, I was not sure about the important ‘reinforcement’.

Should we be glad that it’s not something we can’t guess at all? Siron decided to trust his intuition for now.

‘… … It won’t be a ride later.’

You can drink Encia’s lemonade, and tear Ophelia’s bracelet to increase your accuracy. There was only one conclusion to follow from that.

Siron, who had been looking at the jewel for a while, seemed to have made a decision, closed his eyes and put the jewel into his mouth.

… … gulp

I took a sip of water, rolled the gem with my tongue a few times, and swallowed it.

“Wow.”

I was worried that my throat would clog up and vomit, but fortunately, that was not the case.

‘No matter how many characters are full of death flags, dying like this is a bit over the line.’

Siron grinned and prepared to leave.

*

The three children who were to hold the succession ceremony got up on their own and came to the gate without anyone waking them up.

“Let’s do well together! Shiron oppa!”

“… … .”

Siriel, wearing light activewear, walked towards Siron with her back to him and greeted him.

Siriel was so preoccupied with talking to Lucia yesterday that she regretted not being able to say a few words with Siron.

In fact, my male cousin, who was two years older than me, was a bit difficult to approach. Siron looked very angry as he chewed the meat with a silent frown.

However, unlike yesterday, today’s theory feels a little less poisonous.

“Yes. Cheer up too.”

‘My brother. ‘It’s something I’ve never heard in my life.’

Siron looked at Siriel who greeted her brightly and answered. I never thought he would come and say hello first.

‘What happened to such a bright child for 10 years to become an enemy with Siron?’

It makes me wonder whether Siriel was such a bright child in the first place.

The killer whale Siriel was like a remote island.

She never gives anyone a chance to dig in, so I remember having a hard time raising her likeability even when playing as Lucia.

“Poetics. Are you sick? My complexion is pale.”

Lucia, who was next to Siriel, approached and spoke. The hair tied up in a ponytail suited her well. Siriel also looked at Siron’s face as if responding to Lucia’s question.

Cold sweat was forming on his pale face.

“… … Shouldn’t you tell the adults?”

“Don’t say horrible things. I was just nervous. Let’s go to the main gate faster than that.”

However, Siron dismissed their concerns and took the lead. Today is an important turning point called the succession ceremony. Siron walked while holding back the anger rising from above.

Perhaps because it was the day of the succession ceremony, there was no one inside the mansion or on the walk to the front gate.

I hope so for a while. Arrived at the main gate.

Yuma and a few maids were standing there to guide the children.

“You came without fail.”

Yuma, wearing a black dress, looked somewhat unfamiliar. Unlike usual, he didn’t even smile kindly and looked even more emotionless and calm.

“Before performing the ceremony, I have one message to tell you.”

The one-horned sacred keeper Yuma, the general overseer of the succession ceremony, looked down at the children and said.

“You cannot wear weapons, accessories, or other enchanted items. If you are wearing it, please give it to us.”

She said while looking at Siron in particular.

However, the necklace that had been hanging around Siron’s neck for the past few days was nowhere to be found. Shiron looked away from Yuma and shrugged his shoulders.

Lucia and Siron did not show anything, and Siriel held out the blue ribbon she had tied in her hair.

“Here.”

The maid wearing an eye patch next to Yuma politely accepted the ribbon. She looked at the ribbon for a moment and then opened her mouth to Yuma.

“Confirmed.”

“Then. I will move.”

When Yuma winked, the maids at the castle gate opened the door.

Googoo googung.

As if there had been frost at night, the thin ice stuck to the seams falls to the floor. Eventually, the door opened completely.

Yuma takes the lead

The children followed behind them.

The Lake of Beginning, where the succession ceremony was held, was beyond the western ridge of the Dawn Castle.

*

“This is…”

Upon arriving at the lake, Lucia opened her eyes wide and was surprised.

That’s right too. The lake built between the mountain ranges remains unchanged over time, bringing back faded memories.

‘This is where I first met Yura.’

Lucia stopped and looked at the lake. The flow of the mountain ranges surrounding the lake looked just like what she knew.

‘I never thought this would be the place where the succession ceremony was held.’

Lucia gritted her teeth. Is it because I became a child? She mocked herself by saying that she had become more sensitive these days.

It all started from here.

Lucia looked at the lakeside in the distance. The vague memories became increasingly clearer.

“Sniff.”

In the distance, there is a child squatting by the lakeside and throwing stones. This is Kylie as a child. And the image of Yura approaching her and holding out his sword with a smiling face rose like a haze…

“This place.”

However, due to someone’s interference, the illusion quickly dissipated.

“Prien’s progenitor. This is the place where Kylie received the holy sword from the messenger of God.”

“Wow!”

Siriel’s eyes lit up as if she was very happy to have actually been to the place in the story.

“Can I ask you a question?”

Lucia clenched her fists and raised her arms.

“… … When you say a messenger from God, do you mean an angel?”

“Yes. That’s right. Founder Kylie received a ‘revelation’ here. And that legacy has been passed down to Prien throughout the ages. This is why succession ceremonies have been held here for the past 500 years.”

“… … I see.”

“Then, let me explain the succession formula.”

Yuma said, looking back at the children.

“Determining whether you pass or not is simple. From now on, you will cross that lake sequentially.”

Yuma turned around and pointed at the frozen lake.

A lake with sparkling ice particles bathed in the morning sunlight filled my field of vision, and beyond the lake I could see people gathered together.

Even though it was quite far away, the weather was good so the sights were clearly visible.

Hugo, Johan, and Bertha, who stand out especially, are standing separately to the side.

Those lined up in a row are the faces of the maids that were not visible in the mansion.

They are all observers of the succession ceremony.

Was it then? Siriel raised one hand.

“I have a question.”

“Please tell me.”

“Is it okay to simply cross over?”

Yuma nodded.

“Yes. Thick ice fills the lake, but mysteriously, only those with the right qualities can cross the lake.”

“What happens to those who fail to cross?”

“You will be disqualified from running for the position of head of state. But don’t worry. Even if the ice breaks and sinks to the bottom of the lake, there will be no major problems.”

Yuma said while looking at Shiron.

Shiron shook his head towards Yuma.

“All you have to do is use magic to get it to land. Then we have to decide the order.”

“Can I cross first?”

Lucia said, coming forward.

Next, I glanced at Shiron behind me.

“You do it first.”

“… … Thank you.”

After receiving Siron’s concession, Lucia took a deep breath.

Yuma moved out of Lucia’s way.

Lucia walked without hesitation to the sandy beach and stepped on the ice of the lake.

Lucia, fully bearing her weight, moved forward at a rapid pace.

‘… … Is this really it?’

It was… easier than I thought.

When they reached the halfway point of the lake, Lucia bent one knee and tapped the ice with her hand.

Thump-thump-

I put my strength in my hand and knocked on it.

Kagagak-

I pulled the ice out with my finger and tried to draw it, but the ice was so thick that no water came out.

‘Well, there’s all this… There was nothing like this in the old days.’

The lake in my memory looked the same, but was completely different.

500 years ago, villages near the lake made a living by breaking ice and catching fish. However, on our way here, we could not find any traces of human life.

Lucia shook her hands and got up and crossed the lake.

Lucia arrived safely and was welcomed by Hugo and the maid.

“You have great courage. Knocking on the lake instead of crossing it in the middle.”

Hugo patted Lucia’s shoulder with a satisfied smile.

“It wasn’t a big deal. What”

Lucia smoothed her cheeks with both hands. I was praised for barely crossing a lake… I was embarrassed because I felt like I was treated like a child.

‘Is Siriel next?’

Lucia turned around and looked at the spot she had crossed over.

I saw Siriel sneaking across in the distance.

After a while.

After crossing the lake, Siriel fell into her seat as soon as she got on land.

“Ah, I got scolded because I was nervous.”

“Siriel did a good job too. So now, all that’s left is poetry.”

“… … Poetry.”

“You seemed unwell since this morning.”

Siriel shook the sand off her pants and stood next to Lucia.

The three saw Siron standing in the distance.

Siron walked.

and.

A splash of water rose and Siron disappeared.