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Tsurugi no Joou to Rakuin no Ko:Volume 1 Chapter 5

2012-10-04T00:17:30Z

70.172.231.242:

==Chapter 5 – Proud Vixen==

Francesca da Zaccaria accomplished many feats to be proud of in her lifetime. One of the most well known ones was that she had already refused marriage proposals of more than a hundred men in just her fifteenth year. She was the granddaughter of Duke Zaccaria, the leader of the Seven Countries of the East, and was both beautiful and talented from youth. Thus, there were many candidates surrounding her picked by her father and grandfather to be her husband, and their proposals were promptly refused. Their attention only brought one sentence: “What a bunch of uninteresting fellows.”

On the day when the number of men officially reached three digits, the old Duke Zaccaria who was usually gentle finally couldn’t help himself from summoning his granddaughter to question her:

'' ‘Fran, in the end, what sort of man will you be satisfied with?’ ''

'' ‘I want a man who is both stronger and more beautiful than I am.’ '' Francesca answered.

'' ‘It might be possible for one of your conditions to be met, but aren’t the chances rather small for both of them to meet?’ ''

'' ‘Of course not. At least, there will definitely be such a person on the battlefield.’ ''

Hence, Francesca started to frequent the training grounds of the knights, bringing an even larger headache to the duke’s family.

Her father was disturbed by her peculiar actions, and thus summoned an old knight under his command.

'' ‘What in the world is Francesca always doing among the knights? Is she observing your training?’ '' He asked.

'' ‘No, not only that.’ '' The old knight answered.

'' ‘Then she isn’t training with you, is she?’ ''

'' ‘No, not only that as well.’ ''

The old knight’s answer shocked Francesca’s father so much that he couldn’t even straighten his back. Never would he have thought that Francesca was actually teaching the members of the knighthood how to improve themselves.

After a year, a large-scale riot occurred in the borders of Zackaria. Francesca departed with fifty elite knights, and with lightning speed, led her troops directly into the church seized by the rioters to be used as their base. She captured the leader of the rioters alive, suppressing the upheaval practically without any loss of blood.

The news spread in the neighboring countries, and a poet gave such an evaluation regarding Francesca’s various performances: ''Everything is like a ceremony to pray for rain. At first, there was an uproar caused by the campfire that was lit among great cheers of farmers and villagers, the inhabitants of the earth. Then, it was as though clouds darker and more turbid than ink were shrouded over the social circles of the nobility situated among the clouds, defamation that were continually spat out formed foul rainwater……''

Francesca’s father and grandfather once scolded her together, asking her not to partake in barbarous activities unbecoming of those of a Duke’s family. However, their efforts were in vain in the end. Facing their reprimands, Francesca said resolutely: '' ‘As members of the Zaccaria, protecting our land is in fact, a perfectly justified matter, and we have the obligation to do so as well!’ ''

The elderly Duke Zaccaria did not usually anger easily, but when his tolerance reached its peak, he came to a decision by himself without care for opinions of the surroundings. And the results that came to due to the failure of their reprimands was thus. The old Duke Zaccaria announced the renouncement of his seat, giving his title of the Duke to his son, handing the job of the Commander of the Knights taken temporarily by his son to Francesca.

'' ‘If so, outsiders will not have any chance of saying that you are fooling around with the Knights. However, if you do not fulfill your responsibilities and obligations as a Knight, your actions will be judged by military law!’ ''

'' ‘That is exactly what I wish for!’ ''

Just like that, the old Duke kept his hands off his beloved granddaughter, allowing her to wander the battlefields as she liked. And after that, he summoned the Knights in the city to the central courtyard as well, publicly announcing the shift of authority for the Knights into Francesca’s hands.

'' ‘Now, all of you are my subordinates, and I have already decided on a new name and flag appropriate for the Order!’ ''

Francesca’s words caused loud cheers among the knights lined up in the courtyard, and it was three years after that when the flag embroidered with a silver hen embracing a silver egg with its wings spread out fluttered in the bloodied wind of the battlefield, shaking up the entire Celestial Kingdom with its glorious feats.

*

“I was present as well when the flag of the Silver Hen waved at various battlefields. I was so excited each time we set out for expeditions that it felt like my asshole grew to five times its original size.”

The young military doctor in the team chattered on about the incredible feats performed by the Order of the Silver Egg on the battlefields while closing up Chris’s wound. The stove by their side heated up the whole pot of water, its steam filling the whole tent, but the young military doctor blissfully telling his story didn’t seem to realize it at all. He was called Niccolo, a vulgar, slovenly man. He had long, tea brown shoulder-length hair that was casually bound in a bunch behind him without much care. With his a monocle on his nose bridge and his dashing features, he could be described as a handsome person. Although it wasn’t visible from his features at all, he was once awarded a Badge of the Rose, and was a knight to the letter.

“Actually, our Captain is a person who appreciates talent. Beauty or immeasurable strength, those who fulfill one of the two criteria will gain her recognition. Because of that, there is no end of cute girls even among our Captain’s personal guard, such as Meena, Paula, and as for those who are currently absent……”

The military doctor counted names of girls on his fingers, while Chris listened blankly beside him. But since the number was too large, he was even unsure of what he should feel surprised at halfway through.

''— What is wrong with this Order……''

The leader was a duke’s daughter just at an age of eighteen, the military doctor looked like an insufferable flirt, the people eavesdropping for information from the outside time after time weren’t knights from good backgrounds, and there were even some who looked just like bad-hearted mercenaries as well, while the curiosity that overflowed from the mercenaries’ gazes when the looked at the captured Chris was almost as strong as enmity.

It was the first time he felt such an atmosphere in an army.

These people did not have cheap desires— that was what Chris sensed in the air. In the past, each of the troops that he saw was filled with the stench of beasts due to the strong desire for slaughter, coin or entertainment. However, the knights of the Order of the Silver Egg around him did not have such a stench at all, and the case who made the deepest impression on him was Minerva.

''— That’s right! Where’s Minerva? Is she alright? If I’m not mistaken, she’s hurt as well……''

“Excuse me, Doctor……”

“Just call me Niccolo.” The military doctor smiled, and immediately frowned after that: “Listen well, you cannot speak of the word ‘Doctor’ for a second time in the Order of the Silver Egg. It is a taboo more horrifying than the god of death.”

Chris had never heard any mention of the fact. However, that was not important……

“How is Minerva right now?” Chris asked.

“Paula is probably taking care of her. Women have female medical staff to take care of them— it’s all because of that Francesca, who made such an unreasonable request. If I’m in charge of everything, I’ll definitely heal everyone completely, without fail…… Hey, where are you going, lie down! The injuries you sustained are much more severe than that of Meena’s!”

Niccolo pushed Chris back to the bed by Chris’s shoulders. He even kindly covered Chris with a blanket, but such physical exertion was already enough to cause the wounds on Chris to throb faintly. He could not help but furrow his brows.

“That girl…… Is she alright? She was hurt rather severely as well……”

“Compared with yours, her are actually quite light. Instead of talking about her, what kind of monster are you, seriously……” Niccolo said.

After hearing that, Chris shifted his gaze to the patch of tent above him and deeply breathed out in relief.

''— She’s okay, that’s so great……''

''— After all, if she is not present in the future days, I will not be able to live on as well……''

“You’re a mercenary of the Celestial Kingdom, aren’t you? Why are you so worried of Meena? Are you really her slave?”

Hearing Niccolo’s questions, Chris immediately turned around to ignore him.

“So what is it? Why don’t you just tell me? What does it matter? You’ll be asked these questions no matter where you go as long as you stay here anyway.”

Chris raised the back of his palm to eye level, and finally signed in relief when he saw that the insignia there had already faded into his natural skin color— it seemed like the military doctor was still ignorant of the fact that Chris was the Star Eater.

“Minerva and I met on a battlefield, and I became her slave since I lost…… It’s just that simple.”

“Oh, then the ‘beast’s son who has jet black hair as profound as the night skies’ Minerva once said would kill her would be you?”

Chris couldn’t help but gulp at those words.

It seemed like Minerva had already told the comrades on her team of what she have foreseen. But to what extent did she reveal the information? Chris heard a guarantee from Minerva that she would definitely not tell the others of the brand, so Chris believed that the people who knew of it in the Order of the Silver Egg should be few.

“She said that this day would be the date of her death, and so left the squad by herself.” Niccolo said: “But when we started a bet, everyone bet that she would survive in the end, so the gamble couldn’t be started— But isn’t that obvious? How can anyone in this world kill her?”

''— That’s true. Even the powers of the Beast Brand could not kill her……''

''— No, perhaps I should say that she was not killed exactly because of the brand’s power? This……''

“Even so……” Niccolo said with his head tilted: “Why in the world did she bring you back alive? Did anything happen between you?”

“Ah…… Um…… That…….”

Chris thought, if the military doctor who was good at getting familiar with other people found out about the brandings of the Beast that was on Chris, he would definitely look at him with a disgusted expression. Just thinking of that caused him to be unable to speak. However, just when Chris was stuttering over what he should explain, Niccolo suddenly showed a strange smile, making a conclusion over Chris and Minerva’s relationship by himself: “Oh, so that’s how things are? Well…… Indeed, if something like that really happened between you, it’s true that it would be hard to talk about.” Chris felt that he seemed to have misunderstood something, but he still did not answer in the end.

“There are five stiches on your stomach. Stand up slowly, then. Can you put on your clothes on your own?”

Niccolo was not talking about the old clothing Chris originally wore that was stained by blood, but the brand new clothes that the squad prepared for him. When Chris wore the clothes, he thought in puzzlement over the reason he, as a captive, was allowed to wear clothing of such high quality. He only found something wrong after buttoning the clothes.

“Wait a minute, these clothes are?”

A flamboyantly carved sword accessory was hung on the chest position of the shirt, while emblems of a silver hen and a silver egg were embroidered at the area between the elbow and the cuff.

“This is the badge for Francesca’s personal guards. As for the sword on the chest, it signifies that you have to keep Francesca’s safety in your heart at any time.” Niccolo said.

“W- What the heck is this! What were you thinking!” Chris couldn’t help but cry out: “I’m a slave, why must I fight to the death for you!”

“Didn’t I already tell you? Francesca wants to enlist you in her personal guards.”

Chris was dumbstruck— ''Me? In among the Captain’s personal guard? This means…… I’m supposed to become a member of the Order as well? ''

''— What a joke! If things really turn out that way……''

Chris was worried that the fact that he was the ‘Star Eating Beast’ would be found out not long after. People might even see the Beast brandings on him. If so, he would be cursed and resented by the members of the squad. If even Minerva couldn’t suppress the beast hiding in him one day, he might have to eat up even the members in this team……

''— I- I definitely won’t let things turn out this way. ''

With such a resolution, he originally planned only to be a slave by Minerva’s side, unprepared to come in contact with any person in the team……

“Hey, can’t you be a bit more contented? You’re becoming a member of the Captain’s personal guard, you know? You can sleep in the same tent as her, call her directly as Fran, and there might even be a chance for you to change her clothes for her! What is there to dislike? If you’re not willing, then let me take your place instead!”

“Niccolo, if you finished your work, can you directly stitch up your mouth as well?”

All of a sudden, an unexpected sound rang, causing Niccolo to grab the dagger on the floor in shock, but when he realized who the owner of the voice was, his shoulders convulsed furiously as his shoulders froze. Chris looked back in shock as well, and the one he saw was the blonde girl he encountered before. She was standing at the cramped entrance of the tent.

“Hello, beautiful beast.” She walked into the tent. That moment, all of the armor on her was completely taken off, and the dress with an open chest did not look like clothing worn on a battlefield at all. The eyes that were like sapphires abruptly approached Chris, causing him to bump into a post supporting the tent when he walked backwards.

“Niccolo probably told you about the squad badge, didn’t he?”

Hearing Francesca’s question, Chris’s lowered eyes saw the sword ornament tied to his chest, and forced out an answer after raising his head: “I am from the Celestial Kingdom, and so cannot be your comrade.”

“Aren’t you a mercenary? Besides, isn’t your employer already missing?”

Francesca’s rebuke caused Chris to be speechless, not knowing how to rebuke her. He could only nod when he stared at Francesca’s mysterious expression.

“Listen well……” Francesca said: “Meena was the one who took you back, and she is my subordinate, so you are my belonging as well. Do you understand now?” She pressed her hand on the side of Chris’s ear when she spoke, gently sliding her soft, chilly fingertips to Chris’s chin, as though she was teasing him, “For me, I will not be satisfied even if the soldiers around me are as much as the stars in the skies, so your participation can be said to be irreplaceable to me as well.”

“Why—“ Chris swallowed his words halfway through— ''What is wrong is with this Order? Normally, won’t any other daughter of a duke be nestled up in her own city, indulging in luxurious dresses, balls, and other people’s gossip? Why did this woman lead an army to war? Might it be possible that she is really treating the troops her father entrusted to her as a toy……''

To that, Francesca shrugged and smiled superficially: “I’m not thinking of bringing down the Celestial Kingdom just for fun.”

Her answer stunned Chris to silence— ''Bringing down the Celestial Kingdom? ''

From what he was aware of, no matter how powerful an aristocratic House was, they would only cause uprisings to get land, military force and taxing rights from the Celestial Kingdom, but never did anyone make the grandiloquent declaration of overthrowing the Celestial Kingdom. However, the little girl of eighteen before his eyes……

While Chris was feeling stunned in awe, the tent entrance was flipped open once again.

“Fran!”

This time, it was Minerva who rushed inside. That moment, she had already taken off the cape pinned to her sleeves, exposing her white, slender shoulders. With bloodstains on the bandage covering her wound on her waist, her fragile would make people’s heart ache. It was hard to associate her with the ‘soul reaper’ nimbly waving a large sword no matter how you looked at it.

“Don’t you do things on your own accord. He is my belonging!” Minerva shouted in agitation.

“What is he to you again?” Francesca asked in nonchalance.

“I said, he’s my slave!”

“Did you already forget, there is a rule in the Code of the Rose which says, without my permission, battle spoils cannot be taken for yourself.”

“Ngh……” Her words caused Minerva to lean unsteadily against a post and supported herself on it while protesting weakly:

“But…… He’s a person, not a thing, so he can’t count as a battle spoil…..”

“But didn’t you say just now that he’s your belonging?”

“Ah, ngh…….”

Minerva’s face reddened in anger. Her hand gripping the post tightened abruptly, causing the wooden post to creak in response. Seeing her reaction, Niccolo hurriedly ran forward with his face pale, “Hey hey hey, what the heck are you doing! Are you thinking of tearing down my tent? Calm down a little! How can you win against the Captain in an argument? You didn’t even think of the fact that your brain isn’t that quick from the star—”

Thump— Minerva’s fist lashed out, hitting Niccolo away in an instant. Chris barely managed to catch the tall man, causing his wounds that were just stitched to throb in pain.

“Sorry, sorry, thanks a lot……” While apologizing, Niccolo rose, a flaming trail of nosebleed on his face.

“Say that once again if you dare, and we’ll see how quick your brain will twist!” Minerva cried out in anger. However, the shout caused a severe pain in her wounds, making her press her side abdomen. That moment, another person ran into the tent.

“Meena, I haven’t finished dealing with your wounds yet. You can’t just run off like this!”

The girl wore a brimless hat and donned a blue, triangular cape. It seemed like that was the uniform for the medical soldiers. The medical staff looked similar to Minerva in age, or was perhaps a few years younger than her. There were even a few locks of light brown baby hair at the side of her youthful face. Seeing the disaster in the tent and her liege lord standing before her, she couldn’t help but cry out with her hand covering her mouth and her face pale: “Ah! Lady Fran, my deepest apologies!”

“Paula. Haven’t I told you that you must tie up her neck when you are handling Meena’s wounds? She doesn’t get hurt often, so she hates the medicinal odor.”

“What do you treat me as, a dog?!”

“N- No, Meena ran out in a rush because she heard Lady Fran discussing about the entry to the team with the captive……”

Seeing the two squabbling before her, the girl called Paula added on in support of Minerva after looking at them timidly. At a side, Niccolo spoke by Chris’s ears in a low voice, “You two are actually rather similar……”

However, the words seemed to be overheard by Minerva, and she immediately shot a look as sharp as blades across Niccolo’s heart. Judging that the situation was not good, the military doctor hurriedly hid behind Chris without regard for his own pride.

That moment, Francesca spoke while holding Minerva’s hand: “Why do you refuse to let this beautiful beast join us?”

“This—” After hearing her question, Minerva first glanced at Chris, and then stayed mute after looking around at the people present. Then, she said: “Because…… Because I must keep him by my side. If not…… It’ll be…… dangerous, if he is allowed to approach the others……”

“So the two of you are so close that you’re inseparable?” Francesca added quickly.

“Don’t explain it in such a way! That is not what I mean! He is just my tool, and is nothing else!”

''— What in the world are these two talking about……''

Chris was dumbstruck, and even then, Niccolo still refused to behave, and interjected: “This is the man she saw every night even in her dreams, of course she won’t let him g—“ Before finishing his words, the gauntlet that Minerva tossed over crashed heavily on Niccolo’s forehead, causing him to bend down in pain.

After seeing that, Francesca sighed and said: “Paula, have a look at Niccolo. No matter how much he bluffs that he is a great doctor, I think he won’t be able to deal with injuries on his own face. Well then, welcome, beautiful beast.”

She changed topics in a flash, taking Minerva and Chris out of the tent at the same time, passing through the center of the camp.

Under the evening skies, smoke curled upwards from the porridge stewing in the campsite…… A whole day passed since they returned. Night was about to descend.

Military tents were erected everywhere. Soldiers in the Order sat with the campfire as their central area. When they saw Francesca walking by with Chris and Minerva, they nodded to their liege lord one by one, glaring at Chris who was walking behind her as well.

Among their murmuring voices, Chris heard the word ‘Star Eater’ and froze on the spot.

''— Someone knows of me! ''

''— Is it possible that there are even people among the Principality who heard of rumors about me? ''

“Hey, you guys know of this beast?”

Francesca heard it as well. She stopped and questioned her subordinate sitting by the campfire.

“Of course! He has quite the famous name!”

“Captain, did you see the armor that guy was wearing? Each part of the set is first class stuff of the highest level. However, not one of them was of the same set.”

“There are some with emblems of Duke Houses, some with art hand-drawn by noblewomen, and even some of the exorcism pictures of the Church. How could anyone get such an assorted set of armor together?”

Hearing their descriptions, Chris couldn’t help but avert his gaze.

“All of those were probably robbed from famous Generals or Knights after he killed them.”

“Actually, it’s still fine when we hear the name ‘Star Eater’. It’s the people of the Celestial Kingdom army who would get scared out of their wits after hearing it.”

“I heard that an army with him would definitely perish.”

Thus, quite a few gazes were focused on Chris. Even when he looked away, he could still feel the gazes full of enmity piercing on his body like a thousand needles.

“Meena, why the heck did you bring this guy alive? Wasn’t this guy supposed to kill you?”

“That’s right, you should have chopped off his limbs, leaving him alone on the battlefield.”

Just when Minerva was about to answer, Francesca stopped her with a flourish of her hands, speaking ahead of her instead:

“He’s joining my personal guard.”

The words caused the soldiers surrounding the campfire to stand up as well. Even the people slightly further away from them gulped and almost stood up together as well.

“Captain, are you serious?!”

Among them, an impatient soldier who were the eldest, and had a large scar on his face approached, questioning Francesca in a distance so close he almost pressed against her.

“Putting this guy in the Order is just bad luck. Please don’t do something like that!”

“If we let him stay in the Order, who knows what trouble would happen!”

“You’re just plain ignoring the lives of your comrades if you do this!”

The words pierced Chris’s heart one after another. However, it was actually quite normal for them to have such reactions.

''— Never mind……''

''— Just let me be a slave of my own will, just like a rusted hoe kept in a store by a farmer……''

''— Please don’t drag me into this team……''

“Are you doubting my decision?”

Facing her subordinate’s objections, Francesca tilted her head, halting everyone’s discussions with a loud, imperious voice. The soldiers who continually jeered at Chris paled, not daring to make the slightest sound.

“You think that the Order of the Silver Egg trained by me, Francesca da Zaccaria, directed by me in warfare strategy will lose to the misfortune wrought on by such a cute beast?”

Francesca’s imposing presence covered that of the soldiers present. After they exchanged gazes with each other, all of them knelt down, bowing down before their Captain. The scene shocked Chris into a daze.

The blonde girl with a startling imposing manner lowered her head to look at her subordinates, and berated right after that:

“How many times have I told you not to forget your pride as a member of the Order of the Silver Egg? The pride includes the honor signified by the flag you are under, your liege lord’s name and your own pride!”

After saying that, she turned around, while Minerva chased over while saying in displeasure:

“Look, everyone had such a reaction just because you wanted to enlist him into your personal guard. This guy is a mad dog. You can only order him around as a slave with a collar on his neck……”

Chris knew that Minerva was having a headache over how she should keep him by her side as well, and if Chris’s presence caused harm to the Order’s safety, Minerva would probably kill him without hesitating. However, if Chris were to become a member of the Order, she could not do that anymore.

“Meena, do you mean to keep this beautiful beast all to yourself?”

“That is not what I mean!”

“Excuse me…… Francesca……”

While Francesca and Minerva were bickering, Chris called the young Captain before him as he walked to a shady spot in the tent behind them.

“Just call me Fran. You are the fifth person to get permission.” Francesca turned around and said while pointing at Chris.

However, facing the goodwill of the daughter of a duke, Chris instead caught hold of the sword ornament tied to his chest and handed it to Francesca after tearing it down with its band.

“What are you doing?” She asked. With her head tilted, she stood before Chris like a cat that caught sight of its prey.

“I cannot become your comrade, because I am a harbinger of misfortune no matter where I walk. No matter where I go, I will be resented, cursed by the people like just now.”

Before realizing it, Chris almost let slip the fact that he had the Brand of the Beast on him as well, saying that he was a beast that lived on the lives of other people, but he still held back in the end. After all, he would be unable to continue staying by Minerva’s side if such words were spoken.

“I don’t care how other people say. The most important thing is how you yourself think, isn’t that right?”

Francesca’s denial caused Chris to be struck dumb momentarily.

“Besides, don’t you have a reason that you have to stay by Meena for?”

In a double-team of the elegant Lady’s gaze who could see through people’s thoughts and Minerva’s gaze that was chilly as heavy lead, Chris nodded vaguely, “I- It’s..... true that I wish to stay by Minerva’s side, but……”

“—! You— Can you please mind how you speak!”

After hearing that, Minerva struck Chris with an elbow hit, causing him to see stars.

''— Why did she get mad? Isn’t things exactly so……''

''— Henceforth, I will always…… always stay by your side, devouring your fate, eating up your destiny of death……''

“Oh my, fine, fine.” Francesca widened her eyes in feigned shock, smiling while she walked, “It’s just great, Meena. How good will it be if I could hear someone say that to me.”

Seeing Francesca’s hand that was approaching her, Minerva pushed her away abruptly, walking two steps before Francesca after that.

“Anyway, your reason can’t be disclosed, right?” Francesca asked once again. However, Minerva gave a ‘hmph’, while Chris nodded as well.

''— How can we disclose this……''

''— How can I tell the others that I am actually a beast who lives on the fates of the others? ''

“Very well. Forget it. Anyway, I’ve already decided. Since I like this beautiful beast, I am enlisting him in my personal guard.”

That moment, the three of them were passing through another campfire. When the soldiers around them heard Francesca’s words, they glared at Chris in surprise.

“Captain’s personal guard……” “We’re talking about that guy?” “Captain is making reckless decisions again……” Chris could not help but feel a blow when he heard the discussions around them, and lowered his head to look at his feet.

''— In such gazes and disparagement…… How can they fight by my side in companionship……''

“Besides, this beautiful beast probably knows nothing but fighting, isn’t that right?”

Hearing Francesca’s voice, Chris came to his senses after a moment of shock.

“You said that you’re keeping him as a slave, but what can he do? You aren’t thinking of letting him dress you up everyday, are you?”

“N- No…… This…… Well……” Facing Francesca’s questions, Minerva stuttered, not knowing how to answer.

“Look, the people around us would have less to say if I keep him by my side instead. If so, it means that he’s by your side as well, so please think better about it.”

Francesca said.

Chris did not speak, and brooded over the words of the young Captain.

In fact, she might have been right as well. After all, his identity as the ‘Star Eater’ was long known. If so, as long as he stayed in the Order, no matter as a slave with his neck tied up, or fighting with the others while holding a sword, such enmity would not disappear. If so—

Chris nodded to Francesca’s opinions, while the young Captain narrowed her eyes in a smile in satisfaction as well, nodding in response to Chris’s affirmation.

Thus, with uneasy emotions, he tied the sword ornament that was not yet handed out back on his chest.

''— Can…… Can I really protect the others……''

''— In the past, I was a beast who devoured the fates of other people all along. Can I really protect Minerva? ''

Chris thought in his heart. If the night of the new moon descended, and even Minerva was unable to suppress the beast on him, he would have to escape by himself. If so, he only had that choice as well……

However, to Francesca’s statement, Minerva objected while pursing her lips:

“You want him to join your personal guard, but you decided without getting Gilbert’s agreement. That guy will be angry.”

“Even though he’s the captain of the personal guards, he does not have the right to object to my decision as well. Besides, Gil isn’t even here anyway.”

“Not here? Why?” Minerva asked.

“I asked him to sneak into an enemy campsite, but I think he’s about to return soon.”

“Sneaking into an enemy campsite? Why? Aren’t we already retreating?”

Facing Minerva’s question, Francesca patted her on her shoulders.

“How do you think you were saved in the river valley? It’s because of Gil asking the mercenaries of the Celestial army to catch the Salt Sprayer by offering gold coins as a reward that the net of enclosure you had to face in the end got weaker.”

Hearing that, Minerva’s eyes widened. She froze, while Chris had the same reaction behind her as well.

So that was what happened. Minerva and Chris did indeed hear the soldiers on their tail mention while searching for them that another person was willing to pay more for them alive, compared with the money that Cornelius offered.

''— So they used the tactic of dispersing the enemy forces……''

Chris thought, the act of fearlessly scattering money in the enemy camp was just too reckless.

“That’s why, when Gil returns, you’ll have to thank him properly.” Francesca said.

The tent of the Order of the Silver Egg’s captain was far more lavish than one would imagine, as though a bedroom in a noble’s palace was completely duplicated there. The large bed in the tent’s bedroom was stuffed full of feathers that seemed to be able to drown a person. The large flag signifying the dukedom and the Order that alternated in gold and silver was hung between the posts. The position at the bedside where armor was supposed to be hung was furnished with a galore of enchanting dresses. The dishes served by the servants were so sumptuous that it would cause people’s eyes to widen.

“You’re still hungry, aren’t you? Have a seat.” Francesca said.

The menu included roasted pies with a soft texture that were filled with apple fillings and extremely fresh meat products. Those were all delicacies that Chris never had a chance to consume in the army.

Although the food on the table looked mouthwatering, and definitely won’t taste bad, to Chris, they were all dishes unsuited for his appetite. Added with the fact that Francesca and Minerva’s gazes never left him as they dined, he only dared to consume some drinks and cheese.

The red wine there weren’t sour at all, and was excellent wine. From that point, the Order probably had alcohol fermentation equipment as well.

''— Speaking of which……'' Chris raised his gaze and glanced at the two girls by his side, thinking that the dining etiquette of the two were just too particular, as though they had forgotten that they were actually in a military camp. Bread had to be tore off with the hands before putting them into the mouth, while chewing had to be done in small bites so that the cheeks would not swell up…… It was understandable to Chris that Francesca ate thus, but it surprised him to see that even Minerva did so.

''— It’s the first time I encountered such a strange, uneasy feeling……''

After they finished eating, Francesca actually shocked them by saying:

“I’ll sleep in the center, Paula sleeps on the left, Meena sleeps on the right. As for you, you can sleep on the area below our feet.”

“Wait a minute!” Minerva shouted with a flustered expression before Chris even spoke: “Are you inviting him to sleep with us?!”

“But of course. He’s a member of my personal guard.”

“But doesn’t Gilbert sleep at other places as well? And he’s a man as well—“

“That’s because Gil himself was unwilling to do so. As for me, as long as they’re beautiful, I won’t mind if they’re men or women. Besides, won’t it be great if we have such a beautiful beast as a footrest when we are sleeping?”

Chris’s eyes widened, and fell into a daze. However, his brain started to buzz in slight pain.

''— This woman…... isn’t crazy, is she? ''

“Even if it’s fine for you, Paula won’t be willing as well!” Minerva frantically tried to change Francesca’s opinion.

“Eh? Does that mean that you aren’t unwilling?” Francesca asked.

“Of course not!”

That moment, sounds of footsteps approaching came from outside the tent. Chris reflexively touched his belt, but there wasn’t any sword hanging there. The footsteps sounded light and rhythmic. If not for the metals on his armor clinking, it might have been hidden by the two women’s bickering in the tent.

It was the footsteps of a veteran on the battlefield.

“Lady Fran, I have returned.”

When they looked around, they saw a tall man at the entrance of the military tent. He had gray hair shaved extremely short, eyes that were as bright as marbles, while his graceful features looked like a profound lake encased in a thin layer of ice.

The man wore black armor, but the armor could not hide the body it covered that went through numerous trainings and his hardened limbs. However, his longsword fixed to his waist was probably the most eye-catching thing about him. The arc of the sword’s body was extremely graceful. It was most probable that the sword was just covered with a holster of knots as a suitable sheathe could not be found for it.

“So you’re back, Gil. Listen, I was just talking to Meena about the problem of increasing the size of the bed.”

The words caused the man to shoot a look as sharp as a nail at Minerva, fixating abruptly on Chris, leaving only after that. He looked back at his liege lord. There was a short sword hung on his waist, and the emblem of the Order carved on it was owned by Chris as well. It seemed like he was the leader of the Captain’s personal guard, Gilbert.

“Due to the increase in numbers of my personal guard, this bed will not be enough anymore.” Francesca said.

“Can we please discuss this matter only after we return to the country.” Completely ignoring his liege lord’s high spirits, he coolly poured cold water on her. After that, he said in a stern voice: “The enemy assigned an assault team to attack us in two directions. They’ll probably reach us in about half an hour.”

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| Back to [[Tsurugi_no_Joou_to_Rakuin_no_Ko:Volume_1_Chapter_4|Chapter 4]]
| Return to [[Tsurugi_no_Joou_no_Rakuin_no_Ko|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Tsurugi_no_Joou_to_Rakuin_no_Ko:Volume_1_Chapter_6|Chapter 6]]
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Tsurugi no Joou to Rakuin no Ko:Volume 1 Chapter 2

2012-09-29T17:27:22Z

70.172.231.242:

==Chapter 2 – The Previous Night==

“So— You say that you’re just seventeen this year? How did you survive in the battlefield these ten years?”

The campfire crackled. At the side of the flames, a muscular man with a bushy mustache spoke bluntly to Chris:

“Isn’t your sword a famous weapon from the Eastern Country? Only knights with an established name could get that. Did you slip into their bedrooms to get it? Hahahaha……”

Although the boor looked clumsy, he was a true Knight who was awarded the Purple Rose badge and purple banner of the Celestial Kingdom army.

But speaking of which, the long years of war caused the national resources to weaken. Because of that, it was impossible for the Army to hang on if they did not bestow upon the captain of the mercenary squad the name of a Knight. Chris regretted his decision of negotiating personally, and at the same time averted his gaze from the mustached boor.

In the dark night, tents were raised on the field. A few troublesome-looking mercenaries had their backs on the campsite, surrounding the fire with their gazes focused on Chris and the boor, maliciously leering at the conversation between the two as though they were watching an entertaining show.

Actually, Chris only wanted to tell the captain that he wanted to leave the team that night. However, for some reason, not only was he dragged into their idle chatter while they drank, he was forced to go along with their topics as well.

“This sword is even taller than you. How do you use this? Why don’t you give it to me? I’ll say, instead of holding a large sword like this, playing with a longsword like this is a better fit for you. Come over to my tent tonight.”

Among the dirty hisses, the campfire continued to flicker. Chris was worried for his sword, hugging it in his lap at the same time.

“I snatched this sword from an enemy after killing him when I joined an expedition to Prin Kinopoly.”

Even though Chris thought that those people wouldn’t listen to his words as well, he still gave such a statement.

It was a treasure he won from a rather famous enemy general, and the weapon that in turn gave him each of his jobs. He never stayed in a mercenary squad for a long time. However, as he was a kid who looked and was built as slender as a girl, the sword was absolutely necessary for people to recognize his strength.

When the mercenary squad was recruiting fresh blood, the person who interviewed him was not the bear-like captain, but an aged soldier. He witnessed Chris’s talent, and informed him of the duration of the contract. However, the said soldier left the battlefield due to injuries, causing Chris’s application to leave to become extremely troublesome.

“Hmph. If I was the one organizing the recruitment of soldiers, I would’ve kept you by my side to serve me long ago.”

He grinned broadly, thoroughly inspecting Chris from his head to his foot with his dirty gaze.

The gaze was definitely not the first time Chris encountered it. He was often misunderstood on the battlefield as a male prostitute among the crew entertainers.

“Why do you want to leave, and today to boot? We’re going to launch a final attack on the enemy tomorrow. They might just be a tenth of us. Are you scared?”

“Boss, he’s probably so scared he peed his pants. What a wuss.”

A mercenary sitting near the campfire spat out those words, making the audience laugh out loud.

“I heard that they have the Salt Sprayer on their side this time. He probably feels like running away after hearing this news.”

“I heard that quite a few kids from the other teams wanted to slip away when they heard this news as well.”

“Wahahaha— you’re talking about the Salt-Spraying fellow? Isn’t that just some kind of excuse those guys who ran away after losing a battle made up?”

“You’re talking about the guy on the battlefields without any armor who’s in all white, aren’t you?”

“I heard that even javelin throws and arrows couldn't hurt him.”

“How can there be such people?”

The rumor that they were discussing was known to Chris as well— the Salt Sprayer, the ‘Salt-Spraying Soul Reaper of the Battlefield’. It was a strange news spread between mercenaries these few years. It was said that people who saw that person definitely wouldn't come back alone, saying that it was folly to meet him.

Actually, there would always be such rumors on the battlefield, but when you think about it, one would not be able to live after they really met such a soul reaper, so who in the world would be able to spread such a rumor? Thus, everyone could just ignore this with a laugh.

“Say, quite a lot of rumors of spirits and monsters surfaced these days, and people gave them seriously exaggerated names.”

“Really, something like the Salt Sprayer or Star Eater…… The heck? It’s not like we’re telling stories to make a kid sleep.”

“The Star Eater huh— Hah, chances are that the rumor is bogus too. Something like him completely eradicating a thousand men brigade, eating his comrades’ fates to survive……”

“And also, I heard, in the last war that happened at the borders, a team of fifty people rushed into the enemy camp, and only that guy returned with the head of the enemy commander, while all of the others died.”

“Ahahahahahaha— That’s crazy, if he really had such powers, he’d have long been knighted!”

“Isn’t that so? If there’s really such a person, I’d have long dragged him out and cut open his stomach to vanquish this thing!”

When he heard that, Chris’s fingers subconsciously tightened as he held onto his arms with his palm.

He couldn’t care less about the Salt Sprayer. However, they were talking about the Star Eater. He couldn’t just pretend that he never heard of that. After all, the so-called Star Eater was an accursed name that those who had once stayed by his side gave to him. The mercenaries giving rough laughter while holding cups of beer never would have thought that the terrifying Star Eating Beast that they were discussing was the young kid before their eyes.

“Why is this guy shaking?” The bearded mercenary captain glanced at Chris and had a colossal misunderstanding about his reaction, “What’s wrong? Scared of a kid’s bedtime ghost story like this? You wanted to leave just because of this? What kind of lunacy are you spouting?”

“The effectiveness of my contract is only until the sun rises tomorrow morning.”

“Hah? Is that for you to decide?”

It seemed like the captain did not know of the effective time of his contract. Chris could only sigh.

He could feel the sense of pain that continued to pulse on his forehead and the back of his hands.

The reason that Chris was unwilling to stay in a mercenary squad or to be among Knights for an extended period of time was due to the beast brandings on him. After all, when the beast in him awoke, it would devour each and every one of the fates of the people surrounding him, without an exception. It was exactly the same as what the elder in the village once said— the beast will ‘devour people’s fates’. On each new moon night, everyone by Chris’s side would face a disaster— the mercenary squad that sheltered Chris when he was little was vanquished just like that.

''— I don’t want anyone to be dragged into this curse of mine anymore! ''

“This is bad luck. This concerns the spirit of the team, so you are forbidden from mentioning this anymore.”

The captain stopped the topic in his low, rough voice. Chris could only shut up. Just as he was brooding over how he should leave the team in the coming battle, the captain’s stern expression changed to a dirty smile……

“If you’re scared, you can just stay in the camp. But you’ll have to serve the soldiers at night, and you’ll be dead tired.”

The words made Chris shudder terribly. Because he could not hear any hint of a joke from the captain’s tone anymore. That moment, the captain’s stout bear-like body rose and headed towards him after walking by the campfire.

“W- wait a minute!”

Just when Chris was standing up and was about to turn tail, a hand suddenly grabbed him from behind.

“It seems like I have to make you forget about any thought of leaving the team.”

Stench of beer drifted to him from the back from his ears along with obscene words. He turned around and saw a ruddy face behind his shoulders…… And there wasn’t only one. There were a total of three people, working together to lock his shoulders. The act caused the giant sword in Chris’s hands to loosen, falling onto the ground with a clank —''I really shouldn’t have mentioned this when they were drunk……'' The thought just flitted through his mind. Chris did not even have any time to regret before his collar was grabbed by the captain.

“S- Stop it!”

“Bufufufu, look, don’t you sound like a woman!”

“Don’t you do anything stupid!” “See how we’ll pity you after our Boss had his fun!”

Along with the captain, the other three whiskered faces approached as well. Fear surged in Chris’s mind— ''should I kill them…… No, I’ll need to go against the whole camp if so, and will be vanquished by them. But if this goes on''—

Just at that moment, sound of tearing that tore through the air dashed to the front of Chris and the captain, causing the bear-like face to shrink backwards in an instant. At the same time, a trail of blood blossomed on the tip of his nose, bright red liquid dripping downwards.

“…… Ugh!”

It was a short javelin. It pierced through the space before Chris and the captain, piercing into the ground along its path, making a strong tremor in the end.

“— Who goes there!”

The three soldiers restraining Chris together paled, grabbing their swords at the same time. That allowed Chris to quickly escape from their clutches, hurriedly lying on the ground to grab his own sword in the presence of the strong aura on his right.

Unknowingly, only a dead silence filled the area. The hiccups of drunkards and clear tinkle of colliding cups disappeared completely, leaving only the campfire crackling on.

The fire exposed a silhouette. A tall man walked out from a dark spot. The man wore a luxurious military robe with a purple silk cape. His jet black straight hair was tidily combed to the back, and his eyes were sharp like an eagle. Maybe because of his youthful energy, the man gave off an arrogant, domineering feel.

“Actually starting on a young soldier in your team. What an undisciplined squad. I can almost smell the stench of swine in a pigsty. How nauseating.”

The man’s voice sounded as cold as metal that just hardened.

“You’re the one who threw the javelin huh!” “This guy isn’t one of us!” “Blasted kid!” “Which squad are you from!”

“I want you to pay for the scratch on my nose!”

The captain kicked the campfire, and then dashed towards the uninvited guest along with four other soldiers with their blades.

On the instant when the blades flashed, the surrounding soldiers suddenly felt a sense of terror. A slight commotion started to spread among the mass as well. Nobody made any loud noises— they were all struck deaf in shock and awe.

On that instant, all four muscular men fell onto the ground. The younger man had already pulled out his longsword when everyone else had been unable to respond, but there weren’t any signs of blood at all.

Chris’s gaze barely grasped what happened in an instant— with lightning speed, the man flashed his blade past the throats of the two mercenaries who first lunged. It was so quick that it was chilling. However, the more terrifying thing was that the two whose necks were slit suddenly turned around to squash the other two onto the ground, as though invisible wires were directing their each and every muscle.

“W- What did you do!” “M- My body moved by itself!” “What’s happening!”

The four stout mercenaries grappled on the ground.

''What is the meaning of this……'' The insignia on Chris’s forehead pulsed continually. Evidently, it was not swordsmanship anyone could use.

''W- What ''is'' this person! ''

Chris finally remembered that the purple on that person couldn’t be worn by those who are not among the clan of the Celestial Kings. Apart from that, on that purple cape, the badge with a picture of two unicorns in an arc was embroidered on it……

“— My lord, why are you taking action alone? That is too dangerous!”

Sounds of footsteps followed the exclamation. After that, Chris saw a few young servants in extravagant military clothing running out from a dark location the campfire did not manage to shine on.

“Master Cornelius, please return to the camp!”

“Why did you specially come over to the campsite of such a small unit!”

The young servants looked at the surrounding filthy mercenaries and couldn’t help but frown.

“Aren’t you exaggerating things a little? I just came over to a pigsty to have a look, but you nannies still wanted to come over. You’ll become the laughing stock of the imperial court.”

The noble whom the servants called Cornelius had his mouth curled in a sneer. That moment, the surrounding mercenaries had long frozen. Chris heard of the name as well.

Royal Consort, Cornelius Epimex.

House Epimex was one of the Three Great Duchies at the zenith of aristocracy. It was one of the most prominent among the nobility. And among the nobility, only members of the Three Great Duchies were qualified to marry royalty. Not only was Cornelius the Lord of house Epimex, he was a skilled swordsman. He won numerous battles in the battlefield, and was ordered to be the general of this expedition, leading the whole expedition team.

It was said that Cornelius was a swordsman good at using magic swordsmanship, as his sword could kill without seeing blood.

“W- Why……?”

The mercenary squad captain that was like a bear scrambled out from his underling’s body after some effort and moaned while raising his shaking palm:

“Why did Your Lordship…… C- Come here……”

That moment, it was as though he suddenly realized what he should do, and hurriedly kneeled on the ground, pressing his head down before the general. The surrounding underlings quickly did the same action as well.

“Swine in the pigsty should not mimic human speech.”

To that, Cornelius just spat out in disdain. After that, his sharp gaze fell onto Chris.

That moment, Chris couldn’t move at all. It was not because of fear. It was because the three beast insignias on him were burning his body like a blazing inferno…… He did not know why as well. However, the sharp gaze by Cornelius was like silver spurting out from a furnace, so cold that Chris felt thoroughly disgusted from the bottom of his heart.

''— Why did the General come here? ''

''— Isn’t the main force of the expedition squad at the mountain? ''

Just when Chris was pondering about the questions with unattainable answers, Cornelius had already put his large sword in his hands away into its scabbard, and was walking towards him in large steps. Chris couldn’t help but take a step backwards, completely forgetting about the necessary etiquette.

“I came to see what you look like.”

Cornelius bent down and leaned his face closer while saying.

''— See me? ''

''— See how….. I look like? ''

Confusion caused Chris to be flustered, causing him to be unable to move. As a Royal Consort, why would he want to recognize a wandering mercenary like him……

“Those swine probably hired you as a mercenary in chance without knowing anything. But in fact, there are quite a lot of people who know how you look like as the Star Eater as well. The extent of your reputation is far above your imagination.”

Cornelius extended a finger, pressing it on Chris’s chin to raise his face.

Quiet murmurs of discussion spread through the surrounding crowd—

“He’s the Star Eater?” “A kid like him?” “Seriously?!”

The fragments of conversation suddenly surfaced vigorously on water like bubbles from boiling water, and disappeared in an instant one by one.

“You are the tough soldier who killed one person after another on the battlefield with your slender arms? You didn’t even let your own people go.” Cornelius gave a cruel smile. “I heard that the assault party sent a squad of four hundred people to infiltrate the fortress during the fortress assault battle on prelate territory, Decraet, and when they brought down the city gate, the only one alive when they opened the door was you, isn’t that right?”

Chris swallowed after hearing that, but he just couldn’t shift his gaze from the Archduke.

“Since you did so much in our service, why didn’t you just join the Army and be rewarded?”

Cornelius’s questions voice was like a blunt blade, cruelly toying with Chris.

“Is it because of the brandings on you?” He asked.

Chris gasped in shock, and was caught by Cornelius when he was about to jump backwards. Cornelius grabbed his face with all ten fingers, and the force was so large that it almost squeezed the eyeballs out of his sockets. However, in the pair of chilly palms, the fear in Chris’s heart and his trembling faded slowly as well.

He felt the insignia on his forehead shining white light without waiting for the claw-like moonlight of the new moon to spill down.

''— Why does he know of the branding of the beast? ''

“You were born in a village at Pruoua, weren’t you? It was territory where Father once attacked in the past. I’ve already heard that a Beast’s son was born there long ago, and was thinking of going there when the mark could be clearly distinguished. In the end, I heard that he burnt his village down along with the bandits that attacked his village, making Father and I so disappointed.”

When he was talking, Cornelius’s fingers raised Chris’s face, “But I never thought that I would actually meet the son of the Beast on the battlefield. Hmm…… The insignia is indeed present.”

He extended his index finger to touch the insignia on Chris’s forehead. A scorching heat could be felt from the insignia.

''— This person…… This person is just too dangerous. Sooner or later, I- I……''

Just when the thought flashed past Chris’s mind, a sudden assault hit him. He felt a cold sense of pain at the right side of his body, and everything before him dimmed. He supported his body with his hands, and realized that Cornelius tossed him onto the ground. The purple cloak waved, cutting through the air in a circle, and Cornelius’s silhouette that turned to leave had already walked past the other side of the campfire, and was heading towards the mercenary squad captain who was still lying on the ground step by step.

“Rise, swine.” Cornelius called coolly.

“You shall be the rear assault in this battle” He said.

“…… Wha— Ah, yes, yes…… But in the contract, we……”

Before he finished his words, Cornelius already waved his arms. The instant that his movements ended, there rang the sound of water droplets falling onto the sandy ground. The ears of the mercenary squad captain spurted blood. The body that was stout as a bear extended its hands to cover its ears while curling on the ground while making terrible howls.

This time, even Chris’s eyes were unable to catch the movement of him pulling his sword out.

“I said, swine in the pigsty should not mimic human speech!”

Cornelius’s cold tone while speaking was cruel like a sharp ice pick slowly piercing stabbing into the skin.

He put his sword away into his scabbard, keeping it in his lap along with the scabbard, and took out a roll of scroll instead. The wax seal on the scroll caused everyone to swallow— it was a wheel with open wings. It was the symbol of each faction in the clan of Celestial Kings, the badge of the Queen who governed the whole Celestial Kingdom.

“This is an Oracle Decree, prioritized over the contract.”

Seeing the Oracle Decree, the bear-like mercenary squad captain hurriedly pressed his whole body down.

The said Oracle was a prediction bestowed upon the Queen by the all-seeing God, Tucae. It was the divine power that supported the supremacy of the whole Celestial Kingdom, and thus nobody in the whole country dared to go against the Oracle Degree by Tucae.

Even so, the dissatisfied clucking of tongues of a few people at darker spots in the campsite could still be heard. An atmosphere of doubt filled the surroundings, the soldiers’ suspicion of the authenticity of the Oracle Decree completely undisguised.

In the condition that the royal family could only borne daughters, it was as though the Three Great Duchies who owned qualifications to be the Royal Consort were the true holders of power in the whole Celestial Kingdom. Hence, people in the Three Great Duchies would often do as they wished in the pretense of a fake Oracle Decree. It was something in the Celestial Kingdom that even children knew. However, even so, nobody around really dared to stand before Archduke Cornelius to demand him to open the decree and read its contents.

With the surroundings in silence, Cornelius put away the decree in his hands and said to the mercenary squad captain after glancing at Chris:

“You must be careful not to let the Star Eater escape— Now that his true identity is revealed, he might plan to escape.”

The words were like a large rock jamming itself in Chris’s throat, causing him to be unable to speak even if he wanted to. After that, Cornelius turned around to focus his gaze on Chris once more. A pair of chilly eyes looked at him, passing through the darkness the campfire could not shine on.

“I’ll say, you won’t be able to escape no matter how much you try. People owning the branding of the beast is destined to be unable to grab anything, not able to have encounters that will stay in your life. You can only contain blood in your mouth, struggling on the ground in a pitiful manner forever, crawling if you can, struggling until the instant when your life ends, and dying like a wild beast. This is the fate that must be shouldered by one with the brandings.”

''— That person….. He actually knows everything, doesn’t he? ''

''— He knows of the brandings on me, and understands them far more than I do…… But why is that? ''

''— He said that people owning the branding of the beast is unable to escape from such a fate no matter what? What a joke. Even without the influence of the brandings, my fate is still to die alone on the battlefield!”

“…… Star Eater……”

“Bringer of misfortune…..” “Hey, he’s looking at us!” “Why would a person like him appear in our squad?” “Damn, this is just eight lifetimes of bad luck!”

The people in the mercenary squad focused their gathering dissatisfaction on Chris.

“Boss, chase that guy out! He’ll bring bad luck!”

“Idiot, didn’t you listen to Archduke at all? If you don’t follow his instructions, things won’t end with just an ear chopped off— all of you shut up and stop making noise!”

Chris listened to the noise made by the people behind him and left the area illuminated by the campfire. In the process, a few gazes were still fixated on him. He raised his head to look at the night sky. There wasn’t a moon that night, and the following day, would be the night of the new moon.

''I have to escape before night descends once again……'' Chris planned in his heart— ''I will escape to a twilight world where I will be all alone, where I will not meet anyone anymore. ''

However, Chris still did not escape from the encounter. It happened on the two hundredth night the new moon hung on the night sky after Chris was born.

Tsurugi no Joou to Rakuin no Ko:Volume 1 Chapter 2

2012-09-29T17:24:41Z

70.172.231.242: /* Chapter 2 – The Previous Night */

==Chapter 2 – The Previous Night==

“So— You say that you’re just seventeen this year? How did you survive in the battlefield these ten years?”

The campfire crackled. At the side of the flames, a muscular man with a bushy mustache spoke bluntly to Chris:

“Isn’t your sword a famous weapon from the Eastern Country? Only knights with an established name could get that. Did you slip into their bedrooms to get it? Hahahaha……”

Although the boor looked clumsy, he was a true Knight who was awarded the Purple Rose badge and purple banner of the Celestial Kingdom army.

But speaking of which, the long years of war caused the national resources to weaken. Because of that, it was impossible for the Army to hang on if they did not bestow upon the captain of the mercenary squad the name of a Knight. Chris regretted his decision of negotiating personally, and at the same time averted his gaze from the mustached boor.

In the dark night, tents were raised on the field. A few troublesome-looking mercenaries had their backs on the campsite, surrounding the fire with their gazes focused on Chris and the boor, maliciously leering at the conversation between the two as though they were watching an entertaining show.

Actually, Chris only wanted to tell the captain that he wanted to leave the team that night. However, for some reason, not only was he dragged into their idle chatter while they drank, he was forced to go along with their topics as well.

“This sword is even taller than you. How do you use this? Why don’t you give it to me? I’ll say, instead of holding a large sword like this, playing with a longsword like this is a better fit for you. Come over to my tent tonight.”

Among the dirty hisses, the campfire continued to flicker. Chris was worried for his sword, hugging it in his lap at the same time.

“I snatched this sword from an enemy after killing him when I joined an expedition to Prin Kinopoly.”

Even though Chris thought that those people wouldn’t listen to his words as well, he still gave such a statement.

It was a treasure he won from a rather famous enemy general, and the weapon that in turn gave him each of his jobs. He never stayed in a mercenary squad for a long time. However, as he was a kid who looked and was built as slender as a girl, the sword was absolutely necessary for people to recognize his strength.

When the mercenary squad was recruiting fresh blood, the person who interviewed him was not the bear-like captain, but an aged soldier. He witnessed Chris’s talent, and informed him of the duration of the contract. However, the said soldier left the battlefield due to injuries, causing Chris’s application to leave to become extremely troublesome.

“Hmph. If I was the one organizing the recruitment of soldiers, I would’ve kept you by my side to serve me long ago.”

He grinned broadly, thoroughly inspecting Chris from his head to his foot with his dirty gaze.

The gaze was definitely not the first time Chris encountered it. He was often misunderstood on the battlefield as a male prostitute among the crew entertainers.

“Why do you want to leave, and today to boot? We’re going to launch a final attack on the enemy tomorrow. They might just be a tenth of us. Are you scared?”

“Boss, he’s probably so scared he peed his pants. What a wuss.”

A mercenary sitting near the campfire spat out those words, making the audience laugh out loud.

“I heard that they have the Salt Sprayer on their side this time. He probably feels like running away after hearing this news.”

“I heard that quite a few kids from the other teams wanted to slip away when they heard this news as well.”

“Wahahaha— you’re talking about the Salt-Spraying fellow? Isn’t that just some kind of excuse those guys who ran away after losing a battle made up?”

“You’re talking about the guy on the battlefields without any armor who’s in all white, aren’t you?”

“I heard that even javelin throws and arrows couldn't hurt him.”

“How can there be such people?”

The rumor that they were discussing was known to Chris as well— the Salt Sprayer, the ‘Salt-Spraying Soul Reaper of the Battlefield’. It was a strange news spread between mercenaries these few years. It was said that people who saw that person definitely wouldn't come back alone, saying that it was folly to meet him.

Actually, there would always be such rumors on the battlefield, but when you think about it, one would not be able to live after they really met such a soul reaper, so who in the world would be able to spread such a rumor? Thus, everyone could just ignore this with a laugh.

“Say, quite a lot of rumors of spirits and monsters surfaced these days, and people gave them seriously exaggerated names.”

“Really, something like the Salt Sprayer or Star Eater…… The heck? It’s not like we’re telling stories to make a kid sleep.”

“The Star Eater huh— Hah, chances are that the rumor is bogus too. Something like him completely eradicating a thousand men brigade, eating his comrades’ fates to survive……”

“And also, I heard, in the last war that happened at the borders, a team of fifty people rushed into the enemy camp, and only that guy returned with the head of the enemy commander, while all of the others died.”

“Ahahahahahaha— That’s crazy, if he really had such powers, he’d have long been knighted!”

“Isn’t that so? If there’s really such a person, I’d have long dragged him out and cut open his stomach to vanquish this thing!”

When he heard that, Chris’s fingers subconsciously tightened as he held onto his arms with his palm.

He couldn’t care less about the Salt Sprayer. However, they were talking about the Star Eater. He couldn’t just pretend that he never heard of that. After all, the so-called Star Eater was an accursed name that those who had once stayed by his side gave to him. The mercenaries giving rough laughter while holding cups of beer never would have thought that the terrifying Star Eating Beast that they were discussing was the young kid before their eyes.

“Why is this guy shaking?” The bearded mercenary captain glanced at Chris and had a colossal misunderstanding about his reaction, “What’s wrong? Scared of a kid’s bedtime ghost story like this? You wanted to leave just because of this? What kind of lunacy are you spouting?”

“The effectiveness of my contract is only until the sun rises tomorrow morning.”

“Hah? Is that for you to decide?”

It seemed like the captain did not know of the effective time of his contract. Chris could only sigh.

He could feel the sense of pain that continued to pulse on his forehead and the back of his hands.

The reason that Chris was unwilling to stay in a mercenary squad or to be among Knights for an extended period of time was due to the beast brandings on him. After all, when the beast in him awoke, it would devour each and every one of the fates of the people surrounding him, without an exception. It was exactly the same as what the elder in the village once said— the beast will ‘devour people’s fates’. On each new moon night, everyone by Chris’s side would face a disaster— the mercenary squad that sheltered Chris when he was little was vanquished just like that.

''— I don’t want anyone to be dragged into this curse of mine anymore! ''

“This is bad luck. This concerns the spirit of the team, so you are forbidden from mentioning this anymore.”

The captain stopped the topic in his low, rough voice. Chris could only shut up. Just as he was brooding over how he should leave the team in the coming battle, the captain’s stern expression changed to a dirty smile……

“If you’re scared, you can just stay in the camp. But you’ll have to serve the soldiers at night, and you’ll be dead tired.”

The words made Chris shudder terribly. Because he could not hear any hint of a joke from the captain’s tone anymore. That moment, the captain’s stout bear-like body rose and headed towards him after walking by the campfire.

“W- wait a minute!”

Just when Chris was standing up and was about to turn tail, a hand suddenly grabbed him from behind.

“It seems like I have to make you forget about any thought of leaving the team.”

Stench of beer drifted to him from the back from his ears along with obscene words. He turned around and saw a ruddy face behind his shoulders…… And there wasn’t only one. There were a total of three people, working together to lock his shoulders. The act caused the giant sword in Chris’s hands to loosen, falling onto the ground with a clank —''I really shouldn’t have mentioned this when they were drunk……'' The thought just flitted through his mind. Chris did not even have any time to regret before his collar was grabbed by the captain.

“S- Stop it!”

“Bufufufu, look, don’t you sound like a woman!”

“Don’t you do anything stupid!” “See how we’ll pity you after our Boss had his fun!”

Along with the captain, the other three whiskered faces approached as well. Fear surged in Chris’s mind— ''should I kill them…… No, I’ll need to go against the whole camp if so, and will be vanquished by them. But if this goes on''—

Just at that moment, sound of tearing that tore through the air dashed to the front of Chris and the captain, causing the bear-like face to shrink backwards in an instant. At the same time, a trail of blood blossomed on the tip of his nose, bright red liquid dripping downwards.

“…… Ugh!”

It was a short javelin. It pierced through the space before Chris and the captain, piercing into the ground along its path, making a strong tremor in the end.

“— Who goes there!”

The three soldiers restraining Chris together paled, grabbing their swords at the same time. That allowed Chris to quickly escape from their clutches, hurriedly lying on the ground to grab his own sword in the presence of the strong aura on his right.

Unknowingly, only a dead silence filled the area. The hiccups of drunkards and clear tinkle of colliding cups disappeared completely, leaving only the campfire crackling on.

The fire exposed a silhouette. A tall man walked out from a dark spot. The man wore a luxurious military robe with a purple silk cape. His jet black straight hair was tidily combed to the back, and his eyes were sharp like an eagle. Maybe because of his youthful energy, the man gave off an arrogant, domineering feel.

“Actually starting on a young soldier in your team. What an undisciplined squad. I can almost smell the stench of swine in a pigsty. How nauseating.”

The man’s voice sounded as cold as metal that just hardened.

“You’re the one who threw the javelin huh!” “This guy isn’t one of us!” “Blasted kid!” “Which squad are you from!”

“I want you to pay for the scratch on my nose!”

The captain kicked the campfire, and then dashed towards the uninvited guest along with four other soldiers with their blades.

“On the instant when the blades flashed, the surrounding soldiers suddenly felt a sense of terror. A slight commotion started to spread among the mass as well. Nobody made any loud noises— they were all struck deaf in shock and awe.

On that instant, all four muscular men fell onto the ground. The younger man had already pulled out his longsword when everyone else had been unable to respond, but there weren’t any signs of blood at all.

Chris’s gaze barely grasped what happened in an instant— with lightning speed, the man flashed his blade past the throats of the two mercenaries who first lunged. It was so quick that it was chilling. However, the more terrifying thing was that the two whose necks were slit suddenly turned around to squash the other two onto the ground, as though invisible wires were directing their each and every muscle.

“W- What did you do!” “M- My body moved by itself!” “What’s happening!”

The four stout mercenaries grappled on the ground.

''What is the meaning of this……'' The insignia on Chris’s forehead pulsed continually. Evidently, it was not swordsmanship anyone could use.

''W- What ''is'' this person! ''

Chris finally remembered that the purple on that person couldn’t be worn by those who are not among the clan of the Celestial Kings. Apart from that, on that purple cape, the badge with a picture of two unicorns in an arc was embroidered on it……

“— My lord, why are you taking action alone? That is too dangerous!”

Sounds of footsteps followed the exclamation. After that, Chris saw a few young servants in extravagant military clothing running out from a dark location the campfire did not manage to shine on.

“Master Cornelius, please return to the camp!”

“Why did you specially come over to the campsite of such a small unit!”

The young servants looked at the surrounding filthy mercenaries and couldn’t help but frown.

“Aren’t you exaggerating things a little? I just came over to a pigsty to have a look, but you nannies still wanted to come over. You’ll become the laughing stock of the imperial court.”

The noble whom the servants called Cornelius had his mouth curled in a sneer. That moment, the surrounding mercenaries had long frozen. Chris heard of the name as well.

Royal Consort, Cornelius Epimex.

House Epimex was one of the Three Great Duchies at the zenith of aristocracy. It was one of the most prominent among the nobility. And among the nobility, only members of the Three Great Duchies were qualified to marry royalty. Not only was Cornelius the Lord of house Epimex, he was a skilled swordsman. He won numerous battles in the battlefield, and was ordered to be the general of this expedition, leading the whole expedition team.

It was said that Cornelius was a swordsman good at using magic swordsmanship, as his sword could kill without seeing blood.

“W- Why……?”

The mercenary squad captain that was like a bear scrambled out from his underling’s body after some effort and moaned while raising his shaking palm:

“Why did Your Lordship…… C- Come here……”

That moment, it was as though he suddenly realized what he should do, and hurriedly kneeled on the ground, pressing his head down before the general. The surrounding underlings quickly did the same action as well.

“Swine in the pigsty should not mimic human speech.”

To that, Cornelius just spat out in disdain. After that, his sharp gaze fell onto Chris.

That moment, Chris couldn’t move at all. It was not because of fear. It was because the three beast insignias on him were burning his body like a blazing inferno…… He did not know why as well. However, the sharp gaze by Cornelius was like silver spurting out from a furnace, so cold that Chris felt thoroughly disgusted from the bottom of his heart.

''— Why did the General come here? ''

''— Isn’t the main force of the expedition squad at the mountain? ''

Just when Chris was pondering about the questions with unattainable answers, Cornelius had already put his large sword in his hands away into its scabbard, and was walking towards him in large steps. Chris couldn’t help but take a step backwards, completely forgetting about the necessary etiquette.

“I came to see what you look like.”

Cornelius bent down and leaned his face closer while saying.

''— See me? ''

''— See how….. I look like? ''

Confusion caused Chris to be flustered, causing him to be unable to move. As a Royal Consort, why would he want to recognize a wandering mercenary like him……

“Those swine probably hired you as a mercenary in chance without knowing anything. But in fact, there are quite a lot of people who know how you look like as the Star Eater as well. The extent of your reputation is far above your imagination.”

Cornelius extended a finger, pressing it on Chris’s chin to raise his face.

Quiet murmurs of discussion spread through the surrounding crowd—

“He’s the Star Eater?” “A kid like him?” “Seriously?!”

The fragments of conversation suddenly surfaced vigorously on water like bubbles from boiling water, and disappeared in an instant one by one.

“You are the tough soldier who killed one person after another on the battlefield with your slender arms? You didn’t even let your own people go.” Cornelius gave a cruel smile. “I heard that the assault party sent a squad of four hundred people to infiltrate the fortress during the fortress assault battle on prelate territory, Decraet, and when they brought down the city gate, the only one alive when they opened the door was you, isn’t that right?”

Chris swallowed after hearing that, but he just couldn’t shift his gaze from the Archduke.

“Since you did so much in our service, why didn’t you just join the Army and be rewarded?”

Cornelius’s questions voice was like a blunt blade, cruelly toying with Chris.

“Is it because of the brandings on you?” He asked.

Chris gasped in shock, and was caught by Cornelius when he was about to jump backwards. Cornelius grabbed his face with all ten fingers, and the force was so large that it almost squeezed the eyeballs out of his sockets. However, in the pair of chilly palms, the fear in Chris’s heart and his trembling faded slowly as well.

He felt the insignia on his forehead shining white light without waiting for the claw-like moonlight of the new moon to spill down.

''— Why does he know of the branding of the beast? ''

“You were born in a village at Pruoua, weren’t you? It was territory where Father once attacked in the past. I’ve already heard that a Beast’s son was born there long ago, and was thinking of going there when the mark could be clearly distinguished. In the end, I heard that he burnt his village down along with the bandits that attacked his village, making Father and I so disappointed.”

When he was talking, Cornelius’s fingers raised Chris’s face, “But I never thought that I would actually meet the son of the Beast on the battlefield. Hmm…… The insignia is indeed present.”

He extended his index finger to touch the insignia on Chris’s forehead. A scorching heat could be felt from the insignia.

''— This person…… This person is just too dangerous. Sooner or later, I- I……''

Just when the thought flashed past Chris’s mind, a sudden assault hit him. He felt a cold sense of pain at the right side of his body, and everything before him dimmed. He supported his body with his hands, and realized that Cornelius tossed him onto the ground. The purple cloak waved, cutting through the air in a circle, and Cornelius’s silhouette that turned to leave had already walked past the other side of the campfire, and was heading towards the mercenary squad captain who was still lying on the ground step by step.

“Rise, swine.” Cornelius called coolly.

“You shall be the rear assault in this battle” He said.

“…… Wha— Ah, yes, yes…… But in the contract, we……”

Before he finished his words, Cornelius already waved his arms. The instant that his movements ended, there rang the sound of water droplets falling onto the sandy ground. The ears of the mercenary squad captain spurted blood. The body that was stout as a bear extended its hands to cover its ears while curling on the ground while making terrible howls.

This time, even Chris’s eyes were unable to catch the movement of him pulling his sword out.

“I said, swine in the pigsty should not mimic human speech!”

Cornelius’s cold tone while speaking was cruel like a sharp ice pick slowly piercing stabbing into the skin.

He put his sword away into his scabbard, keeping it in his lap along with the scabbard, and took out a roll of scroll instead. The wax seal on the scroll caused everyone to swallow— it was a wheel with open wings. It was the symbol of each faction in the clan of Celestial Kings, the badge of the Queen who governed the whole Celestial Kingdom.

“This is an Oracle Decree, prioritized over the contract.”

Seeing the Oracle Decree, the bear-like mercenary squad captain hurriedly pressed his whole body down.

The said Oracle was a prediction bestowed upon the Queen by the all-seeing God, Tucae. It was the divine power that supported the supremacy of the whole Celestial Kingdom, and thus nobody in the whole country dared to go against the Oracle Degree by Tucae.

Even so, the dissatisfied clucking of tongues of a few people at darker spots in the campsite could still be heard. An atmosphere of doubt filled the surroundings, the soldiers’ suspicion of the authenticity of the Oracle Decree completely undisguised.

In the condition that the royal family could only borne daughters, it was as though the Three Great Duchies who owned qualifications to be the Royal Consort were the true holders of power in the whole Celestial Kingdom. Hence, people in the Three Great Duchies would often do as they wished in the pretense of a fake Oracle Decree. It was something in the Celestial Kingdom that even children knew. However, even so, nobody around really dared to stand before Archduke Cornelius to demand him to open the decree and read its contents.

With the surroundings in silence, Cornelius put away the decree in his hands and said to the mercenary squad captain after glancing at Chris:

“You must be careful not to let the Star Eater escape— Now that his true identity is revealed, he might plan to escape.”

The words were like a large rock jamming itself in Chris’s throat, causing him to be unable to speak even if he wanted to. After that, Cornelius turned around to focus his gaze on Chris once more. A pair of chilly eyes looked at him, passing through the darkness the campfire could not shine on.

“I’ll say, you won’t be able to escape no matter how much you try. People owning the branding of the beast is destined to be unable to grab anything, not able to have encounters that will stay in your life. You can only contain blood in your mouth, struggling on the ground in a pitiful manner forever, crawling if you can, struggling until the instant when your life ends, and dying like a wild beast. This is the fate that must be shouldered by one with the brandings.”

''— That person….. He actually knows everything, doesn’t he? ''

''— He knows of the brandings on me, and understands them far more than I do…… But why is that? ''

''— He said that people owning the branding of the beast is unable to escape from such a fate no matter what? What a joke. Even without the influence of the brandings, my fate is still to die alone on the battlefield!”

“…… Star Eater……”

“Bringer of misfortune…..” “Hey, he’s looking at us!” “Why would a person like him appear in our squad?” “Damn, this is just eight lifetimes of bad luck!”

The people in the mercenary squad focused their gathering dissatisfaction on Chris.

“Boss, chase that guy out! He’ll bring bad luck!”

“Idiot, didn’t you listen to Archduke at all? If you don’t follow his instructions, things won’t end with just an ear chopped off— all of you shut up and stop making noise!”

Chris listened to the noise made by the people behind him and left the area illuminated by the campfire. In the process, a few gazes were still fixated on him. He raised his head to look at the night sky. There wasn’t a moon that night, and the following day, would be the night of the new moon.

''I have to escape before night descends once again……'' Chris planned in his heart— ''I will escape to a twilight world where I will be all alone, where I will not meet anyone anymore. ''

However, Chris still did not escape from the encounter. It happened on the two hundredth night the new moon hung on the night sky after Chris was born.

Dai Densetsu no Yūsha no Densetsu:Volume 4 Chapter 1

2012-09-06T09:07:33Z

70.172.231.242:

==Chapter 1: Cursed α==

There was a scream.

Ryner was screaming.

That was because he had seen despair.

Ah, no, it was because he had saw a darkness that was worse than despair.

“…”

He tilted his head as if he were going berserk.

But he had no other option but to face that despair. Although it was an extremely tragic scene, he
could not look anywhere else.

So he could only look at the monster before him.

The monster was a human.

It had emerged from Vois Fiurelle’s shadow.

For unknown reasons, Ryner knew her name. Even though Ryner had never seen her before, but he knew
her.

The Goddess.

The Goddess of Unsurpassed Vileness.

“…”

How did he know her name, Ryner didn’t know. But Ryner knew it.

No, to be more accurate, it wasn’t Ryner who knew, but something in Ryner that knew her.

Something in Ryner’s body knew it.

Something that was the cause for the five-pointed star in Ryner’s eyes.

He opened his eyes.

He opened his eyes completely.

When he opened his eyes, the five-pointed star turned red as if he had gone mad and glowed.

Then those eyes turned on the Goddess’s face.

Because she had no eye balls, so there were two holes where her eyes should be. From those empty holes, worm-like creatures crawled out. She had no nose. Her mouth was like a slit. Long teeth hindered her from closing her mouth properly.

But because he saw this face, Ryner screamed. If it wasn’t because he was looking at a face that definitely wasn’t human or like another creature, he wouldn’t have screamed.

Of course, he had other reasons for screaming.

That was because he felt as if his eyes were about to rupture.

His eyes were about to rupture.

My eyes are about to rupture.

It wasn’t only like that. The pain was almost as if his eyes had ruptured and fallen out of his skull.

Then something almost dropped out of his eyes. It was something that made himself feel extremely uncomfortable.

Ryner wanted to block his eyes so that that thing would not dropped out.

He tried his best.

But his hands could not move.

His body could not move either.

He could only endure the pain in his eyes, then…

“…This is outrageous. You were late, Goddess of Unsurpassed Vileness.”

Suddenly, a voice descended from the sky.

This wasn’t the voice of the goddess. The voice of the goddess, who had been abusing the land and fighting Ryner, had been so high-pitched that it almost deafened Ryner.

This voice was very deep and dark, almost like the one that rang in Ryner’s mind and whenever it spoke, the pain in Ryner’s eyes would peak.

At this moment, the Goddess laughed. That laugh sounded ugly as it emerged from her torn mouth.

Then a worm-like creature crawled out from her shriveled eyeholes. Those creatures looked in the direction of the voice.

“α? … So you’re here. It’s a little inconvenient that you actually appeared here.” The Goddess said.

As if replying to the Goddess, Ryner’s eyes spoke. “The situation is different. The Demon has already betrayed the Hero.”

The Goddess who had no eyeballs widened her eyeholes.

“Oh? …Then this host is the real body, not the Alpha Stigma we met before.”

“Ah, that’s right. This guy has signed a contract with the Demon’s half, the Solver of all Equations.”

Ryner could not understand the conversation. Although he knew that this was something important but the things he knew were extremely limited and so he could not completely understand them. All he knew was that the red five-pointed star in his eyes and the Goddess knew each other. But who was the host they were talking about?

Unless?

“It’s me?” Ryner muttered softly.

The conversation continued.

Not human, but a conversation between inhuman creatures.

“Goddess,” the conversation continued.

“But why is that fellow still alive? Weren’t you given the task of destroying this world’s Weaver of All Equations? Why aren’t you accomplishing your mission.”

“… I said the situation has changed. For the sake of protecting his life, this guy’s mother disrupted the contract between us. Under the magic of Artofaru, I cannot work normally.” Ryner’s eyes said.

Hearing this, Ryner stopped breathing in surprise. Mother? This fellow just talked about his mother?

Even more mysterious was Artofaru this word. Ryner felt like he vaguely knew about it. This was before he was killed by that weird guy, when he was in a dream-like place and was under attack from a bloody monster with wings.

The woman said a word. In his memory, the woman said a word.

For the sake of saving Ryner and allowing herself to be eaten by the monster that shared the same shade of red as his Alpha Stigma, this woman had said this word when she was about to die.

“Leave this place quickly. Lieral should have been able to completely suppress this monster by using the Arofaru’s power, even so, escape quick…”

It was what they had said. Now hearing it from his eyes and the Goddess, it was her, there was no mistaking it.

“…That person was my mother? That, that woman was my…”

Suddenly, Ryner felt the impact hit him, almost as if it was smashing his body apart.

It wasn’t literally, though. In reality, nothing had happened to Ryner’s body, only that he could feel something in his body change.

The alarm in his mind went off and a foreign feeling gripped his body. He could feel that he had found an important memory of his. It was a sealed memory.

It was a person’s name.

It was a familiar person’s name.

And it was the name of someone close to Ryner.

It was Lieral Lieutolu and his wife, Iruna Lieutolu.

“…”

Those two people's name triggered a resonance in Ryner’s mind.

“… That, that’s my parents’ names…”

He mumbled. His lost memories flooded his mind.

These memories were about his parents who he had thought to be gone. These memories were before he was five years old.

They were memories before the memory of standing in the middle of a blood-stained battle ground, staring at the corpses surrounding him.

It was the memories about his kind father who was a noble of Roland and with his father, his mother who loved him very much.

Those memories, those long forgotten memories made him want to yell.

Yell as he cried.

But he could not move.

Because of his eyes.

These cursed eyes were controlled by a monster.

The monster spoke, “And now everything has been complicated. All of the legends have been broken.
Even Ω who was devouring Eris Litel met some trouble and was absorbed instead.”

Hearing this, the ugly expression of the Goddess became even more contorted.

“Ω was absorbed? Only the Weaver of All Equations has that power. What is going on?”

“I’m not sure. I only know that the monster that ate all the surrounding magical power—Lucile Eris is not of the same clan as the Eris Reed we know. I don’t think that guy is the other half of my host, The Weaver of All Equations. That power cannot be handled by that guy.”

What his eyes said made the Goddess cross her arms as if she was thinking. Even though she had a grotesque face that should not exist in this world, but that action made her as if she were slightly humane.

The Goddess spoke again, “Then what shall we do now? If we kill him now, the consequences would be disastrous. For your information, everything can be ended if we kill him. The Mad Hero can eat this Solver of All Equations then consume the Weaver of All Equations. If we do this, the cycle will be completed.”

His eyes protested, “No. The situation has been changed. The power of the Weaver of All Equations has increased abnormally. And this guy is my host… he has lost all love towards the Mad Hero. He is allying with the heroes and fighting with the script. He has started to save him and he wants to pull the fallen hero from the depths of destiny.”

“… Ha, saving that hero? Then, is this guy standing on our side?”

“Yes.”

“Unbelievable.”

“But this is the truth.”

“Wu…”

The Goddess looked towards the sky, using her shriveled eyeholes to look at something that we could not see.

“So, this slave has sent us the information… that everything has progressed beyond what is written in the script? Human.” The Goddess said. Vois nodded.

“Yes, Goddess-sama. I received the news that this person, Ryner Lute, was coming with me to kill Sion Astal.”

“Eh, so this person is at my disposal?”

“I think so.”

“… That’s good. I believe that the betrayal of humanity is wise. You have come to seek refuge with me… because we have a contract. (You cannot lie to me)”

Hearing the Goddess’s tone, Vois nodded. “Please be assured. Sooner or later, I will present Sion
Astal’s head to Goddess-sama.”

“Eh. Then I’ll leave first. I will treat this person as an ally—α, I’m ordering you do to something else.”

“Another order? What is it?”

“Keep a close eye on this person. If need be, lend him strength.”

“Ha ha ha ha. … lend him strength? I am to help a Demon? I see. I understand, this is also good. This world is crazy.”

At this moment when the Goddess entered Vois’s shadow, she said, “… when is the world not crazy?”

As she said this, the Goddess disappeared.

The rupturing blood red and intensely glowing five-pointed star disappeared at the same time.

The invisible bonds that held Ryner also disappeared.

“…”

But Ryner could not stand up. It was as if the strength in his body had been sapped away.

Reasons. He thought of them immediately.

The reason was because of excessive blood loss. His left shoulder had been cut by a Roland soldier and it had damaged the bone.

And he had lost a dangerous amount of blood.

No wonder.

“…This is bad.” Ryner groaned softly.

He almost fainted. His vision dimmed slowly.

This was really bad.

Suddenly, his brain was unable to handle the large influx of events. His consciousness was slowly fading and his senses dimmed.

Vois’s voice said, “… Even if they faint, it’s fine. I can still handle Ryner’s and Ferris’s wounds. So rest well. If there’s anything, you’ll have to wait until you’re awake.”

Vois’s voice faded.

Losing all consciousness, maybe I’m dead, maybe I died like that.

Even if he was about to die, how could Ryner keep this calm attitude?

Maybe it was because he had remembered something.

He remembered something that was always elusive to him.

He had finally found the answer to that blank space in his memories. About his family and background. And the reason why he would have these cursed eyes.

All of this lingered in his heart.
To prevent the memories he had forgotten from being lost again, they lingered in his heart.

“…”

Then he lost consciousness completely.

Time passed.

Ferris woke up and opened her eyes.

Immediately a lovely scene greeted her eyes.

It was the night sky. The pretty clouds moved across it even though there wasn’t any wind.

Looking closely, she discovered that it wasn’t a cloud but it was herself.

She was jolting and moving.

She looked around herself and discovered that she was on a delivery truck. She was being transported to a place she did not know.

“…wu.” She said softly.

“What is the situation now?” She muttered and tried to sit up. Instantly, her body exploded with pain.

“…”

But she didn’t cry in pain. She carried that emotionless expression, void of character and checked the wounds that was left from the battle with Roland.

Then she discovered that her wounds had been wrapped up. Even the most serious wounds had been bandaged and it had stopped bleeding.

But looking at the wound under the bandage…

“…”

She revealed a surprised expression, softly saying, “…Strange.”

Indeed, this was strange. The wounds she had needed to be bandaged so that they would heal and they were not minor wounds.

They needed treatment such as stitches or using fire to kill the bacteria.

But the wound under her bandages had no burns or stitches. They had been perfectly healed. Even the scar that would be left behind by the wound was not there.

And…

“…”

Ferris narrowed her eyes and studied her surroundings again. What attracted her attention was the delivery truck. She would not see the face of the man who was driving but he was a soldier wearing black armor.

“… Who are these people? Who captured me?”

Roland soldiers? Or another country or organisation?

It wouldn’t be Roland’s soldiers. Their soldiers wore white armor.

But these people seemed to be against Roland.

So who were these people? What situation am I in?

“…”

She tried to remember what had happened before she lost consciousness.

She could barely remember what happened. She knew that she had taken the blow that was meant for Ryner and lost her ability to fight. But they had won that battle and defeated the Roland army. Then she had escaped with Ryner.

She could only remember that much. They had ridden a horse and fled in the direction of the Nelpha army. Because she had lost too much blood, what happened next was dealt with by Ryner. Then she could not remember anything else.

What had happened?

“…”

What had happened after that? And what was the purpose of these black soldiers?

Putting that aside, where was Ryner?

Where was that man?

“…”

That thought flashed in her mind and she felt her heart thump hard. She suddenly had a bad feeling and started to get dizzy.

No matter what, that person should be injured badly. For the sake of protecting me. That perverted, shameless foolish man had his brain wired wrongly. He actually allowed his shoulder to be cut deeply in order to protect me, who had lost my fighting ability.

“…”

That wound he had gained was dangerous. If it was not treated to, it could cause the death of
Ryner.

If it was not dealt with immediately, it could take the life of a person.

Her mind was filled with this.

“… That bastard. He left me here and disappeared? Where did he run to?” She mumbled softly. Then she sat up.

She didn’t let out any sound. She sat up slowly. So that she would not alert the soldier who was driving, she sat up. She crouched on the truck and studied her surroundings. At this moment, a voice spoke.

“… Ah ah, you’re awake, Ferris.”

Ferris knew that she had heard this voice before.

Ferris turned to the direction of the voice and looked to her side.

“…”

There was a vaguely familiar teenage boy travelling beside the truck.

He seemed to be fourteen or fifteen years old. He had a mop of black hair, a weird face and a pair of sly black eyes. He was dressed like a witch.

Vois Fiurelle.

This should be this bratty kid’s name.

Due to Sion’s order, she and Ryner had gone on a mission to find the Heroes’ Relics. They had came to a country called Iyet Republic.

They had to bring along this perverted boy so as to cooperate with the largest organization in the country.

At this moment, Vois stuck his head into the truck and asked, “… So how’s the wound? After all, Ferris used a Rule Fragment that has healing powers. If it was used properly, the effects would be good, but if it was used with a body that was incompatible, the person would die… What is wrong? You wouldn’t be destroyed just by wearing a pair of short pants.”

As he talked, he reached towards Ferris’s skirt.

“… What. You bastard, what are thinking of doing?”

Ferris avoided him quickly. She kicked Vois in the face.

“Wowww”

[[Image:DDnYnD v04 089.jpg|thumb]]
Then, Vois flew off with a happy face. After checking that he had been kicked away, Ferris got off the truck.

The surrounding black-armored soldiers emanated a killing intent when this happened and turned to her. Some unsheathed the swords at their waists. Ferris looked at these soldiers.

“…”

Ferris coldly looked at these soldiers and emanated her own killing intent. A smile lifted to Ferris’s face when she discovered how weak they were.

“…What are you thinking of, Vois? Using these weak scum to deal with me?”

As she spoke, she reached for her waist.

But. Her sword was gone.

She didn’t know whether Vois had taken it or if it were lost on the battlefield. All in all, she
was presently without a weapon.

But this problem wasn’t a serious problem to Ferris.

If there was no weapon, she would just have to snatch one.

Snatch a sword and take Vois, who commanded these soldiers, as a hostage. Then get news of Ryner’s location.

She thought of this quickly and knew that this would be an easy win. The soldiers were weak and victory was in her reach.

So she immediately put her plan into action.

She put more power into her slender shapely body. She did not overly rely on strength. She relied on jumping. A perfect combination.

Then she calculated the air resistance, friction, resistance, weight, speed—she took all these factors into consideration and used them to accelerate her movements until it was the fastest.
Faster and more efficient.

More powerful. Her body was moving so fast that the naked eye could not catch her actions—

“…”

At another side, “Alright, Ferris, stop that. I wouldn’t be so foolish as to start a fight with you.” He had not finished speaking when she had snatched a soldier’s sword like she planned, then held it to Vois’s neck.

Vois looked at the sword. The sword that could kill him before he reacted was on his neck.

But the faint smile still remained on his face.

He was still smiling.

“… Ah, Ferris is still as S as before. She wants to kill me because I took a peek at her panties…”
Ferris pressed the sword to his throat.

“… Shut up. You’re a hostage now. I have the power to kill you, so reply my questions honestly.”

The soldier beside them interrupted, “Let go of Vois-sa…”

Before he finished what he was about to say, Ferris sent him flying with a powerful kick. The other soldiers reacted. Just as they were about to crowd her, Ferris raised Vois’s body.

“…Can’t you see the hostage? Your master’s body and head are about to have a divorce.”
Hearing this, the soldiers dared not to approach them.
Vois raised his hands.

“…She’s joking. Everyone, sheathe your swords~. It’s alright, we know each other. Anyway, you don’t have to worry.” He said.

But Ferris’s sword did not move.

“… I don’t remember having a friend like you.”

“My my, that sentence really gave me a shock, you’re not joking, are you?”

“I’m serious. And you’re saying these nonsense only to buy more time. Reply my question now.”
Hearing this, Vois continued to smile.

“Alright, alright. Ask your questions.”

Ferris asked the question that had been troubling her since earlier.

“Ryner… Where is Ryner?”

That question had been revolving in her mind for some time.

Why, why was she getting a foreboding feeling. Ryner had received a fatal blow, for unknown reasons or maybe a dangerous matter that had caused him to vanish. She couldn’t think like that.

The more she thought about it, the more anxious and foreboding she felt.

But it was because she was not strong enough. She felt responsible.

Why, What was it that made her so anxious?

“…”

It seemed as if something bad happened.

She could only confirm this.

Yes, something scary must have had happened. She didn’t know why she thought of this. So she narrowed her eyes and glared at Vois and said,

“…Answer me quickly. Where is Ryner and what is he doing?”

Vois raised his brows in surprise, an expression that said, ‘what-is-this-about’ on his face. He
said, “… Heavens, it looks like the person Ferris is most concerned about it that… Ah, how annoying, it’s still the same person as before. Your relationship with him is very good. It makes me jealous. Although my preferences are younger, around seven year old Lolis…”

“Shut up, brat. If you continue to speak useless nonsense, I’ll make your life become something like your nonsense.”

At this moment, Vois looked rather disturbed.

“…Wa, you’re for real, huh? Alright, although I’d like to continue this game, my brain might move house if I continue to play. I’ll speak the truth.”

“…”

“If it’s Ryner, then he’s still on the truck. See, he’s right behind you. Relax, Ryner has been seen to…”

He was interrupted by Ferris, who grabbed Vois’s hair and leapt onto the truck.

“Ow…ow, ow!”

Ignoring Vois’s cries of pain, Ferris continued in the direction of the truck.

But at this moment, the agitation in her heart could not be soothed.

Why did she feel uneasy?

An ominous feeling rose in her mind. This thought made her body momentarily gripped her body.

It was bad.

It was really bad.

It was worse than death. It was a monster that seemed like a monster. It was a scary scene of her possessing Ryner, as if she controlled his body.

“…”

Why did this strangely foreboding scene appear in her mind? Why would she imagine such a ridiculous
event? She didn’t know.

But it was better now.

At least she could see Ryner and hear that usual, foolish-sounding, sleepy voice and his ranting
that would last the whole day. Ah, it was troublesome, that annoying ranting.

So she increased her speed. She rushed towards the truck that Vois had pointed to and jumped up.

“…”

It was like Vois had said, that fool was on the truck.

That mussed hair and the unmotivated face.

This was her companion, Ryner Lute.

This lazy person who talked of not sleeping enough was on the delivery truck. He slept with a silly look on his face.

Ferris could see Ryner.

Ryner was right in front of Ferris.

Then.

“…”

Ferris released Vois and rushed to Ryner’s side. She checked his wounded shoulder. That wound had
been obtained when he protected her from the Roland solider. But now this wound was healing.

The serious wound and rib was like a minor scrap, it had become a minor wound.
Seeing this, she breathed in relief.

“…”

The worry she had felt and all those dreadful things that she had been thinking of and her feelings of unease had never happened.

Looking at this, Ferris could not help herself.

“…”

She could not help herself but say, “…I’m relieved…”

She said this from the bottom of her heart. Then she smiled slightly and silently touched Ryner’s rumpled hair.

She slowly released the surprised breath she had taken. The worry in her heart dissipated like a
cloud.

For unknown reasons, whenever she looked at this silly face, she would feel at ease.

“…”

She found back her calm. Turning her head, as if protecting Ryner, she pulled Ryner to her side and
said,

“… Then. What is going on? Vois. What is the situation now? Why are you here? And who are those
black-armored soldiers working for? And what you said earlier, you know the Rule Fragments this phrase… Don’t tell me you are Gastark’s companion?”

That was right.

Vois had used Rule Fragments this phrase earlier. Ferris called them Heroes’ Relics. And the northern Gastarks called these Heroes’ Relics Rhule Fragmei.

That was to say, this person’s way of referring to those dangerous objects was the same as the people from Gastark. It was difficult not to suspect him of allying with Gastark.

So Ferris tensed and glared at Vois, then asked, “Answer me, Vois. Are you friend or foe?”
Hearing this, Vois smiled. “… Will an enemy help you to heal your wounds? Am I right?”

“Then what are you planning to do now?”

“Yes, what will I do now?”

“If you don’t say, I’ll kill you.”

“Ha ha ha, kill me? You’re the same as ever. I give up. Then where shall I start from?”

“From the beginning.”

“From the beginning?”

“Eh.”

“Alright, I’ll start from the beginning. Ah, right. Should you first explain why you were so uneasy?” Vois asked.

Ferris narrowed her eyes at him in suspicion. “… What are you saying?”

Vois shrugged.

“You didn’t accomplish anything just now. You were frustrated from just now and you were frustrated about what to do, weren’t you? Ryner’s fine. He didn’t meet any trouble. What, you were thinking about this so you didn’t know what to do, right?”

This seemed to offend Ferris and she glared at Vois.

“… What are you talking about? No… Who are you?”

Vois laughed lightly. “… I. I’m me, of course. Ferris, Vois Feurel, fifteen years old, carrying the
mantle of the Feurel Organisation and now the leader of the Anti-Roland Coalition—of course I’m joking. After all, Ferris know all this, right?”

Ferris mumbled, wasn’t this the annoying person who kept lying?

But even though she had recognized his lies, why did Vois had such a smug expression?

“Ha, what I’m saying is all lies. Towards friends, the world and the gods—did you know? This world actually does not have the existence of real gods?”

Hearing Vois’s proclamation, Ferris’s expression turned grim.

“…You have some sort of neurotic problem…”

Vois shook his head instantly.

“No no no, that’s not true. If my brain had some sort of problem, then that would be bliss. That way, I wouldn’t have to see this messed-up world lose its direction in its progress, I wouldn’t have to see this world fall into despair. But this is not reality, it is impossible to get any links to relate to the world’s truth. So I can only lie to escape everything. Right? It’s fortunate that lying is my forte.”

“… You… What are you talking about…”

But she was interrupted by Vois. His eyes were filled with wisdom, as if he wasn’t that brat who
like to lie anymore.

“The unease that you are feeling now is true, Ferris. Ryner has been cursed by the Goddess. His special ability—Alpha Stigma has been cursed. But even so, please look at this.”

As he spoke, he reached into his lap and brought out a glass ball the size of his thumb.

Ferris received it and said, “…What is this?”

Looking at the glass ball, she could say that there was nothing special about the glass ball. It was just an ordinary glass ball. Ferris glared at Vois and said, “… What are you up to?”

Vois said, “Please use this glass ball to look at Ryner.”

“Glass ball?”

“Yes, this way, you’ll be able to see many things. I will explain to you in detail after you’ve seen through the ball.”

Ferris looked at Ryner with the glass ball, half-suspicious and half-trusting.

[[Image:DDnYnD v04 105.jpg|thumb]]
At first, the glass ball showed a muddled reflection. She couldn’t see anything.

But as Ferris concentrated, the ball started to get a little transparent.

Then.

“…”

Finally it became clearer.

The Ryner that was reflected in the glass ball still had that lazy expression. Like usual, he remained asleep. A 120% lazy specimen.

But looking at this Ryner, Ferris whispered, without thinking, “… What, what is this?”

Why did this happen?

On the body of Ryner who was sleeping peacefully, was a terrible scene. It was made of thousands and thousands of naked women who were dancing. They were like a crowd of spiders continuously emerging from the main body. These small, naked women ran all over his body. They let out a high-pitched “chi chi” sound. Reaching out their scaly arms, they grabbed on to every part of Ryner’s skin.

It was as if they wanted to forever withhold Ryner’s freedom from him by tightly holding on to him.

But Ryner remained unknowing of this. Yes, without this magical ball, Ferris would never have seen this.

But this.

“…”

The scene the magical ball showed as like a scene from hell.

Then she passed the ball back to Vois.

“W-what are those creatures?”

Hearing Ferris’s question, Vois answered, “That is α. You might find this tiresome, but let me tell you everything I know. Α is something the Goddesses made in order to destroy an unknown power in Ryner’s body so they cursed him.”

Ferris aimed the magical ball at Ryner again. The bondings of those thousands of women were revealed again.

“If it’s the Goddess, then what are these creatures imprisoning Ryner’s body?”

But Vois shook his head, ‘No. These are only the curse the Goddess placed on Ryner. It is not the true body of the Goddess—although it might be argued. But α has the power to kill the Solver of All Equations. In a fight, α has the same amount of power as the Goddess…”

Ferris did not understand what he was talking about.

“Stop. Shut up first. What do you mean by that?”

Ferris knew that Vois wanted to use this interspace to change the topic. But. So she stopped him.

I don’t want to stop this. There are more important things that could be confirmed later.

So Ferris continued to ask, “You… Tell the truth. Who are you?”

Hearing this, he revealed that childish, innocent smile. “…Didn’t I say this before? I’m a liar. But this. This time, I’m a fool who can even lie to the gods.”

Looking at the monsters in Ryner’s body, Ferris asked again,

“… These disgusting monsters… Goddess whatever, are they the enemy?”

“… About this, huh. Currently, it seems as if they are on our side.”

“Then, they’re on our side?”

“It should be.”

“Ha. That’s unbelievable.”

“Ah? Then, I’ll change what I said. I… I’m the only ally of myself. I’m only helping you because I can benefit from it. Can you accept this?”

“… Huh. This can be more or less accepted.”

“That’s great.”

“So this means you’ll help Ryner?”

Vois nodded his head. “Of course. But this means you owe me. I won’t help people for nothing—this is what my family taught me.”

But Ferris smiled faintly, “… If one uses the sword to exterminate the person who they owe a favour to, then there’s nothing to owe—this is the teachings of the Eris family.”

Hearing this, Vois’s eyes rounded in surprise.

“Wa, such a violent way, it’s really Ferris’s style, how nostalgic.”

Ferris only shrugged her shoulders and said

“I don’t think so. I see that not many people will lament over you.”

“Ah!? For real?”

“Ah.”

“I see. It seems as if my love is unrequited. After all, towards someone humane like you, even if I
reveal my honest side, you wouldn’t feel anything. Ah ah, there’s no point indulging in these meaningless sad feelings. Let’s return to the topic we were talking about earlier.”

Vois looked around after he said that.

“Even though I said that, this isn’t a good place to talk about business. If we don’t go now, I’m
afraid that the Roland soldiers will catch up to us. Let’s walk and talk at the same time. I should explain all the details of the story…”

“Explain in detail, but you wouldn’t tell me your mini plot.”

Ferris said.

Vois laughed “Of course I wouldn’t say.”

Then Ferris sat down on the delivery truck that carried the sleeping Ryner.

“Then sit tight, everyone, we’re setting off. We’ll be chasing after those Nephians. Then we’ll meet up with army from the Autonomous Holy City of Cassla. Let’s go!”

As soon as he finished speaking the black-armored soldiers yelled: yes!

Then the delivery truck began to move.

It drove into the darkening night.

When the light signaling the next day broke over the horizon, they had already caught up with the Nelphan soldiers. Even the progress of the army could be vaguely seen.

Ferris softly mumbled, “…Wu.”

She looked at Ryner again. She smoothened that rumpled hair of his, then she grabbed it and hit Ryner hard. But Ryner did not wake up. He continued to sleep with a satisfied look on his face. He never reacted.

“…”
Seeing this, she smiled faintly. Then she resumed her strict expression.

“… So Vois. Let’s start talking about business.”

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