Sion Note:Vol 4

When he regained his own consciousness, Sion was crouched on the floor.

He couldn’t remember how long he stayed in that position.

Was it only a few seconds?

Or a few hours?

He didn’t know.

His body simply shook.

Out of fear?

Out of despair?

No.

"…"

He shook due to those memories.

The monster’s memories whirled in his head.

The memories of the monster living within him continued to flash within his head. He couldn’t understand all of those memories.

The memories whirled and images came up one after another. However, only a few fragments of memories were left in Sion’s head, almost as if the rest of the memories had been rejected.

But there were things that he did know.

Some things that were within him faintly.

It seems like a long time ago, he was on this Menoris continent—

But Sion shook his head right there.

"No."

He frowned and said.

"I…I’m not Asruld!"

He said and beat his head with his fists.

He pressed down on his head.

To chase away the images in his head.

The memories.

The curse.

Sion pressed down harshly on his own head.

But the memories kept coming.

He didn’t know what kind of memories they were or what purpose they held.

He couldn’t understand them clearly either.

However, those memories went wild inside him, almost like they were trying to take over Sion’s head, consciousness and body.

The reason of birth for the monster called Asruld Roland.

The proof of existence responsible for the creation of Asruld Roland attempted to fulfill itself within Sion’s body.

But,

"…As if…I’d let you do that."

Sion groaned.

He poured power into his entire body.

He bit down on his lip and smiled.

So that he can keep a stronger hold on his own will against Asruld’s emerging consciousness.

And gradually, the memories of the Hero[Asruld Roland] receded within his mind.

The more that he tried to hold on to his consciousness, the less he could see of his surroundings.

However, Asruld’s consciousness was still battling against Sion’s will. Within Sion’s head, Asruld’s memories and Sion’s own consciousness overlapped each other.

"…..I"

He whispered.

"I…am…"

At that moment, he heard a voice.

"Huh, Sion?"

At the sound of that voice, Sion violently dragged his own consciousness back into reality.

He exchanged the power he had been using to devour the Hero’s[Asruld Roland's] consciousness into the ability to recognize reality.

And he was able to pinpoint where he was.

He was currently in the corridors.

A corner of the corridor leading to his office.

He was crouched upon the floor.

And a man had found him and said,

"Just what exactly are you doing there?"

It was Calne.

Major General Clane Kaiwel.

Gentle, wavy blond hair and lovely blue eyes.

He was Sion’s right-hand man since the revolution, and ever since Sion became king, he was in charge of overseeing internal proceedings.

Sion turned to Calne,

"…..Ah, Calne."

And smiled at him.

His entire body hurt.

The consciousness of the Hero attacked him with the intent of taking over his head, heart, and all of his existence.

Despite that, Sion still smiled at Calne.

"Well~ I just dropped my pen."

He said, taking out a pen from the folds of his clothing and standing up.

Sion showed him the pen.

Calne looked down at it with a mystified expression and said,

"Hey, Sion."

"Hmm?"

"I feel a bit bad for pointing this out when you’ve finally found your pen, but…"

"Hmm."

"I’ve seen you crouching there for about two minutes already~"

He said.

Sion widened his eyes a tiny bit in surprise. Then he smiled again to reassure Calne.

"Oh, really?"

He said, but Calne replied with an angry yet worried expression.

"Don’t tell me, you fainted again?"

"No, no, it’s nothing like that…"

But he was interrupted.

"Don’t— tell— me—, you fainted again?"

The moment that Sion shut his mouth, Calne turned around and called,

"Eslina! Come over here for a mom…."

Sion hurriedly said,

"No, no, Calne. It’s not that big of a deal."

"It’s a big deal! I’ve never heard of a country’s king just fainting on the floor out of exhaustion. What do you think Fiole would say if he saw this from heaven!"

Sion shrugged his shoulders at his lecture. He looked up at the ceiling and said,

"….Is Fiole really watching from heaven?"

"He liked you, Sion, so he would be watching, no? Veeery closely, like thiiiis."

Calne said, having found one of Sion’s weak points.

Sion smiled at that and turned towards Calne.

"Well, Fiole might be looking at you, Calne."

Calne tilted his head,

"Huh? Me?"

"Right."

"Why me?"

Sion smiled mischievously.

"Nah~ Maybe he’s watching you veeery closely, like thiiis so you don’t touch his dear sister."

Calne’s eyes widened instantly.

"Wha!?"

He said, and seemed strangely shaken.

"No way, I-I haven’t touched Eslina!"

Sion looked at Calne with lidded eyes.

"Not yet, right?"

"Geez, Sion. Don’t tease me. Eslina is just fourteen, you know?"

"Calne, you’re just nineteen, aren’t you?"

"I’m eighteen."

"Four years’ difference isn’t enough to warrant an arrest."

Calne looked somewhat troubled and said,

"Geez. I like older women…Sion, you should know that, right?"

"Hmmm."

"What’s with that ‘hmmm’?"

"Nah, nothing-"

"Seriously, don’t say that with such a deep face."

"Well, Calne, you’re just strangely nice to Eslina. So I just thought that you might like her."

Calne looked at him and smiled with a troubled expression.

"Really, we’re not made for each other. Eslina is a good girl, after all."

"So, Calne is a bad boy?"

"I am, right? I’ve been playing with all these married madams."

"That’s seriously the worst."

"Ah, you won’t deny it."

Calne smiled.

By the way, Calne’s affairs with noble ladies only began as a form of information gathering. Under Miller’s command, Calne gathered information from the nobles.

However,

"….But you’re not doing that anymore, right? Ever since Eslina came…"

Calne interrupted and said,

"It’s because you have more power now, Sion. I didn’t need to do that anymore, so I stopped. It’s not due to Eslina."

"Really?"

"Of course."

"Hmm."

"That’s why I said, what’s with that ‘hmm’?!"

Calne shouted in anger.

"Well, whatever~"

Sion smiled and attempted to head towards his office.

However, Calne grabbed his shoulder,

"Whe~re do you think you’re going?"

He asked, so Sion answered, pointing towards the direction he was going,

"To the office."

And Calne’s face just screamed ‘are you kidding me’.

"No~way. Sion, you fainted just now, right? You have to see the doctor.."

"No, no, I just came back from the doctor."

"Eh, really?"

"Yes."

"So, what did the doctor say?"

Sion didn’t know how to answer that. If he said ‘nothing’s wrong’, Calne will complain and ask him how he could’ve fainted when nothing’s wrong. Still, if he told Calne he had some disease, he’d probably worry him even more.

And really, this wasn’t a disease.

It’s something ridiculous like fighting for dominance with a monster within yourself.

It’s not like he can explain that to Calne.

Sion thought for a moment and said,

"Overworking…?"

Calne said with an astonished face,

"See!?"

He shouted angrily, and poured even more strength into his grip on Sion’s shoulder.

"I won’t let you go back to your office! Sion never sleeps when he’s in his office, after all."

"No, no, I do sleep…"

"No way. Come now, let’s go back to the hospital. I’ll have you sleep there."

He dragged Sion away.

Sion attempted to resist and bat away Calne’s arm, but his hand was immediately held in a tight grip.

Though Calne had a gentle and smiling face, he’s still a survivor of the Emirelle Troop along with Claugh. He even destroyed that troop with Claugh.

To put it bluntly, Sion can’t do anything to him in combat.

Sion attempted to extract himself from Calne’s grasp again.

He tried to kick Calne, but his leg was dodged. He attempted to overpower Calne with his other arm, but Calne dodged it and caught it again.

Calne tightened his grip on Sion’s arm, and Sion scowled,

"Ouch! Ou-ou-ouch! I’m against violence~"

He said, and Calne looked at him with a blank face.

"So you’ll listen to what I say?"

He said, and Sion raised his face.

"But I’ve already slept in the hospital room…"

Calne interrupted him,

"If you struggle too much, I’ll really make Eslina lecture you. ‘I’ll tell my brother-!’ et cetra et cetra."

"No, that’s…."

"Then hush with the complaints and follow me. Geez, what were you thinking? Overworking yourself to the point of fainting in the corridors?"

Sion was dragged away with his arms still in Calne’s grasp.

At that moment,

"What are you guys doing?"

A tall man passed them by.

It was General Claugh Krom with his red hair like fire, and trained body.

Claugh looked at them and said,

"…Is that one of your hobbies?"

He said, and Sion looked up with his arms in Calne’s grasp.

"Ah, Claugh. I’ve been waiting for you. I was thinking of moving some of Estabul’s soldiers into Roland territory…"

He was about to say, but Calne squeezed his arms again.

"Ouch ouch ouch! Calne, that hurt!"

"That’s not the problem! How do you still manage to talk about work in a situation like this!"

"Well, Claugh just passed by…"

"Claugh, why don’t you say something as well? Sion fainted on the floor just now!"

Claught peeked at Sion’s face.

"Really?"

He asked, and Sion nodded.

"Well, the doctor gave me some medicine for sleep."

That was a lie.

But Calne said,

"Ah, so that’s why you were sleeping on the floor?"

"Right. I said that I couldn’t afford to sleep when I have work, so that doctor told me he’d give me some medicine that helps with my exhaustion without making me sleepy…"

"And gave you sleeping pills?"

Claugh said, and Sion nodded.

"Yep, I was completely fooled."

Claugh and Calne looked at each other and said,

"What a good doctor."

"Indeed."

Sion laughed,

"Well, I think so too…but really, Calne, can you let go of my hand now?"

Calne finally released Sion from his hold.

Sion shook his arms,

"It still hurts."

He said, and Claugh laughed,

"You should’ve just broken it! Even he would rest a bit after that, right?"

Calne hit his own arm in realization,

"Ah, that’s right…"

"No, it’s not."

Sion said with a bitter smile.

Calne shrugged,

"But I’ll have to go back to the hospital room anyways. Since you already took sleeping pills, you should just sleep until the effects wear off."

Sion looked at Calne, then up at Claugh.

"And?"

He asked, and Claugh lifted the pile of documents he was carrying,

"We’ve already started moving the Estabul soldiers. But this is…"

He said and looked towards Sion.

Sion lifted his eyebrows and didn’t answer.

But just from that,

"…"

Just from that, Claugh understood what was about to happen in this country.

He understood what was about to happen in this world.

Calne too.

He looked towards Sion as well, wearing a slightly sad yet somewhat bored face.

"…"

It’s going to end.

The temporary peace, that is.

This transient moment of tranquility will finally come to an end.

And they knew that a long time ago.

The Gastark Empire had begun to invade other countries.

They destroyed the Empire of Stohl.

They knew that ever since those kinds of information started spreading.

The world will change.

It’ll move into an unprecedented era of warfare.

And they couldn’t afford to be left behind.

To protect their countrymen.

To protect their country.

No, this is…

This is probably all for the sake of changing everything about the current system of the world—

Right then,

"….Calne."

Sion said.

Calne looked at him with a lonely face,

"What is it?"

Sion tried to smile in reply,

"Don’t make that face. It’s not going to happen immediately."

"But it’s inevitable, right?"

"Yes."

"When? When will it begin?"

Sion looked pensive for a moment and said,

"Less than half a year."

And at that,

"…."

Calne sunk deep into thought, then put on a smile,

"….Half a year, huh. Then I have to put my relationships with various noble ladies to rest before that."

He said and laughed.

Claugh, standing beside Calne, offered Sion a pile of documents.

"Rearrangement of the army is proceeding smoothly. Sir Miller will…"

"Come on stage soon?"

Claugh shrugged.

"I wonder. But well, it’s not like he has any other choice. Even with him, we still don’t have enough people."

"And Luke?"

Claugh opened his eyes somewhat reluctantly,

"How would I know?"

Sion laughed at his words.

"Aren’t you friendly with each other?"

"Huh? How would you ever come to a conclusion like that?"

"Aren’t you childhood friends?"

"Nothing like that."

"Haha, well, Luke is mysterious as always."

He said and looked at the pile of documents that Claugh handed over. He found a mountain of work that he has to deal with immediately.

For one moment.

For an instant, he almost looked weary.

But he endured. If he made a face like that, Calne will lock him in his hold again.

So he wiped all expression off his face,

"Now, I’ll get back to work."

He said.

Calne looked at him with a pout to express his dissatisfaction at Sion’s lack of rest, but Sion smiled and evaded his looks.

He ignored the two of them and attempted to return to his office.

Claugh and Calne were talking about something behind him.

Perhaps about the conflicts soon to come.

Perhaps about this world in flux.

Calne said,

"By the way, Claugh. I saw you leaving Noa’s mansion yesterday night."

"Huh!? W-what are you saying…"

"Nah~ Just commenting on how late in the night it is~ Has your relationship with her finally gotten so far?"

"What are you talking about?! I didn’t go to Noa’s house yesterday, okay?"

"So, the day before yesterday?"

"Not that either. Even if you try to trick me with those questions, I’m not gonna fall for it since I ain’t guilty of anything!"

"Huh~ You mean, not yet."

"To hell with not yet. We’re not like that at all."

"You’re such a kid."

"What? I’m gonna kill you, y’know?"

Sion smiled at their foolish conversation, completely unrelated to the world or the war soon to come.

He smiled without turning back.

And he headed straight to his office with that smile on his face.

He stretched for a bit, and hurried to the office.

As if running away from something, he left the place as fast as he could.

Because that is coming again.

The wave of memories.

Asruld Roland’s memories attempted to invade his head.

And every time that happened, he would feel like crouching on the floor.

He would almost fall and lose his consciousness.

But he couldn’t show any weakness to Claugh and others.

Because it’s not something that they could do anything about. It’s a problem that no normal human can do anything about.

So there’s no need to worry them.

There’s no need to tell them about things like that.

So he ran away as fast as possible.

His entire body hurt, and if he didn’t will himself to not give in, even his consciousness would’ve faded. He quickly left.

Even during those moments, Asruld Roland’s will is becoming stronger. Attempting to take over Sion’s body, Asruld’s memories and will tried to overwhelm his entire body.

His heart beat so fast he thought it’d burst. He beat his chest and pushed it back. The sense of nausea and headache increased so much that he almost couldn’t hold it in,

"….Shit."

He whispered.

So quiet that nobody else could hear.

It was a scream.

It was a scream.

But his voice was simply too small and won’t reach anyone. No, it’ll be worse if it actually did.

So he won’t call out again.

He simply tried to escape into the confines of his office with a twisted face on the brink of tears.

He opened the door.

And entered.

There was no one inside.

There was….no one inside.

Neither Ryner nor Ferris was present.

He confirmed that, and,

"…Ugh, ah."

Let out a pain-filled groan and crouched down.

He crouched with his back to the door.

As long as he sat here, no one should be able to get in. If he blocked the door with his body, no one should be able to get in.

So he,

"Ugh..ah….urgh!"

Screamed in pain.

From the pain throughout his entire body.

He cried out against the unbearable pain.

But the pain increased in intensity.

It became even more unpleasant.

It’d be better if he could just go mad.

It’d be better if he could just die if the alternative is this unbearable pain in his body.

The Hero is attempting to wake up.

The monster within him is trying to devour Sion from the inside out.

And a voice spoke,

"…The intervals in between are getting shorter and shorter."

Even though there shouldn’t be anyone in the office, someone spoke.

Sion looked up.

Lucile was staring at him while sitting on Ryner’s desk.

Lucile spoke again,

"…Are you fighting a losing battle?"

Sion looked up, and smiled despite his face contorted in pain.

"No."

"Haha, you can still boast even when it’s obvious that you’ve seen better days?"

"….That’s why…that’s why you chose me, right?"

Lucile smiled in enjoyment at that, and,

"Yes, that’s right."

He said, then,

"You think you can still hold up?"

He asked.

Sion replied,

"If I said no, what would you do?"

"I’ll kill you."

Sion laughed.

"Then trying harder is my only choice, isn’t it?"

"That’s a lie. You would prefer death, right?"

"…."

Sion merely stared at Lucile in silence.

Lucile smiled again,

"….The interval of time between your periods of darkness is really getting shorter. Won’t you lose if this keeps up?"

He asked.

And Sion shook his head at that question.

Then,

"I just need a bit more time…"

He said.

"A bit more time before I can control this."

He said.

Lucile opened his eyes slightly and looked down at Sion. He said,

"But you won’t be human anymore."

"That’s right."

"Surely you have regrets?"

"You’re telling me that now?"

"Haha."

Lucile laughed.

And disappeared while laughing.

Sion stared at the space that Lucile occupied a while ago.

He looked at Ryner's desk.

But his eyes gradually saw less and less of the scenery.

Less of the scenery in reality.

And the memories returned again.

Memories of another place.

Memories of another time.

But those were Asruld’s memories.

Sion’s memories.

Asruld’s memories.

Sion’s memories.

And his consciousness became muddled.

Asruld and Sion’s memories mixed with each other, and he was unable to draw the line between himself and Asruld.

Memories that seemed like they belonged to him began to play themselves out—

"I am..."

Sion said.

"I am..."

Sion said.

And he—

Chapter 2 : The Story of the Lonesome Demon

Sion proceeded along the wild plains of the Menoris continent with Milk.

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