“I’m sorry.” Eugene hung his head in contrition and made no move to defend himself. He was all too aware that when Anise was in this state, there was no use in attempting to excuse his behavior. Any other person might have tried to offer some feeble justifications, but Eugene knew better than to waste his breath. Instead, he knew his only option was to apologize immediately and without reservation.
Anise's voice was laced with incredulity as she asked Eugene, "Do you even comprehend what you have done wrong?"
Despite the three distinct curves on her face — the upturned corners of her lips and the crinkles that were her eyes — an unmistakable aura of menace emanated from her. Eugene couldn't help but tremble with fear, even though he couldn't see her eyes clearly, which were narrowed into a crescent shape. He was intimately familiar with the frigid and piercing glare that lay concealed behind those half-closed lids.
“Ehem…” Molon cleared his throat suddenly, with no particular reason other than to break the tension in the room. As a fellow man and a warrior, he felt a sense of obligation to come to Eugene's defense and placate Anise's ire. But as soon as Anise turned her beaming gaze towards him, with a slight tilt of her head, Molon found himself holding his breath, uncertain of what to say next.
Molon had endured the full brunt of Anise's wrath for far longer than Hamel had three centuries ago. Or rather, it was more accurate to say that Anise had borne the greatest suffering on account of Molon's recklessness. Every time Molon charged forward like an ignorant buffoon, heedless of the danger behind him, Anise would be compelled to follow in his footsteps, all the while unleashing a torrent of curses that could make even the most hardened warrior flinch. Whenever Molon wielded his axe and hammer wildly, Anise was left with no choice but to immediately perform her miraculous healing abilities to mend Molon's injuries.
Molon's remarkable bravery and unwavering fearlessness had enabled him to lead countless battles to triumph. Yet, it was only through Anise's repeated acts of divine intervention that Molon had managed to survive each battle, always fighting at the frontlines. Anise's miraculous abilities had prevented Molon from sustaining fatal injuries or becoming permanently disabled, allowing him to continue fighting and leading their troops to victory time and time again.
Whenever the pain from her stigmata, frustration, and anger reached their pinnacle, Anise would unleash her emotions without restraint, directing her lethal barrage almost exclusively at Molon and Hamel. Despite this, Molon felt a sense of joy to see Anise finally venting her emotions after such a long time. However, he did not approach her with a smile or attempt to hug her, even though he was known for his foolishness. He had enough sense to know better than to provoke her further.
Molon turned his gaze away, still holding his breath, and remained silent. It was an unspoken declaration that he wanted no part in the ongoing situation. Eugene couldn't help but feel a sense of disappointment and betrayal from Molon's lack of support.
‘You shouldn’t have tried to intervene in the first place. Why did you provoke her further by clearing your throat? You pathetic moron,’ Eugene berated Molon mentally.
Eugene hesitated, wondering if he should go as far as getting down on his knees to appease Anise's anger. He stole a quick glance at her, and the sight of her furious expression made him even more uncertain. The three of them were standing atop the tower's highest floor, where the chilling winds of the snowfield were blowing in from the shattered windows and walls, adding to the tense atmosphere.
Molon was responsible for the icy chill that filled the air. When the Demon King of Incarceration had invaded the fortress, Molon had charged toward him by smashing through the windows and walls, which ultimately caused the frigid winds of the snowfield that filled the room.
Eugene had been inwardly worried about the consequences of his attack on Gavid Lindman. However, Gavid ended up leaving the fortress with the Black Fog. Meanwhile, Anise had played her part by pretending to receive a divine message, while the Pope of Yuras had recognized the Holy Sword and the supposed divine message. Molon had also shown his support for Eugene's actions by patting him on the shoulder and embracing him.
Thanks to their help, the other people could not question Eugene’s sudden, unexpected actions. Although Kiehl’s Emperor looked absolutely unconvinced, he could no longer press Eugene when even his guardian knight, Alchester Dragonic, also stepped up to protect the young Lionheart.
‘Judging by that bastard’s eyes, he’s definitely going to find something to question me about. Well, it’s none of my business for now….’ Eugene did some quick mental calculations to gauge the situation.
Not only the Emperor of Kiehl but also the Sultan of Nahama had expressed their dissatisfaction with Eugene, glaring at him openly. It came as no surprise, given that Amelia Merwin, one of the Three Mages of Incarceration, was openly colluding with the Sultan. The director of the Anti-Demon Alliance and the King of Shimuin had also been staring at Eugene with intense gazes, but Eugene had no way of knowing what their intentions were.
Anise tilted her head slightly and turned her gaze towards Eugene, her eyes still hidden behind a smile. Her voice was soft and curious when she spoke, "What are you thinking about?"
Suddenly, her smile faded slightly, and her eyes opened ever-so-slightly, revealing a cold, frightening glare that made Eugene shiver. It was even scarier than what he remembered. He held his breath, unable to come up with an appropriate answer, feeling as if he were under intense scrutiny.
“Hamel. Why should I suffer because of your reckless, lacking, idiotic acts?” continued Anise.
“I’m sorry,” repeated Eugene.
“Why are you apologizing? Do you really know what you’ve done wrong? Hamel, I know you’re not sincerely remorseful about your actions. You and I have known each other for a very long time, and I know you better than you might think,” said Anise.
“I’m sorry,” echoed Eugene.
“So what did you do wrong?” asked Anise.
“The attack on Gavid…” muttered Eugene.
“Explain to me why that was wrong,” said Anise.
Eugene knew deep down why he had attacked Gavid Lindman, but expressing it in words proved to be an arduous task. As he hesitated, Anise let out a derisive snort and scoffed at him. "You can't even articulate the reason behind your attack, can you?" she said with a tilt of her head. "It's because your actions were driven by raw emotion, Hamel. That’s why you can’t coherently explain to anyone the reason behind your actions.”
“That bastard was asking for it,” retorted Eugene.
“Hamel! You’re asking for a thrashing right now with what you’re saying,” said Anise.
“Isn’t it a little inappropriate for you to say something like that? You’re very educated, unlike me, so you should—”
As Eugene stumbled over his words, attempting to express his disapproval, Anise's sudden attack caught him off guard. Before he could even finish his sentence, her weapon, the flail with a dangerous adamantium attachment, hurtled toward him with deadly force. It threatened to split open Eugene’s skull.
“Why are you avoiding it!?” shouted Anise.
“I’ll die if I get hit!” Eugene shouted back.
“Don’t be a baby. I know well that your current body is much healthier and sturdier than the frail body of your previous life,” responded Anise.
“Hamel was not frail,” Molon suddenly interjected.
“Molon, you just shut up and stay still. And what wasn’t frail about him? Hamel bled and collapsed at the drop of a hat, making life difficult for me,” said Anise.
“Hamel pushed himself until he was in such a condition. Hamel was a great warrior,” retorted Molon.
“Just shut up.” Anise glared with fire in her eyes, and Molon obediently and quietly closed his lips. “Hamel. I know it wasn’t unusual for you to act so emotionally before, so I could look over that. It was fine for you to act like that three hundred years ago. If I were to say shit like it is—”
“Say shit like it is…. Isn’t that a bit…” interrupted Eugene.
“Stop cutting me off unless you really do want to get yourself killed,” said Anise.
“I’m sorry,” said Eugene.
Anise cleared her throat and continued, "Anyways... to be honest, three hundred years ago, we had Sir Vermouth, even if you had died."
Eugene's lips drooped into a frown at her words. He couldn't help but feel a pang of distress. Even if it were true, wasn’t it hurtful to say such things directly to his face?
“We had Sir Vermouth, so it was fine for you to act recklessly in moderation. Even if you got into trouble while fooling around, we had Sir Vermouth to take care of it. Well, I was there as well, as well as Sienna and Molon. But you cannot continue behaving like that. Hamel, I thought I told you last time. In this era, you must be like Sir Vermouth,” explained Anise.
“You’re so mean,” mumbled Eugene.
“I think your thoughtless behavior is even worse! What if Gavid Lindman went against the will of the Demon King of Incarceration and attempted to kill you instead?” asked Anise.
“He’s a child who takes pride in being a knight and the Blade of Incarceration. He would never do that,” retorted Eugene.
Anise twirled her flail above her head while speaking. "That's something we can never be sure about," she said. "So, tell me, what did you gain from attacking Gavid?" The adamantium sparkled with a dangerous glint, and Eugene gulped, never allowing his eyes to miss the trajectory of the deadly weapon.
“I gained confidence in many things. Firstly, Gavid and the Demon King of Incarceration will never interfere with what I do unless I go to Babel. The Demon King of Incarceration won’t come out of Babel to crush me, nor will he force me to Bable using Gavid,” said Eugene.
“But it wasn’t your intention to find out in the beginning, was it?” said Anise.
“No, well, Anise, you saw that bastard kneeling on the ground, right? There’s something about how his greasy, angled hair reflected the light. Just looking at it made me want to give it a good kick…. But I thought cutting it off with a sword would be better than kicking it…,” explained Eugene.
“So it was because of your emotions in the end! Hamel! What’s the difference between a man who can’t control his impulses and a bitch?” snarled Anise.
“Now you’re calling me and treating me like a dog…,” grumbled Eugene.
Anise's lips curved into a thin smile, her voice smooth and unwavering. "No, Hamel. You're not a mere mutt. You're just a step above that." She gestured with her hands, beckoning Eugene to join her in prayer. Her hands were clasped in front of her chest, and she closed her eyes with a pious expression. "Let's pray together, shall we? Repent for your wrongdoing, and promise me that you won't act on your emotions again. Repeat after me: From this moment on, I promise to never act recklessly like this, and I vow to never trouble my beloved Anise."
[Sister!] Kristina protested.
‘If you want, I will have him add your name as well,’ Anise promised.
[I-I don’t want such a thing.]
‘Really? Do you really not want it? Kristina Rogeris, she who deceives herself cannot obtain salvation by the Light and ascend to heaven.’
[I’ve already been saved, so it’s fine.]
‘Is that really true? Kristina, is your salvation so meager that you would be satisfied with simply watching the fireworks with Hamel? Well, it’s not the same for me. I’m greedy, so I will only think that I’ve been saved after I write new history with Eugene, things that you haven’t done with him.’
[Sister! What you’re saying is a lot different from what you said before,] Kristina shouted, but Anise did not answer.
“…Do I really have to include the beloved
part?” asked Eugene.“Don’t bother if you have that much hatred and resentment for me,” responded Anise.
“I love Anise and Hamel,” interjected Molon.
“If you run your mouth one more time, I swear…!” growled Anise.
“Anise, tell me the truth. You’re more upset about how you embarrassed yourself in front of others than worried about me, right?” asked Eugene.
"You already know the answer, so why are you even bothering to ask me, Hamel? I am over three hundred years old, and yet, because of you, I had to go through so much trouble, spread my wings, dance, and even tear my hair out in frustration. You were too busy quarreling with Gavid to notice, but the way the priests of Yuras treated me…. Do you have any idea how those children, who once revered me as the Saint and followed my every word and action, looked at me? Do you know what kind of expressions they had on their faces?” The thought alone caused Anise's face to flush with heat, making her cheeks feel as though they were on fire. She quickly brought her hands up to cover her face, clasping them together in prayer.
Eugene acquiesced without a word at Anise's statement, clasping his hands together in front of his chest. As he considered the situation, he realized that Anise had been pushed too far. It was also true that he had attacked Gavdi without any prior warning.
Eugene recited, “'From this moment on, I won’t ever act so recklessly. I vow to never trouble my… be-beloved Anise ever again.”
“You said beloved twice. Does that mean you love me twice as much? Or are you suggesting that you love Kristina equally as much? She’s listening from inside me,” said Anise.
“I just stuttered…,” responded Eugene.
“Hamel, you seem to have sincerely repented, so I will also forgive my beloved Hamel,” said Anise with a pleased smile before putting down her flail.
Emerging from beneath his cloak, Mer muttered under her breath, "Sir Eugene is nothing but an infidel bastard." Her dull, lifeless eyes were fixed on Eugene, causing a heavy sense of guilt to wash over him. “I’m going to remember everything. One day, when Lady Sienna is released from her seal, I’ll make sure to tell her everything I heard and experienced.”
“Do as you please. If Sienna has a conscience, she will not blame me,” said Anise.
“Why wouldn’t she blame you?” said Mer.
Anise gave a sardonic laugh in response to Mer's question. "Why wouldn't Sienna blame me?" she repeated. "Think about it, child. It's quite obvious, isn't it? Sienna may have been injured, but she survived. She's sealed away, yes, but she's still breathing. But what about me? My body was broken, my bones were turned to dust, and my flesh was reduced to fertilizer for the next generation of Anises…." Anise put on a brooding expression as she spoke about her terrible past. Mer's lips parted and closed repeatedly, a silent indication of her inability to form a response.
"With my current residence being inside of Kristina, who I am compatible with in many ways, it cannot be denied that I am nothing but an unfulfilled spirit. I am like a candle flickering in the wind, liable to vanish at any moment. Furthermore, if Kristina rejects me because of her unwillingness to accept my existence…."
[Sister, sister! I would never do something like that. So please don’t say something so sad,] Kristina interjected with a shout.
Anise secretly enjoyed Kristina’s screams.
“I…. Just like when I took my life in the past, I will disappear in vain without having achieved anything I hoped for. Even so, I will not blame anyone. Not you, Mer Merdein, who treated me like a burglar cat, nor Sienna, who may criticize my deeds, nor you, Hamel, for not holding on to me. Just as soil returns to the earth, and dust to dust, I will return to the soil and dust and pray for the happiness and comfortable rest for those I loved in heaven,” said Anise before deliberately taking a pause. She took a deep breath, then gave the most benevolent smile she could muster. “Even though I may be nothing more than a faint reminder, a ghost, I love all of you.”
Large drops formed on Molon’s eyes, and Mer sniffled as well. Even Eugene approached Anise with a sad expression and stretched out his arms before taking her into his embrace. Mer also poked out of the cape and joined in the embrace.
“I’m sorry. Lady Anise might be mean, but you’re still a good person. I also… love you, Lady Anise,” said Mer.
“I love Anise as well.” Molon took Eugene, Anise, and Mer all into his embrace while crying. Anise gave a satisfied smile, sandwiched between the people she loved.
***
The following day, Eugene woke up in the mansion's room that had been allocated to him. The discussion with Anise — or rather, Kristina — and Molon had persisted until the early hours, but no one had raised an eyebrow. It was, after all, perfectly normal for Molon the Brave, the legendary hero who had confronted the Demon Kings three centuries ago, to advise the current Hero and Saint. Nothing seemed out of place.
Furthermore, despite not having had any rest, Molon extended an invitation to all the members of the Lionheart family from the crack of dawn. His purpose was to impart guidance and offer words of benediction to the heirs of the Great Vermouth.
‘I hope that idiot doesn’t say anything out of place….’
Molon had been advised since dawn. Not many people knew that Eugene was Hamel’s reincarnation, so Molon was to watch what he would say.
Gavid Lindman and the Black Fog had not returned since their departure the previous night. Molon felt a sense of unease brewing within him. As he had mentioned by the gate, he couldn't help but ponder whether Gavid was hatching some sort of scheme out in the vast snowfield. However, Eugene was adamant that Gavid was not capable of such treachery. Despite his earlier disgraceful exit, Eugene believed Gavid was a proud individual loyal to the Demon King of Incarceration. The idea of him seeking revenge was preposterous in Eugene's mind. Additionally, Eugene dismissed any concerns of Gavid launching an attack on the fort with the Black Fog. To him, it was an unnecessary worry.
Eugene couldn't contain his amusement as he strolled near the fortress wall. "Oh, my," he chuckled vainly to himself. Kristina was not walking alongside him at the moment. Her allegiance was to the Holy Empire, and as the Bishop of Light, she was affiliated with the Luminous Covenant, as was the case with all bishops. Hence, she was currently in their company.
Training was underway outside the fortress. It was a collaboration between Aroth’s Magic Corps and wizards belonging to Nahama’s School of Dungeons. The knights were currently fighting against a summoned army of monsters.
The knights engaged in the ongoing battle belonged to the Anti-Demon Alliance. Standing behind them were healers and priests from the Alliance and Yuras, ready to tend to any injuries that may arise. While they were all giving their best effort, it didn't particularly impress Eugene. He knew that demonic beasts were far more formidable opponents than ordinary monsters. Furthermore, monsters tainted with demonic energy were significantly more vicious and dangerous than their uncorrupted counterparts. To Eugene, it appeared that the training they had received only scratched the surface of what was necessary to deal with such threats.
But there was no avoiding it. As Aman Ruhr had stated, the true value of the Knight March lay in the gathering of the continent's most influential figures. In fact, even the Demon King of Incarceration had made an appearance just the day before, which meant that the kings were currently occupied with discussions on future preparations within the castle.
However, leaving the knights unattended during this time was not an option. Therefore, the knights would continue with their training, even though it was dull and somewhat impractical. Nevertheless, the knights found some satisfaction in comparing their skills to those of their peers, which gave them a sense of superiority. It was also an opportunity for headhunting, as many knights and mercenaries were gathered at the Knight March. Some mercenaries would receive exclusive contracts, and others would even be knighted.
“You’re watching something quite boring.” The owner of the voice approached without hiding his presence, and once he noticed Eugene’s lack of response, he spoke first.
“It’s not that bad once you watch for a while,” Eugene said, turning his head.
A tall man was staring at Eugene. It was the Commander of Shimuin’s Twelve Finest, the First Knight — Ortus Neumann.