Chapter 270: Crossroads (11)
[…As expected.]
The first to speak was neither Lian nor Cardinal Bruyent, but Berenistella.
[Thinking about it, many things never made sense from the beginning until now. There were far too many parts that couldn’t be explained.]
She murmured in a calm voice.
It sounded as though she were blaming herself.
[But to think… that wretch whose body and mind had both been completely shattered would be the culprit—never once did I imagine such a thing. No, I even mocked the idea myself.]
A brief silence followed.
She let out a sigh.
[…There is no room for excuses. All of this is entirely This Concubine’s mistake. Even Popolotuas, whose very existence had been devoured and shattered into pieces, squeezed out his last remaining strength to create his child and even passed down what little he had left… Yet why did I never consider that he might have been able to do the same?]
[It is truly an irritating name. For several hundred years, it was a name no one spoke and none heard… yet somehow, within half a day, I have heard it several times.]
Then she spoke again, as if lamenting.
[I suspected it, but only for a moment. Only now do I realize it. Even in that previous life when I was with you, This Concubine never once considered that he might be the culprit.]
‘Mentor.’
[…You, Lian Gwendil. My only Disciple.]
Berenistella spoke as if whispering.
[This Concubine has something that must be done for a moment. It is urgent.]
‘Yes.’
Lian nodded.
If she spoke this seriously, then it must truly be urgent.
[I will not withdraw the gaze with which I watch over you, but it seems I will not be able to observe you and assist you as I did earlier. The Enchanted Bracelet I gave you still has some strength remaining, but do not rely on it too much.]
‘Understood.’
With those words, Lian felt the faint Aura that had been lightly coiling around him disappear.
It had been extremely faint, yet Lian could clearly sense it.
‘Then….’
Lian raised his eyes and faced Bruyent, who was glaring at him with bloodshot eyes.
Bruyent was constantly muttering something, but since they were some distance apart and he was speaking so quietly, Lian could not make out what he was saying.
‘Is he chanting a spell… or perhaps a curse?’
Thinking that, Lian casually glanced around.
Then, in a flash, he grabbed the severed short spear lying near his feet and hurled it toward him.
Thud!
“…….”
The short spear Lian threw pierced straight into Bruyent’s shoulder.
Yet Bruyent merely flinched slightly and stepped half a step back without much reaction.
Although his face twisted in pain, he continued to move his lips nonstop, muttering something.
“...Tsk.”
He was clearly preparing something.
And not just anything.
Whatever it was, even someone who had risen to the position of Cardinal had to concentrate so deeply and chant for such a long time to prepare it.
Lian immediately took a stance from which he could strike with his sword at any moment and rushed forward.
But just a few steps before reaching him, Lian saw Bruyent curl his lips into a small grin.
“You brat.”
He grinned and raised a finger.
And then—
“Cough!”
Suddenly, dark, dead blood burst from Bruyent’s mouth.
His eyes widened, trembling violently.
Anyone could see that this was a situation he had never expected.
“…….”
Lian was just as startled by the sudden turn of events.
But it did not slow his steps.
No, he actually pushed his legs harder.
Clink.
At that moment, the bracelet on Lian’s wrist—now devoid of light—began to shatter and fall apart on its own.
Whatever it had been, the bracelet had clearly not only blocked Bruyent’s attack but had also returned it back to him.
Whoosh!
Using the momentum of his charge, Lian swung his sword straight at Bruyent.
Bruyent hurriedly raised his arm to block the strike, and a faint-colored Aura wrapped around it like armor.
The Miracle of Enhancement.
And such a dense and powerful one at that—something even Lian had never seen before.
With an ordinary sword, the blade would likely shatter before even cutting his skin.
“Hup!”
But Lian’s sword was not an ordinary one.
Though its appearance had changed, its essence was still that of a blade forged directly by a Dragon.
Slice!
With a chilling sound, Bruyent’s wrist was cleanly severed.
“……!!!”
Bruyent stared at his wrist flying through the air, too shocked even to scream.
Or perhaps he could not scream because he continued coughing up blood.
“Cough…!”
Clutching his severed wrist, he tried to retreat.
He had intended to prepare for Lian’s follow-up attack.
But contrary to his expectations, Lian did not swing his sword again.
He merely kicked Bruyent’s legs out and knocked him to the ground.
“I have no intention of killing you, Cardinal.”
Lian said as he looked down at him.
At Lian’s feet lay not the Cardinal who led the Agents, but merely an old man with his wrist severed, blood staining his mouth and clothes.
“I have many questions to ask you. And besides… someone must take responsibility for what happened this time, wouldn’t you say?”
“You… you also….”
Bruyent coughed up blood again.
Lian took a short breath before replying.
“You mean that I’m also from the Holy Sun Church? Why does that matter right now?”
“Kh… khh… you idiot….”
Bruyent burst into laughter.
“…A bastard child, perhaps. Or is it because you’re a concubine’s son.”
He muttered quietly.
“You don’t even know what your own family does.”
“…What are you trying to say?”
“There’s no need for you to know. And no reason for me to tell you.”
Bruyent had been trying to stop the bleeding from his severed wrist.
Suddenly, he stopped.
Blood immediately began pouring from the wound.
Seeing that he had chosen death, Lian sighed and reached out his hand.
“…Didn’t you just say that I’m also from the Holy Sun Church? Yet you’re trying to bleed to death in front of me?”
Lian muttered as if he could not understand.
Meanwhile, the divine power flowing from his hand began to close Bruyent’s wound.
“Foolish.”
Bruyent muttered.
“…A fool who cast aside his own blessing.”
His body then began trembling violently.
“And just now, that was… surely you as well… like me….”
He muttered in confusion.
“You have… received… the Baptism….”
“…….”
It was then.
Lian suddenly noticed that the Iron Needle visible through the torn gap in Bruyent’s robe had grown far larger than before.
“…No way.”
Lian hurriedly tore open the robe.
And then he saw it.
The thin Iron Needle had spread through most of Bruyent’s upper body like a massive tree that had taken root.
“…I will wait.”
With those final words, Bruyent vomited blood again.
There was so much blood that it was hard to believe a human body could contain that much.
“…Ah.”
After coughing blood for a long while, Bruyent’s body wavered and collapsed lifelessly.
His mouth hung slightly open, and his pupils were unfocused.
Anyone could see he was dead.
“…….”
Lian carefully looked down at him.
The Iron Needle that had been devouring his upper body had completely vanished.
The place where it had been was grotesquely sunken in.
“…One won’t be enough.”
Sheathing his sword, Lian muttered quietly.
Only after everything had roughly settled did he realize just how massive an incident he had become entangled in.
Five Agents.
And a Cardinal on top of that.
Ordinarily, it would have been a crime worthy of immediate execution.
“…Phew.”
Lian sighed softly as he looked down at Bruyent.
‘Since I healed his wrist earlier, traces of my power remain. If I try to hide it, it’ll only make things more suspicious… Better not touch anything further.’
The deed had already been done.
And he had no luxury to calmly worry about the aftermath.
After confirming once more that there was not a single trace of the Iron Needle left in Bruyent’s collapsed chest, Lian took out a small Crystal Sphere from his coat.
It was the communication Crystal Sphere Yeriel had given him before he left the Headmaster’s Office.
Yeriel had told him to contact them immediately if any incident occurred.
“…….”
Lian immediately infused it with power.
A faint light flickered within the Crystal Sphere.
“Headmaster.”
— …Lian?
“…Huh?”
But the voice that came from the sphere was not Yeriel’s.
It was someone else.
A woman.
After pausing briefly, Lian immediately recognized the voice.
“Professor Windime?”
— Yes, that’s right. It really is you, Lian.
“Yes. But how did you end up with this…?”
— This was originally mine.
Windime replied.
— I lent it to Yeriel. When I sensed it being activated, I wondered if perhaps… and it seems I was right.
“Haha….”
Lian gave a short laugh.
“I’m glad to hear you’re safe.”
— Of course I am. Who do you think I am?
“The Headmaster and I were both very worried.”
Windime snorted.
“I’ll head over there for now. I’ve become… involved in something rather complicated.”
— Can you briefly explain?
“The situation isn’t very suitable for explanations.”
— Just briefly.
“I killed a Cardinal.”
— …….
Windime fell silent.
Lian immediately added,
“There was an Iron Needle embedded in his chest. The problem is after his death… judging by the circumstances, it seems he chose death himself, but the Iron Needle vanished without a trace.”
— …We should talk face to face first.
Then she whispered quietly.
— …Good thing I secured a pardon.
“…….”
Lian remained silent.
Even without seeing her face, he could practically imagine her looking both flustered and exhausted.
— Anyway, come to the Room of Memories.
“The Room of Memories? Not the library?”
— They’ve been split. With the Barrier around the library, you wouldn’t be able to approach it even if you tried.
“Understood. I’ll come immediately.”
Lian nodded.
Just as he was about to put away the Crystal Sphere—
— Lian.
“Yes, Professor.”
— …….
Windime suddenly called his name but said nothing.
A brief moment passed.
— …No, it’s nothing. Just come carefully.
With that, the light of the Crystal Sphere disappeared.
And then—
ROOOOAAAARRR!!!
The roar of Dragons echoed through the air.
When Lian hurriedly looked up, he saw several of the Dragons that had been circling the sky descending downward—precisely toward the place where the library stood.
“…….”
Lian hesitated for a moment.
Then he quickly hurried toward the Room of Memories.
“…Alright, then. Since we now have a bit of time before he arrives here, shall we resume our conversation?”
Windime slowly set down the Crystal Sphere and murmured quietly.
“Now then.”
She turned around and spoke.
“So.”
“Why would one of the Eight Demon Lords come to meet a mere Half-Elf like me?”