Chapter 275: Crossroads (16)
The Ritual of Human Sacrifice.
It sounded grand to call it a ritual, but if one examined the reality behind it, it was not actually something that grand.
It was exactly what it sounded like—conducting a ritual while offering a living sacrifice.
However, unlike that simple explanation, it carried enormous ritualistic meaning and power.
Fundamentally, magic and ritual sorcery always returned results proportional to the price that was paid.
And there was no offering greater than a living sacrifice that offered body, mind, soul, and life itself.
At the same time, nothing was more dangerous.
There was a reason why, in the modern age, the ritual of human sacrifice had been banned—from the Magic Tower, to the Holy Sun Church, to the Empire, and even among the Demons.
“Human sacrifice…”
Professor Windy May muttered quietly, as if turning over the words Nina Rowelka had just spoken.
As someone called an Archmage, she possessed a certain degree of knowledge about the ritual of human sacrifice, and she had even witnessed it with her own eyes before.
That was why, when the suspicion she had vaguely harbored became reality and returned before her like this…
She could not help but stare blankly at the Dragons filling the surroundings.
“How large…”
she murmured quietly.
“Just how massive must this ritual be for Dragons—no, for this many Dragons—to preside over and observe it?”
“That cannot be told.”
Nina Rowelka waved his hand.
In a tired yet firm voice, he spoke.
“In the first place, I know nothing about it… and we simply follow the Vow. Our freedom and will are not part of it.”
“You simply obey? As if you were slaves?”
“For us, a Vow is more important than anything.”
He said,
“Even if we must spend the rest of our lives guarding someone’s grave, even if we willingly take out our own hearts and offer them… and even…”
Nina Rowelka glanced at Professor Windy May.
“Even if we must fight a sworn friend with our lives and be killed by our own hands.”
“….”
A harsh grinding sound escaped from the corner of Professor Windy May’s mouth.
Nina Rowelka only whispered as he met her furious gaze head-on.
“If a Vow has been made, it must be upheld even if it costs one’s life. That is our law.”
Professor Windy May quietly asked,
“…Are you planning to destroy the world?”
“I do not understand what you mean.”
He shrugged.
The corner of Professor Windy May’s eye twitched.
“I doubt you truly don’t know. I don’t know what exactly is being offered as the sacrifice, but if Dragons are presiding and observing, that alone means the scale is far from ordinary.”
“I understand that well. And I also understand the reason for your concern.”
“Do you? Then do you know what kind of result that ritual might bring?”
“I do not know that.”
Professor Windy May let out a hollow laugh.
“And yet how can you—”
“Because it is a Vow.”
He whispered.
“As I said earlier, we merely follow the Vow. The Vow made 300 years ago has continued until now without even the slightest crack. It is sacred, honorable, and worthy of praise. If that is the case, then it is only right that we bring it to a beautiful conclusion.”
“…Even if it may return as a great calamity that destroys the world?”
“How arrogant, Windy May Maddown. Truly arrogant.”
Nina Rowelka murmured.
“I will speak honestly. Neither I nor anyone among us knows what result that ritual will bring. Since it was something requested by the Saintess who saved the world, staking even her own life, perhaps it may be something that drives away a great calamity… or perhaps, as you fear, it may return as a great calamity itself.”
“….”
“But.”
He smiled faintly.
“Even if it does become such a calamity… as you say, the world will not be destroyed. In the first place, how could creatures like us destroy this world?”
“…What do you mean by that?”
“It is we—including you—who would walk the path of destruction. This world will remain perfectly fine.”
Nina Rowelka murmured.
“…Perhaps it might even become better after we disappear.”
As he said that much, he briefly stroked his chin.
“Hm. Now that I say it aloud, I realize it may have been a slip of the tongue. Those words were merely my personal thoughts. I would like to clarify that they have nothing to do with this matter.”
Nina Rowelka tapped his chest.
“I swear upon my name and my heart.”
“…Then are you truly saying you will preside over a ritual of human sacrifice whose purpose you do not even know, simply because of the Vow?”
“That is correct.”
He nodded in acknowledgment.
“That is why I am here. Because I am praised as the most outstanding among our lineage. To carry out the Vow without error.”
“….”
Professor Windy May realized there was no longer any point in talking to him.
People like him would uphold the laws they had chosen no matter what.
If she wanted to break his will, either the Saintess who had made the Vow with him would have to return to life… or she would have to take his life along with his conviction.
‘Either way, neither is possible right now.’
Professor Windy May concluded that for now she would have to step back.
Instead, thinking she should gain as much as she could, she opened her mouth while still frowning.
“You said there were three main reasons for coming here.”
“That is correct.”
“The corpses of your kin will be handed over later, as we agreed, so that matter is resolved.”
“Indeed.”
“But the second reason… confirming the safety of the young member of your kin. That does not seem to have been fully settled yet. Since we are here, why not resolve it now?”
“If you are willing to spare the time, then I will gratefully accept the kindness.”
He bowed his head and expressed polite thanks to Professor Windy May.
Then he looked toward Menoruka and Junongren.
“I believe you heard enough of the conversation beside us to grasp the situation. The two of you will return with us.”
“….”
“….”
At his words, both Menoruka and Junongren showed reluctant reactions.
Seeing their expressions, Nina Rowelka made a slightly awkward face.
“I have no intention of detaining or forcing you. However, Junongren, please remember that it was at your request for salvation that I—the one among us who possesses the greatest strength—personally came here.”
“…I understand, Lord Nina Rowelka.”
Junongren answered reluctantly.
She seemed to believe that things had grown this complicated and large because of her.
“And Menoruka, our young kin.”
Looking at Menoruka, he spoke in a polite yet gentle voice.
“Please understand that I barely managed to stop your honored father and mother—your parents—from personally coming here out of concern for your safety. It is not as though I enjoy using my authority to suppress my own kin, especially elders.”
“That is…”
“Please do not cause further pain to them—or to me.”
At his continued persuasion, the first to move was Behad.
Gently separating Menoruka, who was clinging to him as if protecting him, he spoke.
“It would be best if you follow them.”
“Pardon? B-but…”
“Miss Menoruka.”
Behad softly called her name.
At that, Menoruka could only look at him without saying anything.
“…You are called Nina Rowelka, correct? Forgive me, but may I ask a few questions?”
Nina Rowelka looked at him quietly for a moment, then nodded.
“Ask, human who has taken the heart of my kin.”
“Do you intend to harm me?”
At Behad’s question, Nina Rowelka frowned.
“Why would we harm you? If you had taken that child’s heart by force, perhaps we might.”
“No. That answer is sufficient. Then do you intend to detain or imprison Menoruka and Miss Junongren?”
“I do not understand why you would think that. I came merely to protect them. I will hand them over to their guardians and ensure they receive proper treatment. After that, it will be beyond my responsibility.”
Behad nodded.
“Thank you for answering politely.”
“It was nothing.”
Behad looked back at Menoruka.
“You heard him. Forgive me for bringing up the name of someone who has passed away, but this situation is very different from when it happened to your grandfather, Miss Menoruka. For now, I believe it would be best for you to return.”
“Ugh…”
Under Behad’s continued persuasion, Menoruka appeared to waver.
Watching that, Professor Windy May, who believed Behad would succeed without much difficulty, nodded slightly.
“Then it seems the second reason has been resolved as well.”
“So it appears.”
“Then only the final, third reason remains…”
Professor Windy May quietly muttered while looking at him.
“Why did you come here?”
“I do not understand the intention behind that question.”
“Stop pretending.”
Professor Windy May shot back sharply, then slowly began regulating her breathing.
She was preparing in case something happened.
“Human sacrifice and the ritual. The Vow with the Saintess. If you came to fulfill that, it means someone here must be connected to it.”
“….”
At her question, Nina Rowelka fell silent.
As he seemed to be considering what to answer, Professor Windy May continued.
“You are not planning to offer someone among us as the sacrifice, are you?”
“…No.”
He slowly nodded.
“Then perhaps this place itself is the site of that ritual?”
“That is also not the case.”
“Then why did you come here?”
“You already said it yourself.”
Nina Rowelka replied.
“To take away the one who is connected to it.”
At that moment—
Amaruah, who had remained silent until now, quietly stepped forward.
“…You did not say you would come like this.”
“Please forgive the rudeness. The situation was so urgent that I had no opportunity to contact you in advance.”
Nina Rowelka bowed his head politely toward Amaruah in apology.
Though she wore an annoyed expression, she walked toward him without hesitation.
“Well, well.”
Seeing her, Professor Windy May coughed lightly.
Come to think of it, she had known Amaruah was here, yet she had not thought of her even once until now.
Amaruah must have used some kind of trick.
“She got me.”
“…That was not my intention. I’m sorry, Professor Windy May.”
Amaruah spoke softly in apology.
“Lady Amaruah. The task you had been entrusted with…”
“You do not need to worry.”
She murmured.
“…I did not want to do it, but I somehow carried it through properly to the very end.”
As she said that, an unmistakable sorrow lingered in her voice.