Chapter 251

“Dragon Priestess…?”

Arthur repeated what he’d just heard, his tone laced with bewilderment.

A Dragon Priestess? Isn’t that a character straight out of the legends of heroes? The idea that someone could possess such qualities—what on earth does that even mean? His expression mirrored this unspoken question.

But it’s true.

Within this child flows a bloodline and sealed magical power. It’s undeniable—she possesses the potential to become not only a Dragon Priestess but also an existence closely aligned with myself.

Should this girl experience a great shock, the seal binding her powers, flowing alongside her blood, will break in an instant.

And she’ll be overwhelmed by a force far too powerful for any one person to handle.

Well, if she were just a healthy kid, we’d merely check and tweak the seal every now and then—that would’ve been enough. But unfortunately, the toxic energy seeping into her body and the illness gnawing at her continue unchecked.

As her vitality wanes and her life is threatened, the moment her breath leaves her, the sealed magic will burst forth, expelling the poison and transforming her body. That’s probably the simplest way to rid her of the disease and toxins.

By the way, Arthur also had a significant flow of magical power within him.

But since he’s just a boy—not nearly as potent as someone like Vivian who might have the makings of a Dragon Priestess—it’s less concerning.

Hmm, though I wonder… If a man could ever become a Dragon Priestess, what would happen? Would he transform while retaining his gender, or change entirely?

I’m not sure, but perhaps someday I’ll find out.

“Isn’t a Dragon Priestess a character from the legends of heroes? What exactly do you mean by saying she has the qualities of a Dragon Priestess?”

Ah, so he knows the term Dragon Priestess as referring to a specific individual—the one who traveled with the hero, me, back in the day.

Of course, up until now, there hasn’t been another Dragon Priestess besides me, so his reaction is understandable.

“A Dragon Priestess isn’t the name of a particular person. It refers to someone chosen by the Goddess of Life, capable of hearing Her voice directly.”

That’s a lie, of course. Until now, I’ve been the only active Dragon Priestess.

Even though outwardly we claim there are multiple Dragon Priestesses, in truth, it’s always been me. Not very romantic, I know, but revealing this fact would only increase interest in the Dragon Priestess—in other words, me.

And more attention equals more trouble, which I’d rather avoid.

So here, let’s keep things simple: A Dragon Priestess is essentially a holy maiden chosen by the Goddess of Life.

Besides, it’s convenient that the descendant of this girl—and the hero—is right here.

“A being chosen by the Goddess of Life…?”

“Yes. She will become something incredibly noble. Once transformed, the poison and illness consuming her body will vanish.”

Her body will transform, becoming akin to mine.

With such immense magical power, she’ll surpass the reach of mere toxins and ailments.

Maybe I should add horns too—they’re symbolic of a Dragon Priestess and could serve as a direct communication antenna with me. That’d be amusing.

“Does this mean she can regain her health…!”

“Yes. Though temporary treatment is possible without fully becoming a Dragon Priestess, mind you.”

I suppressed the spread of the poison within the girl, alleviating her pain. Her pained expression visibly eased, showing signs of comfort.

Temporary relief is easy—I merely suppress the toxin and restore her frail body. Nothing complicated.

However, because the poison has already intertwined with her flesh, her condition will deteriorate again soon. Fully curing her would be tedious.

It’d be easier to rebuild her body from scratch. Without the magical seal, I might forcefully reconstruct her, but doing so risks breaking the seal instantly. Truly bothersome.

“Of course, this temporary treatment won’t last long. But if she accepts the possibility of becoming a Dragon Priestess and embraces her destiny, awakening to it… her body will transform, granting her perfect health.”

“Transform…?”

“Yes. Both her appearance and internal structure will change. Though her soul will remain the same, her physical form will differ drastically from before.”

I exaggerate slightly. I can control these changes, after all. While she might resemble me somewhat, I wouldn’t make her an exact copy!

Preserving her original features while adding touches like different hair colors or horns, ensuring she retains a similar yet distinct aura, would suffice.

“And upon being chosen as a Dragon Priestess… she’ll become a key figure in the Church of Life. Such status would allow her to live a life free of hardship—perhaps even akin to royalty within the Romania Empire.”

At my words, Arthur flinched slightly.

“The Church of Life…”

“An entity capable of directly hearing the Goddess’s voice. Naturally, they’d treat her with utmost reverence.”

While Asherat responds to believers’ prayers, it’s mostly automated, lacking direct communication. The last revelation was decades ago.

Still, the priests’ unwavering faith never wavered—an impressive feat indeed.

“Perhaps living under the care of the Church of Life would be happier than fleeing from the Romania Empire.”

I spoke calmly, gazing at Arthur. The young boy struggled to conceal his emotions.

Confusion. Uncertainty. Cold sweat mingled with discomfort marked his face.

Looking at him, I continued my tale.

“Who you are, where you come from, or what events led you here are irrelevant. What matters is that you sought my help but withheld the truth about yourself.”

My gaze pierced through him, delving deep into his hidden thoughts.

What secrets does he conceal? What desires fuel him? What drives his heart? What colors his emotions?

Revenge—a thick, crimson streak dominated his core.

“I am…”

He hesitated, pondering what to reveal and what to hide despite his youth.

Futile.

I see everything, understand it all.

So, give him a gentle push.

A nudge to propel him forward.

“If you don’t speak honestly, I cannot assist you.”

Now, with the stage set, he must confess everything, right? Right?

Seeming to steel himself, Arthur began.

“My name… is Lucius. Lucius Altirius III. A member of the Romania royal family and once the Crown Prince with succession rights.”

Finally, honesty emerges.

Incidentally, Lucius Altirius III sounds like a name borrowed directly from the Knight King.

“Is Arthur merely an alias?”

“That… it’s a nickname from when I was younger. My great-grandfather insisted we use different names to avoid confusion.”

“So your great-grandfather…”

Meaning this child is the great-grandson of the Knight King himself.

“In that case, the grandfather you mentioned must be the Knight King.”

“Yes. He said if I ever needed wisdom, I should seek counsel.”

Hmph… The Knight King surely told the next king, meaning the Crown Prince would inherit the throne. Or perhaps he simply loved his grandchild too much and shared too many stories. Either way, I should shake down the poor guy stuck in paradise after his trial in the underworld. Tch.

“Well, for the Crown Prince to arrive here in such disarray must indicate something extraordinary.”

Arthur slowly nodded. Disheveled, accompanied by a sister afflicted with poison and illness, they ventured into this deep forest.

Not a rebellion—had it been large-scale, I’d have heard whispers. Nor invasion—many deaths would result from war or rebellion, and even ignoring events, Hades would’ve mentioned such occurrences.

If not rebellion or war, why would a prince with succession rights flee in such a state?

“Is it a struggle for the throne?”

Arthur remained silent.

To him, it might seem like airing the royal family’s dirty laundry.

Instead, the girl spoke.

“Yes… my brother had his rightful place stolen…”

Thanks to the temporarily subsided poison, the girl managed to rise and interject.

“Vivian…”

“Brother, please tell the whole truth. We have no other options.”

With those words from the girl called Vivian, Arthur gave a small nod.