Chapter 44

[Don’t chase too tightly. Focus solely on following the trail.]

Her Highness, the Imperial Princess, has decreed.

And Knight Ruelde readily accepted the task when it was relayed to him.

Partyna led her horse into a quiet forest village.

Ruelde, commander of the Golden Dragon Knights, was renowned as a hero.

Among them was a woman rumored to be the youngest member ever admitted—she had become a legend in her own right within the empire.

However, at this moment, she felt less like a proud knight and more like a sister who had lost her younger brother, clutching onto an empty heart with great effort.

That’s why when this mission proposal came up,

She didn’t hesitate for even a second.

If it were up to her, she wouldn’t care about titles or formalities—she’d have chased after him long ago.

But only four days after he left did Partyna finally manage to track his steps.

With some help from agents beforehand, she could smoothly continue pursuing him.

Thus.

The commotion that unfolded in this tiny village of merely several dozen households was relayed through the village chief—a potential disaster that might’ve spiraled out of control.

“Truly, I never expected you folks from the capital to care about such a remote place.”

The elder’s gratitude-filled greeting was met calmly by Partyna.

“There’s no reason not to. It’s just around the corner from here to Rutania, isn’t it? If we only cared about border towns and ignored neighbors like these villagers, that would be negligence on our part.”

“It’s truly amazing. Thank you so much, Sir Knight. Just hearing your words brings immense relief. Even without a church here, you’ve come so far…”

It’s nice they misunderstand in a good way.

Though the lord of this fief exists, there are times when his reach doesn’t extend everywhere.

Isn’t it better not to turn away places where our eyes can reach, even if not all?

“It’s really incredible.”

A boy with black hair protected the young men of the village from approaching fiends and daemons.

Not only that, but he drove them off.

He began recounting what he’d witnessed in detail.

As he spoke, cracks appeared in Partyna’s composed expression.

‘Why did you hide your skills until now?’

Partyna couldn’t understand at all.

How could someone born from the lineage of Ruelde and Hermine possibly be clumsy?

She knew better than anyone how hard he’d worked.

The expectations were overwhelming, compounded by undeserved stigma from the past.

She was well aware of how much pain he endured because of those preconceived notions.

Still…

She firmly believed he’d overcome it effortlessly.

She trusted him completely.

Minor stigmas can always be redeemed later.

Had he truly committed unforgivable sins,

She doubted she could’ve accepted him easily herself.

But it wasn’t to that extent, was it?

‘He had to overcome it.’

Even Partyna herself had weathered countless slanders and false accusations.

Yet, every single one was overcome through strength and achievements.

Since she could do it, surely Carriel could too.

She trusted him… but why…

Did it end up like this?

‘I should’ve paid closer attention.’

The letter Ruelde showed her regarding this mission contained shocking revelations.

How much suffering had Carriel endured alone?

This fact pierced her heart sharply, vividly manifesting the truth.

“He’s undoubtedly destined for greatness! Though he hasn’t officially become a knight yet, considering his age and skill level, he’s clearly no ordinary person.”

“…….”

By now, the village elder was recounting Carriel’s heroic deeds and subsequent admirable character as though reciting fairy tales from childhood.

Everyone else agreed wholeheartedly.

Right.

This must be the Carriel that Partyna remembers.

But for some reason,

It feels like ancient history now.

Though they weren’t blood-related, she considered their bond stronger than any familial tie.

Now, she wasn’t so sure anymore.

Partyna felt unbearably distressed, as if her chest were being torn apart.

‘Baroneurers. He went to Carriella, didn’t he?’

It just so happens that the Feast of Saint Carriel is approaching soon.

Carriel—the baptismal name originating from its founding site.

Why did he go there?

Partyna still couldn’t figure it out.

Maybe that’s why.

When she reflected on it, waves of self-reproach washed over her.

Heartbreakingly so.

====

“The preparations are solid. This is indeed the genuine article.”

Fielbar carefully examined the cracked antique sword wrapped in a cloth, barely breathing as if afraid to exhale near it.

He didn’t dare breathe while examining the blade closely.

“All that’s left is heading to the historic site.”

“To the Plains of Carriel then. Since it’s close to our territory, let’s head straight there.”

Baron Raia seemed unable to contain his excitement, taking deep breaths repeatedly.

The significance of Fortress Carriel to them was evident just by observing.

Even the aged baron and his two sons gleamed with childlike excitement, like kids eagerly unwrapping a present at this moment.

“Is my presence alright?”

So, Carriel wondered if he really belonged here, feeling slightly uneasy.

“What could possibly go wrong?”

“Would adding a couple more people cause problems? A skilled young knight visiting Carriella during the festival shows deep respect for Saint Carriel—what could possibly go wrong?”

Baron Raia also assured him casually, leaving Carriel with no choice but to remain quiet.

On a carriage spacious enough for six people with room to spare, its owner was Fielbar.

“If we’re not treasure hunting or exploring ruins, what harm could a few extra observers cause? Oh, calling it excavation might be more accurate than treasure hunting?”

The peculiar race from the Demon Realm known for consuming blood amusingly divulged uncommon knowledge.

“In the era of the Great Demon King, there was neither war nor conflict—an unprecedented era of peace.”

“You mean the Demon King?”

Luke asked, clearly confused.

“That’s precisely why it’s special and bizarre. Especially overturning and outright defeating the order, principles, and laws of the Demon Realm itself—that’s the greatness of the Great Demon King.”

“You’re speaking with admiration.”

Alesia smirked as she said this.

“How could I not?”

Fielbar freely admitted.

“In 6,000 years of Demon Realm history, the 300 years under his rule were the sole period where prosperity and peace coexisted.”

“Hmm… Thinking about it, the usual cycles of Demon Army invasions last anywhere from a few decades to a century at most. Apart from the invasion by the Blue-Scaled Beast and the Golden Beast recently, the prolonged silence was strange.”

“The Blue-Scaled Beast was likely chased away after challenging the Great Demon King, eventually flowing here. So, without an army, it was probably just him. Perhaps the Great Demon King intentionally injected some tension into the Middle Realm.”

“Tension?”

“Didn’t He say that prolonged peace inevitably leads to decline and corruption? The Great Demon King.”

“And also stated that power inevitably corrupts, immortality inevitably decays, and those who dream of eternity are breeding grounds for corruption.”

“…Sounds like criticizing the Order.”

“Mostly everything. We, for instance, may have achieved immortality, but we’re burdened with numerous restrictions and thought patterns that don’t align with mortals, right?”

If the old ways of thinking from the Demon Realm still held sway:

“We wouldn’t even encounter situations where we engage in intellectual conversations like this. Sitting face-to-face would be out of the question.”

“So, this is possible thanks to the Great Demon King? What about the Golden Beast then?”

“That bastard.”

Fielbar cursed openly.

“Just imagining the principles established during his reign gives me the urge to unleash a barrage of curses. How inconvenient it was!”

“A principle, you say.”

Alesia muttered quietly.

“Do you know? Maybe the boy does? Ruel?”

“I read somewhere that each Demon King establishes their own ruling principles and laws. Basic info, but nicely summarized, thank you! And the principle set by the Golden Beast upon becoming ruler was called the Golden Rule. An extremely balanced law—it enforced strict mutualism, and even minor deviations from logic could lead to immediate trials. Under the guise of absolute balance lay brutal oppression!”

Thus.

A Demon King can establish their own principles to govern the Demon Realm.

Dislike it? Have complaints?

Just overthrow the Demon King and take the throne yourself.

“On the other hand, the Great Demon King established something unheard-of called the Hope Principle, transforming the Demon Realm, steeped in destruction and survival of the fittest, into what was literally a garden of flowers.”

And the Great Demon King made the entire Demon Realm accept all of it.

“If His power had been weaker, He would’ve been deposed or swept away by rebellions long ago. In that sense, the Golden Beast wasn’t an exception either.”

At this, Luke asked:

“If that didn’t happen, does that mean they were that strong?”

“The Golden Beast is different, but in the case of the Great Demon King, He was utterly overwhelming. Not for nothing was He called the Omnipotent Demon King during His reign. Either omnipotence or omniscience would’ve been groundbreaking—but He possessed both. Among the three Great Demon Kings in 6,000 years of Demon Realm history, He was likely the greatest. The fact that He ruled without shedding blood speaks volumes.”

“Yeah. That’s a sufficient answer. Your tangent was a bit long though.”

Watching Alesia nod in agreement, Carriel thought:

The Demon King of Wisdom.

Even they constantly berate the Golden Beast but show no hesitation in respecting the Great Demon King.

“…”

Carriel glanced upward momentarily.

And.

Considering that even the Demon King of Wisdom, who reigned after the Great Demon King, humbly regarded himself as merely one of His limbs, it becomes clear just how overwhelmingly powerful He must’ve been.

“But we’re still inside the city limits, right… Ah! Hot! Am I insane?”

Opening the carriage window reflexively before quickly withdrawing his head, Fielbar exclaimed.

Even brief exposure to sunlight caused steam to rise from his skin, confirming that wandering outside in broad daylight wasn’t feasible.

“Time flies but drags on too. Any more questions? Or anyone willing to indulge my curiosity?”

Sharing casual chatter and knowledge, they soon arrived at the Carriel Plains outside the city.

“All right, let’s disembark! Hey, kids! Unfold the parasols! Make sure the sun doesn’t touch my skin! No! Parasols AND tents! Just in case!”

Following Fielbar’s orders, two pale-skinned youths produced a large tent from somewhere.

Are they fine? Are they even the same species?

White on the outside exposed to the sun.

Inside, a blue canopy blocked sunlight effectively.

“All right, let’s begin! Kids, bring out the reagent kit… No, everything we prepared. Start by securing the base… Over there, and let’s start reconnaissance…”

Observing this scene attentively, Alesia casually asked:

“I’m not doubting due to past successes, but can you really revive traces of the past so easily?”

“It’s not easy. Ideally, we need relics used by Saint Carriel, the location where He passed, and the time He passed. All these elements must align perfectly. There are finer details to adjust, but according to preliminary investigators, this place is favorable for that.”

“Favorable? What kind of favorability?”

Responding to Lord Raia, Fielbar turned his head without standing up.

“The balance of yin and yang here is impeccable. To simplify, think of it as a zone where living beings thrive.”

“Does that relate to this matter?”

“It does. You know there are guardians for the lands you live on, right? Earthbound spirits, vengeful spirits, evil spirits, benevolent spirits—all familiar concepts?”

“…Aren’t those things from fairy tales? Ghosts and spirits appear only in specific areas, not ordinary places…”

“You lack awareness. Normal places change depending on who dies or is buried there. Consider elemental spirits too. While elves summon beings from the Elemental Plane, they differ from these.”

From this perspective, this place is excellent.

“It’s apparent even to us, sensitive to falsehoods and yin energy, that this area is protected. That’s likely why there are fewer incidents here.”

“…”

“Could it be due to Irene’s Doctrine being relatively lenient towards idols? You aren’t reacting strongly, are you?”

Saying that, it might not resonate much.

Just.

“So, if Saint Carriel still lingers here, guarding us, should we interpret it that way?”

“If you want to see it positively, yes. Whether it’s necessarily good, I can’t say for sure though.”

“…”

Fielbar’s words carried ambiguous undertones.

Rather perplexing than difficult to grasp.

“No, his point makes sense.”

The eldest son of Baroneurers, Ludhi, casually voiced his opinion.

“If He protects Baroneurers as a patron saint, that’s an honor… But…”

If He hadn’t fully reached Heaven and remained forcibly tethered here on Earth…

“In some sense, isn’t that tragic?”

To which Raia calmly countered:

“Ludhi. That’s not something you should judge. That decision rests solely with the Supreme Deity in heaven and Saint Carriel Himself.”

“Ah, yes. You’re absolutely right. I was merely…”

“I understand. Don’t worry; I’m not scolding you.”

Watching this exchange, Luke subtly approached Carriel and Alesia, smirking.

“The parent-child relationship seems simple but is surprisingly complex, huh?”

“You don’t seem to have such worries?”

At Alesia’s observation, Luke shrugged.

“My nature leans toward being indifferent in such matters.”

“Is that something to boast about?”

Alesia frowned disapprovingly.

“…”

Meanwhile, observing this scene, Carriel felt an odd sensation.

It was hard to articulate, but…

It weighed heavily on his chest.

“Is this really the right place?”

Suddenly, Fielbar stood up abruptly from examining the ground, loudly expressing doubt.

“What’s wrong? Did something unexpected occur?”

“Problem? Yes, there is.”

Fielbar bluntly revealed the issue.

“This isn’t it.”

“Huh?”

“Let me repeat: This isn’t it. This isn’t where Saint Carriel faced the barbarian army.”

Lord Raia immediately frowned.

“That can’t be. Our ancestors clearly mentioned this area.”

“It seems the story got distorted along the way. It happens often. The bottom line is, this isn’t the spot.”

“How could this…?”

He appeared genuinely shocked by the conclusion.

“Can we still find it?”

Ludhi anxiously inquired, prompting Fielbar to stroke his chin thoughtfully.

“It’ll take some time, but we can try. Without pinpointing the exact location, we might miss the festival. And if the festival itself turns out incorrect…we’ll have quite a headache.”

“That’s… all we can hope against, I suppose. For us, this is all we’ve inherited accurately.”

Though disappointed, Ludhi quickly regained composure and reassessed the situation.

“Huh? Then what? Did we waste our efforts coming here?”

Grumbling about the futility of it all, Luke earned a sharp nudge from Alesia.

“Ouch!”

“Think before you speak.”

“…”

Carriel, gazing skyward briefly, then asked Luke:

“Excuse me, but could I perhaps examine Saint Carriel’s… relic?”

“Huh? Why suddenly curious? Do you think it holds some special ancient artifact power?”

Alesia struck his thigh again.

“Damn! Can you ease up a little?”

“Use your brain before opening your mouth. Even with a gaping hole, don’t spout nonsense.”

“But I didn’t say anything weird!”

Luke genuinely felt wronged.

“Touching it isn’t a big deal. Still, keep in mind the sword’s condition isn’t great.”

With Baron Raia’s permission, Carriel lightly bowed and approached Fielbar.

A cloth was spread on the plains, with a magical circle drawn using reagents—everything seemed fine until now.

Another bundle of pristine white cloth housed an ancient straight sword preserved through magical treatment by the Order. Despite this, its durability appeared questionable, exuding an indescribable air of desolation.

Unlike the contemporary imperial swords shaped like crosses, this straight sword featured a narrow guard.

Carriel carefully knelt down on one knee and extended his hand toward it.

The instant he did so,

[Uncle, who are you?]

Something incomprehensible flowed in unexpectedly.

[!– Slider main container –]

---