Proofreader: somnium

Leonard, who had sent a member of the organization, stayed alone to drink, recalling Kahel’s true power which he witnessed in Hildebrunn, and thanked his ancestors for their protection once again.

Leonard instinctively felt a sense of crisis when he heard that a child with magical powers powerful enough to gnaw away even his mother’s vitality was born in the Luave family. His eldest son, Lian, also inherited some good qualities, but not to the point of being exceptional.

However, his father, the former Duke Santella, had already prepared countermeasures.

“It seems that some kind of strange monster was born in the Luave family, what should I do?”

“Don’t worry. Knowing that this day would come someday, the great elders of the family had prepared the way ahead of time.”

The worries of the ancestors who had prepared for many years to become the only wing of Logos were always the Duchy of Santella. Although they have always been wary of the magical powers of the Luave, which were slightly stronger than those of the Santella, they have been researching ways to suppress the Luave’s magic.

There was no way to get rid of the magic that was already innate anyway. However, if there were negative effects when using magic, it was clear that it would be a big restriction on using magic. So, what was prepared was the devilish curse, a curse that amplifies devilish power by using magical power, and a curse that transforms the body when using magic. In particular, the body mutation curse worked the most to condemn the Luave family as devils.

Over the years, these curses, which have been accumulated in high-purity and refined magic stones, became powerful by accumulating the magical powers and resentments of several people and were to disappear once used. It seemed a bit wasteful to impose these curses on just one person, but the former Duke advised to put all these shackles on Kahel.

“Anyway, the day of prophecy is coming. The child must be the biggest obstacle to the glory of our family, so don’t be a cheapskate.”

Now that he thought about it, the previous Duke was wise. Had that monster had one less shackle, the balance between the Santella and the Luave would have been broken long ago.

The day the curse was placed on Kachel was the day he went to swear allegiance to the Queen on his seventh birthday. When the Santella and Luave families swear an oath of allegiance to the Queen, the entire two families enter the Palace to guard the place and serve as witnesses, but Leonard carries out his plan that day.

The ancestors gradually accumulated their own magic, took the magic stone that sealed the curse, and secretly placed a curse on Kahel while the oath of allegiance was in progress. Normally, Damien would have noticed a strange flow of magic, but in the ‘Hall of Glory,’ where the oath of allegiance was made, everyone had to wear a magic restraint necklace. Leonard made elaborate imitations to deceive the eye.

There were a lot of things that had to be carefully considered so as not to be found out, but as a result, Leonard succeeded in casting the curse that day. The next day, news came from the Duchy of Luave that one of the servants had attacked Kahel and died, and he realized the power of the curse.

‘I wish he had died then.’

He was only seven years old, and no matter how strong his magical powers were, he couldn’t handle it properly, so if the servant had been a little quicker, Kahel would have died that day. But even after that, the servants and maids died at the hands of the knights before they could harm Kahel. He was, in a way, a terribly lucky kid.

‘But no matter how much he flies and crawls, he can’t beat us.’

Leonard recalled the prophecy by Melike once more.

-…… When the old sun sets and the second cold moon rises, Deneb and Altair will turn to Spica, and the chosen wing will raise the eternal sun.

The prophecy did not say which side would win, but Santella has long been preparing to become that single wing. There was already a huge difference between the Luave family, who foolishly obeyed the Queen and followed only tradition.

Leonard grabbed his glass and headed towards the window. Spring had come, but the cold moon was floating in the sky.

‘The old sun is already setting. Santella will be the eternal sun of the Logos.’

A cold smile resembling the moonlight hung on Leonard’s lips.

* * *

Luahalla, who arrived in the capital of Hildebrunn safely despite the monster’s attack, received the King’s orders and negotiated with the Sage’s village. In the Sage’s village, who had not opened their door despite all the gifts sent by the Royal Family, barely opened the door to Luahalla with Kahel’s name. Even that, only Luahalla himself was allowed to enter, so those with him had to wait outside the village.

“Nice to meet you. My name is Luahalla Rognac Elpheoso.”

“Nice to meet you. My name is Hersh.”

Luahalla alone entered the village hall, where Hersh and other village elders were seated. Their expressions and eyes were never favorable, but Luahalla smiled steadfastly with a polite, friendly-looking face.

“Our permission to the Second Prince’s visit does not mean that we will accept Hildebrunn’s request. Just because you said you were a close friend of Duke Luave.”

“I know. However, please do not misunderstand that the last monster attack was the decision of the Hildebrunn Royal Family. It was merely an arbitrary decision of the Crown Prince. Even His Majesty did not know. Thanks to that, the Crown Prince is currently on probation in his own room.”

“Only on probation? If Duke Luave had not come, we would have been annihilated. But just probation?”

“There is no other choice. Anyway, on the surface, the Crown Prince didn’t directly attack the Sage’s village. He doesn’t even know why the monsters appeared, and the Crown Prince insists that he only knew the danger in advance and tried to help. Everyone knows the truth, but they are blindfolded like that.”

“How bold…… !”

Hersh’s voice trembled with anger. But Luahalla was pleased with their wrath.

“How can I not know the elder’s heart? When I returned home this time, I was attacked by monsters.”

“Wh, what?”

“Even though I was attacked by monsters, everyone was surprised that a monster had appeared, and they were suspicious of the Crown Prince, but they still dismissed it as unfortunate. If I had not seen the Crown Prince’s face when I arrived at the Palace alive, I would not have thought of that.”

“The fact that you were unharmed even after being attacked by the monster is, perhaps, Duke Luave…… ?”

“No. Sir Kahel is now in Ardennes. The one who protected me was Sir Damien Luave, former Duke Luave.”

Luahalla was calm for a person who was nearly killed by monsters, but Hersh calmed her heart by taking deep breaths over and over again as the memories of the day she was attacked by the monster were vivid.

“With the second prince attacked by monsters, yet the King doesn’t blame the Crown Prince?”

“It is only a suspicion, not a confirmation. Besides, it’s not Brother’s power to summon monsters. I think that maybe Duchy Santella was involved.”

“To forgive the Duchy of another country for releasing such dangerous things on this land…… I am deeply disappointed in His Majesty.”

“I am, too.”

Luwahala smiled and drank tea.

“When Ragdrill ascends to the throne, Hildebrunn will be gloomy. Don’t you think so?”

The attitude of calling the person who had been called ‘the Crown Prince’ only by his first name was meaningful. Hersh narrowed her eyes and looked at Luahalla.

“Today’s visit…… I don’t think it’s just for the apology from last time?”

“Apology? On the surface, is the Royal Family likely to apologize for not being involved? I have come here only to express regret or consolation. But that’s probably not what you want. Isn’t it?”

Luahalla brought out the main topic with a face that had no sense of playfulness.

“I want to become the next great king of Hildebrunn. So, I am here to ask for your help.”

“What do you mean all of a sudden?”

“I am asking you to help me overthrow this shameless Royal Family.”

“We have no intention of getting involved in politics.”

“I am well aware that you came out of the Magic Tower with that thought. But as long as you set foot in a country, you will never be free from political issues. Then, wouldn’t it be better to support someone who at least fits your inclinations?”

“One way or another, in the end, it’s a power struggle.”

“Sure. However, it is also a prejudice to think that power is only a bad thing. Is it not power after all that is needed to expel someone like Ragdrill? Is that all? It is also power that commands us to protect the weak. It is also power that advances science and supports research. Power is also used to defend good from the evil nature of men.”

Hersh bit her mouth shut. Still, from the day she was attacked by monsters, she continued to question whether her beliefs were right.

Luahalla was right. It was a naive idea that she didn’t want to get into politics or power struggles. Power struggles took place wherever humans lived. Even if it wasn’t Hildebrunn or Ragdrill, it was clear that they would receive this kind of pressure anytime, anywhere.

Luahalla smiled sadly at the sound of Hersh’s sigh.

“The world cannot be divided into dichotomies. To oppose the Magic Tower, who actively intervenes in politics, is the only way to just respond decisively to politics or power issues?”

“So, how is the second prince different from the Crown Prince? Most of the people in power are the same.”

“No one knows the fear as well as I do. If you know how I’ve been saving my life. I intend to overhaul the power system of this country, which is still barbaric. But even if I become the king, it will not be easy. It’s something that even the nobles need to fix.”

“They will. But nobles are usually greedy.”

“Not everyone is like that. But I’m sure there are fewer people with the same thoughts as me. So…… Please help a little. But I promise if I become king, the Sage’s village will become an autonomous territory.”

“An autonomous territory…….”

It was what the Sage’s village had always been longing for. A small land where they live peacefully without being shaken by the state’s politics…….

“Good. If we cannot get away from politics or power issues, we will have to choose the lesser evil.”

“Thank you for making the decision. I will try to become a lesser evil, as far from the worst as possible.”

Luahalla, who took Hersh’s hand, negotiated to normalize the supply and demand of medicines instead of building a defense line in the village by the Royal Family. In addition, Hersh gifted Luahalla with some defensive artifacts. It was one of the results of self-research conducted quickly after the monsters’ attack.

As they stood up after signing the contract after satisfactory negotiations, someone grabbed Luahalla’s sleeve.