Chapter 84
Whether it was the twins edging closer to avoid the idle chatter between Shen and Erzet, or Shen asking what exactly he was making—
In any case, despite several interruptions along the way, Aquila completed the poison without any major mistakes.
A dark crimson liquid and a deep blue-black liquid were each poured into small vials.
Once combined, they would form a toxin capable of killing even the Demonic Dragon. There was no need to mix them just yet.
As a precaution against unforeseen circumstances, Aquila sealed both vials with magic so that their lids could not be opened.
He then began tidying the mortar and the distillation apparatus, careful that no one else touched them.
“…What exactly have you made, my dear brother?”
Though pretending to focus on his own work, Erzet had been observing Aquila with keen interest.
He studied the ingredients spread across the desk, seemingly calculating their properties one by one.
Was it because this was a formula he himself had completed in a previous cycle?
As though he had already deduced the effect of the final combination, his expression stiffened in an instant.
Erzet’s gaze, sharp behind the silver fras of his spectacles, glead as he asked—clearly knowing the answer.
“It has a purpose.”
“That… kind of purpose?”
Perhaps unwilling to utter the word poison before Shen and the twins, he stepped closer and whispered.
“The one who swallowed it stands right before you.”
But Aquila rely nodded at Erzet’s concern.
“There will be nothing for you to worry about. I promise.”
Their eyes, so strikingly similar as brothers, t.
After a brief, silent exchange as if attempting to read each other’s hearts, Erzet exhaled.
“…See that you keep your word.”
“You may trust .”
After speaking firmly, Aquila layered another protective spell over the small glass vials to ensure they would not break and slipped them into his inner pocket.
A brief golden formula flickered at his fingertips before fading.
“…You seem to be gathering more and more secrets.”
Erzet muttered that it had not been like this before, but Aquila rely shrugged.
***
Lexenbert Fad Reschenhardt’s worries were no small matter.
Though he stayed awake through the nights handling urgent affairs, as a Sword Master who had surpassed human limits, such exertion posed no difficulty.
It was the report delivered to him early that morning that weighed upon him.
“House Reschenhardt drove Celsia to illness and forced her into death. It was their sche. They killed her.”
Those were the words that returned when the truth of Celsia’s death and her cris were conveyed to House Ludovika.
House Ludovika refused to believe that Celsia had cast the Curse of Deadly Poison upon her own son and, after transforming into a monster, been subjugated.
The Celsia they knew was not capable of such an act, nor could she have died in that manner.
Instead, they spoke in a tone that blad House Reschenhardt.
Astia, who had gone there personally, reported as much.
“She appeared more agitated than usual, but her eyes were colder than ever.”
Astia, whose keen sight most closely resembled Lexenbert’s, had said so. He trusted her judgnt.
“It may be a lie to cover the situation. There are witnesses and evidence; any attempt to resist can be crushed. However…”
The greatest issue was that Aquila would soon depart for Denimarad.
The Ludovika estate, as central nobles, was located in the capital.
Once they heard that Aquila had arrived, they would surely seek him out.
After all, Aquila was directly connected to Celsia’s death.
And though Lexenbert did not know the precise aning of the “long-cherished wish of House Ludovika” that she had ntioned, there remained the possibility that the house itself had been involved in Celsia’s actions.
Yet the circumstances were what they were, and Aquila had expressed his intention to go to the capital.
It was difficult to oppose him outright.
Not only the imperial family, but also House Friadel and the Temple of the Sun were involved. That was a burden even for Lexenbert.
All the more so if the Holy Son of the Sun himself had nad Aquila directly.
“Ha… Master, I cannot even count how many tis you have sighed today. Even I, Pellichin, am beginning to worry.”
Pellichin, his loyal attendant who remained constantly at his side, spoke gently.
Unlike Lexenbert—who retained the vigor of his pri, having transcended human limits—fine wrinkles lined Pellichin’s eyes.
Lexenbert lifted his head, then finally set down the pen he had been holding.
“What do you think of leaving this place in your hands and traveling to Denimarad alone?”
“The timid mbers of the imperial family and the nobles would likely faint in alarm. The Sword Master who protects Delvion from the Frost Forest suddenly appearing in the very heart of the continent—the capital itself.”
Pellichin smiled faintly as he continued.
It was said that a Sword Master could cleave mountains and divide seas with a single swing of the blade.
Their souls, tempered countless tis, were no longer those of ordinary n.
Thus, while all praised the existence of a Sword Master, they also feared it.
A Sword Master was akin to a calamity.
Should one with such power attempt rebellion, none could stop them.
That was why, unless directly summoned by the Delvion imperial family, Lexenbert could not enter Denimarad.
It had been “agreed” long ago.
Fearing House Reschenhardt, who bore the blessing of the dragon since ancient tis, it had been the imperial family who restricted the teleportation circles to prevent their sudden arrival.
Astia’s current presence in Denimarad was tied to that very arrangent.
To serve within the imperial knights and work for the imperial family, then return to Igrail when the ti ca—
That was the duty of one who bore the title “Fad” within House Reschenhardt.
For roughly seven hundred years, the house had upheld this obligation in silence.
Of course, Lexenbert had once broken from tradition in his youth, leaving the estate to work as a rcenary, but that was another matter.
In any case, he now found the fact that he could not move freely increasingly vexing.
“…It is difficult.”
“I understand your feelings, Master. But what must happen will happen. It would be best to inform the young master properly.”
Yet at Pellichin’s words, Lexenbert shook his head firmly.
“No. Inform only Ashent and Cahena. Under no circumstances are they to permit any mber of House Ludovika to approach him.”
“…Do you intend to tell the young master nothing, Master?”
“That is correct. I would prefer that he have as little contact as possible with matters concerning her. The more he encounters them, the more painful mories will resurface.”
“This is not sothing that can be concealed forever, Master.”
“I am aware of that. But it has not been long since that tragedy occurred. Until he is well… I would spare him.”
This ti, they must be kept thoroughly apart.
So that his son would have no chance to dwell upon sorrow. So that nothing would harm him.
Lexenbert’s eyes flashed sharply.
“I will speak personally to Astia and House Friadel. House Ludovika will not be allowed to act recklessly.”
After speaking decisively, Lexenbert retrieved the Communication Bracelet from his drawer.
If he blocked access entirely, nothing concerning Celsia would reach Aquila’s ears.
In the anti, he intended to eliminate both the Guild of Darkness and House Ludovika if necessary.
The mistake he had made was his to erase.
Even if it ant breaking his promise to the imperial family.
Pellichin’s gaze grew complicated as he watched Lexenbert, who sought only to conceal and shield everything.
After attempting a few more tis to persuade him, the loyal attendant ultimately gave up and nodded.
***
The day before Aquila’s departure for Denimarad, A parcel arrived for him.
The sender was the Peillat Company.
It was the very na Aquila had been waiting for.
A letter accompanied the package. This ti, having grown sowhat accustod to his training routine, Aquila opened it without trembling hands.
Unlike Bejiana, who wrote extensively even of what was unasked, the letter from the Peillat Company was concise.
In summary:
[There was a stench of decay in Belmaburn. Upon investigation, several corpses were discovered within, seemingly devoured by sothing.
One of the western rivers turned black overnight, as though polluted. Cause unknown.
It took so ti to procure the herbs you requested, but they have been obtained properly.
As we have yet to decide upon a company na, the invoice remains blank and should be directed here…]
“…Corpses discovered in Belmaburn at this ti?”
After finishing the letter, Aquila furrowed his brow.
Unless he had intervened in advance, nothing should have been discovered there yet.
Belmaburn had a caretaker who ensured that no trace escaped while experints were conducted.
If corpses had been found now—
“Did they abandon the experintal site in Belmaburn after realizing they had been exposed to the Temple of the Sun? But if so, they would have cleared everything away.”
Nothing conducted there was anything less than top secret.
In the previous cycle, when the experints in Belmaburn were discovered, the Corrupted Fanatics had attempted to burn the entire site.
Or they had erased all evidence and vanished.
If traces remained, there were only two possibilities.
They had fled Belmaburn without ti to clean up—or the caretaker had been killed.
Then… would the ghost swarm incident in Belmaburn not occur?
“Another error. Though I cannot even say whether it should be called that.”
Above all, what Aquila wished to know was the monster presud to be a Corrupted Soul.
The fact that no reports had erged despite people moving about nearby ant it must be hiding sowhere.
Sowhere in the West.
He lingered over the line about the river being polluted.
“Perhaps it is hiding where the water flows.”
Yet the mud exuded by a Corrupted Soul could not blacken a river overnight.
Unless it had washed its body there.
He had never seen a Corrupted Soul behave in such a manner, but the one that appeared in the West had avoided human eyes.
But was there any reason for it to do so?
As though it were human…
The mont the thought arose, Aquila shook his head.
“They are not human.”
There was no way for a corrupted soul to return to what it once was.
Forcing himself to avoid excessive speculation, Aquila opened the parcel from the Peillat Company.
Inside lay a bundle of herbs preserved with magic.
Belmaian’s Red Claw.
Its red leaves were known to enhance stamina and were commonly brewed for those of frail constitution.
But that was not its only effect.
The root, when cleaned and held in the mouth, dulled pain.
It functioned as an analgesic.
Because it only needed to be held between the teeth, it could be reused several tis.
Of course, it was akin to a narcotic, and prolonged use would cause side effects. But for his current body, so vulnerable to pain, it was a necessary item.
The leaves could be brewed into a tonic, and the roots cut and kept in his inner coat pocket.
“It is a relief beyond asure that this arrived before my departure for Denimarad. Once there, I must investigate not only the East but the West as well.”
After rereading the letter once more, Aquila set it down.
***
After completing his preparations, the next day arrived.
At last, it was the day Aquila would depart for the capital, Denimarad.
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