NOVEL NEXT Chapter 44.1
In the land of Blue, the Duchy of Eshua.
Eshua, surrounded by the sea, experiences unique weather phenomena.
Even if a storm hits, once it enters the waters of the Duchy of Eshua, it remains clear and blue as if a line has been drawn.
Even if demons invade, it becomes mild within.
People call this unique phenomenon Blue’s Protection, the Blue Line.
In other words, an absolute safe zone. There are no accidents or disasters in the land of Eshua.
Even the envoys from the Papacy were impressed.
Today, they came to take the widely talked-about Isaac Eshua with them, but it was such a peaceful place that they almost forgot their purpose.
“Oh, indeed, the headquarters of Blue’s Faith! It’s so beautiful and peaceful that you wouldn’t think there’s a demon camp nearby! A place worthy of being an imperial retreat.”
“Yeah, it’s not just any place compared to the Papacy. That famous castle of Eshua. In thousands of years of history, no demon has ever conquered it…”
Crash!
Castle…
Boom!
“Oh no! The castle is destroyed!”
“I told you not to go near it, you fool!”
“Damn, I didn’t expect this in the morning!”
…Damn! The castle of Blue is destroyed?!
The priests from the Papacy were frozen at the shocking scene.
The castle that withstood the invasion of the Demon King is now destroyed?
Isn’t this a national crisis?
Is it not a disaster?!
But what’s even more surprising is the attitude of the residents of Eshua.
“Oh, it’s destroyed again.”
Again?
“Again?!”
“No, why are the priests so surprised? It’s just that the castle is destroyed.”
“No! The headquarters of Eshua has collapsed!”
“That’s right, it collapsed.”
The residents’ attitude left the priests dumbfounded.
What’s with this reaction?
Why are these people so indifferent?
“No, the castle is destroyed?!”
“Oh, it’s destroyed, so what?!”
“????”
No, what with these guys!
* * *
Eshua Castle.
Commonly known as the headquarters of Blue’s Faith.
Even the maids employed there are not ordinary people.
“Did you hear? The eastern castle is destroyed again.”
“Did young master Isaac wreck it again?”
“Technically, it’s the Skeleton King. It seems the Master has given up. The Skeleton King’s magical power runs wild in the Saintess’s family.”
“Don’t say that. How difficult it must be for young master Isaac.”
The maids serving the Eshua direct line are at least higher-ranking paladins of 6th rank or above.
And what does that mean?
“Oh, there goes the only maid serving young master Isaac.”
“That’s strange. The 7th rank paladin, who was recommended even as a Pope’s guard, is now doing the job of a nursemaid for the youngest, who has fallen from grace.”
It means they can gossip about a 7th rank paladin.
Sure enough, other direct servants looked at Isaac’s nanny, Asili, and sneered.
“The next successor is likely to go to lord Goel or his brother, who are of the Pope’s bloodline. Is she so dissatisfied that she’s doing the job of a fallen youngest maid?”
“Young master Isaac is cursed to never ascend to the position of a successor, isn’t he?”
“Is he really cursed?”
“Yes! Yesterday, a servant who secretly went to see young master Isaac was so frightened that he ran away!”
“What? What did that trained Eshua servant see…?”
“He’s the bald man, the monster with the skin peeled off, the one with the skeletal appearance… opinions vary, but they all agree that he screamed and ran away. Even Asili must have been cursed by the Skeleton King to become foolish.”
“And we should recognize him now…?”
“A curse, what?”
“Ugh! Lord Lilai!”
Lilai looked at the servants with an angry face.
“Did you learn to gossip about fellow Eshua people while you were here?”
“S-sorry!”
Eventually, he sent the servants away, and Asili, who came with Lilai, expressed her anger uncommonly.
“Isn’t it really too much?”
“Well, talking behind a colleague’s back is too much.”
“Oh my god, young master Isaac isn’t such a bald guy!”
Lilai broke into a sweat at her tantrum.
“…No. Is that the point where you get angry?”
“In a situation where the future of young master Isaac is at stake. I find him lovable no matter how he looks, but what if the prospective partners avoid young master Isaac because of this?”
At her words, Lilai could only sigh.
Lilai also knew well the rumors circulating in the castle.
It was inevitable for ten years.
A whole ten years had passed!
Ultimately, the destruction of the Skeleton King’s magic power was a failure.
‘I knew the power of the Skeleton King was immense, but I never thought even a king-level Holy Spirit would fail…!’
It was desperate.
Ten years ago, the expression of his father, who was rarely confused by the Holy Spirit’s words, was still vivid.
Well, for his father, Isaac might have been considered a candidate for the successor, and he seemed to have high expectations.
-Hey! This guy is weird! No matter what I do, purification doesn’t work! Instead, the magic power of the Skeleton King keeps increasing!
-Did you play around?
-No, damn it! What do you say to someone who works 24 hours straight, even overnight!
The Holy Spirit seemed to be in a state of confusion due to overwork.
-Anyway, remember this! Even the gods can’t make it disappear. He has to live with the magic power of the Skeleton King for the rest of his life.
-…!
It was a de facto death sentence.
To the point that there were even people placing bets on when Isaac would die. The question was whether there was a future for a child who might die before becoming an adult.
Goel, who had despaired of Isaac becoming a Saint, reportedly even offered gratitude to the gods. Justice prevails, as they say.
“Still, making a 10-year-old completely bald is too much! He’s not even the Skeleton King!”
“Cough, cough.”
Though Lilai coughed, he couldn’t help but understand the rumors circulating in the castle.
“Anyone seeing this would think he’s cursed.”
Lilai lifted Isaac, who was lying on the bed.
“Daya?”
Isaac, waking up, looked at Lilai as if to ask, what’s going on? Surprisingly, even after ten years, he retained the appearance of an infant.
Lilai sobbed as he looked at Isaac.
“Isaac! Why aren’t you getting older! Why!”
Why isn’t this baby eating?
Instead of answering, Isaac made a displeased expression.
Lilai, who was around thirty, looked way too young. Honestly, looking at him, it seemed like only a year or two had passed.
“Of course, it’s great that even my aging is slowed down when I see you! But isn’t this a bit too much! You!”
No, you vampire brat!
It’s you who has the problem! I deliberately maintained this appearance, and you still haven’t said anything to me in this situation!
I can see why Goel hates this bastard! I, too, would be unlucky if my younger brother was handsome and talented and didn’t get older! Damn!
That’s how it went.
Isaac deliberately stuck to this appearance.
Why would he do such a thing?
Because this way, he could become the strongest, capable of defeating even the highest gods.
‘All power has the highest absorption rate when you’re a baby.’