NOVEL NEXT Chapter 174
“Isn’t that something the Pranecia kids are setting up?”
[Uh… I think it might be? Hmmm… It’s been so long that my memory is a bit fuzzy.]
Although my sparkling memories may be vague, I know for sure. After all, it’s only a few decades back for me.
Among those, there’s one very intense memory.
After rescuing the humans trapped in Gebihenum, we first took them to the Holy Kingdom for various procedures. It was said we had to conduct interrogations and verifications.
Mind control by demons, mana bombs embedded in their bodies, corruption, potential for becoming a Mage, and so on.
Since it was a stage to figure out these things, we didn’t resist and guided them to the Holy Kingdom.
When all the rescued individuals gathered at the Holy Kingdom’s shrine, the priests set up the barrier that Sparkles just mentioned. A barrier to awaken and amplify the sleeping magic.
And then, the accident happened.
Of the 172 humans we rescued, 30% were bombs, 20% were under mind control, and 50% awakened as Mages.
All the rescued humans had become tools for the demons. In the process, thirty priests died, two hundred and thirty believers perished, and two cardinals had their heads exploded.
So I remember.
What that barrier was used for.
But why is such a barrier set up here? The priests didn’t see it. The Academy didn’t orchestrate this. Furthermore, a considerable number of priests would be needed to set up such a barrier.
Did it come from the Holy Kingdom?
For what purpose?
If it’s a human with magic inside them…
Ophelia Bloomin.
Ophelia, who is in the process of becoming Uje’s potion, has weak magic within her.
Did they set up the barrier to speed up that process?
No. Ophelia is at another exam venue.
It’s not a barrier for Ophelia. Then, why?
“Sparkles.”
[Uh?]
I brushed off the almond powder on her lips and handed her a new almond.
“Were there… among the students or around here… anyone who possesses magic?”
Crunch crunch– As Sparkles munched on the almond, she shook her head.
[It seems there isn’t anyone yet… but honestly, I’m not sure. After all, the Gluttony Spirit is all around, right? So my senses are a bit skewed…]
“If you can’t feel anything, then humans probably can’t either.”
[Right. Other than Luna, no one could feel anything, right?]
“…Well, then it can’t be helped.”
If I had at least a holy relic in my possession, it would be better than now… I sighed with regret.
[…What’s with that look? Why are you looking at me like that?]
“Recently, a lot of people have been freaking out over my gaze.”
[Ronan, it’s because your eyes are very impure.]
“How did I open my eyes?”
[Your eyes looking at broken artifacts and your eyes looking at me were the same. You… don’t tell me you think I’m a magic detector, do you?]
Sparkles, who had been eating almonds, looked at me with a shocked expression.
[If that’s true… I’d be really upset.]
“Don’t say that you’re upset.”
I felt bad for remembering Adelia for no reason.
Ah.
By the way, what about Adelia?
Does she not know about this barrier?
The magic inside her must be wriggling, so how could she not know?
-I’m just watching over to protect you.
I asked why she was keeping an eye on Yurasia.
I received the answer that it was for protection.
There are things targeting Yurasia.
In this exam, they might do something unnecessary.
I thought it was to protect her.
But then, there’s a barrier amplifying magic.
Could Adelia not have known?
If she had known.
The amplification of magic, and the issues that would arise from it.
Protecting Yurasia.
I recalled the past, where those who had become magical bombs were memories. The scene of them transforming into Mages, their skin peeling was vivid in my mind. The sounds of those under mind control ripping apart the flesh of believers echoed in my ears.
We killed them. We killed the mind-controlled people. They didn’t scream once when they died. We killed those who were inflating into bombs. They begged us to end their lives.
Those who became Mages. Their consciousness remained. With a clear consciousness, they killed people, devoured them, shed bloody tears, and screamed in agony.
We killed them.
We had no choice but to kill them.
They didn’t leave behind any last words. Their bodies couldn’t be returned to their families. The bodies that had become Mages. We couldn’t show them.
Since then, there have been no humans rescued from the Demon Realm.
We didn’t rescue them. Luna set up the barrier with her miracle, and we saw that all those humans had become tools.
We killed them all.
To possess magic that has not been accepted.
Means they became tools for the demons. They can no longer be called humans. If we let them live, the damage will be greater. They could be more dangerous than the demons.
So they must be killed.
[Ronan.]
Poke Sparkles’ soft paw touched my nose.
[Your expression is scary.]
“…My expression is originally like this.”
It’s nonsensical.
If that were true… Sparkles would have caught on.
There’s no way she wouldn’t know, having roamed around Yurasia’s clothes all year round.
[Ronan, I think I kinda know what you’re thinking, but it’s okay. There are no ‘those people’ around you like in the past.]
“Yeah.”
Blood flowed from my right hand where my nails dug in. Before the blood hit the ground, Sparkles’ light sparkled.
The blood vanished and the wound healed.
“You’ve improved quite a bit.”
[Thanks to the potions Ronan fed me.]
Sparkles proudly puffed out her chest as if she thought she had become stronger.
[But still, I can’t compare to Luna…]
“Trying to compare yourself to a miracle is a sign of a guilty conscience.”
[The power of spirits is considered a miracle in its own right, right? The World Tree, who wraps us in her embrace, is like a god to us.]
“That’s true. I trust the World Tree auntie more than Yurpia, who I might not even know exists.”
[Still, with divine power existing, can’t we completely deny it?]
“Well, I think it’s not much different from mana.”
Sparkles looked around with a startled expression.
[Ronan… If you say that recklessly, you’ll be labeled a heretic. Do you want to be chased by the Executioner?]
Executioners.
They are the heretical judges of the Pranecia Holy Kingdom.
Not interrogators, but judges. They self-judge heretics and immediately execute them on the spot, all in all, they’re out of their minds.
“Do you think those fanatic Executioner bastards could kill me?”
[…Right now, Ronan is weak, you know.]
“Still, those bug-infested fanatic bastards, I’ll win.”
[Caution is never a bad thing. Right now, Ronan is alone.]
“Being alone doesn’t change anything.”
Huff Sparkles let out a small sigh as she climbed on top of my head.
[Ronan, you need to tone down your personality a bit.]
“Sparkles, do you think with my current personality I haven’t toned it down enough?”
[Well, I guess… compared to your past life, it seems like you’ve really… really changed! But still, wouldn’t it be better to lessen it a little more?]
“If I hold it in anymore, I might burst into flames.”
There are too many things attached to the name Eustetia.
Dad and Mom. Uncle. Sara. Yurasia.
The servants working in my family, and the Knight Order.
The people living in the principality.
In my past life, I had nothing to lose.
But right now, I have so much to lose.
[But still, be careful Ronan… you know, the most frightening and troublesome are humans, right?]
“I know that better than anyone.”
I chuckled and stood up from my seat.
[Please take me with you when you go to the Holy Kingdom.]
After catching on quickly, Sparkles whispered softly then turned off her light.
“If you’re not there, Luna won’t recognize me, so I have to take you.”
[Is that the only reason?]
“Just let me know if you sense anything suspicious.”
[Tch… Got it. Be careful, Ronan.]
I waved my hand and moved on.
In less than a minute, I bumped into about a dozen students.
Frunt’s activity uniforms.
They looked like a wet, scruffy stray dog, having been out in the rain for a while.
There were six boys and five girls.
Their levels were all pretty much the same.
Considering their movements, expressions, and behaviors, they were commoners. Among commoners, they were the lower-class.
“Did you come looking for me?”
“…Eliaernes Eustetia.”
“That’s right. It’s me.”
“We… we had no choice.”
“So?”
“If… if you’re trying to harm us, at least don’t touch our families…”
The boy at the front knelt and buried his head.
Seeing that, I was momentarily dumbfounded.
“What’s with this little punk? Coming to kill me and then bowing his head like it’s nothing?”
“I’m sorry. Really…”
“Why the hell would I touch your families? Stop spouting nonsense, if you came to fight, then just do it. Don’t pull emotional appeals for no reason.”
I clenched my fist moderately. I didn’t have the intention to hit him so hard he’d live as a half-wit for the rest of his life.
“And, aren’t you a guy? How can you be so pride-less? Back in my day, you’d be just like, oh, what is there to say? Cut off your little buddy, you punk.”
The ten students who followed behind looked dumbfounded. The representative who had buried his head also lifted it.
“…What does that mean…?”
“When I was your age, I charged at anyone, no matter who it was!”
At eighteen, I charged at Gulaka.
“Kids these days lack romance.”
I muttered softly and then quickly made my move.
*
“…Young Lady?”
“Yeah?”
“What… what are all these?”
“This is breakfast, this is a machete provided for supplies, this is a shovel, this is a bow, and this is drinking water.”
“Those aren’t ours…”
“They’re ours from now on.”
Yurasia blinked her eyes.
Then Silina, who had just woken up in a disheveled manner, tilted her head.
“…Huh, ahem… why didn’t you wake me?”
“I woke up in the middle and just did everything. Now, since you’re awake, let’s prepare and get going quickly.”
“I know we’re going out… but what about these?”
Silina’s voice cracked, as if she still hadn’t fully woken up.
“Trophies.”
“…Trophies?”
Giggle giggle I got up while laughing and checked the bracelet.
430 points.
The 30 points are from the monsters I killed on the way here yesterday, and the 400 points from the 11 people I took points from yesterday.
But I didn’t completely eliminate them.
I left them with 22 points, taking 2 points each from 11 people. I’m such a generous guy.
After distributing the accumulated points on the bracelet to the four team members, I stretched then went outside the cave.
“Whew, it’s a nice enough day.”
The rain had stopped.