TYND 79

“Why not? Don’t you feel wronged?”

“If my existence becomes known, people will realise that living magic stones can really be created artificially, and someone will definitely try to copy it… Then more innocent children will suffer… That would feel like a real injustice to me.”

“……”

“This time too, I was so scared and felt so wronged. If any of the children had been hurt or killed because of me—even though it’s not really my fault—it’s still because of my existence… So I started thinking maybe I should have died with my master after all… This all happened because I wanted to live… And then I just keep digging myself deeper and deeper into the ground…”

His voice, already small, faded to almost nothing. It trembled like a candle about to flicker out in the wind. This was what Rothy wanted. That was why Theon couldn’t push for the truth about Yolone Sirin to be made public.

As Theon gently comforted him, Rothy clung to him like a child and burrowed into his chest. Taking the opportunity, Theon swept Rothy up and settled him over his lap, where Rothy nestled closer, pressing his nose into his shoulder. 

High Priest Dépaten stared, astounded, at the back of Rothy’s snow-white head that was exuding deep sorrow. Theon stroked the back of Rothy’s head as if blocking that gaze and said, 

“If Your Holiness really wants to make an announcement, discuss that later when you meet with His Imperial Majesty at your own time. For now, please focus on this matter.”

“Hmm… I understand. But first, I should apologise. This old man failed to consider your feelings. I’m sorry. Until you’re ready, the temple will also keep this matter a complete secret.”

Rothy slowly raised his head and gave the high priest a quiet nod. The look he gave was so endearing that, despite the mood, a few of the adults couldn’t help but smile. 

“Theon, I’m fine now so I’ll return to my seat.”

“Very well.”

Rothy’s expression as he sat back down in his chair was one of determination, looking like he was ready for all the serious talk once again. This time, all the adults didn’t bother to hide their laughter at the adorable sight. 

“Your Holiness, how much do you know about Schrain?”

“Schrain’s the tenth fallen. Together with the saints from Solten, we’ve placed Schrain as our top priority to pursue. The emotion they mainly use as a medium is anger. Once someone falls into their net, it’s almost impossible to escape.”

“How long will it take Schrain to recover from the damage they’d received from Rothy’s mind magic?”

“Exactly three years. However, since it isn’t divine magic, even if it’s the mind magic of an archmage, it can only do so much damage to a fallen.”

High Priest Dépaten had come to that conclusion after hearing the details of the spell Rothy had used, the range of the light curtain, and the extent of Schrain’s pain. 

“Can you track where they’re hiding?”

“Fallen are spiritual beings that can slip in and out of physical flesh. So, if they’re determined to hide, they’re very difficult to find. However, our temple’s priests are highly experienced at tracking them. Schrain’s considered low-ranking among the fallen, so we should be able to locate them within a month.”

The two clerics dressed in black clerical robes sat beside the high priest were stoic and taciturn. They hadn’t said a word throughout the meeting aside from a brief greeting. Theon also noticed both had shaved heads just like the cleric he’d previously met. It appeared that shaving one’s head was standard for clerics. 

“There is, however, something we’d like to propose.”

“……”

“The ‘Archduke’, as you know, has a vile obsession for collecting divine artefacts. Ah, we refer to tremuhles as such. The temple has made countless efforts to kill him and recover these items, but the bastard always strikes unexpectedly and makes off with the artefacts undetected.”

The High Priest rubbed the back of his wrinkled hand with his fingers. On that finger was the Ring of Seará, the divine artefact signifying his role. It was a gift to the temple from the founding emperor of the Empire. 

“The world of Maton is a spirit realm, so physical artefacts had to be stored somewhere in Araxys. Unfortunately, we’ve never found a single lead about where his vault might be. If the thief had been human, he’d have shown off his collection at least once out of pride, but the ‘Archduke’’ has hoarded hundreds of artefacts without ever showing them off. Such a terrible obsession.”

“……”

“We’ve only encountered him directly three times. Fortunately, each time, he showed the same weakness to divine magic as other fallens. If we don’t stumble into him by chance and instead prepare thoroughly in advance, then we can trap him. Once caught, we’ll be able to send him back to the Eternal Darkness and recover the artefacts.”

Theon’s brows pulled together in a frown. He understood exactly what the high priest was about to suggest.

“Are you suggesting we let Schrain go?”

“Just wait three years. Let’s set a trap and wait for Schrain to recover during those three years and call for the ‘Archduke’.”

I refuse. I want to track Schrain down now and cut out the root of this threat.”

The Theon from the Human-Demon War, the Theon before meeting Rothy, would’ve accepted. Setting traps and luring enemies was the most basic tactic. They’d used it often during the war. 

However—

“Aah, I found it…! So it was here! Ue-he-he-he-he! I found what the Archduke had lost! Ue-he-he! Ue-he-he-he-he-he-he-he!”

At that time, the gaze of the fallen wearing Ken Bane’s flesh was definitely directed at Rothy. That high-pitched laughter, brimming with glee, chilled Theon to the bone, and the obsession and fixation filling those eyes made his hair stand on end. He didn’t know why the fallen said such things while looking at Rothy. But the only thought that came to him in that moment was to find and eliminate this ominous, anxious seed immediately. 

“Your Grace, please consider this carefully. Just dealing with Schrain won’t eliminate the seed of danger. You’re losing sight of it.”

High Priest Dépaten tried to persuade Theon. 

“Schrain clearly said it was something the ‘Archduke’ had lost. We don’t know how an artefact from his vault ended up here in Araxys, but we can be sure he’s still looking for it. If we use Schrain to draw the ‘Archduke’ out and eliminate him, won’t we be killing two birds with one stone?”

He was right. 

Even if they killed Schrain now, there was still the threat of the ‘Archduke’ who’d continue searching for what he had lost. Someday, he might discover that it was in their hands. At this point, another question popped into his mind.

“But first, we need to confirm what we have is indeed a tremuhle.”

“Ah, you haven’t identified it yet?”

“We’ve checked it with aura and magical energy, but there was no reaction.”

“It’s never easy to find an artefact’s catalyst. Let us take a look.”

When Theon gave a signal, Zey and Ultje placed the prepared items on the table. They’d gathered everything worn or carried during the fight with Schrain—Theon’s sword, Rothy’s wand… the fur pouch, and even the clothes Chi-chi was wearing. From head to toe, they laid out everything from that encounter. The high priest and his two escorts examined every single item carefully. However, even after concentrating for a long time, they couldn’t pinpoint anything.

The high priest then shook his head.

“Hmm… I can’t distinguish at all. Nothing reacts to divine magic. What about you both?”

“No reaction.”

“No reaction.”

The two clerics parroted the same answer, causing the lines between the High Priest’s brows to deepen. 

“One of these items is definitely a divine artefact…”

Schrain wouldn’t have suddenly looked at the living magic stone and claimed it was something the ‘Archduke’ had lost. It was obviously a cry aiming at something else. After some deep thought, Theon made a decision.

“Your Holiness, take all these items back to the temple.”

“You mean— surely not?”

“For the safety of House Falsen, I’ll transfer the ownership of the tremuhle to the temple.”

“You mean it?”

Not just the high priest, but even the stoic clerics were stunned, and for a good reason. A noble house transferring ownership of a tremuhle was practically unheard of. Commoners would sell them off because it was a chance at instant wealth. But for noble houses, the number of tremuhle owned was equivalent to their honour, so they’d rather die than give up ownership. 

House Falsen in particular had the fewest tremuhles among the three ducal houses simply because defending the North was more important than treasure hunting. Theon could already picture his retainers’ reproachful faces, asking how he could hand over something so precious to the temple… but how could he keep something targeted by a fallen in the same space as Rothy?

I’ve become a coward.

He was definitely acting like one, but he wasn’t ashamed. If it meant Rothy’s safety, he’d give up anything. 

That was his duty.

“My goodness… How are we to repay this? Seará will bless Your Grace’s path.”

“May Seará’s grace be with you.”

“May Seará’s blessing be with you.”

“Let us pray for His Grace Theon Detre Falsen, the Northern Archduke, who is a true believer of Seará…… Seará, who created Araxys out of love for mankind, grants us blessings beyond measure…”

Overcome with emotion, the priests suddenly broke into a prayer. Since Theon was outwardly a follower of Seará, he’d no choice but to go along with the prayer. He clasped his hands together and glanced around, only to lock eyes with Chi-chi who was yawning with his mouth wide open.

Scree~

The weasel looked at Theon with an expression that said, ‘So what are you gonna do about it?’ and yawned again. When he turned his gaze, Rothy was praying earnestly with both eyes tightly shut and his hands pressed together. 

“……”

He was praying so fervently that tiny wrinkles had formed on his pale forehead. Those tiny wrinkles were so endearing that Theon spent the entire prayer just staring at Rothy’s face.