185
“Ouch.”
Lani grimaced, pressing firmly on a wound that was festering and dripping blood.
This was a wound inflicted by Daphne—a mark left from being struck on his arm, which he failed to pull away in time while attempting to escape from her.
No matter how hard he tried, the bleeding would not stop, showing just how precise the formula of her magic was in that short period of time. If left as it was, the festering wound would spread upward and rot his arm away.
However, Lani was not overly worried, for the place he was in was none other than the temple.
“The Cardinal will be here shortly after finishing his prayers! Please wait a moment!”
“Yes, yes. Tell him to take his time, as I am right here.”
“I, I will tell him to run!”
It’s fine, though. Well, if he insists on going that far.
Lani chuckled softly and leaned his back against the bed. As he did so, he recalled the events that took place at the Emperor’s lair one by one.
Most of them were within the scope of Lani’s expectations—Daphne appearing, the Emperor stepping out, and even the warrior discovering Daphne’s true identity.
However, the unexpected occurrence was…
“It’s a bit surprising that Elise’s soul remained.”
Just how strong must her lingering attachment be for it to remain even after more than ten years? She was truly a remarkable human, and it was truly remarkable maternal love.
“Whatever the case, it’s not a major issue.”
He muttered nonchalantly.
However, right at that moment.
*Is it really not going to be an issue?*
*Swish!*
Lani raised his head sharply before he even realized it, as a mocking voice resonated from somewhere. He hurriedly scanned his surroundings, but aside from himself and the priest, there was no presence to be felt. It was as if he had misheard an auditory hallucination.
“Hmm.”
Lani twisted his lips and let out a dry laugh.
“You’re not trying to interfere now of all times, are you?”
He then muttered toward the empty air.
“You are late.”
“…Pardon?”
The priest beside him tilted his head upon hearing Lani’s muttering. Only then realizing that the priest was next to him, Lani dropped his shoulders and let out a long sigh.
“Why are you standing right there?”
Lani raised his hand.
“Making yourself die wastefully.”
Splatter!
The priest’s life came to an end. He met his death without even properly realizing that he had died. Leaving behind the man’s body as it rolled down, Lani looked up into the empty air once more and released a long sigh.
“Even after this, you still do not hold me accountable for my sins.”
He spoke toward the unreachable sky.
“That is why I will carry on your will.”
That now-deceased God—I shall become Him.
***
A vast crowd gathered in the capital’s plaza. People filled every nook and cranny between the alleyways, regardless of whether they were commoners or of the lowest class; this was all because of the ‘Announcement of the Statement Against War’ taking place today.
Of course, they did not gather all the way here merely to hear that announcement. Most of them—
“I heard that Lady Daphne is coming out today?”
“Lady Daphne. Yes, yes. I heard she’s coming out to give a speech!”
—had come just to catch a glimpse of Daphne, even from afar.
Having saved so many people and accomplished so many things over more than ten years, Daphne had at some point become a hero to the populace.
While the halo of Heros, the warrior, played a part in this, it was mostly thanks to what Daphne herself had accomplished. To the people, Daphne was a hero who would save them, and a existence who performed deeds grand enough that entrusting their lives to her would not feel insufficient.
Thus, they had eagerly awaited today, when they could be in the same space as Daphne.
“By the way, does that mean Lady Daphne is against the war?”
Just then, someone asked in a muttering tone.
“Why is she against it? No, especially when we’re having a bad harvest right now with nothing to eat, and the waves have gotten so rough that ships can’t even come and go, didn’t they say they’d give us money if we go to war? Shouldn’t we at least get some money from something like that?”
Though this was a monologue spoken to himself, it was not as if it went unheard by those around him. People listened closely to his words and soon nodded their heads as if agreeing.
“To be honest, that’s true. From what I hear, they give out one gold coin a month, which is enough for our family of four to live on for half a year. If we just endure a few months and return, we can live without worries for the rest of our lives.”
Most people shared this sentiment.
War is frightening. Yes. They were afraid that the one dying might be themselves. They were afraid it might be a family member. However, what was even more frightening was becoming a helpless person who could do nothing while watching their children starve due to a lack of money. Thinking it was better for themselves to die than to let their own children starve, people thought that naively.
“If you go out to war like that and die, the kids will surely be thrilled. Goodness, do you think you have multiple lives?”
“Hey! If you don’t have money, you starve to death anyway, so whether you die going to war or die starving, isn’t it all the same?”
The commotion grew louder. On top of exchanging opinions with one another, sharp shouts were now flying back and forth.
Someone raised their voice rather loudly.
“What do you mean, starving to death?”
He shouted toward the crowd as if proclaiming:
“Haven’t you heard? All the nobles participating in today’s speech have promised to establish relief centers!”
The people widened their eyes as if hearing this for the first time, and Pauline, disguised as a commoner, raised her voice even higher.
“They said if a farming household suffers a bad harvest, they will compensate them by that much, and if a merchant household struggles with business, they will compensate them by that much! They said they would help us make a living even without having to go to war! So you don’t have to go out there just for money!”
“……”
At that, the crowd fell silent.
If those words were true—that is, if it was the truth—wouldn’t it mean they didn’t necessarily have to go to the battlefield? Wouldn’t it mean they didn’t have to volunteer? No, we only have one life, so shouldn’t we cherish it…? Just as people’s opinions were beginning to waver—
“Ahem, you believe those words?!”
A man with a rough appearance shouted.
“To be honest, is today the first time those noble bastards have lied like that! I can’t trust them. I’d rather trust His Majesty!”
“That’s right!”
“Indeed! We ought to trust His Majesty!”
As it turned out, those showing a favorable attitude toward the war seemed to be supporters of the Emperor. Naturally inciting the people, they added that they should think of the sweet rewards that would come once the war ended.
The people were swept away once more. That is what public opinion originally was—whirling and shifting back and forth like a reed.
“Even when the one who proposed it was Lady Daphne?”
However, when they looked upon the sturdy old tree standing tall in the middle of it all, the story changed.
“I heard Lady Daphne commanded it directly herself… If we don’t trust Lady Daphne, there’s no one left for us to trust, is there?”
The reeds beside the old tree grew by leaning against it—only in one direction.
“Lady Daphne…?”
“Then, ah, um. Can we trust it?”
“Right. After all, everything that helped us recently was done by Lady Daphne.”
Just as public opinion was about to shift back toward the old tree, a anxious-looking member of the Emperor’s faction opened his mouth. Or rather, tried to open it.
“Ah, uh, w-what is that!”
“My goodness…!”
In front of the people, someone appeared.
A person wrapped in a pitch-black robe.
However, the arms and neck glimpsed beneath were covered with hideous wounds. They appeared to be healed, yet from another angle, they seemed unhealed, with pus dripping down.
The people took steps backward with mixed emotions—half sympathy, half a desire to keep their distance—and the man wrapped in the robe slowly raised his head.
“War…”
The man in the robe, Jan, opened his mouth.
“You want to go to
war?”
Jan pulled back his hood.
“Really?”
*Thud*, the hood fell, revealing his face behind it.
“Even after seeing me like this, really?”
Jan’s golden eyes gleamed sharply.
