Chapter 50
08. I Don’t Have Anything Like Friends
The news that the subjugation team had captured three black mages just two days after departing spread throughout the empire in an instant.
This was because the media outlets, which had been waiting for the first victory, all wrote articles and printed newspapers at once.
[3 Black Mages Captured Alive, 0 Fatalities]
[Glory to the Empire!]
People who vividly remembered the past battles with black mages were even more ecstatic.
People who had lost families, friends, lovers. For them, the victory report of this battle was joyful news enough to melt away the lingering resentment.
However, Daphne’s story did not take up much weight among them.
At most, mentions like ‘She went, right?’ and most people didn’t even know that Daphne had joined the subjugation team.
The reason is simple.
First, because Count Imperial, who had heard of Daphne’s power through the Rose Knights, discarded all the prepared newspaper articles and issued a gag order,
Second, because Daphne did not want it.
-I do not want my curse to be known.
-I would appreciate it if everyone kept their mouths shut.
Since it was a curse she might have wanted to hide for her entire life, revealed to save people, the knights who engraved courtesy toward Daphne in their hearts all kept that promise.
So, neither Daphne’s participation in the subjugation team nor her beating up the black mages was widely publicized.
Of course, this story does not apply to Heros.
Heros shot his characteristic cold and lingering gaze at Daphne without filtering.
The air in the room was as chilly as if it were freezing.
Heros had been completely concealing his power within the mansion until now, but not anymore.
He did not restrain the power flowing from himself, even though he clearly knew Daphne would feel pressured.
That’s how serious the gravity of this matter was.
“You caused quite a big incident.”
He spoke calmly, but the content contained within was by no means serene.
“You revealed your curse to the world, and as if that wasn’t enough, you subdued the black mages, and then vomited blood and collapsed afterward.”
Heros exhaled sharply.
As soon as he did, the air around Daphne sank in an instant, becoming suffocating with insufficient oxygen concentration.
Daphne’s face turned pale, and in contrast, the shadows under her eyes grew darker.
“Do you have any excuses?”
Daphne tightly clenched her small hand placed on her thigh.
If she said she expected Heros to react this much, that would be a lie.
In fact, to Daphne, someone like Heros wasn’t even in her consideration.
Far from worrying about being scolded by Heros, she was just piling up plans to practice magic with the mana she could now say had accumulated a bit.
Well, Heros isn’t saying anything wrong.
But she thinks it’s not something to be scolded this much for.
No, and I mean, hey? I’m your great-grandfather’s friend, is it okay to scold me like this? Now that I think about it, it pisses me off?
“The order is wrong. I ended up revealing the curse because I had no choice while subduing the black mages.”
Daphne replied bluntly in a curt tone despite Heros’s pressure. Heros’s brows narrowed further.
“Do you know how much effort went into hiding the curse on your body?”
“I don’t know.”
……She might not know, but to answer so confidently?
Somehow, it feels deflating. Heros withdrew the power he had been pressuring Daphne with and pressed his temples firmly.
“Yeah, you wouldn’t know. That’s why you’re so confident. But that doesn’t justify your actions. Ignorance is a sin. Do you know that?”
“Sin?”
This time, Daphne got angry.
“I haven’t done anything wrong, so what sin are you asking about?”
Of course, as Heros said, revealing the curse to the world might have been a wrong thing.
But what can she do.
If she hadn’t done that, she might have been branded as a dangerous being who can absorb the aura of death. Furthermore, it could have been revealed that this body is Celus.
For Daphne, it was a reasonable choice.
“I thought I had to beat up those black mage bastards, and I just moved according to that thought. Thanks to that, no one died and the black mages were captured alive, so isn’t that fine?”
In terms of results, Daphne’s words are correct.
But is it really? Is this the end? Is it all done?
‘No.’
Heros removed the hand that had been on his temple and leaned forward.
The energy was softer than before, but the still sharp and cold power once again pressured Daphne.
“You.”
“Me?”
“You got hurt.”
“……?”
Wondering what he meant, Daphne tilted her head.
“I heard you vomited blood again and collapsed.”
“Ah, that was.”
“You suffered for a full day after facing the black mages, and even after returning to the mansion, you were lying around sick. And yet you say it’s all done? That there’s no wrong?”
“…….”
Heros could feel his mood becoming unpleasant while speaking.
He didn’t know the reason, but one corner of his mind was uncomfortable.
The urge to pinch Daphne hard also rose.
And the thought that he didn’t want to see Daphne’s gaunt face anymore came along.
Unfamiliar sensations and thoughts
complexly surged, making even Heros himself flustered.
“Excuse me.”
Daphne said while staring blankly at such Heros.
“Are you worried about me?”
“No.”
To answer immediately while it’s true. Daphne pouted her lips.
“If you die now, there will be many problems. Wouldn’t it be a shame to die and leave behind the reputation you’ve barely built up as a legacy?”
“The way you speak is really rude.”
“Did you just realize?”
Heros smirked, twisting his lips, and leaned back against the backrest. After crossing his legs, he placed his interlaced hands on his thigh.
“I’ve issued a gag order regarding matters related to your curse. There won’t be anyone talking more about this incident.”
“Okay.”
“So, be careful. Do you understand?”
“What should I be careful about? My body? Or the curse?”
Heros narrowed his eyes, then soon clicked his tongue and replied shortly.
“Both.”
“You are worried about me.”
“I said no.”
“Hmph. I don’t believe you.”
Somehow feeling like she was teasing him, Heros thought. So, he deliberately pointed to the bamboo sword hanging at Daphne’s waist.
“Have you practiced swordsmanship?”
“……I should get up now.”
“…….”
Heros stared blankly at Daphne. Daphne’s face turned red.
“Ah, what! Why are you looking like that! I was on my way to practice when I encountered the black mages, so I had no choice!”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“You said it with your eyes!”
Watching Daphne protest as if wronged, Heros unwittingly let out a chuckle. Then, realizing, he hardened his lips and composed his expression.
“Practice twice as much today.”
“It wasn’t because of you, I was planning to practice twice as much anyway.”
Hmph, Daphne snorted and stood up, but soon, as if something came to mind, she frowned slightly and sat back down.
“I have something I’m curious about from you.”
Daphne asked the question she had been curious about all along, but her pride had been hurt to ask, yet now she absolutely had to ask.
“Where did you seal the dragon you defe… hu… defeated?”
The reason she was asking something she had vowed never to find out from her own mouth is simple.
-We have come to find the traces of the great calamity.
Because the words of the black mages who were hit by Daphne’s hand and knocked out kept bothering her.
Of course, Celus’s soul has left the body and entered this Daphne’s body, steadily accumulating power, so there’s no way it would be taken by those guys, but still……
how to say.
If the hero guy didn’t properly seal Celus’s body, anxiety arose that the body might be handed over to a specter.
If the body disappears, the current Daphne won’t be able to return to Celus, so the anxiety is bound to be great.
“Th-that, I’m your daughter, right. So, couldn’t you tell me the place where you sea… huu… sealed that dragon?”
Her pride was hurt throughout speaking, but since Daphne was a great dragon, she forced a smile on her face.
Come on, tell me. I’m ready to hear.
With her eyes sparkling like that.
“Seal, huh.”
Heros sent a meaningful gaze to Daphne and stroked his chin. While doing so, he thinks.
The hero, Heros Akion.
The fact that he defeated the black dragon is widely known across the continent.
But the fact that the black dragon was sealed is known only to himself who sealed the dragon, and the emperor who ordered the dragon’s seal.
Yet how,
Does Daphne know that fact.
Deep suspicion filled Heros’s eyes.
***
Meanwhile, the subjugation team’s barracks was in a more peaceful state than ever.
First of all, thanks to Daphne stepping in and capturing the three black mages without any fatalities, not only did it boost morale, but she also left behind elves, a race that could say they’re second to none in healing magic!
“Kahaha! We won’t die. Absolutely not. How could we die with such a capable elf here with us?”
“Well, limbs could get cut off. But even then, you just take the severed part to the temple, right?”
“Guardians have it good, saying going to the temple so easily. For knights like us, it’s too expensive to even think about.”
“Hey, don’t be like that. If Sir Dalik gets hurt, I’ll treat you, what. But you have to fight well in return?”
“Uhaha! Finch folks are generous after all!”
Knights, guardians, everyone mixed together without distinction, laughing brightly and chatting.
On the battlefield, the elf will heal the knights so they don’t die, and if any body parts are severed, going to the temple for restoration magic will fix it. What a beautiful and perfect plan.
They held hope thinking that anyway, they could preserve their lives in this subjugation.
But.
“Keu, keuaaaaak!”
“Aaaak! S-save meee!”
Their hope shattered into pieces at the scream heard from the adjacent barracks.
“That…… that voice, isn’t it Sir Kenric and Rache?”
Those who were about to grab their swords thinking it might be an attack hesitated.
“Uh, um. I heard they got slightly injured fighting a bear earlier.”
“Th-that, Teiti said he’d heal them and took them.”
“They’re…… getting treatment?”
The guardians rolled their eyes and answered.
“Aaak! Just kill meee! Keuaaaak!”
“Now, this is all part of the healing process. Shut up and endure.”
“Ah, father. Now I’m going to your side aaaak! It hurts aaaak!”
“…….”
Treatment…… right?
It’s okay if we get hurt, right?
☆▪︎▪︎▪︎☆▪︎▪︎▪︎☆▪︎▪︎☆
By Anna 💓
