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CHAPTER 56……………….
. The Hero of Veled (1)
The First Great Saintess was an indispensable figure in the founding of the Halcyon Theocracy.
The beginning of divine power, the one who created the doctrine of “Paradise.”
And the oath she swore became a curse that bound all who followed as Great Saintess.
“For the sake of the suffering, until Paradise descends upon the earth, I shall endlessly pass on my divine power!”
…In other words, to put it nicely, she was a tremendous idealist.
But from my point of view?
‘She was the origin point of devotion without reward.’
And also the fundamental cause of death by overwork!
Yet, right before I went to save the children, I must have thought of the First Great Saintess and blanked out.
The fleeting image was from when I was ten years old, when I inherited the divine power!
“—Hah! Wait a second!”
I suddenly sprang up with an ominous premonition.
I was certain. At ten years old, I met the First Great Saintess.
And after that, all my memory was cut away.
‘No wonder! I thought something was off!’
Even if it was long ago, how could the turning point of my life be so vague?
But strangely, I hadn’t felt any strong suspicion until now.
‘Could it be she tampered with my mind?!’
And why was it that, from some point on…
‘…I unconsciously thought of creating “Paradise” in the land of the demons?’
At that realization, I became so furious I could hardly stand it.
“This is disgusting…!”
Of course I was going to save the children.
Who said that was the problem?
But if I was brainwashed into doing it?
That was filthy beyond words.
“And to make me create Paradise on earth again…? She must be insane.”
After working me like that, where did she sell her conscience?
If that’s the case, at least pay me severance, you wretch!
“Ugh…”
But my body ached too much to fume properly.
My head was so heavy that I collapsed back onto the bed.
Still, I gnashed my teeth in frustration, glaring up at the ceiling.
“…Ah, I won’t let this slide!”
Once I’m older and can travel abroad, just you wait!
The first thing I’ll do is march to the capital’s Grand Temple, dismantle the divine power, and smash that damned chamber to pieces!
Even late into the night, lights still burned in the palace of Hades.
It was to wrap up the Veled District incident.
Erebos and Phobos were in the largest council chamber.
When the Epikus sisters entered, Erebos lifted his head from a mountain of documents.
“Is Elysion all right now?”
“Yes, Your Highness. She has gone to sleep.”
“…Hah.”
“Shall we proceed to Persen Palace?”
“I will go later.”
Erebos pressed his temples hard.
If he faced her now, he felt he might lash out at his little daughter.
He might yell—why did she shake off all her attendants, why did she drive nails into her father’s heart like this?
‘That frail child even forced out her power again…’
When he raised his head with a sigh, the Epikus sisters were glaring daggers at Phobos.
Especially Lete—her eyes were sharper than ever before.
“Why did you do that, Duke Ismenios?”
“…What do you mean, Lady Epikus?”
“Why did you stop us from going after Her Highness?”
Just before the princess went underground, Minte and Lete had tried to grab her.
But Phobos had blocked them.
Only when Prince Alcyone rushed in did Minte barely manage to follow her down.
Phobos shrugged.
“Which would benefit the royal family more—an event ruined, or the princess becoming a hero?”
“What nonsense! She is only five years old!”
“But she is the future sovereign we are to serve.”
His reply to Lete’s outburst was gentle, yet mercilessly logical.
“Once she left her seat, there was no choice. Having stepped forward in public, she had to act where all could see.”
And the little princess’s intervention had been a success.
In that moment, when demons and humans alike were raging madly—
As soon as the cry spread, ‘The princess has gone down to save the children!’—
Those spewing hatred stopped their violence.
“She even rescued children of high noble families, and the heirs of the Iliod merchant guild leaders.”
Thanks to that, a potential diplomatic crisis was averted.
It was a debut as heir more flawless than the investiture of the Veled District itself.
At that, Minte clenched her teeth.
Because Phobos’s slickness sometimes made one forget—
How cruel he could truly be.
“Those are words you say only after seeing the results, Duke!”
Phobos bit his lip at Minte’s rebuke.
He didn’t want to see the person he liked disappointed in him.
But in the end, he spoke his conviction.
“If I had thought Her Highness could not manage it, I would have already—”
“Phobos.”
Erebos cut off the rising quarrel.
Just that single word carried overwhelming authority.
So much that Phobos, usually playful, dropped to one knee at once.
“Yes, Prince Erebos.”
“I know your loyalty. But this time, you went too far.”
“…Please forgive me.”
“I want my daughter to grow safely. I do not want her to become a hero.”
For a hero must remain strong forever—or die miserably.
“I do not want my daughter to become another Ria.”
At those words, Phobos finally lowered his head with guilt.
But even then, he voiced one last concern.
“However, Your Highness, for the condolence visit, Her Highness must accompany you…”
There had been no deaths, thankfully, but since an accident had occurred at a royal ceremony, they had to console the Veled District in person.
Minte flared up again.
“Your Highness, it’s still far too dangerous! We don’t even know who caused the accident!”
“The Iliod company sent me a letter regarding that.”
Erebos lifted an envelope from his desk.
The cobalt-blue paper carried the scent of the sea.
“While expressing gratitude to me and the princess, they revealed who was behind the incident.”
“…!”
“Whether it’s true or not, we will investigate.”
But chances were, it was the truth.
The Iliod merchants rarely shared human affairs with demons.
For them to report not just to their homeland but even to Tartarus—this was extraordinary.
“They even said they wish to personally deliver a letter of gratitude from the Iliod royal house to Elysion.”
“…!”
At that, Lete covered her mouth in shock.
Erebos gave a bitter laugh, setting the letter down again.
As a father, this was the last outcome he wanted.
“The worst and yet most perfect proclamation of an heir.”
A few days after the incident was resolved.
Since I hadn’t used magic for long, it didn’t take too long to recover.
And once again, I had to go out of the palace with my father.
The reason we were returning to the Veled District was simple…
‘Ugh, to inspect public sentiment!’
After such an extravagantly prepared investiture ceremony ended in disaster—
Of course the royal family had to go console them.
Held in my father’s arms, I bit my lip all the way into the carriage.
I had to suppress the trembling of my body.
Because…
‘All I can imagine is the worst.’
What if the people greeted me in silence?
What if they showed courtesy, but seethed with resentment inside?
“If only you had come sooner, my family would still be alive.”
“Why did you save that one first? My son was worse off!”
Because everything I’d experienced in life had been like that, my imagination only ever went dark.
Father immediately sensed my state as he held me.
“Elysion, are you all right?”
“Ah… y-yes!”
At his question, I felt Calion and Ares, following behind, turn their eyes on me.
Even when told to rest in the palace, those nuisances never listened.
‘If only those pests weren’t watching me, I’d smack myself awake right now.’
But Father already spoke to Lete, who was at my side.
“It seems I should go alone to offer condolences. Send the princess to Persen Palace—”
“N-no! I’m fine!”
Startled, I clutched his shoulder tightly.
My face flushed hot, as though I had just revealed my most shameful weakness.
