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Chapter 30
“Will you be participating in the extermination of the dark wizards again?”
This time, the dark magic incident had occurred right in the middle of the capital, so there was no way to hide it.
No matter how much Daphne stopped the attack, the fact that it happened couldn’t be erased.
It was already known that remnants of the dark wizards existed, and this news unsettled many people.
Hence, the emperor issued another order:
This time, eradicate all dark wizards.
The command went out to all the nobles, along with the promise of a huge reward if they succeeded.
However, a special note was added for Helos:
You don’t have to participate if you don’t want to.
This consideration was for Helos, who had lost his wife to a curse by a dark wizard, had his emotions stripped away, and even saw his child die.
Helos recalled the emperor as he had given the order.
The emperor always sat with his back to the light, high above, his face hidden. So it was impossible to read his expression.
The only thing Helos could know was his voice.
In the voice that offered him a choice, there was nothing but kindness and benevolence.
And that made Helos’s decision even harder to make.
He exhaled deeply.
“If I think of Elise, then taking revenge on them is the right thing to do, I suppose.”
He smiled bitterly as he pictured his wife, Elise, who had passed away five years ago.
“But is that even possible?”
He looked down at his hands, which felt weak.
“They’re like weeds that keep growing no matter how many times you trample them. Even if you cut every stem and set fire, you can’t destroy all the roots that spread everywhere.”
“Your Highness.”
“Do we really have to fight such a tiresome battle again?”
Helos remembered the countless people who had fallen behind him when he had forced the dark wizards, who dreamed of overturning the world, to their knees.
There had been a boy who had promised to pamper his mother, a girl who had been excited about her upcoming wedding to her fiancé, and a young man awaiting the birth of his child. But none of them saw tomorrow.
Helos had saved the world in which people lived, but he could not save the world they dreamed of.
And his own world shattered that day. A curse had fallen upon his beloved wife and unborn child.
He had won the war, but his life had been marked by defeat.
He didn’t want to go through the same thing again. He didn’t have the strength for it.
“…….”
Polin removed her glasses and lowered her gaze.
It wasn’t that she didn’t understand Helos’s feelings. She could respect his thoughts a hundred times over. She would have done the same. No, if it were her, she wouldn’t have been able to endure and stand like Helos did.
But she felt that this couldn’t continue.
She had a strong intuition that if they retreated now, they would never move forward.
Polin squinted one eye and opened her mouth, her lips barely moving.
“Your Highness, but if you think again……”
“Daphne!”
At that moment, the door slammed open and Daphne burst in, running boldly. Polin’s eyes went wide in surprise.
“Your Highness? Weren’t you just at the training ground?”
“I ran here! I can run well now!”
Polin gave a thumbs-up. Considering how Daphne had been unable to even leave her bed before, this was tremendous progress.
Daphne wiped the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand, breathing heavily.
“Your Highness. I came because I’m curious about something.”
Helos finally took his eyes off the window and looked at Daphne.
“How did you know I was here?”
“Hm?”
Daphne tilted her head.
“Do you think I wouldn’t notice the constant irritating aura coming off of you? How arrogant!”
Even Helos was a little surprised this time. He had been gathering his aura in the mansion, yet she had immediately sensed it.
Not many people could do this—does this mean Daphne has already reached that level?
Helos let out a small, dry laugh, a laugh even he hadn’t noticed.
“Now, answer my question!”
“What do you want to know?”
“I need to meet the dark wizard! Tell me where they are!”
Polin’s eyes nearly popped out of her head at Daphne’s bold declaration. She quickly turned to Helos.
They had just been talking about dark wizards, and now Daphne jumped in at the perfect moment!
Perhaps she had been listening and interrupted on purpose—to provoke Helos?
It seemed impossible, yet Polin wanted to believe it. She clenched her fists to calm the rising emotions.
“A dark wizard, huh.”
Helos said, his voice somewhat subdued.
“Why them?”
“Because they must be defeated!”
Daphne answered without hesitation. But Helos’s questioning didn’t stop there.
“So why are you going to defeat them?”
Daphne blinked repeatedly.
Uh… so if I capture them and drain their death energy, my power will increase… she couldn’t exactly say that. She needed a decent excuse. Uh, um… what should I say?
“Uh……”
“Revenge?!”
“What?”
“Revenge!”
At that moment, Polin clapped his hands and shouted.
“Revenge on the dark wizards who hurt people and caused harm!”
He pointed to his forehead with his index finger and thumb, raising his chin.
“Oh, what a noble act! You just recovered from the last attack and immediately plan revenge! Truly the youngest lady! Truly the daughter of Your Highness!”
“Ah, no. That’s not……”
“Someone who naturally helps and saves others! The daughter of the hero, Daphne Akion!”
“….”
She wanted to say she wasn’t some brat’s daughter but a great dragon, yet Daphne could read the mood.
“Really revenge?”
At Helos’s question, Daphne sighed and lifted her head.
‘I either answer that I hate heroes and get kicked out OR say yes, it’s revenge and find out where the dark wizards are.’
She had no choice but to choose the latter.
“Y-yeah. Revenge.”
Helos’s lips twisted into a slight smile.
“With your skills, it’s impossible.”
“You trying to kill me?”
“Even if you try, it won’t work.”
“Wait a bit. I’ll kill soon enough.”
“Looking forward to it.”
Helos stepped away from the window and slowly approached Daphne.
Someone who naturally helps and saves others! The daughter of the hero, Daphne Akion!
Polin’s words could just as well have been about Helos himself.
He, too, had once naturally helped and saved others. He wasn’t someone who would cower in fear like now.
Helos finally felt a clear head and took a deep breath.
Rather than standing still worrying about innocent souls, it was the right path to hone his skills so that no one would die.
And…
His gaze fixed on Daphne.
“I see you’ve been learning swordsmanship.”
He already knew from Lloyd that Daphne had talent in swordplay.
With a bit more strength and refinement, she would surely become a great swordswoman.
Daphne had been left to herself, assuming she would die eventually…
“Revenge, huh.”
Daphne, following him while shouting about revenge, was no longer a child waiting to die. She was a strong fighter moving forward, wielding her sword.
Helos’s competitive spirit awakened after a long time.
How far can I train this child? How far can I push her? His eyes sparkled.
“I’ll teach you.”
“…?”
“If you take my lessons, your skill will improve quickly. Then you can face the dark wizards.”
Polin was so moved she was nearly in tears.
Helos, teaching swordsmanship to someone! He hadn’t taught it to the young masters or knights since the curse!
Could Helos return to his former self now? Regain his strength? Overcome fear and live as the hero he once was?
Polin clasped her hands tightly, imagining Daphne learning swordsmanship from Helos.
But…
“Why me?”
Daphne shattered Polin’s expectations.
“I refuse to learn from someone like you.”
“…Excuse me? Your Highness?”
“If you’re not going to tell me, I’m leaving. Ugh, wasted time.”
Daphne clicked her tongue and left the room as quickly as she had entered.
“….”
Polin and Helos, now fully aware of the empty room, automatically made eye contact.
“You got rejected, Your Highness.”
“…Really?”
“Then you should have done better earlier.”
