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Chapter : 67
A Tedious Reprieve
“There seem to be many mercenaries. It’s quite noisy outside.”
The head maid spoke cautiously. Outside the count’s estate, several mercenary companies were coming and going.
“It’s fine. This is a city of mercenaries—mercenary bands pass through often.”
Since coming down from the spire, Sharlof had grown markedly quiet. A bookshelf had been placed in the count’s reception room, and Sharlof had taken out a thin book from it, sitting in the same posture for a long time as she read.
She closed the book upside down and set it on the table, then leaned against the windowsill of the reception room.
“Liveliness like this is better than gloomy silence.”
The mercenaries were loud. Each group bore different armor patterns. Looking down at them, Sharlof asked,
“Each mercenary company has different armor—are they marked by affiliation?”
“Yes. Since many companies gather here, that’s the case. Those who carry swords tend to grow sharp-tempered, so this is one way to reduce conflicts. At present, the subjugation front is being reorganized, so there is frequent traffic from outsiders.”
In addition, merchants supplying the subjugation front and the mercenary companies assigned to different fronts frequently visited the count’s estate.
“It really feels like a military facility.”
Not a residence, but the headquarters of a subjugation front.
It felt like a commander’s encampment.
“That may be so.”
The head maid lowered her eyes bitterly.
“The late countess passed away during the monster incident in the past, and the lord of the house also stays almost exclusively at the subjugation front. Since then, the estate has served as the command headquarters, managing the subjugation front and its systems within Fophyta as it does now.”
“…I can feel the desperation.”
“Everyone here is a hero. They all risk their lives to protect Fophyta.”
“The heroes who protect Fophyta are not only them.”
Sharlof looked down at the head maid and said,
“You filled the void left by the late countess and helped establish the estate as a command headquarters. You, too, have been protecting it.”
“…Y-Your Majesty.”
“With all this noise outside, it’ll be hard to keep reading.”
Sharlof set the booklet she was holding down.
“Do you like books?”
“A languid boredom is much like rest.”
The head maid smiled faintly.
“If you enjoy books, how about visiting the library? Most of the books concern monsters, but it’s relatively free from outside noise.”
“Is the library open for use?”
“Of course. I’ll escort you to the entrance.”
Sharlof walked quietly down the corridors of the estate. As she went deeper inside, the noise gradually faded.
“You may find the monster-related books somewhat unfamiliar.”
“…That’s fine. There are many tangled matters—I doubt they’ll feel entirely unfamiliar.”
The head maid opened the way to the library.
“There is no permanent librarian, so the internal management is lacking.”
A dry scent of ink filled the library. The interior was shrouded in darkness by blackout curtains. When the head maid pulled them open, sunlight poured in through the windows. Sharlof shut her eyes briefly against the glare and replied softly,
“It’s not lacking. You’ve filled the empty spaces this much—there’s no need to belittle it.”
A deep loyalty and pride could be felt.
Fophyta, guarding the subjugation front.
And the people of the territory who regarded this land as their livelihood.
“Books are catalogued by serial numbers—black magic, monsters, ancient covenants, subjugation fronts, and so on. Most are stored here. Ancient monster tomes and ancient black magic texts are kept separately in the archive.”
“The archive?”
“Behind the side door.”
Sharlof ran her fingers along the spines of the books.
“Then please, rest comfortably.”
Sharlof traced the hardbound cover titled The Origin of Monsters and slowly turned the pages.
[Monsters are like thought-forms bound by malice. They are drawn to polluted miasma, and such miasma defiles the land.]
[Monsters are also remnants of ancient black magic.
– They kill people.
– They destroy regions.
– They will kill all, erasing every living being from this land.
The urge for destruction is their instinct, and the reason they tread upon human lands.]
Sharlof retraced the origins of monsters.
‘The exiled black magicians—and the monsters.’
Everything has a beginning and an origin. That origin is both start and end, essence and foundation—and just as easily gained, it is easily lost.
“The origin seems like the easiest, yet the most difficult realm.”
She closed the book and returned it to the shelf.
“You seem very interested in monsters.”
Katarina stood guard beside Sharlof. All the other guards had left.
“I’ve been exposed to them often.”
“Are you… afraid?”
“…If I say I’m afraid, I am. If I say I’m sad, I am. It seems he controls monsters. He’ll probably try to kill me with them.”
“I will guard you with my life.”
“There’s no need to sacrifice your life.”
“I will remain by your side. I swore to the House of Windsor to protect you. I promised the Duke and the young Duke.”
Sharlof closed her eyes.
Had life always been this harsh?
“Where did it all tangle and twist, like a knotted thread?”
It was clearly tangled—but the point where it began was vague.
“I thought my father was the root of everything. But perhaps… I am the root.”
“I apologize, Your Majesty. I am too dull to grasp your thoughts.”
“I keep thinking that my very birth may be the origin of it all.”
Katarina’s lips parted, hesitation written all over her face.
“Please don’t say such weak words.”
“That’s just how I feel right now.”
Enough. Dragging this conversation on didn’t suit her nature. As Sharlof walked along the shelves, she stopped in front of the side door.
“This is the archive of ancient texts.”
She turned the knob. Click—the door opened.
“It’s dark. I’ll fetch a lamp—”
“Stay still. There’s too much dust.”
Sharlof waved her arm, stirring dust from the shelves. Most of the shelves were covered in white cloth, yellowed with age, worn by the passage of time.
When Sharlof brushed against a shelf, a thin booklet fell.
“…Ah.”
She picked it up and opened it.
It was written in essay form.
Between the pages were illustrations—monsters pouring out, screaming.
[The dead covet life, and chaos fills this world. Monsters pour forth to hunt humans, and the cries of children who have lost their parents never cease. Does order exist in this world? Does no one hear these cries?]
Katarina whispered beside her,
“Can you read ancient language?”
“It was one of my refined hobbies.”
“But ancient language usually requires a translated text—”
“After I was born, I naturally understood it. My childhood was different from others’.”
Katarina asked,
“What does it say?”
Sharlof turned the page.
“‘O God. Please watch over them.’ It’s a plea.”
She removed the white cloth covering the shelf. The cloths slid helplessly to the floor.
.
.
[The land split apart, and the dead buried beneath it walked upon the earth. Thus, the undead legion ignited the great war among the ancient clans.]
“Where have you been until so late?”
Benjamin asked as he removed his coat. The long meeting with the subjugation corps had finally ended. When he dismissed them and looked for the Empress, a servant answered nervously,
“She is in the library.”
“Why? Wasn’t she there this morning too?”
The servants floundered. Benjamin waved his hand.
“That’s enough. Leave.”
He crossed the corridor quickly. A guard sensed his presence, boots stopping atop the carpet.
“Is she inside?”
“Yes. She’s in the archive.”
Benjamin crossed the empty library. Just as he was about to knock on the archive door, he noticed it was already ajar.
Sharlof was writing something with a quill, scratch-scratch.
“An ancient-language translation?”
“…Ah!”
The quill slipped, blotting ink.
“Did I startle you?”
“I heard you were in a subjugation meeting. Is it over?”
“It just ended. It’s already dark.”
“I didn’t realize the sun had set.”
All the archive windows were covered with military blankets.
“You didn’t even light a lamp.”
“It’s late, then.”
Sharlof set down the quill. Her handwriting was neat. Translated texts were stacked beside the ink bottle.
“They’re translations of ancient texts. I heard most ancient monster books are still untranslated, so I thought I might be of help.”
Benjamin gasped softly.
“You learned ancient language?”
“I never studied it formally. I encountered it naturally as a child. My childhood was different, remember?”
Benjamin realized then.
You walk on your own feet.
If I stay by your side, I’ll end up watching where you go.
“Was the subjugation meeting exhausting?”
“Why?”
“You seem a little short of breath.”
Benjamin loosened his cravat.
“It’s stuffy in here.”
“Yes, it’s quite sealed.”
“Shall we go outside?”
“…Outside?”
“It’s your first time in Fophyta.”
“I never thought you’d be the one to suggest going outside.”
Sharlof tilted her head slightly.
“Fophyta is the Empire’s largest port city. There’s a lot to see at the harbor.”
“Will it be less suffocating outside?”
Benjamin called Katarina.
“Prepare incognito clothes.”
Cold wind lashed at her cheeks.
Dressed incognito, Sharlof sat in the saddle, pulling her shawl tight. Solid muscles pressed against her back. Benjamin rested his chin on her shoulder, one arm securely supporting her waist as he quietly guided the warhorse.
“Sit still.”
The Imperial Guard followed behind.
“Is this your first time seeing Fophyta up close?”
“When we arrived last night, I had no leisure to look around.”
Sharlof glanced about at the scenery.
“The architecture is different from the capital.”
The village spread before them. Every building was white.
“The limestone contains a mineral called purple sulfurite. The more it contains, the whiter the building appears. It’s resistant to monster miasma and is mostly used only in Fophyta.”
“So it’s not ordinary stone?”
“This area is frequently exposed to monster toxins. Ordinary stone corrodes easily.”
The white sulfurite stone was rough, easily mined from Fophyta’s underground, durable when compressed, and resilient against monster miasma.
“Careful.”
Benjamin pulled her waist closer.
“You’ll slip.”
“I get absorbed watching.”
His arm tightened around her. The wind that had lashed her cheeks died down. In the distance, ships at the harbor sounded their horns.
“So?”
Benjamin asked quietly.
“How is it?”
