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Chapter 59
A border region not far from the war zone where the duke was stationed.
Just a few days ago, there had been a battle there between Helbern and knights who exuded a strange aura.
A delegation sent by the Holy Empire’s emperor arrived at the site. They searched the area thoroughly for any traces of the Holy Knights, as mentioned in a letter they had received from Bloodymerry.
“Hmm. What do you make of it?”
The delegation, after spending several hours inspecting the desolate border villages, began to gather.
“There’s nothing here.”
“It’s just wasteland.”
Indeed, their investigation revealed nothing. A dozen or so knights accompanied the delegation as a precaution, along with a historian capable of identifying the Holy Knights. Yet they found nothing. Not even the bodies of the knights that Helbern and Nilsson had supposedly dealt with. It was as if nothing had happened here—just a village long ago swept away by war, leaving no trace.
With no results, they returned to the imperial palace to report to the emperor.
“This is strange.”
The emperor rested his chin on his hand as he listened to the detailed report.
“There’s no way a prince from Bloodymerry would be talking nonsense.”
Helbern was an 8-star knight. There was no way someone of his caliber would fail to gauge the strength of an opponent. And yet, he apparently could not discern anything about them?
“Hmm.”
“Perhaps they were just a group of rogue survivors. The Northern Empire has a lot of lingering stragglers. They’re notorious for hiding along trade routes and turning to banditry after a lost battle.”
In the Northern Empire, defeated knights were expected to take their own lives to preserve honor. Consequently, some survivors would hide and live as bandits.
“The prince specifically mentioned that these were suspected Holy Knights. Not just any noble family, but Bloodymerry’s knights themselves. Maybe only they could recognize something about them.”
“However, ever since the sealing, no one has seen any trace of the Holy Knights. Even the ancient historians could not find a drop of their blood or a single strand of hair.”
At this report, the emperor furrowed his brow deeper. If it had been a request from someone else, he might have let the investigation end here. But this urgent report came from none other than Francesca Bloodymerry, the empress’s younger sister. There was no way he could send her request back half-heartedly.
“Send the investigation team to the Seraphim’s Paradise. Assemble a new unit with part of the emperor’s army and the delegation, and send them there.”
The emperor commanded it. They were to reconnoiter Seraphim’s Paradise, a location where Johannes was imprisoned, located in the heart of the four empires.
“Currently, that area falls under the Northern Empire’s administration.”
“Northern Empire? That actually works in our favor. Those who lost the war won’t dare make trouble with that.”
The emperor feared his wife’s nightly nagging more than anything, if he were to dismiss her sister’s request casually.
Meanwhile, the three heroic families scattered across the empires were abuzz with unexpected wedding invitations.
“We’ve received a wedding invitation from Bloodymerry?”
Francesca had sent invitations to the three dukedoms.
“Oh? I heard they won the war, so they’re marrying off their eldest son?”
“That’s what I thought, but it’s actually the second son’s wedding.”
“Second son? The one they call the rogue prince?”
Clearly, she intended to make a big spectacle by inviting three families across the border. Naturally, the news of Docef’s marriage drew lukewarm reactions.
“Hmph. Bloodymerry… it’s two borders away. Maybe we can skip this one.”
Even in the westernmost region, the Tiapol dukedom heard the news. They were one of the four great heroic families along with Bloodymerry.
“Ma’am, wait!”
A maid frantically intervened while her mistress was enjoying a manicure.
“The bride is apparently a commoner.”
I had finally returned to my room, collapsing onto the sofa after enduring hours of fitting dresses under Miss Coco Dior.
Even while preparing for the wedding, my thoughts kept drifting back to conversations with Nikolai.
With the Holy Cult—the ultimate villain—revealing its hand, I couldn’t afford to just sit back.
‘I sincerely hope it’s not the case, but the possibility that Halara and the Holy Cult had a hand in Bloodymerry’s downfall is high.’
I kept knitting as I mulled over the situation. When my mind is full of thoughts, knitting is all I can do.
‘The most important thing, for now.’
There was nothing more crucial than Docef awakening as a 9-star knight.
For him to unleash his full strength, he still had four steps left.
‘If he had companions, they could serve as additional power.’
But Docef’s companions were scattered across the four empires. One of them had even lived as a slave in another empire. Meeting them would require leaving the family estate.
“Junnel, haven’t seen you around lately.”
I grumbled as Junnel fluttered over.
Despite staying behind to ‘protect the family,’ I seemed to be the only one worrying.
[Hehe. Halara, I feel as if I’ve returned to my youth. My sword energy is practically quivering.]
“I feel like I’ve aged a few days in the past week.”
[Hmph. Look at your skin—so cracked. You’ve been too complacent, trusting your face.]
Tsk, Junnel clicked her tongue.
“When you used to say ‘that guy, that guy, that guy,’ now it’s all about Helbern?”
[I wouldn’t die for liking him.]
“Sure, you’re immortal, but I’ll die. And soon, this family will fall, and Helbern will die. Then it’ll be just you again.”
I had come here because of someone, yet I seemed to be the only one doing all the work.
[What are you saying! I found all those legendary swords for you not long ago, even taught you how to restore them. Giving Helbern the Blood Sword was your idea, Halara.]
“Do you think a few legendary swords could prevent the fall of a family? If that were the case, the mighty Bloodymerry would still be standing.”
[You’ve got a foul mouth.]
“Helbern and the others didn’t even tell me that they had captured someone from the Holy Cult.”
[What?!]
Finally, Junnel uncrossed her arms in shock.
Helbern had apparently captured someone, then left it be, ignoring me. That suited his personality.
“I’m not sure it’s the Holy Cult yet, but the possibility is high. And that’s not all—they infiltrated our territory looking for me. They almost killed Mrs. Michelle from next door, but Helbern found her in time and rescued her.”
[What!? Halara, you?!]
When did Mrs. Michelle even arrive here…
“By the way, where have you been all this time? Why do you keep making me worry like this?”
[Junnel pulled something out of her pocket.]
She smeared a yellow-toned cream over my face.
“What now? Doing this in the middle of all this?”
[A serious conversation.]
“Apply this first! I looted the vanity of the mistress of this house. Her face had a glow, so I wanted to give some to you too. I’m always thinking about you, you brat.]
“Do I thank you, or not?”
[It’s a favor. You’re always my number one, wherever I am.]
I couldn’t speak, but the cream—moisturizing my dry skin and leaving a pleasant scent—softened my mood a little.
“Anyway, I’ve decided to be the bait, so you must protect me.”
[What? Bait? You made that decision without consulting me?!]
The existence of a traitor was certain.
If I had remembered the names from the original story, I wouldn’t have had to go through all this. My failing memory caused this trouble.
[Sigh… Halara, listen carefully. Actually, those cult guys supposedly sleeping in history—they’re still alive. They’ve been quiet, but they didn’t disappear.]
“How do you know?”
[Do you believe me?]
“Of course.”
In the later chapters of the novel, these supposedly vanished cultists appear as the ultimate villains. Although I haven’t seen the ending, my ten years as a fantasy reader told me they were the final antagonists.
“I don’t know if they’ll cause Bloodymerry’s destruction, though.”
“How do you know? Did you see them?”
[With a spirit’s eyes, one can distinguish them.]
Junnel said this in a rare serious tone, lowering her voice.
[Because we cannot die. That’s why Brininhanta was annihilated. To prevent those vile ones from rising again, we must eliminate the Brininhanta that the spirit can see.]
