For Datsukai, thank you for the ko-fi ♡
<Episode 113>
The Heart of Mephisto.
The man who heard that word swallowed his dry saliva.
The fact that the heart of that terrifying devil was inside the royal palace was a secret known only to the core members of the royal family.
“It’s dangerous to stay here any longer. We should return to Ragel immediately and close off this space.”
– Alright. Before that, let me ask one more thing. What are going to do about Berithlet?
Berithlet.
Known to the public as a ruthless information guild, but among those who knew its true identity, it was referred to as the underground organization of the Imperial family.
Berithlet was a secret organization centered around the ownership of Natasha and the speaking Dummy in front of them.
Its main purpose is to steal information related to the magic research of Rogue from the Northern Continent. If it weren’t for the heart of Mephisto, the guild would not have been established.
When Natasha looked at the dummy as if questioning what he meant, he calmly continued.
– The guild has grown much faster and larger than we intended. If it gets too big, it’ll only attract attention. It would be best to trim it down; leaving only the necessary parts and discarding the rest.
“And what do you mean by necessary parts?”
– Don’t you know what I’m referring to? At least all the scattered and insignificant branches within the empire…
“No, we can’t.”
Natasha, who immediately refused, closed her tired eyes and sighed deeply.
“Not yet. I haven’t found what I need to find. …So, we can’t.”
What Natasha was searching for.
The man who knew what it was sighed softly for himself.
It had been a whopping four years without finding it. If it were an object, it would be fine, but the best case scenario would be if it wasn’t rotting away somewhere.
However, he couldn’t bring himself to tell Natasha to give up. It was because he knew how important to her it…. No, his existence was.
– Alright, come up to Ragel for now. How long will it take you?
“Roughly ten days.”
– My lovely little sister, let’s meet then.
“Yeah.”
When the dummy’s mouth closed, the cozy space was enveloped in endless silence.
Natasha, once again hiding her face with a hood, walked past the den and stepped outside.
To return to her home, Ragel.
* * *
The night was heavily covered in darkness.
I looked up at the thick fog, trying to gather my thoughts.
The time given to me was short. The scouting party of the Magic Alliance, who had explored the canyon in advance, would only have enough time to return to the base. So, from now on, just…
‘About three minutes.’
Three minutes until I infiltrated The Great Wizard Mephisto’s fortress.
The surroundings were quiet. The situation that had just plagued my comrades felt like a dream.
No one approached me, who was left alone behind the barracks.
I’d already said my farewells.
Even with those who vehemently tried to dissuade me from this, calling it a suicidal act.
Even with those who postponed making a decision, saying, “Let’s observe a little longer.”
They couldn’t bring themselves to tell me to stop and only tapped my shoulder in silence.
…However.
“Andert.”
In a moment of realization, a swiftly approaching shadow caught my ear. It was Natasha.
For some reason, Natasha’s expression was darker than a corpse.
“Stay quiet. I’ll put it on your ear. This is a highly sensitive magic detector. It’s difficult to fully grasp the situation around, especially in the deep night and since you’re moving alone. It’s better to wear it.”
“…Is this thing the reason for your face looking like that?”
Magic artifacts housed the maker’s mana.
However, devices like detectors were not disposable, so they needed to be replenished with mana to continue to be used.
Recharging magical artifacts wasn’t common.
Especially for sensitive devices like the detector Natasha had brought, rushing the recharge could result in a significant physical impact on the body of the person.
Natasha seemed to have hastily recharged the detector for the impromptu infiltration plan.
Her eyes were bloodshot, and her faint, trembling fingertips made my heart wrench.
“Thank you. It’s quite reassuring.”
As I touched the earring and smiled, Natasha nodded wearily.
Before my heart grew even more clouded, I pushed her away.
“Now go. Men sometimes need time for solitary contemplation.”
Natasha gracefully moved away.
But only ten steps.
“…Why aren’t you going?”
“I’m waiting.”
“For what?”
“For you.”
“For me? Why?”
“I’m following you.”
What? Was she talking about Mephisto’s castle?
I swallowed a sarcastic laugh and shook my head.
“That’s not necessary.”
“Not necessary? Without me, who will protect you from completely assimilating? Raphael, who can’t even move properly after collapsing? Or the Marquis Calpen, who will only brief you on the hellhole situation?”
“I’ll handle it on my own.”
“Do you really think you can handle it? Your sanity can only be maintained with me by your side. That’s the only way the chances of defeating Mephisto can increase even slightly. This is very…”
“Natasha.”
Despite the abrupt interruption, Natasha calmly responded without showing any anger.
“Speak.”
“…Thank you.”
She looked at me with slightly relaxed eyes. But soon, as if she sensed something, Natasha’s hand quickly reached out to me.
“Ande…”
However, before her hand, filled with scars, could touch my body, her body collapsed like a doll severed from a string.
I firmly held Natasha’s body, which had fainted from the light blow. As I looked at her lifeless face, the time we had spent together over the past ten years flashed before my eyes like a shooting star.
‘I truly appreciate your heart.’
Everyone had their own role to play.
And Natasha, your task is not to follow me. It is to rebuild the Penrotta Empire devastated by war.
After a brief sigh, I had to move Natasha out of the barracks. Desherro, who’d been looking at me for a while, approached cautiously.
“Andert.”
“Yeah, I know. It might be bothersome, but take Natasha with you. She fainted.”
Desherro held Natasha in his arms with a complicated expression.
“Andert, Natasha…”
“She wants to help. I know.”
“…”
“But Natasha’s place is not by my side; it’s in the royal court. On the throne”
I lightly tapped Desherro’s arm and bid my final farewell.
“Stay healthy. I entrust the rest to you.”
Someone called out my name like a scream.
I continued on, carrying that call on my back, into the darkness.
Towards the path I would never return from.
* * *
When I dimly woke up from a deep sleep.
I was lying in a room where the crimson sunset had softly settled.
“…Ah.”
My condition was at its worst.
In addition to having a depressing dream, my throat was extremely dry.
It was understandable. I had vomited blood.
This sudden health issue was almost unprecedented. Could it be the lingering effects of being stabbed by a sword in Westwinterre?
‘No… that can’t be it.’
The sensation I felt when I made a vow with Rapahel, as if my heart was being stabbed.
‘I felt the same way when we exchanged that blood vow at the Weatherwoods.’
What was the problem? Was it a heart disease?
The only fortunate thing was that my condition was bad, but I had no trouble moving my body. There was only one person who had the ability to partially restore my body to normal, even with that inexplicable bleeding.
“Rue?”
However, no matter how much I looked around, I couldn’t see Rue.
‘…Could it be that the face of Morian I saw right before collapsing was a hallucination?’
It definitely wasn’t a hallucination.
But if Rue had really arrived at the Zenail Castle, he would have been by my side. Unless he came to meet me, there would be no reason for him to come all the way here…
“Ugh.”
That’s when it happened. Intense pain shot up my spine and shook my mind.
This vivid agony was the first time I’d felt such pain since my recovery, and I was forced to crouch down and tremble. Fortunately, the pain didn’t last long and disappeared within 4 seconds.
“Phew…”
I didn’t feel good.
I slowly got up from the bed. After confirming once again that there was no one around, I quickly took off my clothes.
And as I approached the mirror and checked the condition of my back.
“Ha.”
An involuntary sigh escaped.
“…This is.”
Deep and distinct scars ran across my entire back.
But that wasn’t all. There were clear traces of burns below my shoulders, and more than ten stitch marks above my pelvis.
“What the…”
…
Oh, my goodness.
I remembered these scars. Yes, I couldn’t help but remember.
They were marks that I would never forget, even in death!
The wounds from the Magic War.
Scars accumulated over ten years of fighting against demons, resisting complete assimilation.
The scars of my time as Andert were returning to my body.
And it was as if they were tearing my body apart.
I had some chapters in stock anyway so hehe enjoy
Thank you for the chapter!
Daisy collapsed but it could be a good sign. Vows bind soul, maybe new vows in addition to second mind-body unity stage consolidated her soul, bringing changes, discontinued by permanent transformation magic back to present form. Sure, it’s scars but on, let’s call it, “existencial” level she is more “whole”. Raphael probably recognize them though.