Chapter 63

The body disappeared.

This was an unexpected situation.

This was not the time to worry about whether or not the dragon was still sealed in my heart. I came to check the body’s condition, but the condition was now not the problem.

“How… When on earth did it disappear?” I asked in a trembling voice.

It was more like talking to myself to calm my confused mind than asking for an answer.

“Maybe during the Dracoism meeting?”

Did Noe take it?

That guy knew how to use magic, so that possibility existed. If he knew where the dragon was sealed, he could have gotten it out somehow.

“Come to think of it. The religious leader said that the ‘dragon’s body’ was almost ready.”

I reflected and explained what Noe was talking about at the meeting.

Caesar Hmm’ed and covered his mouth with one hand. The shadow of the swaying candle made his face look particularly pale.

“First of all… let’s get out. I don’t think we’ll get the answer iby staying here.”

Caesar took a long sigh and suggested.

Come to think of it.

How long has it been since we came here?

“… Someone’s coming.”

I said unconsciously.

I heard footsteps coming down the stairs.

Caesar and I looked at each other at the same time. The footsteps were approaching at a fast pace. And it didn’t sound like one person.

“P-Put away the light!”

Caesar had already blown out the candle before I could speak.

We sat on the spot without even having time to close the coffin lid. A streak of white smoke rose from the extinguished candle with a smoky smell.

As soon as we sat down, the cellar door opened with a loud noise.

“Huh? What? Doesn’t it smell like something’s burning?”

Is it a knight?

Caesar and I covered each other’s mouths, listening to the voices coming from the entrance.

“Smell? Isn’t it just the smell of the basement?”

The other said as they sniffed around.

“Is that so? It smells like something burned. Shall we take a look?”

“Ah, how annoying.”

It seemed to be a combination of a strict knight and a lazy knight.

If possible, I would like you to follow the opinion of the lazy knight and return.

“Let’s take a look around while we’re down. Turn on the light.”

Unfortunately, it seemed that the strict article had a stronger voice. Damn it.

Caesar and I held our breath and exchanged glances. I was at a loss as to what to do.

We could hide, but what about the open coffin lid and the scattered lever and candlestick?

Furthermore…

“Oh, there’s no candle holder.”

“What?”

I frowned and closed my eyes tightly.

All I could think of is that it was over now. Apart from illegal trespassing, I was going to be held accountable for the missing body too.

“Hurry up and turn it on.”

“Wait a minute… Oh, it’s done.”

Light leaked out to where we were hiding.

We curled up even more not to escape the shadow of the coffin.

“Let’s take a quick look from there.”

“Ah, how annoying…”

“Can you still say it’s annoying when you see the furnishings are gone?”

“I’m sure the patrol forgot yesterday and just took it out. It happened once or twice already.”

One knight, who seemed to be at the peak of his laziness, murmured over and over again, stopping the other knights.

I don’t know who you are, but you’re good! Stay strong, lazy knight!

“Honestly, if there were intruders here, what would they steal? Dead body? Can you sell it?”

“Ah, you talk a lot.”

“I mean, it’s a little creepy here. Let’s do it roughly.”

“Well, it is kind of creepy, but-”

Oh, I see hope.

I breathed in with a sigh. My heart was pounding, and I was going crazy.

I was not the only one shivering. Caesar’s heart was pounding so hard that I could feel it.

“But since we’re down here already, let’s go around once. I heard tarts are coming out tonight. I’ll give you my share.”

You won’t just succumb to the tart, right, lazy knight?

“Oh, great. Let’s finish this quickly.”

However, contrary to my expectations, the lazy knight fell too easily.

Lazy enough and bribed with tarts. That knight must not be a person who would become great.

‘Oh, dear. I’m afraid Caesar…’

I glanced at Caesar.

He was looking towards the aisle. His eyes were sharper than ever.

Squeak, squeak. There was the sound of boots hitting the stone floor.

As the dim light became clearer, the inside of my mouth dried up.

“Huh? Over there… Don’t you think it looks a little crooked?

Did we get caught?

I put my hand on the dagger that was tied to my thigh. Caesar completely covered me with his cloak.

All right, let’s knock them out and run if we get caught.

When I’d made up my mind…

“I came down because the door was open. What are you two doing here?”

Another voice was heard.

The way of speaking was quite familiar to me somehow.

‘It’s Hawk.’

Hawk, the Red Knight’s trainee. I let out a slight sigh.

“Huh? The Red Knights?”

“Oh, you are from the Knights of the Holy Order? But today the underground is not supposed to be a patrol route.”

“Ah, there was a strange sign. So we came down to check.”

“Are you saying that now the ceremony is almost over, there won’t be a lack of workers? Oh, come one, for an excuse-”

“What are you saying?! It wasn’t anything like that!”

“Yeah, yeah. Well, it remains to be seen whether the Commander of the Knights of the Holy Order thinks the same.”

Hawk rebuked the two knights with his characteristic obnoxious accent and tone.

“Then keep up the good work. Since I’ve seen something, I’ll go ahead and report first.”

“What?! Now, wait a minute! I told you that’s not it-!”

“Hey! We’re gonna get in trouble because of you! Hey, wait a minute!”

As Hawk went up the stairs, the two knights also disappeared, following Hawk in haste.

The light illuminating the hallway flickered away, and with the sound of the door closing, black darkness fell again.

And then came the terrible silence.

“… We’re alive.”

Even after the knights retreated, we remained crouched for a long time.

“I was so nervous. My hands and feet are still numb…”

I said in a trembling voice and sat down on the floor. Caesar then removed the cloak that had covered me.

“Haa… I don’t want to do this again.”

“I agree. It’s bad for the heart.”

After complaining to each other, I felt a little relaxed.

We looked at each other and laughed in the absurdity.

***

“Thank me. Both of you.”

After an hour.

After the ceremony was over and almost everyone had left the sanctuary, we were able to leave the basement.

Hawk, who was waiting outside, escorted us to the carriage of the Red Knights.

“What would have happened to both of you if I hadn’t appeared on time? Ugh.”

Hawk trembled exaggeratedly. He was always a despicable kid.

Only Caesar and I were in the chariot. Hawk stood outside the carriage door and explained how to get back.

“You can go to the imperial palace in this carriage. Instructor, transfer to the carriage on the outskirts.”

After a brief explanation, the carriage departed.

It was only after the rattling carriage started moving that we were somewhat relieved of our fears and tensions.

‘Where did my body go?’

I thought in a daze. Caesar brought up the same thing.

“It must have been the cult that took the body of Dante Renatus. Where did they take it?”

“I don’t know either. But I’m sure it’s where they brought all the missing people.”

“We should dispatch a search party first. The cathedral- Ha. It might be better not to think about it.”

Caesar let out a long sigh.

To get the help of the Church, we had to talk about Dante, Krusech, and the missing body. 

I continued the conversation, glancing at the scenery outside through the curtains.

“Why on earth would they want to revive Krusech? The dragon almost destroyed the human race.”

“I don’t know, but I have a guess.”

“What’s that?”

“Leonard said it when we were fighting the monsters. After dragons went extinct, magic began to fade away.”

“So what?”

“If the disappearance of magic really had anything to do with dragons, who will benefit the most from the resurrection of the dragon?”

“… Mages?”

“Yes, I heard that the leader of Dracoism  also used magic.”

I bit my lower lip at Caesar’s guess.

It was a plausible guess, but I didn’t understand it immediately.

“Is it reasonable to bring dragons back to life just to bring magic back to life?”

“I don’t know. But what is most important is different for each individual.”

Caesar was surprisingly calm.

“More than that, I’m worried about you, Helena.”

“Me? Why?”

“I heard the leader called you a king or something.”

Caesar’s eyes cooled for a moment. I stopped breathing without realizing it.

“It was strange even when subjugating the monsters. They rushed at you as if they were aiming for you.”

“That… they did.”

“You know the place of Krusech’s seal that even I, as a member of the imperial family, didn’t know.”

I sighed deeply at Caesar’s interrogation.

“Actually, I have something to do with this. I just don’t know exactly what my role is. I guess.”

“And what’s that?”

“Maybe I’m the part needed for Krusech’s resurrection.”

“Like Dante’s heart? Why? What do you have to do with Dante or the dragon?”

“That… I can’t tell you.”

I turned my head away from Caesar.

Caesar was silent. As if thinking deeply, as if judging the truthfulness of my words.

Meanwhile, the carriage stopped. We had arrived in an outlying area where I had to change carriage.

“… I must get off.”

Caesar muttered softly as he rolled the curtains slightly, “I know you have no intention of leaving this out.” He said in a shallow sigh, “I will send a search party from my side to find Dante’s body. I hope you stay quiet until something comes out.”

“… I’ll try.”

Only after hearing my answer did Caesar open the carriage door. He got off the carriage first, followed by me.

Outside, another prepared carriage was waiting for me.

“Then take care of yourself, Helena.”

“Mm. You too.”

After a short greeting, Caesar lightly kissed the back of my hand.

It seemed more like desperation to leave something than a simple kiss, so somehow I felt sad.

“All right. Go on.”

Caesar smiled bitterly and let go of my hand.

I walked towards the waiting carriage. But after a few steps, I stopped and turned to Caesar.

He was still standing there and watching me. When our eyes met, he smiled with a scowl as if urging me.

‘If we part now, when can we see each other again?’

The moment I thought so.

My step was towards Caesar, not the carriage.

I went back to Caesar and hugged him tightly.

“Don’t be sick, Caesar.”

“Yeah, don’t worry.”

“Take your work easy.”

“That matter doesn’t go my way.”

“I’m going to pick you up soon.”

The end of my voice trembled a little. I grabbed his collar with all my might and said it again, determinedly.

“I’ll be back.”

Caesar’s arm, which hugged me, became tense.

“… I don’t want to let you go.”

He whispered in my ear.

A shadow stretched out over the afternoon road as if it belonged to one man.

For a long time, long enough for the sun to disappear, but infinitely short for them.