CH 124

Three days before the attack. The observation room of the Tower.

“So, roughly speaking, think of it as a giant mountain falling. We can’t even accurately estimate the damage when it hits, but you have to think that the moment it does, not just the Kairos Kingdom, but the whole continent is as good as gone.”

On the blackboard, something that looked like a jagged rock was drawn. Nella picked up her textbook and repeatedly tapped the board.

“The material we can see on the outside is ice…we don’t have much information, and gather accurate such as its size as it approaches.”

The Hero seemed to be listening to Nella but also seemed to be thinking something else. Her eyes widened, and she glared at Elroy. He was the one who had asked for an explanation, and now she seemed to be holding him captive and giving him a long speech.

“Are you listening? You look completely distracted.”

“I’m listening. Do you want me to repeat what you said?”

“…No, I’ll just keep talking.”

She would do what he asked, but what he got out of it was up to him. Nella swallowed her rising irritation and resumed her lesson.

“Even if we gathered all the wizards in the world to destroy it, we wouldn’t be able to stop the damage entirely. It would only result in hundreds of meteors the size of small hills. It’s the same thing, just one hit and it’s over, or a bunch of them and it’s over.”

Nella’s report was hopeless, even for her. But there was no sign of worry on Elroy’s face. She wondered if she’d ever figure out what’s in his head.

“So, we have discussed several options. From forcing the Meteor out of its orbit to blasting it into dust in space… Of course, most of them were ambitious. First, we aren’t dealing with an average celestial body but the remnant of the evil gods.”

Nella sighed.

“Even if it were a typical celestial body, none of our ideas will feasibly work.”

When Elroy nodded, Nella put down her textbook.

“Okay, I’m done explaining, and I don’t care if you got it or not, though I don’t see why you need to hear it in the first place.

“We need to know more about our enemies, so we can better plan our countermeasures, don’t you think?”

Elroy said and stood up. He looked pretty defiant.

“…Do as you please.”

The conversation did not end. Elroy looked at Nella as if he still had something to say.

“You want to say something?”

“Thank you.”

Nella’s cheeks flushed. She fought to keep her hands from reaching for her heated face. It was a good thing the light came from behind her.

“Save that kind of greeting for after the work is done, you embarrassment.”

Nella’s irritation came across as cute pouting. She doesn’t know how anyone can say something like that with a straight face. Then Elroy walked away, and that was probably the last time Nella saw him smile. (TN: Honestly, I have no clue why she reacted like that. I’m just taking it as down bad.)

***

“Where is the Hero now, Your Majesty? The people are waiting for an answer.”

It was true that many of the Hero’s detractors had been removed from public life, but it didn’t mean his admirers were in power. Agnes looked at the man who’d spoken up, trying to hide her distress. He is a good servant. Though she was hesitant to give him essential tasks, he counseled in matters of state. His criticisms and questions were all valid.

“I understand your concern, but I cannot tell you where the Hero is at this moment.”

Agnes had no choice but to answer like that. She had never intended to deceive the court, but she knew nothing. As she shook her head, the faces of the High Nobles hardened. After hearing the reports of the Sixth Disaster, how can they relax now that the Hero is missing?

“Why are you unable to tell us?”

“You should devote your energy to clearing up the rumors that have spread among the people. How can those who should be looking after the affairs of the state be wasting their time in confusion when you should be looking for something you can do? We can’t just burden the Hero without helping him.”

The Hero was too often taken for granted. Agnes frowned. As he won time and time again, the people naturally believed he would succeed. Too much rested on the shoulders of those who walked the right path, and no one was willing to take it with him.

“Make every effort to restore the Tower. In the meantime, call upon the other Towers to also make observations. It doesn’t have to be based in the Capital.

Agnes calmly laid out a plan of action. Her expression showed no anxiety, and the worried deputies gradually regained their composure. The calls for the Hero diminished, and the Queen began to discuss ways to replace the Tower’s function. Agnes could hear a glimmer of hope in their continued discussion.

“…Who do you think should fill the void of the Hero, Your Majesty?”

Of course, the question made her sigh.

“I have no doubt the Hero will return. However, there is a candidate to fill in the gap temporarily.”

The High Nobles looked puzzled. They sat in silence for a few minutes, silently watching Agnes. She took a small breath and opened her mouth.

“I will assume the role of Hero Elroy for the time being.”

The atmosphere in the Great Hall fell silent at her declaration, and Agnes’ determined glare quickly silenced those who opened their mouths to interrupt her.

“But, Your Majesty…. how can you say such a thing when you are the nation’s Queen?”

“I say so because I am the Queen of this country. I will concede my place if anyone in this country can wield a sword better than me. Until then, I will take responsibility for quelling the people’s hearts.”

The Interior Minister broke out in a cold sweat.

“A monarch should not travel far, Your Majesty. I would rather send a letter to the Archduke of the North, Quenor Stroff, and have him come to the Capital. He can fill the place of the Hero well enough, and his martial prowess is second to a Hero’s.”

“The northerners, of course, will be called. But they will only be brought to the center when the situation turns dire. I have no intention of making it public knowledge that a Hero’s place is vacant.”

Agnes’s will was steadfast. The High Nobles could only vaguely speculate what secret the Hero and the Queen shared. Was he truly dead, or had he gone into hiding, gravely wounded? Or had he abandoned his status as the Hero and gone elsewhere?

“Do not speculate, and do not seek to see the unseen.”

Agnes’s stern voice silenced the deputies. Words could not ease their anxiety.

“The Hero will return. So do not listen to the rumors of his disappearance, but go about your business with a mindset that will relieve your anxiety.”

“”Yes, I understand.””

The Great Hall bustled with activity. Agnes let out a long breath, remembering Elroy’s face.

***

“And here I thought he was taking a long vacation.”

Georg frowned and put the letter down. Marianne looked over his shoulder curiously. He shook his head and handed the letter to her.

“Here, read it. I was wondering why you visited me without him.”

Marianne began to read the letter with a puzzled look, then her expression hardened, and she put it down with the same expression as Georg.

“Daphne. What the hell is going on?”

Daphne, who had delivered the letter from the other side, shrugged.

“Literally, the cultists have cripple activity in the Tower. It wasn’t a raid; it was a sabotage operation by insiders. Professors listed as missing, people whose minds have fallen prey to the Doomsday Cult. I hear the smarter you are, the more susceptible you are to weirdness. But I didn’t expect it to this scale.”

Daphne shakes her head. Her expression didn’t look good either.

“Is he okay? It reminds me of the Mist.”

“Please bear with him; I think it’s pretty important. He forbade everyone but the Saintess to visit him.”

Georg rests his chin on his hand.

“You’re sure he’s not dead? I can’t take anything he says with an ocean of salt.”

“Yeah. He surprises people right up until the end.”

Daphne’s recalled the scene in the Tower. The smile she’d seen on Elroy’s bloodied face in the burning room kept replaying in her mind.

“Elroy!”

“Don’t scream. I’m still alive.”

As he spoke, blood was constantly flowing from his abdomen. The grimace in his voice didn’t sound like he was in pain, but Daphne knew he was staying strong, not to worry her.

“I can’t control my power well when I awaken the second stage. It seems things got a bit out of hand…”

Daphne ripped open my collar and wrapped it around me, then applied pressure to Elroy’s wound. Elroy’s handsome face grimaced.

‘…He’s losing a lot of blood. I have to get him outside quickly; he’s….’

Where Daphne turned, Natalie lay, her limbs severed. Injuries like that should have knocked her unconscious or killed her, but her eyes were still open, and she looked at Elroy.

“Make sure she’s bound to the point she can’t even twitch. Also, don’t worry about me. I have a visitor outside.”

“A visitor?”

“You’ll know when you get out.”

Daphne greeted the visitor, who was none other than Iris. She frowned as she looked at the two half-dead people being carried out.

“…Is this what you mean by playing dead?”

Instead of answering with words, Elroy smiled and nodded.

“So, why is he suddenly pretending to be dead? Is it just a decoy operation to draw out the remaining cultists?”

Daphne quietly shook her head at Georg’s question. Marianne and Georg’s eyes locked on her at once.

***

“A novel idea. Stupid nonetheless.”

I cocked my head from side to side, looking into her red eyes. She shook her head in displeasure, but the tone of her voice suggested that it wasn’t so bad after all. Her silver hair, tied back this time, swayed with each shake of her head.

“I needed time to train. If I stayed in the real world, there would be too many distractions. I will stay here and quietly cultivate to the level I want while no one can touch me.”

“Time may pass more slowly in the world of the mind, but there are limits. You can’t stay here forever, and I don’t want you to stay here for long.”

Holy Sword let out a short breath. I stood across from her, both swords in hand. She eyed me carefully, then opened her mouth.

“The swords that cut the stars.”

I nodded.

“That’s what I need to learn.”

Holy Sword gave me a small smile and waved her hand gently. In an instant, we were drifting through the nothingness of space. Suddenly, an unidentified planet appeared at our feet. Holy Sword raised her blade slightly and looked at me.

“Watch this.”

I watched every movement, breath, and movement of the muscles holding the sword. I didn’t miss anything as the sword in her hand descended as if it could not cut a single feather.

And before my eyes, the Holy Sword, which seemed so light, sliced the star in two.