Chapter 120

The temple was finished — beyond any chance of recovery.

No one felt regret over it, or pity.

At the same time, word about the imperial family had spread everywhere — there wasn't a soul who didn't know.

And because it had come from Crown Prince Yelberk himself, in person, the impact ran that much wider.

"How do you think the emperor will react?"

"Whatever he does, I don't think it'll really matter."

"Why?"

"Because we're not going to leave him alone."

"…What do you mean?"

Iberin blinked at him blankly.

He'd never been the ambitious type, so she'd thought he'd say he just wanted to leave it all behind, whatever happened. But no.

"A lot has happened. In the middle of it all, my thinking changed too."

"Did it?"

"Yes. I don't want to let him off. He's going to pay back every tear of blood he ever made you cry."

"Looks like we're on the same page now."

"Are we? That's a relief."

She hadn't wanted a needless clash that would get Lyssel hurt.

However strong he was, he was on his own.

If he went up against the imperial family, the one taking the damage would have been Lyssel.

But the situation had changed a lot now.

Crown Prince Yelberk and Duke Cherity were adding their strength to Lecashe, and they'd built ties with the southern nobles too.

On top of that, there were the people Lyssel had personally gone west to save.

Public opinion was on their side now.

Without anyone noticing, Lecashe had ended up holding plenty of cards.

They weren't in any position to get blindsided.

"Because I don't think we'd lose if we fought."

"I think the same. But even if we'd lose, I'd have fought. One way or another, I'd have taken the emperor's head."

"All right. Let's take it together."

However many allies Lyssel had now, the emperor still wouldn't be entirely without power.

He'd put up a last, desperate fight, at the very least.

"For that, going back to our own territory would be the better move."

"Yes."

They'd have to leave the capital to Yelberk and Cherity and head back.

The nobles likely to back Lecashe were southerners, so going south was the better play.

And on top of that, they had to find the cause of what kept happening to Iberin.

---

Smack—

Yelberk's head whipped to the side.

"You really have lost your mind!"

"……."

"Do you not understand what you've done?!"

The emperor shouted, in a towering rage.

But Yelberk looked at the emperor squarely, without a trace of fear in his eyes.

At his son's bearing, the emperor let out a dry, hollow laugh.

Only then must he have realized: he hadn't raised a son, he'd raised a tiger cub.

"Father."

"Who is your father?!"

"Your Imperial Majesty."

"……Hh."

"Acknowledge all of your crimes and accept your punishment. That is what is right."

"Lunacy! I've done nothing wrong!"

"The people have already turned their backs on Your Majesty."

"The people? What harm could those ignorant masses possibly do me? They're nothing."

The emperor snorted.

Push them down hard enough and they stayed down — that was what they were.

If anything, what he had to take care of was the nobles.

With imperial authority strong, he'd held even the nobles under his thumb all this time — but this time, he'd have to bow his head.

"…What do you intend to do about Lecashe?"

"This is not the time for you to be worrying about Lecashe."

"……."

"You there! Drag this one off and lock him up — and don't give him so much as a mouthful of water!"

It was infuriating — the fact that he had trusted his own son and told him everything, while the boy had been preparing this whole time to drive a knife into his back.

So he meant to repay it in exactly the same coin.

If the boy were to sincerely repent and atone for his wrongdoing, he might have reconsidered — but that didn't seem likely.

"You'll come to regret your choice."

"…That is exactly what I wanted to say, Your Majesty."

"What?"

"Your Majesty and I seem to see things differently."

"What are you all doing? Drag him out, this instant!"

The order had been given, but the knights had been hesitating. At the emperor's second roar, though, they flinched and quickly seized Yelberk by both arms.

"I'll go on my own."

But Yelberk's bearing stayed steady — unbowed.

The emperor staggered, feeling as if he'd been well and truly stabbed in the back by his only son.

Just then an aide, who'd come in and seen Yelberk being dragged out, hurried over to support him. Then, glumly, he said,

"…Your Majesty. The ministers have come and are demanding an explanation."

"…Hh. Who has come?"

"Count Alberto, Count Cinnamon, and Viscount Likan."

They were men whose influence had grown of late.

Not a bad lineup to win over.

That they'd come storming in like this was galling, but right now he was the one in the hot seat, so he'd have to bear with it.

"More importantly — Lecashe?"

"No notable movements yet."

"……Is that so?"

The emperor clenched his teeth and pulled himself straight.

---

Meanwhile, the others had quietly returned to the territory without anyone noticing.

Pons welcomed them with open arms.

Being left here alone had clearly been quite lonely for him.

They hadn't had much luggage to begin with, so as soon as they'd roughly unpacked, they headed for the forest.

"Wait, you're going to the forest the moment you've arrived? Lady Iberin too?"

Word from the capital didn't seem to have reached this far.

And from his bewildered expression, he didn't seem to know that Iberin had collapsed, either.

"I'll fill you in, so you two head off."

"What is this? Did something happen?"

"Just let them go first."

"…All right. Then…."

Pons was holding Ether's and Kal's hands carefully.

Ether was beaming up at Pons with a small hehe of a laugh.

He was clearly pleased.

As they were about to leave, Rozelia grabbed at the hem of Iberin's dress.

"But I'm the Saintess, so can't I go too?"

"What kind of logic is that?"

"I might be helpful, you know…."

"It could be dangerous. Do you really think we'd take you along?"

"……No."

"We'll be back, so stay here."

"…Hnng."

Rozelia made a pouty face, but she knew that when Iberin was this firm, no amount of stubbornness would help — so she let go without pressing further.

And so the two of them went looking for the temple deep within the forest the monsters had abandoned.

The forest carried only a feeling of desolation now, as if it really were true that everyone had gone.

"Something's off."

"What is?"

"It's strangely warm."

"Sorry?"

"There's clearly nothing here, so it should feel desolate. But the energy seems different."

"Energy?"

"Yes. I didn't notice it at the entrance, but the deeper in we go, the stronger the feeling gets. You don't feel anything, Lyssel?"

He had a sense that something had changed, but not warmth.

He was sensitive to demonic energy, and it was certainly true that he couldn't feel any.

Beyond that, he could detect no warmth at all.

"Oh! That looks like the temple over there."

Then Iberin's steps stopped.

A massive temple, weathered and faded with the passing of long years, came into view.

"Does it still feel different?"

"Yes. But it's not a bad feeling. Let's go in. If anything, it feels good."

"…Let's do that."

The two of them stepped into the temple.

Tense in case something might happen the moment they crossed the threshold, Lyssel had taken Iberin's hand tightly — but nothing did.

---

The moment she stepped inside, Iberin felt that strange, swimming dizziness in her head again.

Without realizing, she came to a stop.

Sensing something was wrong, Lyssel quickly caught hold of her.

"What is it? Are you feeling sick again?"

The corners of Iberin's mouth trembled faintly.

"Iberin!"

Her face had gone deathly pale, and judging this was no good, he moved to take her back out.

But Iberin shook his hand off, hard.

With a strength he wouldn't have believed came from Iberin — and Lyssel froze.

"…Iberin?"

"……."

Iberin didn't answer.

Just like during her sleepwalking episodes, her pupils were unfocused, and she was staring blankly into the air.

So it was here, after all?

Lyssel pressed his lips together hard.

While he was still at a loss for what to do, Iberin began to walk.

She was moving forward as if there were a set path she was following.

Unable to do anything, Lyssel just followed.

He'd half-expected something like this might happen, but he was worried all the same.

What was waiting deeper inside?

But contrary to his worries, no matter how far they walked, nothing appeared.

That was how vast and deep the temple was.

How long had they walked? Eventually Iberin's steps stopped before some kind of altar.

Lyssel, not letting his guard slip, was glancing back and forth between Iberin and the altar when it happened.

Iberin's body crumpled like a puppet with its strings cut.

"Iberin!!"

When Lyssel cried out her name — almost a scream — blue light burst from the altar.

At the light, so bright it could have blinded him, Lyssel squeezed his eyes shut without thinking. When the light had subsided enough that he could open them, Iberin had vanished, as if she'd been an illusion.

"……."

Lyssel, mouth half-open and dazed, shouted out like he'd lost his mind.

"Iberin, where are you? Iberin! Stop messing around — ! Please!"

But no matter how desperately he called, no answer came back.

Was it the god?

Had the god really appeared and taken Iberin away?

Then where had she gone?

Lyssel, who'd been searching every inch around the altar in a frantic daze, drew his sword.

Shing—

Demonic energy wreathed itself around the sinisterly glowing blade.

He thought maybe smashing the altar would make something appear — that he'd just try anything — grasping at straws.

Just as Lyssel raised the sword high, in an instant the space around him changed again.

"……Ah."

Sword still in hand, Lyssel looked around — and then at the woman standing before him.

The pure energy radiating from her body let him recognize who she was at a glance.

"Demedeto……."

"It's our first meeting."

"Iberin — what did you do with Iberin?!"

"My, my. That child was simply the guide meant to bring you here — there's nothing wrong with her."

"Then where is she?!"

Without Iberin in sight, Lyssel was nearly out of his mind with anxiety — god or no god, nothing else could register.

"You cherish her a great deal."

But Demedeto only kept her benevolent demeanor.

Clap—

When Demedeto clapped her hands, Iberin appeared in midair with her eyes closed.

"She's asleep."

"…Hh."

Iberin settled safely into Lyssel's arms.

Once he'd confirmed she was breathing and that nothing seemed amiss, Lyssel finally let himself relax and looked up at Demedeto.

"Are you ready to talk with me now?"

"What do you mean by 'guide'?"

"Exactly what it sounds like."

"You're saying the one you were looking for was me?"

"'Looking for,' you say. Strictly speaking, both of you were the ones I was looking for."

Demedeto had answered his question, but she hadn't really said anything definite.

"What does that…."

More than that, there was too much he didn't understand.

If she'd been here perfectly fine all along, why hadn't she revealed herself to the world all this time?

Why had the god's name been forgotten, and how had Iberin known it?

Now that he was witnessing a god in front of his own eyes, the questions he'd buried came alive again.

Demedeto spoke as if she'd read his thoughts.