abcnovels
Chapter 199
Chapter 199
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Chapter 199: Whisper of Secrets (1)
Sweat trickled down his forehead, his heart raced, and his breath was uneven.
Jereon thought to himself.
He had just barely escaped the crossroads of life and death.
Even when he entered and exited the troll’s mouth during his days as a frontline guardian knight, he didn’t feel like this.
This was literally the feeling of being reborn after death.
Even though the black-haired man was only the second priority, who on earth was that woman?
Not only did she disappear from the tavern without a trace, but this time she appeared in the dead of night and even tried to choke him.
No matter how old he got, his senses didn’t dull.
This wasn’t human, it felt more like an ethereal soul, didn’t it?
Jereon carefully watched the rough fight between the two, while gently caressing his restrained neck.
“…!”
Then he turned his head, met the woman’s eyes, and quickly looked away.
At this, Jereon thought again.
Could it be that this woman thinks he did something wrong?
He was just trying to explain about the figure of Dio Hafenkus, the mist’s envoy?
At this rate, it seemed like there was some unspeakable relationship between him and that woman…
“…?”
As if scattered pieces were falling into place, Jereon’s eyes widened significantly.
That woman is not human.
That’s for sure.
There’s not even a hint of human-like gesture.
It feels like some part of the mist floating around has transformed into a human form.
And above all, in the words the man just shouted like a spell,
Wasn’t there the word “Demonic”?
Confidence shone in Jereon’s eyes.
“I’m sorry for interrupting such a serious conversation…”
The gazes of the two men turned back to Jereon.
“That lady there… is she…the Demonic Sword?”
It was a question thrown at the risk of death.
Kaeram responded with a gaze that seemed to threaten, ‘Do you really want to die?’
“If you were the Demonic Sword, then yes, the reaction just now makes sense.”
“What does that mean?”
Cyan, with his forehead heavily creased, asked in a slightly heightened tone.
“Though I want to tell you, the desire burns like a chimney, but if I reveal even a little more, she might slit my throat without me even realizing it.”
Jereon, shaking off his body, quickly turned on his heels.
“I’ll take my leave for today. It seems difficult to continue this conversation any longer. I hope you’ll calm that lady down there.”
Kaeram’s face still bore a displeased expression.
“I’ll wait for you guys at the tavern we met during the day. I look forward to seeing you again soon.”
With a farewell promising the next encounter, Jereon hurriedly left the place.
More hurriedly than ever before, his feet moved, and before he knew it, his body had arrived at the inn.
-Thunk!
Jereon, who roughly opened the door, hastily closed it, wondering who might have come in.
Mark, who was sharpening his sword in the room, was startled and twitched his body.
“J-Jereon, sir?”
Sweat poured down his wrinkled face like rain.
“Where did you go to sweat like this?”
Even as he gasped for breath, Jereon took the water bottle Mark offered and gulped it down.
“Where did I go?”
Finally calming his mind, Jereon wiped his mouth and said.
“I just escaped from the gates of hell…”
* * *
It’s almost unprecedented in my entire existence.
Kaeram avoiding my gaze, me endlessly staring at her.
Dio Hafenkus.
Kaeram clearly tried to kill him at the mention of that name by the old man.
On her own accord.
“Dio Hafenkus.”
[……]
“Do you know that name?”
She only raised the corner of her mouth as if it were insignificant, but she didn’t speak.
“Speak. Who is he?”
[Don’t want to speak?]
Don’t want to?
She doesn’t want to.
Why doesn’t she want to?
Could it be that there’s something even now that she can’t talk about?
Where is the reason to evade an answer in the midst of the most taboo situation?
Someone closest to me is hiding something from me.
Does she truly not know that this situation is unbearable for me?
Beyond doubt, my gaze was turning into venom.
[Look at that gaze? It’s as if you’re not just glaring but ready to devour me?]
Kaeram, meeting my eyes like that, sneered as if it were pitiful.
[Why? Do you plan to torture me to find out like the trash you’ve killed?]
“There’s nothing I wouldn’t do, is there?”
In my hand, the crimson aura of the true form of the demon sword was swirling.
[To use me, to destroy me? What brought this tremendous confidence in our master?]
She suddenly smiled and reached out her cold hand to caress my cheek.
[You’ve grown a lot. The impertinent little brat has grown up enough to look down on me. Probably around this time. Even that bastard…]
“What?”
[I hope you continue to grow well, master. That way, I’ll have a reason to follow you.]
-Swiftly
Kaeram disappeared into mist, finishing her words.
I tried to infuse energy into the sword again to call her back, but,
“……”
There was no response from the sword.
As if the soul of the sword had once again gone into dormancy.
* * *
“Welcome to the city of beginnings, Sevellinus!”
Having finished the inspection, Silica passed through the city gate without delay.
There were no escort troops like guardian knights, only her alone entering.
The capital of the Ushif Empire, Sevellinus.
It was her second visit after the grand banquet at the palace, seven years ago.
Of course, she was here not as the mistress of Mist, but as the daughter of the Nigriti family and as an academic instructor at the Royal Academy.
Not long after passing through the city gate, several men appeared and blocked her path.
“Are you Silica Nigriti?”
“Yes.”
“Please come this way. We will guide you.”
Without any apparent vigilance, Silica obediently followed them.
As the bustling streets were crowded with people, she couldn’t tell if it was because of the people’s attention or not, but just by looking at their straight posture holding the sword sheath and their sturdy strides, Silica could immediately tell that they were well-trained knights.
Eventually reaching an ordinary residence, she didn’t hesitate and went straight inside.
Inside, there were far more knights than the ones who guided her, and among them,
“Long time no see, Instructor Silica.”
A very welcoming face was present.
“Silica Nigriti, daughter of the Viscount Nigriti. I greet the esteemed Princess Arin.”
A reunion after seven years since resigning as an instructor.
Silica bowed respectfully to her as a member of the royal family as well as a relative of the Nigriti family.
“It’s not an official occasion, so there’s no need for such formal greetings, Instructor.”
Arin welcomed her with the title of “Instructor.”
“I apologize for hosting you in such a humble place.”
“Wasn’t it out of consideration for the princess who prefers less crowded places? I’m fine, so please don’t worry.”
Not a royal summons, but a personal one from the princess.
What could be the reason for calling her, who had not shown her face for seven years, personally?
Not just the summons, but also the fact that she, who hadn’t received proper treatment as a princess within the palace, led such a large group of knights, was something worth noting.
“I won’t delay you with unnecessary formalities since you’re a busy person.”
Seated, Arin went straight to the point.
Without any explanation, she handed a book to Silica.
The book had no title, covered entirely in black.
With a somewhat puzzled expression, Silica examined the condition of the book,
[Dio Hafenkus]
She discovered someone’s name written on the back of the book and was slightly taken aback.
However, without showing any reaction, she immediately asked Arin.
“What is this book?”
“It’s a mist document delivered to monasteries throughout the empire through the recent royal decree.”
Upon hearing the answer, Silica frowned.
It wasn’t a surprised look.
Although it was a fact she already knew as the mistress of Mist, the palace had not made this fact widely known.
In other words, Princess Arin had just revealed this secret operation of the palace to Silica.
For Silica, who didn’t know the reason, it was only natural to be somewhat surprised.
“What does this mean, Your Highness?”
Instead of answering the question, Arin handed another letter to her.
“This is a royal decree to be sent to nobles who own territories in each city of the empire soon. I hope Instructor will be the first to confirm it.”
Silica looked at the contents of the letter with a mixture of doubt and curiosity.
Eventually, she shook her head in disbelief.
“To, to abolish the Order of Light? What are you thinking, Your Highness?”
“What do you think is the reason for the existence of the Order of Light?”
In response to her sharp question, Silica couldn’t immediately continue her words.
“To maintain order centered around light and to continue the peace of the continent. Under the name of the god of light, Lumendel, the Order of Light has suppressed and oppressed any force that goes against this belief, just like the ancient beings of mist…”
Arin’s eyes as she spoke were very firm yet indifferent.
There was no trace of the immature princess from her academy days.
“But recent events have made me wonder. Can light really be the only conduit to lead us?”
Silica quickly checked the rest of the contents of the letter.
In the letter, it was written that recently, the spiritual leader of the Order of Light, Saint Nephrodite, had orchestrated some kind of intrigue using white elves in the kingdom of Garam.
“I, I-I-Is this, is this information directly from the saint?”
“Yes. However, on her way back to the palace, she took her own life. She said she would seek forgiveness from God for her mistakes.”
Silica’s pupils shook greatly.
“So, I thought. The Order of Light can no longer maintain the order of light. Their role in maintaining peace on the continent has come to an end.”
“In other words, that means you intend to create another force to perform that role?”
Silica’s question was not denied by Arin.
In the midst of a serious atmosphere where an awkward silence lingered,
– Thump, thump.
A man approached them.
“Long time no see, Instructor Silica.”
“…?”
Silica’s face froze like a stone as she noticed him.
“Even after seven years, you haven’t changed a bit.”
The man greeted her warmly.
Suppressing the surge of discomfort inside her, Silica quickly masked herself with a smile.
“Boris? Are you really Boris?”
“I was worried you might have forgotten, but I’m relieved you remember.”
“Forget you? It’s a bit bewildering, that’s all. I never dreamed I’d meet Boris here again.”
Her words contained a certain degree of sincerity.
Boris, with an effortless smile, approached behind Princess Arin and took his seat, as if it had always been like this.
“I called instructor Silica here, and Boris will explain the reason.”
Arin rose from her seat once her business was concluded.
“Then, until next time. Instructor…”
Then she abruptly left with the knights.
Soon, only Silica and Boris remained in the house.
“Indeed, Silica’s acting skills are impressive. Even after seven years, I couldn’t help but admire it.”
Boris applauded her sincerely.
“It doesn’t seem like a pleasant visit. Is there a reason you chose this place?”
The shimmering blade at the end of Silica’s sleeve was now pointed towards Boris’s neck.
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