Chapter 81 - Cromwell Staviana (1)

"You drew your sword."

Her flat voice dropped low.

Realizing his mistake, Hakain immediately sheathed his sword and raised both hands.

"I had no choice, haha. You understand, don't you?"

Hakain had drawn his sword to protect Yohan. The moment Yohan was hurt, disaster would descend. He had no choice.

Ilea regarded him coldly.

"I understand, but I have no choice but to keep my word. Pay with your life."

Deep blue mana rippled around her. Hakain flinched.

"Hey, are you serious?"

"Yes. You're going to die. Right here."

Her voice was calm and firm.

Puzzled, Yohan whispered to Ilea.

"Why are you getting so worked up? This isn't like you."

"He needs to be punished for running his mouth."

"Let it go. Making a scene will only hurt us."

"But..."

"I said stop."

Ilea's face covering drew inward slightly. She was biting her lip.

'What has she latched onto that's making her so emotional?'

This wasn't like her.

Hakain spoke.

"Looks like I did something else to offend you. You have my sincere apology. But if you insist on killing me, I won't just stand here and take it. Be prepared to lose at least a hand."

Ilea stared at him, then steadied herself with a deep breath.

"I'll consider this an exercise in self-discipline and back down for now. We'll settle this another time, you and I."

All the roiling mana vanished. Hakain wiped away his cold sweat.

"I have no intention of ever seeing you again."

"You never know what life has in store."

Yohan and Ilea walked away. Watching them go, Hakain muttered,

"Is he her favorite pupil or something? Whatever he is, that took ten years off my life."

* * *

Veldana remained as lively as ever. Its streets were full of people hurrying about, and the markets were bustling. Merchant ships poured in through the canals like waves.

The incident in Deathshadow had had no effect on Veldana. Its dark underbelly and its sunlit world were separate. Most who lived in the light went about their lives unaware that the darkness even existed.

Thanks to that, Yohan and Ilea were able to leave the city without any particular trouble.

Deep in the foothills, Ilea lowered her face covering.

"That must have been stifling. No one's following us, so I think you can take your hood off."

Yohan threw off his hood.

"What about you?"

Ilea still had her hooded robe on.

"I'm not wearing anything underneath."

Come to think of it, she had given her clothes to some woman at Deathshadow's entrance. That left her naked beneath the robe.

Yohan spoke with an expressionless face.

"You've shown me quite a few new sides of yourself these past few days."

She had helped a complete stranger who was being abused by a mage. Probably out of pity. Such emotions didn't quite suit a witch.

"Perhaps it's because I'm growing up. You know what they say. As you approach the end of your teens, you go through confusion while trying to find yourself."

Yohan chuckled.

"That phase is called adolescence. I suppose even witches go through it."

The younger children at the orphanage had also started behaving out of character around Ilea's age. Yohan was familiar with it.

"Adolescence. I've never heard of it."

"It's probably why you got so uncharacteristically emotional, too."

"What do you mean?"

"What happened with Hakain earlier."

Ilea immediately shook her head.

"That's a little different. Hakain touched my sore spot. Adolescence had nothing to do with it. I couldn't help getting angry."

Yohan looked puzzled.

"Your sore spot?"

"You, Yohan. Hakain threatened your life."

Hakain had tried to use Yohan against Ilea. She had found that deeply offensive.

Yohan considered this for a moment, trying to work out her reasoning.

"... That certainly would upset you. Your own life is directly tied to mine, after all."

If Yohan died, Ilea would die too. He was indeed her sore spot.

Ilea stared straight into his eyes.

"Aren't you usually quite perceptive, Yohan?"

"Well, no one's ever accused me of being otherwise."

"They would now. If someone were listening to us, they'd probably call you clueless."

Yohan frowned slightly.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing."

She sounded petulant for no apparent reason. Even that reminded him of the younger children. Without thinking, Yohan ruffled her hair.

"Definitely adolescence."

Ilea stiffened a little, her cheeks flushing faintly.

"Wh-what's this all of a sudden?"

Yohan's hand stopped short.

"Sorry. I wasn't thinking."

He stepped back a few paces. A shadow had fallen over his face. He had remembered Belzarak's hallucination.

["Yohan, can't you stop touching me? Honestly, it makes my skin crawl. I'm scared whatever's wrong with you will rub off on me and I won't awaken either. Please get out of my life. I'm begging you."]

He knew perfectly well that it had been a hallucination, but somehow those words had lodged themselves in a corner of his heart.

As his expression darkened, Ilea spoke with a worried look.

"Yohan, what's wrong? Are you all right?"

"It's nothing."

Ilea watched him quietly, then smiled, her eyes crinkling.

"Then keep going. I like how it feels."

She took his hand and placed it on her head. His small hand gently stroked her silver hair, and a contented smile spread across her face.

Yohan cleared his throat and withdrew his hand.

"The sun's starting to set."

"Why are you suddenly talking about the sun?"

"It's time to get moving. We should hurry back to the domain."

They had been waiting for nightfall. Flying at night in Demon form was far faster than riding a horse during the day. With his Night Immersion power, there was no risk of his presence being exposed, either.

Ilea sounded deflated.

"What a shame."

No sooner had she spoken than the sun sank completely. A pitch-black Demon appeared. Spreading his wings, he said,

"I'll stroke your hair as much as you like. For now, let's go home."

He could happily indulge such a small request for affection. She had given him so much, after all.

Ilea beamed.

"You have to keep that promise."

She mounted her broom, and the two soared straight into the night sky.

* * *

The atmosphere on Deathshadow's second level was practically funereal. Everyone gathered there was either sighing or stifling a groan, their minds filled with questions and worry.

First, there was the Apostle. They had no idea where Maphel’tan had disappeared to after descending. Even his purpose in manifesting in this world was unknown. Why on earth had he answered the summons? Only once the Fell God Society understood that could it decide how to proceed.

If they could serve Maphel’tan as their god, betraying House Staviana would hardly matter. The Fell God Society felt no loyalty to the Count's house. The two factions were bound by mutual interests alone.

Of course, they couldn't abandon the Count just yet. They didn't know what relationship he had with the Apostle. The Society didn't even know what had happened in the chamber on the third level. What on earth had taken place inside? Every last detail was a mystery.

At present, they couldn't even readily confirm whether the Count was alive. They had no way into the chamber. No one here could withstand Belzarak. It would take someone of an elder's standing from the Fell God Society's headquarters to resist it even briefly.

Word had already been sent to headquarters. It would take at least a full day for an elder to reach Deathshadow. Until then, everyone there could do nothing but sit on their hands.

Hakain slumped into a chair.

"We'll just have to wait. What else can we do?"

He sank into thought. If the Count fell, Hakain would have to find some other means of survival. At the very least, he would need to leave Veldana. Perhaps it would be better to act now.

Just as he was seriously considering fleeing, someone shouted,

"Y-Your Excellency! Are you all right?!"

The Count was walking slowly out of the chamber, as dignified as ever. His clothes were immaculate, his expression composed. There was no trace of emotional turmoil.

Hakain rose and clapped slowly.

"Just as I'd expect of you, Your Excellency. Not a scratch, even after facing an Apostle."

The Count smoothed his white hair.

"There was no Apostle."

Puzzlement flickered across the faces of several Society members. Hakain spoke.

"That can't be. We received a report that the Apostle had entered the third level."

"So I heard, but there was only a boy and a girl. Belzarak is gone, too."

A stir of murmurs spread among the believers.

Hakain asked,

"... Did you happen to see their faces? The mage's in particular."

"And if I did?"

"I'd like a description."

Hakain would have to spend the rest of his life avoiding that mage.

"See for yourself."

"Pardon? What do you mean?"

"I'm going to see those two right now. You will accompany me."

Hakain forced a laugh.

"Haha, my apologies, but I won't be of any help."

"I'll decide whether you're of help."

"W-well, there are certain circumstances..."

The Count cut him off.

"No more arguments. Come along."

The Count intended to visit the Miyatro domain with Hakain alone. Hakain would suffice as an escort.

The Count set off at once. Hakain followed, looking as though he were being led to the slaughter.

'I'm completely screwed.'

The mage's words came back to him.

["I'll consider this an exercise in self-discipline and back down for now. We'll settle this another time, you and I."]

Who would have thought that "another time" would come so soon? His head began to throb.

* * *

There was nothing to do for the time being. He really could afford a few days of rest. First, Yohan intended to sleep all day. He needed to recharge.

For the first time in ages, he lay down in bed. Sleep overwhelmed him the instant he closed his eyes.

Just as he was drifting off, someone flung his bedroom door open. Yohan shot an irritated look toward it.

"Couldn't you at least knock?"

Gaf replied,

"I knocked several times. You wouldn't wake up."

Apparently, he had already fallen asleep. Yohan sighed.

"So, what is it? If it's not important, save it for later."

"The Count is here."

Bewilderment spread across Yohan's face.

'Already?'

It hadn't even been two days since Yohan had reached the Miyatro domain. It was physically impossible for the Count to have arrived already. Unless he had flown here like Yohan, there was no explaining it.

Yohan let out an incredulous laugh.

"That makes no sense. Are you sure?"

"He's waiting in the drawing room. Go down and see for yourself."

Yohan stared at the ceiling for a moment. It felt as if someone were deliberately pushing him to his limits.

'This is misery. It really is.'

He sat up.

"... Fine. Let's go."

With his lot in life, rest was a luxury.

Yohan went straight to the drawing room. Ilea and the Count were already having tea. The moment the Count saw him, he spoke.

"I will accept all your demands. In return, I ask that you grant me just one favor."