Volume 2 Chapter 55 The Heir Of The Thorns
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Lady Eleonora!”
Oswald’s voice echoed from the direction of the white mansion, something Kian hadn’t heard in a while.
Footsteps approached, and sure enough, a young man with a golden undercut appeared at the top of the stairs.
He looked down at them and smiled broadly, “Oh, Kian!”
”Lady Eleonora, this is Kian, the one I told you about. Kian, this is Lady Eleonora of Sunlightland, the vice-captain of the Knights of the Sun. She’s also the current noble lord of Sunlightland.”
”We’ve already introduced ourselves. Hmm… Seeing you like this, you do seem capable.”
The red-haired noblewoman narrowed her eyes under her parasol.
”Lady Eleonora, here, you forgot this.”
Oswald held out a ring engraved with a sun emblem.
”I no longer need that. I’ll soon no longer be part of the Knights of the Sun at the upcoming succession ceremony. Or rather, I’ve already lost that qualification.”
She extended her gloved hand as she spoke.
When she removed the fabric, painful burn scars were revealed underneath.
Christy let out a small “Ah…” and covered her mouth.
”Haha… I can no longer wield the Holy Sword of the Sun. This is what happened when I tried. But perhaps it’s for the best. I… I’ve been unsure if someone like me should even be in the Knights of the Sun.”
Eleonora continued as she put her glove back on.
”The Knights of the Sun have an iron rule: the strongest must lead. I plan to retire from the Knights soon, alongside my father, the captain.”
”You’re needed in the Knights of the Sun. You’re still young, and there’s no need to step down. Please continue to guide us.”
”Do you really mean that?”
Eleonora gave Oswald a wry smile.
”From the bottom of my heart.”
”Oswald. Right now, the Margrave Izerland territory is on the brink of a new era. The land, once devastated by the ‘Thorn Demon,’ is beginning to regenerate, reclaiming its former strength and even surpassing it with overwhelming evolution. The lord’s economic and military power is growing, and the adventurer Guild, a semi-official institution, now rivals the armies of each territory. The Knights of the Sun have also grown into a powerful organization, blessed with new leaders like you, Renaud, and Owl. An old-fashioned noble lord like me is no longer needed by the knights. I’m practically a relic of the past. Those who can adapt to the changing times and bring about transformation are the ones who should remain.”
”Such a sad thing to say…”
”No, it’s the truth. ────Oswald, continue to help the knights grow and support Her Excellency Maribel well. As for me… well, I think I’ll look for a marriage partner before I’m completely left behind. I’ve secretly longed for it for a while now. To put on makeup, wear a beautiful dress, and make an appearance in high society.”
”And once I find a suitable man, I’ll return to my territory, care for my father, and live a peaceful rural life”────The red-haired noblewoman concluded with a smile on her painted lips.
”────────”
She had probably been having a similar conversation in the mansion earlier.
Oswald stood frozen, speechless.
Kian, watching from the side, felt that the red-haired noblewoman, Eleonora, exuded the refinement of a soldier, yet also gave the impression of a warrior who had lost her fangs for battle.
──Rest and peace.
It was a sense of contented stagnation that Kian and Guillaume (the recent knighted young man), lower-class individuals striving to rise, did not possess.
It was like an old woman basking in the sun, holding a cat for warmth.
”When I met a man named Rean at the adventurer Guild, I was astonished. I heard that the Guild used to be full of the dead, but now it’s completely different. Talents that should have withered away due to lack of support are now blooming all at once. …Truly, the times have changed.”
Eleonora smiled as she said that and pushed Oswald’s hand away.
”Keep it. It’s something the next leader of the Knights of the Sun should wear.”
”But──”
”No buts.”
Eleonora glanced around at everyone, then turned back to Oswald one last time.
”Sorry for the interruption. Once the ceremony is over, I won’t have to bother you to hand over the holy sword. The ceremony is in ten days, right?”
”Ah, well… it might be moved up earlier.”
”Is that so? I haven’t heard anything about it yet… Did McCutchen mess up again?”
”────────”
”I’ll attend the ceremony in a dress like this. It’ll be my debut in high society. I’ll make sure to polish my elegance as a noblewoman by then, so look forward to it.”
”Personally, I think you look better swinging a sword.”
”You said it, you rascal!”
The lady wrapped her arm around Oswald’s neck.
Oswald laughed like a boy. “Haha! It hurts, it hurts, Lady Eleonora!”
Eventually, the two separated, and she waved her hand lightly as she walked down the stairs.
Christy, who had been hiding beside Kian, let out a pitiful voice.
”Ugh… I missed my chance to say hello…”
”Speaking of which, why are you here, Christina? I don’t remember inviting you.”
Oswald tilted his head suspiciously at the black-haired witch.
Christy frowned.
”I’m his watchdog. He’s been assigned to security for the ceremony, so I’m stuck babysitting him until then. Did you know Kian got picked for security?”
”Yeah. Natasha came by last night and told me. I’d hate to see him end up with Waterman. Kian, if you’re going to serve that bald guy, just come work for me. I’ll pay you double what McCutchen offers.”
”…Why are you so obsessed with Kian?”
”Is that weird?”
”Yeah”
”If you don’t understand that, McCutchen might just fire you. Let me tell you, you won’t be able to come back to work for me. I’ve got Aisha, a brilliant magician, and you’re just too hard to handle.”
”I haven’t been fired! …Right? W-wait, did I just not hear about it?”
”Christy, have some confidence in yourself. There are plenty of people who need you.”
As Kian quickly chimed in, the black-haired witch’s eyes grew slightly moist.
Oswald looked at her with curiosity.
Christy roughly wiped her eyes and insisted, “It’s just allergies!”
”That’s rough. You should eat some yogurt to settle your stomach. ────Anyway, standing around isn’t helping. Come on in. The maid’s baked some biscuits, and there’s orange jam too.”
”Yes, thank you.”
”Don’t be so formal. We’ve been through adventures together. ────Oh, Christina, you’re welcome too. I’ll treat you to a cup of tea.”
”No, thank you! I’m on duty!”
”────I see.”
Oswald’s golden eyes flashed coldly as he replied.
But he quickly softened his expression and placed a hand on Kian’s waist.
”I have to meet with Lord Guillaume this afternoon. I’m sorry I don’t have much time, but make yourself comfortable until then.”
* * *
After that, Kian was led to a spacious parlor and offered a comfortable sofa.
Christy just stood behind him, holding her staff.
She seemed serious about declining the tea.
”Christy.”
”What?”
”Sit down.”
He whispered the command close to her ear, and Christy shivered.
”O-okay…”
”Haha, Christina’s being awfully obedient. What kind of magic did you use, Kian?”
”We had s*x.”
”Whaaaat?! W-what are you saying?!”
”…Are you two in a relationship?”
”And what if we are?”
”Ah, just kidding. I figured it was something like that.”
”……!”
”She’s just a friend, Sir Oswald. If a close friend points it out, she’ll have no choice but to change her ways.”
”I see. ──So that’s an ancient copper coin, right?”
”Yes.”
”Let me appraise it. Give me a moment.”
Oswald said this as he took gloves and a magnifying glass from a maid.
Another maid brought in a plate piled with biscuits.
The rich, toasty aroma was mixed with the sweet scent of orange jam.
Then, about 30 minutes passed.
The blond, clean-shaven young man, who had been examining the coin’s engravings and language while referencing several books, finally looked up.
”No doubt about it. This is a currency used in the ‘Empire of Night’ between 3 to 4 hundred years ago.”
”The ‘Empire of Night’?”
”It was a country founded by a clan of vampires. According to legend, it suddenly fell around 3 hundred years ago. This coin was likely used in the empire’s final years. It’s rare to find one in such good condition. Where did you get it?”
”In the western town, near the windmill, and in the ‘Labyrinth of Roses.’ Both were buried underground.”
”Hmm…”
Oswald carefully placed the magnifying glass on the table and stood up.
He clasped his hands behind his back and slowly paced back and forth on the Azrael-made carpet.
”About the ‘Labyrinth of Roses’──I’ve been tracing the changes in its ownership on my own. It wasn’t easy. After it was recognized as a labyrinth, it was jointly managed by the state and the Adventurers’ Guild. Now that it’s no longer a labyrinth, McCutchen insists it’s state property.”
Oswald stopped and ordered a maid, “Bring me the copy of the ownership records from my study.”
He turned back to Kian and continued.
”You’ll see when you look, but before the mansion was under joint management by the state and the Adventurers’ Guild──specifically, in April, 82 years ago──it was owned by someone named ‘Judicus.’”
”What’s the relationship between this ‘Judicus’ and the head magician in that basement? Could they be the same person?”
”No… it started raining in the mansion 16 years ago, but Aisha’s research has revealed that the barrier was erected over 300 years ago. That’s because the keystone that is the starting point of the barrier is about 300 years old. The inside of the barrier has become a different world, and time flows differently from the real world.”
Oswald frowned and came back to the table.
”It’s the lost magic of vampires. They are said to be able to regenerate even missing body parts or fatal injuries by rewinding the flow of time. We vampire researchers call it the ‘Restoration Curse.’”
”‘Restoration Curse’”
”Yes. This allows them to perform body part amputations and regenerate nerves, which are impossible in modern times, and even bring people back from the dead. It is believed that the distortion of the flow of time in the mansion was an application of this.”
”That’s crazy magic”
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply