Chapter 278-2 Retreat or Advance
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Here goes…”
As for me, I’m slammed into the ground by the recoil of that spell, scraping the back of my head as I get up, and I call out to Melgis-san, who’s gaping up at the sky.
”This is an Origin power, a type known as Crimson within it.”
”What’s with the sudden show? You think if you unleash that into the sky, we’ll be too scared to make a move?”
”Not at all.”
Into the void created by the massive strike I aimed for, I throw information that Melgis-san and the others can’t afford to ignore.
”Skipping the details, but this Origin power can be easily stored and extracted using Gioniium.”
”Gioniium?”
”You, who’ve been researching the items Golarf-san collects, should know about it. He’s gathering Gioniium, probably for the purpose of preserving Origin.”
”Why do you think that?”
”Oh, did you forget? I’m the one following Neil-sama, remember?”
”Estesia Pordhail… I see, you mean you’ve constructed magic with a force akin to mana, so you’ve sensed this Origin?”
”Right on the mark. It’s the power he’s showing off now, looking up at the sky like an idiot. But the path you’re heading towards? It’s nothing like what you’re used to.”
”…Indeed, considering the amount of Gioniium he’s gathered so far, it’s easy to imagine. I’ve been wondering what he needs all that Gioniium for, and now I have one less question. But why still head towards him, knowing that? You said we were just going to talk. What if they don’t listen and attack us instead? There’s a risk of harming the frontier settlement, you know?”
”Because I believe it won’t come to that. He’s a great man who’s fought for the empire. I can’t see him doing anything to harm it.”
”…He might’ve been that way in the past, but it’s a fact that he’re unstable now. It’s safer, more certain, to deal with him while he’s still acting rationally, before any clumsy provocation sends them into a frenzy. Better to take care of it before he can hurt what──or who──he’s trying to protect.”
When I heard that Melgis-san was Golarf-san’s adopted daughter, I had my suspicions.
But she’s not just fulfilling her duty as the successor to Grelego’s will.
The thought that she’d surely grieve if she hurt the precious thing her foster father cherished… it flickered across her face, hidden yet evident.
”At first, I thought you were just trying to quietly settle Golarf-san’s affairs as the successor to Grelego’s will… but good, I see you truly love Golarf-san.”
”Y-Yes?”
She hadn’t expected such a statement, it seems, as for the first time, Melgis-san appeared flustered.
I pressed on with another question.
”Melgis-san, you told me, didn’t you? That if I let someone go because they ‘haven’t caused harm yet’──and then they killed someone, could I forgive myself?”
”I certainly did…”
”So, when you killed Golarf-san just because he ‘might cause harm,’ could you forgive yourself then?”
”Huh…!”
”You didn’t inherit Grelego’s will just because you empathized with it. Isn’t it because you were raised on, trusted in Golarf-san’s teachings?”
”What is it you’re trying to say?”
”You believed in that person. Can’t you believe in Golarf-san one more time? Trust that ‘he’ll be fine,’ that ‘he wouldn’t do anything to go against Grelego’s will’?”
”………”
Melgis-san looks down, falling silent to my plea.
I watch over her quietly, waiting for her to find her answer.
”I am the one who carries on Grelego’s will──a shadow with no self, existing solely for the Empire. Be they noble, royalty… even my own foster parent──if they pose any threat to the Empire, it’s my duty to erase them. That is the reason I exist. There will never be any compromise.”
”Melgis-san…”
”…So right now, I can’t just turn a blind eye to him. But──if I have solid proof he won’t harm the Empire, that’s a different story.”
”! Wait, you mean──!”
”We’ll go with you. Like with that earlier power──we’re clearly missing pieces too. Let’s pool what we know.”
”Yes! Thank you, seriously!”
”Before we go──someone needs to help her.”
”Ah──”
I’d been so rattled by the fact that the attacker was Stella-san, I completely forgot to check if she was okay.
When I glanced to where she’d collapsed, I saw a few people carrying her off, hurrying her away.
”Neil-sama, we should hurry.”
”……”
”Neil-sama?”
”Ah, sorry──yeah, let’s go.”
For now, we left Stella-san to the others and moved on with Melgis-san’s group, pushing forward.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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