Chapter 440

Chapter 440

“Hey, how are you feeling?”
“——.”
“Don’t worry, he’s asking. Can’t you hear me yet?”
“——Ah, Mr. Ronan.”
Illuan raised an eyebrow. His eyes, now free of madness, held the blue sky.
I breathed a sigh of relief to hear a voice that still had some life in it.
“Whoa, you thought you were dead already.”
“What happened?”
“No, not really, I just–I’ve been waiting a long time, so I thought I’d throw a few words in, okay? I’m no Acalusia, but I did get some credit for solving this case.”
Scratching his head, he sat down beside Illuan. On his deathbed, he was no longer a mad wizard.
“You’re humble in a weird way – you didn’t do it virtually all by yourself.”
“I just cleaned up a piece of shit. The real people to thank are the patriarch and his adopted children. If they hadn’t picked up the pieces, Acalusia would have been destroyed a long time ago.”
“Haha–you’re the only one who thinks a meteorite the size of your pocket is poop.”
Iluan laughed. He was lying in the arena, his upper and lower body separated. It was my work, of course. Erzebeth, Adrian, and Acalusia, who had been the first to say goodbye, held their breath in the audience.
“I’ve been wanting to talk to you, Mr. Ronan. I’ve always wondered what the heck you do.”
“In case you’re wondering, I’m just a knifeman.”
“I don’t know about dragons or demons, but I’ve never heard of a swordsman who sliced through a falling star, and on top of that, you saved my daughter–I don’t know how to thank you.”
“Never mind, thanks.”
He shook his head in disgust. It was the first time I’d ever been thanked by someone I’d cut in half. It was almost as refreshing as when I realized that Illuan was actually a respectful character.
True to his word, the tragedy of the meteorite strike and the destruction of Acalusia did not occur.
“It was a mess with a lot of wizards.
It makes me giddy to think about it again. I launched an intercept the moment I saw the meteorite.
The boulder from space shattered into hundreds of fragments about fifty meters from the ground. I was prepared to break a few bones, but I was glad they were duller than I expected. It was only slightly harder than the fist of a bald king who had absorbed the source.
Having destroyed the meteorite, I went on to destroy (I’m not sure if that’s the right word) Illuan.
I wish I could save him, but he’s been insane too long, and there’s no cure for it except death. Illuan’s body, harder than a meteorite, snapped in half without any resistance.
And I was right on the money. Iluan screamed in pain, but soon regained his senses, and screamed again, tormented by the evil he had done in his insanity. His screams of agony stopped only when I brought in Erzebet, whom I had rescued from Liz’s clutches.
“—Honey.”
“Dad.”
Adrian, watching us from the audience, bit her lower lip. Erzebet squeezed her hand. This was practically a deathbed.
Mother and daughter, adopted children, and finally Illuan, who looked at me, his eyes narrowed.
“—I apologize. I have done many, many unforgivable things.”
“Yeah, well, to be honest, he was just an asshole, and if I hadn’t been tricked into doing it by Nebula Clazier, I would have pissed in your face.”
“I’m sorry–I’m so, so sorry. I don’t know how I could have let Adeshan—.”
“It’s okay, what’s done is done.”
He put the cigarette in his mouth. Thinking about it soberly, he was a victim, and there was no point in being angry at someone who was about to die.
Illuan’s time was running out. The petrification of his body, turning to stone from the extremities, had already reached his chest. The side effects of forcibly separating his flesh from the meteorite were coming late. Unlike Sarante, who had left him with hope, he would never return to human form.
Illuan, who had been silent, looked back at me.
“—— Mr. Ronan.”
“Hmm?”
“I know this sounds abrupt—may I entrust you with my daughter? I could ask for nothing more than for you to continue the line of Acalusia.”
“That was really abrupt.”
His voice was serious. I glanced back at Erzebet. She was indeed a beautiful woman, but only because Adeshan was beautiful. The only daughter of a great family, a great wizard, and even Adrian’s good looks, her prospects were bright. Most men in the world would have done a headspin and bowed to her father-in-law.
I smirked and shook my head firmly.
“I’m sorry, but I have a fiancé, and he likes girls.”
“—That’s right. I did.”
“He’s one of the few people I can be sure likes women more than I do. And Acalusia can be great without the blood of a gnome like me. No, that’s wrong, too, actually. The house is already great enough.”
He exhaled, and white smoke dispersed. This event changed the perception of Acalusia forever. The preconceived notion that they were a bunch of perverts in pursuit of a shady talent was an absurd illusion. They had risen to become one of the great families bisecting the Empire for a reason.
I glanced at my friend, who was still sprawled out in the audience.
“Now that he’s in, you’re going to be even greater, Arcel. That’s the name of the next archmage, so memorize it before you die.”
“Alas—what a talent, to countermagic five spells in such a short time—I used to think of myself as a genius, but I was nothing compared to her.”
Iluan’s voice was losing strength.
I was kidding myself for thinking of the original Asel of the world.
“Well, he’s the one who stopped Sky Island from crashing.”
Asel’s performance today was nothing compared to what lies ahead for him. His adopted foster siblings, who were thinking the same thing as me, were watching him with smiles on their faces.
“Good night. I’m glad to have someone as cute as you were when you were younger as one of us.”
“I heard it was a man.”
“That’s crazy, man. How is that a man?”
“Hehe, whatever gender she is, she must be the most talented Akalusian ever.”
Everyone was eager to make friends. I was relieved that I didn’t have to worry about being bullied. Iluan’s petrification had now progressed to his collarbone. The end was indeed near.
He gasped, then mumbled something small enough for only me to hear.
“This—is—.”
“Excuse me?”
“I can’t die like this—I still have great magic—.”
Illuan stirred. He seemed to be trying to say something, but his vocal cords were stiff and his voice was muffled. The people, realizing he was dying, stood up in unison.
From Illuan’s mouth, petrified to the base of his chin, came a squeezing voice.
“Glory be to—.”
“Illuan?”
That was Iluan’s last words. He turned to stone before a minute had passed. Sighs and sighs were heard everywhere.
“Hmmm. Was there still some resentment?”
He smiled bitterly at the human-shaped stone. I don’t know what his last words were, but they weren’t about atonement or family. I don’t know if he was talking out of his ass or if he meant it before he died.
It was a rude idea, but the timing of the stone was good. If I’d started talking crap on the spot, it would have destroyed the barely formed atmosphere of remembrance.
‘How humanizing. Poor man.’
I stubbed out my cigarette and stuffed it in my pocket as the guards who came in soon afterward carried the boulder that was Illuan out of the arena.
The next move was clear. Maid Liz, her arms severed, telekinetically floated above the arena.
“Ugh—Ugh!”
Liz groaned in pain, but first aid had stopped the bleeding. The hateful stares were directed at Liz.
“You’ve all seen what they can do, Nebula Clazier. They seep in like rainwater, driving even the greatest wizards mad, shaking the foundations of great families.”
I looked around the room and opened my mouth. I’ve said it before, but I can’t emphasize enough the dangers of Nebula Clasier.
“I still can’t believe that maid was black.”
“I’ve had rooms cleaned before—why didn’t anyone notice until this happened?”
“So it is. We don’t know, but neither the Lord nor the Lady can find them—they’re terrifying. Nebula Clazier.”
Upon learning the truth, both parties were unable to hide their anxiety. Conversations quickly turned to the need to intensify the search immediately, and to alert the entire continent to the situation.
It was to be hoped. With their power across the continent, Akalusia’s adopted children would spread the word as fast as the Emperor’s decree.
I looked up at Liz, my hands in my pockets.
“The only reason no one noticed is because of that freaky maid. She’s a master cleaner. She’s so good at covering up traces that even if Inspector Lorhon had come, he would have gone home unsure.”
It wasn’t humility. Liz was the weakest of the Nebula Clasier’s Nunapool I’ve ever faced, but paradoxically the most challenging.
If I hadn’t found the passage that cut through the swamp and connected to the crypt, if I hadn’t seen her communicating with Illuan, I would never have recognized Nebula Clazier.
“I can’t believe he wasn’t even baptized.
The reason was simple. She didn’t have the shimmering mana that characterized Nebula Clage. Believers who demonstrated basic combat ability would be baptized by Abel and their mana would be imbued with that power, but Liz had never been baptized because she had no combat ability to begin with.
I was very puzzled, as I had never seen anything like this before, and the cleaning spell did a great job of erasing all traces.
Adrian looked up at Liz and said in a stern voice.
“Liz. You will be transferred to Rodolan later today.”
“Go, Lord.”
“I will never let you escape to your death, and the interrogators at the Fortress of Screams will not stop until you confess everything you know, and maybe even then.”
“Hicc—!”
Liz’s face paled. Every Imperial knew what was happening on Rodolan. Losing two arms was only the beginning.
“Spare me, my lord, or rather kill me!”
“I hope you say that to Rodolan’s interrogators. Though I doubt he’ll listen.”
“Shi, no! No! Please, dear!”
Liz cried out. Her stoic demeanor had vanished. Clear urine was dripping from the air, and Erzebeth, staring at her, could not bear to look away.
“As a result of this incident, Acalucia has learned a big lesson.”
Suddenly, Adrian raised his arm high in the air. The mana that spread from his white hands became a force field, enveloping the entire estate. A hemisphere that no one could leave was the beginning of a massive purge. Surely this would be the way to go.
‘You’re thorough, I’ll take you for a walk and you’ll catch them all.
I liked the behavioral power. Erzebet was supporting her with an auror that amplified her abilities.
Adrian said, his voice cold.
“I will exterminate all the vermin in the next three days, and I will report the whole tragedy to the Emperor and the Five Pagodas, for this should not happen anywhere else in the world. Does anyone have any objections?”
There was no opposition. Now the continent will bleed. In the original world, Dolan, the Gracian spy, had started it. I’m sure Liz wasn’t the only rat hiding in Acalusia.
“Hmmmm!”
Just then, Asel, who had been stunned, screamed and woke up.
“What, what, since when have I been a—?!”
“You’re awake.”
“What the hell is this all about?”
Asel opened his eyes wide and took in his surroundings. Everything was different than before he’d passed out, and for good reason. Adrian smiled softly at him, his eyes narrowing.
“You didn’t tell me the result. You passed the entrance exam. Mr. Asel.”
“—Huh?”
“It was the best test I’ve ever taken since becoming Householder of Acalusia. You are no longer Asel, but Asel de Acalusia, and you may call me Mother if you wish.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, that—!”
“Just kidding, and Ronan.”
Before I had a chance to celebrate my ascension to nobility, it was my turn.
Adrian’s gaze snapped to mine.
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart, if it weren’t for you, Acalusia would have been doomed. I almost lost my beloved daughter twice.”
“You’re welcome. It’s all thanks to you guys.”
“Not at all,” he said, “you’re humble in a strange way.”
Adrian laughed.
She paused for a moment, then continued.
“As we promised, we will support you with the best equipment on the honor of Acalusia.”