LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 134
134.
After striking Pesaha, who had suddenly convulsed, and knocking her unconscious,
he proceeded to explain to the astonished man that it was a measure for emotional stability, then he infused Pesaha with a light blessing before speaking.
“Apologies for the late introduction. I am Cain MacBilian, consort to Her Majesty the Empress.”
The man, who had been looking at Pesaha with a complicated expression, suddenly raised his head.
“MacBilian of the Capital… the Mad Dog of Central?”
What?
“What do you mean by that?”
“Eh…”
The man’s face was tinged with discomfort.
His eyes were filled with regret for his slip of the tongue, but judging from his words and reactions, I have a rough idea of what he’s talking about.
“Pure curiosity, so don’t feel pressured. Now, what is your name?”
“…Ahem. Beg your pardon. I am Baron Reinbight Patron, a branch of the Devalleta-venerating household and the commander of the Winterwood Knights.”
We were seated due to the confines of the space,
but Reinbight still raised his fist to his right chest in the knightly salute.
“I’ve already heard of your exploits as a Grand Duke. Meeting you in person makes me realize that the stories were even understated. Though it’s been five years since crossing into the realm of superhuman, I’ve never been subdued so easily.”
Reinbight’s complex expression softened.
His eyes were now a mix of mild surprise and excitement, seemingly impressed by confronting someone of great prowess, much like when the knights peppered him with questions in the training grounds.
“Beyond the skies, there are still higher heavens. There is no denying it’s an apt saying. I saw you encasing your hand in mana, but now that I examine carefully, I don’t see any signs of the superhuman flame. You must have reached an extraordinary level beyond comprehension.”
It was obvious he was trying to shift the conversation, but I didn’t insist on returning to it.
I’ll hear about the Mad Dog later.
What’s important is the situation with Pesaha Devalleta and the frontlines. Though it would be better to hear it detailed from the North Grand Duchess Pesaha, she’s currently unconscious due to a panic-induced faint.
For now, exchanging information with Knight Commander Reinbight should suffice.
First, I briefly informed Reinbight about the process of entering the north and the events leading up to our arrival at Vulkon.
When I mentioned meeting Erika’s group and resolving the snowstorm, his eyes widened.
There had been a horde of Dark Cultists hiding within Neutral territory.
After explaining how we were attacked by the army and exterminated them entirely, his expression turned serious.
“Hmm.”
As Reinbight stroked his chin, pondering something, his lips parted.
“At the onset of the snowstorm, we sent mana emitters to Vulkon and Untara to establish a simple regular reporting system. While it was hard for Yelkin and Solorun to ensure round-trip communication due to distance, it was doable with the other two.”
Shifting his gaze to the entrance of the pit, he continued his explanation.
“A few days ago, the regular report from Vulkon ceased. Suspecting the worst, we sent scouts and found Vulkon already in ruins. It was supposed to be an unassailable fortress, but with Dark Cultists involved, it all makes sense.”
“Was there any irregularity around Devalleta?”
“There… it’s difficult to declare there haven’t been any irregularities… so far.”
Either Dark Cultists had not infiltrated, or possibly they hadn’t acted yet.
In any case, it meant Devalleta was still alright for now.
‘In the worst case, Devalleta would have fallen to the cultists before Vulkon.’
Looking towards the bonfire again, Reinbight’s expression clouded over.
“I’m worried about Untara. Lady Meisha excels in combat against beasts but lacks extensive experience in internal operations due to her young age. If Untara falls too, there is a risk of the monster’s forces, which were previously split into three, converging entirely on Devalleta.”
“Setting the cultists’ schemes aside, is Untara’s current frontline situation stable?”
“Before isolation, most of the northern forces were concentrated on the frontlines, including Untara. We should at least be able to hold on for another month.”
There was certainty in Reinbight’s eyes.
In conclusion, without any variables, Untara is defendable for another month.
“And if the Beast Dragon awakens?”
“The Beast Dragon.”
He paused, stroking his chin before speaking.
“Compared to the first appearance of the Beast Dragon, the northern forces have since improved. At the very least, we should hold out for three weeks.”
“Are you aware of any issues with the seal?”
“Of course. We were already debating daily. With the beast’s attacks growing stronger and the cumulative damage increasing along the frontlines…”
“…So, in short, I’m here to handle the Beast Dragon. Support for breaking through their forces has already been requested.”
Reinbight’s expression relaxed.
His eyes turned toward Pesaha lying unconscious in the arms of the White Beast. Her contorted face, filled with anguish, drew a concerned look from Reinbight as he quietly spoke.
“Your Highness… Lady Pesaha would have been overjoyed upon hearing this. I thought the steadfast shield of the north would meet its end in our time, but now there is a glimmer of hope.”
Reinbight gently moved Pesaha’s disheveled hair.
His worried glance at the suffering niece was delicate, carefully tucking away strands of hair stuck to her cheek.
Silently watching the scene, a composed voice echoed throughout the pit.
“Twenty-five. That is the age of the current North’s steward. Lady Pesaha reassured us everything was fine, but you are aware how much pressure she is under. Not to mention, she is also unwell.”
The illness Reinbight spoke of was the Eternal Slumber.
After briefly observing Pesaha’s condition, I asked the sighing Reinbight:
“The abnormal muscle movement, the skewed center of balance. Her left arm is stiff, and an odd presence lingers elsewhere. Furthermore, her blindness and now her hearing. I confirm the deterioration. How long has the Eternal Slumber been progressing?”
“Perhaps… about a year.”
A year to lose half of the body’s senses?
Upon examining similar cases, it was recorded that complete sleep would arrive after about two years. Thus, Pesaha’s condition was progressing significantly faster.
Could it be due to the link to the Rotten Tree?
It felt too early to definitively claim this was the cause.
“A blue thread. Frost formed when it wrapped around my hand.”
The cause of the Eternal Slumber is frost.
The fact that pure frost was contained within the blue thread indicates the frost’s purity.
“Pesaha fired the blue thread. Could it be she created the thread using the Eternal Slumber?”
It was a plausible hypothesis.
The Eternal Slumber accelerating as a backlash from using the frost. But is such a thing even possible?
“Elven blood.”
If it were the immortal blood from the long-lived elves, capable of wielding the powers of nature, then perhaps the frost, a form of pure natural energy, was possible.
“The Eternal Slumber is a phenomenon where pure frost spreads throughout the body.”
If freezing sleep is due to frost spreading, then…
Removing the frost would stop the Eternal Slumber.
I know how to remove frost. A remnant sensation from when I created a mana core, controlling frost and heat in the process.
“Reinbight, perhaps there is a way to cure the Eternal Slumber that Lady Pesaha suffers from.”
“Is… is that true? Can her disease be cured?”
Calmly gesturing for him to settle down amidst his overwhelming excitement, I spoke.
“The cause of the Eternal Slumber is roughly clear to me. If we remove the cause, that solves it. However, this is merely a guess, thus we would need Lady Pesaha’s consent when she awakens, since it will be experimental.”
Reinbight’s trembling eyes lit up as he bolted upright.
“That would be more than enough. Finding any clue for this unknown illness that no one could solve would make Lady Pesaha happy. Please, I beseech you!”
—
*
After time passed, night turned into day.
I briefly explained the situation on the palm of the dazed Pesaha.
We decided to discuss further after returning to the stronghold, then proceeded to explore Vulkon.
Walking with support from Reinbight, Pesaha’s back appeared frail.
Writing words on her palm meant I couldn’t explain the cure for the Eternal Slumber yet, but perhaps I should have led with that explanation.
“…Giving false hope might be improper.”
There was still a chance that removing all the frost wouldn’t rid her of the Eternal Slumber.
However, this was a case where giving a terminal patient false hope felt inevitable, so I kept silent.
Currently, Pesaha’s state felt like a time bomb waiting to explode. It slightly resembles my former life’s junior coworker.
“Let’s just finish the investigation quickly.”
We would soon arrive at Devalleta Castle if we rode the White Beast.
I need a quiet spot to handle the frost properly, making it better to head towards the secured area within the castle.
“Reinbight! I’ll handle the investigation; focus on safeguarding Devalleta.”
“Understood!”
“White Beast. Search primarily for things with a foul smell.”
“Waark!”
With the White Beast’s enthusiastic acknowledgment, the Vulkon investigation proceeded swiftly.
“Thud. Thump.”
The ruins were littered with chaotic debris, like straw scattered in a construction zone.
The scene looked like a demolition site on the surface,
but as we carefully overturned the remnants of buildings, unsettling traces began to reveal themselves.
“Judging by the condition, it must have been over a week.”
Corpses with mouths open were found throughout.
Each had empty eye sockets, their bodies riddled with remnants of black liquid from all their orifices.
From soldiers armed in heavy armor to ordinary winter-clad civilians, they were residents of Vulkon.
Even after exploring the debris in the ruins of Vulkon, most of the corpses exhibited the same condition.
We swiftly swept from the outskirts toward the center.
As we reached the center of the ruins, peculiar corpses began to appear.
Markings of a human eye on the forehead.
They seemed to be drawn in red liquid, presumably blood.
Every one of them held an eyeball in their hands, raised high towards the sky. Their eye sockets were empty.
“…Dark Cultists.”
A strange sense of discomfort washed over me, furrowing my brow.
After witnessing so many corpses in this world, I thought I had grown accustomed, but it seems directly encountering large-scale Dark Cultist offerings is different. My fists involuntarily clenched.
“Thud.”
Similar corpses appeared as we continued overturning debris.
Some were frozen mid-prayer with empty eye sockets, their lips turned upward in a cheerful smile.
“…That’s enough of the ground.”
With a light leap, I ascended into the air.
Cutting through the snowstorm, we rose into the sky, revealing the panoramic view of the ruins.
On the surface, it appeared to be a regular ruin. However…
“Are those lines?”
Faint lines could be seen on the ruins. They were buried under snowfall but formed an intricate pattern at odd angles.
They were obviously suspicious markings.
As I visualized the shape the lines created in my mind…
A searing light erupted along with a sudden intense pain in my neck.
And at the same time…
…Something strange has arrived. Not my concern.
An indescribably horrifying voice struck my ears.