Chapter 60.1: Seasons Die Like That (1)
「What is a devil?
It is a villain that whispers desires to humans.
It is a being that works for the amount it receives.
A counterevidence that proves the existence of God.
Countless words in warnings try to define the devil, but to the wizard who is about to learn demonology, they are all wrong.
I, Dustin, declare to the wizards who are trying to study demonology as magic, remember this.
The devil is a mystery and a miracle.
And we are the ones who explore the secrets of such devils and draw them out with the logic of magic.
Remember.
A devil.
Is still undefined.
A mystery.”
━ Dustin, ‘Introduction to Demonology’ Preface”
🔹🔹🔹
Even though it was still supposed to be a bright day, Qaclington was engulfed in darkness.
And the square in front of the mine.
Usually, it was a place where natives and immigrants interacted, but now it was different.
“It seems like they’ve found the kidnappers.”
All the people from both sides who could come out had gathered, and in the middle of them were five piles of ashes burned black.
Cain looked up at the sky as he rummaged through the ashes with Agweska.
Oleciren, who was next to him, looked up at the same spot.
A jet-black barrier was spread out in a hemispherical shape. It was similar to the way the world was divided before Arthuan appeared.
‘The range is the entire Qaclington volcano.’
Looking at the part where the barrier curved, it seemed to be about that wide. It was written in the quest failure that the Volcano would erupt, so it must be true.
If the volcano erupted, not only the people in this area would die, but Ironheart would also be affected.
‘If that happens, Count Crowl’s territory is practically over.’
Countless people would die or be injured, and the entire kingdom would be shaken as the supply chain extending from Crowl to Airian would collapse.
Cain felt his shoulders grow heavy.
Oleciren, who was looking at the barrier with him, lowered her voice enough for only Cain to hear.
“You’re saying that they suddenly burned to death because of that devil, Balam?”
“Oswald said Balam is a devil, so it must be true. We’ll have to match both sides’ stories now to know the details.”
“Cain, don’t try to carry it all on your own.”
Cain chuckled.
Perhaps because they had gone through crises together more than once, she was quite perceptive.
Cain casually threw out a joke.
“It’s a royal order.”
“What about the princess’s order?”
“I’m suspicious because the princess is shaking too much.”
Cain poked at what she had been agonizing over since Count Garick’s words.
Oleciren pouted her lips.
And across from the five piles of ashes.
Oswald, the representative of the natives, and Powell, the representative of the immigrant miners’ union, were sitting on the dirt floor.
Normally, neither side would have tolerated such a situation, but since the other party was Cain, no one dared to say a word.
No one dared to say anything to Cain, who was the successor to Ethelred, or to Cain, who called himself a knight of Crowl.
“Two natives, three immigrants. A total of five people burned to death. The common characteristic is that they were young men, and they were all close friends at the exchange meeting.”
Oleciren stood next to Cain and opened her mouth.
“There are also five children who were kidnapped.”
“If anyone knows if there was anything different about them recently, speak up.”
Even at Cain’s command, no one opened their mouths.
Especially the natives, who wore masks and didn’t speak unless it was at the exchange meeting, were even quieter, and the immigrants had no intention of speaking until they did.
Cain glanced at them and then.
Shing━.
He drew the Sword of Despair, Agweska.
It was a sinister sword, darker than the black barrier that surrounded Qaclington.
“If I cut off a finger every time no one speaks, someone will talk, right?”
Whooosh━.
A cold murderous aura spread from Cain.
It was absurd for ordinary people to endure the killing intent that a warrior of the Great Wall was determined to bring out.
Regardless of whether they were natives or immigrants, all those who had lives felt the blade pointed at their necks.
“Cain.”
At that moment, Oleciren grabbed Cain’s left arm and stopped him.
“I’ll do it.”
“This is the fastest way.”
“I don’t want you to be the bad guy. You and these people are all my people.”
Cain looked straight into Oleciren’s gray eyes.
When he told her that he had killed the knights of Ross in Ethelred, when he killed the people of Count Lamaring’s family, and even during the Ironbridge incident, she had always been consistent.
Clang.
Cain sheathed Agweska and took a step back.
‘My people.’
Unlike what she was worried about, Oleciren’s words sounded like something a king would say.
Cain also calmed his murderous aura and crossed his arms, stepping back.
“Alright. Let’s see the kind princess’s way.”
At that moment, Oleciren raised the right corner of her lips, forming a cold smile.
“Kind? Don’t be ridiculous. I just don’t want you to get your hands dirty or play the bad guy.”
“……?”
As Cain tilted his head at Oleciren’s unfamiliar expression, she stepped forward and raised her voice.
“I am the first princess, Oleciren Rune Airian.”
At that moment, everyone, including Oswald and Powell, froze.
One of the only three members of the royal family was here.
Gulp━.
It was unbelievable, but they had no choice but to believe it as the three who moved with her nodded in agreement.
“It seems like you don’t know the laws of the kingdom, so let me tell you.”
What kind of punishment awaits those who disobey the rightful orders of the royal family.
That a single order from the royal family can isolate an area and that people from that area will be excluded from all fields such as finance, labor, and trade.
That the royal family could apply the crime of treason, which could wipe out an entire clan, if they were determined.
From Oleciren’s mouth, the laws of Airian that had been agreed upon throughout the past flowed out flatly.
From the way she spoke as if it were only natural, the listeners could roughly guess what would happen to them.
“I can erase the time you have lived, all those who share the same blood as you. Then do you know why the royal family has such power?”
Trembling with fear, no one could answer.
Cain watched with interest, and Isoel’s eyes sparkled.
She had been looking forward to the moment when Oleciren, who had always been secluded and called the “Gypsum Flower,” would reveal her true self.
As a knight dedicated solely to Oleciren, Isoel’s heart pounded.
“Because it is the duty of the royal family to protect you.”
“……Your Highness!”
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