------------------
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
------------------
Chapter 169: Act 6 Preparation
Clatter—
The carriage rattled forward, its wheels tirelessly churning along the path.
We were on the road back to the capital city of Zerion, escorted by the Blue Tower Master and the Imperial Knights, a lavish entourage befitting royalty.
Inside the carriage, however, I was busy watching someone.
There was only one person whose mood I was carefully observing.
The honey-blonde girl sitting across from me, smiling ever so sweetly.
Isabel Luna.
Every time our eyes met, Isabel smiled.
Her smile was, without a doubt, the most beautiful thing in the world.
But right now, it terrified me.
“Isabel.”
“Mm? Yes, my dear?”
She answered so readily whenever I called her.
And yet, her smile was somehow frightening.
While I pondered over this, the woman seated next to me watched with great interest.
Her long, manicured nails, ribbon-adorned dress, and worn pendant gave her a distinctive appearance.
The woman with violet hair—Vinesha.
Vinesha leaned closer and whispered in my ear.
“Milord, was the girl this frightening when she used to follow you around before?”
“...I’m not sure.”
To be precise, she was more terrifying now than she had ever been back then.
Beside Isabel sat Xenia, who blinked in confusion.
She had clearly sensed the strange tension between me and Isabel.
“Ahem, hmm.”
Just then, someone cleared their throat.
When we turned toward the sound, we saw a woman whose beauty seemed like it belonged in a painting.
Her platinum hair framed a face that radiated divinity, and her clothing struggled to contain her ferocious presence.
The noble saintess, Acrede Saint Narea.
“Sir Hannon, I was hoping we could continue the conversation I intended to have with you earlier.”
It was time.
“Vinesha, could you summon Musika for me?”
“Of course.”
Vinesha complied with my request without difficulty.
Her pendant glimmered, and then her head dipped forward for a brief moment.
After a few seconds, the corners of her lips curled upward.
“Hello, hello?”
The reincarnation of Aquiline, Musika, had fully possessed Vinesha.
I greeted her with a silent glance before turning my attention back to Acrede.
“Saint Acrede, please go ahead.”
“Actually, it’s not me but Narea who has something to say.”
Acrede had safely reclaimed Narea with Centriol’s help.
Thus, Narea was now once again housed within her body.
And I could guess what Narea was about to reveal.
I glanced at the three individuals sitting in the carriage with me.
“Lady Narea, would it be all right if the people here listened to your message as well?”
“Ah, w-would it be? One moment, please.”
Acrede hastily responded, and in the next instant, her demeanor shifted.
The awkward, hesitant attitude vanished, replaced by an icy, piercing gaze.
Her eyes, sharp as frost-laden steel, swept over everyone slowly.
The others finally noticed the change and showed their surprise.
The noble saintess had returned.
Her eyes met mine.
Though cold, they held an undeniable warmth of compassion.
“First of all, Sir Hannon, I offer you my deepest gratitude.”
Narea began by expressing her thanks.
“Of course. Please continue to be grateful to me in the future as well.”
Now was the time to flaunt my good deeds.
After all, maintaining a strong bond with the saintess was in my best interest.
“I owe you my life once again. I hope to repay this debt properly one day.”
“Well, I hope that day comes soon and applies to what you’re about to say.”
At my response, she revealed a flicker of surprise, realizing that I already knew.
“I’m not sure how you discovered this, Sir Hannon… Perhaps your current appearance is partly due to this very matter.”
After briefly steadying her breath, she spoke again.
“During Vulcan’s soul fusion process, I discovered a certain truth that I must share with you all.”
“You mean Vulcan’s corrupted flame originated from Demon Sovereign, didn’t it?”
Musika swiftly caught on, voicing the connection.
She had seen the fragments of nightmare flame while I purified the corrupted flame into ashes of fire.
Thus, she, too, was aware of the truth.
“Aquiline, so you knew.”
“I saw it with my own eyes. Hannon burned it away himself.”
Musika’s expression darkened with bitterness.
The corrupted flame, Rosli, was once a comrade of hers.
Knowing that Demon Sovereign had a hand in her old comrade’s downfall, she was naturally filled with loathing.
“We should have realized it sooner.”
“Even Aquiline might not have noticed. I only learned of it during the soul fusion process.”
Narea’s face mirrored Musika’s somber expression.
She took a breath and continued.
“But the real problem lies elsewhere. I glimpsed Demon Sovereign through Vulcan’s flames—thanks to the goddess’s grace.”
She described what she had seen firsthand.
“He is preparing to descend from the Demon Palace.”
“What?”
Even Isabel, who had remained silent until now, reacted in shock.
She stared at Narea, unable to believe what she was hearing.
Xenia was equally stunned.
The conversation had escalated beyond their worst expectations.
“Demon Sovereign’s descent? That can’t be.”
“There is already a vessel for Demon Sovereign in this world.”
“Who is it?”
Isabel immediately asked, her voice trembling slightly.
Narea hesitated, struggling to say the name.
I understood why—revealing it was no easy matter.
So, I decided to ease her burden.
“Lady Narea, it’s all right. The people here are either heroes reborn or those destined to become them.”
I could vouch for them.
They were the ones who would stand against Demon Sovereign in the final hour.
Narea’s eyes met mine.
After a moment of silence, she finally spoke.
“...It is Iris Hysirion, the third princess.”
The moment that name was spoken, Isabel froze.
Her gaze slowly turned toward me, realization dawning.
In that instant, she understood why I had stayed by Iris’s side all this time.
“You...…”
Isabel had much to say but held her tongue.
She, too, knew that now was not the time for such words.
“There is surely someone near her who turned her into Demon Sovereign’s vessel.”
Narea glanced at everyone in the carriage.
“Sir Hannon, as you said, I trust the people in this room. They were once my comrades, and they are the ones chosen by the goddess.”
Determination hardened her expression.
------------------
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
------------------
“From now on, I will return to the Holy Kingdom and prepare to deal with Demon Sovereign’s vessel and the one responsible for creating it.”
She turned to look at me.
It was her response to what I had just said about repaying my debt.
“Lord Hannon, you intend to save the Vessel, don’t you?”
As expected of a saint—her perceptiveness was no joke.
“Yes, that is my intention.”
I had no plans of letting Iris remain a mere Vessel of Demon Sovereign.
She had been turned into a Vessel against her will.
And the one who made her into that Vessel—
Duke Robliage.
Eliminating him was my true goal and the central objective of Act 6.
“I will make all the necessary preparations. The Holy Kingdom will fully support you, Lord Hannon, so just let us know when the time comes.”
Narea's support was unwavering.
“You’re really something.”
Isabel let out a sigh and nudged my knee with hers.
“So this is why my wings awakened, huh?”
“Then, what about what you said before?”
“That’s on hold for now.”
I see.
“The goddess really only exists to make us suffer, huh?”
Musika grumbled about the reason for her reincarnation and sighed.
Then, as if making a decision, she spoke firmly.
“I’ll head to Panisys. If I reveal my reincarnation, I should be able to gain the kingdom’s cooperation.”
Musika had decided to take action on his end as well.
I felt sorry for Grantoni, but it seemed we would have to part ways for a while.
Finally, everyone’s eyes turned to Xenia.
Her eyes were trembling violently.
Her face had gone pale.
“Ni... Niflheim is…”
Xenia’s voice came out in a faint whisper.
“…supporting the Third Princess’ faction.”
She was on the verge of tears.
The Niflheim Count’s family had maintained close ties with Duke Robliage’s household for generations.
Thus, it was only natural that they were aligned with the Third Princess.
“W-what should I do…?”
Xenia’s face turned ashen.
There was no way for her to easily sever the bonds her family had built over the years.
For her, this was an incredibly difficult dilemma.
If the fact that the Third Princess was the Vessel of Demon Sovereign were to be revealed, everything connected to Duke Robliage would face collective punishment.
Naturally, the Niflheim Count’s family would be no exception.
“It’s okay.”
At that moment, I opened my mouth.
Xenia, her face still pale, turned to look at me.
“Xenia, you’re capable of moving the Niflheim Count’s family yourself.”
The solution to this problem was relatively simple.
“You’re the acting head of the family. The direction you choose will influence Niflheim.”
If Xenia refused to support Duke Robliage, Niflheim would follow suit.
This was something that happened even in the original timeline.
After discovering the Duke’s true nature alongside Lucas, Xenia had mobilized the Niflheim family.
In the original scenario, it was Lucas who provided the catalyst for this.
But now, I would have to take on that role myself.
Xenia was more than capable.
After I explained this to her, the color returned to her face.
“You’re right.”
Clenching her fist, Xenia’s expression became resolute.
“This is something I can do.”
With this, Duke Robliage would lose the significant power of the Niflheim Count’s family.
Considering that the First Prince’s faction and the Third Princess’ faction were already evenly matched, this would push Duke Robliage into a crisis.
Eventually, he would be forced to make a move.
At that moment, Isabel’s eyes suddenly widened.
She quickly turned to face me, her gaze sharp.
I blinked, unsure of the reason for her sudden intensity.
“You… don’t tell me…”
Her eyes flicked back and forth between Xenia and me, as if she had realized something.
She then pressed her fingers against her temples and let out a deep breath.
Clatter—
Just then, the carriage came to a halt.
Centriol knocked on the door and spoke from outside.
“We will take a short break here.”
Horses could only travel for so long without rest,
so breaks were necessary along the way.
“You, come talk with me for a bit.”
Out of nowhere, Isabel requested a private conversation.
Not sure what it was about, I excused myself from the group and followed her.
“What is it?”
Isabel led me to a more secluded spot.
She glanced at the carriage we had been riding in before turning to me and asking,
“From the very beginning… did you attack the Third Princess just to protect the Niflheim Count’s family?”
…Huh?
------------------
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
------------------
