Chapter 646 - Backyard of a Stray Priest ㉕
In a certain land, there was a palace. Before the main gate of that palace, a visitor suddenly appeared. The visitor, wrapped in a dark brown robe with a hood pulled deep, passed through the main gate, went through a passage, climbed several flights of stairs, went through another passage, and approached the door directly in front.
“Who goes there!”
Two soldiers wearing chain mail and holding spears stood on either side of the door.
“It is I.”
When the visitor removed the hood, it was a man with graying hair.
“M-My apologies!”
The guards hurriedly readjusted their spears. They knew who the visitor was. Even with two of them, they realized that far from winning, they would be struck down before they even became conscious of it.
The visitor struck the door knocker, shaped like a lion's head made of iron, on the door of the throne room.
“Enter.”
The man, having obtained permission to enter in a low voice, held his hand toward the door. When he muttered something under his breath, the door opened without a sound.
The visitor entered, closed the door, and looked around the throne room once more. A brilliant chandelier hung from the ceiling, and a red carpet with gold trim extended across the pitch-black floor toward the throne in front.
On the golden-shining throne, with a large backrest scattered with various jewels, sat an elderly man wearing a crown that looked as if it were woven from vines. He wore a green tunic and pale yellow trousers. He was draped in a black cloak with a red lining, wore leather shoes, and had a mustache and a goatee. His black hair, mixed with gray, was lightly waved.
Judging from the depth of the wrinkles carved at the corners of his eyes and the amount of gray hair, he appeared to be older than the visitor.
As the visitor walked casually, the King stood up from the throne.
The visitor stopped before the throne, pulled back his right foot, held his right hand to his body, and lowered his head as if extending his left hand horizontally.
“Brother, it has been a long time.”
The visitor, having finished his greeting, smiled.
“Oh, welcome. My brother.”
The King, called brother, did not change his expression. However, he approached his younger brother, the visitor, with open arms, and they embraced each other's shoulders, showing their joy at the reunion after a long time through their attitude.
“How is it? Lately? Is your hobby of cultivation going smoothly?”
“No, about that. The eggs of the one I recently started keeping, which I told you about before, have leaked out. I've been in an uproar going around to exterminate them.”
“You must be careful. After all, those ones do not listen to what we say.”
“Truly, I have no excuse. It was good that there were some I had put under my subordinates, but I alone could not have finished exterminating them.”
The younger brother apologized for his failure, saying it was shameful.
“Do you know the cause of the leak?”
The younger brother, who was trying to gloss over that part, shrugged at his older brother's pursuit.
“The cause would be a subordinate. Was it a blunder? Or was it intentional?”
“I suppose so. It was likely intentional.”
“Brother, there is no need for you to shield them.”
“It's for prevention of recurrence. If I say I was severely scolded by my older brother, they won't do the same thing again.”
The younger brother grinned, but the older brother did not even smile.
“Then, you may say that I was angry.”
“My thanks.”
The older brother nodded without changing his expression, as if affirming his younger brother's words.
The younger brother had not had the chance to see his older brother's smile lately. It might be because they lived in different places, but previously, when he laughed, the older brother would match him and laugh lightly. That was a pity.
“By the way, what is your business? You would not come all this way just to apologize for a trivial mistake. Is there some pressing matter for you?”
“Hoho, you saw through me.”
The younger brother was impressed by his older brother's ever-sharp insight. The older brother said, “for you.” In other words, he saw through that he was harboring a personal problem, not an organizational one.
“I see, then let us change locations. Let's talk while having a light drink.”
The older brother pointed diagonally behind the throne. There was a door used by the one sitting on the throne to come to this room. Beyond the door was a passage leading to the older brother's private room. It was a place where even a biological younger brother could not easily enter.
“My apologies.”
The older brother had lost his smile before he knew it, but he was still happy that he was opening his heart to him as his younger brother.
Sitting in chairs, the brothers toasted with the alcohol poured into the glasses placed on the table.
“What on earth is the matter?” the older brother asked.
“Brother, I am thinking of retiring.”
“Retiring?”
“Yes.”
“And what will you do after retiring?”
“There is a place I have had my eye on for some time. I am thinking of moving there.”
“Where is it?”
“The island of ice and volcanoes, far to the north of this island.”
The older brother was somewhat silent after hearing his younger brother's answer. He did not change his expression, but he must have been surprised, the younger brother thought.
“Can magic be used there?”
“Yes, no problem. No enemies come, and it seems I can spend my time peacefully.”
“Since when have you been thinking about this?”
“Since after the last battle ended.”
“I see.”
The older brother was silent again.
He must be thinking about what happens after I am gone. The younger brother thought so.
The older brother had a habit of long contemplation. It's not as if he had lost his innate sharp inspiration. He was likely, like himself, becoming fed up with the battle that could be called barren. Lately, he had a tendency to be passive in everything.
There should be no problem. The area he was in charge of had never been fallen. The reason was simple: the number of enemies was small. Not only was the environment harsh for the enemies' survival, but above all, perhaps because the temperaments of the ones living there were rough, they were always fighting each other and decreasing their numbers on their own. Besides, it was steep and easy-to-defend terrain, and subordinates would be enough. If anything, the south was becoming a problem.
“Let me hear the reason,” the older brother asked after some time.
It will be approved. The younger brother thought so. The older brother must be harboring the same thoughts. The proof was that it was not immediately denied. It was a feeling of relief. He took a sip of the alcohol he was served and paused for a moment.
“I am bored. Bored of having to deal with such people forever. Those ones never change, no matter how much time passes. They understand nothing. They are just vermin.”
The older brother just looked at his younger brother in silence.
“Lately, the decrease in mana concentration has become noticeable. Even we cannot necessarily exert our conventional power forever. As you know, brother, the north is relatively moderate. Handing over the duties should be enough. My heart cannot hold out if I am just killing those who are not even worthy opponents forever.”
You must have the same thoughts. The younger brother wanted to say to his older brother.
“What will you do with your daughter?”
For the younger brother, this was an expected question.
“I will leave her. She still needs experience in battle.”
“Is it fine even if the opponent she fights is vermin? There is nothing there. At most, it would be vermin.”
“It would be painful if she were always losing. If she plays at being a lord for a while, she will eventually learn how to use magic.”
What will she think of me? The bond between father and daughter might be severed. I am like one who is running away. However, she has a selfish side, and it seems she is not getting along well with the subordinates I placed. But she will likely be able to fulfill her role even without cooperation. Since she should eventually become an existence stronger than I, it is better to leave her.
“But there are the ones you raised there, are there not?”
“Yes. But you know that is not the primary location, brother.”
“Well, that is true. But is it not a place you created?”
“My daughter is there. Subordinates are there. I can leave it to them.”
“I see.”
There should be no flaws. It is made so it cannot be easily fallen. Just like the territory he currently claims as his own, it not only utilizes the terrain to the fullest but is also made so it can overwhelm intruders with numbers. Moreover, he prepared something that is easy to recover even if it suffers some damage, so the continuation of the battle itself is high. Of course, recovery requires not years, but ten or twenty years, but we can use time that can be called eternal. It can be maintained. His daughter will likely act alone, but with that personality, it is better to let her do as she pleases.
“How about it, brother? Could you not grant my selfishness? Of course, if you say I must stay, I intend to stay. But as I said before, my spirit has already been exhausted.”
The younger brother looked his older brother straight in the eye. If this brother, who no longer laughed, would just say even a word of agreement, he would not have to perform meaningless slaughter. He could live leisurely doing only what he liked. Since he had lost the will to fight, he would only be a drag on his older brother.
“I understand.”
“R-Really?”
“Yes, but there is a condition.”
“What is it? Please tell me anything.”
He leaned forward. He thought he would listen to anything.
“First, leave the mark.”
“I know. I have no intention of betraying you, brother. What else?”
“If you cross the sea and go to another island, do not ever return to this island. If I do not do that, it will not serve as an example to others.”
“I understand well what you say. I promise I will not return.”
“One more thing.”
“What is it?”
“Participate in the next battle. However, fight by coming out of the territory you protect. You do not have to be out all the time. Come out and fight several times.”
“Is just the next time enough?”
“Yes, just the next time is enough.”
He unintentionally stood up and went to his older brother's side.
“I understand. I will participate in the battle just one more time.”
“Yes, after that, you may do as you please.”
“Brother, I am in your debt.”
He knelt before his older brother, took both his hands, and prayed.
“Drink,” his older brother said, so he returned to his seat and they toasted again.
“My apologies, I am an unworthy younger brother.”
The corners of his mouth, as he said the words of apology, unintentionally softened.
“That is not necessarily so.”
“No, I am truly sorry.”
When he drank it all in one go, his older brother poured for him again. He received it as if bowing down.
“But, just one more time, is there something?”
The next battle should also likely follow a similar course. Even if it happens twice or three times, he thought it would be no different.
“You know of the surge of mana.”
“Yes, the one that comes once every two thousand years. It should have come about a hundred years ago.”
“That is right. The next battle will be about two or three hundred years after that surge.”
Once every two thousand years, the enemy becomes stronger. It is apparently the influence of the surge of mana. Moreover, a considerably strong influence appears in weaker living things. However, their lifespan does not extend. Even considering the error of the surge, if an interval of two or three hundred years is placed, they should die out.
“But then, it would be no different from the last battle.”
“Yes, I think so.”
“Then, why?”
“The surge in between.”
“The surge in between... do you mean the new surge that was created because of those Elf fools?”
The Elf King, who did not know his place, dug deep into the earth seeking silver and thus dug into the source of mana. Thanks to that, a monster territory was created that hostile forces cannot approach. For us, it can be said to be convenient.
“That is right.”
“What of it? Except for the time of the accident, we have only experienced it once, but it should be nothing much.”
“For us, that is.”
What does that mean? Is there someone for whom it becomes convenient?
“The original surge of mana is too powerful. Those influenced by it become bellicose. However, the surge in between is just right. They possess strong mana and yet remain peaceful.”
“I see. And? Does that affect us in any way?”
“Yes. I want you to know that difference. Therefore, participate in the next battle and observe them well. Once you have grasped it to some extent, you may return to your territory.”
Even if peaceful ones were born, they would likely have no influence on us. The younger brother thought so.
Here, the older brother paused for a moment.
“I had a dream. A dream of the time when the next weak surge in between comes.”
“Hoho. Your dream of foresight, brother. The time when the next surge in between comes. About a thousand and some years from now. What did you see?”
While bewildered by the sudden change of topic, the younger brother became interested in the future his older brother saw.
“I saw you drinking and laughing with a young girl of the humans, our enemy.”
“W-What? What does that mean?”
“I do not know the meaning myself. It is just such a dream.”
The older brother said only that and showed a smile, truly for the first time in a long while, toward his younger brother's bewildered expression.