kscans

EPILOGUE : THE ENDLESS JOURNEY – Episode 2 The Messenger from the Temple

1

On March 38th, 4287 of the Continental Calendar, two groups of visitors arrived in Fyuzarion. The first visitor was an envoy from King Chantillion, the regent of Parzam Kingdom. Upon meeting Bard, he offered congratulations on the arranged marriage between Lord Quinta Ector of Cogus and Princess Yunaria, daughter of Count Garam Rezalatro of Parzam Kingdom. Bard was stunned speechless. The carriage for the bride had already departed from Parzam, he was told. After delivering this message, the envoy hurriedly left for Cogus without even having a meal. Surprisingly, it was Carla who explained the situation to Bard.

“You see, Lord Bard, remember when we went to Parzam together? You know, when the dragonoids attacked. You were unconscious so you don’t know, but after we drove away the dragonoids, something happened. Quinta discovered a girl trapped between a pillar and a wall, unable to get out. She had gotten lost while trying to escape, and when part of the wall collapsed from the dragonoids’ attack, she hid behind a pillar but then debris blocked her exit, trapping her. Quinta happened to pass by and rescued her. Later, the girl came to thank him, bringing King Chantillion with her. Well, he wasn’t king back then. Anyway, it turns out that girl was King Chantillion’s niece. She was training as a lady-in-waiting to learn etiquette. During the month and a half you were asleep, that girl visited Quinta many times. We watched with knowing smiles. After that, Quinta returned to Fyuzarion, but when Lord Natz was returning to Parzam after the adventure in the labyrinth, Quinta sent a letter for Princess Yunaria.”

Bard had no idea. He hadn’t noticed at all. That such a love story had unfolded.

“We thought that was the end of it, but last year, an envoy came from King Chantillion, remember?”

He did come. The envoy had said he came to see that Bard was well.

“That’s when we found out that Lady Yunaria had fallen for Quinta and was adamantly refusing to marry anyone else. But she’s not the kind of princess who can be married off to a knight from some frontier village. Anyway, King Chantillion apparently told the count to send someone to check things out.”

Come to think of it, that envoy had stayed in the Cogus district for three days. Bard had wondered what he found so appealing.

“When they saw how remarkably Fyuzarion had developed, and that Quinta had become the Lord of Cogus, they realized this could provide justification for a marriage from the count’s family. So the envoy returned overjoyed. Of course, after he confirmed Quinta’s feelings. After all, the princess turned 19 last year. She’s right at the age limit for marriage. After that, they were preparing for the wedding, but winter came, so they decided to wait for spring this year for the bride’s procession.”

So that’s how it was. That’s what had happened. Apparently, Doriatessa had also approved of this. In any case, Quinta would have a partner too. That was good, very good.

…Wait a minute. During the dragonoid attack? That was in 4278, wasn’t it? If the princess was 19 last year, then that means… she was 11! When Quinta met her, the princess was 11 years old. Was that rascal exchanging words of love with an 11-year-old princess?

Bard glared at the absent Quinta as if looking at something indecent. Sensing the meaning behind Bard’s gaze, Carla made an excuse.

“Lord Bard. I know what you’re thinking, but that’s not it. When girls become lady-in-waiting, they grow up quickly. I mean, mentally of course.”

Bard glared even more sternly at the phantom Quinta.

“Also, women mature much faster than men. Under the right circumstances. Even at 11, true love is possible.”

Bard thought that must surely be a lie. But perhaps a young bud born from a child’s admiration could grow into the great tree of love. In any case, she’s a 20-year-old princess now, so there’s no need to say anything. Though he thought this, Bard’s eyes remained cold as he looked at the phantom Quinta. Still, Carla seemed quite knowledgeable about the lifestyles and ways of thinking of nobles, especially high-ranking ones. Bard wondered what kind of upbringing she had. He would soon find out the answer.

2

As if to replace them, two knights arrived. Each was accompanied by a single attendant. One look at their armor revealed they were no ordinary knights. The holy crest engraved on their chests and their crimson cloaks made their identity clear. They were Holy Knights. These knights serve the Mercano Temple, and aside from escorting high-ranking priests when they go out, they rarely leave the Mercano Temple’s autonomous territory. Their prowess is legendary, with it said that two ordinary knights are needed to match one Holy Knight. However, for Bard, Holy Knights were like something out of a fairy tale, and he never imagined he’d see them with his own eyes. The two who visited the Grand Lord’s mansion in the capital Zariya introduced themselves as,

Holy Knight Urbet Martin
Holy Knight Ogisha Terano

They requested an audience with Bard. After greeting Bard, they said,

“We have come to escort Lady Karenegdra Stotomenos. She is known here as Lady Carla. Our mission is to escort Lady Karenegdra and her child to the Mercano Temple’s autonomous territory.”

They were aware that Carla had married into the Rowen family, which is why they first greeted Bard as the head of the Rowen family. Following the Holy Knights’ request to meet with Lady Karenegdra and convey her father’s intentions, Bard showed them to the guest room and summoned Carla. Carla spoke with them for a while.

The following evening, Bard, Karz, Carla, Jurchaga, Doriatessa, Helidan, Taranka, Quinta, and Kizmertel and Noah gathered at the Grand Lord’s mansion. There, Carla began her confession.

3

Carla’s real name is Karenegdra Stotomenos. She is the daughter of Stotomenos, one of the four Grand Patriarchs of the Mercano Temple. The reason Carla originally came to Fyuzarion was to pursue Yana’s Bracelet. Yana’s Bracelet was a secret treasure of the Mercano Temple. But at some point, it became a tool in power struggles, angering the divine spirit, which is said to have taken Yana’s Bracelet away from the Mercano Temple. For a long time, its whereabouts were unknown, but at one point it was discovered to be in the possession of the Queen of Manuno. Messengers were sent several times, but none could meet the queen. And so, a long time passed. Currently, hardly anyone remembers Yana’s Bracelet, and it’s treated as half-legendary.

Each Grand Patriarch has an information network in various countries, and Carla’s father happened to hear a rumor. It was said that a frontier knight called Bard Rowen had received a mysterious bracelet from the Queen of Manuno. Carla’s father ordered her to verify the truth of the rumor and, if Lord Rowen’s bracelet was indeed Yana’s Bracelet, she is to obtain it by any means necessary. However, this also implied that she should leave the temple and live freely. For some reason, her father thought that the Mercano Temple, swirling with dark conspiracies, was too suffocating for his free-spirited youngest daughter.

So Carla came all the way to Fyuzarion. As soon as she arrived, she saw Yana’s Bracelet. Surprisingly, its owner, Lord Bard Rowen, was openly wearing this holy relic without hiding it. Spiritual power was overflowing from the bracelet. It also had familiar patterns engraved on it. Carla was certain it was Yana’s Bracelet. As it happened, Lord Rowen was about to embark on a journey. When she asked to accompany him, she was unexpectedly given permission easily.

But on that journey, Carla was astonished. At the sheer magnitude of what Lord Rowen was dealing with. The secrets of spirits. The mystery of demonic beasts. A monster that had been extending its evil hand over the continent from the darkness of distant history. Bard was facing these things all alone. Isn’t that the true holy duty, she thought. What a difference from herself, who was hoping to bring back Yana’s Bracelet to potentially benefit her father’s power struggles. Yet, Bard and his companions accepted her. They accepted her and gave her a role. She was happy. So much so that she felt this was where she belonged.

Secret messengers from her father came from time to time. Carla gave vague answers, saying she was still confirming whether it was Yana’s Bracelet. And that she would continue her investigation by Bard’s side. Her father never raised any objections to this. Carla sensed her father’s willingness to let her stay in Fyuzarion if she found it comfortable. After informing him of her marriage to Karz, she received a congratulatory letter. It was rare for her cautious father to send a letter. In truth, Carla had resolved to settle in Fyuzarion permanently and had decided to forget about Yana’s Bracelet.

After that, Bard confronted the monster and defeated it. When Bard returned while riding on a cloud of light through the sky, everyone gaped in amazement. However, Bard strictly forbade any questions about the details and sternly warned everyone not to speak of this to others. Bard only told them one thing. “The King of Evil Spirits has perished. Demonic beasts will never be born again.” Carla strongly wanted to know what had happened, but she also felt it was better not to ask. More than that, she was happy to be among the companions trusted with the secret that Bard had confronted and defeated the monster.

After receiving a congratulatory letter for the birth of Adolkarz, communication from her father ceased. And yesterday, two Holy Knights came to escort Carla. There were these circumstances behind it.

The highest position in the Mercano Temple is the Pope. The Pope is literally an absolute authority, but rarely exercises his power concretely. The Pope’s life is harsh. Aside from eating meals early in the morning and late at night, and getting short sleep, he spend all day at the altar in the innermost part of the temple. The secret rites performed by the Pope, who possesses immense spiritual power, with the help of numerous holy relics, are said to be essential for the peace of the world. It could be said that the Mercano Temple exists precisely to ensure these secret rites of the Pope are carried out fully.

The Pope is chosen from the four Grand Patriarch families. The youngest male with the strongest spiritual power among the four Grand Patriarch families becomes the Pope. The heads of the Grand Patriarch families protect and support the Pope, and govern the Mercano Temple and its territories. The males of the Grand Patriarch families are also tasked with mastering the handling of holy relics and maintaining the Pope’s health. There are four “Towers of the Grand Patriarchs” in the four directions of the central temple, where either a Grand Patriarch or their heir spends a certain amount of time each day in prayer. The four Grand Patriarch families have supported the temple over time, sometimes opposing each other, sometimes cooperating.

However, last year, a calamity occurred. The first, second, and third sons of the Stotomenos family, and all of their children, died. Neither the Holy Knights nor Carla know exactly what happened. But they say such extraordinary events can occur in the Mercano Temple. If there were no more heirs to carry on the Stotomenos bloodline, the Stotomenos family would never produce another Pope. If the Stotomenos family could not produce a Pope, Carla’s father would lose his political influence. The Stotomenos family would face extinction.

This is why Carla’s father turned his attention to Adolkarz, whom Carla had given birth to. He had no choice but to focus on him. He was undoubtedly a male child carrying the blood of the Stotomenos family. Carla’s father ordered Carla to return to the Stotomenos family with Adolkarz. As long as Adolkarz lives and remains in the Mercano Temple, Carla’s father can maintain his political power. Being the child of a mere wandering knight, it can’t be expected that he will have a high spiritual power, but as a child carrying the blood of the Stotomenos family, he should possess some spiritual power, and having a child with spiritual power becomes the Stotomenos family’s strength. Also, if Adolkarz has children in the future, the Stotomenos family can prosper again. For now, they can only cling to that possibility.

If this were just about the Stotomenos family, there would be no need for Carla, who is now married into the Rowen family, and her son to return to the Mercano Temple. However, Carla had secretly heard from her father a secret that even the Holy Knights didn’t know. In the Mercano Temple, besides the four Grand Patriarch families, there is a faction secretly working to interfere with the Pope’s duties, and they are inciting discord among the Grand Patriarch families. And if one of the four Grand Patriarch families were to be extinguished, the power of the ‘Seal’ would weaken, potentially leading to events that could bring about the destruction of the world.

4

Bard said that such an important matter should not be decided hastily, and ordered everyone to meet again in three days, dismissing the gathering. He told Carla to think very carefully about this issue. On the evening of the second day, Carla visited Bard.

“Lord Bard. Karz. Karz. He’s absolutely refusing to come with me to the Mercano Temple.”

Half crying, Carla pleaded her case. Carla had chosen to return to the Mercano Temple. With Adolkarz. And she begged Karz to go with them. But Karz stubbornly refused to nod his head. So she came crying to Bard.

Bard was thinking. Perhaps he should go to the Mercano Temple too. If Bard went, Karz would follow. It would mean breaking his promise to set out on a journey with Jurchaga, but it couldn’t be helped. It was for Karz, Carla, and Adolkarz. Families should not be separated. Being together also meant they could have more children. He didn’t want to make the adorable Adolkarz a fatherless child.

Just as Bard was about to say “Then I’ll go to the Mercano Temple too,” Barry Toad’s kind smile suddenly floated into his mind’s eye. Hmm. Why was Lord Barry Toad’s face coming to mind now? What could this be a sign of? Bard pondered. He felt he was overlooking something important. Karz, Carla, and Barry Toad.

Wait a minute. Come to think of it, it was through Barry Toad’s story that he learned of Karz’s fate. It was after hearing Barry Toad’s account of the fall of the Grand Duchy of Zarban that he realized Karz’s true identity. What happened back then?

The Grand Duchy of Zarban fell in 4251 of the Continental Calendar, if he is not mistaken. That is, 36 years ago. The Shinkai army invaded Zarban under the leadership of the General of Greed. Shinkai had made prior arrangements with Thula, Seion, and Karizau, and the four countries invaded simultaneously. And then, and then.

“Somehow, though it’s still unclear how, Shinkai passed through the western passage.”
“Thula, Seion, and Karizau also entered the Mordos mountain range.”

That’s right. And Zarban found itself in dire straits. The General of Greed was originally from the Zarban royal family, so he must have known about the secret western passage. What happened after that?

“On top of that, the Mercano Temple Knights and the Gaineria army joined the war.”
“Seeing Zarban’s defeat as inevitable, they probably wanted a share of the spoils.”

Yes! That’s how it was. The Mercano Temple autonomous region was one of the countries that participated in the invasion of Zarban. Moreover, this means…

Thanks to the exploits of the “King’s Sword,” Zarban made a comeback once, but their resistance was crushed by the General of Greed’s advance. After that, through the ingenuity of Count Ryde of Parzam, Zarban surrendered to Parzam. Naturally, the General of Greed did not accept this surrender, and negotiations were held between the various countries. And then an oath was sworn and an agreement was made.

“It was decided that the valuable mountains would be divided among the countries that participated in the invasion.”
“It was decided that all members of the Zarban ducal family must die.”

What a terrible thing. This means Karz cannot go to the Mercano Temple autonomous region. There’s no way he can go.

“Lord Bard? What’s wrong? You’ve gone silent.”

Bard told Carla about the involvement between Zarban and the Mercano Temple. Since he had already told her about the circumstances of Zarban’s fall and Karz’s fate during their previous journey, a slight hint was enough for Carla to recall it. Carla’s face turned pale.

“Oh no. Then… Then… Does Karz still hold a grudge against the Mercano Temple? Because it’s one of the countries that attacked and destroyed his homeland. Because it’s one of the countries that has prospered by stealing the green flame stones. Is that why Karz won’t come with me?”

-No, that’s not it. It’s not about that. Listen. The Mercano Temple agreed to and swore an oath that no bloodline of the Zarban ducal family should remain in this world.

“Yes. But if we keep quiet about Karz being of Zarban ducal blood, no one would…”

-Karz looks the way he does. People well-versed in ancient lore might recall the legend of the Wolf King. The Mercano Temple is one of the oldest countries in the central plains. Aren’t there many people who know about or study ancient things there?

“Y-yes. There are indeed many people who know about ancient things, but…”

-And there should be many people with special sensitivities.

“Oh. Y-yes. Especially the members of the four Grand Patriarch families are trained to sense things that ordinary people can’t.”

-Don’t you think that if they were to settle down, there’s a risk that Karz’s true identity might eventually be revealed?

“B-but. Such an old promise…”

-A word sworn between nations to the gods is not so light a thing. Even if it’s from the past, it’s only 35 or 36 years ago, which is very recent in terms of a country’s history. Of course, oaths exchanged between countries can be easily broken when convenient. However, the political enemies of the Stotomenos family would never overlook such a thing.

“P-political enemies, you say?”

-Yes. Even just from what you’ve told me, it’s clear that the four Grand Patriarch families and their retainers are engaged in a bloody power struggle. If it became known that someone of Zarban ducal blood had become the heir to the Stotomenos family, your father’s political enemies would be licking their lips with glee. Especially any factions working in the shadows.

“That’s… But Shinkai withdrew after losing the Second War of Nations, and surely no one would seriously care about such an old promise anymore.”

-That’s why I’m saying that a promise sworn between countries to the gods is not such a light thing. And if your father’s political enemies were to bring this up publicly, it would surely be taken up. Think about it carefully. The agreement to exterminate the ducal family was made to escape the guilt of stealing the green flame stones and to eliminate anyone who could legitimately claim ownership of the green flame trees in the Mordos mountain range. And for over thirty years, the Mercano Temple has continued to enjoy prosperity from obtaining the green flame stones. Due to that guilt, the leadership of the Mercano Temple might try to keep the promise that no one of Zarban ducal blood should be allowed to live. At that time, Adolkarz, being Karz’s child, would naturally be killed as well. And your father, who welcomed such an unsuitable person as a son-in-law, would find himself in a desperate crisis.

“No… No… Then…”

-To prevent that from happening, Karz won’t go to the Mercano Temple. To avoid putting you and Adolkarz, whom he loves, in danger, Karz has chosen separation.

Carla cried for a while after that. Then she wiped her tears and left the room with a determined look on her face.

“Lord Bard. Thank you,” she said as she left.

5

Three days later, on March 42nd, everyone gathered again. Bard asked Carla if she had made up her mind.

“I’m going back. With Adolkarz.”

“What will become of the Rowen family name?” asked Knight Kizmertel. Knights Kizmertel and Noah were proteges of Count Huddle Zoruarus, and their loyalty was pledged to the Zarban ducal family. However, the Zarban ducal family was extinguished by the agreement between countries during the war that destroyed the Principality of Zarban. They can no longer bear the name of the ducal family. The Rowen family serves as a substitute for this. In other words, Karz Rowen, as the legitimate heir of the Wolf King, is the object of loyalty for Knights Kizmertel and Noah, and the Rowen family is the Zarban ducal family itself. Adolkarz is the heir to the Rowen family. Kizmertel was asking what would happen to the Rowen family as Adolkarz enters the Great Mercano Temple as the heir to the Stotomenos family.

“It will remain. That’s one point I can’t compromise on. Adolkarz will be the heir to both the Stotomenos and Rowen families.”

Carla answered firmly. That seemed to be the only point Kizmertel wanted to confirm, as he fell silent afterwards. The same was true for the rest of the group. After a long silence, Bard spoke.

-So, Carla and Adolkarz will return to her family home.

Then Karz, who had been quietly watching the conversation unfold, made a move. Karz first pointed at Knight Noah, then slowly moved his finger to point at Carla. Next, he pointed at Knight Kizmertel, then used that finger to point at the ground. After a brief silence, Knight Noah bowed his head to Karz, knelt down, placed his right fist on his chest, and said,

“Yes, sir! Knight Noah will take his clan and accompany the young lord!”

Knight Kizmertel followed with the same gesture, slightly delayed.

“Yes, sir! Knight Kizmertel will remain in this land with his clansmen, serve Lord Karz, and assist and support the Orgazard family!”

Karz nodded. This confirmed that Knights Kizmertel and Noah had correctly interpreted the meaning of Karz’s gestures. Karz will soon set out on Jurchaga’s final journey with Bard. As Bard’s son, Karz has two duties to fulfill. One is to support and assist the development of this Fyuzarion, which Bard has watched over with all his heart. The other is to ensure that Adolkarz, the heir to the Rowen family, grows up to be a fine adult. Karz has entrusted these two tasks to his direct retainers, the two knights.

The departure was set for May 1st. This was in accordance with Kizmertel’s opinion that at least that many days were needed for the handover. Knight Hangatol, Kizmertel’s second son, will succeed Noah as the lord of the Second District, with his third son Trigatol as the assistant. Knight Banthuren was persuaded to take over as the lord of the Sixth District, which had been held by Noah’s eldest son Knight Dari, with Knight Seto as his assistant. Eventually, Seto will become the lord.

The two holy knights frowned for a moment when they heard that the departure was on May 1st. They probably wanted to depart more quickly. However, they said nothing out loud and simply nodded.