Chapter 688 – Promises and Accusations
000
The next morning.
When Cleon stretches and walks out of Lila’s room, he makes eye contact with Kuon, who was coming out of the room across from him.
“Joe, good morning, Cleon.”
She smiled as she greeted her in an awkward way, but when she thought that the sounds from last night could have been heard in her room, Cleon automatically lowered her head.
＂Sorry Kuon, I was noisy last night…?＂
“Ugh, no, it’s okay. Because I roughly know the situation.”
When Kuon slaps her hand, she shows herself as an understanding woman.
“Is Cleon okay? Well… It looks like she stayed up quite late with Lila…”
“Ah. Because I’m used to it… Rather, it’s Laila and Arnia who are the problem.”
In Laila’s case, she simply couldn’t get up because her back hurt, but Arnia waited until Lila got up and checked her body.
No matter how weak her brain was, it had to shut down and reboot several times to make sure nothing was wrong with her body from yesterday’s shock.
When Cleon woke up in the morning after a short sleep, the chair above her was staring right at her face.
[It’s strange. When I look at the Master, I feel the magic attribute pressure pump inside my body speeding up.]
It was said.
If she were human, she would have been suspected of having an arrhythmia, but since she is not, the possibility would be low.
As expected, last night’s lightning strike may have damaged several sensitive and delicate parts, causing malfunctions.
With that thought in mind, Cleon came out first after asking Lila to examine her body when she woke up.
“I see… I’m glad there are no problems, but…”
When Cleon nodded as if she agreed with Cuon’s words, Cleon felt like there was something he wanted to say in her reaction.
＂Kuon, do you have anything to say-＂
Having said that, the moment she was about to ask what she was hesitating-
At the sound of a knock ringing from the front door, Cleon and Cuon turn around at the same time.
“Mr. Cleon, this is Calia. Herti stood up and explained the situation. I would like you to come with me now…”
When Cleon turns to Kuon at the voice coming from beyond the door, she nods her head with a wry smile.
“Okay, I’ll do it later. It’s not that important…”
＂… Are you really okay?＂
“Huh! It’s okay, just focus on the task at hand for now. For Amelia and Cleon, it’s the most important thing, right?”
Listening to Kuon say that, Cleon thought for a moment and then nodded.
“Okay. Then definitely later.”
Saying so, Cleon held out the little finger of his right hand.
It was the simplest gesture for her promise, but when Cuon saw it, she did the same, extending her right hand and hooking her finger with Cleon’s.
＂Yes, promise.＂
It felt somewhat unfamiliar, but having a promise with Cleon wasn’t that bad.
After feeling the touch of the connected fingers and shaking their hands up and down two or three times, their hands stayed there as if they were a little disappointed and then fell.
＂Then, I will come back.＂
When Cleon says that and removes her hand, Cuon also nods her head.
To tell the truth- Cuon also had a reason why he hesitated to tell Cleon what he wanted to say.
Should I say that it is a story that others are a little reluctant to hear, or should I say that it is an embarrassing story?
As she looked at Cleon’s back as he opened the door and went out to meet Herty with Calia, Cuon remembered what happened yesterday.
001
＂Phew…＂
As her small sigh echoed throughout the cavity, the masked girl who was watching from beside her slowly approached Kuon, who sighed, and placed a hand on her shoulder.
＂Tokoyo…＂
“Don’t push yourself too hard, Kuon. And if she collapses, she won’t be able to do anything on the day of the important festival?”
Tokoyo smiled brightly as she took off her mask, and Kuon nodded her head, taking all the strength from her shoulders away.
Kuon was practicing the purification spells and sacred dances used by the shamans by renting a training space for the great shamans inside the Asteris Temple.
It is the original mission of the shaman to liberate the magical power of her spirit vein.
However, in order to purify her ley line, she originally needed the power of Gaius, the Earth Dragon, but as she learned the full story of what happened, she could no longer rely on her power.
Therefore, in order to do the rest with the power of the shrine maidens, she is busy improving her magic skills so that she can demonstrate her power as ‘her sister shrine maiden’.
As expected, compared to the great shrine maiden Tokoyo, who has lived her entire life as a shrine maiden and trained repeatedly, she has spent more time on sacred magic, but she still lacks the skills to compose a perfect spell. I felt it myself.
In order to make up the difference, from morning to evening, Kuon stays at her training site for as long as possible, repeating her hard work.
Looking at Kuon like that, Tokoyo was in trouble as she was pushing herself to the point where she felt somewhat uneasy.
To put it bluntly, Tokoyo herself knew best that a shrine maiden’s training does not take place in just one or two days.
When I was a child, I don’t know how many times I heard my mother tell me to draw a talisman again if I got even a single letter or angle wrong.
Of course, she was more than happy when her strict mother praised her growth in magic.
However, she is not without hope, so should Kuon attribute it to her bloodline or her own efforts?
Excluding the great shaman Tokoyo, it would not be an exaggeration to say that she was the one shaman with the most outstanding magic skills in this temple.
Besides, Tokoyo remembered.
Previously, in a situation where Cleon was in crisis, Kuon displayed the power he used to communicate with nature spirits without performing a sacred dance.
If you can freely manipulate that power, it could be a way to overcome this situation…
Tokoyo shuts her mouth for a moment and seems to gather her thoughts, but then she speaks to Kuon.
“Quon. Have you ever heard the voice of a nature spirit since then? Not the voice you hear while dancing Shinmu.”
During the dance, her ability to relate to spirits is strengthened, so in that state, she can hear the voice of Ku Ononja Nai, or the divine tree.
However, when comparing her abilities as a shrine maiden that she could demonstrate at that time with the magic she used without the magic in her memories, it felt like the latter was more powerful.
However, as Kuon shook her head in response to Tokoyo’s question, her face became a little dark.
“No… Not once after that. The voice I heard while dancing was not a clear will or word like the voice I felt at that time – what should I say… It felt like it was conveying the will in my head, so it didn’t feel like I was having a conversation.”
“Ah. That’s okay with me too. Rather, it is strange that what the divine tree says can be understood through words or sentences.”
After shrugging her shoulders, Tokoyo spoke to Kuon while sighing as if she was worried.
“I think Kuon’s power comes out when he is tied up with Cleon. The condition of her magic at that time was that it was Cleon.”
＂Is that so?＂
When Kuon himself answers as if he is not sure, Tokoyo nods her head.
“Magic power is ultimately the power of the mind. Magic and witchcraft are methods for handling the power of the mind within a set framework. But Kuon’s… It was about the power of the pure heart. Should we call it the use of primitive magical power, which is a bit more ambiguous than witchcraft?”
Even as Tokoyo said that, he seemed a bit complicated to explain on his own.
＂Ugh…!＂
Then, upon hearing Tokoyo’s explanation, Kuon closes her eyes tightly and clenches her fists, making a strange sound.
＂… What are you doing?＂
When Tokoyo asks her, Kuon answers with her eyes closed.
“Well, I’m trying to bring out my magic while thinking about Cleon.”
When Kuon spoke as if he was serious, Tokoyo smiled and scratched her head, saying, ‘Aha hot’.
“Quon always thinks about Cleon, but maybe she can’t just think about him?”
“Then… What should I do?”
＂Hmm… For example, recalling the most powerful memory of your time with Cleon… Should I make it so that you can feel Cleon’s presence so strongly that you feel like he is right in front of you? And when you are filled with the desire to help him, he will naturally lead to the spell. ＂
＂The existence of Cleon… Becomes stronger… The desire to help Cleon…”
Kuon listens to Tokoyo’s words, closes his mouth for a moment and thinks about something.
Beyond this, will he be able to get closer to him?
For Cuon, Cleon is a friend, a colleague, a family member, a lover, and – for himself, a person for whom he must spend his entire life to atone.
“I don’t think there’s a need to think too hard about it. Because the simplest mind is what brings out the most powerful magic. Is there something like a medium that connects Cleon and Kuon?”
＂…!＂
Kuon raises her head at Tokoyo’s words and makes eye contact with her.
There was something like confidence in Kuon’s eyes.
“… There is! Something, I think that’s possible…!”
＂Okay, then let’s strengthen it─＂
Tokoyo nods his head as he says so, but Kuon assumes a fighting pose and turns around as if he has made up his mind.
＂Then, I will prepare it!＂
＂Lord, are you ready? “You can’t do it here?”
“─Woah, a little bit here…!”
Then, when Kuon blushes, Tokoyo looks at her face blankly for a moment, then nods her head as if she understands.
“Yeah, yeah. I know what it is… Well, if it’s something like that, there’s nothing I can do about it~”
What naturally comes to her mind is the love affair between Kuon and her when they first met, and the memories of herself involved in it.
It’s definitely a powerful scene.
“Well, then. Please tell me when the results come out…”
“… Are you interested too, Tokoyo?”
＂Ugh!?＂
Tokoyo makes strange noises when Kuon speaks.
Well, she’s a girl of that age too, and she remembers seeing it before, so she’d be lying if she said she wasn’t interested-
“─No, I am the Great Priestess…! You are not allowed to date men or have children until you reach a certain age…!”
＂I see…＂
Tokoyo’s face turns bright red at Kuon’s slightly regretful voice, but she quickly shakes her head.
“Stop looking at me like that…!”
It is true that Cleon is one of the most attractive men Tokoyo has ever met.
However, he had a strong impression that he was an ally and a lover of Kuon.
‘But… Ugh…’
It’s not that I’m not interested, but…! My duty as a great shaman…!
Even after moaning like that for a while, I hear someone whispering in my ear.
[Once physical contact is not considered dating, wouldn’t it be okay as long as you don’t get pregnant…?]
… Is that so?
As if she had finally made up her mind, she raised her head and tried to tell Tokoyoga Kuon, ‘Me too…!’-
＂…＂
Kuon was already there.
＂Haa…＂
Tokoyo let out a sigh without realizing it.
But suddenly, after thinking for a moment about whose voice it was that he heard, he realized that it was a voice he had heard somewhere before-
For example, your mother─
After thinking that far, Tokoyo shook his head.
“No way. Even if it were him, would he say something like that to his daughter? Still, she was a great shaman.”
As he rationalizes himself like that, he also begins to warm up in order to accumulate more training until the festival begins.
And looking at my daughter like that, there is a female ghost whose existence is about to be forgotten.
She quietly clicked her tongue and left the scene with an expression that meant she had to do something.
002
A prison in the mansion of the Dark Dragon Company, with morning sunlight pouring in through the narrow bars.
Herti, Calia, and Cleon gathered there and quietly looked at the raccoon-like man struggling inside the bars.
To be precise, since Herty couldn’t see it, he was only vaguely aware of its existence.
“This sticky figure… You really caught Enlai.”
“The raccoon hunt was successful…”
Cleon nodded and told Calia not to lift her barrier of silence yet.
If the silence suddenly disappears, there will definitely be a loud noise and Herti will be distressed.
“I have confiscated the evidence of his treason to dethrone Duke Miyeom. It’s the devil’s ledger made by lending money to nobles to fill out. I think they were trying to use this to use a spell to seal the king’s power.”
“It’s a jar from the royal palace. Indeed…”
Herti nodded, and Cleon tried to hand the ledger he was holding to Calia.
Then, Calia nodded and opened the ledger she received, allowing Herty to read the ink on its surface to confirm the contents of her oath.
It took a while, but Herti checked the contents of the ledger, sighed, and returned it to Cleon.
And as she turns towards where Enlai will be, she speaks.
“Lord Enlai. I thought that even though you were collaborating with the Exiled Church, you had a heart for the Eastern Kingdom and loyalty to the king.”
Although we personally have a difficult relationship, and I know that he is greedy, if we say that greed is not only about protecting oneself – it is also about making the country rich.
Even if they couldn’t acknowledge the means, they could have sympathized with the goal.
However, if his goal is to eventually depose Duke Miyeom and bring a country called Dongbangguk to the kingdom.
It causes any shred of respect left in Herti to disappear.
Then what is this in front of you?
Tamgwan-ori is a traitor, a traitor to the country, and a man who has sucked the blood of countless people.
It’s a demon disguised as a human being. I have no choice but to evaluate it that way.
“Lord Enlai. No… I guess you don’t need the title ‘Public’ anymore. Traitor Enlai, I intend to present this evidence to the palace to denounce you. No matter what deal you offer, I have no intention of stopping this.”
“──! ─! ──!＂
Herti couldn’t see that Enlai was shouting something.
To Cleon and Calia, it only seemed like the last struggle of an ugly human being.
“For you like that, I’ll give you one last chance. If you have even a little bit of heart left for this country. Please tell us about the exiled church that has entered this country.”
As Herti’s words rang out, En Lai stopped shouting and looked at her blankly.
And, Herti nods to Calia.
Calia then lifted the barrier stone placed around the prison and stopped the operation of her barrier.
＂Woman… Are you asking me to sell information about the church?＂
＂Sell it?＂
Herti tilts his head as if his choice of words is strange.
“This is not a ‘deal’ offer. It’s about whether you will unilaterally hand over information or not. Either way – when you stand trial in front of Lord Miyeom, you will ultimately be tortured to reveal all the information.”
＂…＂
As she said those words, she did not show the slightest sign of sympathy or pity for Enlai.
However, I did not feel any feelings of victory, such as a sense of accomplishment or exhilaration.
It’s just that I’m really sorry that this happened.
I could clearly see what she thought of this country.
Upon hearing Herty’s sentence, Enlai was silent again for a moment, but then began to shake her shoulders and laugh.
＂Kuh… Hehe… ＂
At the sound of her unpleasant laughter, everyone gathered there, including Cleon, looked at Enlai with disgust.
“Torture!? Torture!? I am the head of a family that has supported this eastern country for hundreds of years – no, over a thousand years! If it weren’t for me and my ancestors, this country would have been taken over by a kingdom or empire and disappeared long ago! But, that’s me!?”
As he was struggling and screaming loudly, he must have been feeling it himself.
The fact that one’s downfall is confirmed and cannot be reversed.
＂I will never hand over information about the church, you damn prostitutes! The Church will save me! There’s no way my father would abandon me!”
And when I screamed as if to deny reality, Herti just shook his head.
And Calia placed the barrier stone she had pulled out on the ground again.
A moment later, the sound of horses’ hooves pulling a carriage could be heard outside.
“… A convoy has arrived to escort the criminal from the royal palace. To greet you.”
Herti said and turned his body.
The convicts will be escorted by government troops.
＂… Goodbye, Enlai. When your soul is taken away by the sacred tree, I hope that you will be held accountable for your sins.”
Eventually, Cleon and Calia walk out of the prison, following Herti.
Enlai, who was left alone, was crying and screaming like crazy.
However, the silence was not broken.
