Book 2: Chapter 52.1
Book 2: Chapter 52.1
What came to my mind was the lonely but intelligent old man who lived in a shabby hut in the mine.
Even just before his death, he wished for my happiness.
He was saying something about cleaning up the mess made by the Duke’s father. It seems he had drifted into Achenbach Dukedom after the collapse of his kingdom.
(But then, the last words of old man Hinga were…!)
At that time, I had already absorbed【World Ruler】, so I clearly remember every word.
——I exist only to be punished. For I have committed a sin that I can’t atone for even with my death. But I was blessed to bask in the sun’s embrace in my final hour. O’ God who governs heaven and earth, I pray that thee grant blessings unto this shunned child…
Did old man Hinga commit some kind of “sin”? Was it related to skill orbs? Or was it something that led to the destruction of the Forsha Kingdom?
Maybe… “Shunned child” is referencing my black hair and black eyes.
「Eh, I unreasonably forced the Holy King to send a research team to collect Dr. Hinga’s treatises. There were few left, but I copied them, and handed them over to a blood relative. Eh, many of Dr. Hinga’s treatises defy conventional wisdom, so I am happy that you seem interested.」El said, even as I was lost in my own thoughts.
「W-Wait a minute!」One line in particular about what El-san said shook me.「Did you just say the blood relative of old man Hinga!?」
「He is not an old man, but a Doctor. Eh, well, from Reiji-san’s point of view, he might be an old man.」
「S-Sorry, it was a slip of the tongue. So, about the blood relative of Dr. Hinga?」
「Let me see… There is a strange country called the Lev Magic Empire. Eh, his daughter moved there when she got married.」
Old man Hinga’s daughter was abroad when the Forsha Kingdom was destroyed. So she escaped the misfortuned.
「Is the daughter still in the Lev Magic Empire?」
「Now, that was… 10 years, no, 15 years ago. If you are interested in his work, there is also a copy here at the Holy Royal Palace.」
「…No, I want to see the real thing. Can you give me the daughter’s contact information!?」
「I don’t mind. Eh, that person was called Emma, and her husband was a senior official of the Lev Magic Empire. If I remember correctly, she has a daughter of her own.」
…Lulusha-san!
I intuitively knew it was her, but saying any more would only draw suspicions – although I might have already drawn enough of it – so I kept silent.
After getting the information I was seeking for from an unexpected place, I returned back to the mansion.
** High Priest El **
The head of House Ebene, one of the 6 Great Dukes, appeared behind the big rabbit, as he sat there unmoving.
「…El-sama, has Reiji-dono left?」
「Eh, he went back.」
「So, what are your thoughts on the “Child of Disaster”?」Lord Ebene asked, sitting beside El.
「Indeed. I am pretty sure that Reiji-san is the “Child of Disaster”, but… even after seeing him with my own eyes, I can’t believe it. I can’t feel any malice from him.」El answered, without looking at Lord Ebene.
「If the old literature is true, the “Child of Disaster” has black hair and black eyes, and possesses great power. It was said that the child could even destroy an entire country. But Reiji-dono has blue hair.」
「Hair color can be changed. Eh, he probably used a hair dye — at least, he knows that having black hair and black eyes can be a disadvantage.」
「It might even just be fashion.」
「My! The head of House Ebene shouldn’t be making such meaningless assumptions.」
「I just want to consider all possibilities. So, El-sama, you are convinced that that boy is the “Child of Disaster”?」
「…Eh, I can’t say that for certain.」
「Why?」
「………」
「The Holy King told you to finish him off right here and now if you were able to confirm that he was indeed the “Child of Disaster”…So, in other words, you let him escape?」
When Lord Ebene raised his hand, about ten black-costumed shadows hidden in the garden stood up and disappeared without sound. They were not the escorts of the Lord, nor the guards of the Holy Royal Palace, but those who specialize in assassination, of course.
「Eh, I wasn’t able to confirm.」
「…………」
Although his mouth was smiling slightly, the eyes of the halfling were terrifyingly cold. He was thinking that Reiji was originally black haired. The mediator also called him the “Child of Disaster”. The “Child of Disaster” should be killed; that was common sense in the upper society of this country.
However, El didn’t do that. Did he find joy in being able to talk about Dr. Hinga for the first time in a long time? And as he told Lord Ebene, he didn’t feel any malice.
(…No, how can you hurt the boy who risked his life to save us all?)
El was thinking that, but, of course, he didn’t say it. If he said that to the head of the noble house, he would only meet with a scornful laugh, and be told, “If so, I shall get rid of him.”
(The power that the boy brandished against the mediator is one which is beyond reason. If that power was turned at the Holy Kingdom…)
There are many historical facts in old literature that the “Child of Disaster” eventually became a real “disaster” and killed many people. That threat is far more terrifying than the “Other World,” which is reasonably kept in line by the “Covenant.”
(But, even so, is it really right to kill an innocent child when he is not yet a “disaster”? Eh, if you raised him carefully, maybe he could bring great contribution to this world?)
But this assumption is, of course, a “meaningless assumption”. It is also a dangerous thought that would endanger El’s very life if it came out of his mouth.
After all, Dr. Hinga’s treatise is close to that idea. Even if there are tragic facts that happened in the past, we must not misjudge the potential of human beings — It was the exact opposite thinking to nobles, who think that if killing a child could avert “disaster”, then they should be killed.
「Eh, we shouldn’t have a problem with that boy.」
「…In that case, let’s tell His Majesty that.」
There was no discomposure in the rabbit’s eyes.
「More importantly, how did the matter with House Riviere go?」
「No problem. The evidence has already been presented, and His Majesty has already sprung into motion. Above all, the “Cold Blooded Lord “is working on this case. Aren’t you glad, El-sama? The sinners who defiled the First Altar that you hold most precious will finally be judged.」
「…Eh, that’s right.」
When El replied, the head of House Ebene stood up and left the room. El exhaled a little, feeling released from the pressure.