Chapter 61
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Chapter 61
* * *
Ever since I decided to join the Monster Subjugation Unit, Lucian and I began training at the Temple.
I trained to acutely sense magical energy, while Lucian practiced wielding his purification ability with greater freedom.
By the time training ended, we'd return home utterly exhausted. There were nights when I'd collapse into sleep without even washing.
"Lucian, if you don't want to go, you don't have to. I'll do everything I can to keep you from joining the Monster Subjugation Unit."
But the child's own wishes weren't being considered. Under Imperial law, minors had to obey their parents' decisions.
Still, if Lucian truly objected, I was determined to do my utmost to prevent him from going.
"No, it's not that I don't want to!"
But Lucian shook his head.
"It's going to be amazing! I'll use my power to defeat all the monsters!"
Lucian stretched out his hand like a spider hero from some movie he'd seen once.
"Monster subjugation isn't as glamorous as you think. Dangerous situations can arise."
"That's why I'm training so hard. I'm going to become incredibly strong so nothing dangerous happens!"
Lucian was still too young to understand the gravity of it all. The boy was simply thrilled at the idea of becoming a hero like those in fairy tales.
"It's not that simple. Monster subjugation is truly dangerous."
"But the Duke said he'd protect me. You don't trust his word?"
I shook my head.
Having read the original work, I knew better than anyone that Claude was a man who kept his word no matter what.
He would protect Lucian as he'd promised me.
Even if it meant his own body would be crushed in the process.
"Then what are you worried about?"
"Because you're so reckless, that's why."
"What? I'm not a baby!"
Lucian's voice rose indignantly.
"Anyway, our dear sister worries far too much, I must say."
"Where on earth did you learn to talk like that?"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"That 'dear sister' business."
I couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity. Where had he picked up such unsuitable language?
"The priests taught me! They say you call women 'sister' and men 'brother.'"
They say you can't even drink cold water carelessly in front of children. I never expected the priests' formal speech to rub off on him.
"I'm a brother at the Temple too!"
Shouting "Brother Lucian!" he went scampering toward the Playroom.
In the Playroom, Edwin was playing with a toy sword alongside an attendant.
"Brother Edwin, play with me!"
"Br-brother?"
"Yeah. Brother!"
At the word "brother," Edwin's cheeks flushed red.
"You're your own brother?"
"Yes."
Lucian nodded without hesitation. He seemed to be recalling the priest's words about how all imperial citizens were siblings beneath God.
"We're brothers...."
Of course, I couldn't know how Edwin truly received those words.
"If we're brothers, then you'd be the older one, Lucian? Your birthday comes before mine."
"I suppose that's fair to say?"
"Then I'll call you brother from now on. We're brothers, after all."
"B-brother?!"
Lucian sprang to his feet.
"What? Do you hate it? If you hate it...."
"No! I don't hate it! I'm going to call you brother!"
"So I can call you brother from now on?"
"Of course!"
"Understood, Brother Lucian."
"B-brother...."
This time, Lucian's cheeks flushed crimson.
'He really does love being called brother, doesn't he.'
I watched the two children begin treating each other like true siblings and felt my lips curve upward.
Compared to the original Lucian who had thrown a tantrum at the Duke's command to treat Edwin like a brother, this was tremendous progress.
'I'm relieved that Lucian is growing up so well.'
This wasn't merely about his relationship with Edwin.
From his attitude toward the children at the Orphanage to how he treated the household servants and the priests at the Temple.
So much about Lucian had changed beyond comparison to his past self.
If Lucian continued to grow this way, he might become the righteous adult I so desperately wanted him to be.
'Perhaps he could even become the family head.'
The position of family head that had been taken from him because he was an unloved child—Lucian might be able to claim it.
Of course, the position of family head wasn't something one could attain merely by being the legitimate heir.
Leading such a great house as House of Bellomen required capabilities befitting that responsibility.
But what if Lucian achieved great merit in the Monster Subjugation Unit? What if he grew into a wise and brilliant child worthy of the position?
'I'll show it to the Duke of Bellomen.'
That the son you scorned has grown so wonderfully.
"Let's play warriors. I'll even let you have the especially magnificent sword."
Watching Lucian get along so well with Edwin without me, I pressed my lips together.
My goal, which had been merely Lucian's survival, was gradually beginning to shift direction.
* * *
Lucian and I boarded a carriage heading for the Imperial Capital instead of the Temple.
Today was the day of the Monster Subjugation Unit meeting.
Until now, we had proceeded with meetings without us, but that was no longer possible. It was because Lucian and I had become crucial forces for the unit.
After descending from the carriage, Lucian and I headed straight for the Monster Subjugation Unit Conference Room without being seen by the Emperor.
The unit's exclusive conference room was located on the left side of the first floor of the building used by the Imperial Knight Order.
"You've arrived."
As I opened the conference room door and stepped inside, a knight with a burly frame greeted us. The scar across his forehead made his expression appear even more menacing.
"A-Aunt... I'm scared..."
Lucian, frightened by the man's appearance, took hesitant steps backward. In doing so, he collided with someone entering through the door.
"Oof!"
"Oops!"
The man entering caught Lucian's stumbling form before he could lose his balance entirely.
"You're so small I nearly missed you. Are you alright?"
The man smiled as our eyes met, his front teeth stained black.
Lucian shook his head vigorously at the sight.
"H-huh..."
"Hmm?"
"Waaaah!"
Lucian finally burst into tears.
* * *
"Bad person. Why did you make the child cry?"
"I didn't make him cry."
"Then why did the child suddenly start crying!"
"What do you expect me to do about how I look!"
The knight with the blackened teeth shouted indignantly at his colleague's reproach.
His name was Rick Xenon, a member of the Imperial Knight Order and the eldest of the Monster Subjugation Unit.
"Is it my fault I look frightening?"
"Sniff."
At the sound of sniffling, the heated argument in the conference room fell silent.
"Everyone, that's enough. You're scaring the child."
At Claude's words as commander, Xenon closed his mouth. The other knights who had been pressing him also let out awkward coughs.
Lucian clung to me like a cicada, staring at the knights. His wary golden eyes glistened with unshed tears.
"Lucian, it's alright. There's nothing to fear."
"Sniff, but they all look so scary."
"..."
At Lucian's words, the meeting hall fell silent as if doused with water.
Yet it was an undeniable truth.
True to their reputation as the Imperial Court's elite unit, the knights of the Subjugation Unit were all imposingly built. The battle scars etched across their faces made their expressions appear even more ferocious.
"W-what are you saying, Lucian."
I hastily opened my mouth to salvage the situation.
"Didn't your aunt tell you? That you shouldn't judge people by their appearance."
"You're not saying I'm wrong, are you..."
Xenon's shoulders, broad as a house, drooped slightly.
"A-anyway, Lucian, all the knights here are incredibly remarkable people. You know that fairy tale book you read a few days ago? They're brave heroes like the ones in it—warriors who fearlessly defeat monsters."
"Heroes?"
"Yes. You said you wanted to become a hero."
I nodded eagerly. At that, a flicker of curiosity ignited in Lucian's frightened eyes.
The child slowly surveyed the faces of the knights seated around the table before speaking with innocent candor.
"Do you defeat monsters by hitting them in the face?"
"...."
At Lucian's words, I squeezed my eyes shut and opened them again.
"So when monsters see your face, they get so scared they just run away, right? That's it!"
A good child, my foot.
'We still have a long way to go....'
It seemed the theory of innate evil might actually hold merit.
Faced with Lucian's words—so pure yet somehow wickedly cutting—everyone found themselves at a loss for words.
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