Chapter 104
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Chapter 104
"So Theo is going to have a duel?"
At my languid question, Theo bit his lip.
He answered with difficulty.
"...Yes. I've been matched against the 28th-ranked Holy Knight."
Beside Kieran, Ishuel and Karha—who had been tugging at Hata's ears one on each side—chimed in.
"A battle between a bear and a human, then."
"So the bear wins, doesn't it?"
Kieran gave the twins a meaningful look, as if they were determined to tease the bear cub until it cried.
The two boys rolled their eyes as if they hadn't said anything at all.
By deftly leveraging Hailon's influence, House Basilian had secured a private residence in the Holy Empire—one typically reserved only for royalty.
The two-story private quarters were so lavishly appointed that they could have passed for a provincial mansion.
Pleased with the accommodations, Kieran sprawled across the spacious reception room sofa like a cat basking in sunlight.
And there, leaning diagonally against the sofa's backrest, Kieran sat before Theo, who had his head hung low.
"I'm sorry. It's because of me...."
Theo's head sank even deeper.
Theo, whose gaze had been fixed on the floor this whole time, reproached himself in a melancholy voice.
"It's all my fault."
That much was true.
Theo had been matched to duel against Benji, a Holy Knight.
The problem was that Theo was now officially affiliated with House Basilian.
Every problem he caused became the responsibility of the Basilian Family.
Because Theo had encountered an old grudge, the entire Basilian Family had been dragged into it.
If Theo were to lose the duel...
'Then it would be Basilian's defeat as well.'
Given the circumstances, it was no wonder Theo couldn't lift his head.
Honestly, he was in a position where he should be on his knees, begging for forgiveness.
Kieran absently stroked Chesa, who rested in my arms.
Long fingers languidly ran through her flowing golden hair.
"Well... what's done is done, so what can we do about it?"
Kieran smiled slightly.
"Since it's come to this, you'll just have to win, Theo."
At that, Theo's head snapped up.
....
He opened his mouth as if to say something, but no words came out.
He couldn't answer readily.
Undisguised fear flickered across Theo's pupils.
He had no confidence in himself.
Even though everyone else naturally assumed Theo would win.
And even though Theo himself knew he was more skilled than Benji.
Theo couldn't answer Kieran with confidence.
As his hesitation and silence stretched on, Kieran displayed obvious boredom.
"If you're uncertain, tell me now. We can always send a proxy instead."
Belzeon, who had been listening quietly until now, furrowed his brow.
He disliked the idea of House Basilian sending a proxy.
Belzeon seemed unwilling to become deeply entangled with Theo.
I understood the reason for maintaining distance well enough.
'Marquis Nemea sent Theo to spy on Basilian, after all.'
That's why Kieran had sent Theo away earlier to distance him, and now this mess had erupted.
Belzeon glared at Kieran with an expression full of things to say.
Despite his eldest brother's piercing gaze, Kieran smiled leisurely.
Chesa, exasperated by Theo's stubborn bear-like demeanor, finally stepped forward and spoke.
"Theo will win."
It was a confident victory prophecy, as if she had glimpsed the future itself.
"I'm rooting for amazing Theo."
The one most shocked by Chesa's declaration was naturally Theo himself.
He looked at her with eyes full of disbelief.
As if no one had ever spoken such words to him before.
His eyes rippled with emotion.
He pressed strength into his lips.
As if suppressing surging feelings, he drew in a deep breath, then straightened his shoulders with newfound confidence—shoulders that had been hunched until moments ago.
Theo, restored to his full stature, declared solemnly.
"I will win."
He clenched his teeth before speaking.
"So I won't shame you, Chesa. I will bring victory without tarnishing the honor of House Basilian."
Chesa gave the evolved bear-boy a round of applause.
Theo broke into a wide smile at the sight of her small hands clapping earnestly.
It was a genuinely joyful smile.
***
"I've gotten caught up in something unnecessary."
Belzeon muttered in a low voice.
"Truly pointless."
He was still dissatisfied about what had happened yesterday.
He glanced at Chesa, subtly hoping she would agree with him, but Chesa simply blinked as if she hadn't heard.
Belzeon's expression soured slightly, yet he continued walking with diligence.
He was escorting Chesa to the Assembly Hall where the Pure Child Prayer Ceremony participants were gathering.
Before the formal ceremony began, this was a gathering for the children to greet one another and receive brief instructions.
Of course, Hilderd had announced that only those who wished to attend needed to come.
However, since no one could predict which actions would be evaluated from this point onward, not a single participant would dare skip the gathering.
To prevent congestion, only one guardian per child was permitted.
The House of Basilian had already determined who would serve as Chesa's guardian.
It was Belzeon.
"He's the most respectable-looking among our household."
Kieran had said as much when deciding Belzeon would be the guardian, and the Twins offered no objection.
In such matters, the Twins were quite good at understanding their place.
Thus, Belzeon, dressed with utmost care to project an air of sincerity, proceeded to the Assembly Hall with Chesa.
Holy Knights stood before the Assembly Hall entrance, verifying identities.
"A participant in the Pure Child Prayer Ceremony."
Belzeon disclosed their status on Chesa's behalf.
"Chesa of House Basilian, Palen Empire."
"...!"
The Holy Knights, who had been examining credentials with rather bored expressions until then, suddenly startled.
They began scrutinizing Chesa with sudden, intense interest.
This was thanks to Hailon making Chesa a celebrity of the Holy Empire yesterday.
"Thank you for attending the Pure Child Prayer Ceremony."
The Holy Knights, bowing respectfully, opened the doors with utmost courtesy.
Chesa greeted them in return by waving her hand in a fluttering gesture.
She stepped into the Assembly Hall, leaving the grinning knights behind.
The spacious hall was crowded with countless children bustling about.
Ninety-nine children in total.
Hilderd held the incomplete number as sacred.
The final remaining one would be filled by God, as the saying went.
Thus, this Pure Child Prayer Ceremony had gathered ninety-nine children from across the entire continent.
'Ugh...'
Chesa surveyed the Assembly Hall with weary eyes.
The thought of mingling with all these children and diligently playing the part of a child already felt overwhelming.
"...Mm."
Belzeon's expression was somewhat tired as well.
Watching the children actively interacting with one another, Belzeon set Chesa down on the ground.
Unable to muster the courage to go anywhere, Chesa clutched Belzeon's trousers tightly and rolled only her eyes.
That was when her gaze met a pair of golden eyes.
The child with those intense amber irises was a small girl of no more than five years old.
She had indigo hair and healthy-looking brown skin.
Yet her face seemed strangely familiar, as though I had seen it somewhere before.
The uncanny sense of recognition made Chesa tilt her head in confusion.
Then it struck her.
'...Wait, this face.'
Chesa recalled the man she had gone to such lengths to set up an Illusion Realm for, informing Hailon of his presence before having him thrown into the Heresy Interrogation Chamber.
Itar Skaya, the Crown Prince of Skaya.
He had entered the Palen Empire alongside his younger sibling who attended the Pure Child Prayer Ceremony.
If that were the case, then this child before her who bore Itar's resemblance must be....
The young princess of Skaya, Aran Skaya.
Having identified the girl's identity, Chesa quickly averted her gaze.
But it was already too late.
She sensed light footsteps drawing near.
"You there. Look at me."
At the girl's clear, ringing voice, Chesa had no choice but to meet her gaze.
Golden eyes took in Chesa's form.
The girl, who had been studying Chesa's shimmering golden hair and flower-pink eyes intently, finally spoke with the air of sudden realization.
"So you're the baby who sent my brother to the Heresy Interrogation Chamber."
"I don't know anything about that."
Caught in a crisis, Chesa denied it reflexively.
Tap.
Suddenly the girl seized Chesa's hand.
Then, smiling brightly, she spoke.
"Thank you."
...Pardon?
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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