Chapter 49
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Chapter 49
Chesa caught herself in that thought and shook her head alone.
From now on, she would live a life with no connection to the Basilian Count Estate.
Yet she was meddling again.
"The Black Forest doesn't need worrying about. Once it's been cleared, it stays quiet for a while."
Before coming to the Capital this time, Kieran had already cleared the Black Forest once.
The one who had comforted Chesa, saying not to worry since the Count felt at least that much responsibility, slightly furrowed his brows.
Belzeon murmured softly.
"I've gone and told her all sorts of things without realizing it. As if she could understand any of it..."
The talk about the Demon Sword earlier wasn't really something to discuss with a baby either.
Rising from the chair, Belzeon leaned the sword against the head of the bed.
"Let's get some sleep."
There was only one bed.
On the small bed, Belzeon and I shared a pillow, lying side by side.
Hata found her place between us.
She seemed jealous of the two of us being so close.
Hata, curled up in a perfect circle like a real dog, yawned with her mouth wide open.
"We're leaving at dawn tomorrow, so get to sleep early."
Belzeon, turning to face me, began explaining the schedule before muttering to himself.
"...Do babies normally sleep early?"
I didn't know either, so I just kept my eyes wide and round.
Belzeon soon pulled the blanket over and covered me completely.
I blinked my eyes as if drowsy.
Then I pretended to drift off to sleep.
As I breathed in even rhythm, a soft whisper reached my ears.
"Sleep well."
A rustling sound of the blanket being drawn tight followed.
After saying goodnight, Belzeon himself seemed unable to fall asleep.
I felt his gaze touching my face.
The gaze continued for a very long time.
After a while, Belzeon murmured in an even quieter voice.
"...I wish you really were my little sister."
I waited for what came next.
But there was nothing after that.
Opening my eyes slightly, I saw the boy sleeping soundly, oblivious to the world.
He seemed to have tried hard not to let his guard down, but ultimately exhaustion had overcome him and he fell asleep.
This was probably the first time in Belzeon's life something like this had happened, so it was only natural.
I gazed quietly at Belzeon as he slept.
Just as he had gazed at me.
Today, he had blown up the Basilian Count Estate and fled with me, evading Kieran's pursuit.
I had committed an extraordinary crime.
A bold act that even adults would never dare attempt.
Yet the sleeping face was still that of a young boy.
As I gazed quietly at him, exhausted and unconscious in slumber, a fleeting pang of sympathy for Belzeon crossed my mind.
'Perhaps because he pretended not to care while looking after me.'
I found myself oddly concerned about Belzeon too.
Even more so, knowing that while I would leave, he would have to continue living as a member of House of Basilian.
'I hope Kieran doesn't punish him too harshly.'
As worry gnawed at me, Hata's closed eyes suddenly gleamed open.
The jealous creature sharpened her gaze and silently mimicked a bark.
I too laughed silently along with Hata.
I was carefully reaching out to touch Hata when—
"...!"
A violet circle materialized on the ceiling above the bed where Belzeon and I lay.
Within the flawless circle, intricate lines began flowing without hesitation.
Hata, startled, involuntarily cried out in human speech.
"Eek, it's a tracking spell...!"
I frowned, staring at the magical circle.
Based on the pure aura and the color of the mana, it was not Kieran's magic.
'But such an exquisite tracking spell...'
A mage of remarkable skill, wielding vivid violet mana.
One person immediately came to mind.
Duchess Ibroyel.
She was among the most skilled mages across the entire continent.
She was the hero who had led the Ibroyel Duke Family to its most glorious moment.
Someone of her caliber could certainly cast such magic.
'But why would Duchess Ibroyel...?'
Could she have agreed to use magic at Kieran's request?
I couldn't fathom why a duchess would use her power to track down a runaway from someone else's household.
In any case, I couldn't afford to be caught.
After all, I had fled the House of Basilian.
I decided to use my power without further deliberation.
'I suppose I should show the duchess a taste of fairy strength.'
Mages had never experienced the power of fairies.
They were rare to encounter, nearly extinct, and fairies possessed no aggressive nature, causing harm to no one.
By nature, fairies had always used their power only defensively.
But I was different.
A being born with twisted power from the very beginning.
A fairy who wielded an axe and cultivated carnivorous flowers—even the Illusion Realm warped into a grotesque form.
Naturally, I harbored no hesitation in attacking others.
"...."
I threw off the blanket and rose from the bed.
First, I conjured a jasmine flower in my palm with a soft pop and placed it upon Belzeon's chest.
I had woven a gentle enchantment to induce slumber—even if some commotion stirred, he would sleep soundly without waking.
Then I drew upon my power.
Flowers of every hue bloomed at my feet.
Butterflies fluttered through the air, gathering in the void.
I reached into the throng of butterflies and withdrew an axe.
"Oof."
It was the axe I had wielded as Lichesia, far too heavy for my small child's frame.
I nearly toppled backward under its weight before barely steadying myself.
"Hngh...."
With the butterflies' aid, I lifted the axe.
Gripping it firmly, I fixed my gaze upon the magical circle materializing across the ceiling.
The moment the lines completed their relentless arc, finishing the sigil.
I sprang upward.
The butterflies and flowers granted me wings.
Rising lightly through the air, I brought the axe crashing down upon the magical circle.
Clang!
The sound of shattering magic rang out deafeningly.
The circle fractured into countless shards.
Brilliant fragments of light scattered in all directions, illuminating the space.
To ensure no splinters reached Belzeon, I had the flowers and butterflies consume every trace of the broken magic.
Hata bounded about as well, devouring the magical fragments.
"Phew."
Descending to the floor, I returned the axe to the Illusion Realm and exhaled.
I had destroyed the tracking spell, but....
'At this rate, I'll be caught in no time.'
I gazed down at the sleeping Belzeon.
The boy had certainly devised an effective plan.
Yet it was only ever meant to obstruct House of Basilian.
He could never have anticipated that Kieran would reach out to a third faction—neither the Underworld nor his own subordinates—for aid.
'I didn't foresee it either.'
Somehow, he had managed to move Duchess Ibroyel herself into casting magic.
If she truly intervened, I would be captured with certainty.
Hata approached my side with a jingling sound and asked.
"Should we try a different approach?"
"Perhaps...."
"What if I went to the Basilian Estate and set fire to it again?"
"...."
Belzeon's impressive display of detonating explosives had apparently inspired Hata to want to try it herself.
Chesa quickly reprimanded Hata, insisting she absolutely could not do such a thing.
'After all, the best strategy would be to draw in a third force and use them as a shield.'
Someone Kieran couldn't afford to treat carelessly.
Someone with the high status and authority of Duchess Ibroyel, and possessing formidable power as well.
Someone capable of protecting both Chesa and Belzeon.
Chesa pressed her forehead with the palm of her hand.
A sigh escaped her lips unbidden.
"Ugh..."
There was one person who fit this situation perfectly.
Someone so ideally suited that it couldn't possibly be more perfect.
Yet merely thinking of them filled her with self-loathing.
The Heretic Inquisitor of the Holy Empire Hilderd.
Hailon.
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