I just can’t picture Neril desperately researching something.
I tilted my head in doubt.
That’s when Lisel nodded as if she understood, clearly forcing it.
“Ah, I completely understand what you’re saying. But what does that have to do with the Hero’s mark?”
“You saying that means you didn’t understand a thing.”
“Yeah. Sorry for lying.”
“I’m going to use the illusion magic in this headband to create the Hero’s mark. One that no one could possibly tell is fake.”
At that, I clapped my hands.
“When we first met, you said you might be able to make a Hero’s mark somehow.”
“You remember that?”“Was that something you said with this headband in mind?”
“Exactly.”
Neril gave a bright smile, clearly pleased I remembered.
The mood had lightened.
To think we could get such a perfect fake mark this easily!
That’s when Offense spoke up.
“But Neril.”
“Yeah?”
“If the magic in that headband was yours to begin with, was there any need to come all the way to this territory? You could have just made a new one from scratch.”
She shrugged lightly.
“I can’t make it again.”
“But… you’re the one who created it?”
“Like I said earlier, I was desperate back then. The inspiration and ideas I had at the time… they have all vanished.”
“Can’t you just copy the magic circle from the headband?”
The reply came from Beyond.
“Neril is right.”
“Mr. Beyond.”
“Most people think magic is just about spells and magic circles. Which isn’t entirely wrong. As long as you memorize the spell structure and know how to use mana, even someone who didn’t create it can use the magic.”
“…”
“But that’s because the creator left behind a record of their original inspiration. That’s how apprentices learn the ‘feel’ of the magic.”
Beyond continued.
“In cases like this, when the creator can no longer recall that inspiration, the magic is essentially lost.”
“Hmm. So it’s like listing the ingredients for a poison without recording the recipe. Just throwing the materials together doesn’t make the poison.”
“A fitting metaphor for an assassin, but an accurate one,”
Neril nodded and added, “Exactly. So Mide, you need to take good care of that headband. It can’t be recreated.”
“Of course I will.”
Even without that reason, I was already planning to take care of it.
Because it’s something from Neril… no, never mind.
[Why did you stop talking?]
Neril spoke up.
“Anyway, Mr. Beyond, you have seen enough now, right? Let’s move on to the main part.”
Beyond answered, still sounding impressed.
“Of course. This headband’s greatest strength is its subtlety.”
“Exactly. For example…”
Neril looked toward Offense.
“The disguise magic assassins use to change their faces can still be seen through by mercenaries with sharp instincts.”
“Heh. Mide saw through mine, after all.”
It was actually because of the blood script, but for the sake of my dignity, I stayed quiet.
“No matter how skilled someone is, they won’t be able to detect this headband’s illusion. The magic itself is low-level, but the key is that no one can tell ‘this is an illusion created by magic’. Just understand it like that.”
Ah.
I completely understood what she meant.
We took the headband and went into the cabin.
Neril spoke.
“Mr. Beyond. You can improve the magic circle in the headband, right?”
“I can’t recreate it from scratch, but improvement? Sure. You could do that yourself, though.”
“The illusion we are engraving now is the Hero’s mark.”
“…”
“You have seen all three Hero’s mark up close, more than anyone else. So please, you’re the one best suited to modify it.”
Beyond nodded in understanding.
Then, taking the headband in his hands, he said:
“There’s not much space. I will probably need to erase the old illusion.”
“That’s fine.”
“Hmm… Alright, then.”
Wait a second.
I suddenly had a feeling and spoke up.
“The previous illusion…?”
“When I wore the headband earlier, remember how I transformed?”
“You mean into the pink haired girl? That illusion’s going to be erased?”
“Yeah.”
“You are… okay with that?”
Neril flinched, then asked,
“What do you mean, ‘okay’?”
“I just had a feeling it might be important to you. That it meant something.”
“Haah… You really are…”
She hesitated for a moment, then spoke.
“The girl you just saw, her name is May Erenica.”
I instinctively checked Neril’s blood script.
—Sinned against May Erenica and 287 others.
Registered representative: May Erenica.
The sin Neril most wanted to hide.
Maybe I asked something I shouldn’t have.
Just as I was about to say something, Beyond cut in.
“Now now, that’s not really important right now, is it?”
“…”
“Let’s get started. I will carve the Hero’s mark, but Neril, you will need to oversee the rest.”
Neril slapped her cheeks lightly and said,
“Right. Let’s get started.”
“Hmm. Let’s begin here.”
“Yes. That’s the right spot.”
The two of them placed the headband on the table and began analyzing and modifying it.
Sensing that this was a moment we shouldn’t interrupt, I gestured to the others with my chin.
Once we stepped outside, Lisel spoke up.
“Seems like there’s something going on.”
“Yeah. But there’s no need to pry. I doubt she would like that.”
“Hmm. Maybe.”
“Huh?”
“I kind of feel like… she might be waiting for someone to ask.”
Lisel continued carefully.
“That’s what I think, based on my experience with Lord Grade.”
“…”
“Once the improvements are done, maybe you should ask her. Mide.”
I know Lisel well.
She may seem zoned out most of the time, but every now and then, she’s scarily perceptive.
The others nodded in agreement.
I scratched my head.
“Well… we will see.”
Trail cut in.
[‘We will see’? Please. You are definitely going to ask.]
The upgrade work didn’t finish until late into the night.
According to Neril, it actually shouldn’t have taken that long, but Beyond kept fussing over unnecessary details and slowed it down.
“Unnecessary? I was simply striving for perfection.”
“Sure, let’s go with that.”
“Anyway, try it on. It’s been a while since I have seen the Hero’s mark.”
Neril handed me the headband.
I quietly put it on.
Fsshh.
I couldn’t see my own forehead, of course, but judging by the expressions around me, something had definitely changed.
“Heh. For some reason, I’m starting to miss Lord Grade.”
“It’s exactly the same as the one in the historical illustrations!”
“It really suits you, Mide.”
“There’s no denying it now. You’re a Hero through and through.”
Everyone shared their impressions, but Neril stayed quiet.
She stood with her arms crossed, watching me closely.
I asked,
“What? Is something off?”
“…Didn’t expect your hair pushed back to look that good.”
“Huh?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
She waved it off with a hand.
“Anyway, the mark is perfect. I will explain a few things, so listen closely.”
“Got it.”
“First off, the mark won’t appear if anyone else wears the headband. Beyond and I made sure of that, so don’t worry.”
Beyond nodded.
“Wouldn’t want just anyone putting it on and walking around with the Hero’s mark, after all.”
“Impressive.”
Neril continued her explanation.
“But if the headband is torn, the mark disappears. That’s the one thing you really need to be careful of.”
“If the headband is getting torn, I should probably be more worried about my neck first. I won’t let that happen, so relax.”
“Okay. That’s all the explanation. Any questions?”
“Yeah, one.”
Neril tilted her head curiously.
And for some reason, the others subtly started to back away.
I said,
“Let’s have a drink tonight.”
There was a room in the cabin, but the others complained it was cramped and left in the carriage.
Realistically, with our group size, we should have been the ones to go to the carriage… They are good people.
Neril wasn’t much of a drinker, so I only filled her glass halfway.
She smiled gently and said,
“Can I swap it for tea?”
“I don’t mind. Want me to brew you some?”
“No, no. I get it, you’re trying to set the mood.”
“…”
“So, what do you want to ask?”
I took a quiet breath and spoke.
“Tell me about what happened with May Erenica.”
“…”
“I know it’s not an easy topic. But…”
“So you’re finally asking.”
Her words caught me off guard.
Neril smiled a little more deeply than before and continued.
“I said it when we returned from meeting the emperor, remember? That if you wanted to know, I would tell you anytime.”
“Wait, wasn’t that about being betrayed?”
“Oh, you thought those were separate things. No, they are connected.”
“…”
“I was always willing to tell you if you asked. So now that you have, I will.”
She took a small sip of her drink.
“To put it simply, I was betrayed by everyone in the Erenica family.”
“What?”
“I was adopted into the Erenica family. As Defir Erenica’s foster daughter.”
“…!”
“It’s not something to brag about, but apparently I had quite the talent. Defir saw me as the family’s last hope.”
Their last hope?
“…”
“That humiliation changed him completely.”
She put it this way: He cast aside his humanity in pursuit of magic.
I asked her what that meant in more detail.
Neril said,
“After Padania defeated the Demon King of Desolation, the Gem of Desolation appeared. Most people think Padania destroyed it herself, but…”
“She didn’t? I guess not, since we are carrying it now.”
“Exactly. Defir approached her. He asked her to give him the Gem and publicly declare it had been destroyed.”
I couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh.
“There’s no way the Hero agreed to something that insane.”
“She did.”
“…What?”
“That’s why I have never liked the fourth Hero much. Never said it aloud until now.”
She took another sip of her drink. Her cheeks were slightly flushed.
“I don’t know what the conditions were for the trade, there’s nothing about that in the diary either.”
“I see.”
“That was around the time I was adopted.”
I got a bad feeling in my gut.
Carefully, I asked,
“And then?”
“Defir intended to implant the Gem of Desolation into a human body.”
“…!”
“He claimed it wouldn’t revive the Demon King, just allow the wielder to access its power.”
“You don’t mean…”
“I do.”
Neril’s hand was trembling.
My body moved on its own.
Before I realized it, I was holding her trembling hand.
“M-Mide…”
“It’s okay. Take a breath.”
“…Thanks.”
She lightly tapped her fingers against mine and continued.
“He implanted the Gem of Desolation into my body.”
“…”
“It may sound surprising, but in some ways, Defir’s bold claims were right. After the implantation, I could use the power of the Demon King of Desolation.”
The power of the Demon King of Desolation.
It was the ability to absorb vitality.
Just like the Martial King Terce did in Lior Territory.
But there was one critical difference between Terce and Neril.
“I never once used it.”
“I figured.”
“Heh. Thanks for thinking well of me, but… it wasn’t really for the people of the estate. I just thought… if something went wrong when I used the power, May might be in danger.”
May’s name came up again.
At this point, I was starting to understand who May really was.
“May was Defir’s daughter, wasn’t she?”
Neril gave a quiet nod.
“Yes. She was the one who should have had my place.”
“…”
“May was painfully lacking in magical talent. It was as if the gods themselves… or rather, that bastard, was saying, ‘This is where your bloodline ends.’”
“That’s why Defir adopted you.”
Neril nodded.
In a way, she had unintentionally taken May’s place.
But May had never once resented her.
On the contrary, she had been kind to Neril, treated her like a true sister.
“We became the closest of friends. Like Xenia and Ophelia.”
“…”
“But when I kept refusing to use the Gem’s power, Defir grew impatient. He couldn’t tell if the experiment had worked. And by then, he was already mad.”
“…”
“No, not just him. The entire Erenica family had gone insane.”
Not just the family head.
The butlers, the gardeners, the maids, the cooks, the guards.
All of them were gradually consumed by the madness Defir had created.
“Magical families are pretty isolated. They don’t bring in outsiders often. So all the staff had worked for the family for generations. A butler’s child becomes the next butler.”
“So they saw the Erenica family’s crisis as their crisis.”
“Exactly. So…”
She continued, her voice strained.
“So they all worked together… to deceive me. To force me to use the power.”
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TL : Now you know why she was flustered when she saw the Gem of Desolation 100 chapters ago. Leave a review on NU and I might just get generous enough to drop another chapter. But if that’s too much, just check out our Patreon.
P.S. This is not coercion btw, just a suggestion. So don’t go calling me evil like someone else did.