#149

Darkness fell upon the Imperial Palace. Lasano began to wander through the darkness to take the unconscious Kihelene to her room.

The silent palace seemed empty, as if no one was there. Lasano belatedly realized that no guards were visible. Instead, the smell of blood wafted from various places.

The Imperial Palace had fewer troops than Duke Lenon’s castle to begin with. As Yurisis had said, the Imperial Family was nothing without dragons. The Imperial Palace, if its magic could be circumvented, was no different from having no defenses, and Princess Kihelene lacked the power to protect herself.

The end had come for the Imperial Family, which relied solely on dragons.

Despite having wished for this, he felt disgusted. Guilt and remorse attacked Lasano without a moment’s respite.

He looked down at the limp Kihelene in his arms with a pale face. He had found her innocent appearance so unpleasant, but seeing her collapse before him was the worst. Even if he disliked her appearance, it was better for her to be happy than to be broken.

Looking closely at Kihelene’s face, he was reminded of Cullen. If he had given him the sword, a completely different event would have unfolded by now.

His belief that it was natural to follow Yurisis, his benefactor and someone he had known his whole life, still held. However, the problem was that Iris was acting erratically. That person had only been interested in killing the goddess.

“Don’t go that way.”

Someone spoke to him as he headed towards the Imperial Family’s palace, which he had glimpsed. He turned his head, and green hair tied up caught his eye.

“Junon.”

Having survived in Duke Lenon’s territory, she had scars all over, but her limbs were intact. She couldn’t be treated due to the gazes of others, but Yurisis seemed to have managed to save her somehow. From his perspective as an observer, it was an ambiguous battle. Like this chaos where friend and foe were mixed, and perpetrators and victims were entangled.

“Lord Yuri asked me to take the Princess to the Emperor’s chambers. It’s the safest place in this now useless palace.”

Junon’s tone was cynical. She gestured for him to follow and approached.

“How is Yurisis?”

Darkness fell over Junon’s previously cool face. She, who had been silent, took a step.

“His arm… was reattached. But his lifespan has decreased.”

She didn’t elaborate, but it seemed she had used an artifact. Lasano, who hadn’t intervened in most matters, knew nothing about the relics of Dark Island they used, or the items permitted only to Iris and Yurisis.

“Did you heal yourself in a similar way?”

“Yes. Because someone who was no longer the High Priest just watched.”

Junon said, glancing sideways at Lasano.

“What did you do without protecting Lord Yurisis?”

It was a painful jab. Lasano smiled bitterly.

“As I said, I’m no longer the High Priest. It was the price I paid for bringing the sword.”

At the word “sword,” Junon closed her mouth.

They walked in silence for a few minutes towards the Emperor’s distant chambers. He had so much to think about, but then his mind went blank. For now, he didn’t want to hold anything inside.

“I used to dislike this woman. I felt Lord Yurisis was constrained because of her.”

As they neared the chambers, Junon said. Lasano lowered his gaze.

“But now, I see she was the most important strength that kept Lord Yurisis going. What torments him instead is…”

Junon’s expression was grave.

“Our mother.”

Kiah and the other members of Zarkas called Iris “mother.” Kiah had called her “Mom” and exposed her to the group, but it seemed no one realized she was referring to Iris. Lasano was silent for a moment, then said coldly,

“That is not a mother. You saw what Iris Jenix did. She sees us as tools. She does that to her own son…”

Though she agreed with his words, Junon found it difficult to deny what she had believed for so long all at once.

“…But Mother brought me from the island.”

To her troubled expression, Lasano said what he had just realized.

“It was Yurisis who saved you. Iris Jenix just needed power. She’s mad.”

At his firm words, Junon let out a long sigh. Hiding from the Demonic Beasts on Dark Island, she had been blindly devoted to Yurisis and Iris, the first humans she met. Kiah was the same. Though he couldn’t tell Cullen, Kiah was also a being awakened on Dark Island.

“…I don’t know about that. But one thing is certain: I care more about Lord Yurisis than Lady Iris. Lord Yurisis asked to see me briefly when Iris was asleep. Take her there, then go to the Crown Prince’s palace.”

A sudden thought struck Lasano, and he asked her,

“When Iris is asleep, why not kill her? This is enough. The Imperial Family has already collapsed, and the dragon has left to burn the north. If you want to kill the goddess, we can do it without Iris.”

Since Iris was driving Yurisis to extremes, it would have been better that way.

“That’s not possible.”

But Junon immediately objected with a serious expression.

“Why?”

“Lady Iris’s life is connected to Lord Yurisis. I know because I saw him place the Golden Seal. It’s the most wicked artifact on that island. If you kill her, Lord Yurisis will die too. I can’t bear to see that.”

That was something Lasano also didn’t want. But Iris was a danger to Yurisis even while alive.

“Is there a way to break the Golden Seal?”

“No. You know that. Everything from Dark Island comes at the cost of a life. They are destructive, and as much as they have the power to break magic, the price is certain. None of the members of Zarkas will die of old age.”

Especially Junon and Yurisis. Lasano understood why he hadn’t wanted to drag him into this. It was admirable that he had endured this horrific situation with such a kind disposition. His heart ached.

“But you said Kiah was also connected to her. And Kiah is dead now.”

“The Golden Seal on Kiah is different. Lady Iris used his life force as a host. Since Kiah is dead, she can’t use her power as freely as before. Iris has also reached her limit…”

Junon stopped speaking. Stopping before the Emperor’s chambers, she gestured to Lasano.

“We can’t go in there. It’s better to leave her here.”

When he hesitated, worried about leaving her outside, Junon added.

“I told the other children not to come here. I’ll guard this place anyway. Lord Yurisis wanted it that way. You… hurry and go.”

Junon reached out and took Kihelene from Lasano. As he handed her over, Lasano took one last look at her face. She wouldn’t smile anymore, he felt with a vague certainty.

“The Crown Prince’s palace is that way.”

Nodding towards the south, Junon approached the chambers. Seeing Junon settle into her position, Lasano turned back.

On his way back, he saw a few masked members of Zarkas. There weren’t that many members of Zarkas to begin with. Yurisis handled most things alone, and occasionally attracted those filled with resentment and seeking revenge. Only those who sought death, who were left alone.

Even without a clear plan, Lasano began to count them one by one. The ones he encountered on the way to the Crown Prince’s palace numbered about ten.

Upon arriving at the palace, which Cullen might have used, two members of Zarkas greeted him. He couldn’t tell their expressions beyond their masks, but Lasano prayed that they, having seen Yurisis’s state, had come to their senses. At the very least, he hoped they realized Iris had gone completely mad.

Iris was not visible, as if she were asleep. After being led through the reception room to the bedroom, Lasano found Yurisis lying there with a pale face. His left shoulder was bandaged.

“Yuri.”

He called his name urgently and approached, and Yurisis opened his eyes. He met gentle green eyes.

“You’re not injured.”

That was the first thing he said. Lasano sat down beside him, exasperated.

“Is that something you should be saying now?”

Yurisis asked, offering a sad smile as he looked toward the window.

“Helen… is she settled?”

“She’s in the Emperor’s chambers. Junon is guarding her.”

“That’s a relief.”

Yurisis said that and then lowered his head.

“No, it’s no relief at all.”

Yurisis whispered in a voice so small it seemed about to extinguish, and squeezed his eyes shut.

“I made Helen do something worse than death. The Dragon, too… Every time I encountered him, I felt he was different from what my mother described, but…”

With a face stained with guilt, Yurisis despaired.

“I only prayed they wouldn’t try to kill everyone like this.”

“Yuri, this isn’t what you wanted.”

Hatred for Iris surged. Yurisis had been acting according to Iris’s will since the day she saved him. Before the Golden Seal was placed, she was his only family and mother, so he followed her. After he became old enough to make his own judgments, he was controlled by the Golden Seal.

“I should have killed myself long ago. I should have tried before the Golden Seal took hold…”

“Yuri!”

Lasano shouted at the mention of suicide, and Yurisis met his gaze. Beneath his despairing face, a childlike sadness could be seen.

“I can’t do it now, anyway. My mother holds the control, and she’s placed another Golden Seal on my body, one incomparable to any other member.”

He squinted, and Yurisis spoke in a low, hushed voice.

“If I kill my mother here, the entire capital, including the palace, will melt away. Too many people will die. So many innocent people have already been sacrificed, I can’t let more die. And you and Helen would die too.”

Yurisis didn’t mention his own death. As if he knew it was the natural consequence.

“Lasano, stay by Helen’s side. There will be time before the Dragon returns. Even in that situation, Helen made a decision. Mount Tesnia has very few inhabitants, and it’s so vast that it will take considerable time for the Dragon to burn it. If she resists… it will take even longer. People will die, though…”

He rubbed his dry face and gripped Lasano’s hand tightly.

“In the meantime, I’ll find a way. And if, by chance, the Crown Prince comes this far…”

Yurisis hesitated, then spoke.

“Ask him for help.”

At his words, Arne, who had been grieving, first flashed through Lasano’s mind. Following her, the despairing face of Cullen appeared. He didn’t have the confidence to face them again.

“He won’t listen to me. I betrayed them.”

“If they are truly good people, even if they don’t forgive you…”

Yurisis clasped Lasano’s hands.

“They will cooperate for a greater cause. If you are truly sorry and repent, perhaps they might even accept your apology. Personal feelings cannot be a valid reason for actions. As you can see from my mother.”

Lasano closed his mouth. Yurisis’s words struck a chord.

“They were my enemies, but considering their actions up to now… I’m sure they will grant your request.”

After finishing his words, Yurisis slowly leaned back against the pillow. Looking up at the sky with a weary face, Yurisis let out a self-deprecating laugh.

“It’s ended up like this. To be waiting for their help.”

His bitter voice echoed.

“In the meantime, I’ll think of other ways. So, Lasano, stay alive. Please, stay by Helen’s side and help her abandon me of her own will.”

Yurisis slowly released his hand.

“…So that I won’t be sad when I die.”

As he said that, Yurisis seemed to genuinely wish for it. Seeing him, for whom death seemed the only hope, Lasano lowered his gaze.

There was no hope in sight.

And so, he missed his comrades even more.

Those who were finding a way forward, somehow.