By Zephyria 
The King, who had been hesitating for a while, glanced at me again. He was making it obvious that he was uncomfortable because of me, but Mahir still didn’t seem to want to tell him about me.
Eventually, the King seemed to have made up his mind and opened his lips, looking at Mahir.
“It is said that there was a moment long before the ancient times when the world was about to be completely destroyed.”
“I know many myths related to destruction.”
“It’s different from those handed-down myths. Some books have been damaged, and there are still parts being interpreted, so it’s not certain, but there is someone who repairs the outer surface of the tearing world… or should I say… anyway, like repairing the outer wall of a building.”
As soon as I heard that, I remembered
“Just before the world was about to be destroyed, all sorts of races that have now disappeared gathered to find someone who could repair it… Well, this part is a bit ambiguous. I translated it as ‘made,’ but I need to interpret it further.”
Made? It was not a suitable word to use for a living being. But when I thought of the surgical operations I had seen in the Ruins, it seemed to fit.
“Anyway, they made it, and the leaders representing each race gave blessings. One of them is…”
The King began to hesitate again. My head was so complicated that I wasn’t even angry anymore, and only a growing sense of unease remained.
Could it be that… could it be that the one who was artificially made for a purpose is Aska’s ancestor? I had a feeling that was the case, and the King lowered his gaze and said in a small, miserable voice.
“There was a passage that said anyone who harms the repairer will immediately lose their life, no matter who they are.”
“…”
The moment I heard his words, my thoughts seemed to stop. The disorganized and scattered pieces were fitting together one by one, starting from the edges.
But even that alone was too much information, and my head throbbed.
“So, what you’re saying is…”
Mahir, who had been listening attentively with his mouth shut all along, trailed off. In a situation where neither the speaker nor the listener could accurately understand what this meant, Mahir pinpointed one certain fact.
“You mean the Princess tried to kill the Prince by finding the repairer.”
“It’s not certain. As I said, there are still many parts that haven’t been interpreted. Therefore, there are variables in saying that the criminal targeted a specific person…”
The King hurriedly made excuses, drawing a line between himself and the Princess, but Mahir’s expression only grew colder. Regardless, my head was so complicated that I could hardly hear the surrounding sounds.
Only the scene I had seen in my dream was repeatedly playing in my head.
‘Representing all the children of the earth and sky of the world, I declare. Hereafter, those who inherit your blood and flesh will be cursed with eternity in exchange for noble sacrifice.’
‘Hereafter, anyone who tries to damage your mission, whatever it may be, will be torn to shreds and wander endlessly around the boundary.’
‘Hereafter, your pale time and memory will become an immortal symbol of endless death.’
“…”
When I first heard it, I thought it was nonsense, but since a while ago, I felt like I could understand it little by little.
Inheriting blood and flesh means that one person does not live forever, but that the lineage continues. Damaging the mission must be the attempt to harm that the King mentioned earlier. If being torn to shreds and wandering around the boundary means losing one’s life, then it made sense.
Then what does the last part mean? Hereafter, your pale time and memory…
“Endlessly dying immortality…”
Immortality means not dying, so why is the word ‘endlessly dying’ attached? I paused as I pondered. The King and Mahir’s gazes were directed at me at the same time.
I had been thinking too deeply, and I had unknowingly made a sound. As I was wondering whether to apologize or not, Mahir said.
“Even if the Princess didn’t target a specific person, it’s a fact that she plotted to harm the Empire.”
“I… I have nothing to say about that. I’m sorry. I have executed the criminal and everyone involved in this matter. Moreover, the criminal is no longer a member of the royal family, and I will record her heinous acts in history forever as a cautionary tale.”
The King was desperately trying to make excuses. He knew that if he made a mistake here, it would cause a big problem not only for himself but also for the kingdom itself.
With just one word from Mahir, this small kingdom would be devastated in less than a week. Of course, he wouldn’t do that.
“I’ll investigate this matter further and talk about it again later. First, let’s get back to the main point. I understand that the Princess, who was an anti-imperialist, used black magic. So, with the intention of harming the Empire, she eventually found the repairer from the Forbidden book, right?”
“That’s right.”
“But why was that repairer born with royal blood?”
At that question, I also looked at the King. Now that I thought about it, that was true. That meant that the race that could repair the world to prevent it from being destroyed was the bloodline of the Calderia royal family.
“I don’t know either… I was investigating in the Ruins of the Rollai Mountains and saw records from another generation. It is estimated to be about 1200 years ago, and that person was a commoner from a kingdom that no longer exists. But there is no information related to their subsequent actions…”
“Then is it the blood of the maternal line that has been passed down?”
At Mahir’s words, the King’s lips only twitched silently. It must be difficult. Which child would carefully observe their father’s private life?
Still, recalling what I had seen in the diary before, it seemed like they were from a noble family. A commoner wouldn’t live with servants and nannies, would they?
Since they are nobles, wouldn’t they be able to find out what happened soon? Or are there so many of the late King, like Khalifa, that they can’t be identified?
“I will investigate in more detail.”
“It would be better to do so. Since it’s a matter of the kingdom, it would be better for you to investigate.”
There was something sharp in his words. The King seemed to have noticed it too, and he tried not to show it, but he looked very uncomfortable. It slightly overlapped with my appearance when I was caught and taken away after running away without writing a letter of apology.
I sighed inwardly, thinking useless thoughts, and looked out the window. It was already quite late, but when was Aska coming?
Since it’s related to his mother, he might know something. If I read the diary that I had glanced over again…
I tried to think about this and that, but it didn’t last long. Was it because I had learned something so shocking?
The scene of the sky tearing and Magical creatures pouring out from there came to my mind. If that was the phenomenon of the barrier protecting the world tearing, then Aska might have sealed it.
Does Aska not have any memories? His body was in pieces at that time, so how did he repair it? I wasn’t sure because he hadn’t really talked about it.
Moreover, it could be an artificial life form created with a certain purpose, not just Magical creatures…
Knock knock.
A knock was heard in the space where a short silence had been flowing because everyone was deep in thought. Surprisingly, it was Harold who opened the door and walked in. I couldn’t help but be surprised by the appearance of the unexpected person.
Harold looked neat, having received treatment in the meantime. His face was pale, though.
“I greet the Sun God Rahan.”
Before anyone could say anything, Harold knelt down and prostrated himself on the floor.
“I had a healing Wizard with me, so I ordered him to treat you.”
Mahir didn’t even look at him and said to the King, taking a sip of tea.
“Thank you for your concern.”
I could feel that the King’s heart, which was already like hell, had become even more uncomfortable.
But how long do I have to wear this mask and sit here like a doll? As I was thinking that, Mahir said casually, as if asking how I was doing.
“You should be grateful that the Prince tried to resolve this matter personally.”
“…Yes?”
No, are you revealing my identity so suddenly like this? Unlike me, who was flustered, the King looked bewildered, as if he didn’t understand the situation.