Chapter 156 - Damn Reincarnation

Interrogation

“I will not accept your resignation.”

At the round table in Black Lion Castle, Klein, the newly appointed head of the Council of Elders, opened with those words. Gilead could only open and close his mouth, unable to answer immediately.

“I know what you are thinking, and I know you feel guilty. But if you step down as family head to take responsibility, you will only plunge Lionheart into greater turmoil.”

Klein pressed on without losing momentum.

“If you step down, who exactly should take over? Gion, who has become a Black Lion? Or Gilford, who left to establish a collateral branch? And what would become of your wife and children?”

“... That is...”

“It would become very awkward. Should we keep you in the main family after you step down? Or send you out to a collateral branch? What about the next family head? It would be messy and difficult in any number of ways. So bear the shame and humiliation, and remain in your seat.”

Eugene had also been summoned to the round table. He listened to Klein, inwardly nodding along.

‘Anisilla would go berserk if he stepped down now.’

Anisilla had become more peaceable because her position in the main family was secure and Cyan was firmly established as the next family head. But if she had to leave the main family now, or if disputes arose over the succession? She would undoubtedly fly into a rage.

“... But... this happened because I failed as a father. My shortcomings have brought harm to the family. I must take responsibility...”

“That responsibility belongs to Lionheart, not to you alone,” Klein declared, waving a hand. “This was not merely a problem with your son, Eward Lionheart. It was a problem Lionheart had harbored for years, festering until it finally burst.”

“...”

“The late head of the council left very clear final wishes regarding that. As his successor and a longstanding elder of Lionheart, I will do everything in my power to ensure our family never faces such a problem again.”

“His final wishes...?” Gilead asked hesitantly. Klein cleared his throat and rose.

What followed faithfully reflected Eugene’s conversation with Doynes. A major expansion of the Black Lions and their training. Abolition of the Bloodline Succession Ceremony. Starting this very year, collateral branches would be free to train with mana and real swords, just like the main family.

“... The White Flame Formula will remain with the main family, but simply abolishing the Bloodline Succession Ceremony will let every collateral branch feel the change in Lionheart.”

“... Those were... the late council head’s final wishes?”

“Do you find it unexpected? So do I. But he truly did leave those wishes before closing his eyes.”

Klein let out a long sigh and sank back into his seat.

“... It is sudden... and frankly difficult to accept. But the elders, myself included, have decided to honor his wishes. This incident was sparked by discontent among the collateral branches, and we must acknowledge that their resentment accumulated and festered because of that pernicious custom, the Bloodline Succession Ceremony.”

Gilead hesitated, unable to find words. He, too, had already felt that the Bloodline Succession Ceremony was not a sound tradition. But traditions were not easily changed, even when one knew they were wrong.

“... Lionheart... is changing.”

“It must change.” Klein sighed heavily. “It should have changed long ago... No, that is not right. Without suffering this pain, we would never even have thought we needed to change...”

“... I believe strengthening the Black Lions is necessary.” Gilead steadied his surging emotions before continuing. “... I am late in passing this on, but the emperor of Kiel intends to promote unity among the knightly orders of the various nations, in preparation for hostile action from Helmuth.”

“Unity?”

The assembled elders showed interest. Gilead cleared his throat under their concentrated gazes and continued.

“Yes. This would include Kiel’s allies, as well as any smaller nations wishing to participate. ... Nothing has been finalized yet, but he apparently intends to allow mercenary companies on par with knightly orders to take part as well.”

“I see.” Klein’s brows furrowed. “It seems he wants a contest of strength under the pretext of unity. And to poach knights and mercenaries from other countries.”

The continent had several renowned knightly orders. The Holy Empire of Yuras’s Blood Cross Knights. The maritime kingdom of Shimuin’s Raging Wave Knights. The Kiel Empire’s White Dragon Knights. Ruhar’s White Fangs. Nahama’s Sand Scorpions... And Lionheart’s Black Lion Knights and White Lion Knights.

Which of them was the finest? That was not a question to answer lightly. The emperor of Kiel naturally considered his White Dragon Knights the finest, but there had been no suitable opportunity to prove it.

“The orders will learn to work together and foster friendships through this unity gathering...”

“If the military strength of empires and kingdoms gathers in one place, even Helmuth’s Demon King might feel a little nervous.”

“Hahaha... Even though the Demon-Subjugating Alliance and Blood Cross Knights stationed troops on Helmuth’s border, the Demon King of Incarceration showed no reaction at all?”

“Have you heard where His Majesty wishes to hold this gathering?”

“Naturally, he has Kiel’s own territory in mind,” Gilead answered with a frown.

“That will never work.” Klein clicked his tongue and shook his head. “It is not a Kiel national event, after all. If anywhere has a chance... it would be Ruhar.”

“I agree.”

Eugene had remained silent throughout the conversation between the elders and the family head. This time, however, he could not contain his curiosity and kept casting questioning glances at Genos, who stood behind Klein.

“... Ahem... Ruhar is a likely venue for the gathering... because of its royal family’s legitimacy.”

“Legitimacy?”

“Ruhar’s royal family are direct descendants of Moron the Brave himself. Of course, we Lionhearts are also descendants of Vermouth the Great, and Aroth has Lady Senya’s disciples, but...”

“This is the greatest reason. Lord Moron appeared at Ruhar’s founding celebration a mere hundred years ago, did he not?” Gilead interjected. “He vanished again afterward, but his death has never been announced to the world. Ruhar’s royal family merely says he is ‘living in seclusion.’”

“... Aha. So they hope Lord Moron will appear at the gathering?” Eugene nodded, his eyes shining.

“That is the greatest reason. The Demon King of Incarceration has issued a warning, and we do not know when Helmuth might reveal hostile intentions. If a hero who personally faced the Demon Kings three hundred years ago joined our forces in these troubled times...”

“A-ahem...”

“... Sir Genos? What is the matter? Are you feeling unwell...?”

“Nothing... ahem... Nothing at all. My breath suddenly caught... ahem... I sometimes have these uncontrollable coughing fits...”

Eugene shot Genos a sharp glare, and Genos hastily steadied his breathing.

“... When do you expect this gathering to take place?”

“His Majesty is very enthusiastic, so I expect we may hear news before the year is out.”

“How blatant... With this incident as well, he apparently wants to show the world that Lionheart’s standing is not what it once was?”

“It is nothing unusual. Kiel’s emperors have always wanted to prove that their White Dragon Knights surpass the Black Lions and White Lions, and to possess Lionheart’s strength.”

“We will only make a pitiful, disgraceful showing. The Immortal White Lion is dead, and his successor, Dominic, too...”

The elder could not finish, merely letting out heavy sighs.

“... The loss of the Demonic Spear and Crushing Hammer is another serious blow.”

“But Lady Carmen is still with us, is she not? And there is Genos. The Black Lion Knights’ strength...”

“We must accept that it has fallen by roughly half compared with its peak.”

“Not necessarily.” Klein slapped his knee and looked up. “Is the very person who destroyed that Demonic Spear and Crushing Hammer not sitting right here?”

Every elder turned toward Eugene. He blinked blankly, then scratched his cheek and nodded.

“I will do my best.”

Perhaps because he had refused so many times, no one asked him to join the Black Lion Knights.

‘Fine by me if that collusion gathering is held in Ruhar.’

He needed to visit someday, but it was so far away that going alone had been a daunting prospect. If Moron was alive... he would surely appear at the collusion gathering, just as everyone intended.

‘Unless his personality has changed completely over the last three hundred years.’

Moron had always loved feasts and testing himself against others. If hosts of foreign knights and powerful fighters gathered in the heart of his kingdom, that idiot would undoubtedly burst onto the scene, declaring that he would prove himself the greatest and strongest warrior of all.

‘If he is alive.’

He pictured Moron. His halting speech in the common tongue. They had traveled together for over ten years, yet Moron’s speech had never ceased to be clumsy. He was simple and honest. Skilled though he was in technique, he preferred to face opponents head-on and overpower them with sheer strength rather than put that skill to use.

Whatever the situation, whatever enemy they faced, Moron was always the first to rush forward. Letting Moron take the first blow, assessing it, and then deciding how to respond had become an unspoken agreement.

They trusted him.

That faith had never wavered. Moron would hold. Moron would break through. Moron would be fine.

And Moron was not the only one they trusted that way.

Hamel, Senya, Moron, Anise, Vermouth. All five of them trusted one another.

That unconditional trust had allowed them to cut through Helmuth’s dreadful darkness. They had been able to fight the Demon Kings to the death because they never doubted that none of them would betray the others or flee, and that all would fight with the same resolve.

‘... Moron.’

Eugene dwelled on his tangled feelings. It had been so long, yet he could recall Moron’s face and voice as clearly as if they had just met.

Not just Moron. Senya, Anise, Vermouth. He vividly remembered everyone who had shared his purpose and fought back-to-back with him.

‘I just can’t imagine you dead or old.’

Eugene clenched his fist as he pictured his old friend.

* * *

The day after the meeting, Eugene came to Black Lion Castle’s warp gate. There was no longer any reason to remain, so he intended to return to the main family without delay.

He heard that the inquisitors from the Holy Empire had left early that morning. They had wanted no send-off and, unlike their arrival, had departed the castle quietly.

‘Should I have asked them to give Kristina my regards?’

The thought briefly crossed his mind, but he also felt there was no need to say anything unnecessary. Atarax, who kept subtly getting under his skin, and Hemoria, who openly growled like a beast and ground her teeth. Whatever Eugene thought of them, neither could harbor any affection for him.

“... It seems I will have to remain at the castle through the end of this month,” Gilead said with a bitter smile. “... I must properly settle the aftermath, and visit the late council head’s grave.”

Doynes’s grave was not the only one. Eward had slaughtered everyone in Count Bosar’s household, including Theonis. Their funerals had already been held, and another lord had already taken office in Count Bosar’s domain. Klein and the other elders had bowed their heads before the furious relatives.

Quite apart from that, Gilead felt he, too, owed them an apology. He needed to visit the Bosar family cemetery, then call on the family of Decon, who had died as a sacrifice.

And afterward? He would have to announce the abolition of the Bloodline Succession Ceremony and receive the influential members of the collateral branches who would come to Black Lion Castle. Such conferences were normally held at the main estate, but with the abolition of an old Lionheart tradition and the announcement of change, it was only natural to meet at Black Lion Castle, where the elders resided.

“It sounds as though you will not make it back this month.”

“I think so too.” Gilead nodded with a bitter smile.

“I should be back by next month at the latest. Cyan says he will remain here and train until I return... so I must leave the main estate in your hands until then.”

“Lady Anisilla and Lady Carmen are both there.”

“And Gerhard, too.”

“My father is not much help even when he is there...”

Eugene meant it as a joke, and Gilead forced his sunken cheeks into a smile. Seeing it, Eugene regretted making the joke. That pitiful smile belonged to a sick man who looked as though he might collapse at any moment.

“... And will Ciel not be returning soon as well?” Eugene asked, looking behind Gilead.

Ciel Lionheart poked her head out from behind the castle wall and glared at him.

“I’m going to learn from Lady Carmen.”

“Did I say otherwise?”

“I can go back to my own home whenever I want.”

“Again, did I say otherwise?”

His answers were infuriating. He might have suggested waiting a few days so they could return together, but Ciel made no such suggestion herself. She had chosen to remain at Black Lion Castle a little longer out of concern for her suffering father. He would need an attendant anyway, so she intended to accompany him to the graves of the Bosar and Decon families.

“... Make sure you tell Mother. My brother and I are perfectly fine, without a single injury.”

“All right.”

After answering her, he turned to Gilead.

“Then I will see you back at the main estate, Uncle.”

Gilead gave a quiet chuckle at Eugene’s outstretched hand.

“... Thank you.”

The hand of his adopted son, with whom he shared not a drop of blood. It seemed only yesterday that he had taken Eugene in, yet the hand clasped in his own no longer held any trace of childhood. That made Gilead’s heart ache all the more.

He remembered his adopted son’s hand so clearly... yet he could barely recall what his eldest son’s hand, Eward’s hand, that boy’s hand, had been like. Gilead closed his eyes, dwelling on his guilt and regret.

‘... Uncle?’

Ciel’s lips jutted into a pout. It was clear whom he meant by “Uncle,” but why call him that? Even last time, he had carefully maintained his distance by calling him “Lord Gilead.”

‘Uncle... That’s not... bad, but...’

“Call me Big Sis.”

“Have you been drinking this early in the morning?”

“Why do you call my father Uncle, but you won’t call me Big Sis?”

“I don’t see what one has to do with the other.”

Grumbling, Eugene turned away. The warp gate had been connected for some time, and Diad, the Sixth Division’s captain in charge of it, was giving him pointed looks.

“Stay out of trouble, and give Uncle a shoulder massage.”

“... There you go talking like an old geezer again.”

Eugene did not bother answering as he headed toward the warp gate.

Once he returned to the main estate, he would first have to explain the situation to Anisilla and Carmen. Then he needed to test the Demonic Spear and Crushing Hammer in the forest where the elves lived. Perhaps he might slip into the main family’s spirit vein in the process.

‘They’ll forgive me that much.’

Once he had finished readying the Crushing Hammer and Demonic Spear, Eugene would have to prepare himself as well.

‘... Iris.’

Before the Rakshasa Princess arrived.