Chapter 240 - Damn Reincarnation

Lehein

Shimuin’s Exceed was a lavish suit of magical armor made entirely of orichalcum. Eugene had seen Dior and Princess Scalia wearing theirs in the snowfields, but perhaps it was only fitting for the commander: Ortus’s Exceed differed considerably from theirs.

A large emblem was engraved in the center of the breastplate—the crest of the Raging Wave Knights, depicting crashing waves and swirling currents. Unlike Princess Scalia’s armor, it bore no royal crest. But something far more valuable was embedded at the center of the whirlpool.

A red gem the size of a thumb. Eugene recognized it, not because he had a particularly keen eye, but simply because Ortus’s armor was so famous.

A dragon heart.

It did not use an entire dragon heart as Akasha or Bloody Mary did. But even a fragment of a dragon heart was still a dragon heart. Ortus’s Exceed was a priceless treasure.

As such, it was not his personal property, but one of Shimuin’s national treasures. Shimuin possessed several other weapons and suits of Exceed made with dragon-heart fragments as part of its national wealth.

They were the legacy of the sea dragon that had protected Shimuin since the distant past.

Though it had guarded the southern seas and Shimuin for countless years, even that dragon had suffered a fatal wound in battle against the Demon King of Destruction three hundred years ago. It returned to the sea it had protected to die, gifting its remains, including its dragon heart, to Shimuin’s royal family.

‘Dragon bones, scales, and even a fragment of a dragon heart. They call it the finest armor on the continent, and it certainly looks the part.’

This was his first time seeing it in person from so close, and Eugene was honestly impressed. Put a reasonably capable knight in that armor, and their fighting ability would multiply several times over.

That did not mean Ortus seemed unworthy of his armor. Eugene would have to cross swords with him to judge accurately, but his bearing seemed more than worthy of a nation’s foremost knight.

“Are you sizing me up?”

Ortus spoke. Despite his height, he was not particularly broad, which instead made him seem as sharp as a finely honed sword. His hair was parted precisely down the middle, hanging over his forehead and along the sides of his face. His skin was pale, and dark circles lay heavily beneath his eyes.

Whatever his abilities, he looked profoundly gloomy.

“My apologies if I offended you. Standing this close to the famous Sir Ortus Hyman, I couldn’t help myself.”

“I’m not offended. With a name as well known as mine, being sized up is commonplace. Well? What do you think?”

“I couldn’t say. I believe crossing swords provides a more accurate impression than appearances do.”

“That sounds like a challenge. Ah, I’m not offended. I noticed it yesterday as well, but that appears to be your nature.”

Ortus replied without the slightest hint of a smile. Was he really not offended? Eugene stared at his face.

“... Ah. My sudden arrival must have caught you by surprise.”

“To be honest, yes.”

“I heard that my son... and Princess Scalia were indebted to you.”

That reminded Eugene of what Cyan and Ciel had told him.

Princess Scalia’s delirious rampage had been the work of the queen of the dream demons, but they could hardly tell her that outright. Eugene could shrug off the incident as something unavoidable, but Scalia was a princess of Shimuin. If she called Noir Giabella’s prank an attack and made a scene over it, things would become troublesome in all sorts of ways.

Cyan and Ciel had therefore worried over how to explain things to Princess Scalia, but fortunately, they had not needed to invent an excuse.

Upon waking, Princess Scalia and Dior believed they had been poisoned while pursuing and executing the Black Dogs. A poison that caused delirium and violent outbursts. Or perhaps magic. Their Exceed had neutralized the poison, but during their ‘brief’ rampage, they had attacked Eugene’s party. They had been subdued and lost consciousness...

That, too, was Noir Giabella’s doing. Even without her Demonic Eyes of Fantasy, Noir’s hypnosis could easily overwhelm a human mind and rewrite memories. As a result, Princess Scalia and Dior did not even remember meeting Eugene and talking to him.

“According to the princess and my son, it was you who subdued them without injury while they were raving.”

“... Well... Perhaps because of the delirium, neither of them was able to display their true abili—”

“You needn’t spare Dior’s pride simply because he is my son. I saw yesterday’s commotion myself. Even if Dior were in his right mind, fighting with all his strength, and there were ten of him, he would be no match for you.”

Ortus spoke rapidly. Only for an instant, his brows furrowed as he spoke of Dior. Eugene recognized that expression.

‘Overbearing parents really aren’t so different.’

Theonis had worn a similar expression, with the same look in her eyes, when she spoke of that dead bastard Eward.

Although Eugene could roughly guess Dior’s circumstances, he still found it puzzling. Even so, wasn’t that far too harsh an assessment of his own son? When Dior had taken Princess Scalia’s sword, he had shown enough skill to be called a genius anywhere, even if he was not comparable to Eugene.

‘Or are his father’s standards simply too high?’

That seemed possible. For one thing, Dior was two years older than Eugene. Being a few years older did not necessarily mean one had to be stronger, but a knight who represented an entire nation might well burden his son with excessive expectations.

“Enough about my inadequate son.”

He was the one who had brought him up.

“Regarding the incident in the snowfields... involving Princess Scalia and my son. I have not reported it to His Majesty the King of Shimuin. Princess Scalia did not wish me to, either.”

Eugene had heard about Princess Scalia’s state of mind from Noir Giabella herself. Scalia was deputy commander of the Raging Wave Knights. Those around her called her the Princess Knight, and she was considered a symbol of Shimuin, the kingdom of knights.

Yet her actual ability was not outstanding enough to make her worthy of that status. Princess Scalia herself had long known this and tried to live up to everyone’s expectations. She had sacrificed sleep, trained diligently, and worked hard. But when things failed to go as she hoped, darkness took root in her heart, and Noir Giabella had toyed with her effortlessly.

That was what made dream demons so vile. With darkness in their hearts and dissatisfaction with reality, people naturally lost themselves in dreams. Dream demons toyed with those dreams out of malice and greed.

Executing the Black Dogs had been Princess Scalia’s unilateral decision. As her lieutenant, Dior had been unable to defy her wishes and followed her. The cruel methods of killing had been an outlet for her accumulated stress. With insomnia and a growing fear of falling asleep worsening that stress, it was only natural that she had become more heavy-handed.

That alone would not have been a problem.

But the deputy commander of the Raging Wave Knights, an order always mentioned among the continent’s finest—the Princess Knight herself—had been poisoned while merely executing a mercenary company, fallen into delirium, and swung her sword indiscriminately?

If that became public, there could be no greater disgrace. Princess Scalia would naturally want to conceal it, and Ortus, who had permitted her impulsive actions, would want to bury the matter himself.

“I understand what you mean. But Sir Ortus, I parted ways with Princess Scalia along the way.”

“I hear Princess Scalia has already asked the Lionheart twins for their discretion. And if I ask you again, you will pass the message on to them, will you not?”

As he spoke, Ortus glanced beyond the ramparts. The knights were bringing down a unit of large summoned monsters. He watched disapprovingly and clicked his tongue.

“Small nations remain small nations, even when they band together.”

“Pardon?”

“Surely you know. Those knights fighting down there are the Demon-Subjugating Alliance’s Guardian Knights. An order formed by gathering knights who had made something of a name for themselves in small nations. They have a fair number of men, but very few of any real ability.”

Ortus pointed at the Guardian Knights.

“Do you see the man standing over there? Regilas, commander of the Guardian Knights. What do you think of his ability? I guarantee that there isn’t a single knight among Lionheart’s White Lion Knights whom that man could confidently claim to overwhelm.”

“Hmm...”

“I don’t understand your hesitation. Are the White Lion Knights not a prestigious order that proven knights from all across the continent aspire to join? And what of those men? Their skills are nothing remarkable. They would only pass muster in small nations. Naturally, an order assembled from such knights is a rabble.”

Unmistakable contempt permeated Ortus’s words. When Eugene remained silent, Ortus composed his expression and shrugged.

“I seem to have made an unseemly display. Do understand. It isn’t that I dislike them as knights. Their disgraceful behavior simply irritates me.”

“What disgraceful behavior?”

“The reason for this Knight March. Why have I, the Raging Wave Knights, and His Majesty the King of Shimuin traveled from the warm south to this northernmost land? Is it not because the Demon-Subjugating Alliance flaunted its paltry strength at Helmuth’s borders?”

So that was it. Eugene nodded.

Ortus was not wrong. The Demon King of Incarceration himself had warned them about it. However, the responsibility did not lie entirely with the Demon-Subjugating Alliance.

The Alliance had acted so boldly because Yuras’s holy knight orders had been operating alongside the Guardian Knights. For years, they had been stationed precariously close to Helmuth’s border, insisting that Helmuth must be conquered and the Demon Kings slain.

“What makes me dislike them even more is that, despite being responsible for putting us through all this trouble... they have offered no apology. Weak and shameless—how can I not despise them? Once this Knight March ends, they will withdraw their troops from the border as though nothing ever happened. Hiding behind the Holy Empire’s skirts. The Demon-Subjugating Alliance is practically a vassal state of the Holy Empire, so I understand, but I cannot like it.”

“Is that so?”

Eugene offered a noncommittal response. Perhaps because he represented Shimuin, the kingdom of knights, Ortus seemed tremendously proud of it.

‘I’m not fond of assholes like this.’

Even in his past life, Eugene had never cared much for men who swaggered about simply because they were knights.

“Did you seek me out to discuss powerful, distinguished knightly orders?”

That was why his question came out so pointedly. Ortus looked at him for a moment, then gave a slight shake of his head.

“I came to make a proposal.”

“What sort of proposal?”

“You must know as well. Beyond its original purpose, this Knight March is entangled with all manner of personal interests. Of course, I do not mean to belittle its original purpose. The Demon King of Incarceration has visited us, and the Great Hero, Sir Moron Ruhar, is here in the fortress.”

Ortus turned to look back at the fortress’s keep.

“Sir Moron is speaking with Lionheart’s knights at present, but during the Knight March, knights from every country will also have opportunities to speak with him. The continent’s leaders will discuss the future with him as well. I consider those exercises pointless, but knowing the Demon King of Incarceration’s intentions and being able to speak with Sir Moron is enough to make the Knight March worthwhile.”

Ortus paused there for a moment.

“As for a purpose beyond that... I will be frank. I intended to persuade you to come to Shimuin.”

“It seems you no longer intend to.”

“Had you not been acknowledged by the Holy Sword, I intended to promise you a great deal as His Majesty’s envoy. No, His Majesty would have approached you personally without any need for me.”

This was not the first such proposal Eugene had received. In Aroth, Trempel Wizardor, commander of the court mage corps, and Crown Prince Honein Abram had made similar offers.

Eugene was an adopted son of Lionheart. In a distinguished family that prized legitimacy, an adopted son could never become family head. Yet Eugene’s abilities were not merely sufficient for the position, but excessive.

As a result, those who did not know him well assumed he resented being unable to become family head. That was why they offered him attractive terms and suggested abandoning Lionheart.

“Since the Holy Sword has acknowledged you, I doubt you would covet the honors Shimuin could promise you. So I would like to make a different proposal. No, perhaps I should call it a request.”

“What request?”

“The Rakshasa Princess, Iris.”

Ortus’s brows furrowed as he spoke.

“I believe you know that name well.”

Of course he did. Iris was currently down in the southern seas playing pirate, but before going there, she had tried to take Eugene hostage in Kiel and seize Lionheart’s elves.

“Surely you aren’t about to say she became a pirate because Lady Carmen and I failed to kill her back then?”

Eugene’s brows furrowed as well.

He had been willing to show Ortus a reasonable amount of respect so far, but if the man started spouting bullshit about holding him responsible for failing to kill Iris? Commander of the Raging Wave Knights, the First, whatever—Ortus would be nothing but a bastard unworthy of respect.

“Surely you don’t think I would say anything so shameless?”

Fortunately, Ortus was not quite that much of a bastard. He shook his head vigorously, looking genuinely bewildered.

“No one is to blame for the Rakshasa Princess escaping Kiel. She may not compare to Incarceration’s Sword, the queen of the dream demons, or the demon dragon, but is she not still a monster among monsters who has survived since the war three hundred years ago?”

“Well, yes. Though she seems to have been reduced to petty piracy now.”

“It is... not petty.”

Ortus’s brows knitted even tighter.

“She is an overwhelmingly powerful monster. And the sea is vast, with many pirates. In just one year, she has brought most of the southern seas’ pirates under her control. At first she had only one shabby pirate ship, but now she commands dozens of pirate crews under what she calls the Frenzied Pirate Fleet.”

She had gone that far? Eugene blinked at Ortus.

“As her forces have grown, the Rakshasa Princess has grown bolder in her raids. Attacking major merchant companies, seizing trading ships—it is a terrible headache. We have sent fleets to subjugate her several times, to no avail. That monster’s demonic eyes make her extraordinarily good at escaping.”

“Speaking as someone who has fought her, she fled despite having no need to. If the Rakshasa Princess had seriously confronted Shimuin’s punitive fleet, she would have sent the entire thing to the bottom of the sea.”

“... I think so as well. Presumably, the Rakshasa Princess does not want to make an outright enemy of Shimuin’s navy.”

“Hasn’t she already done that by attacking merchant companies and trading ships?”

“Not necessarily. She is quite... accommodating. She attacks and seizes ships, but does not plunder everything. She collects an exorbitant toll, then releases them. ... Occasionally, if there are elves aboard, or being transported as... slaves, she takes them. Apart from that, it is nothing unusual. Powerful pirates in the southern seas usually operate that way. A sort of custom, you might say...”

“I know the gist. Collect tolls, then hand over a portion in bribes. Isn’t that right? Frankly, it sounds like the Rakshasa Princess’s bribes have found their way into Shimuin’s royal family as well.”

Eugene’s sneer left Ortus speechless. He glared at Eugene for a moment, then let out a long sigh and nodded.

“You are correct. The Rakshasa Princess began bribing the navy’s senior officers long before her forces grew this large. Naturally, even larger bribes flowed into the royal family.”

Bribes on top of the taxes imposed on merchant companies and trading ships. Merchants robbed by pirates might weep tears of blood over it, but those pocketing the bribes cared nothing for such suffering.

“... Bribes were not the sole reason we left the Rakshasa Princess alone. She is strong. Too strong for Shimuin’s forces to deal with. And the sea is vast, with many pirates. We thought that if the Rakshasa Princess united all those pirates, we could instead use her to keep them under control.”

Was that really all? Eugene was not naive enough to believe Ortus’s words.

Probably—no, undoubtedly—Shimuin had wanted to make the Rakshasa Princess part of its military strength. By permitting her piracy, accepting bribes, and building ties through mutually beneficial transactions, they had hoped to use her as an asymmetric asset.

The Rakshasa Princess, Iris, was certainly a force worth coveting. Moreover, she had turned her back on Helmuth after losing her territorial war against Noir Giabella. They must have hoped to coax her into a relationship close enough that, even if they could not grant her a title, she would oblige the royal family’s ‘requests.’

‘Looks like that didn’t work out. Of course it didn’t. That crazy bitch wants the dark elves to rise again and the dead Demon King of Fury resurrected.’

“So? What has the Rakshasa Princess done to spoil your cozy relationship?”

“That monster has gone too far now.”

“Sounds like she started paying smaller bribes.”

“... Enough about bribes. It would do us no good if someone overheard.”

“Why are you telling me all this?”

“Did I not tell you? I wish to ask a favor of you.”

Eugene’s persistent needling had put a hint of irritation into Ortus’s voice.

“You are the Hero acknowledged by the Holy Sword, and the Rakshasa Princess is your enemy as well, is she not? I would like your assistance when we subjugate her.”

“Being the Hero isn’t volunteer work.”

“... What do you mean?”

“You are free to ask for help, Sir Ortus, but I have no reason to burn with righteous zeal and grant your request unconditionally.”

“Even as we speak, the Rakshasa Princess is prowling the seas, committing evil.”

“Wasn’t Shimuin the one that let that lunatic run loose instead of catching her early?”

“... I know we bear responsibility. That is why I will join the campaign against the Rakshasa Princess myself. His Majesty has also expressed his intention to commit the Raging Wave Knights’ elite, and Shimuin’s vaunted naval forces—”

“You don’t need a great fleet to subjugate her. If you wanted to, you could cross the sea in a little skiff. With enough strength, you could kill the Rakshasa Princess alone, without bringing a knightly order.”

At Eugene’s reply, the corner of Ortus’s mouth twitched.

“Are you saying you possess such strength? When even I am not confident I could face the Rakshasa Princess?”

“I’m not necessarily talking about myself. I’m speaking hypothetically. In any case, I understand what you’re saying, Sir Ortus.”

“Then...”

“I understand, but that doesn’t mean I’m agreeing. Didn’t I tell you? Being the Hero isn’t volunteer work.”

Eugene conspicuously raised his hand in front of his chest. As he pressed the tips of his thumb and forefinger together to form a circle, Ortus’s eyes trembled. What was that vulgar, mercenary gesture supposed to mean? The thought flashed through his mind, but then he remembered that Eugene Lionheart was the very man who had given the Demon King of Incarceration the middle finger yesterday.

“... Well... that... hmm... How much, specifically, do you want?”

“I did make a coin with my fingers, but I have plenty of money already, so I don’t need any. How about a suit of Exceed?”

“... If that is all, certainly...”

“One with a dragon heart. As I understand it, Shimuin has at least two more suits of Exceed with dragon hearts among its national treasures...”

“Those are—!”

Ortus burst out shouting, then remembered the eyes around them and quickly composed himself.

“Those are Shimuin’s national treasures. We cannot give them to an outsider.”

“Then I’ll use it for about fifty years and return it. If you refuse, there’s nothing I can do. I’m just terribly worried that if the Rakshasa Princess ever invades Shimuin with a great pirate fleet... and, through some terrible stroke of luck, the capital and royal palace fall, the treasury is opened, and those precious national treasures become her spoils...”

GRIND...

As Eugene murmured with an expression of heartfelt regret, Ortus ground his teeth without realizing it.

Even a snot-nosed brat listening to this conversation would have known Eugene was mocking him. The furrow between Ortus’s brows deepened, and his tightly clenched fists trembled. There was much he wanted to say, but he could not bring himself to unleash those harsh words.

The issue was not Eugene’s ability, but his possession of the Holy Sword.

Their opponent was the Rakshasa Princess, Iris. A primordial dark elf who, though of mixed blood, was close to a pureblood and could be called a direct descendant of the Demon King of Fury. Having decided to face such a monster, Ortus had judged the Holy Sword’s assistance necessary. Besides, if he recruited Eugene for the expedition, would the saint, Kristina Rogeris, not come along as well?

“... I understand... your demand. I shall... speak to His Majesty... and discuss it.”

“If fifty years is too long, I’m willing to make a tremendous sacrifice and settle for half. Twenty-five years.”

“I shall speak...! To His Majesty, and after we have discussed it, we can negotiate again.”

“I have no intention of going below twenty-five years, so there’s no need to negotiate.”

Unable to endure any more, Ortus spun around. Without so much as a farewell, he leaped straight off the ramparts.

“Whew, that felt good.”

Eugene waved at Ortus’s retreating back as the knight stalked away, radiating murderous hostility.