Chapter 87 - Damn Reincarnation

Kristina Rogeris

Eugene bandaged his hand after pouring a potion over it. Returning to the keep meant climbing the towering cliff again, but that was hardly difficult for him.

After scaling the cliff, he ran into Ciel on his way to the keep.

“What happened to your hand?!”

Ciel rushed at him with a startled cry. She seized his bandaged hand and gently stroked the back of it.

“Did you get into a fight?”

“With whom?”

“... Father?”

“Do you think I’m crazy?”

Eugene gave a disbelieving laugh and tried to pull his hand away, but Ciel refused to let go. Looking puzzled, she glanced at the blood seeping through the bandage.

“Then did you fight the head of the Council of Elders?”

“Does my hand have to be bleeding because I fought someone?”

“... Then why is it bleeding?”

“It just happened.”

Because he had clenched his fist too tightly. Because he had punched a tree to vent his anger. He certainly couldn’t tell her that was why he was bleeding. When Eugene trailed off, Ciel stopped pressing him.

With a deep sigh, she unwound the bandage. Thanks to the potion, the wounds had stopped bleeding and were already closing. To Eugene, they were nothing serious.

Ciel reacted differently. Seeing the wounds left on his hand, she guessed how he had gotten them. Deep fingernail marks in his palm. Scraped knuckles.

“... What made you so angry?”

“Do I have to answer?”

“If you don’t want to, you don’t have to. You’d never tell me something you didn’t want to, no matter how much I pestered you.”

Eugene smiled instead of answering. Ciel gave him an irritated look and took a small medicine jar from inside her clothes.

“Leave it alone. It’ll be completely healed by tomorrow.”

“I’m sure it will. You’ve always healed strangely fast. You know, Cyan and I used to seriously suspect you were half troll.”

“Say what you like about me, but isn’t that a bit unfair to my father?”

The mother Eugene remembered had been a perfectly ordinary human. She had died before he could even walk, leaving him with little in the way of memories, but she had definitely not been a troll.

“Well, we were children. We were allowed a ridiculous idea or two.”

Ciel scooped a generous amount of ointment onto her fingertip and spread it over his wounds.

“... So you’re not going to tell me what happened?”

“I don’t want to, and it’s not something I can just talk about.”

“Then I suppose that’s that.”

Anything concerning the mausoleum was confidential. Whatever had happened there, Ciel wasn’t entitled to hear about it. Eugene withdrew his hand, now slathered with ointment.

“It’s late. What were you doing out here?”

“Taking a walk.”

“Then enjoy the rest of your walk. I’m going inside to sleep.”

Ciel’s lips pushed out in a pout. The walk was an excuse, of course. Hearing that Kristina had taken Eugene out, she had been wandering around the castle, wondering what was going on.

Normally, she would have stuck to him and relentlessly questioned him. But she simply couldn’t bring herself to do that now. She could sense that he was far more on edge than usual.

“Good night.”

So Ciel smiled brightly and waved him off. Eugene gave a faint chuckle at her unspoken consideration and walked past her.

“Where have you been?”

Cyan, who had been dead asleep, was out on the training grounds. Judging by the sweat pouring off him, he had been practicing according to the book Eugene had given him. Normally, Eugene would have been pleased enough to offer him some pointers. Instead, he merely patted Cyan’s shoulder a couple of times as he passed.

“... What the hell’s wrong with him?”

Cyan looked thoroughly unsettled, but like Ciel, he didn’t press for a reason. Tilting his head, he watched Eugene enter the keep with concern in his eyes.

Eugene went to his room without even washing. Tossing aside the Cloak of Darkness, he sat on the bed and lost himself in thought for a while.

‘Not yet.’

The northern demon lands. Helmuth. Tempest wanted to conquer that place. So did Eugene.

But however desperately he wanted it, the impossible remained impossible. Right now, even if he gave it everything he had, he couldn’t kill Amelia Merwin. Pride be damned, he was certain of that.

‘And I can’t just crawl into Helmuth and build up my strength there. There’ll be more than a few bastards gunning for me.’

Balzac Ludbeth had warned him. There were far too many demons in Helmuth, and the Demon King of Incarceration wasn’t its only ruler. The Demon King of Destruction. Even Incarceration wouldn’t have complete control over the demons who worshipped that bastard.

And that wasn’t all. There were high-ranking demons who aspired to become Demon Kings themselves. To them, Lionheart’s young lion would be tempting prey.

Eugene was confident he could protect himself from most dangers. But the dangers awaiting him in Helmuth would be far beyond ordinary. It had been a horrific place even three hundred years ago.

‘Hamel...’

Eugene raised his ointment-smeared hand.

‘I have to surpass myself.’

Three hundred years was a long time. While Hamel lay dead, Helmuth’s demons would have grown stronger still.

‘I can’t do it alone.’

Senya.

Eugene took the leaf of the World Tree from inside his clothes.

* * *

Morning.

Eugene draped his cloak around himself.

He felt refreshed. He hadn’t dreamed, and he had slept soundly.

He was hungry.

“All healed.”

Eugene smiled at his hand, which didn’t even have a scab left on it. After roughly smoothing down his unruly hair, he left his room.

“Young Master Eugene. Your breakfast...”

“I don’t need it.”

The attendant followed him. Eugene continued down the hall without stopping.

“... You have guests downstairs.”

“I know.”

Eugene answered with a smile. He went down to the first floor and flung open the drawing room door.

“Did you sleep well?”

As expected, the guest was Kristina. Gilead and Doynes were there too. Eugene bowed his head to them before sitting opposite Kristina.

“I thought I told you I wasn’t going to be some damned Hero.”

“It is a mission bestowed through divine revelation.”

Kristina lifted her teacup with a gentle smile.

“And regardless of your wishes, Sir Eugene, as the saint, I must remain by your side.”

“Isn’t there anything else?”

Eugene cocked his head.

“I prefer material things to recognition. What can the Holy Empire give me?”

“Is the Holy Sword not enough?”

“That belongs to the Lionhearts anyway.”

“Strictly speaking, it belongs to the Holy Empire and is being kept by the Lionhearts. Since the God of Light has chosen you, you should be recognized as the Holy Sword’s master.”

Kristina set down her cup after taking a sip.

“Just like Vermouth the Great.”

“I’m asking if there’s anything besides the Holy Sword.”

“... As I explained yesterday, although the Holy Empire recognizes you as the Hero, we cannot announce it to the world.”

That was understandable. Three hundred years ago, Vermouth becoming the Hero and the Holy Sword’s master had caused no end of trouble.

“However, if you come to the Holy Empire, His Holiness the Pope will grant your every wish as God’s representative.”

“Forget it.”

Eugene reached out and grabbed some of the cookies served with the tea.

“I don’t need anything else. Lady Kristina. Are you any use?”

“... Pardon?”

“Are you any use? If you were a candidate for sainthood and even became a bishop, you must be an excellent priest, right? Divine magic. How good are you at it?”

“... I’m not sure what standard you expect of me, Sir Eugene.”

Kristina raised a finger. Eugene narrowed his eyes at the cookies in his hand. Without his noticing, they had turned into bread.

“I can perform miracles befitting someone called a saint.”

“This sort of thing is useless.”

“... I can turn water into wine.”

“It’s still not as good as real alcohol. And this bread has only changed its appearance a little. It doesn’t fill you up as much as real bread.”

Anise had performed miracles like these with ease. Without her miracles, they could never have eaten demonic beasts or drunk contaminated water in Helmuth.

But as Eugene had said, those miracles weren’t absolute. Without cookies, she couldn’t make bread. Even Anise, who drank alcohol and called it holy water, hadn’t drunk the wine she created herself.

“Can you reattach a severed arm?”

“... That...”

“Can you restore blood lost from a wound?”

“...”

“Can you regenerate a destroyed eye?”

“That is impossible.”

The smile vanished from Kristina’s face. What Eugene described truly deserved to be called miracles. In the Holy Empire’s history, only Anise the Faithful, who had accompanied Vermouth on his journey, had been capable of miracles of that magnitude.

“... As I am now, I cannot perform miracles on Lady Anise’s level. But I too have been appointed a saint. Someday, I should be able to work miracles as all-powerful as hers.”

“Really?”

Anise had been exceptional. That was disappointing, but for Eugene, who couldn’t use healing magic, traveling with Kristina wasn’t a bad thing in itself. At the very least, he would spend less time laid up with injuries.

“Patriarch.”

Eugene turned toward Gilead and Doynes. He had entered without knocking and spoken only to Kristina, paying no attention to anyone else.

Neither of them minded. They could have scolded him for his rudeness, but wasn’t his behavior understandable under the circumstances? At least, that was what Gilead thought. The boy had been free-spirited since childhood. Of course his emotions would run high when a saint suddenly appeared and started talking about him being a Hero.

“May I borrow the Holy Sword from the Treasury for a while?”

“... Hmm.”

Gilead stroked his teacup, lost in thought for a moment. He still wasn’t sure what to make of all this.

Vermouth the Great. The founder’s remains had not been in his coffin. Gilead had discussed it with Doynes until the early hours of the morning. Eugene, Gilead, and Doynes were the only Lionhearts who knew. It was simply not something they could share with the other elders.

Though certainty was impossible, they agreed on one thing. The funeral had been a sham. The founder had faked his death and disappeared... His descendants, living three hundred years later, could not begin to imagine why.

Still, the founder had never shown himself to the world after his death. For the Lionhearts, that offered some small, uncertain comfort.

And now, for the first time in three hundred years, the Holy Empire had recognized a Hero to succeed Vermouth the Great. The Holy Sword originally belonged to the Holy Empire. Although the Lionhearts used it as a symbol, no one since the founder had become its master. Only the family head could even draw and wield it, and none could make it emit the brilliant light described in legend.

“... You don’t want to be the Hero, but you do want the Holy Sword?”

Doynes asked with a smile. Even the family head couldn’t do as he pleased with the main family’s treasures. Something like the Holy Sword, in particular, required the Council of Elders’ approval.

“I’d rather die than be the Hero, but if the saint insists I am, what can I do? Besides, it doesn’t seem I have to start doing heroic deeds like the founder right away.”

Eugene shrugged.

“Oh, of course, even if the saint tries to force me to do something heroic, I absolutely won’t. I don’t know if you’ve heard, sir, but I alone will decide what I do.”

“Even if the family wishes it of you?”

“Yes.”

Eugene stood firm.

“I won’t do anything shameful. Nor will I damage the family’s prestige. Isn’t that enough?”

“I am not a follower of the God of Light.”

Doynes nodded.

“But I cannot question a god’s judgment. If a god calls you the Hero, there must be a reason. As head of the Council of Elders, I will respect your wishes. So long as you... remain true to the Lionheart name. So long as you do not disgrace the founder’s legacy. The family will support you.”

It was also an unmistakable warning. If Eugene took his independence too far, they would have no choice but to intervene.

“Yes.”

Eugene grinned. Doynes regarded him with an odd look, seeing that he wasn’t intimidated in the slightest, then nodded.

“Normally, I would have to discuss this with the other elders. But that isn’t possible in this case. So, Patriarch, please forgive me for overstepping my authority.”

“You mean... Yes. Understood.”

Gilead turned to Eugene, visibly pleased.

“If it is something you need, then as family head, I will gladly open the Treasury and place the Holy Sword in your hands.”

“May I take some other things too?”

Eugene didn’t let the opportunity slip by.

“Since I’m borrowing it anyway, I’d like to take the founder’s other weapons as well.”

“... Haha!”

Doynes couldn’t help bursting into laughter. He slapped his knee and stared at Eugene.

“You certainly are greedy.”

“They hardly ever leave the Treasury anyway, do they?”

“The treasures there belong to the main family. They may be unused because we have no need of them now, but there is no guarantee we won’t need them in the future.”

“I’m not asking to take everything, only the founder’s weapons. I’ll take—no, borrow them. Most of them are already in suitable hands anyway, aren’t they?”

Doynes had Ruinthos, the Demonic Spear, and Dominic had Jigollas, the Crushing Hammer. Even the sword Gilead currently carried had once been Vermouth’s.

“... Patriarch. What do you think?”

After gazing steadily at Eugene, Doynes turned the question to Gilead. Though it came unexpectedly, Gilead wasn’t flustered. He stroked his chin for a moment.

He had other children. Eward wasn’t eligible, but... once Cyan and Ciel came of age, they would each choose a weapon from the Treasury.

“... I believe Javel, the Flying Sword, would suit Ciel, and Gedon’s Shield would suit Cyan.”

“Then I’ll borrow just four: the Holy Sword, Asphel, the Devouring Sword, Pernoa, the Lightning Bow, and Carbos, the Dragon Spear.”

Eugene agreed that the Flying Sword suited Ciel. It would take her a long time to get used to it, but if she learned to wield it properly, it would complement her swordsmanship well.

‘Gedon’s Shield is a surprise, though.’

Cyan hadn’t used a shield when they sparred. That didn’t mean he was unskilled with one.

That was largely Eugene’s influence. The sight of Eugene skillfully wielding sword and shield as he tore apart the minotaur was seared into Cyan’s memory.

Gedon’s Shield on his left arm did seem like a good fit. Once he mastered parrying as well, most attacks wouldn’t pose a threat to him.

‘Whatever else I get, I need Asphel.’

The Moonlight Sword was one thing, but properly summoning Tempest required an enormous amount of mana too. If he used Asphel alongside the Ring Flame Formula, he would have less trouble with mana depletion.

“... Those three are difficult to wield, so they have rarely left the Treasury.”

“Eugene should be able to handle Asphel well. He is also skilled with many different weapons, so I’m sure he’ll do wonderfully with the Lightning Bow and the Dragon Spear.”

“Hmm...”

Doynes stroked his chin for a while, considering.

“... If that is the family head’s wish, I will give my permission as well. But they are precious weapons. Treat them with care.”

“Of course.”

Eugene nodded with a bright smile.

“May I take them right now?”

“... Right now?”

“The coming-of-age ceremony is over. There’s no reason for me to stay at Black Lion Castle any longer, is there?”

“... That may be true, but...”

Looking rather discomfited, Doynes turned to Gilead.

“... The family head must accompany you to open the Treasury, mustn’t he? We still have matters to discuss.”

“Then it can’t be helped.”

“Also, the trial is over, but the coming-of-age ceremony is not. It will be held in the Grand Hall tomorrow, so if you wish to leave, do so in two days.”

“Is there anything I need to prepare?”

“... A bath?”

“I take one every day.”

Eugene deliberately flashed his white teeth in a grin. His shameless good humor made Doynes laugh again.

“Will you stay at the main estate after leaving the castle?”

“No.”

Kristina was staring at the bread Eugene had set down. Glancing at her, he continued.

“Since the saint is coming with me, I’m planning to travel for a while.”

“Travel? Where?”

“The Great Forest of Samar.”

“Ah...”

Kristina turned to Eugene in surprise.

“I too have heard that Senya the Wise retired there. Are you perhaps going to search for her?”

“I am her disciple, after all.”

Eugene nodded as he answered.

“Has the God of Light given you no revelation about Lady Senya?”

“... I have received no such revelation.”

“Have you asked about Lady Anise?”

“The saints and priests before me sought a revelation about Lady Anise’s whereabouts, but they heard nothing.”

“Was there no response to me giving him the finger yesterday?”

“You are being unkind.”

Her smiling cheek twitched.

“I was just curious.”

Eugene sipped his tea with an irritating smile.