Chapter 217
Chapter 217. Mourning and Honor
— The weather has been quite unpredictable lately.
Should I call it a spring storm? Yesterday it poured with thunder, and just when I thought it would keep pouring, it suddenly stopped before dawn. That’s what I heard, anyway.
I can’t see the sky, though.
Just as I was thinking that, it started drizzling again.
In a distracted state, Marinphia Reiju stopped her spinning and turned towards the window. Naturally, with the eye mask on, she couldn’t see anything.
But still, listening intently, she hoped to hear the familiar footsteps of her brother. It was a pitiful struggle to reel in that fading thread of hope.
The Reiju territory. The Ouil family is as silent as a graveyard.
News of Albar’s death reached us just the other day. The entire family was on edge, anxiously waiting for updates on the siege of the royal capital when we got the quick news of victory alongside…
The notification of Albar’s death.
The Reiju territory is now shrouded in a quiet shock. Just two days after the assault began, the royal capital of a nation was overthrown—it was a historic feat, indeed.
Yet, the casualties among the demon warrior brigade were the worst in history.
Too many lives lost to call it a worthy price for achievement. No matter how fierce the resistance was from the allied troops, despite their full fighting capability—this is the Reiju tribe! Other clans could excuse it, but when everyone can use the teleportation spell… how could there be so many deaths?
Everyone is dumbfounded, unable to believe it.
And the Ouil family was no exception.
“I-I’m sorry! A mix-up made everyone think I had died too!”
I wished Albar would jump out and say something like that.
Such hope… was still lingering. Maybe the death notice was a mistake, and just like always Albar would appear, cheerfully exclaiming, “Sis, I brought you something!”
The loud sound of wheels rolling approached, startling Marinphia.
A carriage. The roads in this area are in such bad shape that it makes a clattering noise like this.
And it stopped right in front of our house.
Knock, knock, knock on the front door.
“Y-Yes…”
From downstairs, I could hear my mother’s voice responding with a hint of fear.
“—Is this the Ouil family?”
Since Marinphia couldn’t see, her hearing and magical sense from her horn were sharp. She sensed an unfamiliar voice belonging to someone who possessed a considerable amount of magical power—a demon warrior, it seemed.
“Yes, but…”
Her voice trembled unlike any other time.
“We have come to deliver the remains and belongings of your son—Albar Ouiril Reiju.”
――――.
At that sorrowful voice, it felt as if time had stopped in the Ouil house.
“――――!”
However, I regained my senses from my mother’s desperate wail. No, this can’t be. I need to verify this for myself. I must go! Panicking, I stood up but stumbled, collapsing onto the floor.
“Ugh…”
I had landed awkwardly, it hurt. I could hear my parents calling out, “Oh no, not this…! Albar…” I have to go!
I stood up, guided my hand along the wall, and awkwardly descended the stairs, which I should’ve been used to, step by step—
Ah… I feel it…
My parents’ magic… clinging to a box-like thing that held the faintest traces of magical power…
“Father… Mother…”
I can’t see.
I can’t see what “that” is…!!
“Marin…!! Albar…!!”
My mother cried, pulling my hand.
Being led by her, I ran my fingers along “that”. It felt as if I were touching ice, causing me to jump back in shock. What was it? It was incredibly hard and cold.
But—this outline felt familiar.
I petted it gently to confirm. This is a cheek. This is a nose. This is an eyelid. This is an ear.
A human face.
“Ah… ah…!”
And then—
The horns.
“Ah… Ahhh!!”
It was a shape so painfully familiar.
“How could this be…! Albar!!!”
Even though I recognized the figure completely—there was no softness, no warmth.
It was just a shell, and even the magic I knew my brother possessed was gone.
It was cruelly just an “object.”
Hearing the Ouil family’s cries, neighbors peeked out, wondering what was happening. Realizing the return of the familiar young man, everyone rushed over.
“Albar… you’re really…!”
“No! It can’t be!! Brother!!”
“Don’t! Wake up! …Ugh, you’re so cold…”
Voices around me felt distant and unreal, ringing in my ears.
Marinphia collapsed onto her backside, continuing to touch her brother—the one who used to be her brother’s—face. Somehow, she felt as if if she kept warming him like this, he would rise as if nothing had happened.
I truly believed that.
Because… my brother, that lively and cheerful Albar, could never die…
A stir.
The surrounding residents fell quiet.
— It’s coming. I can sense it. A presence like a giant… a powerhouse of magic…
It’s coming straight this way.
“Your Highness.”
The voice I heard earlier belonged to the demon warrior, who called out.
“…Did you just arrive?”
The owner of the immense magical power responded with a surprisingly youthful voice. I recognized this voice. But the strength of his magic felt off—
When I left the Reiju territory, when I saw Albar off, he wasn’t this strong.
“Ah. I was delayed because of yesterday’s heavy rain…”
“I see.”
The sense of a powerful presence turned directly toward us after a minimalist reply.
How ironic it is, I who has seen nothing—yet I still feel it.
The gaze.
The Demon Lord’s Prince, Zilbagias Reiju.
“I’m truly sorry about your son.”
Zilbagias spoke with a bitter tone.
“I regret that we couldn’t bring him back safely.”
Why…
If you’re going to say that…
Then why even go to war in the first place…!!
I reflexively thought that. It was Albar who volunteered, and I knew that all too well…
“…Why! Why did it have to be him!!”
Then, a child’s scream rang from the side.
“Why did my brother die! He said he’d become a big shot and train me…!”
Sniffle, sobbing.
“…And why are you! Acting so composed?!! Uwaaa!”
A small whirlwind of magic charged at Zilbagias. The people nearby erupted in chaos, and the warrior shouted, “What are you doing, you brat!” A dull thud, like flesh hitting flesh, followed by the child’s scream.
“Stop! …It’s just a child. No harm done.”
Zilbagias calmed the situation with a steady voice.
“…And I understand how he feels. This child must have cared for him enough to challenge me recklessly…”
His tone fell heavy.
“…Your Highness…”
My mother, trembling as she curled up next to my silent father, hesitantly asked,
“Did this child… Did Albar assist you in any way…?”
— Marinphia felt Zilbagias sucked in a breath.
“…Yes.”
Zilbagias forced the words out after a deep breath.
“Albar fought valiantly. My unit was the first to breach the fortress, and during that time, Albar took down a Forest Elf Mage—”
Zilbagias began to speak about how brave Albar had been. How he made a heroic leap.
“And Albar… saved me from a perilous situation. With a critical strike from the Sword Saint, he used a sudden teleportation spell to fully recover, providing support to me even when my healing was impeded due to the holy attribute. Without his aid, I would not be here….”
As I listened to the story,
Albar’s frozen cheeks… melted just a little.
Yet, even so, they remained cold.
“And so, we managed to annihilate the elite unit of the enemies, but… Albar was ambushed by a cowardly hero and was stabbed in the back right through the heart…”
Surrounding murmurs and lamenting voices arose. “Cowardly…!” “We can’t let this stand!” they all began to whisper.
“What a tragedy… That’s why this poor child looks so… perfectly preserved…”
My mother’s words were a jumbled mess, almost barely discernible.
I too… felt heat and a throbbing pain in the area where my eyes should be.
Yet, I couldn’t shed a tear. Because I didn’t have eyeballs, or eye sockets. I was born without the ability to shed tears…
“…Albar took on multiple Forest Elf Mages, including one of the archmages. He took down a Forest Elf Archer, Armed Priest, Sword Saint, and many more. Albar helped me out of a dire situation. His numerous contributions and achievements have been confirmed by the Demon Lord himself—”
There was a rustling sound, as Zilbagias pulled something out.
“—Albar Ouiril Reiju has been granted the title of Marquis of the Demon Lord Kingdom. Here you go.”
Father seemed to accept it. Probably a medal denoting the marquis title. A clinking sound like a bag of gold coins.
“……”
Receiving it, Father remained silent the entire time.
“……”
Zilbagias didn’t say any more either.
The atmosphere was painfully charged.
“Your son’s loyalty and bravery as his superior, as the Demon Lord’s Prince, are praiseworthy.”
I could hear the sound of Zilbagias’s armor clinking as he bowed.
“……May his brave soul find peace in the warriors’ paradise. …With that, I take my leave.”
Footsteps faded away, and Zilbagias’s overwhelming magical presence retreated.
Only the sad cries of relatives and Marinphia’s family remained.
“Ah…”
Marinphia was left in a daze, fingers still on Albar’s body. With Zilbagias’s departure, she noticed the faint remnants of magical power that remained with Albar.
Carefully, she felt for it. From Albar’s frozen garments, deep within the breast pocket… this…
“……”
Her fingers touched something; she realized.
It was the handkerchief, imbued fervently with protective magic by her mother and her.
But it was now frozen with blood, tattered and barely recognizable…
And there was just the slightest trace of their bloodline magic, making it barely discernible.
Ah…
Yet, even that trace…
Just by a drop of rain falling, it vanished.
Like dust, turning to rubble in her hands, the handkerchief disintegrated, disappearing.
“…No!”
I won’t accept this!
“…No!! Albar!!”
I can’t accept this!!
“Albar! Wake up!! You’ve come home!!”
Desperately, Marinphia clung to her ice-like brother.
“Please! Wake up!! Albar!! Albaaaaaarr!!”
— While she cried out in a heart-wrenching plea,
Zilbagias walked through the Reiju territory, biting his lip.
He had just finished the Ouil family’s mourning.
There were still the families of the seven remaining subordinates he needed to visit.
