Chapter 497
Chapter 497: Faith and Truth
It seems that the comic version of Zilbagias has started serialization on Nico Nico Seiga! Seeing the flowing comments really gets me pumped!
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“Well, there’s no need to be so uptight,” Ante said in a relaxed tone as the air turned a bit chilly.
“This one has made a contract with Wan-koro. —Which means Liliana takes precedence.”
“Of course! Ah, were you worried about that?”
Odigos, arms crossed behind his back, turned his body back and forth, glancing at Orderju and Helena.
“Of course, while I’m not against helping the demon race if they seek guidance—if Liliana dislikes it, I’ll prioritize her wishes. Similarly, if guiding someone poses a danger to Liliana, her safety comes first. Can you relax knowing this?”
“…If your words are true.”
“If I lie, my faith will waver. If my faith wavers, my powers will muddle. At the very least, I won’t do something like that.”
Odigos replied, puffing out his chest at Helena’s sarcastic remarks.
“…Well, I understand the situation. Both about Odigos and the circumstances of Zilbagias.”
Helena rubbed her temples as if trying to stave off a headache. Her dubious gaze shifted back to me.
“So, you gain power the more you violate taboos.”
“That’s right.”
“And those ‘taboos’ apply both to you as a hero and as a demon lord’s prince.”
“Yup.”
“Hmmm…”
Helena lowered her head, pondering. Perhaps she was re-evaluating my actions.
“I see… I accept that. The incursion into the Hamilton Principality and the massacre of the Holy Church members were all because of those ‘taboos,’ right?”
…
“Then it’s not exactly reassuring…”
Just by voicing ‘that,’ she seems to want to trust me to some extent.
Yet, doubt still lingers—stepping forward, standing protectively in front of Liliana, Helena reminded me of a mother cat defending her kitten. Her eyes spoke, ‘I won’t forgive anyone who lays a hand on this child’—
Well, yeah. With no foundation of trust, how could Liliana really be ‘sane,’ and could I allow someone who grows stronger the more they betray to be part of my family…?
“I want to confirm one thing, though.”
At that moment, Orderju interjected.
“Lord Zilbagias… or should I call you Lord Alexander?”
“Either is fine. Personally, I prefer ‘Aleck’ but for this journey, I think I’ll introduce myself as ‘Alexandra.’”
“Then, Lord Aleck. As the demon prince Zilbagias, you intervened in the Kaizaan Empire’s military invasion of the Hamilton Principality. I’d like to hear the intentions behind that.”
…That incident is undoubtedly one of the deep-rooted causes of distrust.
“My intentions were two-fold. I wanted to protect Hamilton from an unwarranted invasion since I supported their nation. Also, due to the scheming of the Night Elves, I hoped to make the people in the rear realize the threat of the demon army.”
“…I see. You couldn’t have accomplished your goal any better.”
Orderju nodded in agreement in a flat voice.
“Fortunately, the Night Elves’ intelligence network seems to be collapsing. The fear of the demon race should now spread throughout our allied territories unabated.”
“I also did my bit to hunt down the Night Elves.”
“…By the way, I heard that ‘Hero Alexander’ exposed a Night Elf spy in a nearby town called Todomarl. I heard about it from a priest on site.”
Helena placed her finger on her lips, staring into space.
“Could that have been you?”
“Ah, yes, that was me…”
“Uh, umm…”
Helena frowned in deep thought! Perhaps because I hunted down the Night Elves, my favorability seemed to have risen due to the theory that the enemy of my enemy is my friend…!
“…Please tell me just one more thing.”
“What is it?”
“After you clashed with the Kaizaan Empire’s troops… you also fought against the people of the Holy Church, right?”
“…Yeah.”
I savored a bitter memory.
“I’ve heard that everyone, including the hero perceived as a champion of the human race, was completely annihilated… You said your goal was to demonstrate the threat of the demon race and stop the Empire’s invasion, right? Was it really necessary to wipe out the people of the Holy Church?”
Helena cast her gaze toward Leila as well.
“Moreover, revealing the White Dragon. Due to that incident, distrust toward the White Dragon has been growing.”
…Well, that’s understandable.
“What I’m worried about is… whether you too are being manipulated by the demon’s powers, like Odigos and Liliana.”
Helena murmured in a voice barely audible.
…Am I being tossed around by the powers?
Do I desperately itch to commit taboos?
Ha.
I almost let out a dry laugh.
Of course not…!!
“To be clear, I’ve never once wanted to commit a taboo.”
“But…”
“Kuha, hahahaha—!!”
Ante couldn’t hold it in and burst into laughter.
No, he was outright ridiculing me.
I want to laugh at this too.
“Haha, sorry for interrupting the flow. Please carry on.”
“…Also, about the Holy Church. Once I created enough havoc against the Empire, I intended to perhaps take the Emperor’s head and go into hiding.”
Orderju muttered with some exasperation, “That’s easy for you to say…”
“But it didn’t work. There were… true heroes among the Holy Church’s reinforcements.”
The gazes of the Forest Elves crossed.
“‘Arthur Hilburn…’”
Naturally, they knew him; they must’ve gone there.
“With his powerful magic, I couldn’t escape and could no longer hold back. In the end, I was poisoned and nearly died. I had to kill everyone and even relied on Leila’s assistance to escape that situation…”
I clenched my fist.
“That wasn’t because of the powers. It was entirely a result of my decisions and my inadequacies. My… responsibility.”
“…”
Helena had a rather ambiguous look on her face. I doubt my words would ease her anxieties no matter how much I piled them on.
So…
“It might be quicker to hear from the person involved in this matter.”
“Huh?”
“Hey, everyone. Sorry to keep you waiting.”
I stepped into the edge of the forest, blending into the morning fog.
Finally, I had returned to where I hid the cargo.
“Liliana! It’s been a while, hasn’t it!!”
Barbara zipped out from the thrust blade resting against my backpack.
“Eek! A ghost!?”
“Ah! Wait wait! She’s not an evil ghost!! She’s a teammate!”
Helena almost reflexively cast a light spell, but I blocked it with my body.
“A teammate!?”
Helena’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“…Uh, is it okay to show my face?”
A voice echoed from nowhere—
“Yeah. Actually, I’d prefer you to show yourself.”
“If that’s the case…”
And with that cue, out they came, out they came.
Out they came in droves!
A horde of shimmering silver spirits appeared.
“Wha-what—”
Helena was left speechless, her mouth agape. Orderju looked wide-eyed, and Liliana wore a face like she couldn’t believe her eyes.
Ah, right, this was Liliana’s first encounter with spirit arts…
“What are you all!?”
Helena shouted, backing away.
“Hmm, if I had to put it in words…”
Arthur, shining silver, pondered with arms crossed.
“I guess it would be… the Zilbagias Victims’ Association, perhaps?”
He answered nonchalantly.
I sincerely apologize.
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