Living in the present because we can't see the future.
Living in fear of an unseen future until death.
Wanting peace of mind until the moment of death.
Sadly, sometimes the way to deal with this anxiety is through aggresshion towards others.
"I... killed my brother..."
"What?"
"Killed my cousins... my brother... continued killing relatives until I became king..."
"You mean you killed relatives who had a claim to the throne?"
"Yes... But..."
"You didn't initiate it, right? You retaliated because they targeted your life?"
"Ha...ha...ha... Now, it's hard to say who started it... It was a struggle for supremacy among relatives... Such a petty fight... Everyone was greedy, cowardly... desperate to survive..."
"You survived because you listened to your subjects more than anyone else in your family, right? In the power struggles among nobility, it's not about valor or strategy. It's about being loved by those who serve you."
"I think the struggle for dominance was futile. No, all conflicts are equally trivial. But it was good that you survived and became king."
"Despite having the highest power in the country, you had no mistresses. You only have Prince Heath. You limited the royal successhion to one person to avoid conflicts, right?"
"Haha... You're a strange man..."
Suddenly, King Darius looked at me with a gentle gaze.The king's weak, frail state made his gaze all the more piercing, tightening my chest with emotion.
"I've never spoken of such things... not even to my wife and children... Perhaps there's no one who can understand my heart as you do... No... perhaps that's true for everyone..."
"Indeed... you are... truly fitting to be the hero's consort..."
But honestly, I couldn't care less about this consort talk.
"Heath is my only son..."
I know that, but even so, it's troubling to have you ask this of me.
"I would not mind abdicating the throne to you right now... just save my son's life..."
"?"
"My life doesn't matter! Do with everything as you wish! But my son's life! Heath's life!"
"!"
This conversation was heading in an unexpected direction!
Could it be that King Darius thinks I'm responsible for Heath's disappearance?
Or worse, does he believe I'm directly involved in his kidnapping?
No, that can't be.
"Your Majesty, I have no idea where Prince Heath is."
"I beg you, Crow! I apologize for sending assassins after you! I'll make amends however I can! But please, save Heath! Forgive me, Crow!"
This is unbelievable.
And yes, he really does think I'm behind Prince Heath's disappearance.
This man is hopeless, in many ways.
As a king, and as a person.
"Sigh..."
After somehow calming the king and being released, I wandered aimlessly around the castle, feeling utterly lost.
I understand King Darius's feelings, so I'm not opposed to figuring out how to find Prince Heath, but I just don't know how.
I might be persistent, but without Holly, I'm truly just an ordinary person.
A prince's disappearance isn't something that can be easily resolved.
"…!"
Just when I was mulling over these thoughts, I couldn't believe my eyes.
Having nothing else to do and being almost shut-in, I went out to the courtyard for a breath of fresh air, only to find Prince Heath there.
For a moment, I thought I was seeing things, but there he was, dressed in a tailcoat of a different color than those worn by Instructor Cattleya and Iris, with the Thunder Sword at his waist, a tall and slender figure with golden hair and blue eyes. There's no one else it could be but him.Prince Heath was standing absently in the courtyard.
"Heath! So you are here!"
My voice was more lively than I expected.
I've never been particularly fond of him.
In fact, I've found him irksome since our school days, but hearing that a classmate was missing did cause me some concern.
Moreover, I've been mentally drained from facing incomprehensibly unmanageable situations lately.
For the first time in a while, something good seemed to have happened right before my eyes.
"Heath. Where have you been? The king is worried about you. Go show him your face quickly."
I continued talking to Heath in the courtyard.
However, Heath didn't respond and just stared vacantly into space.
Seeing this, a chill ran down my spine.
A bad premonition started to creep in.
Lately, I've been too involved in too many inexplicable situations.
Not just being thrown into a dungeon suddenly or the incident with Shion becoming like stone.
From the moment I met Holly, my life has been filled with unexpected and perplexing events.
So, I've somewhat gotten used to it.
I could tell, without any basis, that this was a precursor to something dangerous.
Well, I should have realized something was off the moment the missing prince appeared before me.
"Somebody..."
I was about to yell out loud.
The moment I did, Heath drew his Thunder Sword and swung it at me!
"…!"
Just as I thought!
I don't know why.
I don't understand how it came to this, but Heath is trying to kill me.
In the courtyard, Heath swung his Thunder Sword at me.
I frantically dodged his attacks.
The Thunder Sword Heath wielded is of an orthodox shape and performance as a saintly sword of the divine swords.
Considering he's not using any kind of lightning attack right now, I'm basically being attacked by a very durable sword that doesn't chip and can cut through iron with incredible sharpness.
And Heath's swordsmanship, instilled in us by Instructor Cattleya during our time at the military academy along with Iris and me, is orthodox.
Though I'm no talent in swordsmanship to speak of, compared to the combat-experienced Instructor Cattleya or the naturally gifted Iris, Heath's efforts in training earnestly brought his swordsmanship to a reasonably high level, I believe.Frankly, if Heath were to face me, he could win a hundred out of a hundred times, even with a regular sword.
That's how big the gap in our abilities was.
Moreover, as a saintly sword wielder, Heath has enhanced physical abilities due to possesshion and can use lightning magic through discharge. Even if he were to drop or let go of the Thunder Sword, he could summon it back to his hand.
In short, there's not even a slim chance I could win.
Despite his poor combat record, Heath is not someone who would struggle against someone like me.
He's quite the monster in his own right.
"…?"
Yet, against me, he kept swinging his sword and missing.
Of course, I was desperately running around the courtyard, dodging the Thunder Sword that Heath swung, but his movements were clearly slow.
My physical abilities have been enhanced due to being continuously possessed by Holly, especially my dynamic vishion.
Even considering that, he was too slow.
He clearly wasn't using possesshion, and he hadn't launched any lightning attacks at all.
Did he really intend to kill me?
"Heath! What's going on? Why are you attacking me?"
"…"
Heath didn't answer.
He continued to swing his sword at me in silence.
"Stop it, Heath! Why are you doing this?"
"…"
No matter how much I called out to him, Heath didn't respond.
What's going on?
If he had a reason to attack me, why wouldn't he use the Thunder Sword's abilities if he wanted to kill me?
He should just use them if he wants me dead.
"…!"
That's when I understood. I realized.
A saintly sword wielder fighting without using the saintly sword's abilities.
That happens when...
"Hea... Heath... you're..."
Already dead, and the wielder of the Underworld Sword is controlling his body as a zombie soldier.
"Cinelariaaaaaaaaaa! Where are you? Where are you hiding? Did you kill Heath?"
I shouted Cinelaria's name, who was likely controlling Heath's deceased body without showing herself.
"Why Heath! Why did you kill Heath! Kill me! It should've been me, not Heath!"
I was furious, more than I had ever been.Cinelaria and I had faced off against each other multiple times.
Just a few days ago, we had fought side by side for the first time, and yet we were able to talk as if we were somewhat acquainted.