Chapter 885 – Never-Ending Worries

000

Afterward, thanks to Galatea and Caliban’s defense, it was determined that this incident was not Cleon’s fault, but it may not have been Cleon’s mistake that the women’s gaze was a little harsher than before.

In any case, Cleon’s body recovered, even if not 100%, at least to the point where he could stand up and walk, and while he was unconscious, thanks to a secret contract between Lila and Ventuna, he was able to safely build the Sky Fortress by borrowing her power. It was possible to land on the ground.

However, given its size, it needed land large enough to land on, which meant it needed an area the size of a city the size of Asteris.

Originally, it would have been desirable to return this fortress to its original location off the coast of Eratus, but considering the distance from Asteris to Eratus, there was no way Ventuna’s magic power could withstand it.

In the end, the work was completed by finding a suitable place and slowly landing the fortress of Asteris.

That location was where the shelter at the bottom of the hill where Kanan had been living alone before was located, so it was inevitable that the shelter would now be completely crushed under the weight of the fortress.

After hearing Lila’s explanation of what had happened while she was asleep, Cleon nodded his head understandingly and picked up a cup containing a green liquid that was lying on the table.

It was an elixir that Banguidae had left behind, and it was given to him by Laila to drink. It had a strong bitter taste, as if it were as obvious as its color.

While frowning slightly, he pours his medicine down his throat and speaks to Lila.

＂… What should I say… For now, we can think that most of the big things are over, right?＂

＂It may not feel real, but… Yes. I think you can rest assured for now. After the flying fortress Vajra crashed, it lost its power and will never fly again, and all means of managing and controlling it have been destroyed. Among the cult members who survived inside the fortress, all the executives were arrested, and the regular members were also captured and must be in Asteris’ prison by now.”

In other words, there are currently no enemies that can move.

If the enemy has been neutralized and the damage to themselves is small, wouldn’t it be okay to declare victory?

However, for some reason, unlike when he had won against his previous strong enemies, Cleon did not feel that way, as Lila said.

Was it because important cleaning was done while he was asleep?

Or is it because we know that in the end, it was some of the exiled church that stopped us this time?

Anatis, who was watching this, quietly opened his mouth and spoke to Cleon, as if the feeling of uneasiness was not going away.

“You don’t seem very happy?”

“… To be honest, I don’t think this is a situation where I can raise my arms and shout for national independence.”

Upon hearing Cleon’s words, Lila sighed slightly and Beatrix tilted her head.

＂Why…?＂

“It is true that we protected Asteris from the exiled church. It also caused a huge loss to their power… But I can’t shake the feeling that many problems are still unresolved. … Including issues unrelated to the exiled church.”

Upon hearing Cleon’s words, Lila nods her head.

“What Cleon said is right. From the beginning, there were two problems with this five element system. One is an attack by the Exiled Church. And another thing is a spiritual vein that cannot be purified. The former was resolved with our victory, but the latter… Now it’s entirely up to Kuon and Tokoyo.”

The sacred tree has not yet bloomed.

Although it was successful in making the barrier larger, it did not lead to purification of the spirit vein beneath Asteris because the two were ultimately different problems.

However, because the magic power used to grow the barrier was considerable, it would have been possible to consume a little magic power from the spiritual vein and reduce the saturation state of magic power.

You could say it was sort of buying time.

However, the purification of the spirit vein was something that had to be completed before the end of the Five Elements Festival.

This is the time when the connection between the spirit veins of the five elements that form the Elemental Cross and the Divine Tree is the strongest.

If you miss this once-a-year period, it will be next year before you can begin to purify your spiritual veins again.

And Asteris’ spirit vein, which had already reached its limit, would not be able to withstand that period.

“… And another thing is that the existence of the Exiled Church was brought out to the sun…”

When Cleon muttered that, Ventuna tilted her head as if she didn’t know.

＂I’m not sure what the Exile Church is. It’s like a secret organization, right? Can’t it be dragged out to the sun?”

“There are good parts to us, but there are also bad parts, or should I say things that are worrisome…”

When Cleon answers while scratching her head, Anatis speaks.

“Until now, these are the guys who have been ruling this world from behind, working in secret under the stage where the light cannot reach. Nevertheless, I have committed quite a few evil deeds. However, if the fortress that seems to prove their existence remains like that and the actual executives are arrested, it will become a huge controversy for the kingdom – no, the entire continent – even if they don’t like it. Cleon is saying that it is difficult to predict what will happen in the process.”

When Anatis says that with a cool-headed analysis of the situation, Lila nods.

＂If it were a simple cult group in a rural corner, it wouldn’t be this much of a problem… But right now, those guys are actually controlling the kingdom from behind. If you do it wrong, the entire kingdom could move to protect one exiled church. Of course, if that happens…”

“Even in the kingdom, there will be opposition, including from people like Aruru who are not influenced by the Expulsion Church… If we make a mistake, a civil war could break out in the kingdom…”

Civil war in the kingdom.

In other words, the center of the clan, which has the greatest influence on the continent, is creaking from within and its system may be shaken.

If that were to happen, uncontrollable chaos would unfold on the continent, and the worst part was that innocent ordinary people who would get caught up in it would inevitably be sacrificed.

“No matter what… How the kingdom will come out won’t be revealed right now. News of the fall of the fortress will reach the kingdom, and we will only know something after Selena and Diora return with the church prisoners. Until then, wouldn’t it be okay to take a little rest first?”

Towards Cleon, who could hardly keep his expression straight, Lila patted her shoulder while saying that.

“That’s right, senior. Continuing from the Academy, this time you saved the Touhou Country? My senior is now worthy of being called a hero of the continent.”

As Beatrix nodded her head as she spoke, Cleon looked puzzled for a moment at her words.

“… It’s so grand.”

“What. It’s not wrong, right? “If you told us from a few months ago that we, a party of country adventurers, had somehow become embroiled in battles that would control the fate of the continent, they wouldn’t have believed it.”

When Lila sympathized with Cleon’s words and spoke as if they were not bad, Anatis quietly opened her mouth.

“It’s just as they said. As a dragon responder, you have achieved something worthy of shame. It’s okay to be proud of yourself. Because it is an achievement that can rival those of the warriors who left their mark in human history.”

As the three people seem to keep floating him, Cleon trembles with a slightly unfamiliar feeling.

Then, he stood up as if he was trying to run away.

＂Huh? “Where are you going?”

＂… In the temple. Kuon and Tokoyo are still continuing the ritual to purify their spiritual veins, so I’ll come back after seeing the situation for a bit. Just resting at home doesn’t suit my constitution.”

＂I heard that I overwork myself because I bought it… Well, okay.＂

When Lila shrugged her shoulders at Cleon’s words and looked at him leaving her mansion, Beatrix spoke quietly to Lila.

“… Lila, is it okay if I don’t tell you what the dryad said a moment ago?”

“… That thing you told me to tell Gaius?”

This is the very message that the dryad living in the plains who visited to find the Holy Swordsman’s terminal asked Gaius to deliver.

It was said that if the spirit vein is not purified like this, he will not be able to ask the fairy Hyang for help.

There was no way to know what would happen if the scent of a fairy came out, but there was no longer any Gaius in this world who would receive those words.

To be precise, there are only beings who inherit the power of Gaius.

“I don’t want to tell that story to Cleon and make him worry even more. Because I decided not to use Gaius’ power.”

And the people of the eastern countries who knew the situation, including Cleon, did not want that power to be unleashed.

The fact that he had to sacrifice a human named Herti, who inherited Gaius’ power, was blocking him like an undeniable wall.

001

When Cleon left the mansion and the walls of the Dark Dragon Company’s building, the city looked like it was a lie that it was in the middle of the Five Elements Festival.

The fortress landed safely on the ground, but the sacred tree still had not bloomed and was just standing there with its wide leaves spreading out, blocking the sky.

People slowly walked out of the place where they had taken refuge and left the streets, but they seemed to have calmed down to some extent and were not embarrassed, either going back to their homes or wandering the streets looking up at the sky.

More than anything, what devastated their hearts would have been the royal palace, which was half destroyed and in ruins.

Quite a few citizens flocked to the vicinity of the palace to see the miserable situation, and while some were angry, others were relieved after hearing from the government that Prince Miyeom’s life was safe.

On his way to the temple, Cleon passed by the palace and checked the devastation and the frozen figure of Dharma.

Frozen by Sasha, he was trapped inside, making a comical appearance with his arms stretched out in front of him with an angry face.

As I recalled being attacked by him before, I couldn’t help but admire the fact that Amelia and Sasha were able to stop him on my behalf, and at the same time, feel their growth.

And- I lightly place my hand on the handle of Slash, which I brought with me in place of leaving Galatea and Caliburn behind.

If I can cut down Dharma with this ice, wouldn’t it be safer in the future to do so?

＂…＂

Cleon takes a moment to catch his breath while assessing the possibility.

At that time.

＂… Lord Cleon?＂

At the voice calling him, Cleon suddenly comes to his senses, takes his hand off his sword, and looks back to where the voice came from.

Then there was an androgynous woman dressed in the uniform of an Eastern country official, with her navy blue hair braided back and wrapped in a chignon.

The person who appeared to be both a handsome man and a beautiful woman was someone Cleon knew and had reunited with after a long time.

＂Ah-＂

Just before Cleon calls her name.

Thump! And she ran towards this direction and hugged Cleon.

Because she was wearing armor, she didn’t feel soft or anything, but when she was close to her, she felt her presence strongly.

It was fortunate that there was no one around, so when Cleon was embarrassed by the sudden hug, she kept her mouth shut for a moment while holding Cleon in her arms.

“… Hey, over there. Aaron? “

When Cleon carefully called her name, she held him in her arms and spoke quietly.

“… Fizzle. Quietly. Someone is following you.”

＂…!＂

However, upon hearing her words, Cleon immediately erased her embarrassment and changed her expression.

And, as if it suited her, she turned her arms around her back.