Creeping Fate Of Ruin

“Your Majesty Emperor Karl, thank you very much for lending us the precious Barrier Stones on this occasion.”

In the audience chamber of the Estraia Empire.

Quylindra, chief of the Elf, knelt before Emperor Karl Franz von Estraia of Estraia along with her daughter Colette, chairwoman of the Central Mutual Aid Association.

The five Barrier Stones borrowed by requesting cooperation from various countries to defeat Zarichu, the cadre of the Demon King’s army known as Hunger.

One of them had been deployed in the city of Gratz, located south of the Imperial Capital.

Of course, to protect the Empire from the threat of the Demon King’s army remnants further south of Gratz and the cadre commanding them, Lust, Lilith.

If Lilith had known that the Barrier Stone had been removed from Gratz, the Empire would have suffered an attack from the remnants and sustained considerable damage.

Nevertheless, the empire lent them to the Elf like Quylindra because it was an excellent opportunity to defeat Taromati the Apostasy, the common enemy of humanity.

And then.

“Hahaha, as expected, if it’s a request from the hero Silent Archer who defeated the Demon King alongside the great hero, I cannot refuse.”

Indeed… Quylindra was one of the comrades who challenged the Demon King alongside the hero five hundred years ago.

Now that she had finally set out to subjugate the remnants of the Demon King’s army, the great nation of the Estraia Empire could not refuse to cooperate.

“Yes. Thanks to you, we were able to defeat Zarichu the Hunger and reclaim our former kin, the Swart Elf. We have no words to express our gratitude to the Estraia Empire and Your Majesty.”

It was Jonah who defeated Zarichu, and unfortunately, the Barrier Stones only served to confine him and were not very useful, but she might need to seek cooperation from the empire in the future. Quylindra did not forget to respect the empire’s dignity from a diplomatic perspective.

“But as expected of the Silent Archer. Defeating that Demon King’s army cadre after five hundred years. This means the day to defeat the hated Taromati entrenched in the south is near.”

From among the ministers and powerful nobles also in attendance, one made such rude remarks.

It was Duke Franz Alfred Langheim, head of one of the five great ducal houses, the Langheim Ducal House.

“Oh my… Could it be that Your Excellency Langheim is trying to pin our failures on Lady Quylindra, the hero of the ‘Human-Demon War’ and pillar of the Duchy of Aubern?”

“…! …No, I would never…”

A beautiful woman who smiled and delivered a grand sarcasm.

It was the young head of the Lanberg Ducal House, one of the five great ducal houses, which had confronted the Apostasy Taromati based in Gratz—Hermina Augusta Lanberg.

From her perspective, she took pride in having defended the south of the Empire from the remnants all this time.

That is why she could not forgive Duke Langheim’s rude remarks.

Watching the exchange between the heads of the great ducal houses with a weary expression was Marquess Hagenberg, who had been formally granted the title of marquess for minimizing the Empire’s damage from the recent locust plague.

As the one overseeing the southwestern grain belt including Zwerg, he had little interest in central affairs, but he was here hoping it would benefit his territory’s people even a little, yet he was forced to deal with such trivial matters.

“Both of you, stop. Lady Quylindra’s achievements deserve praise, but I am equally grateful for the Lanberg family’s great contributions thus far.”

“Ha…”

“Yes…”

Having been told so by the Emperor, they had no choice but to fall silent.

The two dukes lightly bowed their heads.

“Then, Lady Quylindra, would you tell me the tale of your valor in defeating Zarichu the Hunger?”

“Yes… I would like to say so, but in this subjugation of Zarichu, I did not contribute much. The victory was brought about entirely by the hands of a single boy with unparalleled talent and a rare, powerful magic user.”

“Oh…?”

Emperor Karl leaned forward with interest.

Originally, she should not speak of Jonah, the user of ancient magic. If his existence came to light, the Emperor before her… no, many kings of the western countries would desire him.

Naturally. He was a powerhouse who could dismiss a Demon King’s army cadre with ease. With him, a country need not fear the remnants.

Not only that. If countries ever clashed, unscrupulous people would appear who would try to use Jonah’s ancient magic.

Recognizing such dangers, Quylindra deliberately mentioned Jonah’s existence solely for her precious daughter.

She had urged Titancia to capture Oberon and find out the teleportation destination, but the opponent was the legendary Fairy King. She, as chief of the Elf and a hero, understood best that it was utterly impossible.

That is why, clinging to even a straw, she made the bitter decision in hopes of gaining any clue to Jonah’s whereabouts.

Of course, she was prepared to bear responsibility and atonement toward him after he was found.

“Though a commoner, a mere eleven-year-old boy literally buried Zarichu in darkness with tremendous magic. I saw it with my own eyes.”

“Hmm, hmm. And the name of that boy?”

“His name is ‘Jonah’.”

“…!?”
“…!?”

At the name Quylindra announced, two people widened their eyes.

It was Duke Langheim, Jonah’s father, and Marquess Hagenberg.

“And where is this boy named Jonah now?”

“Having received the blessing of Fairy King Lord Oberon, he has already left Aubern. We have no idea where he is now.”

Saying this, Quylindra shook her head.

But… with this, the seed has been sown.

If even a little information about Jonah could be obtained through the empire’s movements, she would send Titancia to him.

After that.

‘I, once called a hero, will protect little Jonah with all my might.’

Quylindra clenched her fist, but noticed a man directing a sharp gaze at her.

It was Marquess Hagenberg with a stern expression.

But it was natural for him to be angry.

As one of the first in this world to witness Jonah’s miracle, Marquess Hagenberg had tried to keep his existence secret to protect him.

That is why he could not forgive what Quylindra had done.

Quylindra, receiving Marquess Hagenberg’s gaze, likely understood its meaning.

She furrowed her brows and cast her eyes down.

Meanwhile.

‘No way… That failure Jonatan could never do such a thing.’

Duke Langheim, who had already extended searches across the entire Empire yet still could not find Jonah, shook his head as if denying reality.

Besides, though the age matched Jonah’s, according to Quylindra, the boy was a commoner. He was different from Jonah, a duke’s son no matter what.

As Duke Langheim let out a light breath and reconsidered.

“By the way, Your Excellency Langheim, I believe you have a son named Jonatan? He is said to be bedridden with illness now, but what an interesting coincidence.”

The one who said this was Crown Prince Leonardo, also in attendance. Beside him, the second prince Wulfe gazed at the ceiling with a composed expression.

The other royal, First Imperial Princess Patricia with third succession rights, was not here.

Meanwhile, Marquess Hagenberg and Quylindra, reacting to his words, immediately directed their gazes at Duke Langheim.

Conversely, Duke Langheim, who did not want it mentioned, furrowed his brows and fell silent.

“Hoho, indeed as Leonardo says. A son of the Langheim house bearing the same name as the boy acknowledged by the Silent Archer. Even if it is a coincidence, one cannot help but expect.”

Amid Emperor Karl’s amused laughter as he stroked his chin beard echoing in the audience chamber, Marquess Hagenberg and Quylindra decided to immediately begin investigations to pull in the thin thread they had coincidentally found leading to the precious boy.

This would drive Duke Langheim into further predicament.

—By the fact that his disdain toward the modern hero who defeated Zarichu the Hunger would later be fully exposed.