NOVEL WEB
Chapter 52 – Discordance
[Translator – Peptobismol]
Chapter 52 – Discordance
As I returned to my room, someone was waiting for me.
It was Diana.
She was sitting with a somewhat cautious posture, as if she had something to say to me.
“I heard someone died here not too long ago.”
Diana cautiously began.
“His name was Ludvik. He was said to have died at the hands of Isabel Yustia, known as the Saintess.”
“Lud… what?”
“Ludvik. They said he had known Isabel Yustia since they were children.”
Isabel killed Ludvik?
I blinked in surprise.
It wasn’t Ludvik’s death that surprised me.
Whether spies of the Kingdom died or not wasn’t something I would be surprised about.
It was just surprising that Isabel had personally killed him.
Since she has her memories from the previous run, her feelings toward Ludvik may not be good, but even so, she killed him herself.
“Where did you hear that?”
“I overheard it.”
Diana confidently revealed she had eavesdropped.
Well, with her keen senses, she would end up hearing most conversations whether she wanted to or not.
‘Could it be…’
Did she also overhear Isabel and me talking in the hallway?
For a moment, I considered asking, but I didn’t want to bring up that topic any further.
Instead, I brought up something more important.
“I’ll be leaving here in a few days.”
“In a few days?”
“Yeah, probably as soon as the Duke arrives, I’ll return to the mansion.”
Luna attacked the Saintess.
This not only jeopardized the honor of the Holy See but was directly linked to Winfred’s honor as well.
Even if the Emperor could make a flying bird fall, he would not be able to bury Duke Winfred in such a sloppy manner.
So when the Duke arrives at the Holy See, Luna will likely be freed as well.
“So, be prepared.”
“Understood.”
“Yeah, it’s really not much longer now.”
I sat down slowly on the bed.
Then I asked her again.
“Did you take care of the Elixir?”
“…Yes.”
“There’s no need to rush to revive me. Since I drank the Holy Blood, my body won’t decay even if some time passes. Wait until everyone fully accepts my death, and when people gradually start to forget about my death.”
“…”
“At that time, revive me. In secret, so that no one knows.”
It’s a difficult spell, but there’s no one else to trust with such a ludicrous task other than Diana.
“Understood.”
Diana nodded slowly.
Her expression was as clear as that of someone who had accepted everything.
Suddenly, a thought occurred to me.
This world is like a wasteland where not even a glimmer of hope exists.
And to some extent, it could be said that it stems from me.
I twisted every scenario to return, and as a result, the characters who should protect the world began to go mad one by one.
When I eventually open the dimensional gate, will the world be able to withstand the storm of causality?
Could it possibly end in the destruction of the world?
Such a world.
Whether it perishes or not, I don’t even want to care…
But surely…
‘Diana…’
My heart fluttered.
Wouldn’t she resent me for ruining the world she has to live in?
An indescribable sense of guilt welled up within me.
For a moment, I was tempted beyond measure.
‘No, not now.’
I have to endure it, for now.
I grabbed my departing reason as if clenching my fist.
I cannot dare to recklessly promise a future that even I cannot be sure of.
Yes, so let’s postpone it for now.
After all, even I don’t know my own feelings very well.
“Is there something wrong?”
Diana glanced at my face and cautiously asked.
Without even a common question, she probed my mood once again.
At the same time, something boiling up to my throat spilled out.
“After everything is over.”
That was a question.
“After everything is over, do you have any plans?”
After uttering those words, I inwardly sighed.
Was I secretly hoping for Diana to leave?
Throwing such an absurd question, I seemed rather foolish.
“What do you mean by plans?”
“Yeah.”
“I’m not sure. I haven’t really thought about what happens after master leaves.”
Haven’t thought about it… does that mean there’s no attachment to this world?
“Though I haven’t decided on anything concrete, I don’t think I’ll wield a sword again.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because there’ll be no master whom I pledged loyalty to.”
“Why not find a new master then?”
“Knights pledge their loyalty to only one person throughout their life.”
“…That’s natural?”
“Yes, at least for me.”
That loyalty, wouldn’t it lose its meaning without me?
She wielded the sword her whole life, yet she wouldn’t wield it once I’m gone.
That damn stubborn knight.
Despite being irritatingly steadfast, I couldn’t help but admire it.
Yet, despite disliking such a sight, there was something endearing about it.
Foolish yet trustworthy.
And at the same time, curiosity crept in.
I couldn’t hold back.
“Once I’m gone… how do you think this world will be?”
Diana’s blue eyes stared at me.
Then she spoke calmly in her gentle tone.
“I am stupid and foolish, I do not know how to speak properly. Nor am I accustomed to expressing my emotions verbally.”
“…”
“If you leave… I will be sad. And I will miss you.”
Her gaze was serene yet firm.
I felt convinced that she wouldn’t waver no matter what happened.
“Do you wish I didn’t leave?”
It was an impulsive question, unlike me.
And in response, an uncharacteristic answer came from Diana.
“Yes.”
Only then did I realize.
I, who will leave you behind, will not be at ease, just as much as you.
“But more than that… I would like it if master returned to his original world.”
I was tongue-tied.
My lips remained parted, frozen in that state.
“So, don’t worry.”
A faint smile hung on Diana’s lips as she looked at me.
“Please continue to use me as you do now.”
Yes, a little more time.
When everything becomes clearer and more perfect…
“That’s enough.”
Let’s ask then.
If she would like to leave with me.
****
[Translator – Peptobismol]
And the next morning.
Diana, who came to find me, knocked on the door regularly.
“Master, Duke Winfred has arrived.”
Finally, the Duke had arrived at the Holy See.
I quickly finished preparing and dashed out of the room with Diana.
How many minutes had passed?
In the distance, a place where an unusually large crowd gathered began to come into view.
As the distance closed, the blurry figures became clear.
‘Finally, he’s here.’
Velzer Winfred.
And the family’s elite knights escorting him.
Their annoyingly familiar faces.
I sighed and moved forward.
Before long, the Duke spotted me and furrowed his brows, looking in my direction.
“Kyle Winfred.”
“You’ve come quite quickly.”
Snapping back, the Duke scowled deeply.
I shrugged and asked him.
“Have you finished your discussions with the Royal Family?”
“…Yes, the discussions are over.”
“And the outcome?”
At my words, the Duke’s face fell.
“You don’t need to know, boy.”
It was the expected response.
Well, I didn’t really ask the question expecting an answer.
Just asked to tease him a bit.
However, a surprising answer came from the Duke’s mouth shortly after.
“No, perhaps you should know.”
The Duke smirked coldly.
It was a smirk tinged with resentment rather than mockery.
“As I said, discussions with the Royal Family are over. At the time, they had something they wanted from me, and I accepted their offer. The terms of negotiation were…”
Snap—
He then unfolded a scroll that looked familiar.
Familiar paper and handwriting.
And the familiar seal of the Empress’s Palace.
Could it be…
“Kyle Winfred, it’s you.”
I stupidly blinked my eyes.
“What’s this?”
“Just as it sounds. The Royal Family wants you. So pack your bags and enter the Imperial Palace immediately.”
“No, but why suddenly, for what reason…”
“I’m not sure about that.”
What kind of absurd logic was this?
I burst into laughter out of sheer disbelief.
The reason was obvious.
There’s no way the Royal Family suddenly needed me, it was surely someone orchestrating this absurd situation from behind.
The culprit was probably…
‘That crazy bitch, Rudine…’
Damn it.
At this rate, I’ll be dragged into the palace without a word.
“Why did you allow this without asking for my opinion?”
“Because, formally, I’m your father.”
Heading to the palace with a progress rate of 100%.
What an utterly absurd situation.
Just as I was desperately wracking my brain.
A voice like a cold breeze filled the air.
“Who said so?”
Isabel’s sharp gaze turned towards the Duke approaching us.
I stood still, alternately glancing between the Duke and Isabel.
“I asked you.”
The Duke eyed Isabel as she approached with a stern face.
A chilly air crept up my spine.
“It’s a royal decree.”
Isabel snickered.
And added.
“Fuck that.”
[Translator – Peptobismol]
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