Chapter 15: Tinnitus (4)
Inside the office, where the Five Swords of Calan were speaking freely, Duke Raipellaoshin felt a sense of shame in this situation.
And for good reason, as the Duke had never been treated this way by anyone before.
To his territorys residents, he was like a God.
Even nobles of the same rank would fawn over him, flipping over like dogs at a single word from him.
Even the King of Calan could not ignore the Duke.
The abundant resources from his territory brought him wealth and power that could not be ignored.
However, the reason he could not raise his head, despite his arrogant nature, was because those in front of him were the Five Swords of Calan, the Kingdoms greatest force, capable of destroying a territory with just their five members.
The reason they had come was because of their Master.
This Master was an entity unknown to most nobles, known only to the six who attended the highest council within the Kingdom of Calan.
They had come ignoring the warning of the Absolute Ruler of Darkness, who in the shadows had grown the once overall weaker Kingdom of Calan to be comparable to other nations, their Master, thus he remained silent.
Even so, this is!
The Duke frowned and looked at the Five Swords.
Duke Raipellaoshin himself realized that it was somewhat wrong to have misused the brainwashing poison.
After all, it was he who had given it to Roadmalis without proper warnings to use for colonizing neighboring territories.
However, Duke Raipellaoshin considered it an accident.
After all, who would have thought that the Lord of Lartania, a territory almost ruined and about to vanish, would return?
This was an accident, so dont speak so recklessly-!
Thus, as the accident started to take such a turn, the Duke tried to speak to the Five Swords with a hint of discomfort, but
The Duke suddenly stopped what he was about to say and shut his mouth.
That was because the Five Swords of Calan, who until moments ago had been speaking leisurely without any change in expression, all glared at the Duke simultaneously.
Hey Duke, you seem to be under some misunderstanding; do you think were keeping you alive because we want to?
Gasp!
Feeling as if being strangled by the murderous intent from Ruin, one of the Five Swords who had been talking about taking the Dukes life, he instinctively shut his mouth.
Dont be mistaken, Duke. Thanks to our Masters grace, youve grown this much, so dont wag your tongue like a dog.
Ruin, glaring at the Duke with eyes shimmering with murderous intent as if about to kill him at any moment, growled but-
Stop it, Ruin.
Upon hearing Loriels calm voice, Ruin glared at the Duke for a while longer before turning around without hesitation and leaving the office with a frown.
And Loriel, who had stopped Ruin, said:
Duke Raipellaoshin. This time, the Master said to just let it go with a warning, so I wont say much.
She said while looking at the Duke with her characteristic serene expression.
If such a situation arises again, I wont stop Ruin. In fact, there wont be any need to,
I will personally execute you and hang your head on the Lords castle flag.
Shiver!
Loriel clearly did not show any trace of emotion.
Yet, despite this, the Duke involuntarily felt a chill course through his body at those words.
Remember, Duke. The reason you were able to rise to your position. And-
With those words,
That we, known as the Swords of Calan, originally belonged to whom.
The Five Swords of Calan disappeared from the Dukes office, and for a long time, the Duke could do nothing but stop breathing, his eyes filled with fear.
Thinking about it, she did not like the name Absolute Ruler of Darkness.
No, she actually detested that title in the past.
The reason was, of course, because it was childish.
Of course, that title was given by him who had taken her in without any discrimination, a half-demon who had to hide her identity all her life, and who had helped her grow without asking for anything in return. But back then, she found it embarrassing and detestable.
Not knowing how much of an honor it actually was.
Seeing that, she immediately thought of her past self.
The fool she had been, destroying all the Lords gifts.
The half-demon wept bitterly.
Over the Lords items she had broken herself.
Gathering every memory, she hugged the now scrap metal remains of the gifts and cried.
Her body became covered in blood from the sharp metal shards, but such things did not matter to her.
Because the pain in her heart, as if it had been hollowed out, was far more terrible than any physical wounds.
Ridiculously, she cursed herself as she sobbed.
In the end, the only thing left to her at that moment was the title Absolute Ruler of Darkness given by the Lord.
Yes, nothing but that.
The bond and memories with the Lord, only that remained.
From then on, that title became her sore spot.
And so, another year passed.
The half-demon left the territory.
To once again fill the void left by the Lords gifts she had destroyed herself.
So that when the Lord someday returned, he would not be disappointed in her, to return all the gifts to their original state.
Because she was afraid.
She couldnt bear the thought of the Lord returning, seeing the destroyed gifts, and looking at her coldly.
If-if I were to receive such a look from the Lord, I would-
Ah, gasp huff sob!
Just imagining it made her feel suffocated, so she forcibly stopped her thoughts.
Her breathing did not calm, her heart throbbed as if it would burst any moment, and tears formed in her eyes.
No, no such a thing must never happen!
I dont want to be hated.
I didnt want to be rejected.
In her life, she didnt want to lose the light again, the only one who had reached out and saved her, a half-demon.
That was why.
I must gather them all, everything-
She couldnt go back.
Until she had collected all the gifts given by the Lord.
She could never go back.
Just two more to collect.
Fortunately, her current situation wasnt too bad.
Although she disliked her, the arrogant wolf girl was protecting the Lord, and now there were only two gifts left for her to collect.
Just two more to collect-
Moreover, it was only a matter of time before collecting the two items.
I can be forgiven.
She found herself imagining.
Having collected all the gifts.
Returning nonchalantly, prostrating herself before her light, asking for forgiveness.
And the Lord, smiling, accepting her apology.
Haah-
Feeling a dream-like hope, whether possible or not, she unwittingly reveled in joy.
But to escape the anxiety that always crept up on her, she-
Eh-
As she had always done, she indulged in pleasure alone to rid herself of the anxiousness.
Calling out the Lords name.
