Volume 8
Chapter 34
At dusk, Irisdina
visited a shop in the commercial district, one overflowing with a chaotic and
mismatched collection of goods. The place she visited was the fortune-teller's
shop that Zonne used as his base of operations. Irisdina gulped, as if to
swallow down the tension rising in her throat, and passed through the shop's
entrance. Inside, Zonne was seated deep in a simple rocking chair, puffing on a
tobacco pipe. A distinct, sweet aroma drifted through the shop.
"Oh, young lady.
What can I do for you?"
"I have come to
ask a favor."
Irisdina stated her
business straightforwardly. It was about the upcoming negotiation between the
Francilt family and the Wajiart family. She wanted him to attend as Nozomu's
guardian.
"Hmm. In other
words, you want me to be your backer for the negotiations with the
vampires?"
"Yes. I am aware
this is an incredibly selfish request, but I humbly ask it of you."
Bowing deeply,
Irisdina waited for Zonne's reply. This proposal shouldn't be a bad one for
Zonne, who also didn't want to stimulate Tiamat inside Nozomu.
(Ah, so that's it.
Father's goal in telling me to contact Nozomu was also because he wanted to ask
for the cooperation of Zonne-dono, who has become his guardian...)
At this point,
Irisdina also realized her father's true intention. Realistically, the most
reliable person in this city, in terms of combat power against Vitora, wasn't
Nozomu, but the old man before her. A dragon, the highest of the spirit
species. And among them, an existence chosen as Tiamat's observer. He would
absolutely be reliable. However, Zonne's reply was not favorable for Irisdina.
"Impossible. We
dragons do not interfere in the mundane affairs of humans. Vampires or whatever
else, we do not interfere."
"...Why? I know
this is a personal matter, but Vitora is clearly targeting Nozomu. During this
crucial time, placing any more burdens on him is..."
"You may be
misunderstanding, but I am, first and foremost, Tiamat’s observer. I am by no
means completely on the boy's side."
Gritting her back
teeth, Irisdina sighed inwardly, thinking So that's how it is...
"I learned this
from training him, but that boy cannot use spirit magic. The elf girl's efforts
seem to have allowed him to sense spirits, but that is likely the limit."
"...Then, why did
you train Nozomu in spirit magic?"
"Because if I
stay near him, I can seal Tiamat immediately if it revives."
Of course, there was
also the fact that he was swayed by Nozomu's own will, his wish to control
Tiamat's power for the sake of Irisdina and the others. In fact, in Zonne's
heart, that was the biggest reason. But as an observer, his position demanded
he not be completely swayed by sentiment.
"Therefore, no
matter how much I teach him, my position as an observer does not change."
"...But!"
"And, speaking
from the position of an observer, the biggest burden on that boy right now is
you Francilt people. Between that boy and you, young lady, I don't need to tell
you which is more important to the dragon clan."
"That is..."
"Since we're at
it, I'll be clear. If that boy rampages again, I will seal him without
question. When that happens, this city will surely be destroyed."
"!"
"You can consider
this the consensus of the dragon clan. In the first place, it was difficult
enough for me to even train him."
From the dragon clan's
perspective, it wouldn't be strange for them to have sealed him immediately.
The only reason they hadn't is because Zonne was holding back the hardline
factions. Of course, if there was no prospect of Nozomu controlling the power
within him, Zonne would also be forced to seal him.
"...My apologies.
I understand your desire to protect your family, but this is our answer."
In every part of
Zonne's speech, Irisdina could glimpse his unshakeable will. Biting her lip in
frustration, she stood up silently and left Zonne's stall. Watching her
retreating figure, her back hunched, Zonne puffed on his pipe once more.
(I told the young lady
that, but if things get serious, the boy will move regardless.)
If Nozomu moved, Zonne
would be forced to move, and he couldn't carelessly stop him. Even if Zonne
tried to stop him by force, if the people he cared about were in danger, that
man would use his power without any regard for what happened to himself. If
that happened, Zonne might carelessly become the trigger for Tiamat's revival.
For him, too, Nozomu Bountis was just that troublesome of an existence.
(I'm also concerned
about 'those people' making a move now. Hmm...)
Letting white smoke
curl from his pipe, Zonne fell into thought.
(The key the elf girl
prepared is about to open the door. What comes after is the diverging path of
fate. Will it end in tragedy, or...)
His only hope was the
spirit-sensing ability Shina had brought to Nozomu with the Blood Pact Ritual. A tiny power, not
even enough to form a contract. Zonne couldn't help but pray it would become a
beacon of hope.
***
Irisdina, having been
refused cooperation by Zonne, reluctantly returned to the Francilt Mansion. She
finished her meal dispassionately and drank her after-dinner tea, staring
melancholically out the window. Since she couldn't get the old white dragon's
active cooperation, it became necessary to force him into a situation where he
had to act. To do that, she would have to use Nozomu. And that was something
Irisdina could never accept. Naturally, her grip on the teacup tightened. The
serving maid waiting nearby was breaking out in a cold sweat, seeing Irisdina
radiating a tense, intimidating aura.
"So this is where
you were..."
"...Do you need
something, Father?"
Irisdina gave a cold
reply to Victor, who had come to the dining room. The two were in conflict over
their stance on Nozomu. The air between them was cold. Victor, however, ignored
his daughter's dismissive attitude and sat in a chair at the same table, facing
her.
"Irisdina, I hear
you are keeping your distance from him. Did I not tell you to make contact
skillfully?"
"Even if it is
your order, Father, I cannot accept it this time. He is someone to whom we owe
a great debt. If we use him as a human sacrifice, the Francilt family's dignity
will surely fall to the ground."
Irisdina suppressed
her boiling anger at her father's cold words and replied dispassionately.
"Furthermore, we
would make an enemy not only of Arcazam, but also of the old man behind him. If
that happens, it will be more than just the survival of our house; our
homeland's very position will be endangered."
"That's right. If
we make that old man our enemy, it is undoubtedly the end. However, if Nozomu
Bountis moves of his own accord, that old man will also be forced to move. If
it goes well, we might even be able to seal the Death-Demon Princess's movements."
In reality, making an
enemy of the white dragon behind Nozomu had to be avoided at all costs. But Victor's
hope, too, was not Nozomu, who had trouble controlling his power, but Zonne,
who had effectively become his guardian.
"You were
thinking the same, were you not?"
Irisdina fell silent
at her father's penetrating question. In fact, she also believed Zonne was the
one who could break the stalemate, which is why she had just contacted him.
"It is true I
thought to ask for Zonne-dono's help. However, he refused me from the
standpoint of the dragon clan, and I have no intention of using Nozomu as bait
just because I was refused."
"That is what I
wish for as well. It would be best if the old man cooperated voluntarily. But
if he will not move, we have no choice but to make him move. If there are no
other options, that is the wise choice."
The welling irritation
stripped away Irisdina's noble facade. The desire to protect her sister and the
desire not to involve him swirled in her heart.
(I can't involve
Nozomu, and I can't sacrifice Somia. In that case...)
She solidified her
resolve, following her heart, and took another deep breath. The emotions
swirling in her chest receded with surprising quiet. People fall into confusion
when countless options surface in their minds, when they can't pin their
wavering thoughts to a single point. So, once she had decided, her heart and
body felt surprisingly light.
"In that case, I
am fine with being a fool..."
Meanwhile, Victor
watched her with cold eyes. He had sensed the unshakeable, rock-like will
hidden behind her calm, sea-like tone. That was why a sigh of disappointment
escaped him. Because this was one of the scenarios he had envisioned and most
needed to avoid.
"It can't be
helped. If you won't do what must be done, I have no choice but to remove
you."
"What...
Ugh!"
A sudden dizziness
assaulted her, and Irisdina instinctively put her hand on the table. A wave of
drowsiness came over her, her vision spun, and things gradually went dark.
"This,
is..."
"I had the maid
put a little medicine in your tea. As of today, I am stripping you of your
qualification as the next head of the Francilt family and banishing you from
this house. You are forbidden from using the Francilt name ever again."
A sudden declaration
of disownment. Irisdina's hand moved instinctively, grabbing the tablecloth.
But, unable to control her body due to the drug, Irisdina collapsed to the
floor. The delicately decorated tea set scattered across the floor with a
crash.
"Father..."
Irisdina tried
desperately to move her uncontrollable body, but eventually, her eyes slowly
closed.
Confirming Irisdina
was asleep, Victor looked at her on the floor and spoke to the maid who had
administered the drug.
"...You've done
well."
"No, but,
I..."
The maid was clearly
wracked with guilt. She had also served Irisdina for a long time. Thus, even if
it was her master's order, drugging her mistress weighed heavily on her heart.
"Don't mind it.
It was necessary. ...Mena."
"Yes."
When Victor called her
name, his attendant, Mena, entered the dining room. In her arms was Somia,
sleeping with her eyes closed, just like Irisdina.
"As planned, Lady
Somia has also been put to sleep with medicine. The Parline family has agreed
to take them, but... are you sure about this? The young mistress will not
agree."
"Either way, it
will all be over while they sleep. It's going as planned."
It seemed Victor
intended to put Somia to sleep as well, ignoring both their wills, and have the
Parline family take them in. Victor had Mena relay this to the Parline family
via letter on the night the Opening Festival ended. It was to completely sever
their ties with the Francilt family, so the Wajiart family could not bring up
the secret pact again. However, even Mena, while showing a stoic expression,
seemed inwardly unconvinced. But as for Victor, he had no intention of bending
his will, no matter who said what. Everything was for his beloved daughters.
"Good grief. What
a pathetic man."
"Mazari..."
The one who entered
the heavy-aired dining room was Mazarinette, the current head of the Parline
family, who was taking Irisdina and the others in. Behind her were two young
maids, serving as her guards. Mazarinette glanced at Victor, whose eyes held a
cold light, and twisted her mouth as if in exasperation.
"You were
whimpering just like this before you confessed to Filana, too. Honestly. Always
trying to act cool, but running away when it matters... You haven't changed at
all."
Before confessing to
Irisdina's mother, Victor had broken up with every woman he had been seeing, as
a form of purification. They had hurled intense abuse and insults at him, and
even threw things, but he had meekly accepted it all. If he was going to break
up, he wanted them to at least hate him completely, as if he were a viper. That
was his way, his method of settling things from having dated multiple women. Mazarinette
knew this clumsy side of Victor, but she never thought he would do the same to
the daughter he doted on so much.
"It can't be
helped, can it? This is who I am. I am not strong, like Filana..."
The cold light in his
eyes turned to sadness, and Victor smiled weakly. Victor did not think of
himself as a strong person. If anything, he thought he was weak. In the past,
he couldn't accept this, and tried to present himself as strong. He flaunted
authority that wasn't his, and had flings with many women. He couldn't maintain
his sense of self without layering on such false clothes. The one who found
that weak self and acknowledged him was Irisdina's mother, Filana.
"Besides, this is
likely the end. If it comes to it, I'll leave it to that boy. It's frustrating,
though..."
Victor gently stroked
the head of Irisdina, who was still on the floor. Her white, bleached hair
slipped through his fingers.
(The old Irisdina
would have chosen Somia, even while hesitating... Does this mean that boy has
become just that important to her...?)
Victor is the head of
the Francilt family, and a father. That's why he always felt anger toward
Nozomu. Both for being liked by the daughter he doted on so much, and for the
boy's foolishness in not realizing his own path. He threw aside the fact that
he was the same in his youth, before meeting Filana, and hurled insults at
Nozomu in his heart. The hateful man who stole his daughter. But, he was the
only man his daughter had ever wanted. The stranger his eldest daughter, who
had been in such a hurry to protect her remaining family, had wished would stay
by her side.
(In that case, I'll
swallow this resentment. In return, you'd better make my daughter happy...
boy.)
Declaring that if he
didn't, he'd cut off his head with his own hands, Victor reluctantly removed
the hand that was stroking Irisdina's head.
"I'm sorry for
being such a pathetic father. I at least... wanted to see you in your wedding
dress..."
"Hmph. In that
case, hurry up and finish your work, and come get them. I won't forgive you if
you die."
"Are you worried
about me?"
"Ha! Don't be so
conceited. I'm worried about these girls, not you!"
Mazarinette ordered
her guard maids to gently carry the sleeping Irisdina and Somia out, then left
the dining room, her shoulders stiff with anger.
"Mena, you go
with the girls, too..."
"No, I will
remain here. I am a maid of the Francilt family, and your attendant.
Besides..."
"Besides?"
"I am the only
one qualified to be the bodyguard for someone who can barely swing a
sword."
At Mena's fearless
smile—not as a maid, but as a friend—Victor's expression finally softened.
"I've gotten
better than in my youth. I can swing a sword... a little."
"No, Master, your
sense is more fatal than your strength. Frankly, it would be better to give a
sword to the laundry maid. And of course, there is no way you can be compared
to Nozomu-sama. It's like comparing the moon to a turtle, a dragon to a
grub."
A laundry maid is, as
the name implies, a servant who specializes in washing. It's hard labor, and a
technical job that requires changing methods based on fabric, but at any rate,
it's a position that never involves swinging a sword. Unless he's in a state of
frenzied parental love and displaying hysterical strength, Victor is not
actually that strong.
"W-Well,
magic..."
"Magic that can
only make a campfire is useless. So please, just stay quiet and hide behind me.
You'll only be in the way."
"Y-You'd go that
far...?"
"Yes. You must
recognize reality."
Mena's words were
extremely disrespectful to her master. But to Victor, right now, that insolence
was what was most reassuring.
"Heh... Prepare
the welcome. Get ready."
"As you wish, my
lord."
Mena's face instantly
returned to that of a maid. She bowed respectfully, and Victor smiled. There
was no more tragedy in his eyes, only shining resolve.
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