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The True Meaning of Iron in the Blood of the Fallen:
Part 3:
(Location: Central Kingdom, Magic Manor, Common Room, Night Time)
Faust: So you’re already familiar with it, Sage. Shino also seems to have done a great job preparing.
At that time, the Valcy had spread its roots underneath the entire city, and was on the verge of annihilating it.
The person who stopped that was the Bernard Family’s head.
Mitile: Then, was he a wizard?
Shino: No, he was a human.
Mitile and Akira: What?!
Akira: Is it possible for humans to hunt monsters…?
Shino: Who knows. But that’s what the book says, anyways.
Arthur: The history books I have studied say the same.
I’d thought perhaps he had aquired the help of a Wizard or used some other means to gain an advantage, but there are no records of such events.
Faust: Not all history is recorded accurately: especially during times of chaos.
Humans cannot wield magic. Even if they chant words that appeal to the spirits, they will not respond.
In the end those words are just spells. Facing fierce magical beasts alone is beyond human capacity.
Akira: I see… has the story changed over time, then?
Shino: It’s a pretty common legend anyways. Actually it looks like he didn’t actually defeat the beast, just sealed it away.
This is what they used to cast it.
Shino traced the pages of the book in his hands.
In the page, there was a picture of a large object shaped like spread wings on a single solemn alter.
Mitile: is this where the Valcy is sealed?
Shino: Yeah. This is “The Medal of Sincerity”. The jewel in the middle is where the Vlacy is sealed.
It has a complicated structure with several layers of barriers and seals to stop it from breaking.
Apparently the duty of gaurding it has been passed down through generations of Bernard Family Heads.
Shino spoke quietly, like a child talking about their heroes.
He looked up at Faust, still standing behind him, with eyes full of anticipation.
Shino: Hey, Faust. If I ask that guy, do you think I can see the real thing?
Faust: That guy…? You mean the boy you caught earlier?
Mitile: The person who stole Murr’s wallet…?
I wouldn’t go out of my way to meet someone who does bad things like that.
Shino: I don’t think so.
Mitile: Why?
Shino: In order to survive, there are times when you can’t keep pretending. I was the same way.
Mitile was stunned speechless.
Shino’s back was straight and his eyes were clear. The pride of having survived all alone was reflected in his stance.
Shino: My dirty past won’t ever change, but I’m not the same person I was back then.
I want to see how impressive the medals handed down through the Bernard family are.
Someday, I want one that’s even cooler than all of them.
Mitile: Shino, I…
Shino: If you’re going to apologize, I won’t listen. You and I just have different ways of living.
Though his words sounded like they were pushing others away, they were clear, as if he was making a joke.
The air surrounding the two boys relaxed. The image of a boy in torn clothes standing among them came to mind.
Akira and Arthur: Aboyt that boy… ah.
Akira: I apologize for speaking over you. You were going to say something?
Arthur: Yes… he seemed quite concerned about the incidents in that city.
Faust: The serial attacks? Didn’t he mention that several incidents happened in quick succession?
Arthur: Yes. Somehow though… from the way he spoke, I think he might know something more about those incidents.
Shino: …? Does that mean he’s involved?
Arthur: It is not that I wish to doubt him, but he was the one who warned us not to stay in the city for fear of more casualties.
As a member of an esteemed family, it is possible he said this out of concern for the public good, but… as the victim in the situation, his phrasing struck me as odd.
Akira: That’s right…
Mitile: …In the first place, why is someone like him living like that?
If he was born to a family like that, shouldn’t he have a mansion and be admired by everyone…?
Shylock: It isn’t particularly uncommon for noble families to fall.
Just as there is no flower that does not wither, so too does glory never last.
Murr: Shylock is eloquent as always!
Akira: Shylock! And Murr too.
Shino: You guys sure like appearing out of nowhere.
Shylock: Fufu, I enjoy spending my time as I please.
Rather, it seems this is the perfect place to enjoy dessert after dinner.
Would you like some tea to go along with your sweets?
Murr: I want a drink! I’ve been upside down for so long I’m starting to get thirsty!
Shylock: have you tried turning around and pointing your head towards the ceiling? It’s likely because of the blood rushing to your head.
And Murr, you are the one offering the tea. We came here to apologize for the commotion the other day.
Murr: That’s right! Let’s have fun giving it out and have fun drinking it too!
Murr waved his finger and the tea poured out into several cups.
Faust: You’re not just here to apologize, Shylock. You were worried about the boy too, weren’t you?
Shylock: My, perceptive aren’t you?
The Bennet family is one family whose status slowly declined but… in that boy’s case, it seems something more dramatic has occurred.
When Shylock raised his hand up, a delicate, colorful plate appeared.
On top of it, colorful sablés appeared, overlapping with one another. He placed it on the table and sat down on the sofa.
Shylock: When life changes, people usually adjust in stages.
But… that boy didn’t seem used to his lifestyle at all.
People rarely lose everything overnight.
Murr: Also, we heard your story! The monster House Bernard sealed was the Valcy, right?
That’s an extremely high-level monster, you know. You’d need a ton of spirit* to fight off something like that!
Shino: Spirit?
Faust: The key is a strong will. You’ll need it in most situations.
Arthur and Mitile: Spirit…
Akira: Wow, it suddenly became a matter of willpower.
Faust: It makes sense. If one firmly believes that they are a servant of justice who must not give in to evil…
By utilizing the correct strategies and affirming his will, he manipulated both his body and his mind to confront and overcome the Valcy.
Shino: Cool. Faust, say that one more time, I wanna try too.
Faust: You never listen seriously. I’m serious: if you fall prey to a Valcy without the right convictions, you’ll lose both your mind and your body.
When that happens, you’ll become a blood-feeding monster, just like it.
Akira: Ah…
My voice raises in horror at his words.
Murr, who was lounging in the air beside me, raised his index finger, and poked my temple.
Murr: Valcy are famous for luring humans out with sweet scents and mysterious sounds before pouncing and sucking their blood.
When that happens, the Valcy’s poison enters the body and the human is overcome with the urge to drink blood.
Akira: People… drink other’s blood?
Murr: Yep! It’s only a matter of time before the extremely abnormal drives the victim mad.
When that happens, the Valcy calls the victim back to its cocoon and sucks all their blood. That’s how it grows.
Mitile: It keeps getting creepier and creepier…
Shino: What a freaky story, it must’ve been some monster.
Arthur: Even if it is a magical beast, the idea of attacking people and changing their very being…
Akira: (To have your blood feasted on and even be cursed to become just like the monster that attacked you… the Valcy really are like the legendary Vampires of my world…)
Shylock: After securing some history books, it became clear that is exactly the reason why the achievements of the Bernard Family’s former head are so glorious.
For a legendary creature like the Valcy… to remain sealed to this day is no small feat.
Murr: But no sealing technique can last forever. Maybe the secret passed down through the family heads is the key to maintaining it?
Shino: A secret technique… like what?
Murr: I dunno! But there are a lot of weird things about that town: The Valcy, the street attacks, and the wallet got fuller too!
Everyone: …What?
Murr: When I got my wallet back from the boy, there was a little more inside!
I wonder if his funds got mixed with mine when it dropped on the road?
Akira: That’s terrible… we should go find him and give it back.
Shylock: This must be causing him some trouble.
Shino: That’s fine with me, I wanted to go back and get lemon pie anyways.
Let’s ask him to show us his medals too, if you’re curious maybe you can even check on the seal while where there.
Arthur: I’d also like to accompany everyone.
I’d love to hear more about him of course, but I’d also like to ask about the incidents.
Murr: Yay~! We’re all going out again!
Mitile: U-um… is it alright if I go too?
Shino: Why? Do you also want lemon pie?
Mitile: Well, there’s that too but… if his situation is like everyone says it is, like Shino’s was, then he may not be such a bad person right?
I judged him too fast without knowing anything, but… if there’s something I can do to help him, then I’d like to do that!
Shino: …Is that so? Then you come too.
Mitile: Thank you!
Arthur: Master Sage, I look forward to working with you!
Akira: I am as well! It’s better to go as soon as we can so…
Faust: Wait.
Shino: What?
Faust: If you’re planning on visiting that town and the boy’s mansion, you’ll need to prepare.
Can you give me some time?
Translator’s note:
*気概 translates to will or fighting spirit, not to be confused with the magical spirits that allow wizards to cast magic.
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