Chapter 480: The Sorcerer’s Cradle

The Royal Palace of the Bolvat Dynasty.

The center of the nation, built on mountains of gold coins. Now, that glittering building had become a den of wickedness, where demons lived, not ruled by the king of humans.

I sniffed as I looked around. There was a strong smell of iron in the air. It was evidence of blood spilled everywhere. A human would hate this smell, but the demons didn’t seem to mind.

I walked through the courtyard, still staring at the palace, and stopped walking since I felt a strong pull on my arm.

「Hey…hey, listen. Are we going to be okay? Are you going to save me if something goes wrong!? 」

Shad, who had transformed into a copper-haired human, said while gripping my arm with both hands. Her tilted eyes gave off a look of weakness that was hard to imagine.

It was a terrible attitude that was completely out of place with her physique and dignified appearance. My expression hardened without realizing it. She probably didn’t care about her current appearance.

But I could guess her feelings.

After all, this was the center of enemy territory. The area was surrounded by demons with shining-evil eyes. They would attack us immediately if we made the slightest careless move.

It was only us both walking, so it wasn’t surprising that she became cowardly. She was too timid to begin with.

Even though we had been guided by the Gear Rabel, Nutt, as the current ruler of the palace, didn’t allow 3,000 soldiers to enter the premises.

When it came to dealing with demons, it didn’t matter how many humans there were, so perhaps it was his pride that he wouldn’t allow unnecessary intruders.

Therefore, the only ones allowed to enter were me, who had been guided by Rabel, and Shad, who was the leader of the soldiers. I remembered very well that Caria had a terrible look on her face. She was yelling at me but turned my back on her and left her side.

I didn’t know what she’d say when I returned. Perhaps, it would be better for me if I didn’t go back at all.

Caria expressed her emotions, and her eyes became moist, but then she stopped yelling. In the end, she had to accept this demand.

I let out a small sigh without realizing it, and Shad, who was still grabbing my arm, jumped up in shock. Her cowardice had gotten out of control. Her teeth were chattering.

「Don’t worry. Just run away if it gets dangerous. I’d be happy if you could inform Caria and the others, but it’s fine if you just run away. 」

The woman she transformed into was taller than me, but she looked almost childlike as she crouched down and clung to my arm.

Imitating what Ms. Ninz had done to me a long time ago, I placed my hand on her head while brushing her hair back. When it came to take care of children, she was the only person I knew who could do it.

Shad looked suspicious for a moment, but then she opened her lips slightly and said,

「…You’re a strange person. You’ll be alone if I run away, you know? 」

So how can you tell me to just run away? Shad said, genuinely puzzled. Her eyes were suspicious, and even I seemed to doubt my own words.

But I guessed that was true. It was a bit too convenient to ask for her help and then tell her to run away if things got dangerous. Even I wouldn’t accept such a request.

After all, most people who told you to just run away were untrustworthy.

Smiling wryly at the things I said to Shad up until then, I took a step forward and dragged her along with me. Then, I searched for words.

「…What’s wrong? You came here seeking help, didn’t you? Then, it would be terrible if I didn’t help you at all. 」

A slight pain ran through my eyelids. That was what happened all the time during my childhood in the slums.

The nobles had no interest in commoners, and the adults were so busy trying to survive that they had no time to care for orphans. It didn’t matter if a young child was starving to death.

There was no point in calling for help or pleading for salvation. Even if someone reached out their hands, the best those children could hope for was a human trafficker.

There was no point in pleading for help. Everyone in the slums knew that fact. People who didn’t know that usually died young.

I once pleaded for help too, quite desperately. I cried until I was hoarse. But most of my pleas were unanswered, and before I knew it, I didn’t expect it anymore.

But I remembered how horrible and unpleasant it was.

「I’m a bit selfish, I know. Don’t worry about it. 」

Shad didn’t seem convinced by my words. She tilted her head and frowned. What a strange person, she muttered as she continued to grab my arm.

I was glad she took on a human form, even if it was just an illusion. A giant snake wouldn’t grab me by the arm.

As we left the courtyard, we heard the sound of something tapping on the marble floor. Rabel didn’t look back at us once but continued to tap her feet at regular intervals.

From behind, she looked just like an ordinary human. With her hair swaying gracefully, she looked like the daughter of an aristocrat.

To be honest, I didn’t know what Rabel’s intentions were, as she walked ahead of me. She kidnapped Filaret herself, but then said she’d let us meet her if we showed up.

Normally it would’ve been a trap, but I didn’t understand why she, a magical devilish being, would need to step up a trap for me when she was powerful enough.

Humans were defeated head-on, eaten, and forced to submit. That was what demons were. That was what demons were like. Taking hostages and setting traps were things weaker beings did.

So there must be another intention behind this action. And I must take advantage of this opportunity.

After all, the magical devilish being, which I was supposed to have a challenge with after going through the hordes of demons to get close to, was right in front of me. And she was guiding me to my comrade. And she didn’t even disarm me.

In that case, I’d rather let her guide me. Even if I were in the heart of enemy territory, it was far, far better than the worst I had imagined.

No matter how much I sensed the presence of demons all around me, strangely enough, I didn’t feel threatened. My treasure sword roared and tilted at my waist. The heat in my chest grew stronger and stronger.

For a while, I continued to follow Rabel’s back. As usual, she didn’t look back at us, and Shad was clinging to my arm.

I wanted Shad to just leave me be, but it seemed that was impossible.

And then, Rabel’s footsteps finally stopped echoing.

「…Well then. Listen. Your companion is further in. However, you can turn around now and return home. Make a decision immediately. 」

What was she saying?

I kept repeating Rabel’s words in my head. But I still didn’t understand what she was saying.

「Why are you saying such thing? Or are you trying to say that you set up a trap? 」

I felt a dull sensation in my spine as I spoke. A heavy weight grew deep in my chest.

「No. Feel free to do as you wish, human hero Lugis. You may proceed immediately as you wish. That’s your destiny. 」

Rabel looked at me while Shad clung to my arm. She was still looking at me with what seemed to be a smile on her face. She was respectful, like a maid.

I didn’t know what she was planning. But I had a bad feeling. I cleared my throat without realizing.

In front of me was an ordinary, slightly large door. It was probably a storehouse, one that was always found in royal palaces. It could be a treasure storehouse or a military supply storehouse. The contents could vary. It was stored inside something very sturdy.

「…Filaret! 」

I pushed the heavy door open. For just this moment, I let out the anxiety and worry that I had been forcibly shoving deep inside my heart.

There was no way I wasn’t worried. There was no way I wasn’t anxious. I had come here, desperately suppressing those feelings.

I prepared myself for all sorts of things to imagine what she might look like. Could she have been humiliated, cut to pieces, or on the verge of death? All sorts of unpleasant thoughts passed before my eyes.

But sometimes reality easily surpassed imagination.

Filaret La Volgograd was definitely there. At the very back of the spacious room. They had probably emptied everything out at once, so there wasn’t much left in this storehouse. All that was there were magical tools at best.

At first glance, Filaret seemed fine. Her limbs were not torn off, and there was no sign of blood. She didn’t look humiliated.

Her whole body was entangled in chains, unable to move, and she was just breathing on the spot. She was sobbing weakly as if she was having a nightmare.

I instinctively tried to get closer, but it seemed that a magical barrier had been erected around her by those magical tools. No one could get close.

In an instant, my eyes widened. I could see Filaret more clearly.

「So, Rabel…」

Looking closely, I could see that a rough-looking collar was attached to Filaret’s slender neck. Those at her limbs looked similar. I didn’t know anything about its structure, but I knew what it was.

My eyes felt something boiling up.

It was the very nightmare created by the Bolvat Dynasty. A sorcerer’s cradle.

It was something from the past, when sorcerers were greater in the Bolvat Dynasty, and citizens had a lower status. In order to protect their own status, sorcerers never tolerated non-sorcerers who opposed them.

The things that those in power liked to use against rebels had not changed from the past to the present. There was only one thing to make an example of them.

And so, that rough restraint device was created. It robbed the wearer of all magical power.

Originally, all humans had magical power, whether the amount was large or small. It was similar to organs and blood. It was also intimately connected to the soul.

To have it forcibly and violently taken away was akin to having your skin peeled off. First, you went mad from the unimaginable pain, and your mind and every nerve in your body were burned out.

But even then, you didn’t die. This was because, after taking away the magical power, this collar poured it back into the person.

And then, it took it away again. The wearer could only continue to scream, and eventually lose consciousness, still sobbing in agony. The constant pain made it impossible to sleep.

But if you tried to forcefully remove it, then you would be assaulted by a pain that devoured your very bones. It was a nightmare.

I turned around and looked at Rabel.

「…How do you want to die? You’re very good at deciding things rather quickly, so tell me right now. 」

「Oh, you think I did something wrong. I shall correct you immediately. 」

Rabel smiled again. But it wasn’t a cold smile. It was a rather demonic smile.

It was a smile that said, this is what it means to be a demon.

「I wasn’t the one who prepared this…your kindred offered it unanimously. Understand this immediately. 」

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What do you think of this, dear readers? What is Rabel’s plan?

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