Chapter 530: A Quiet Upheaval

Each sentence was inscribed on the parchment, as if carved into it, and the names were added on it.

While each character’s writing style varied, the weight of the characters remained the same. Everyone paused before adding their signature.

After all, this was the first official declaration of peace and cooperation between the Gharast Kingdom and the Bolvat Dynasty in human history. It was undoubtedly an achievement that would go down in history.

It would only be natural to wonder if they would make a mistake at this point.

The signing ceremony was taking place in the palace’s elite room.

Princess Philos was the first to take up the quill, followed by the young monarch of the Bolvat Dynasty. Once they had signed, the names of dignitaries, including Saint Matia and Sorcerer General Mastigius, were added below them.

Filaret had said that all of those names would serve as witnesses to the document. Apparently, this was the usual format for covenants and declarations.

Well, it was probably knowledge I’d never use even if I memorized it.

「You’re next, Lugis. Please sign at the end. 」

Saint Matia, sitting next to me, handed me a quill pen. It must have been made with a very high-quality feather. The bristles were more refined than I’d ever seen.

I couldn’t help but frown as I looked at the expensive parchment. After a moment, and then another, I spoke.

「…I’ll pass. I don’t remember ever writing my own name on a document. 」

I saw Matia’s bluish eyes look straight at me the moment I spoke. Her cheeks squirmed in response. She was as expressive as ever.

This precious document contained a mutual oath of non-aggression, and a declaration of our joint operations against the threat of demons.

There were many other detailed clauses, but I didn’t feel like looking at them. They were probably thought up by Matia or someone higher up in Bolvat Dynasty.

The contents of the document were fine, but having to sign them made me feel uncomfortable.

It brought back memories of the time I signed something without understanding it and ended up with a debt I didn’t even know I owed. Besides, there were already enough witnesses. There were a dozen other people listed besides me.

If I signed this, wouldn’t I get into trouble again?

I lay my quill down to rest with these thoughts in mind. Matia’s fingers met mine when I opened my hand.

She then gripped my hand with such force that it felt like she was going to crush me.

「Hey, wait a minute, Matia. Please wait. 」

「…Listen, Lugis. You’re the driving force behind peace and cooperation between our two nations. It’s unthinkable that you won’t sign as the mediator. 」

I felt like she had decided on that matter while I was asleep. Yesterday, all I drank was alcohol at the celebration of Lord Bolvat’s coronation, and I only found out later that the signing ceremony had begun.

While I was rambling on like that, Matia’s fingers gripped me tighter and tighter. It felt like she had rushed onto the battlefield herself, with a spear in hand.

「This doesn’t burden you with any strange obligations. It marks the end of the war between humanity. Weren’t you the one who said humanity can’t fight each other now? 」

「…Is there really nothing else? 」

「No. Have I ever lied to you? 」

Matia turned her eyes to me and once again grasped the quill.

The people around us began to murmur, and multiple gazes pierced me, perhaps because we had been discussing things for a while. This included Caria and Filaret, who were attending on Gharast and Bolvat’s sides, respectively.

Well, it was true that I didn’t remember Matia ever tricking me before. Being overly suspicious of people was a bad habit.

At the end of the document, I wrote my name in the place that said “mediator”.

It felt really strange. I shouldn’t have had anything to do with public affairs. I even felt a sense of embarrassment welling up inside me.

Just as I finished writing my name, our fingers touched, making an oddly hard sound. I instinctively turned my gaze in that direction.

It seemed to be the sound of two rings striking each other. On my finger was Matia’s “Holy Maiden” crest ring, and on hers was the “gold” ring I had left with her.

Come to think of it, I had completely forgotten to give it back. I was sure we exchanged them when we infiltrated the royal capital ruled by the magical devilish being Drigman.

Maybe it would be better to return it now? Before I could say it, Matia spoke, brushing away the stares that were all focused on us.

「Let’s leave the matter of exchanging rings for another time, Lugis. Right now, we’re at the signing ceremony. 」

Matia flashed an unusually gentle smile and quivering lips. It was an expression I felt I’d seen somewhere before.

—

Leu looked up at the sky. The gray sky, covered in death snow, was just right for this current mood.

She lightly hugged her chest, then put both arms around her shoulders. All she could feel was her own body temperature, and not a trace of the presence that should’ve been there before.

Why? She had been alone since she was born, and ever since her mother died. It shouldn’t have been a big deal, but now this loss was too unbearable.

Tears began to fall naturally from her eyes. That most shining jewel of all was nowhere to be found.

「What’s going on? You’re crying so much! Why are you crying at such fortunate time! 」

A figure with red hair peered into the room from outside the window. This was on the second floor, so how was it poking its head out the window?

Shad, the owner of that voice, had entered the room through the window and jumped onto the bed without permission.

What was going on? Leu’s eyes widened at the sudden succession of events.

「…What do you mean by “fortunate”? 」

「Vrilligant’s death, obviously. If a threat has died, then it’s something to celebrate. 」

Leu’s expression visibly contorted. Ever since the loss of Agathos and her acquisition of her original source…in other words, ever since she became a magical devilish being…Leu’s expressions and behavior sometimes resembled hers.

「I don’t rejoice over the death of someone, even an enemy. 」

「Don’t say that! You need to be happy because his death brought us a bright future! 」

Leu felt a hint of contempt for the first time today. There are people like this in the world, she thought. After all, Shad wasn’t human.

More importantly, why did she come here? Seeing Leu’s obvious confusion, Shad got up from the bed and said the following words.

「…Well, you can cry if you want. But once you start crying, it’ll become a habit to cry every time someone dies. And then, eventually, you won’t be able to cry at all. You must keep it to a moderate level. 」

Leu distorted her eyelashes a few seconds after Shad said such words.

Perhaps this was her way of comforting her. Honestly, it wasn’t much comfort, but Leu felt a sense of relief, and she let out a sigh.

She then turned her gaze back to Shad’s copper-like eyes. When she asked if there was something she needed, Shad nodded vigorously. Her red hair bounced vigorously. It almost seemed to express what was going through her mind.

「If you’ve inherited the Original Text, then surely you have the jewels that Agathos had. I want one back, is that alright? 」

She wanted a jewel back. Leu finally understood after hearing this. She was probably referring to something Agathos had sealed away in a jewel.

Agathos’ Original Text could seal a living being, or even an entire city, within a jewel, stopping time forever. This was Agathos’ very essence.

Honestly, Leu would never let go of what she had. But then, it would be problematic for her to keep it if it had originally belonged to Shad.

While Leu remained silent, as her emotions got tangled, Shad rose from the bed with vigor. She then spoke with a dignified manner.

「Zebrililith is increasing its strength. I want to be prepared, too. 」

As she spoke, a sudden, strong wind blew against the window. The snow that had stopped falling until then began to fall again, fluttering and falling.

A death snow’s butterfly was flying lightly outside the window.

It was as if it was trying to bring misfortune once again.

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