Chapter Three Hundred and One: Scope of Responsibility
“Karen, you’re awake.”
When Karen came to, she found herself in a carriage. She had apparently been sleeping comfortably, cradled in Julius’s arms.
The bird monster’s body was nowhere to be seen beside her. Her own body had been carefully cleaned, she had been changed into fresh clothes, and she was wrapped snugly in a warm blanket.
Karen’s first question was for Julius.
“The award ceremony for the hunting festival…?”
“It’s already over. Even while you were asleep, I dedicated all my prizes to you, so there’s nothing to worry about.”
From outside the carriage came Sepl’s muttered retort, "Seriously, that’s what she’s asking about?" followed by the sound of Urte smacking him.
Karen had ascended another step of the stairway. Her magical power had grown. And her hearing had sharpened along with it—enough that even the quiet voice Sepl had assumed she wouldn’t hear reached her ears.
Ignoring Sepl’s comment, Karen spoke to Julius:
“I’m not worried. I already know you wouldn’t dedicate your victory to anyone but me… I just wanted to be there with you.”
“Yes. I wanted to make you the Queen of the hunting festival before everyone’s eyes…”
The regret in Julius’s voice was genuine, and Karen stroked his arms around her as she nodded.
“Make me the Queen of the Hunting Festival next year.”
“Yes. Of course, Karen.”
Julius’s face immediately broke into a delighted smile as he nodded. When Karen’s expression grew faintly serious, Julius activated a magical tool fitted inside the carriage. A soundproofing device.
He must have understood immediately that what Karen was about to say was not for other ears. She smiled quietly at how quickly he had acted, and asked:
“So, the bird monster’s body—”
“I’ve had it stored away. I thought you might want it for alchemical experiments… but if it’s too painful, I’ll have it disposed of.”
“No. Thank you for keeping it. I didn’t know what effect burning or burying it might have, so I’m glad you kept it.”
In the case of the blackened, corrupted monster corpse, part of the dungeon where black sand—apparently made from its crushed remains—had been scattered became a zero-magical-power zone. No one knew what effect fragments of a monster’s body bleached pure white might have.
“The hunting festival is over, and we’re on our way back to the territorial capital now.”
“I see.”
“The abnormal monster behavior within the Ehlertt territory has settled. However, it seems there are several dungeons outside the territory where Great Collapse stampedes are still occurring.”
“…There must be white eggs in various places.”
And the monsters would continue pouring out of nearby dungeons and rampaging until those eggs were destroyed or hatched and died naturally. All according to the intentions of whoever had orchestrated it.
“Just as someone snuck a white egg into the Ehlertt hunting festival disguised as a merchant, there must be people doing the same in other places—and they’re probably running from the monsters while still carrying the eggs, trying to spread the damage as wide as possible.”
“But for what purpose?”
“I can tell they were trying to frame someone. However, what do they gain from doing that?”
Karen took out the medallion bearing the crest of House Court—Alban’s family—which she had put in her pocket. She had taken it away because leaving it in the pouch of the merchant’s body might have been used to frame someone again. There was no proof. But Karen had almost entirely come to the conclusion that those merchant-like individuals had nothing to do with Alban.
“—Oh, now that I think about it, I could barely sense any magical power from that merchant’s corpse.”
“Magical power does leave a body after death.”
“It was far less than from any of the other bodies. The bodies were arranged in order of death, from the back—but even the people who had died before that merchant had more presence than his body did.”
“Could it be that he had very little magical power even while alive?”
“I think you’re right, Julius. Yes… That’s probably it.”
Horst’s companions—most likely the Children of the Dark Night. They were trying to make the Philosopher’s Stone.
A stone that could transmute any metal into gold. An all-powerful stone that could make anything possible. Horst had been, in one sense, a social success. It was hard to believe he still desired gold at this point.
There had to be a wish that only the Philosopher’s Stone could fulfill.
“What kind of wish could those people be trying to grant with the Philosopher’s Stone…?”
“I’ve already passed on to Brother Helfried the information we’ve gathered, including the fact that destroying the white eggs will stop the monsters’ rampage. So you should rest, Karen.”
“Ordinary people can barely perceive those eggs, though—I wonder if they’ll be able to find them.”
Karen tried to sit up, and Julius pressed her gently back down with a smile.
“His Majesty has already issued a notice that a zero-magical-power zone was found in the royal capital dungeon. Every territory should have countermeasures in place by now. If a territory has failed to prepare for a known problem, that is the fault of its lord—so there is nothing you need to do, Karen.”
“It’s not just zero magical power, it’s actually negative—”
“Karen, you still look exhausted.”
Julius pinched her cheeks to quiet her, then drew her into his arms.
“I won’t let you out of here until you’re back to your usual self.”
She really was sleepy—the warmth spreading in slow, sweet waves from the earring at her ear, wrapped so thoroughly in his arms that there was no gap to slip through, toasty warm, Karen felt an irresistible drowsiness washing over her again.
“Goodnight, Karen. When you wake up, it will be time for the engagement announcement.”
Julius’s whisper dyed Karen’s half-sleeping mind a deep pink.
She drifted off in Julius’s arms with a contented smile.
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