Translator: Nox

53 - Marquis Maron

Episode 53

"Leave it be. Let them do as they please."

"Are you really alright with this?"

"With what?"

"People call Hayley a wicked Sorceress and a public enemy of the three kingdoms, criticizing her. You can't find anyone who doesn't point fingers at you. But you're hiding and secretly fighting for them alone like this."

"Wait, hold on a second."

It seems like she's misunderstanding something big.

I kindly explained to Asta.

"I was a wicked Sorceress in the past. What they're saying is all true. Just because I lost my memories doesn't justify the wrongs I committed in the past."

"Hayley."

"I'm not doing this for anyone in particular. It's just information that happened to fall into my hands, and I'm passing it on to you because I'm too lazy to deal with it myself. Got it?"

"I'm…!"

"I won't risk my life for others, nor will I jump into danger to uncover the truth. I'm a selfish coward."

So, you do all that stuff.

As I nodded, pleased with the role I had assigned myself, Asta asked, clutching the list tightly in both hands.

"Then, where should I go now?"

"Go to Selbon when you're done investigating."

"Selbon?"

"You have to be there in winter."

I remember that the third Demon came out near that tiny village, as if some kind of curse had befallen it.

Asta nodded vigorously.

Whoooooosh.

"Ventus, let's go back now!"

The sight of Spirit Bird Ventus tearing through the wind as he appeared was, frankly, awe-inspiring.

A sharp wind blew in the clear blue autumn sky, and in between, a transparent diagonal line appeared, as if God had drawn it with his spit.

Ventus emerged, flapping his massive wings from within. White wings resembling clouds, a yellow and black beak, and flamboyant tail feathers filled my vision.

"Wow…"

[Filthy things still! How dare the minions of Demons stand tall before this great wind! I will kill them all!]

Aside from that, his temper was filthy.

[Contractor! Prepare yourself. Today, I, the King of Wind Spirits, shall show those vile and rebellious ones the true power of nature here!]

His mouth is filthy too.

Full of self-love.

"Ventus! Please don't do this. Please? These people aren't like that! Please don't fight!"

[Contractor, even you…! How dare these wicked things, how dare, how dare, how dare! What have you done to my contractor!]

"I didn't do anything. Look, I'm fine, aren't I? Please, don't just try to fight unconditionally, and listen to me…"

I think I can stop watching now. I was curious about the Spirit Bird, but I can't let it destroy my house again.

"That damn bird…"

And I'm a little uneasy about how my precious Doraji's eyes glaze over and she goes crazy every time she sees that Spirit Bird.

I quickly ordered Asta.

"Go! Asta Rosa!"

"Goodbye, everyone!"

---

Crown Prince Maris Mare of Kasnatura was a man who lived with a heavy sense of guilt towards his younger sister, Asta Rosa.

Seven years old. How many maids and guards had been mobilized to appease him when he cried and begged to go out and play on the last day of the harvest festival?

When he cried, the young Asta cried too, and the nannies, exhausted from appeasing the stubborn siblings, also cried. So, the two of them received permission from the Queen and went outside with undercover guards.

That's when Asta was lost.

After the Queen, who had been sick with grief after losing her daughter, also died, laughter disappeared from Kasnatura's royal palace.

Crown Prince Maris, who thought that all the tragedy was his fault, lived like an emotionless doll for the rest of his life.

A doll made only of duty and responsibility.

One smile would return tenfold as guilt, and one moment of play would require him to pay tenfold in atonement. He lived suppressing even friendship, love, sorrow, and joy.

Only then did it feel like he could alleviate even a little of the guilt of not only losing his sister but also causing his mother's death.

Everyone said.

Princess Asta must be dead.

In this harsh world, there was no way for a young child without connections to survive alone.

Maris locked himself in a prison he had created himself. It was a prison that no one could open. Outwardly, he became a perfect Crown Prince and received the respect of the world, but inside, he was slowly dying alone.

But then.

His beautifully grown-up sister returned before his eyes.

It was the only moment when he, who did not believe in God, called out to God. Somehow, Asta had grown up in an orphanage in Kasnatura. And she had become a remarkable child who carried on the lineage of Spiritualists, which was thought to have disappeared.

Maris could give Asta anything.

Affection, attention, time, gold, people, even the position of Crown Prince. He wanted to give Asta anything she wanted.

That way, it felt like the weight of guilt that had been pressing down on his life would finally be lessened.

But Asta was a child who wanted nothing.

She was simply happy to have a family she didn't know she had, that her family still loved her, and that she could return that love.

Then what should I do?

Maris waited inside the prison he had created himself, waiting for the day he could finally take a step forward.

When he arrived in Enif, the city atmosphere was indeed chaotic.

The whole kingdom was delighted that Asta had defeated the Demon, but only for a moment. People were curious. They were curious and afraid of why, how, and where Demons appeared.

The reaction of the Order was also unusual. After the death of the Cardinal, news spread that the Pope, who was famous for not moving from the Holy Kingdom, was heading to Grandis in the Kingdom of Nieve with his followers.

The Enif temple was sealed off.

The Order wanted to seal off Enif like Grandis, but Maris opposed it, saying that he could not allow it.

"Your Highness Maris, Princess Asta has left this letter for you."

"A letter?"

"Yes, fearing that you might worry."

Maris received the letter.

Asta's round handwriting filled the white paper. The message was not long, but it was full of cute requests not to worry because she could do well on her own.

Maris let out a low sigh.

The aide, who knew that the powerless sigh was the smile of this cold Crown Prince, laughed on his behalf and praised Asta.

"Isn't she really lovely? I have a younger sister at home, and to be honest, I'm too compared. My sister still kicks me in the shin, calling me a baby boar."

"That's because you call your sister an ugly hunchback."

"Huh… how did you know that?"

"Asta told me."

Maris said with a blank face.

"Stop interfering in your sister's private life when you're not even her father. She's an adult now."

"She's only old, but she's too immature. By the way… the day has come when I receive such advice from Your Highness."

The aide laughed again.

"First, I will go downstairs and tell them to prepare a meal. Would you like to receive a report on the disturbance in Enif?"

"I don't need a report, summon all those involved."

"Everyone?"

"Yes, starting with Cyril Vandision."

Maris ordered in a cold voice.

Cyril arrived quickly.

Thinking that it would be good to be on good terms with Maris, Asta's only brother and the next king of Kasnatura, he politely bowed and greeted him first.

"I greet His Highness Crown Prince Maris Mare."

"Sit down."

Maris had a very similar appearance to Asta, but his personality and tone were so cold that they could be said to be the opposite.

As soon as Cyril sat down, Maris asked.

"What was your relationship with Sorceress Hayley?"