-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: The White Lion's Lantern
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The Hero, Heros Akion, brought his clasped hands to his lips and lowered his gaze.
His eyes rested on a fist-sized box on the table.
Heros blinked slowly, listening to the words being spoken.
“They say the attack happened as soon as they entered the mountain path. It seems they were lying in ambush, waiting for an opportunity.”
These were the words of his aide, Pollin. Pollin sighed and pushed up his monocle with the palm of his hand.
“They must have been the ones who knew the Archducal House of Akion's sacred relic was being transported by the Golden Chalice Guild. Since they're all alive, we'll torture them appropriately to find out who's behind this.”
Heros finally lifted his gaze from the box and looked at the guild master, Edhert, who was seated diagonally from him.
Edhert, who had been trembling fearfully, inadvertently met Heros's eyes as he lifted his teacup. The moment he saw those cold eyes, he knew exactly who the wild lady inherited her eyes from. Like father, like daughter…
“Guild Master.”
“Yes. Please, speak.”
“Who knew the sacred relic was being transported?”
“No one besides myself and the vice-guild master. As you can see, we disguised it as an ordinary object.”
“Then how did the enemy know to lie in wait?”
This wasn't a question born of genuine curiosity. Edhert pulled his chin in like a turtle.
“I will return and interrogate the vice-guild master.”
“No. I've already summoned him, so that won't be necessary. I'll interrogate the bastard myself.”
Unlacing his fingers, Heros tapped the table with his fingertips—*tap, tap-tap*—and let out a short hum.
“However, I cannot overlook the fact that you've made me turn my attention to such a matter.”
Edhert was a middle-aged man with no martial prowess, but that didn't mean he was slow-witted.
Since an accident had occurred while transporting the archducal family's sacred relic, it was an undeniable fact that the guild had failed its duty, even if the item was unharmed. Therefore, he answered without missing a beat.
“We will return the entire retainer fee. And we will pay a premium to find a new mercenary group. After that, we will leave it to Your Excellency to judge whether our standing is good or ill.”
“Not bad.”
Only then did Heros stop tapping the table.
Pollin, the aide, shook his head, thinking, *He was about to smash the table again if he got any more annoyed.*
“By the way, is Lady Daphne doing alright?”
Edhert asked.
“If not for Lady Daphne, we would have all been dead for certain. The sacred relic would have been stolen as well. I offer my thanks once again.”
Heros glanced at Pollin, and Pollin quickly asked.
“I was about to ask about that, Guild Master. What exactly do you mean when you say Young Lady Daphne helped you? Could you please explain in detail?”
Edhert, overjoyed at the change of subject, rubbed his hands together.
“It's just as I said. Just when we thought we were done for, Lady Daphne suddenly appeared and sent those bandits flying with a wooden sword!”
“A wooden sword?”
“Yes.”
Pollin's brow furrowed, and Heros's eyebrows knitted as well. Heros asked.
“Have I ever arranged for Daphne to be taught swordsmanship?”
“No.”
“Then how did she defeat the bandits?”
“I wouldn't know.”
“And why was Daphne on the mountain path?”
“I don't know.”
“What is it that you *do* know?”
“I will investigate and report back.”
Edhert listened to the two's strange, familiar banter, then spoke again when there was a lull.
“After that, Lady Daphne collapsed immediately… I had heard that she was frail, but I'm worried that we may have made her condition worse.”
Heros recalled Daphne's face as she was carried on the elven physician's back.
Her pale, bloodless face was shrouded in the shadow of death. Bloodstains ran from her lips down her chin and onto her chest, suggesting she had coughed up blood again.
And so, Heros became curious.
The child was dying even when doing nothing. When on earth had she learned the sword, and when had she slipped out of the mansion and gone to the mountains? And why had she saved them?
Heros stood up.
“Aide, interrogate the men we've captured. Guild Master, you may rest before you return. I'll decide whether to entrust you with future work after seeing how things unfold.”
“Yes, thank you.”
“Where are you going, Your Excellency?”
Heros, picking up the box containing the sacred relic, replied curtly.
“To find out.”
***
I had a dream.
It was a dream of my time as a great dragon, before I entered this lowly human body.
A village was burning, and I discovered it too late. So I flew to a nearby lake, brought back a bellyful of water, and tried to douse the flames. But the inferno was too fierce and would not be easily extinguished.
I shouted. I told them to get out of their houses immediately. That if they just came out, I could protect them with magic and somehow keep them alive. That they would burn to death.
I roared and screamed, but the humans living in the village did not come out.
Because to them, I was a far greater calamity than the fire that devoured their homes, choked the air from their lungs, and would ultimately claim their lives.
In the end, I couldn't save anyone.
When time had passed and the embers had faded, I went inside one of the houses.
The black piles of ash that looked human were all huddled in the spot farthest from the front door.
Why were they like this? If only they had come outside, they wouldn't have burned to death. They could have lived.
After muttering this for a long time, I finally accepted it.
The fact that I was a calamity, and therefore, I could save nothing.
And yet,
-If it weren't for Lady Daphne, we would all have been dead!
-Thank you so much! We will never forget your kindness!
-Thank you!
Was hearing those words of thanks a dream, or was watching the village burn the dream?
Whatever the case,
it was the first time.
‘The chain of causality is broken.’
Waking from the dream, Daphne gripped her still-throbbing head and frowned.
‘To think it would end so… hollowly.’
Back when I was a dragon, how many enemies had I faced for the sole reason of being a calamity?
In a way, it was a relief to know I would no longer have to waste my attention on such pathetic foes.
‘Still, I'm curious as to why this happened.’
I suppose I can find that out later.
With that thought, Daphne lowered her hand and looked around, planning to summon that fool Teiti and make him bow his head to the floor for letting her collapse again.
But an unexpected person came into her view.
“Ah, hell. My mood is quite ruined.”
For there, sitting on the sofa, was none other than Heros Akion.
To wake up and immediately see the Hero's face.
There could be no shittier situation than this.
“For what reason have you come to my chambers? If it is for a pointless affair, then begone. I have no desire to speak with you.”
Heros spoke, his eyes fixed on the open book in his hands.
“I've been wondering for a while now, why the sudden change in your way of speaking?”
Daphne was flustered for the first time in a long while.
Why the change in speech? Because this was my natural way of speaking, but the original owner of this body wouldn't have spoken like this, so I couldn't just answer truthfully.
Her eyes darting about, Daphne eventually noticed the book in Heros’s hands and answered nonchalantly.
“I have been reading a peculiar book.”
“You must have been quite engrossed.”
Heros inserted the bookmark and set the book down.
“I have no intention of speaking with you at length, either. Answer two questions, and I will depart.”
Daphne narrowed her eyes and stared at Heros.
“How curious. Your daughter was sick unto death and has only just opened her eyes, yet you haven't a single word of concern.”
“Were we ever such an affectionate family?”
Heros let out a small scoff and continued.
“Wasn't it you who said you would never acknowledge me as your father? So I, too, am treating you not as my daughter, but as a proper individual. If you don't like it, you can become my daughter again.”
He recalled the harsh words Daphne had spat at him, then raised the corners of his mouth in a smirk and leaned his face toward her.
“Daughter?”
“I refuse.”
“Right.”
Heros shrugged and pointed to the sofa across from him.
Daphne looked suspicious, but she soon pattered over and sat down on the sofa.
“What is it you wish to know?”
“First.”
Heros gestured to the box on the desk.
“Did you know the merchants were transporting the family's sacred relic?”
“What is a sacred relic? And Hero, do not drink that all by yourself. Give it here. I am thirsty.”
Daphne slapped Heros's hand—*smack!*—and snatched the teacup. Momentarily stunned by her unexpected action, Heros collected himself.
“A sacred relic is a gift from a dragon, passed down through the generations in each noble house. I'll show it to you if you wish.”
“So I protected such a crappy thing. My mood has soured, so there is no need to show me.”
“That just makes me want to show you more.”
“I said I do not wish to see it.”
At Daphne's horrified reaction, Heros let out another dry laugh.
“Second. Why did you save the merchants?”
“They were simply being assailed by villains, so I saved them.”
“Simply?”
“Yes. Simply.”
“That word 'simply' requires more explanation.”
“Why must I be the one to explain?”
“Because if you don't, the archducal house's investigators will bother you.”
“I see I am at a disadvantage.”
*That Hero bastard must fight with his mouth, too. Look at him, never losing a single argument.*
Daphne rolled her eyes.
It wasn't a lie. Her body had literally moved 'simply' because. So she decided to speak honestly.
“You may not believe it, but it was, quite literally, 'simply'. The weak were being attacked, so is it not the duty of the strong to save them? That is why I stepped forward.”
“Ha?”
Heros was dumbfounded.
Not long ago, Daphne had fired a maid for stepping on her shadow and had taken a knife from the chef because her food was cold.
That cold and cruel child had saved the merchants ‘simply’?
Did she really change after dying and coming back to life?
Heros observed Daphne's body, but even he, a Sword Master, couldn't find anything strange about her.
“If you have said all you need to say, then begone. I must rest now.”
*Hmm. Seeing as she's still cursing, perhaps she hasn't changed after all.* Thinking, *Of course not*, Heros raised his eyes again.
“If you're plotting something, it would be best to stop. I am sick and tired of your evil deeds.”
“Thank you for that wonderful advice.”
The fact that things didn't devolve into her crying and throwing a tantrum, demanding he take responsibility for her life like before, felt somehow unfamiliar.
Heros unconsciously touched the scar on his face, then shook his head and offered Daphne the box he had set aside.
“It's the White Lion's Lantern.”
The sacred relic passed down to the archdukes through generations.
It was a lantern that gave off a mysterious light, as if silver and gold were mixed. Inside, it was filled with a white powder that never burned away, no matter how long it was lit.
Heros flicked his fingers lightly, and the lantern lit up.
“If you sleep with it lit, it will help you recover your stamina. It would be best for you to keep it in sight, even if you hate looking at it.”
Leaving the strangely white-glowing flame behind, he rose and walked toward the door.
“You saved what was meant for you, so I suppose I don't need to thank you for your trouble. No need to see me out. Rest.”
Daphne found herself staring at Heros’s back.
What?
Is he saying this is my gift?
But he says it so rudely?
‘What is this...’
Daphne was about to speak again, but Heros had already left the room long ago.
So, Daphne could only sit there, saying and doing nothing, staring at the flickering white light of the lantern.
For some reason, every one of Heros's words was like a fishbone stuck in her throat, making her chest feel tight.
Humans were truly difficult to understand.
***
Not even two days later, a rumor spread through the capital.
It was about none other than Daphne Akion, the troublemaker of the Archducal House of Akion, the child known to have been cast aside!
“S-so, you're saying that wild lady didn't hit someone, but saved them?”
“From a band of bandits, no less?”
