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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: A Mysterious Warning
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He was a man with two charming vertical moles near his right eye.
His skin was fair overall, but the pinkish hue around his eyes gave his very presence a dreamlike quality.
His long hair, starting black and ending white, further enhanced his mysteriousness, while his pupils, red as freshly spilled blood, held a strange allure.
But his good looks had no effect on Daphne.
“You bastard, I’ve found youuuu!”
Daphne glared.
Why?
Because this man was none other than,
—I know everything in this world.
—I also know that the great Seluseu will soon become a trivial creature.
The Great Sage who had spouted such nonsense!
There was much she wanted to ask him. Of all the bodies she could have possessed, why this one, the Hero's daughter? How could she break the curse of the Black Butterfly Disease? And so on.
But sages were a reclusive bunch, not easily found, so she had planned to seek him out after regaining her power. And here he was!
‘I won’t let you get away.’
Daphne shot her hand out to grab the Great Sage by the collar. But her hand couldn't reach him. It passed right through.
“The great Seluseu must know that this form is an illusion.”
“...Ah. Of courth! I knew thattt.”
She hadn’t known.
How could she tell if he was an illusion or not when she barely had enough mana to control her own body?
But admitting she didn't know would be a crushing blow to her pride, so Daphne feigned knowledge and changed the subject.
“You knew I’d end up in this body, didn’t youuu? How did you know?”
“My, you have so many questions.”
The Great Sage wrinkled his nose and his eyebrows drooped. Thanks to his gentle features and down-turned eyes, he looked like a dejected puppy.
But that didn't mean he looked entirely harmless. Perhaps it was because his blood-red eyes held an unusual sharpness. In any case, Daphne did not let her guard down.
“I would love to answer them all, but I’m short on time.”
“Why are you out of time? Do you wanna dieee?”
“Someone threw me to the other side of the continent. Maintaining an illusion magic from so far away is quite taxing, you see.”
“...”
She had done that.
Seluseu, no, Daphne quickly calmed her agitated heart.
“Since time is short, I’ll be brief.”
The Great Sage, his slightly fading illusion solidifying once more, continued.
“Find out why Seluseu had to die, and why you ended up in that specific body.”
Daphne was rather dumbfounded. He says he’s out of time, yet he speaks in such vague terms?
“So just tell me the reasons for everything! Concisely!”
“Pardon?”
As Daphne cried out in frustration, the Great Sage tilted his head.
“Why should I do that?”
“What?”
“That would be no fun.”
“...”
Right. She had completely forgotten. Sages were half-mad.
“You crazy son of a...!”
“Be wary of the Black Mages.”
Daphne’s expression crumpled.
Black Mages were insignificant humans who worshiped Seluseu like a god. They weren't particularly formidable.
Their power had clear limits, as they used magic by burning their own life force. As a result, the number of Black Mages had been dwindling.
Of course, the curse on Daphne’s body was powerful. It was a curse cast by a Black Mage who had wagered their very life. That made it wicked and persistent, but this was an exceptional case.
Normally, there was no need to be wary of Black Mages, so Daphne found the Great Sage’s words puzzling.
“Why should I care about those trivial beings?”
“When cornered, even a cat will bite a lion. You will find your answer when you find the original body.”
“Original body? You mean the dragon’s body?”
Instead of answering, the Great Sage gave a bright smile and waved.
“Oh, dear. It seems I really must be going now. I hope you stay well until we meet again.”
“Hey, you...!”
“Be careful.”
“Heyyy!”
But Daphne’s voice did not reach the Great Sage.
Having said his piece, he vanished. Being an illusion, he disappeared without a trace.
“Ha, ha?”
Daphne let out a disbelieving laugh, then ground her teeth.
“I must have truly fallen far. To be toyed with by a crazy sage like that...!”
Fine. You’re now number one on my list of targets to eliminate.
The Great Sage, the Hero, the Emperor.
Engraving the kill order in her mind, Daphne gripped the balcony railing so tightly it seemed it might break, grinding her teeth.
The next time the Great Sage appeared, she would capture him with a restraining device and…! Just as she was hatching a sinister plot, it happened.
*Kwa-kwa-kwang!*
A tremendous explosion sounded, and the entire building shook violently.
“Kyaaaaaah!”
“Uwaaack!”
Caught in the unexpected situation, people began to scream and scramble in a panic.
Daphne was surprised too, but not because of the explosion.
It was because she could feel a terrifying aura of death flowing in from outside.
—Be wary of the Black Mages.
“You, crazy...!”
Why give a warning right before it happens, you bastard!
***
After Daphne had gone out to the balcony.
The crowd was still buzzing with excitement from the duel that had just taken place.
They were all busy talking.
“It really makes you think that Daphne Akion is the Hero’s child. To subdue an Apprentice Guardian without even swinging a sword.”
“If she continues to grow like this, she’ll be a great asset to the empire. It’s very reassuring.”
“Seeing her protect Lady Brysa, maybe the rumors about her being a delinquent were just that—rumors.”
“That’s right, that’s right.”
Those who had claimed Daphne Akion couldn't possibly have subjugated a band of thieves had vanished. The same went for Mark’s father, Duke Brown.
After this incident, no one would dare say that Guild Leader Edhert had lied or that Daphne was just a sickly delinquent.
Everyone was all smiles, cheerfully chatting about the rare, enjoyable event.
That was when it happened.
*BOOM!*
A massive explosion assaulted everyone’s ears.
“Kyaaaaah!”
“Wha-what was that!”
The building shook violently, as if the explosion had happened right nearby. People fell into a panic.
“Wh-what is going on! What happened? Where are the guards?”
“To hell with the guards, the building is collapsing!”
“Get out now! The children? Evacuate the children first!”
Those who prioritized protecting the children first were true adults, but there were also some who lost their heads and tried to flee alone.
“Everyone get out of my way! Move! I can’t die here!”
The man shoved aside everyone in his path, whether they were young children or women, and ran for the exit. He thought he just needed to avoid the building’s debris, but that was a grave miscalculation.
*CRACK!*
“Ugh, ghh...!”
A piece of stone flew through the air and struck the man on the back of the head.
“Do you think you’re the only one who can’t die here?”
Daphne clicked her tongue and helped up those the man had pushed over.
A great being must look after the trivial humans. In a life-threatening crisis like this, one must step up even more.
Was that not the destiny of one who wielded great power?
“You, adult. Take this child and get outside. It doesn’t seem like it’ll collapse right this second, so you can move slowly.”
The woman, who had suddenly been entrusted with a child, looked flustered for a moment before realizing this was no time to stand around, and quickly ran outside.
Daphne didn't watch her go. There were mountains of children to save.
“Waaaaah!”
“Stop crying. Crying won’t solve anything. Here, hold hands, you two, and get out.”
“M-my leg hurts!”
“Everyone here is in pain. So stop whining and get out.”
Daphne worked alongside the adults, helping the children up one by one. Fortunately, there were no further explosions, so the building didn't shake again, but it was too early to be relieved. Daphne moved quickly.
Then, disaster struck.
*Fwoosh!*
As the building crumbled, the lit candles toppled over all at once, setting the carpet on fire.
“Aah! Fire!”
“Mooommy!”
“Damn it! We can’t put it out! Run!”
The fire spread from the carpet to the curtains and drapes, growing too large to be extinguished with a bit of water. A fire of this magnitude would likely burn until the entire building was consumed.
“Cough, cough! I-I can’t breathe...”
“Stay low. Here, cover your mouth with this handkerchief and breathe.”
“Gack, keuk!”
“You there, adult. This one is more urgent. Get them outside. Now!”
And so, Daphne moved even more frantically. The adults might manage, but the children could suffocate from the smoke and die.
The children could not die here.
What sin had these children committed, who had come out for a rare good time, a rare breath of fresh air, to deserve to die here?
Daphne scanned the area thoroughly.
“Lady Daphne! You should get out now too! The rescue team will come, so let’s go!” a man who had been unwittingly assisting Daphne said.
Was this one another trivial being who only valued his own life? Daphne glared at the man, but then noticed he was quite injured.
His clothes were torn, and his skin was bleeding. It seemed he had been hurt while protecting others.
“You pass.”
“Pardon?”
“You may leave.”
“Thank... no, that’s not it! *Cough!* You must leave too, My Lady!”
The man, who had been about to scratch his cheek awkwardly, grabbed Daphne’s arm with a horrified look.
“There’s no one left inside. We have to get out now!”
“No, let go of me!”
“I can’t!”
The man scooped Daphne into his arms and started running. With the building half-collapsed and flames soaring, they couldn't afford to waste any more time here!
Besides, Daphne was badly injured herself.
‘Is she not aware of her injuries?’
From the moment she started getting the children out, blood had been trickling down Daphne’s forehead.
She had clearly been hurt by a flying piece of debris, but she paid it no mind. Did she think saving others was more important than her own injuries?
‘And they called a child like this a delinquent.’
The man, Count Millan, seethed at the vile rumors people spread as he held Daphne tight.
‘When I get back, I will publicize this honorable deed!’
Count Millan’s family ran a major newspaper. As a publication that maintained a neutral stance, it was very popular among the common people. If he reported Daphne’s honorable sacrifice, the nasty rumors would surely subside!
Vowing to make Daphne’s name known far and wide, Count Millan put more power into his stride.
“My Lady, we’re almost outside! Just hold on a little longer!”
“I told you, there’s nothing for me to hold on to... hmm?”
Daphne furrowed her brow slightly and perked up her ears. A faint crying sound reached her. A voice like, *Uwaaah, mommy, where are you...* Daphne gripped the man’s shoulder tightly.
Humans are trivial.
Human children are even more trivial.
She could not let the most trivial of human children die.
“Let go!”
“Pardon?”
“I said, let go!”
“Ack!”
Daphne bit down hard on the man’s shoulder, and in the moment he loosened his grip, she darted back inside.
Just then, *CRASH!* A pillar collapsed, and flames erupted over it.
“Lady Daphne!”
