Within the cold in the Snow Globe, where the giant arranged his cemetery, Keiron lived as a statue. His only companion was the giant.
The sleeping giant’s consciousness occasionally reached out to Keiron, who conversed with him and thought about humans and the world. He was immersed in strange contemplations. The immortal giant dug at his origin, but Keiron, whose life was finite, was convinced of his significance. There was no doubt about it.
─The guardian of Sophien.
Whether it was a vocation or a calling, it probably wasn’t a goal set from the time he was born. His mother and father would not have conceived him solely for Sophien. Instead, it was Keiron’s own choice. The moment he saw Sophien buried in boredom, that choice was made.
─Humans live without knowing where they came from or where they are going.
The giant said. He discussed mortal life as an immortal.
─But, now I know by looking at you.
In the giant’s eyes, the stormy seas shook. They were all the seas he had seen.
─You guys are sure. You don’t need to know your source. This process is your source.
The giant looked up at the sky. Keiron’s gaze followed him.
─It reminds me of many things. Humans look different, yet they are the same. I can tell a lot just by looking into their eyes.
The giant’s eyes slowly turned to meet Keiron’s. He stared at the truly foolish human whose goal was to protect other humans.
─Human. The time given to you is not enough to satisfy you. You pursue everything, but in the end, you do not get to it, and you break down. You strive, covet, and seek, all to die in vain. Yet, you desire as if you will never die.
A faint light glimmered in the giant’s sunken eyes.
─…Go back now. Go back and tell the world.
The giant closed his eyes.
─Tell them the giants didn’t understand humans after all. So, they pity you who try to see the end that doesn’t exist…
The solemn voice tapered off. The giant’s huge body hardened into stone, and the world shook. Keiron took a step forward.
‘Keiron.’
Feeling the Emperor’s voice calling to him, he proceeded.
“…My life, to you.”
* * *
The palace garden, park, corridors, inner rooms, dining rooms, sports ground, theater, offices, courthouse, underground, annexes, secret rooms, flower garden, auditorium, military tents, and outer walls… the Knight Statues placed in all of them moved.
It didn’t matter their appearances. Whether in armor, bare, armed with bows, swords, or spears, as long as they were statues, they moved under Keiron’s control to the hallway where Sophien stood. Tall statues stepped out of the plaster with their own two legs to block off the group of Altar warriors.
Whoong—
The statues creaked as they raised their weapons. There was no other reaction than that of astonishment as the warriors stared blankly at the statues.
“…You have no choice but to die.”
In an instant, Sophien’s order came down.
Booom-!
The statues struck.
─Run! It’s just a statue!
It wasn’t just a statue. Although they were made of stone, they were not blunt or slow. Rather, they possessed Keiron’s agility.
Swoosh…
-Release the dark energy – ooof!
There were many more statues in the Imperial Palace outside this hallway. As long as the Emperor’s order remained, Keiron would catch and kill all enemies who dared invade the Imperial Palace. There would be a slaughter.
Boooom-!
The statues broke the bodies of the Altar. Torn limbs flew through the air, and blood coated the walls. Sophien strolled between them.
Stomp, stomp.
At the end of the red road that the Emperor approached by, a knight awaited her on one knee.
“Hmph.”
Sophien examined Keiron’s aura. The force of his mana vibrated and responded sharply. It was the evidence that he had risen to the status of a knight.
“I see you are late for a reason. Zeit… is it more than that?”
Keiron waited with his head bowed.
“Raise your head.”
Keiron raised his head, reflecting the blood-stained Sophien in his eyes.
“Do you like plays? Why are you so late? There were many moments when I needed you.”
Keiron closed his eyes as if apologizing. But at this moment, the silence was not a virtue. To the master who had waited too long, the knight delivered the knight’s words.
“It was all to become the Imperial Palace.”
“…”
Sophien quietly looked around the hall to the living statues. Even if the Palace collapsed, those statues wouldn’t disappear.
“…Hmm.”
The Emperor’s Palace was not a building made up of walls.
“I see.”
Sophien smirked. The current Keiron had a pretty bold will.
“I see.”
For Keiron, the Emperor’s Palace was all the statues spread across the continent and the one who watched and protected Sophien from them…
“Now, I will become your majesty’s palace.”
* * *
I looked to the Imperial Palace from the old house. I could see even from the window. I could see clearly, like I could just open the door and go outside.
“The affairs of the Imperial Palace are in order.”
It was thanks to Keiron arriving on time. His growth was significant, too. It would be of great help in the upcoming main quest.
“Professor! That’s not the problem! I’m saying we’re trapped!”
Adrienne yelled. I glanced at her. As she said, whether it was the work of the Altar or Decalane’s tricks, the door was closed.
“It won’t open!”
Adrienne rattled and shook the front door. Louina and Primienne, who were gathered behind her, wore tense looks.
“No, why only me?! Ihelm, Julie, Lawaine, and Isaac just went out!”
Adrienne yelled. About thirty minutes ago, Ihelm carried Julie out and escaped. Lawaine and Isaac followed them. However, Adrienne wanted to hear the truth about Julie and me, so she waited for a while. After waiting for me like that, the door wouldn’t open when she tried to leave. Communication with the outside was also cut off.
“It’s self-sufficient.”
“I beg your pardon!”
Adrienne raised her head with a tremble. The compatibility of the Fairy and the underworld, the realm of death, was quite bad. Just as I reacted to dark energy, the Fairy reacted to the dead.
“Gosh, seriously!”
“Be patient.”
“Be patient with what?!”
“Nothing changes with screaming.”
“…”
Adrienne’s expression grew cold. Like she was about to explode. Louina grabbed my arm.
“What are you doing? Don’t you know that if Adrienne explodes, we’ll all die?”
“I know.”
I approached Adrienne and whispered.
—If you are patient, I’ll tell you. About what happened between Julie and me.
“!”
Her ears pricked up. Forgetting her instinctive disgust, she smiled brightly again and looked up at me.
“You mean it, right?!”
She liked to gossip.
“Yes.”
“…Well then! Let’s find a way!”
Adrienne shook her arms vigorously. Then, Primienne stepped forward.
“But how? Looks like we’ll have to ask for help outside. But how do we ask for support? The crystal ball has also been disconnected.”
She wasn’t speaking in her usual way. I turned to her and said:
“First, the Altar-“
“Oh, ~ Let me tell you in advance. We didn’t do it.”
Suddenly, Syrio interrupted and appeared. Several footsteps approached along with the metallic clanking of armor.
“…Are you the Altar?! What are you guys doing!”
Adrienne pointed at them and shouted. Syrio flashed a smile at her.
“Haha. Nice to see you, Chairman.”
“What are you so happy about?!”
“…First, we also don’t know about this situation.”
Syrio, ignoring Adrienne and walking forward, looked at me. He smiled brightly and grabbed the doorknob of the old house’s exit. Of course, it didn’t open.
“Oh~, we’re doomed.”
“Doomed?! Don’t say that!”
“It’s just that soon a solar eclipse will arrive. There’s not much time left.”
Syrio sighed.
“When the solar eclipse comes, we’ll be all taking a journey to the underworld. Deculein, you know that, right?”
It was the worst thing that could happen in here. Adrienne looked back at Syrio and me.
“Well then, then?! What if the solar eclipse comes?!”
I calmly answered.
“We can still go back. Six years and six months later.”
“…Six years! Are you crazy?! I’d rather break the door!”
Syrio put a hand on her shoulder.
“If you destroy it, we’ll all die. This place is connected as one whole. No, it’s alive.”
“…Alive?!”
“Yes. We only realized it when we arrived here.”
He smiled as if it was absurd.
“I heard that someone magically remodeled this old house.”
“Magically remodeled!”
“Yes.”
Magically remodeled. It was a modification performed by magic, but it wasn’t a term used to mean anything good. Usually, the word Enchanted was used for normal item modification.
“Was it Decalane?”
“Yes. There is no one but Decalane. Ugh~.”
Syrio stretched and reached out to me.
“For now, let’s work together to get out. If you don’t want to give up six years.”
“…”
I didn’t shake his hand. Rather, I shoved past his shoulder. In that brief moment, Syrio whispered in my ear.
-Do you know that? If we don’t solve this old house, the Emperor is in danger. Of course, your disciple was also taken away by Decalane.
A voice that flowed like the wind. I didn’t say anything. As if Syrio didn’t care at all, he looked at Louina and waved his hand warmly.
“Haha. Hi Louina~, it’s been a while.”
“…Huh? Yeah. L-Long time no see…”
Louina answered with a slightly vague expression.
“Wow, gathering like this reminds me of the past. We used to- ouch!”
Adrienne lightly hit Syrio with Whistle.
“Then, we have to find Decalane first, right?!”
─No!
A loud cry echoed from the other side of the hallway. At the same time, two guys appeared triumphantly.
“You don’t have to look for him.”
It was Epherene, and Lia stood by her side.
“I, no, we will guide you. We just met Decalane.”
Epherene said. Syrio, who had been pushed back for a moment, quickly approached.
“What the, I thought you were kidnapped?”
“Kidnapped?! I ran away from you!”
Epherene retorted sharply. For some reason, she reacted more favorably to Decalane than to Syrio. Syrio’s eyes went wide.
“Huh? What happened? Hey. Have you been brainwashed by Decalane? Deculein. Examine her.”
“What are you talking about?”
Frowning, Epherene marched by.
Stomp, Stomp-
After approaching recklessly, suddenly…
Grab—!
She unexpectedly ran into my arms.
“…”
“…”
“…”
It was quite unexpected, and no one in the room said anything. I looked at her and tried to pull her off but met her eyes first.
…Strangely, a sorrowful light was glimmering inside them. I thought I knew the reason.
“That mana stone, you delivered it.”
“…”
The girl’s wet eyes fluttered, looking sad. Without a word, she hugged my waist and exhaled a trembling breath.
“What! This is a scoop! Deculein, in love with his disciple!”
Holding Epherene in my arms for now, I stared at Adrienne.
“I have to take a picture of this! No! I don’t have a camera!”
Adrienne was shouting for a camera while Louina looked at me with confusion.
“No. I have to portray it as a painting first-“
I flicked Adrienne with Psychokinesis.
“Ouch!”
Ignoring her staggering with a hand to her forehead, I pulled Epherene away. She murmured with her head down.
“…I’m sorry. I watched it all.”
