DSB 115

After the others left, Illa remained behind to apologize to Lebel on behalf of the priests and their rudeness.

“I am sorry.”

“It was not your apology I sought. I heard the temple holds great sway in the Empire. I see the same is true here.”

“The priests possess abilities that are indispensable when we must treat those wounded by demonic beasts.”

“The temple is not without its power. People always turn to the gods when times are hard.”

Yutis stood at Lebel’s side and offered his own thought.

“Those damned beasts are the root of it. In the end, the knights are the ones who actually kill the things.”

“The Bishop is not a wicked man. He simply wishes to spread the word of the god’s greatness.”

“I am aware.”

***

The date for the New Year’s Festival was set. Damian groaned as he clutched the guest list. Far too many nobles had expressed their intent to attend.

The temple could only hold a finite number of aristocrats. Those excluded from the primary rite could still attend the ball held at night. The volume of people expected at that party made Damian’s head ache.

The castle servants worked themselves to the bone to prepare for the unprecedented crowd.

Amidst this chaos, Illa arrived with the holy sword.

“Yutis, take hold of this.”

Yutis cautiously took the blade from Illa. The edge had been honed to a lethal sharpness.

The weapon appeared little different from a standard sword. Only the golden script engraved upon the hilt set it apart.

The knights who had gathered to witness the legendary blade let out a collective gasp that soon faded into a confused silence. Its appearance was remarkably plain.

Lebel took a liking to the weapon. Its sleek, elegant lines perfectly suited Yutis.

The power within the steel was immense regardless of its humble look. Michael had never been an angel for gaudy displays. This explained the simple design.

“Its true worth will show when you face a demon. Do you like it, Yutis?”

“…It fits my hand well.”

“If you are satisfied, that is enough. Carry it with you. It will protect you in some way.”

Illa had been listening quietly and now spoke up with hesitation.

“May I borrow it for a short time on the day of the festival?”

“I know. You have my leave.”

“Thank you.”

Illa delivered the sword and immediately departed. Even a priest had much to do with the festival looming.

Yutis sheathed the holy sword to his hip in place of his old blade.

“You have a new weapon. We should test its strength. Which of these two do you wish to fight?”

Karon and Luceris stared at Lebel with wide eyes. Luceris caught sight of the holy sword and shook his head.

He already found Yutis terrifying. He had no desire to approach the man while he held such a relic.

Karon proudly stepped forward.

[It is a holy sword, but a human still wields it. I have grown stronger. I will not be bested so easily again!]

Demonic beasts mature at a rapid pace. Karon had been a mere hatchling when he first arrived at Hestro Castle. His bulk had increased and he had developed new talents.

The only issue was that the ensuing fight was entirely one-sided.

“…Should we stop them?”

“Why stop them? They are playing quite well.”

“Is that how it looks to you?”

Bron and Theo watched with strained smiles. Karon lunged with murderous intent while Yutis radiated a bloodlust that was easily his match.

***

Time flowed quickly until the day of the New Year’s Festival finally arrived.

The wind remained chilly but the early spring was at hand. Preparations for the spring festival had gone smoothly.

As the central figure of the event, Yutis had already dressed to receive the guests. He turned and shook Lebel who was entangled in the bedsheets.

The awkwardness he once felt about sharing a room and a bed had disappeared. He found that starting his day by seeing Lebel beside him brought him genuine joy.

“My wife, you must wake up.”

“…I am getting up…”

Lebel mumbled but only continued to squirm beneath the covers. It was indeed early for him.

Yutis shook him several more times. Lebel finally forced himself into a sitting position. However, his head promptly lolled to the side as he drifted to sleep again.

He remained a slave to sleep despite the return of his strength. He had been energetic in the mornings for a brief period but that phase had passed.

Yutis leaned in and kissed his brow in greeting.

“You haven’t forgotten what day it is, have you?”

“I know. The New Year’s Festival.”

Lebel stretched and yawned. He rubbed his heavy eyes and massaged his neck.

“Young Master, is the young madam awake?”

“He is.”

Mahan’s voice drifted in from the hall. The moment the door opened, a swarm of people hurried inside.

Lebel felt a sudden urge to flee but held his ground. Yutis was the one who would be truly busy today.

“But why are you dressed like that?”

“I am going to meet Lord Harvan.”

“Harvan? The head of the Teruo family?”

“That is correct.”

Lebel had been just as busy in recent days. Damian had pressured him to memorize the long list of nobles arriving from across the North. If he could not manage the entire list, Damian insisted he at least learn the names of the Hestro family vassals, hounding him until his ears felt ready to bleed.

He said the man was Father-in-law’s long-time friend.

The New Year’s Festival held great importance, but the threat of demonic attacks remained an urgent concern. The Empire had repeatedly sought aid from the North due to these raids. However, the North had politely declined each request. They cited the ongoing demonic threats within their own borders and the exhaustion of their knights from frequent winter expeditions. The tone of the correspondence was formal, but the underlying message was: “Handle it yourselves.”

Lebel knew his father-in-law took great pleasure in sending those particular replies.

The Empire eventually stopped sending letters, their pride likely wounded by the repeated rejections. Soon after, reports from spies began to trickle in. The damage from the demonic beasts was severe, and several villages had already been razed to the ground.

This outcome was inevitable. The Empire lacked knowledge concerning these creatures. Even the North only secured victory after repeated, costly battles to learn their habits and traits. Victory required a foundation of immense physical strength and superior swordsmanship. The North possessed a few exceptional knights, but even they were insufficient to hold the line alone. This was precisely why men like Edmund and Yutis led expeditions personally.

Yet the Empire had seemingly given up on seeking Northern help. Damian was the one who had flatly refused them. He did so because the Empire intended to take the aid and offer nothing in return.

The political climate of the Empire was unstable. They had lost the war against the North and faced public condemnation for the appearance of demons, regardless of their denials. If Biakin and Norman were indeed collaborators, Norman could have stepped forward to dispatch the beasts himself. Instead, they likely plotted something else. Lebel had prepared his own countermeasures with Luceris and the holy sword.

The current silence felt ominous, much like the heavy air before a storm.

“Is the Round Table meeting today?”

“No. It is tomorrow.”

The North could not discern the Empire’s true intentions, and the demons remained a mystery. Concrete plans were a necessity. The lords typically held the Round Table after winter ended, as they spent the colder months focused on blizzard defense and food supplies. Since the New Year’s Festival brought the nobility together, the meeting would take place during the festivities.

“Teruo must have been invited to the festival as well. Why go to meet him so early in the morning?”

“I have not seen him in a long time, so I intend only to offer a quick greeting. He was the one who instructed me in swordsmanship when I was a child.”

“The young madam must prepare as well. There is no time to linger with the young master.”

“I wasn’t trying to linger…”

Lebel turned to protest but went silent. A line of servants had appeared out of nowhere. Every one of them had eyes burning with a fierce passion. Lebel possessed no prophetic gifts, but he could easily imagine the ordeal ahead.

“My wife, I shall return shortly.”

Even a kiss from Yutis failed to lift Lebel’s spirits.

“Fine. Be on your way.”

Lebel surrendered to his fate and followed where Mahan led. He endured a grueling session with the maids, starting with a bath and continuing through a thorough polishing of his person.

“That is enough.”

“Young madam, what are you saying? No other day requires such effort.”

Mahan brushed aside Lebel’s concerns. He argued that a grand appearance was mandatory when the nobility gathered in such numbers.

This year’s festival was unique. The temple had prepared specialized projection orbs to broadcast the moment the master of the holy sword was revealed. A massive party for the Northern aristocrats would follow.

Lebel did not understand why looking beautiful for others mattered so much, yet he obeyed Mahan’s instructions. He was already feeling drained. He worried whether he could even endure until the party began. It promised to be a long and exhausting day.

***

“You look absolutely magnificent!”

Regardless of Lebel’s internal fatigue, the maids beamed with pride as they looked upon their work. Lebel stood before the mirror with a look of hesitation. The process of grooming and dressing had taken nearly three hours. He wondered if such things truly required so much time. However, the results were undeniably amazing.

His skin seemed to glow with an unnatural luster. His eyes, once hazy with sleep, now held a captivating and alluring depth.

“Where is Yutis? He said he would return after a brief greeting, yet he is not here.”

“I shall go and find him.”

While Mahan went to check on his progress, the maids began to select jewels for adornment. Lebel insisted that his formal attire was already ornate enough, but his words went unheeded. The maids had been waiting for this moment with a competitive spirit. They presented him with gems the likes of which he had never seen before.