LRAB Chapter 123 : Hey, Older Brother~ (5)
Chapter 123 : Hey, Older Brother~ (5)
Hey, Older Brother~ (5)
Pram's whole body trembled as a ring was slipped onto her finger.
Had there ever been a time in her life when someone of the opposite sex had put a ring on her hand?
That sort of thing didn't happen in reality. It was something that only happened in her imagination.
But now, that fantasy had come true.
It was the very moment the white-horse-riding prince she had always dreamed of was right there before her eyes.
"How is it, saint Pram? Will you be able to set a date with me soon?"
A date? Anyone could tell that was a proposal for a date.
"Yes, of course!"
Completely captivated by his charm, Pram nodded right away.
Then, hero Bellain smiled brightly and said,
"I'll be looking forward to it."
.
.
.
'What should I do what should I do what should I do what should I do what should I do what should I do what should I do what should I do what should I do what should I do......'
That night. Pram couldn't sleep.
Her mind was too clear after receiving a proposal for the first time in her life—she couldn't even close her eyes.
Her brain circuits kept running endlessly from the fluttering excitement, and she simply couldn't fall asleep.
'What am I supposed to do about this?'
What do you mean, what?
Obviously, she should enjoy a date with him and savor the happiness of life.
But even though she knew that, there was hesitation holding Pram back.
'Is it really okay to be proposed to so easily?'
In reality, today was her first time meeting that Hero named Bellain.
If a total stranger suddenly came on strong and said, "Let's start dating"—what would a woman even think?
'She'd definitely think, what a lunatic......'
It made no sense to start dating a man with whom she hadn't built up any sort of relationship.
Even noble arranged marriage meetings didn't proceed this hastily.
'Besides, I'm still underage.'
The hesitation gripped her—could she really go along with this?
The more she thought, the more active her mind became, and sleep drifted ever further from her.
'Come to think of it, Lima once said something about this.'
Pram had heard about the White Knights from Lima, a fellow trainee.
Since they belonged to the Holy Nation, it only made sense they'd also loathe anything evil.
That's why the White Knights viewed themselves as sacred beings that hunted down evil.
'Does using holy power mean you can definitely become virtuous?'
In this Holy Nation, there was a pervasive prejudice that holy power only manifests in good people.
So anyone possessing holy power was considered righteous—even priests, not just the White Knights.
'It's basically a cure-all, isn't it—this so-called holy power.'
If holy power manifested, you could "prove" you were good, right?
Does that mean even criminals with holy power could avoid prison?
'Honestly, it's kind of weird.'
Truth be told, it was the same in the Kilvus Imperial Court.
It was common for knights with noble titles to cause trouble among the villagers.
'I'm a knight who battles monsters, so treat me like a king.'
'Without me, your village wouldn't survive.'
'Who do you think I am? If you don't want trouble, be good to me.'
Some of them even ended up killing villagers and were dragged off by the 7th Legion.
Even mercenary trash pretending to be knights would often be snatched up by the 7th Legion.
'Whether it's the Imperial Court or the Holy Nation.'
Just as there were plenty of such knights in the Imperial Court, the Holy Nation had plenty of White Knights like them.
Aura and holy power.
Just getting some strength turned these pieces of trash into pompous fools strutting about.
At that thought, Pram felt a small twinge of worry.
'Could Bellain possibly be like that......?'
He would never act that way.
With his angelic looks, the thought of him acting the same as that trash was unimaginable.
In fact, no one in the 7th Legion was as handsome as Bellain.
The same went for Young Master Louis.
'Young Master.......'
Suddenly, she thought of that man.
At such a happy moment, thinking of Louis made Pram's expression sour.
"Agh! Whatever! Just forget it! Forget about him!"
Pram yelled, then buried her face in the soft blankets.
With a real white-horse-riding prince finally before her, what good would come from thinking about that stern Young Master?
Was Young Master even the type to put a ring on anyone's finger?
Did he ever display a gentle smile?
Did he ever charm women with a bright, refreshing appearance?
'Puahaha! Not a single thing!'
Like this, Young Master Louis was a man wholly unworthy of treating a "girl" the right way.
Compared to Bellain, who seemed to have leapt out of a romance novel, he was nothing but a dried-up, rotten squid.
'He should try to be at least half as much as Bellain!'
Even though she had only met Bellain for a single day, Pram's mind was filled to the brim with thoughts of him.
Once Pram had roughly sorted out her thoughts, she finally closed her eyes.
She still had many worries, but the rest could wait until the next morning to ask Lima.
.
.
.
The next day came, and Pram entered the classroom again.
While it was the most boring place to be since becoming a Saint, it had the benefit of letting her hang out with friends.
Building social relationships was a joy for Pram.
She waited for her friend in their usual spot.
"As of today, sister Lima will be formally withdrawing."
But the nun who was in charge delivered a shocking piece of news.
****
"Saint Pram. Is there something troubling you?"
When the lesson ended, at the time they had arranged, Bellain—now dressed in casual clothes—asked absent-minded Pram.
"Well, it's just......"
Pram talked about how a fellow sister had disappeared today.
Bellain's expression grew sincely regretful at the news.
Despite his grief-stricken look, every time she saw his face, Pram's heart pounded faster.
"She must have been quite close to you."
"Yes, she was the closest to me."
"It's unfortunate, but it is all true. After you appeared as the formal Saint, those higher up in the order have been discussing the treatment of the trainees."
Apparently, Bellain himself had been present at that very meeting.
If so, that meant all the other sisters would eventually be gone, and she would be left alone.
"Does that mean I'll end up alone?"
"That will not happen."
Bellain took Pram's hand.
"I will stay by your side."
Those words made Pram's hand tremble.
Even though it sounded like a line out of an old romance novel, her heart still thumped madly.
Any sense of cliché was completely offset by his face.
"By the way, there's something I want to give you."
Bellain placed something around Pram's neck.
As her eyes glittered at the necklace encrusted with various gems, Pram exclaimed.
"I've never seen such a beautiful necklace before."
"Do you know what kind of stone it's made from?"
When she asked what it was, Bellain smiled as he replied.
"It's called a sacred stone."
"A sacred stone?"
"It's a crystal born from the fusion of powerful magical energy and holy power. If you activate its special magic, it can be used for self-defense."
"Wait—then is this ring as well......?"
She looked at the ring he'd placed on her finger yesterday.
"The ring's stone is also made from a sacred stone. Actually, the sacred stones are currently what nourish the World Tree."
"The World Tree... That's the colossal tree managed by the elves, right?"
"That's correct. Once the World Tree accumulates enough nourishment, it can turn any land into the earth of life."
It was well known that the World Tree was the source of all life.
If you fed it with all kinds of nutrients and raised its strength, there was nothing it couldn't do.
"Using this, our order is preparing for a grand undertaking. We are working to purge a truly evil presence threatening this continent."
The threat to the continent was not monsters or devils.
"The 7th Legion of the Kilvus Imperial Court. That wretched unit full of trash must be wiped out at once."
The light in Bellain's face darkened with killing intent.
"The 7th Legion?"
Pram was shocked by Bellain's sudden change in expression.
"Yes. The 7th Legion—nothing but a group of evil scum. Trash like that shouldn't exist."
"......"
"Of course, I am aware that you yourself belonged to the 7th Legion. I'm sure you understand better than anyone what a cesspool that place is!"
There was no need to elaborate further about the 7th Legion.
But there was a clear reason for its continued existence.
"But if the 7th Legion disappears, there'll be nothing to stop the monsters from the demon realm......"
Their role was to use criminals as shields, blocking the monsters of the demon realm's advance.
If those shields were swept away, the monsters would spread throughout the continent.
"You're right. That legion is necessary. But what if there were an alternative?"
An alternative to the 7th Legion?
Barely holding them off by sacrificing convicts—what else could take their place?
"Your expression says you don't understand. But it can be done."
Bellain touched the gem fitted in Pram's ring.
"As I said before, the World Tree, nourished by the sacred stones, can do anything."
The idea of using the World Tree made Pram nod in reluctant understanding.
Seeing her reaction, Bellain smirked.
"To be honest, as a former member of the 7th Legion, you could never truly like the Imperial Court. Just being forced to remain in that rotten place—you don't need me to say anything more."
"......"
She had no choice but to agree.
If she hadn't been dragged to a place like the 7th Legion from the beginning, she could have enjoyed a much happier life.
"In that sense, Kilvus Imperial Court is rotten to its core. Even if they're criminals, they've spent ages using human lives as shields. Imagine—a Saint like you almost ended up as one of those shields. It's enough to make one weep!"
In fact, Dimo, her childhood friend, had been a Legendary Hero.
There were so many others with promising futures, but every one of them died.
All because of the miserable environment of the 7th Legion.
"A regime that can think of nothing else is truly barbaric. In the end, the only answer is for the Imperial Court to live under the rule of our Holy Nation! That's why you made the right choice, saint Pram."
And why?
"Because you turned your back on that idiotic empire and came to us. So you are more than qualified to stand with us, saint Pram."
Bellain extended his hand to her.
"Soon, would you care to visit the World Tree together with me?"
****
[The World Tree... It's showing no signs of life...!]
Frederick shuddered as he went to check the World Tree in person.
Even though a slime was clinging to her body, Silia didn't feel discomfort.
She too was equally shocked.
"It's really a dead tree?"
[Exactly. It is the World Tree, without doubt, but... it's no longer the source of life as you know it.]
If it was really dead, then what was still shining from its body?
Louis wore a bewildered expression as he touched the World Tree.
"Huh?"
Just then, something was transmitted into Louis's mind from the World Tree.
"What's wrong all of a sudden?"
When Louis went blank, Silia asked. Then, unexpectedly, Louis held out a hand to Silia.
"You want me to take it?"
"I think you should talk too, elder sister."
"With who?"
[No way...!]
As if realizing something, Frederick forcibly pulled Silia so her hand touched Louis's.
The moment their hands touched, something filled her mind.
At the same time, everything went dark, and the scenery changed.
"This is..."
[This is just like the first time I spoke with the boy.]
And before them, as before, stood a woman.
[Mirianne...!]
She appeared young, but her haggard appearance suggested she'd been living as a recluse for ages. The woman glared at Louis and spoke.
Only Frederick could recognize her as his old comrade.
[......]
Though he felt glad to see a comrade again, Frederick couldn't bring himself to smile.
The old friend he was reunited with had dead eyes.
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
They killed the World Tree...
【(⩌_⩌ )】