DTBTHS Chapter 37

Something red shimmered on the horizon.

A massive single-horned wolf was racing toward them with the boy on its back.

"Simon!"

At her call, Simon startled awake. Veronica woke from her sleep as well.

Ariadne issued rapid commands.

"Axel is coming. Go out and meet him immediately. Check his condition and report back."

"Yes, my lady."

Simon went outside.

She pulled out her hood and threw it on, drew the curtains tightly closed, then pressed herself against the window.

Veronica tilted her head curiously.

"You've been waiting all this time, haven't you?"

"Yes."

"But you're not going out to... see him?"

"I told you. I have no intention of meeting him in person. Nica, you stay inside too."

"Yes... If it's what you want, Miss... there must be a reason for everything."

Veronica obediently sat down and cradled her sword in her arms.

Ariadne watched through the gap in the curtains, careful to keep herself hidden.

Simon greeted the protagonist with servants and a physician.

The people who saw the massive Aeon Flare were shocked. Even Simon, who had received some warning from Ariadne, seemed to struggle maintaining his expression.

Recognizing the master's representative, Axel withdrew his spirit beast. Aeon Flare scattered into sparks and seeped into his body.

The boy stood upright through sheer force of will, but he was a complete wreck. One leg appeared broken—he couldn't even stand properly.

'...Still, thank goodness...'

Ariadne felt relief confirming the protagonist's eyes were intact.

Only after checking his eyes did the boy's appearance register properly. The young protagonist she was seeing for the first time.

She was slightly surprised.

'I thought he'd look cute since he's still young.'

Despite being covered in blood and dust, his distinct features were strikingly clear.

'So that's the kind of presence he has.'

"Handsome" suited him better than "cute" already. She found herself curious what he'd look like when fully grown—that intense appearance.

'And he's bigger than I imagined.'

Despite his underdeveloped body, the protagonist was quite tall. Only slightly shorter than sixteen-year-old Erich.

'Well, the novel did describe him as a giant of a man, taller than most men by a head...'

A servant approached to support the swaying boy. But Axel shoved him away roughly. Then he shouted with fierce eyes.

"Where is my master?"

Simon tried to persuade him with something. The physician approached too, but Axel shook his head firmly and stared straight at the carriage.

"Adrian!"

Ariadne reflexively pulled back from the window.

"You're in there! Come out! Are you afraid of your own piece, master?"

His voice was savage. Veronica's eyes narrowed as she listened.

"That little... How insolent. To dare speak to the young lady who sponsors him like that."

"Bear with it, Nica."

He must have realized she'd deliberately pushed him before Aeon Flare, so his anger was justified.

"What the hell—"

Axel's shouting cut off. Ariadne pressed her hood down further and carefully looked outside.

Axel seemed unable to hold out any longer and had collapsed. The physician was examining the boy.

Before long, Simon returned to the carriage.

"His leg is broken and he's severely dehydrated, but there are no major problems. Apparently he has a naturally sturdy constitution. Since a spirit beast has taken residence, his recovery should be even faster."

"I see..."

Ariadne let out a faint sigh and added:

"Take him to the estate and summon a priest to treat him."

"I don't think we need to summon a priest."

"Still, faster healing is better."

"Understood."

"You stay with him for a while too. Report immediately if even a minor problem arises."

"...Yes."

"I'm counting on you. If he recovers without incident, I'll double your bonus."

"I'll care for him with utmost dedication!"

Simon answered in an excited voice, then hesitated before speaking.

"But that boy... to become Aeon Flare's master at twelve, won't people try to scout him from everywhere?"

"No, no one will come. How can they scout someone whose existence they don't even know about?"

"Pardon?"

"The Chess Association will suppress rumors after seeing the collar's records. He'll become famous within the Association, though."

"Since he's a piece, if we wait a bit he'll become a slave, and there's no way they'd miss the opportunity to enslave a spirit knight. There's already plenty of precedent."

"...I see."

"Now even if I, his master, try to free him, the Association won't let him go."

"Then what's the point of you raising that boy, my lady?"

"No, there is a point. Probably."

A bitter smile appeared, incongruous on her young face.

The protagonist had only just taken his first step.

The things he had to do, the things he had to endure—they were piled up like mountains.

All she could do was clear away a few of the things Axel had to endure.

'Does this really have meaning?'

She didn't know.

She just couldn't simply do nothing.

3. Twelve Years Old

Rumors spread of a miraculous potion that could cure the Taint.

Most people dismissed it as false rumor.

They'd already heard many such rumors, and every single one had been a lie.

Among them, there were those who obtained the rumored potion by chance.

Since contamination meant death anyway, they carried the medicine with a "nothing to lose" mentality.

Two months later.

Several of them began searching frantically for that potion.

Six months later.

The potion called "Elixir" commanded whatever price was asked on the black market. Noble families and large mercenary companies took interest.

One year later.

Even the Temple and the Royal Court moved. Now there was no one who didn't know of Elixir's existence.

And then, the Young Duchess of Eldier visited the Temple with the Great Mage.

Soon the Temple made a public announcement about Elixir and bestowed the title of Saint upon the Young Duchess of Eldier who had donated it.

The following year, an Elixir manufacturing workshop opened in Weaver. The Temple also began selling Elixir.

Elixir spread explosively.

Before long, everyone who set out on subjugation carried Elixir.

That same year, Elixir was discovered to be effective in purification work.

The tide of the holy war between Elysium and the Demon Realm reversed.

In one year, subjugation deaths decreased noticeably. The speed of purifying contaminated regions accelerated.

However, the Great Labyrinth still stood firm. The cursed lands continued to grow.

Thus Elixir became completely established, and time passed again.

Ariadne turned twelve.

She had become far healthier than before.

Looking at her rosy cheeks and fair face, it was difficult to imagine the days when she'd suffered nosebleeds constantly.

She'd grown much taller too. Though still on the smaller side for her age.

"Hey, skeleton."

Even though her face was now a far cry from skeletal, Erich still called her that.

Ariadne knew it was half-affectionate nickname.

So honestly, she didn't really mind being called skeleton.

Insults between siblings were terms of endearment, weren't they?

"What, shrimp?"

When she answered indifferently, Erich grabbed and pulled her cheek.

"What are you calling your brother?"

"Where did that person who said he wouldn't be my brother go?"

"When was that? He's dead. Gone."

"The world truly is ending. Even corpses are walking around."

"Yeah. The end times indeed. I'm even seeing bastards sending letters to people."

Erich pulled out an envelope and waved it.

A golden deer crest. A letter from Eldier.

Duke Eldier had half-lost his mind after Ariadne donated the Elixir recipe to the Temple.

The Duke's reputation had crashed after rumors spread that he'd lost custody for abusing his daughter.

He lacked the ability to salvage such a situation. Nor was he magnanimous enough not to care about reputation.

He'd been quiet for a while, perhaps planning to reverse the situation by finishing Elixir development, but Ariadne had destroyed even that hope.

Since then, he'd been sending letters persistently.

Sometimes persuading, sometimes blaming, sometimes appealing to family affection.

Then as Ariadne's Elixir business took off and she accumulated enormous wealth, he began claiming he deserved a share of that money.

Unable to openly make a scene, he kept sending letters of protest instead.

Ariadne sighed and took it from him.

"You came to deliver this yourself? You could have had a servant do it."

"Worried our fragile skeleton might snap in half."

"I'm healthy now though."

Erich simply picked her up and sat her on his lap.

Now twenty, he was fully a young man, and Ariadne fit snugly in his arms.

He smiled broadly and said:

"Let's read the letter together."

His attitude showed concern that she might be hurt by her biological father's letter.

Ariadne smiled faintly.

She'd come at seven and was now twelve. Already five years living in Weaver.

Enough time to grow accustomed to family.

Instead of suspecting her brother's intentions and pushing him away, she leaned into his embrace and casually tore open the envelope.

She didn't even consider him her father, and it had been about five years since she'd seen his face, so whatever the Duke said no longer had much impact.

She also knew from people she'd secretly planted in the ducal castle to monitor him that he only made noise verbally.

'What nonsense has he spouted now?'

As she pulled out the stiff letter paper, a card fell out.

Erich snatched it up and held it where they could both see.

The luxurious gold-leafed card contained absurd contents.

『You are invited to a wedding.』

Erich's brow crumpled severely after reading the card.

"What is this?"

It was Duke Eldier's wedding invitation.

Ariadne gaped in bewilderment.

'The Duke is remarrying? That didn't happen in the original.'