Chapter 6 – Delfin’s Story (2)

Chapter 6: Delfin’s Story (2)

Originally, the investigation team’s schedule was expected to take at least three months.

The northern part of the Empire. The total area of Nosland was incredibly vast, even excluding the mountain ranges that could not be explored.

However, they returned to the capital in less than a month. This alone was surprising enough, but what followed was even more shocking.

“Your Majesty, the Emperor. Immediately, we must offer a sacrifice.”

“Lord Delfin, what are you saying right now?”

“Didn’t I tell you? There’s something indescribably terrifying in the north!”

The Steel Knight. Delfin Lionheart, called the Sword of the Empire. The hero who had slain all manner of evil beings was now speaking of offering sacrifices.

“Calm down and speak in detail. It hasn’t even been a month since you departed.”

“We encountered it as soon as we reached the north. That red, enormous being.”

Delfin, who had asked for alcohol instead of water, roughly gulped down the contents. It was rude behavior before the Emperor, but there was no leisure to care about such things.

There was absolutely no courage to speak with a clear mind. She had to borrow the power of alcohol. Without it, it would be impossible.

“HAAH, HAAH….”

Only after downing all the strong liquor and catching my breath.

“Your Majesty.”

Delfin was able to convey the conclusion she had reached.

“That thing is not an existence we can dare to oppose.”

“Then, according to the Order’s words, it’s not a monster?”

“To the Emperor’s question, Delfin nodded.”

“Yes. How could that be a monster? It must not be a monster. If it were, the world would belong to them.”

“Then what about the opinion that it’s a Phoenix?”

“That’s not it either. Absolutely, absolutely not.”

“Phoenix. A life form that burns itself to live eternally.”

“It is indeed mysterious. But it’s not great. It’s just peculiar. It’s merely close to immortality.”

“If that being were a Phoenix, the world would have called the Phoenix a god.”

“….”

“Your Majesty. Please. Please listen to my words.”

The Empire had brave knights. There were also many trained soldiers. Among them, Delfin was the person the Emperor trusted most.

She was the model for all knights and the sword that cut down the Empire’s enemies. She was the shield that protected the Empire from all evil beings. If he didn’t listen to Delfin’s words, whose words would he heed?

“The one who killed the Demon Dragon a year ago was definitely that being. I don’t know the reason. But it’s certain that being did it.”

“….”

“We provoked that being and it finally sent a warning. Even though it was a warning and not an attack, no one including myself could dare to resist.”

It was hard to believe. It was none other than Delfin.

How many evil beings had been executed by her hands until now? The Strange Bird of the south, the Man-eating Tiger of the east, the Iron-armored Demon of the north.

The words about the return of a hero didn’t come from nowhere. She proved her qualifications. She achieved great deeds. If she had caught the Demon Dragon of the west too, it would have been perfect.

“That being was enraged. If we don’t appease its anger, terrible things will happen.”

“Lord Delfin.”

But Delfin was now paralyzed with fear, not knowing what to do. The next words were difficult for even the Emperor, who trusted her, to accept.

“So we must offer a sacrifice.”

“Stop saying such nonsense! A sacrifice!”

The number of monsters that had threatened the Empire until now was countless. There were also many beings even more wicked than those monsters.

Much blood was shed. Many sacrifices were made. However, the Empire eventually executed them all.

Even when other kingdoms surrendered and offered sacrifices, only the Empire fought against them to the end. They ultimately prevailed and proclaimed the greatness of humanity.

Delfin was the one who stood at the forefront, wielding her sword. She didn’t earn the qualification to be called a hero for nothing.

But she was now speaking of sacrifices. The hero who had never given up until now had been completely broken.

“Lord Delfin. Get a hold of yourself. If not someone else but you act like this, what shall we do!”

“I experienced it right before my eyes. I saw it right before my eyes, Your Majesty. How powerful that being is.”

“Even if that’s the case, you cannot be like this. You should think of overcoming it, not of kneeling down.”

Even at this very moment, somewhere in the Empire, they would be fighting monsters. They might be engaged in a death struggle with newly emerged evil beings.

The Empire didn’t always achieve victory. Rather, in terms of numbers, they had lost twice as often.

Yet the reason they didn’t give up. The reason they fought even when death was certain. Even if they were defeated, it was because they believed victory ultimately belonged to the Empire.

Because Delfin, the protagonist of humanity’s great victories, stood firm, all the people of the Empire struggled as humans today.

“Think about it slowly. If the ‘thing’ you saw was truly enraged, do you think it would have let all our Empire’s people and Order personnel who were there return alive?”

“….”

Come to think of it, it wasn’t entirely wrong.

Even for a warning purpose, sending just a few people would suffice. Letting everyone return alive like this was strange.

It caused no harm. Everyone returned without injury. As if an herbivore had just given an appropriate threat.

“The matter of sacrifice is also problematic. Did that being desire a sacrifice?”

“That’s not the case, but….”

“Do you happen to know what it wants?”

“That too….”

“You cannot decide based on our own judgment without knowing anything.”

At the Emperor’s words, Delfin finally regained her reason.

Yes. She knew nothing. It was all speculation. If it backfired, it would be worse than doing nothing.

“For now, let’s observe the north more closely. Lord Delfin, go and rest.”

“But….” 

“It’s an imperial command. Go rest well, and let’s meet again in three days.”

Although she wasn’t injured, Delfin’s appearance was miserable to anyone’s eyes.

Sunken eyes. Gaunt, hollow cheeks. You could tell how much she had worried.

“I will follow the imperial command.”

Having left the imperial palace, Delfin returned powerlessly to her residence.

Normally, she would have started training immediately upon arrival. As a measure to not lose her battlefield instincts.

However, today she felt no such inclination at all. Her energy was completely drained. There was no strength in her arms and legs.

“HAAH….”

After barely finishing her shower, even standing was too much. Delfin threw herself onto the bed and stared blankly at the ceiling.

――WHIUUUU!

The cry of that being still clearly echoed in her ears. Just thinking about it sent chills down her spine. Her chest swelled up.

Incompatible sensations arose, driving her nearly mad. If it was fear, then it was fear, and if it was admiration, then it was admiration. Why were all these emotions mixed? Was this even possible?

‘I still can’t even grasp the feeling. What exactly was that thing?’

The first encounter was a year ago during the Demon Dragon subjugation. However, at that time, she didn’t properly confirm anything. She only saw the world turning red and the sky burning.

And the second meeting that happened recently. Perhaps they might not be the same being, but Delfin shook her head.

It was definitely the same being. Her instincts were crying out so.

It instantly annihilated the Demon Dragon and subdued her with just a glance. Even though it could have killed everyone if it wanted to, it didn’t.

Then did that thing really save the village? If so, why? For what reason? Without any reason at all? Did it have sympathy for humans even though it wasn’t human?

She didn’t know. She didn’t know anything. She couldn’t understand. She tried lying on her side to avoid thinking about it. But the more she did so, the clearer that day’s events became.

The scene of her kneeling and begging for her life came to mind. The Steel Knight. Behavior unbecoming of the Sword of the Empire.

If she met it again, would she be able to have courage this time? Would she be able to overcome fear and maintain a heart that didn’t surrender?

Delfin tossed and turned once more. After trying hard to erase the shame, other thoughts followed.

“It was too beautiful….”

She found herself muttering such words without realizing it.

It was truly ridiculous. At that moment, she trembled with fear of death. But now she couldn’t help but admire its beauty.

But the red bird she met in the north was indeed that beautiful. It overflowed with dignity. It was noble, elegant, and brilliant. As if the blazing sun had come to life and was moving.

This thought also suddenly occurred to her. That she wanted to see it once more. Although it was foolish beyond measure. Although she would probably run away again. She wanted to capture in her eyes once more that brilliance she had once beheld.

“….”

As if enchanted by something, Delfin slowly raised her body. After briefly looking outside the window, she soon made her decision.

She changed clothes, took her sword. She also checked her camping supplies. It was a ridiculous thing to say, but now camping was more familiar than this luxurious residence. Thanks to traveling all over for the Empire’s sake.

The command the Emperor gave was rest. And standby. Until now, she had never disobeyed an imperial command.

So. She believed the Emperor would forgive her just this once. Even if he punished her, she could ask him to deduct from her past achievements. At least she had that much qualification. Delfin thought so.

‘The giant red bird.’

To resolve this inexplicable thirst. This unknown heat. The Steel Knight. The Sword of the Empire. Delfin Lionheart departed for the north.