Shinka no Mi-Chapter 221: Crossing Paths
Chapter 221: Crossing Paths
โAlf-samaโฆโฆโ
I โโโโ Zakia Guilford, was staring at the face of the previous king, Alf Dia Kaizer, who was sleeping peacefully in front of me.
Alf-sama has been struck by a curse that made him never wake up for several years. ๐๐ฟ๐๐๐e๐๐๐ัต๐๐.c๐๐ถ
โโโโใEternal Sleepใ.
The person who has received this curse will continue to sleep, never waking up again, and will slowly drift towards death.
Alf-sama, who used to be muscular and full of high spirits, is now completely emaciated, and thereโs no trace of the man he used to be.
โWhy โฆโฆ why did this happen โฆโฆโ
It was really all of a sudden that Alf-sama was cursed.
One day, Alf-sama, who would normally be awaken, did not wake up.
A doctor was immediately called to examine his condition, and it was discovered that he has been cursed.
Why was Alf-sama cursed and who did this to him?
I tried all kinds of methods to find out what was going on, but in the end, I could not get a single clue.
In the end, we settled on the conclusion that Alf-samaโs curse was either a natural manifestation or a land specific one.
Curses could occur spontaneously, though extremely rare, and if a place was the site of a major war in the past, it was possible to be cursed by spirits that had become ingrained in the land.
In fact, the lands of the Kaizer Empire were also won by our ancestors long ago through war.
โฆโฆ Although, Iโm not entirely convinced with that โฆโฆ
โโฆโฆโ
When Alf-sama was performing his job, the Kaizer Empire was a good and vibrant country.
However, since the fall of Alf-sama and the accession of the current emperor, Sheld Wol Kaizer, the Kaizer Empire has changed.
โWhat should I, doโฆโฆโ
Even if I asked this question, I wonโt receive an answer from Alf-sama in front of me.
The room in which Alf-sama sleeps, is also very modest and not well managed, that I couldnโt think of it as a treatment for the former king.
However, on the contrary, this might have been a good thing.
Alf-sama, who has always disliked ornate decorations and has always been a man of simple and sturdy character, would probably feel more at home in this room.
Besides, I donโt know what will happen in the castle now.
Therefore, this secluded location was convenient.
As I was setting up Alf-samaโs room the same as usual, a man comes in.
โZakia-san, there you are.โ
โOrphe.โ
The one who came was my subordinate, Orphe Almond.
He had compiled several documents in his hands.
Orphe approaches me and gazes into Alf-samaโs face.
โโฆโฆHeโs still not awakeโ
โโฆโฆYeah. So, how was it?โ
โYes. As we thought, not a single person has seen His Majesty.โ
I was now having Orphe and the members of the Second Order find out what was going on inside the castle.
This is because one day, His Majesty disappeared.
Instead, the Helio guy took charge of the castle and gave various instructions.
โWhere the hell, has His Majesty disappeared to?โ
โHowever, I think he is alive because I can sense the presence of people in His Majestyโs room. โฆโฆโ
โFumuโฆโฆโ
I was guessing a lot of things, but I never found out why His Majesty had disappeared.
โBut something is definitely going on. Quite a few maids and butlers have disappeared in the last few weeks.โ
โWhere did they go?โ
โOf course, I donโt know.โ
At the same time that His Majesty stopped appearing, those who worked in the castle began to disappear one by one.
At first, it seemed a little strange, but the change became very apparent, and now we could only see the corrupt nobles and the members of the First Order in the castle.
The castle, which used to be so vibrant, now looked like a ruin.
โโฆโฆ I understand for the time being. Tell the other members to continue investigating. However, if they perceive any danger, they should leave immediately.โ
โUnderstoodโฆโฆ Ah! Speaking of which, Zakia, are you aware of that rumor?โ
โRumor?โ
Orphe talks with a serious expression on his face, as if he has remembered something.
โYes. Itโs a story in the Kingdom of Welmburg, but it seems that King Ranzelf himself was actually been cursed.โ
โWhat? Is that true?โ
โYes. But the story does not end there. To my surprise, King Ranzelf says that the curse has disappeared.โ
โWhat!?โ
That was exactly the kind of information I was looking for right now.
โWhat does that mean! You donโt mean to tell me that it was a punchline that he wasnโt cursed from the beginning, do you?โ
โYes. It seems certain that he was cursed. It seems that the weapon used in the attack by the assassin was a ใcurse toolใ of some kind. โฆโฆโ
โAssassin?โ
I have never heard of that country being targeted by other countries because of its geography, nor have I heard of it making any particular enemies in terms of diplomacy.
โฆโฆ No, it would be so much that the only person who disliked that country was the emperor of this country, Sheld-sama.
โWait. Then that assassination is โฆโฆโ
โโฆโฆitโs probably from our country.โ
โKuh! Although Alf-sama has fallen from a curse, they used that same kind of curse for assassination!?โ
I was about to explode with anger, but I managed to hold it back.
โTuโฆโฆFuhโฆโฆ Iโm sorry. I was distraught โ
โNo, I understand how you feel. โฆโฆโ
Orphe also endured a lot of anger at the actions of our country.
But then, a suspicion arose from me.
Was it really a coincidence that Alf-sama fell?
There is now a possibility that we are not talking about a curse caused by this land that Alf-sama happened to take on.
At that moment, my mind was filled with the face of Helio, who is currently in charge of the Kaizer Empire. ๐๐๐ewe๐ฏ๐๐ผัต๐ฦ.๐๏ฝ๐ฆ
โNo way, that guy โฆโฆโ
If that guy had thrown down Alf-sama, and then used the same tool to wage war on another country, it would be unforgivable.
Of course, I canโt blame the guy now that I have no proof or anything. โฆโฆ
โOrphe. Find out any information about the Kingdom of Welmburg immediately. If you can, find out who lifted the curse, but even if you canโt, just find out if they really succeeded in lifting the curse.โ
โI understand. Which would I prioritize, this information or the search for His Majesty?โ
โThe curse is fine.โ
Normally, we should probably check on the whereabouts and safety of His Majesty, but with Helio in charge of this country, we havenโt found any major deficiencies yet.
Then, our first step would be to find a way to break the spell and awaken Alf-sama.
โAlright, find clues about the curse at any cost!โ
โHah!โ
Orphe replied and immediately left the room.
โAlf-samaโฆโฆ please wait a moment. I will surely break your curse โฆโฆ!โ
I left the room with renewed determination.
โโโ
โโโโโSo with that said, Iโm going to the Kaiser Empire for a moment!โ
โEven if you said that in a โIโm going for a walkโ tone of voice. โฆโฆโ
When I returned to the inn, I told Saria and the others about what Kannazuki-senpai had asked me to do that day.
Then Al continues grimly.
โEven soโฆโฆ those are the guys who did terrible things to you, right? Then isnโt it fine to leave them alone?โ
โIndeed, Milord! You donโt need to worry about those kinds of mobs! Itโs okay for them to disappear on their own!โ
โRurune is so extreme. โฆโฆโ
With a wry smile on their reactions, I express my feelings honestly.
โOf course, I havenโt forgiven them, and of course, I have some hazy feelings about it. But itโs also true that I feel unpleasant about leaving them as it is. And itโs because Kannazuki-senpai will be sad. After all, I want senpai to be smiling. โฆโฆโ
โโฆโฆโฆโฆOy, maybe itโs for that woman.โ
โHeh!? Ah, thatโs right, but itโs not like that!โ
Al became blatantly moody, so when I hurriedly made an excuse, Saria smiled.
โI think itโs best if Seiichi does as he pleases.โ
โSariaโฆโฆโ
โBecause if Seiichi does what he wants, everyone will be happy in the end!โ
Even though there should be no basis, Saria always affirmed me.
This is not her after eating the fruit of evolution and becoming a person.
Ever since she was a gorilla, Saria has always thought about me and accepted me.
Thatโs why, I think Iโll do my best and not disappoint everyone.
Then Al, who had looked grumpy earlier, let out a loud sigh.
โHaaโฆโฆ well, I know youโre that kind of guy.โ
โAlโฆโฆโ
โWellโฆโฆ Iโm a little jealous. But itโs because youโre this kind of guy that I โฆโฆโ
โโฆโฆThanksโ
Al turned away in embarrassment at my words.
Then Olga-chan and Zora also pushed my back.
โโฆโฆHmm. I think Seiichi-oniichan should move the way he wants to move too.โ
โTha.thatโs right! Because thatโs how you saved us!โ
โโฆโฆBut youโre going alone this time, arenโt you, Seiichi-oniichan?โ
โYeahโฆโฆ well, itโs more about rescuing people than going into a fierce battle. If anything, it might be more about moving while avoiding being caught.โ
In fact, I donโt know what will happen, and if I go to save them, there is a possibility that they wonโt listen to me and will go berserk.
โWell, Iโll just have to try this.โ
โIf itโs Master, then itโll be fine! If it doesnโt work, you can erase them.โ
โYouโre really radical, arenโt you!โ
Thatโs a statement that doesnโt sound like from a former donkey to me!
Sarria tilts her head as I draw back my cheeks to Ruruneโs words.
โSo, when are you going?โ
โThatโs rightโฆโฆ Iโm planning on leaving tomorrow morning. Iโve never been to the Kaizer Empire, so I canโt use transfer magic to get there yet.โ
โโฆโฆYou may have never been to that place, but I think you can move with transfer magic to get around thereโ
โNo, no, thatโs โโโโโ
โฆโฆPerhaps, I can do it.
But I wonโt do it, alright!
There is no need for me to get out of my way to inflict psychological damage to myself.
Besides, I decided to help them, but I definitely wonโt forgive them โฆโฆ If so, I want them to wait and give me some time before I head directly to the Kaizer Empire!
Itโs narrow-minded, you say? Shut up!
In spite of everything, in the end, everyone had my back, and I finally set off for the Kaizer Empire.