Chapter 25: Noble Contract

Cael Horais Sirius POV

“Cael!”

A familiar voice called out to me the moment I stepped into the Main Hall.

I turned toward the voice and immediately saw Talya running toward me at full speed.

“Cael!”

She looked completely different from when I had last seen her.

Her blue dress was perfectly restored, without a single tear or wrinkle left behind from everything that had happened. 

Even the necklace around her neck looked untouched. The bloodstains that had covered both her dress and necklace were completely gone, as though none of it had ever happened.

“It’s probably the work of High King Khyos,” Fragarach commented telepathically.

“I also removed the stains from your attire, Master,” Aegis said.

I looked down at my clothes.

Sure enough, they were spotless.

“I’m surprised you can speak now, Aegis,” I replied telepathically.

“My ability to communicate with you has improved because of your new title, Master.”

“Oh?”

Before I could ask anything else, Talya reached me.

“Aegis, Scabbard Form.”

At my command, Aegis immediately transformed.

The magical armor covering my body vanished before condensing into a single form. 

In the next instant, Aegis became Fragarach’s scabbard, wrapping around the Holysword and sheathing its blade.

“It’s thanks to your new title, Master,” Aegis explained.

“Cael!”

Talya jumped into my arms.

I caught her without hesitation.

Her body was trembling.

“I really thought I was going to die,” she whispered.

I could feel her grip tightening around me.

“But I was even more afraid that it would be the last time I would ever see you.”

Her voice trembled as she spoke those words.

I tightened my arms around her.

“Stupid Talya. As if I would let you leave like that.”

Talya slowly pulled away and looked at me.

For a moment, her expression remained worried.

Then she smiled.

“Sorry for being stupid.”

She wiped the remaining tears from the corner of her eyes.

“And thank you for saving me again, Cael.”

“You don't need to thank me.”

I gently held her left arm and gave her a small signal.

“We should go.”

Talya nodded.

I began walking toward our parents.

As soon as I moved, I could feel everyone's eyes following me.

The entire Main Hall had become strangely quiet.

Just a short while ago, this place had been filled with the tension of a battle.

Now, every noble, Hero, king, and powerful figure in the room was watching me.

I could feel their gazes following every step I took.

Some looked curious.

Others looked cautious.

And a few seemed to be looking at me with an entirely different kind of respect.

I ignored them all and continued toward the throne.

“You’re not injured, are you, Cael?” Mom immediately asked.

Her voice was filled with concern.

“I’m perfectly fine.”

I gave her a reassuring smile.

Only then did she seem to relax.

I then looked toward the throne.

King Louis was sitting there, holding his head with one hand.

He looked as though someone had just dumped an enormous problem directly onto his shoulders.

Actually, considering everything that had happened today, I could understand why.

Before I could say anything, Alexis spoke.

“King Louis, I suggest that you simply grant Hero Cael noble status.”

The Celestial Hero's expression was serious.

“That Royal Decree should never have been written in the first place. No one should be allowed to have power over a Hero, regardless of the circumstances.”

King Louis remained silent.

High King Khyos then turned toward Princess Lucia.

“The Crimson Hero is a perfect example of this.”

His eyes narrowed slightly.

“Didn't the Emperor of Crux coerce the Crimson Hero into signing a Royal Decree?”

Princess Lucia's expression stiffened.

“Isn't that right, Princess Lucia?” High King Khyos asked.

Before she could answer, High King Khyos raised his hand.

“Rank 4 Personnel Holy Magic, Angel Speech.”

A small white magical circle appeared above Princess Lucia.

I watched carefully.

The magic wasn't particularly flashy.

There was no explosion of light or overwhelming pressure.

Yet I could immediately tell that it was powerful.

“Now, tell us the truth.”

High King Khyos looked directly at her.

“You do know that interrogative magic is no longer prohibited when used against criminals.”

Princess Lucia remained silent for a moment.

“Did your father coerce the Crimson Hero into signing a Royal Decree?”

“He did make him sign a Royal Decree,” Princess Lucia finally answered.

“In exchange, the Empire would overlook his wrongdoings.”

A murmur spread throughout the hall.

So it was true.

While everyone continued discussing the matter, I looked toward the place where the Crimson Hero's five subordinates had been standing.

Except they weren't standing anymore.

They had become stone statues.

I stared at them.

“What happened to them?”

“They're still alive,” High Mage Erina Floga Imai answered.

She looked completely calm.

“They attempted to flee after retrieving the Crimson Hero and the Holysword Ascalon. I had no choice but to turn them into stone.”

“Rank 4 Personnel Earth Magic, Stone Prison,” Fragarach commented.

I nodded.

That explained the statues.

High King Khyos turned his attention back toward Princess Lucia.

“So, did the Emperor order the Crimson Hero to kill Hero Cael?”

“I don't know.”

Princess Lucia answered honestly.

High King Khyos paused.

“Then one final question.”

The entire hall became silent.

“Did the Emperor of Crux plan to use Hero Cael to kill us?”

For several seconds, Princess Lucia said nothing.

The silence stretched throughout the Main Hall.

Then she finally answered.

“Absolutely not, High King Khyos.”

Her voice was firm.

“The Emperor of Crux would never think about harming the royal nobles of the Elven Capital or the Five Kingdoms.”

Alexis frowned slightly.

“Shouldn't we also question the Crimson Hero?”

“My Angel Speech won't work on him,” High King Khyos replied.

I immediately looked at him.

“Is it because of the Royal Decree?”

“Exactly.”

High King Khyos nodded.

“Didn't you remember the words of the King of Cygnus?”

He turned toward King Louis.

“No one other than me, the King, will have the authority to order Hero Cael while he is in the Kingdom of Cygnus.”

I remembered those words.

At the time, I hadn't realized how dangerous they could be.

High King Khyos continued.

“Change the wording to ‘while in the Continent of Olor,’ and you will have absolute control over anyone who signed it while they are on that continent.”

My eyes widened.

“That would mean…”

“A Devil's Contract,” Alexis said.

I looked toward him.

“What does a Devil's Contract mean?”

“It's a forbidden contract that basically sells your soul and freedom the moment you sign it,” Celestial Hero Alexis explained.

I looked back toward King Louis.

That didn't sound like something anyone should casually sign.

“In the first place, the wording ‘for the good of the people of Cygnus’ and ‘the people of Cygnus alone’ is far too broad and dangerous,” High King Khyos explained.

“It can be interpreted in countless ways.”

Hero King Finn's expression changed.

“Does that mean…”

“He can kill us under the pretense that erasing our existence is for the good of the people of Cygnus.”

The room went silent again.

I looked toward King Louis.

He seemed to understand exactly what High King Khyos was implying.

High King Khyos then looked directly at him.

“You fought Hero Cael before, didn't you, Warrior King Louis?”

King Louis frowned.

“Are you going to use Angel Speech?”

“There's no point in lying about it.”

High King Khyos glanced toward me.

“The person I'm talking about is present here with us.”

King Louis sighed.

“We did test him earlier using four Dark Iron Golems.”

His expression became slightly bitter.

“But he destroyed them like toys.”

I remembered that battle.

Four Dark Iron Golems had been brought out to test me.

They hadn't exactly lasted long.

“Still, I never planned to harm any of the Royal nobles or guests I invited here,” King Louis added.

High King Khyos nodded.

“Well, if you truly meant that, then I want you to sign this contract.”

He produced a piece of magical paper.

It looked remarkably similar to the Royal Decree.

King Louis accepted it and carefully read through its contents.

After a few moments, he nodded.

“I'll sign it.”

He took the writing instrument provided to him.

Then, in front of everyone present, King Louis began writing.

“I, Louis Xiphos Cygnus, the 36th King of Cygnus, officially recognize Cael Horais Sirius as the Hero and the master of the Holysword Fragarach.”

His voice echoed throughout the Main Hall.

“As the new Hero residing in the Kingdom of Cygnus, he and his family will receive nobility equal to that of a Duke.”

King Louis paused.

“This contract is valid for a thousand years.”

He then signed the document.

“Signed by Blood, Louis Xiphos Cygnus.”

The magical paper glowed briefly.

Then the contract disappeared.

“That sounds a lot better,” Celestial Hero Alexis said.

I stared at the throne.

A thousand years.

I couldn't help but think about it.

I don't think my bones will even be there after a few hundred years.

“Cael, it's not just for you,” Fragarach commented telepathically.

“It's for your bloodline too.”

I blinked.

So this wasn't simply about me.

My family would benefit from this status, and even future generations would inherit the protection.

“Please accept this as an apology for what happened today, Hero Cael,” King Louis said.

I nodded.

“Thank you, King Louis.”

King Louis then turned toward Sir Faust.

“Faust, guide them to their new mansion and provide them with the funding appropriate for a new Duke.”

“New mansion?” I asked.

Sir Faust smiled.

“It's not really a new mansion.”

He shrugged.

“You're simply taking over mine, along with the entire Northern Outer District as your territory.”

I stared at him.

“Wait.”

So I was getting a mansion and an entire district?

“I feel like you're just forcing me to defend that territory.”

“That’s the gist of it,” Celestial Hero Alexis said.

I looked at him.

He didn't even attempt to deny it.

“I'm sure you can keep the demonkind there out until we're fully prepared to take back the Kingdom of Horna,” Alexis added.

“Attacking the Kingdom of Horna…”

I repeated the words.

“The Five Kingdoms are planning to attack Horna,” Hero King Finn explained.

“But we need approximately a year to fully prepare.”

He became more serious.

“Five of the Ten Living Nightmares are now stationed in Horna.”

I immediately understood why that was a problem.

“Isn't this confidential?”

I looked around the hall.

“Are you sure it's okay to talk about it here?”

Finn shook his head.

“It's not exactly a secret.”

He gestured toward the surrounding nobles.

“We've been recruiting soldiers for a while now using posters announcing our plan to take back Horna.”

“So they already know.”

“Exactly.”

I nodded.

“Isn't that the reason why five Living Nightmares are now stationed there?”

I looked toward Hero King Finn.

“Because they know what you guys are planning.”

“They're definitely provoking them,” Fragarach commented.

I couldn't disagree.

Before I could say anything else, Talya tugged on my clothes.

“Cael…”

I looked down.

“Isn't there supposed to be a feast after you become a noble?”

Her expression was completely innocent.

I stared at her.

She's definitely craving sweets and cakes.

I looked around the Main Hall.

There was no sign of a feast being prepared here.

“The feast will be held at Cael's new mansion,” Sir Faust answered.

Talya's eyes immediately lit up.

“All the nobles here who want to go are invited,” Sir Faust continued.

“Those who wish to return to their Kingdom will be escorted by me.”

He turned toward the nobles.

“So, are there any people who want to return to their Kingdom right now?”

Nobody answered.

Not a single person.

I looked around.

They all seemed far more interested in visiting my mansion than returning home.

Alexis smiled.

“I don't think anyone would pass up this opportunity to get on Hero Cael's good side after seeing the display of his abilities earlier”, Celestial Hero Alexis stated.

I sighed.

So that's how it was.

Sir Faust looked satisfied.

“I see.”

He raised his hand.

“Then I'll open a door to Cael's Mansion.”

A magical circle appeared in front of him.

The space itself seemed to distort.

Then, a large door materialized directly in front of us.

“Gavis,” Sir Faust said as he turned toward him.

“I'll leave things to you. I need to speak with King Louis about what we're going to do with the Empire's nobles.”

“Understood, Sir Faust.”

Faust opened the door.

Beyond it was the entrance to what would apparently become my new home.

“Cael, Talya, you two should go first.”

Talya didn't need to be told twice.

She immediately grabbed my hand.

“Come on, Cael!”

She pulled me toward the door.

I barely had time to react before she dragged me along.

It seems she's already hungry.