NABC Chapter 265: Rinella’s Destiny is Her Own (58)
Chapter 265: Rinella’s Destiny is Her Own (58)
Chapter 265: Rinella’s Destiny is Her Own (58)Dame Irene tearfully recounted her tale in great detail.
To summarise the contents in one sentence, it was as follows.
“...You were attacked by a masked assailant?”
“Yes, yes... If my memory serves me right, that’s correct.”
Dame Irene’s voice lacked confidence and sounded timid.
She seemed to doubt even her own eyes.
I scratched my head at the sudden emergence of a new mystery.
My tone naturally carried a hint of annoyance.
“No, Is that all? Why did such a suspicious person appear only now?”
“Th-That I’m also not sure... Ah! Now that I think about it, there was a flash of light before I collapsed!”
A flash of light, she said.
It wasn't helpful information at all.
Seeing my unimpressed expression, Dame Irene quickly pressed her head back to the floor again.
A thud echoed, cutting through my sigh.
“I-I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I'm sorry.... Young Lady Ria stood up as if she were possessed, and in my moment of carelessness...”
“.....still, no matter how careless you were.”
My patience was wearing thin, and I couldn't help but utter reproachful words
At this, Dame Irene, with tears in her eyes, placed her sword at my feet.
“P-Please, kill me... If this worthless life can neither aid my Teacher nor return to the Princess, then I'd rather..."
"No, why are you being so extreme?"
Despite the situation, the sword was a high-quality item, befitting the daughter of the Lupermion family.
I spoke in earnest frustration, but Dame Irene seemed equally sincere.
She slowly lifted her upper body, still kneeling.
The female knight sniffled and wiped her tear-streaked eyes with her hand.
"So you mean someone as incompetent as me doesn't even deserve to die as a knight. I understand. Bearing this shame is also my responsibility. I'll quit being a knight and quietly start taking my bridal lessons..."
“That’s enough.”
I firmly cut her off.
I was worried about what else she might say if I let her continue.
Dame Irene, looking even more dejected, bowed her head further.
She muttered timidly.
"S-Still I've often been complimented on my looks. Maybe I won't be entirely useless, just like when I was an escort knight..."
“If you mention that one more time, you’ll regret it.”
At my cold tone, Dame Irene quickly shut her mouth.
She simply lowered her gaze helplessly.
Regardless, I crossed my arms and pondered.
Dame Irene was a knight who had reached the level of an Expert.
She had been living as a knight for several years. She was trusted to guard a member of the Imperial Family, even though she was far down the line of succession.
Even if she let her guard down, she wasn't someone who could be knocked out with a single blow.
At least for me, it was impossible.
That left only one possibility.
The masked assailant was far stronger.
Which made things even more confusing.
If they could overpower an escort knight, there were countless things they could have done with Ria.
They could have kidnapped her and taken her as a hostage, or killed her on the spot without anyone able to stop them. Someone that skilled wouldn't have been overpowered by Ria.
But the masked assailant chose the least effective option.
Leaving her alone.
It was a decision whose intent was hard to fathom.
My head throbbed with the flood of concerns. I was never one for sharp thinking to begin with.
With the lingering effects of hangover and my injuries, it was getting harder to think clearly.
This was a matter better suited for Leto or the Saintess.
In the end, my destination was clear.
As I staggered forward, Dame Irene, alarmed, raised her voice.
“T-Teacher! The Saintess said you needed to rest for a while...”
"...This story goes back to more than ten years ago."
His voice was hoarse with pain and anguish.
The recent string of events had worn his body and mind down. On top of that, he had just learned that his daughter stabbed his son.
It wouldn’t have been surprising if he had a breakdown.
Yet he held on, knowing the fate of our territory rested in his hands.
"A disease was spreading at that time. It was an illness that could not be cured by Holy Power or Mana."
“...The ‘Depletion Syndrome.’”
The words came from the Saintess, who knew the most about the subject.
My father nodded in agreement.
'Depletion Syndrome.' I had heard of it too.
All living beings are inherently born with mana.
Whether the amount is large or small, no living being can exist without mana, as it is directly connected to the functions of life.
The reason demonic beasts are born is also closely related to this.
Mana attracts mana.
Therefore, naturally occurring mana is also drawn to beings with mana. When the density becomes too high, a demonic beast is born.
However, there were some exceptions to this rule.
People born with the rare disease known as ‘Depletion Syndrome.’
Depletion Syndrome causes the mana within the body to dry up naturally. Most who are afflicted with it die before they reach the age of ten.
Because without mana, a life cannot survive.
Though there were stories of miraculous cures, Depletion Syndrome was essentially incurable.
Neither Mana nor Holy Power could cure it.
Apparently, the original Riasuffered from this disease as well.
“Yes, I knew it in my head. I knew that I could never save my daughter with my own power alone... Isn't it the same disease that almost took the life of Imperial Princess Iris? Yet, my heart simply refused to accept it.”
I couldn’t imagine the feelings of parents facing the imminent death of their child.
Though I couldn’t fully understand, it was clear that my father had fallen into deep despair afterward.
That must have been why he reacted so sensitively to the word “Fate.”
As my mother reminisced about those times, tears welled up in her eyes. Aaron Hyung also sighed deeply.
My father spoke in a strained voice.
“...It was then that I heard it.”
“Heard what?”
“The rumour of someone with a Secret Technique to revive even the dead.”
Arthur, who had been quietly listening, violently shook his head.
He shouted in frustration.
“How could you believe such a suspicious rumour...!”
“It was a time when I would have done anything to save my daughter.”
Like a cornered rat biting a cat.
It was merely a desperate attempt to challenge the overwhelming enemy called fate.
With a sorrowful look in his eyes, my father testified.
"There wasn't even any need to inquire around. They heard the rumours and contacted me first."
“What did they ask for?”
The Saintess’s question was sharp.
My father let out a sorrowful laugh.
“They said they wanted to study my daughter. Claiming that those born with Depletion Syndrome had peculiar traits... At that time, my daughter was on the verge of death.”
The rest of the story was predictable.
I silently lowered my gaze.
"Foolishly, I accepted the proposal. In return, I handed over my daughter and received a 'daughter' in exchange."
His words were strange.
Unlike me, who had some inkling of the situation, the others continued to gaze at my father with questioning eyes.
My father had to confirm it once again.
“The child we call ‘Ria’ now is not my daughter. She is a clone, created using my daughter’s genetic information... Yes, the Percus family made a deal with the Dark Order.”
This was the secret the Percus family had been hiding all along.