Kuro no Maou Chapter 537

Published at 18th of September 2023 06:08:13 AM

537 Return of the Prince

“Oh, Nero, you’ve returned safely. I’m truly grateful that we can be reunited again.”

At the white castle of Avalon, touted to be the most beautiful landmark in Pandora. Perched on that lavishly decorated white throne was a raccoon. No matter how extravagantly he was dressed, nothing could mask his ugly and plump figure. His head, crowned with the historical and magnificent crown of Elrod, was sadly thin and bald.

As the acclaimed ruler of Avalon, he certainly didn’t look the part. After all, beneath all those decorations, was a decrepit old man. To be honest, if someone said that he was the owner of a small to medium-sized store that was about to go bankrupt, I’d believe them.

“It’s alright, Father. You don’t have to repeat the same line over and over again. Besides, it’s not like the king of Avalon has enough free time to have a roundabout conversation with his son.”

Yes, that old raccoon dog in front of me was my blood father. The 113th King of Avalon, Milard Julius Elrod.

If Nell and my father were to stand side by side, the resemblance—or the lack thereof—would be so uncanny, people would wonder if they were related. Although, upon closer inspection, they might realize that Nell inherited my father’s dull, drooping eyes.

It’d been a month since the Galahad War ended with Sparda’s victory. After taking care of my personal affairs in Sparda, I’d finally returned to my hometown of Avalon. Today was the second day of Ice Crystal month.

“Don’t say that, Nero. I was worried about you.”

“But not to the point you collapse from anxiety. That’s why you asked for Nell to be sent back first.”

“You should’ve returned with her. However, since you’ve taken the enemy general’s head, it seemed to be the right call.”

“It’s not a big deal.”

Even if I didn’t kill the general of the crusaders, that count what-his-name, he would’ve been taken care of by the Sparda army. It just happened that I was in a position where I could take the matter in my own hands.

But shortly after the crusaders began their attack, that person appeared—

“—There’s no need to be so humble. Thanks to you, Sparda is safe.”

“Stop it, I never intended to do so. Never mention such a careless remark to King Leonhardt, Father, even in passing.”

I wasn’t the one who protected Sparda, but the Element Master. Kurono masterfully defeated the monster called the Seventh Apostle Sariel, whom we didn’t stand a chance against.

After being shown that battle, how could anyone proclaim that I protected Sparda?

However, because Kurono perished alongside Sariel, his intentions were buried in obscurity.

Did he genuinely want to protect Sparda? Or did he treat Sariel as a stepping stone to further his own ends?

It seemed that he and Sariel were connected with each other, to the point that they fought to death. To be acquainted with an enemy general of the crusaders would mean that Kurono hailed from either the Ark Continent or the Sinclair Republic. Nevertheless, if he was so powerful, why did I seldom hear any rumors about him? He even approached Nell with ease. Well, considering that he was from another continent, it made sense.

But now that he was dead, there was no use dwelling on it.

“I understand. You weren’t in the war. A wandering adventurer named X, who just happened to receive the Sparda emergency quest, did.”

“Yes, please go with that narrative.”

A normal king would’ve taken advantage of this situation to benefit Sparda, but not my father. My father was a mediocre king who devoted all his strength to preserve the old order, without even a shred of innovation. Even so, I knew that he had a unique loyal personality.

Therefore, he would never burden King Leonhardt—his best friend since school days—with unnecessary demands. Instead, he was probably desperate to convince the three families of how much money they could raise for Sparda post-war reconstruction.

“Well, that’s enough. More importantly, how is Nell doing?”

That was my main purpose of returning to Avalon. Just before the war, Nell was once again thrown into a state of emotional disarray for unknown reasons.

For me, my sister’s condition was more important than Sparda’s fate or Avalon’s movements. If there was still no change in her condition, then I’d have to seriously consider what to do, but—

“Don’t worry, Nell is doing fine.”

“Really?”

“Yes, it’s all thanks to the shrine maiden.”

Did he seriously take Nell to that hag…?

Well, beside her, there was no one in Avalon who could mend her heart. As long as she recovered, I was alright with anything.

“Well, okay then.”

“She’s recovered to the point she can explore a dungeon.”

“What, so Nell is also adventuring in Avalon?”

“That’s right. I thought she was going back to school, but she immediately recruited some members and left.”

“Who are they?”

“Don’t worry about that. Arkwright is with her.”

Oh, so Celes is with her? If so, I can be at ease. Honestly, as Nell’s best friend, she’s more trustworthy than Shal.

“Is she still exploring?”

“That’s right.”

“Where?”

“[Divine Realm Avalon]”

I almost choked.

Nell, are you crazy? Why are you challenging Pandora’s deadliest dungeon?

“Why didn’t you stop her!?”

“I tried, but she already left. So, I have no choice but to pray for her safety.”

…Why is my father so calm? Does he think that because Celes is with her, Nell won’t do anything unreasonable? Well, even if it’s the [Divine Realm Avalon], if she’s just exploring the shallow part of the city outskirts, she should be fine. After all, the area is of moderate difficulty, where middle-level adventurers would test their mettle.

Generally, those who’d awakened to their divine protection tend to be overly-reliant on it. To combat that, they’d train in [Divine Realm Avalon]. Probably, it also served as a level-up for Celes and other student members. Besides, knight selection was almost upon us.

“Well, it can’t be helped. I’m sorry for taking your time, Father. I also did something selfish.”

“Nero, unlike me, you’re full of talent. However, you’re still green. All you have to do is wield your power and polish it, before you’re bound to the throne of Avalon.”

I wonder if he overlooked my selfishness out of parental love.

—Or because he’d already fed up with me, who’s always been doing whatever I want since I was a kid.

“When Nell returns, let’s have a talk. I’ll arrange for it.”

“Well, if that’s what you want.”

I lightly waved my hand as I left the throne room.

For the time being, I’d visit the old hag who had a lot of free time all year round and listen carefully to what she had to say about Nell.

“Hey, it’s been a while, Nero! You look taller, but you’re still the same inside! Hahaha!”

I fell flat on my back, and as I looked up at the face of the petite shrine maiden, she cackled.

Even though we hadn’t seen each other for a long time, she was still the same. It was as if I’d gone back in time to when I was still a brat in training. The unchanging appearance of the shrine maiden, or the ‘Fire Shrine’, made it seem as if time had stopped around this part.

Yes, that immortal hag was the shrine maiden who was in charge of the hidden shrine, ‘Fire Shrine’, in the royal castle of Avalon. She was Bellclausen.

“Is this how you greet someone, you old hag?”

“Look at how easily you toppled over. Did you slack off or something?”

When I climbed on the stone ladders for the first time in a while, minding my own business, she suddenly snatched me from behind the torii gate. A flawless surprise attack. If she was an assassin, I’d have been dead.

I was too ashamed to call myself a Rank 5 adventurer. When she grabbed me, I could’ve shaken her off, or counterattack—yet I did none. I couldn’t.

“Don’t be silly. The same goes for you, Old Hag. Did your skill mellow out or something?”

I was familiar with her technique, [First Style: Flow]. However, what she’d applied on me was beyond anything I remembered. It was a perfected version of [Flow]. It was so eloquent, I couldn’t even muster any counterattack.

Still, to think that was how she’d greet me after so long… While exhaling a tired sigh, I stood up while brushing off the dirt.

“I’m just taking it easy lately.”

“So, is it about Nell?”

Few people visited the ‘Fire Shrine.’ In the first place, it was obscure. Although it was neither hidden nor advertised to the public. The Fire Shrine—an unspoken secret—didn’t actually have any particular important role.

Or maybe, the existence itself was mandatory. It’d be fitting for Avalon, a country that valued old-fashioned traditions and formalities.

The place was seldom visited.

“So, I trained her in ancient magic. Thanks to that, she recovered both physically and mentally—”

“—Enough to challenge the [Divine Realm Avalon]?”

“What about you, Nero? You should devote yourself to train here and reinforce yourself. You’ve been slacking off too much.”

“That’s not what you say to a prince who’d just returned from war, is it?”

Who’s slacking off? Just so you know, I fought some super dangerous guys and almost died!

“Well, enough of that. Old Hag, what’s troubling Nell so much?”

“Huh? Nero, could it be, you didn’t know?”

If I did, I wouldn’t have asked.

I glared at her, urging her to continue.

“Then, would you like to know?”

“Isn’t that obvious?”

“Wait, seriously, you honestly don’t know?”

“Well, that’s why I asked you.”

Listening to my blunt words, the old hag smiled innocently, before speaking mischievously.

“Hahaha, well, it’s a secret.”

Damn, what a waste of time!

After having a fruitless and silly chat with the hag for a while, I left the Fire Shrine.

Now then, my schedule after this is…

For the time being, since I was back in Avalon, my studies in Sparda were over. Although the war was over, there was still post-war confusion, so I couldn’t just return to the seminary. Apart from that, the students could graduate by attending classes, so anxiety and confusion had little to do with them. Consideration based on status also took precedence around here, so I had nothing to worry about.

Since Nell had returned to the imperial academy, I’d probably do the same. From today onwards, it’d be great if I could just show my face and say hello, but I wasn’t so courteous and free.

Nell was the primary reason I returned to Avalon, but there was also a secondary reason that took precedence.

“Linfelt, was it?”

Or should I call her Lin? It was the crusader girl I freed from Galahad Fortress.

As expected of me, that was quite a gamble. What a dangerous act. I aided the prisonbreak of an enemy general. It could’ve been taken as betrayal or reason.

Even so, I couldn’t just leave her alone, so this is on me.

“I haven’t visited this part for a long time…”

The destination I headed for was St. Julian Monastery that I indicated to Rin as a hiding place. The place was secluded, so the chance of them finding her was low. Since I’d given her a lot of gold coins, she could live a fugitive life as much as she liked. Apart from that, I didn’t really care about anything else.

Just the fact that a girl with the same name and face as Lin was living freely somewhere in this world was enough for me.

“Oh, is that Mr. X?”

As I stood blankly in front of the monastery, a boy called out to me with a high-pitched voice.

Looking around, there stood a boy—an orphan living in this monastery. Upon seeing the big watering can in his hands, I assumed that he was watering plants in the backyard.

“Hey, Reki, it’s been a while.”

“Wow, it’s really Mr. X! It’s been so long and you still remember me!”

“You’re my cute little brother, so why would I forget?”

His innocent smile resembled that of a girl than a boy. His height was about my chest. He was an androgynous beauty with slender build. Within five minutes of entering the slums, he’d be preyed by bad guys.

He’d grown, but his face remained innocent and cute. With her fluffy blond hair and crimson eyes that looked a lot like mine, I was instantly reminded of him despite not meeting for several years.

The boy’s name was Recitorius. But it was long, so me, the orphans, and even the priest called him Reki. Perhaps, only the priest and I remembered his actual name.

“I’m so happy that Mr. X visited. I thought you’d never visit again…”

“Ah, sorry, I thought about visiting a few times, but in the end, things didn’t work out. I’m sorry for being a pathetic older brother.”

“I’m sorry if I said something offensive.”

I wish my friends were this thoughtful. It seems that he’s still the same good boy as before.

“More importantly, is Emile here?”

“Yes, if it’s the priest, he’s inside.”

—When Reki pointed at the front door, the door opened, accompanied by a creaking sound.

“Oh, if it isn’t X.”

The person who appeared was wearing a white priestly attire. However, it wasn’t Priest Emile. The difference was obvious—silver hair, blue eyes, and brown skin. Those traits were rare in Avalon.

“It’s been a long time isn’t it—”

Just when I thought he was approaching me with a smile, he unleashed a sharp right hook. It wasn’t something that a priest preaching the love of God did.

A normal guy would’ve definitely been hit right across his face. But I casually dodged the fist with the nimbleness of a first-class warrior.

“…Damn, everyone is too eager to greet me today. It’s been a while, Urs.”

“Heh, at least get hit for once, X.”

“That kind of hit isn’t a joke. Still, not bad.”

“Well, glad to see you around this part.”

I firmly exchanged a reunion handshake with this man.

He was Ursley. Like Reki, I gave him a nickname.

“Hey, Urs, what’s with that outfit? Did you decide to become a priest?”

“Yeah, after a lot of thinking, I finally decided to become one.”

If this guy’s a priest, is the world going to end? Or did he simply come around?

“You’re growing your hair, too. For a moment, I didn’t know who you were.”

“Hehe, I’m not that different.”

I compared the short-haired Urs from my memory with the current long-haired one.

Hmm, it’s still bizarre.

Well, let’s leave that aside.

Without anything else to say, Urs urged me to walk into the chapel.

The priest in charge of the monastery was already waiting inside, as if he’d heard the voice from outside.

“It’s been a while, Sir X.”

“Hey, Emile.”

With his eyes closed, the blind priest, Emile, greeted me with his usual tranquil atmosphere. But unlike that old hag, Emile—an ordinary human being—seemed a bit more mature than before.

“You might’ve given up on me, but here I am.”

“No, not at all. It’s because of your donations that our monastery has continued to exist to this day. We wholeheartedly awaited the visit of Sir X above anyone else.”

Yeah, to the point that someone wanted to punch my face.

But jokes like that would only annoy the serious Emile, so I kept my mouth shut.

“Don’t mind it. It’s my atonement—no, it’s conceited to say that, I did it for my own sake.”

I’d donated tons of money to this monastery over the years. It wasn’t the money I got as a prince, but instead the bounty I earned as an adventurer. Otherwise, it’d be meaningless. Besides, it wouldn’t bode well for anyone if a prince gave a special treatment to a certain orphanage.

The money I earned while studying in Sparda was also sent to the monastery several times a year. For the time being, I intended to donate enough money for this small monastery to survive as an orphanage.

But to me, the amount was anything but trivial, so it wasn’t a big deal.

“No, thanks to your donation, many children were saved.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

It seems that they made it through safely, so that’s enough.

“Sir X, what’s your business today?”

“Ah, I just wanted to ask you, did a girl called Lin—”

“—Hey, stop right there, you damned brat!”

At that time, an unladylike, angry roar resounded in the quiet chapel.

“Gyahaha, as if I’d stop!”

“Catch me if you can!”

 “Oh, I will, it’s too late to cry and beg God for forgiveness. [Sanctuary]!”

“Geh, that’s cheating!”

“Gyaaaaaaa—!”

Such an exchange was heard from the other side of the thin walls of the chapel, accompanied by a violent booming sound effect.

After a while, the noise subsided. It seems that the pleasant chase has come to an end.

“Haa, good grief…”

“Fufu, it’s become very lively since she came.”

Apparently, despite my worries, Lin seemed to be doing well. I was more exasperated than relieved.

From the bottom of my heart, I let out a deep sigh. I felt like my luck had truly abandoned me, and I involuntarily muttered.

“She’s so similar to that person.”

Chapter end