Side Story.13

Aeterna was watching Maia with concern, noticing her suddenly stiff expression.

“Are you okay? ……Are you feeling unwell?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

Maia forced a smile and brushed it off.

Anyway, she needed to keep an eye on that young man.

Maia lowered her gaze, thinking.

Clang—

“……Just as I heard.”

At that moment, the duel between Sierna Western and Adelstein ended.

The winner was Adelstein.

The swordswoman had seemed truly strong, but Adelstein was impressive. Maia looked at Adelstein’s back, feeling anew.

“With this, I make my vow.”

Sierna, noticeably tired, sheathed her fallen sword and spoke to Adelstein with a steady gaze.

“My every breath and soul, my loyalty, from today are yours.”

Sierna knelt respectfully and pledged loyalty to Adelstein.

“Ah, that’s not necessary…”

Adelstein reached out, flustered, but—

“You’re the one who doesn’t need it.”

Thud—

In the blink of an eye, Hyperion’s hand appeared, stopping Adelstein’s words.

“Hyperion?”

“……I knew this would happen.”

Hyperion, looking at Adelstein with complicated eyes, said,

“Why refuse someone who offers loyalty? You’re so naïve… I really can’t leave you alone.”

With a shallow sigh, Hyperion swept his white hair from his forehead and looked around at those focused on them.

“Look at those gathered here, Adelstein.”

His serious voice continued.

“Each one is exceptionally talented. They’ve gathered to follow you, and I carefully selected them myself.”

“……Hyperion. I… to receive the loyalty of so many people…”

“Shut up, Adelstein.”

Adelstein hesitated as if wanting to say something, but Hyperion cut him off coldly.

“You’re lacking in many ways, but you’re the one I chose. Why refuse? You deserve to stand above others.”

Adelstein stepped back, looking around at Maia on the throne and those gathered in the palace hall.

Then, swallowing his distress, he spoke quietly.

“No. I never wanted this.”

“……Adelstein.”

“I just wanted to be friends with you. I wanted to avenge those who killed my grandfather and hurt Maria. If people wanted to join me, I wanted to stand as equals.”

“……You.”

A crack appeared in Hyperion’s expression.

“So let me say this again. I won’t demand unconditional loyalty and obedience. I want comrades who rely on each other, moving together toward a common goal as equals.”

Adelstein turned away from Hyperion, speaking to the crowd.

“Then… does that mean you won’t accept my loyalty?”

Sierna, still kneeling on one knee, spoke with a worried face.

“No, I just mean… don’t give me your life. Your life is yours. It’s not something to give away lightly.”

Adelstein answered, meeting Sierna’s eyes with a gentle smile.

“So please think again. Not as a master to serve with your life, but as a trusted comrade.”

“……You are… quite unique.”

Sierna murmured, barely audible, as she stared at Adelstein.

It wasn’t unexpected. Maia thought.

If he was truly as described in the Book of the Founder, the First Emperor’s nature…

He was a person who wanted an equal world, unbelievable for someone who lived so long ago.

Maia turned her gaze to Hyperion, who said nothing, his face pale and stiff as he stared at Adelstein.

And for him, this must have been a shocking moment.

Even thousands of years in the future, he would complain about how weak Maia was, but how did he ever bridge this gap with Adelstein?

Just as she pondered this pure question—

“……Impressive.”

Clap, clap. The sound of applause echoed loudly in the quiet hall.

“……!”

The one who spoke with sudden applause was the young man who had given Maia a chilling sense of déjà vu.

“Allow me to introduce myself for the first time. I am Krshunie Polaris.”

The moment he bowed lightly and gave his name, Maia realized the source of her unease.

Krshunie Polaris.

‘Finally, I get to see you die. From the very first moment I saw you, I’ve harbored murderous intent toward you.’

In her memory, the pitch-black forest of night.

‘You must want to ask if I’m not afraid of this being exposed? I have no regrets even if I die now. When I descend to the underworld, my great Imperial Princess, who still shines even there, will praise my deeds! Now, die here! You, who dared to steal her place, deserve to die like this!’

Irenea Herion Polaris.

The one who had tried to kill Maia out of fanatical loyalty to Princess Rivka, just the memory of him now brought unbearable disgust.

“Call me Polaris, it would be an honor.”

The young man, his gray eyes shining with curiosity at Adelstein, was none other than the ancestor of Irenea Herion Polaris, the first Earl Polaris.

“……Yes, but…….”

Adelstein sounded flustered, unable to find words for the sudden newcomer.

“You want comrades, not subordinates? I like that. I want to be your comrade.”

But his friendly words immediately brought joy to Adelstein’s face.

“Is that so! I sincerely welcome you, Polaris.”

“Thank you. But you accept me without even knowing what abilities I have.”

Krshunie Polaris, with a smooth smile, cast a sly, serpentine glance at Hyperion.

When their eyes met, Hyperion’s fine brows furrowed slightly.

“To briefly explain my abilities… Compared to the Grand Mage over there who controls dangerous mana, my skills are nothing. But I can say my potential is limitless.”

“Is that so? What exactly can you do?”

It was unsettling. This too was part of fate.

Maia worriedly watched Hyperion’s increasingly stiff face.

Hyperion Luar and Krshunie Polaris.

Their common trait was extreme arrogance and disregard for the value of life.

“Simple magic. I was born clever, so I excel at combining ingredients and developing potions.”

In the distant future, history judged them very differently.

Hyperion Luar truly cared for Adelstein.

His affection extended to the country Adelstein founded and its beloved people.

For the prosperity of the empire named after his friend, he became its strongest shield so no other nation could invade.

When famine and drought struck, he left the Mage Tower to provide food for the people.

He showed such mercy for one reason only.

The empire and its people were what his only friend cherished.

Even if these actions didn’t come from his heart, without him, the empire would never have been founded, and even after his friend left, he continued to use his powers for the empire, which no one could deny.

But Krshunie Polaris was different.

“Potions… I know nothing about herbs. Amazing.”

“Such praise is too much.”

The worst inventor, who abandoned humanity and lost all sense of morality.

Born with a cunning mind and clever words, he used those two strengths to deceive, divide, and exploit people before discarding them.

Even the compassionate Emperor Adelstein was so appalled by his cruelty that, despite his great contributions to the founding of the empire, he was exiled to the south and forbidden from entering the capital for life.

“……Better to keep him away than…”

It would be much better to stay closer to Hyperion.

Maia anxiously watched Adelstein, but the innocent boy, not realizing what the problem was, simply smiled sincerely at the young man whose hand he was holding.

* * *

At the moment they swore eternal friendship, how did the cause begin?

‘When this heart is torn to shreds, until I cannot move even a single toe.’

‘Only after driving out the children of the fissure that devour all life will I finally sleep.’

‘So you, transcendent born from the pain at the end of fate’s providence, infinite and complete.’

‘Though the path is filled with hardship and sorrow, it is a road of mission that cannot be traded for anything else. Surely, all future generations will call it a dirge, but in the end, my road will close as a hymn. I sincerely ask you to walk it with me.’

Adelstein, realizing the truth that peace would never come unless the rampaging beasts were removed, recited the beginning of the vow with resolve, as if throwing himself into mortal danger.

‘—If you wish it.’

‘I will be with you. In all your adversity, fear, and sorrow, I will always be by your side. I will imprint the moments of your joy and glory onto my retina.’

‘Combining all of this, I grant you my eternity.’

Hyperion, deeply captivated by and truly cherishing Adelstein, did not refuse and accepted Adelstein’s mission as his own.

It was truly a moving passage in history…

“This medicine… is amazing, just sprinkling it makes fire.”

“Do you like it? There are others. This pill, even just one, can draw out several times your usual strength.”

What was going on?

Maia looked back and forth between Adelstein, who was engrossed in conversation with Krshunie Polaris, and Hyperion, who stood a few steps away, his face openly showing dissatisfaction as he watched them.

She let out a deep sigh.

When would they ever get close? When would they become inseparable?

“Just when I thought you two were getting along…”

It was all because of that damned ancestor of Polaris.

Adelstein refused to become the authoritative ruler Hyperion wanted, and Hyperion found Adelstein frustrating.

But Adelstein was the first to break down the walls Hyperion had built, so he couldn’t just turn away and leave as he had in the past.

It was hard enough to bridge their differences, and now an unexpected interloper had appeared.