17. The Knot (5)

An office in the Imperial Capital.

The Crown Prince smirked seeing Constantine return after checking outside the window.

Though it appeared he was checking outside for security, Madielle knew better. She was certain he had checked the sun’s position to gauge the time.

“Your restlessness is quite visible. Just go home, Duke.”

Madielle found it amusing each time she saw this gap in a man who seemed like he wouldn’t bat an eye even if someone died right in front of him.

“No, it’s fine.”

“Only a few hours remain anyway. Besides, it’s still daytime, isn’t it? What could happen if you go back a bit early?”

Constantine wavered momentarily at her continued urging. But he soon shook his head.

If he left early once, he would want to do it every time. He didn’t think Saena would appreciate him coming home early like this either… And if something happened to the Crown Prince, he wouldn’t be able to face Saena.

“Such stubbornness.”

Though she said this, her expression looked reassured.

“Then perhaps I could offer some convenience in another way?”

Another kind of convenience.

When the Crown Prince asked this, Constantine thought this might be a good opportunity to ask something.

Thinking he should ask if she knew anything about the glass fragments he had picked up recently, he took out a pouch from his br*ast pocket.

Just as he was about to pour the contents onto his palm–

—Huaaaaaah!

Caligo’s voice suddenly burst out, echoing in his mind.

Constantine flinched and frowned for a moment.

“…Duke? What’s wrong?”

—Masterrrr! Isn’t this too cruel!

Because he was maintaining such close intimacy with Saena lately, Caligo hadn’t had a chance to emerge.

The higher the intensity of contact, the deeper Caligo would hide, and since they hadn’t slept separately recently, it usually took about a day after being away from Saena for him to appear again.

Perhaps because of this,

In the days before Saena, Constantine could maintain his expression no matter what Caligo did in his mind, but after continued peaceful days, his immunity seemed to have lowered.

—To neglect me like this! In hundreds of years, no master has ever treated me like this!

Infuriatingly, he felt even more noisy and annoying than before.

Ha, how on earth did he manage to live listening to this noise day and night before?

Constantine gently massaged his temples, trying to calm himself. He wanted to shut this brat’s mouth right away.

“…Duke?”

“…It’s nothing. Just… a headache.”

“Perhaps you really should leave early?”

“I’m fine. Rather…”

Constantine spread his palm and held it out toward the Crown Prince.

“I have something to show you.”

“What… is this?”

“I found it recently–”

—Oh! I know this!

Just as he was about to ask the Crown Prince if she knew about these, Caligo suddenly interrupted.

—It’s a sealing vessel! A sealing vessel!

“…What?”

“…Are you speaking to me, Duke?”

Constantine’s face showed embarrassment as he had inadvertently responded to Caligo.

“Ah, my Guardian Spirit suddenly spoke to me.”

“Ah, I see.”

If it were anyone else they might not understand, but as the future Covenant keeper, she fully comprehended the situation.

“Then what is that?”

The Crown Prince pointed at Constantine’s palm.

“……”

—I’m telling you it’s a sealing vessel! A sealing vessel! For sealing demonic beasts…

Constantine suddenly clenched his fist, making the glass fragments clink together.

“…What?”

His furrowed brows and incredulous question burst out before he could control himself.

A sealing vessel? A demonic beast sealing vessel?

The sudden burst of energy that leaked out permeated the room, making the surroundings tense.

“…Duke?”

Heviathan stepped forward, tensing at the sudden surge of energy.

“I apologize. I need to step out for a moment.”

Constantine apologized to the Crown Prince.

After receiving her permission, he headed to the adjacent room. He felt the need to have a longer conversation with Caligo.

Of course, he didn’t forget to leave Morev by the Crown Prince’s side.

“…A sealing vessel? What happens when the beads break?”

—The sealed demonic beast comes out again!

“What kind of sealing vessel is that pathetic?”

—Though they seem rare now, they were common in the early days of the empire!

Caligo seized the opportunity to start pouring out tremendous information.

—When was it? Though they’ve fallen and disappeared now, back then, there were several families skilled at sealing demonic beasts. There were some particularly outstanding families—one that sealed through paintings, one that sealed in jewels, and one that sealed in specially treated crystal balls. The sealing vessels were unique because unlike other sealing tools that permanently sealed beasts, these would release the beast again if broken. So while they were initially used just for sealing, later they started being misused…

Constantine quietly listened to the endless mumbling explanation, though it was very irritating and headache-inducing. He worried that if he interrupted, Caligo might throw a tantrum instead of providing useful information. After a while, he could roughly grasp the situation.

—Though those families are completely gone now and no longer produce them, why do these sealing vessels keep appearing to cause trouble every generation? In a way, they’re quite consistent. Well, I wouldn’t be surprised if the imperial family secretly kept quite a number of sealing vessels–

“…What? The imperial family?!”

Constantine’s expression instantly darkened.

—Yes, master. Looking at the sources of sealing vessels that have appeared so far, most came from the imperial family.

This ominous feeling couldn’t be…

“……”

The demonic beast that suddenly emerged at Kramer’s territory,

The glass fragments left as traces,

Sealing vessels sourced from the imperial family,

And… the missing prince.

“…Saya!”

She was in danger.

* * *

He didn’t even know how he left the imperial capital.

He explained the situation almost incoherently and traveled at his fastest speed to the warp gate. He had no thought of being careful while riding through shadows.

—Hmph! Master, isn’t this happening because you neglect me every day, put me to sleep every day, and don’t pay any attention to me! If you had asked me, who knows so much! You could have known much earlier!

Caligo’s irritating blame-shifting didn’t even reach his ears.

—This is all your fault, master!

His mind was filled only with worry for Saena.

“…Your Grace?”

As soon as Constantine arrived at Castle Cream, he asked about Saena’s whereabouts.

“Saya! Where is she?!”

“The Madam is out.”

Nadia reported that she had gone out to investigate the situation in the plague-stricken village.

“Why wasn’t I informed beforehand?!”

“…Madam said not to bother you unnecessarily since she would return soon.”

“Ha…”

“Why… are you like this? Did something happen to the Madam?”

“Everyone except minimum security personnel will deploy. Inform the knights!”

Constantine ordered as if there was no time for explanations. Nadia bowed respectfully without question and quickly moved.

—Kihahah! Master! Are we going hunting? Are we going to kill?!

He departed ahead without waiting for all the knights to gather. His urgent heart couldn’t wait.

Given the difference in travel speed and that he wouldn’t be in much danger going first, he rushed at his best speed.

When he arrived at the village at a fierce pace, the knights who sensed his energy were already waiting at the village entrance. Similarly, Constantine immediately asked about Saena’s whereabouts, and they explained the general situation, informing him that Saena had gone upstream.

‘With just one knight…’

Though he understood why she had to go upstream with minimal company, he couldn’t help feeling irritated and anxious.

—Your wife is probably already dead, isn’t she? She seemed unpleasant and without any decent abilities~ Master, how fortunate you are to have met me. How useful I am~

“Shut up, you bastard…!”

“…Yes?!”

The knights tensed and lowered their bodies at the sudden murderous intent that arose. They tried to recall what they might have done wrong.

However, they couldn’t figure out what they had done wrong in the end. Because Constantine had already left.

“…Should, should we follow?”

“Some of us should stay, but yes.”

The knights quickly gathered their things to prepare to follow him.

But Constantine had already climbed the mountain alone in an instant. Whether the knights followed or not wasn’t important right now.

‘Where are you…?’

He spread his senses widely as he climbed the mountain.

Soon he felt several presences.

Human presence? No, demonic beasts? Ah, this is a Guardian Spirit’s energy.

‘Is it Saena?’

—Ueeeek! What an unpleasant smell!

No, judging by Caligo’s reaction, it must be her.

He moved even faster.

“Saya!”

He could see them!

He saw two figures riding on a silver-gray wolf’s body.

And slightly behind them, the form of a dark demonic beast pursuing them.

—It’s a demonic beast! A demonic beast! Heehick! Let’s kill it!

Yolly was within reach. Constantine released Morev while descending to the ground and ran toward Saena.

“—Constantine?!”

She recognized his presence and called his name with delight.

“Constantine!”

Saena threw herself into his arms, calling his name again as if about to burst into tears. Even just from her voice, he could tell how much she had suffered, hearing the trembling in it.

“—Are you, alright?”

“Yes, yes. I’m fine…. But the demonic beast….”

The body in his arms shuddered as if still scared, glancing behind them.

“I’ll handle it, don’t worry.”

“Alone, Constantine? Shouldn’t we wait for the knights below to come up together…?”

“It’s just one beast. I’m more than enough alone. You…”

If he had been just a little later, she might have been in danger. The thought made his heart feel like it would stop.