Chapter 185

A diamond the size of a de Neju hotel

Ezra’s healing magic wasn’t that great, considering his level. It was also difficult for him to heal more than one person. Perhaps, he could manage to heal two people, but three was unreasonable. He was too low on ether. On top of that, Kleio and Daria’s injuries were serious.

Ezra, close to tearing his hair out from stress, blurted out.

“Ah~, I don’t know!”

Then, he pulled out a dagger, cut through Kleio’s tangled hem, and pushed Arthur away. After that, he opened a circle. The magic formula of [healing][reduction][hemostasis] wrapped around Daria and Kleio. Platinum-colored ether swayed around them, passed over their mangled forms.

“[Be comfortable like when we were young and did not know pain, like when we laugh in our mother’s cradle, like when fantasy fairies sprinkle the powder of happiness!].”

Ezra emptied his platinum-colored ether.

Shaaaa!

Daria’s peeled skin began to mend, and Kleio’s shoulder blade was realigned, completely stopping the intermittently flowing blood. Both of their breathing returned to normal. At the same time he confirmed the results of the healing magic, Ezra was hit by his sudden lack of ether.

“Ah, what is this~? I’ll die too. Oh~!”

Dada, dada!

Dada, dada, dada!

“Ah, did the kids come…ah…”

Lippi grabbed Ezra and lifted him.

“Wake up, vice-captain!”

“I won’t wake up because you’re here~.”

Ezra, much bigger than Lippi, collapsed back on the ground. After giving up on Ezra, Lippi turned to Leticia, who was examining Daria and Kleio.

“Do you think they’re okay?”

“There’s no bleeding, and the burns have healed. I heard the vice-captains magic.”

“Thank God. Then, let’s get them off the floor quickly. The knights should be here soon to help us.”

“Yes. As Cel told me, a real golem showed up.”

After pulling their friends up, the two filled their small subspace pockets. It was around when they were finished that the two met each other’s gaze. Their sharp senses had caught a bad vibration as the ruins and grounds shook. The foundations of the mansion were collapsing, given way to the river. The twin exchanged their thoughts without a word.

‘Can you do it?’

‘Yes.’

Lippi shook Ezra, who had passed out, and woke him up to carry Daria. She then helped grab Arthur and Cel. Leticia tied her subspace pockets tightly to her belt, then grabbed Kleio and Isiel, who were relatively light, in her arms. Both rushed after Ezra toward the solid ground as the rumbling of the heavens and the earth followed them.

***

A week later.

On the second floor of the Asel mansion, flashes of light continuously flared up all afternoon in Kleio’s room. Zebedee had come running to heal them. Arthur, Cel, and Isiel had quickly recovered from their ether exhaustion, but Zebedee struggled with Kleio, who is still seriously wounded.

Meanwhile, the twins were there as they wanted to show Kleio something. They poured out hundreds of mana stone diamonds onto the bedsheets with mischievous smiles on their faces.

“Look at this, Lei.”

“We’ll give you some of these.”

Lippi showed it off to the enchanted Kleio.

“Look, a diamond from the golem.”

“This is exactly what we heard in the special lecture.”

“The value of diamonds from a single golem is worth three houses.”

“Cel said it would be enough to buy three mansions with gardens in the sovereign district.”

“At least five.”

“If you could sell them without disturbing the market price, you’d be able to buy the Neju Est Hotel site. Well, it would be better not to sell it.”

Kleio’s jaw dropped as he read the message above the diamonds.

[Strong Diamond

: Enhancement Manas tone

*Remark: pole product]

The message of Promise seemed to be blinding above the diamonds. His voice trembled as he responded.

“How did you get all this stuff out of that mess? Is that okay?”

“Keep your face straight, Lei. We must have money for whatever we may do in the future.”

Leticia patted Kleio on the shoulder, standing opposite Lippi.

“Lippi, you can’t just carry the burden on your poor shoulders.”

“Thank you, guys… but that’s a crime scene. I’m afraid there may be consequences if you take the evidence.”

The twins didn’t seem bothered about Kleio’s concerns. Kleio wrapped his arms around his head and closed his eyes to clear his mind. Then, he noticed the sound of the clasps on the door of the mansion moving.

‘Perception turned on again. Ugh.’

There were no sounds in their movements as steps lighter than cats went up the central stairs. That was definitely Cel. As he had been trapped in a dungeon concentrating on Arthur’s presence for three days, the function of Perception was able to distinguish them. When he lay down blankly, with Perception on, he could clearly trace the path of the noise of metal as the doorknob turned, as well as the sound of footsteps of people going back and forth. He quickly blinked and turned off Perception.

“Leticia, could you loosen the door latch?”

“With the diamonds lined up like this? Why all of a sudden?”

“Cel is here.”

“What? Really?”

Leticia’s ears perked up like a puppy’s to focus on what was outside the door; then, she tilted her head like she wasn’t sure. A few seconds later, Cel’s voice sounded out from behind the door, asking to release the latch. Leticia’s voice held admiration as she exclaimed.

“Wow, is this for real? Lei, you’re amazing! Is this the power of prediction?!”

Kleio, having a hard time answering, merely scratched at the back of his head.

.

.

.

The Angellium twins pushed the diamonds on him, and Kleio had found himself in a dilemma. So, Cel made the decision for him.

“Hey, Lei. The ethics lecture is good, but I’ll be responsible for it if there’s a problem, so just take it. It’s safest for you to keep.”

“Cel, are you teaching these kids good things?”

“Of course. I taught them the most important things in life. Right?”

Lippi and Leticia answered firmly.

“We’ll hold onto it when the opportunity comes.”

“Even if the ground falls away, we’ll take the diamonds.”

“That’s it. Soldiers fight with supplies, not morals.”

“But… we’re not at war now….”

“Sir Kleio, make sure to take military studies as an elective next semester. It’s way too late to prepare to defend yourself after the battle has taken place.”

“Hey…”

When Kleio frowned, Cel bowed, taking off her hat in a single fluid motion. Lippi and Leticia ran to hug Cel.

“Has the Capital Defense Force been there already?”

“What did they say?”

“I didn’t hear much. I received a briefing from Captain Daria, but the survivors are all terrified. Their testimonies were mismatched and chaotic. It’s said that the wizards of the research department are gathering to drain the water.”

Cel unbuttoned her jacket and hung her cane on the chair’s armrest. The combination of her ivory linen suit with rounded lapels and a tie made of red-dotted fabric was very cool.

“I heard the research wizard’s hypothesis, and it seems that they planted cores in the mansion to make the demons?”

“The ‘truth’ written on the golem’s tongue, is that it?”

“Right. They poured that much ether into it. However, it is said that it wasn’t magic that broke the mansion, but explosives that had been installed in advance.”

“Hester was really trying to end everything.”

“She would’ve done so if we hadn’t intervened. The stone that finished the mansion was kimberlite from Lake Nineveh, so Hester chose it with that intention.”

On the night of the meeting, when Ezra’s lieutenant Aremis Han led six knights to the mansion, it was said to have already become a muddy lake. It had completely sunk into the mud. The people would’ve been sucked into the ground as the golems ambushed them. After that, the plan was to dismantle the golems and take the diamonds.

Hester’s plan had been greatly was undone due to the involvement of Kleio and his friends, but it didn’t feel like they had won. Of course, Cel’s impression seemed a little different. She watched the sparkling diamonds with a warm expression.

“It wouldn’t be enough to praise them a hundred times. Our twins had quick judgment, and their ability to act is great.”

The twins laughed as they listened to Cel’s praise. Cel’s eyes reflected the sparkle of diamonds. She swept her gloved hands over them, looking quite satisfied. Kleio looked once more at the pile of diamonds covering the bed, that unpleasant feeling fading away.

‘Well, they are nice.’

They were rare mana stones of the highest quality.

.

.

.

The twins excitedly went off, saying that it was time to go to the newly opened Natural History Museum with their aunt. Mrs. Canton came up with some earl gray and orange upside-down cakes she had baked that morning, running into the twins on the way. The lady quickly held the twins back and ordered a maid to wrap the cakes up. The Angellium twins, a big fan of the Asel mansion desserts, ran out as they expressed their gratitude, the sound of their laughter as clear as glass.

Then, it was a quiet afternoon. Kleio, who was enjoying a late tea time with Cel, decided to ask an impulsive question.

“What Guilard showed us that day…can you tell me what you saw?”

The conversation halted. While Kleio regretted his pointless question, Cel placed the teacup on the back of the tray and crossed her legs. Her answer was cheerful, though the contents weren’t upbeat.

“I’ve nothing to say. King Etensel and his queen and his brothers and children hung in the center of Carolinger’s capital, Liberty square. Flames over their bodies…and when I see you asking this…you must’ve seen something else.”

“Yes…”

Kleio’s expression darkened. Cel didn’t dare to question the scene of destruction he feared most. She refilled her cup without a word. Though the fragrant bergamot scent went well with the nice afternoon, it wasn’t enough to calm Kleio’s heart down. As expected, the end each faced was different. By blending each person’s fears and experiences with vain fantasies, they created such a realistic and persuasive vision. It was capable of breaking the world’s balance. If Guilard had fallen into Melchior’s hands, the ending of this story would be too scary even to imagine.

‘If you had such power, we might die before Melchior got it.’

Anyway, it didn’t happen that way.

‘Is this evidence that God’s will is to be fulfilled? But it seems to be that way…’

Now that Aslan had embraced Hester, he may also become an unexpected

Kleio deeply sighed as he thought about it.