TSPCD 09

Chapter 9

Chapter 3. The World Is Full of Colors (3)

Eventually, as the world tends to repair itself, circulate, and find its rightful balance, new life would bound to be born in the end.

“Their goal is to invert the light and shadow. So naturally, all of us who stand in the light become obstacles to them.”

The dragon’s gaze shifted to Bel, who was currently held within the bounds of Ethan’s hands.

“The reason they targeted the Star Clan first was to make their task easier.”

“So they’ll try to kill her before her powers properly awaken,” Ethan muttered grimly.

The dragon did not bother to refute his words.

“I can manage to block them once or twice with my power.”

Back then, he had been struck down in an instant without knowing anything, but the situation was different now.

“However, I have lived for far too long. My strength is waning, and should I fall, whether the Guardian of the Stars can fully utilize her power or not…”

He trailed off ambiguously.

At that, as if his patience had worn thin, Ethan’s face contorted menacingly.

“So what are you getting at? Is there a way, or isn’t there?”

“During the calamity, there was someone who killed a dragon, was there not?”

Ignoring Ethan, the dragon looked toward the Emperor.

However, the Emperor cast an awkward look sideways at Ethan.

“I killed it. What about it?” Ethan declared, cocking his chin arrogantly.

In front of a dragon, could there be any human other than Ethan who would proudly say, ‘I am the one who killed your kin’?

…If there were another, that in itself would be a calamity.

“…Sigh. To think a man hailed as a hero possesses such a personality.” The dragon buried his face in his hands and let out a deep sigh.

“What’s wrong with my personality?”

For the record, there was one thing he had yet to realize.

“I’m pretty nice for someone like me.”

Ethan was a man completely unaware that there was anything wrong with his personality.

“Ugh. I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that.”

“Blegh.”

The Emperor quickly picked at his ear, while Aspe feigned a gagging reflex.

“When Those Who Dwell in the Dark Night attack, bind the feet of the ‘Greatest Calamity’ they bring along. It only needs to be for a brief moment.”

The dragon waved his hand in a resigned tone and said:

“Then I shall somehow take care of the rest.”

Their strategic meeting came to a lukewarm conclusion.

Now, it was time to head to the Duchy of Ibec.

There was a gaze silently looking down at the white carriage crossing the vast garden.

[Did you see?]

“Yes. The last star has truly awakened.”

A dark and gloomy aura overflowed from his narrowly curved eyes.

Leaving behind the sunlit hallway, he hid in a shadow barely a handbreadth wide and parted his lips.

“Go and confirm it.”

At his low voice, the shadow flickered.

“Whether that child can truly become the master of calamity or not.”

It was the child they had searched for so desperately.

The last remaining link of the stars.

A double-edged sword that would determine the direction of the revolution they were to bring about.

The child left all alone, blessed by every single star.

Whether they should seize it in their hands or extinguish it before it grows—they had to verify it without fail.

“Ah! Were you here?”

Just then, a cheerful voice echoed from the end of the hallway.

The figure hidden in the shadow skillfully erased his sinister demeanor.

“All the attendees for the State Council have arrived. Shall we go?”

“Yes, let us.”

The ruler leading Those Who Dwell in the Dark Night—he smiled gently as he set off.

Ppu-uuu—.

Flower petals fluttered through the air.

“Welcome!”

“Welcome, Bel. I’ve been waiting for you.”

Settia, dressed in a tea party gown, crouched down in front of Bel.

Bel stared intently at Settia’s welcoming face.

‘…A cloud.’

The black fog covering Settia’s face was extremely faint. Thanks to that, her expressions were faintly visible.

Blink, blink.

After staring at Settia for a long moment, Bel rubbed her eyes.

Just in case, she glanced back at Ethan, then at Aspe behind him, before turning her gaze back to Settia.

The people who were inside the Imperial Palace grounds yesterday—she could see their faces now. Very clearly.

But what about the people at the Duke’s mansion?

‘I can’t see them.’

The faces of everyone at the Duke’s mansion were covered in fog.

Since even Settia had a hazy layer of fog over her face, Bel was not misremembering.

Then was it a case similar to Ethan’s?

…If asked, the answer was no.

The reason Settia’s fog was faint was that her ether was almost depleted.

And Bel knew what this meant.

Ether was the balance of the world and the source of life itself. If that vanished, that life would cease to exist.

In other words, it meant Settia did not have much life left.

‘…Verdi…!’

She needed help!

However, the spirit was not beside Bel.

‘Ing.’

Realizing her side was completely empty, Bel’s mood slumped.

Seeing the tiny shoulders droop, Settia panicked.

“What’s wrong all of a sudden? Do you not like the welcome party?”

Flustered, she held out a cake right in front of Bel’s eyes.

“Look at this, Bel. I prepared this for you.”

However, upon seeing the cake, Bel’s expression turned into even more of a tearful pout.

“I-Is it no good?”

“Don’t feel down; it’s not because of you.”

Unable to watch any longer, Ethan stepped in.

“It’s because her ether is contaminated.”

He hazarded a guess at the reason behind Bel’s gloominess. Then, like waving a toy in front of a puppy, he waved a storybook right in front of Bel’s face.

“Here, look, a picture book! What color is this?”

“…”

Bel narrowed her eyes slightly and stared at Ethan.

It was a look that clearly said: ‘Seriously. Read the room.’

Realizing the child was looking at him with utter insolence, Ethan’s eyebrows twitched.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“…A-jo-ssi. (Mister.)”

“…What? Mis… Mister?”

“Ba-bu. (Fool.)”

Bel threw the word right at Ethan, who let out a dry laugh.

‘So foolish. You don’t even know what I’m feeling!’

“Unbelievable, really. Why am I a mister?”

Miffed by the title ‘Mister’, Ethan’s gaze instantly turned fierce.

“Did you or did you not agree to become the Ibec Princess starting yesterday?”

“No.”

“When I asked you to come with me, you said you would.”

In the end, he actually started arguing with a child who was barely two years old—roughly 20 months old.

“Did I or did I not give you bread? You gobbled it all right up.”

“Oung!”

That’s why I came with you!

To express her discontent, Bel turned her eyes upward. Her big, round eyes turned into sharp triangles, looking quite feisty.

Seeing that, Ethan let out another dry laugh.

“Seriously absurd. Hey. You followed me, so I signed the documents, got them notarized… You’re the Ibec Princess now. Do you get it?”

“Naw-ee! (No!)”

“I’m your dad. Am I a mister?”

“Oung!”

Bel nodded her head with absolute confidence. She even puffed out her chubby little belly.

Ethan was rendered speechlessly dumbfounded, while Settia, who was watching the scene, burst into laughter.

“Don’t fight with a child, Ethan. How childish.”

At her gentle scolding, Ethan’s ferocious expression softened.

Settia turned her attention back to Bel.

“My name is Settia. Starting today, I’m your mom. Welcome to the Ibec Dukedom.”

Greeting her softly, she pulled Bel into a tight hug.

Bel felt a warm, swelling sensation in her chest. It felt a little ticklish, and a little aching.

Settia’s hug felt just like…

‘…Verdi…’

It reminded her of the spirit. The snuggled warmth of being held carefully by those barely formed, transparent arms, and the gentle voice that spoke to her.

[In place of your mother, I shall always stay by your side.] [Little Star.]

What is a mother?

A person who stays by your side?

Then was Verdia Bel’s mother?

‘She’s gone.’

However, the spirit was no longer by her side.

And this person, who claimed to be her mother, would also leave Bel’s side eventually.

Once everyone left, by Bel’s side…

The child’s eyes landed on Ethan.

“…”

Do the two of us have to live together?

Bel made up her mind.