DSLA 36

Chapter 36

‘Actually, this turned out well.’

Even if he had stayed in the Guardian Knights, could he have ever become the commander? Or even the vice-commander? And even if he somehow did, what meaning would that have carried?

The commander and vice-commander alike were little more than puppets dangling in Hegelstern’s palm, and the ducal house had also gone mad over that temptress, losing all reason. In such a state, if even a single horde of beasts were to invade, it was obvious the order would collapse instantly. Brandlee pulled the corners of his lips upward.

‘I’ll join the Holy Knights instead. If things go well, maybe I could even enter the Imperial Knights!’

Though the Holy Knights ranked lower compared to the Guardian Knights, the Imperial Knights were on another level entirely—it would be blasphemous to even compare the two. Brandlee followed the masked man, barely holding back the laughter bubbling inside him.

The Brandlee family could not march proudly through the temple’s front gates. Even the carriage had stopped at the back road, a secluded and deserted path.

For now, they would enter through the back door, but soon enough, Brandlee vowed, he would stride proudly through the front.

“Are we going to see the High Priest?”

“He is far too busy. If we stay hidden within the temple, the day will come when we meet him.”

“Hidden inside the temple? You mean not only me, but also my parents and siblings must hide as well?”

“James Brandlee, you still do not understand the situation.”

Though his tone was smooth and noble, a sharp irritation colored it. The masked man turned his head and snapped at Brandlee with a fierce glare.

“You and your entire family are criminals wanted across the realm.”

“W-Wanted?!”

“Do you think Duke Ivonne would simply let escapees and those who aided them roam free?”

The masked man—once the commander of the Holy Knights—looked upon Brandlee and his kin with contempt. Had they just quietly accepted their punishment, it would have been nothing more than losing one son. Yet for the sake of that foolish brat, they had willingly walked into the High Priest’s grasp.

Though the former commander loathed both the North and Duke Ivonne, between the two, Ivonne was preferable. At least the Duke wielded his own power and position. The High Priest, that bastard, had no divine power of his own…

‘Then again, who am I to criticize another man’s child?’

After all, he himself had failed to protect his daughter, letting things spiral this far. Grinding his teeth inwardly, the ex-commander suppressed his bitterness.

Through the darkened back path, the Brandlee family slipped into the northern wing of the temple. With each step, dust puffed up from the ground. Their mother covered her mouth with a fan, coughing, only to be silenced with sharp looks from the masked man, who constantly gestured for quiet.

At the very edge of the temple’s northern quarter, there stood an abandoned warehouse.

Brandlee was shoved inside—and froze when he saw a familiar face. His eyes widened in disbelief.

“You… why are you here…?”

It was Philip, the coachman who had worked at the duke’s estate since Stuart was just learning to walk. Whenever Stuart traveled, it was always Philip who drove the carriage.

Now he stood before them dressed in white—clothing that made him look no different from a priest.

❀ ❀ ❀

“This is without a doubt dragon’s mana. My word, to think someone could withstand this…!”

The Tower Master stared at Lily as though bewitched. Lily, who had rolled up her sleeve to extend her arm, quickly pulled it back and took a few steps backward, as though his gaze was eating her alive. Stuart stepped in, cutting off that unpleasant stare. Just meeting those glittering, greedy eyes sent a chill down his spine.

“Do you treat your female colleagues like this as well? If so, I think I now understand why there are so few women in the Tower.”

Stuart’s words, a pointed rebuke wrapped in politeness, made the Tower Master force himself to loosen the manic gleam in his eyes.

Even with great power, the mages of the Tower shared a single goal: ‘I’ll conduct research I like while enjoying imperial funding!’ That was why they constantly explored ancient ruins and investigated relics.

Strictly speaking, Tower mages were not black magicians. They merely sought to study and restore forgotten magic—but the problem was, most forgotten magic tended to be black magic.

“I truly apologize. But… but! The accepted truth has always been that no human can withstand dragon’s mana…!”

It was the same for the LaFaye family. Despite their great power, they never pursued the position of Imperial Archmage, because such a rigid and boring office held no appeal. They genuinely loved research.

And when a case appeared that completely overturned established theory? Of course they would want to devote themselves to studying it, whatever the cost.

The Tower Master gazed at Lily like a coveted specimen. She reluctantly endured that look.

“Lady Hegelstern, would you consider living at the Tower? I don’t know what terms the North offered you, but I guarantee we’ll draft a contract far better…”

“I’ve already signed a contract with the Guardian Knights.”

“Ah, heavens are merciless!”

The Tower Master looked genuinely devastated. His violet eyes filled with tears so earnestly that Lily wondered, ‘Is this really something to cry about?’

“No human body can withstand dragon’s mana. That has always been the truth. Many have tried to infuse themselves with it, but none lasted even a day.”

He reached out, as if to take Lily’s hand, but Stuart’s murderous glare made him quickly withdraw.

“But most of the time, I don’t even notice any mana. Even if I try, only divine power manifests.”

“Yes, yes, it’s definitely there. It’s just… suppressed.”

Unable to contain his awe, the Tower Master trembled with emotion.

“Your divine power is so strong that it suppresses the mana…! Incredible—divine power stronger than dragon’s mana…! A body that can even endure dragon’s mana…!”

He collapsed to his knees, sobbing in ecstasy.

When seen in the North, he had seemed at least somewhat respectful. But now, he was nothing more than a mad scholar.

The mages of the Tower were said to be half-mad for their research. But this wasn’t half-mad—this was fully possessed.

Then again, the duchess herself had often stared at Lily with curious eyes…

Somewhat awkwardly, Lily tried to calm the Tower Master.

“Perhaps it’s because people with divine power tend to be physically sturdier than most. That may be why I can endure it.”

“Is that true? My goodness.”

“After all, divine power itself isn’t exactly gentle. Since we must endure it, our bodies become stronger. But wait—you didn’t know this? I thought a Tower Master would.”

Just how closed-off was the temple, really?

Thinking on it, Lily realized she’d learned more from overhearing the High Priest or the Senior Priestess mutter than from official classes. And real divine power instruction only began once you became a consecrated priestess, fully bound to the temple, so secrecy was easily kept.

“Um, Tower Master, I heard the Tower also takes on research commissions. Could I request one too? I’ll find a way to cover the cost.”

“If it’s Lady Hegelstern’s commission, of course we’ll take it. What is it?”

“I’d like you to investigate divine power. The temple hasn’t uncovered much at all, not even the basic mechanism of how it works… Tower Master, please stop crying…”

Lily had thought that maybe, just maybe, professional research might reveal something. But the moment she finished speaking, the Tower Master broke into full-blown sobs.

Lily, hands clasped tightly in his, looked up at Stuart. She expected to see his usual weary, disgusted expression—but to her surprise, he was lost in thought.

❀ ❀ ❀

The next morning, after breakfast, Lily first healed all the mages afflicted with C-class curses, then began treating the B-class cases. These were supposedly weaker than the Tower Master’s curse; though trickier than C-class, they weren’t overwhelmingly difficult.

Perhaps that was why Lily’s mind began to wander.

She kept thinking about the priestesses and clerics watching her from behind… or about the young master who had disappeared without a trace.

Each time Lily used divine power, the damp fragrance of rain-soaked soil and fresh grass filled the air. The mages, already accustomed to it, inhaled deeply.

Just from the divine power alone, it felt as if they were standing in a summer forest, refreshed and at peace. Mana, too, carried scents unique to each mage, but they were only scents—they never affected mood this way.

“Amazing!”

The mages all exclaimed in unison, while the priestesses and clerics pouted sourly.

Lily Hegelstern’s divine power had always been worthless. Wasn’t she the one who scored lowest in every evaluation? A parasite clinging to the temple with nothing but scraps of dried-up power. That was Hegelstern.

And yet the High Priest had embraced even such a failure as his own daughter. But did she show gratitude? No—she had only ever defied him.

Most children, no matter how unruly, softened somewhat after “lessons in etiquette” from the High Priest or Senior Priestess. But not Hegelstern.

She wasn’t even someone who enjoyed punishment, yet she stubbornly resisted at every turn. Because of her, orphans like them were all lumped together and scorned as hopeless. The thought still made them grind their teeth.

And now, to abandon the temple and run to the North? To that land where even the name of God had been erased? It was the greatest betrayal imaginable.

The High Priest, who had cherished her like his own child, had since fallen into despair, neglecting food and sleep, spending every day in prayer.

‘Then how can a traitor like her wield divine power so like his?’

The children of the temple could not understand. The damp soil, the soothing scent of grass—those were the High Priest’s unique fragrance. How could Hegelstern possibly manifest them?

‘Could she have stolen his power?’

Their eyes narrowed. Such sacred strength was not something a depraved Hegelstern could wield. Surely the High Priest must know. Losing divine power was agonizing—there was no way he wouldn’t realize.

Then… could it be? Was he simply letting it happen because she was like a daughter to him?

‘Impossible!’