Raising the Princess to Overcome Death

Chapter 152: Engagement – Myth

152. Engagement – Myth

The boy and girl were born with the sun in their eyes. Their eyes, which shone brilliantly in gold, proved that they were no ordinary children. Their birth process was also extraordinary.

The boy was born earlier than expected. In the cold winter, he cut his own umbilical cord and announced his arrival to the world with a cry devoid of tears.

On the other hand, the second-born twin refused to come out of the womb.

Unlike her impatient brother, she crawled out of the uterus a few weeks later when she had fully grown. She didn't cry but smiled to comfort her mother who had endured the labor pains twice.

The siblings grew up rapidly.

They received boundless love from their ordinary parents and grew into beautiful children under the attention of the entire village.

Then one day, the boy set foot on a rocky mountain. While searching for firewood, he discovered a hidden path among the rocks and, feeling an eerie sensation, followed it to find an animal tied to a rock.

Should he call it a sheep because of its round horns, or a lizard because of its scaly legs and tail? It was a strangely shaped animal.

"Why are you tied up here?"Leonel asked. The animal replied,

"I don't know either. I was born in the shifting darkness. Then someone caught me, tied me up, and left! Instead of standing there, untie me."

But the rope binding the animal wouldn't come undone. Despite trying hard, he couldn't untie it, so Leonel promised to come back.

He kept his promise. Despite being scared of the eerie path, he climbed the rocky mountain, wondering how to untie the knot.

"Fool. Can't you even untie this?"

Maybe because the animal diligently ate the hard nuts the boy brought? The animal grew quickly. What was once small had grown as large as a rock, and the now fearful boy said,

"I don't know if I should untie you. I won't come back to see you anymore."

"You are a liar. Do as you please. I will remain tied here forever, saddened by your lie for the rest of my life."

"What do you expect me to do? The knot won't untie, and you look too scary."

The animal, shedding tears, smiled.

"Then let's do this. Don't untie me. Instead, how about making another promise? Give me your name and don't forget me. I am staying tied here to prevent you from becoming a liar."

"Okay."

The boy taught the animal his name and descended the rocky mountain. He never returned to the eerie path.

After that, strange things began to happen. Everyone in the village started to avoid him.

No one approached him, not even his parents, who avoided his eyes.

His sister, Leicia, pointed out,

"Brother, you're a bit scary."

The boy who had lost his name felt unpleasant. He didn't like his brave sister who approached him and gave advice. He wanted to tear her only dress to shreds and make her fear him.

That would be delicious.

"Aaah!"

Horrified by his own thoughts, he hurriedly climbed the rocky mountain. He approached the animal, which had grown even larger despite not receiving any nuts, and shouted,

"I'd rather be a liar! Give me back my name!"

The animal refused.

"No. If you want your name back, untie this knot. Don't worry. Now you can untie it. I will help from the inside. Haven't I grown a lot?"

"...Okay. You promise?"

The animal nodded, and the boy untied the knot. The knot, which wouldn't come undone no matter how hard he pulled, loosened easily even though the animal inside didn't move.

"Now it's done, right? Give me back my name."

"It was a lie. I won't return it. You broke the promise first."

Stretching with a crack, the animal smiled and looked at the boy with terrifying round eyes.

"But I like you. I'll tell you this because it's strange, but I want to have you. I want to torment you. Then your sister will come along too. You and your sister are tied together..."

The boy ran away. "You are already one with me. You can't escape." The boy ran, trying to escape the whispering animal, but was soon caught and pinned down by its scaly hoof.

"What, what do you want?"

"I want everything you were born with."

The sheep's mouth bit the boy's neck. The bizarre animal vanished like a mirage, and the boy realized it was flowing through his veins.

- Go back now. Show me your sister. Huh?

The boy didn't listen. He began to climb the mountain instead, and the animal asked,

- Aren't you afraid of me? Why aren't you listening to me?

"...I'm scared."

His legs trembled.

Fear flowed through his veins, gnawing at him heavily, but he stood at the edge of a steep cliff and looked down.

A flat land spread out below. In the distance, he saw the village. The rocky mountain, rising alone on the plain, was steep, and the strong wind shook his body precariously.

I'm scared. But taking this monster to my sister is even scarier.

Ignoring the monster's orders, the boy threw himself off the cliff. As the boy-turned-monster screamed, "No!" a majestic being reached out. Embracing the plummeting boy, it spoke warmly.

= Leonel. I have been watching over you.

She was a giant woman, dazzlingly bright. Wearing a crown adorned with thorns, she appeared to be in pain but maintained a sublime smile.

= We will continue to watch over you. This is my gift.

The goddess kissed the boy on his forehead. Once Leonel was set down below the rocky mountain, he felt a change in his body, and the monster was nowhere to be found.

  *

"Leonel grew into a great warrior. Wielding two swords like lightning, he defeated all sorts of monsters and was revered as a hero of humanity."

Bahatar continued his story.

Lena, who had scraped clean her plate of ochatz, listened while hugging her knees.

"His sister, Leicia, supported him. She wisely governed the villages that swore allegiance and established fair rules for everyone. Those rules later became the foundation of the 'Arcaea Code.'"

Leo, listening with his arms crossed, stacked the empty dishes and pushed them aside.

"But their glory didn't last long. Ahem. Now, listen carefully, because the Church of the Cross doesn't tell this part."

Clearing his throat, Bahatar emphasized. The following story was indeed very different from what Leo knew.

Leonel, who had driven out the different races in the central continent and founded the Arcaea Kingdom with his sister, didn't move as everyone expected the hero to.

Building a splendid palace in the capital he named Orville, he grew arrogant.

He called himself 'Todler Akiunen' and holed up in the palace, refusing to come out.

Leicia's actions were also strange.

Immediately after founding the kingdom, she established the solar calendar to aid in farming and devised equipment to help with water management, actively contributing. Yet she too secluded herself in the palace.

She started writing poetry, all of which sang of love.

Though they were all praised as beautiful works with splendid melodies, soon the entire kingdom was shocked.

Unmarried Laysia gave birth to a son. And the father of the child was...

= Leonel! You scoundrel!

The sky opened, and Lachar, the god of war and honor, descended, wielding a sword and shield.

"And then? What happened then?"

Lena Ainar, munching on the dessert Leo handed her, asked.

"The god of warriors, Lachar, took Leicia away. He scolded King Leonel to repent but he didn't. He oppressed the kingdom's people with tyranny and then suddenly left for the north. He came to this place where Lachar's temple is and started a battle..."

Bahatar turned his back. He pointed to the dozens of white canyons spread below the low hill they were on.

"Do you remember asking why the stones are white? It's because of the god's blood. After nine days of battle, Leonel drove a sword into Lachar's body, and twenty-four drops of blood fell to the earth. Although Lachar ultimately won, he was wounded by a human's attack. That's why Leonel is called a demigod. Of course, the Church of the Cross denies all this. They'd rather claim that Todler Akiunen has no relation to the main god than admit that a god was injured."

Lena skeptically asked,

"That's understandable. Who would believe that a god bled from a human's sword?"

"Hahaha. I knew you'd say that. But there's proof. Look at those stones. The white stuff on them is 'Manubium.' It's a miraculous mineral that deflects all magic and amplifies divine power."

"Hmm..."

Lena picked up a stone she had earlier and rubbed its white surface with her thumb. Nothing came off.

Lena had a doubtful expression, but when she quieted down, Bahatar spoke again.

"Lachar intended to kill Todler Akiunen. At that time, 'Banun Laono' pleaded. The first noble of humanity and Todler Akiunen's first vassal, he had arrived at the temple before Todler.

He begged for forgiveness for the king and queen's sins and sacrificed his own life. Then Lachar said,

= The human heart is incomprehensible. To end your life for the sister and wife of the king you serve... Very well. I will forgive you. But you must pay for the blood I shed.

"After that, Todler Akiunen and Leicia disappeared. Fortunately, Leicia's son became a wise ruler and excellently governed the kingdom, and Todler Akiunen's tyranny was forgotten. How about that? It's different from what the Church of the Cross teaches, isn't it?"

Bahatar grinned. Lena smacked her lips with a dissatisfied look, simply annoyed by the man's smugness.

But she had to acknowledge some parts, so Lena nodded.

"Well... Thanks. Now I know the legend of Todler Akiunen."

"Hahaha. You're welcome. You won't hear this story anywhere else. It's passed down only in our 'Albacete' tribe."

"Oh, that's just a boast, right?"

"How did you know? Hahaha. It's slightly exaggerated. Most northern tribes know it. But no one can tell it as vividly as I can."

"Yeah, sure. Whatever."

"Hey! You enjoyed it all this time, and now you're contradicting me?"

As Lena and Bahatar bickered, Leo Dexter was deep in thought.

He wanted to ask about the 'Albacete' tribe, but something else was on his mind.

"Leicia."

He softly called Lena. As he made eye contact with her and spoke that name...

"Huh? Leicia what? Why did you stop talking?"

Lena just gave him a puzzled look. Muttering "Leonel" as well, Leo Dexter awkwardly nodded.

That was stupid.

Leo looked up. He was about to ask about the Albacete tribe, but Bahatar and the five warriors were gone. They were all far off, admiring the rising blue crescent moon.

"Leo. Let's go watch it too. The view is spectacular."

Lena grabbed his hand. She pulled him up and, following the shouting men, boldly roared toward the canyon, "Wow!"

Barbarian warriors indeed...

Leo, unable to stop the noisy shouting, looked at them with resignation, not noticing his sword lying near the campfire, faintly vibrating.

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