novelraw Chapter 98 : Chapter 98
Chapter 98 : Chapter 98
Chapter 98. Decision
On average, it took about two years to open the dantian.
That was assuming one had a decent level of talent to begin with.
Those born dull often never awakened aura in their entire lives.
Even for geniuses, a year of training was the minimum required to open the dantian.
Shaferia was different.
She had released aura after just a single day.
Not only had she opened her dantian, she had even drawn her aura outside her body.
Yohan found it impossible to believe.
He stammered—something uncharacteristic of him.
“C-Could you do it again?”
He wanted to confirm it one more time.
“Of course.”
Shaferia closed her eyes. Her grip on her sword tightened. The blade trembled slightly.
At the same time, a transparent ripple spread outward in all directions.
Yohan’s hair fluttered.
He could no longer deny reality.
A genius.
No, even the word genius felt insufficient.
Shaferia had talent on par with the ancient God of War.
She was something beyond extraordinary.
A hollow laugh escaped Yohan’s lips.
“You are truly… simply astounding.”
It was pure admiration. He didn’t even feel jealous.
Shaferia scratched her cheek bashfully.
“I’m glad you’re pleased.”
Yohan calmed his pounding heart as much as he could.
With a composed expression, he asked,
“By the way, Lady Shaferia, where did you learn how to open your dantian?”
Aura training required specific techniques.
It wasn’t possible to open the dantian purely by instinct without a manual or a teacher.
Even Shaferia wouldn’t have been able to manage it on her own.
She turned to look out the office window.
In the small training yard outside, Gaf sat shirtless in a lotus position.
She looked at him and said,
“The Captain of the Guard was training in aura. I clung to him persistently and asked him how it was done.”
Gaf had recently been working on activating his meridians again.
On Yohan’s orders.
Yohan had promised to find a substitute for his ruined dantian, urging him to restart aura cultivation.
Yohan muttered quietly.
“Gaf… pulled it off.”
If not for Gaf, Shaferia’s talent might have been wasted.
She would’ve ended up as a demon because of Yohan.
Naturally, a demonized Shaferia wouldn’t have been able to use aura.
She tilted her head, confused.
“I didn’t catch that. What did you say?”
Yohan shook his head.
“It’s nothing. More importantly, Lady Shaferia. Congratulations, truly. You’ve proven yourself more than worthy. As a knight, you lack nothing.”
Shaferia’s face lit up with joy.
With a hopeful tone, she asked,
“T-Then, does that mean…?”
Yohan nodded.
“As head of the Miyatro family, I hereby recognize your knighthood.”
Shaferia immediately knelt on one knee, holding her sword in both hands.
“I offer this sword to the Watcher of the Abyss. Even if the blade dulls, my loyalty and oath shall never rust.”
Yohan rose from his seat and took the sword.
He lightly placed the blade upon her shoulder.
“From this moment, you are my sword—and a guardian of the Abyss. Defend this land with all your might and watch over the Abyss.”
Shaferia bowed her head.
“With soul and body, I shall obey your command.”
Yohan withdrew the blade from her shoulder.
He returned to his desk and began writing something on parchment.
It was her official letter of knighthood.
The moment this letter was sent to the royal capital, Shaferia would be officially recognized as a knight of the kingdom.
Her background didn’t matter.
As a member of the Council, Yohan held the authority to appoint knights.
Having received knighthood from him, Shaferia was no longer a commoner.
She would now hold the rank equivalent to a junior baron.
Once he finished writing, Yohan spoke.
“Shaferia, I grant you summary judgment authority over all matters within the territory. If you find anything that threatens the domain—bandits, heretics, or otherwise—act first and report later.”
The south was plagued by roaming demons and bandits.
Miyatro’s direct territory had suffered from them considerably.
Shaferia should be more than capable of solving that problem.
She replied in a slightly trembling voice,
“…I will obey.”
She still couldn’t quite believe she had become a knight.
Yohan continued,
“I’ll assign troops immediately. Sweep through the borders. This is your first mission.”
He intended to send her out of the castle for a while.
It was still too soon to keep her nearby.
There were too many things to hide.
Shaferia might be Yohan’s knight, but she wasn’t a servant of Mapheltan.
If she encountered anything related to Mapheltan, it could become a very awkward situation.
Yohan had to keep her away from the castle for the time being.
Shaferia looked puzzled.
“But if I leave now, what about His Highness?”
She was essential for treating Gawain.
But that situation had completely changed.
Yohan could no longer afford to expend someone like Shaferia as a mere sacrifice.
He replied,
“I’ve found another solution. Focus on your task.”
It was a lie. He still had to figure it out.
Shaferia didn’t press further. She seemed to accept it.
“…Understood. I shall patrol the domain as commanded.”
Yohan nodded.
“Root out all evil that clings to the land. Do not return until then.”
The Miyatro domain was vast.
Shaferia would likely spend a long time traversing the borderlands.
That would give Yohan ample time to deal with his current issues.
Shaferia rose to her feet.
“Shall I leave immediately?”
“Go see Gaf in an hour. He’ll provide the supplies you’ll need.”
She bowed her head.
“I shall do so.”
“You’re dismissed. I’ll see you again before you depart.”
After offering a formal sword salute, Shaferia exited the office.
Standing beside Yohan, Hakain spoke.
“Congratulations, my lord. You’ve acquired a monster.”
“Well, that’s true…”
The real issue was Gawain. Yohan still had no clear method to deal with him.
Hakain cautiously asked,
“Is Gawain—His Highness the Third Prince—really that important?”
Gawain was meant to be humanity’s future focal point.
Yohan planned to use him from the shadows to unite the continent’s powers.
If Gawain fell into complete demonic corruption, that plan would be ruined.
He’d need to find another pawn.
…But is there one?
Someone with the overwhelming power of Gawain, yet capable of spreading positive influence—Yohan couldn’t think of anyone else.
He clicked his tongue.
“He’s important. Critically so, but…”
***
In the Forbidden Archive beneath the castle, Yohan grabbed a handful of talismans stuck to Gawain’s face and yanked them off.
Gawain’s face was revealed.
With a dying voice, he spoke.
“…Yohan Miyatro. What is it that you want from me? Speak. Now.”
Perhaps due to not eating or sleeping for days, Gawain’s spirit had clearly waned.
Yohan sighed deeply.
“What I want, huh? If I tell you… could you accept all of my demands?”
A flicker of killing intent passed through Gawain’s eyes.
But it was quickly replaced by resignation.
“…At least tell me what this is all about. Why are you doing this to me?”
Yohan had imprisoned him without a word. He hadn’t even killed him.
From Gawain’s perspective, it was maddening.
Yohan replied,
“You’re going to turn into a demon. That’s the truth. No lies.”
His gaze was calm and steady.
Gawain, strangely, felt a sense of trust.
It didn’t sound like a lie.
“You said something similar before… but why do you think I’ll become a demon?”
Yohan answered plainly.
“The Holy Spear Espada etched into your soul has been corrupted into a cursed spear. Because of that, you're being eaten away. Have you ever heard of Gepetto, the Phantom of the Principality?”
In the past, a man named Gepetto experienced the exact same phenomenon as Gawain.
He had never been cured and eventually turned into a fiend.
The Phantom of the Principality, Gepetto. It was a well-known tale.
Gawain was familiar with it, of course.
His gaze wavered slightly.
“…You’re saying Espada has been corrupted? Then bring me proof.”
Yohan nodded.
“See it with your own eyes. It’s time.”
The moment he finished speaking, Yohan’s form dispersed.
In his place, thick miasma began swirling.
Dark smoke quickly took shape.
Gawain’s pupils dilated.
He shouted in a seizure-like fit.
“Y-You bastard…!”
The monstrous figure before him was terrifying.
White Horn. The Thirteenth Apostle of the End.
Mapheltan slowly opened his mouth.
“It’s been a while, Gawain.”
Gawain began to tremble.
His body glowed faintly white.
Divine power leaked through the restraints.
Mapheltan stepped back.
Still has strength left?
If so, he needed to retreat.
Divinity was fatal to demons.
He watched the situation briefly.
The radiance faded.
Gawain’s convulsions subsided.
He had clearly run out of stamina.
Naturally—after his battle with Ilea, Gawain had no time to recover.
He was completely drained.
A human, after all.
Gawain stared weakly at Mapheltan. His vacant eyes were filled with hostility.
“…What the hell are you?”
Mapheltan answered calmly.
“I am the Watcher of the Abyss. And the Thirteenth Apostle of the End. Sounds like a joke, I know. But it’s the truth.”
Gawain stared at him blankly.
A long silence passed.
Then, suddenly, Gawain burst into laughter. A hollow laugh echoed through the Forbidden Archive.
“Ah, ah! So that’s how it was! You’re the one who took my spear! The darkness I saw back then—it was you!”
Previously, Gawain had collapsed vomiting blood while trying to reclaim the Holy Spear.
The shadow he had seen then… was Mapheltan.
Dark energy began to condense in Mapheltan’s hand.
“Yes. I corrupted your spear into a Cursed Spear.”
He was now gripping that ominous, massive weapon.
Gawain laughed for a while, then coughed harshly.
Suppressing his emotions, he spoke.
“…Finally, the puzzle fits. You’ve been deceiving everyone all along. And I… I walked right into the tiger’s den like a fool.”
Mapheltan shrugged.
“Thanks to that, we can have this open conversation now. Don’t beat yourself up too much.”
Gawain gave a dry snort.
“Fine. Now that it’s come to this—let’s speak plainly. White Horn. What is it that you really want?”
The man had a more direct side than expected.
Mapheltan smiled long and slow.
“Become a demon. Fall—and live as my servant.”