Let’s Block the Ruined Route in Advance Chapter 72

The event has passed, and Verotanis is in turmoil.

 

“The beast appeared in a village right in front of Verotanis.”

 

Fortunately, the battle in the subspace did not result in any members of the public seeing the Mongma or the demon in person, but the sight of armed faculty members scurrying away and stern-faced guards controlling the crowds was enough to make students and residents nervous.

 

Meanwhile, the six students at the center of the disturbance were sent to the hospital first.

 

Two healers attended to Neumann, who was the most severely injured, while the rest of the students were examined to make sure they hadn’t been exposed to the magic.

 

“Is Neumann going to be okay?”

 

Albert nodded and patted Eileen’s head.

 

“Of course. He’s shaken up, but it’s nothing we can’t heal, and there are no lingering wounds.”

 

Eileen nodded, relieved at the reassurance, then turned her attention to Jessie, who lay in the bed across from her. Although Jessie was largely unharmed, she hadn’t yet woken up from the traumatic experience.

 

‘She’s so lucky to be alive, and Neumann was there for her.’

 

He doesn’t know why Neumann and Jessie were together. But because Neumann was there, fighting for them, they were able to get there in time.

 

It was an opportunity that wasn’t given in the original.

 

‘And the battle that followed.’

 

She could still see the four of them working together to destroy the enemy, a battle that would have been doomed by now if they hadn’t avoided the Ruined Path.

 

It was a mystery to Eileen.

 

The people around her were strong and brave, and it seemed ridiculous to her that she was trying to figure out the future on her own.

 

‘All my life, I thought I had to be the center of things.’

 

She took it for granted, knowing the future, knowing the past.

 

‘But now I get it.’

 

‘The future can be changed. But I can’t change it alone.’

 

That was Eileen’s conclusion. If the fate of the world depended on what she would see in the future, it was not a burden she would bear alone, but one that would be shared by everyone she would live with.

 

“Eileen, are you okay?”

 

Lucian and Felix walked in, having finished their examinations while Eileen collected her thoughts. Neither of them looked exhausted, even though they had been in a major battle.

 

“Yeah, I’m fine. How’s Cordelia?”

 

“I just got done, too.”

 

There were some minor cuts, but no major injuries. Looking at each other, the four of them smiled, finally letting go of the tension.

 

“Well, it was sudden, but I’m glad you’re all safe.”

 

“I think the Duke will be surprised when he finds out what we’ve done.”

 

“Not so much surprised, but if he’s anything like my father, he’ll come running.”

 

“I’m sure he would.”

 

They laughed as they playfully chatted back and forth.

 

BANG!

 

With a loud bang, the door to the ward burst open and a disheveled Duke of Gaudium walked in.

 

“Oh?”

 

The four of them rubbed their eyes. Unsure if they were dreaming or not, the Duke rushed over to them.

 

“Where are you all hurt?!”

 

“None!”

 

Panicked by his urgency, the children spun their limbs to emphasize their unharmedness. They knew he’d be worried, but they didn’t think it would be that bad.

 

And it was the same for everyone else. Albert and the healing arts professor’s mouths dropped open at the sight of a duke so different from the one the world knew.

 

“Whoa.”

 

Satisfied that the children were safe, the Duke shielded his eyes with his hands and sighed in relief. When he returned to the mansion from his mission, he received an urgent message from Verotanis and dropped everything to head to the Academy.

 

‘I can’t believe a demon has appeared near the Academy, and I can’t believe it’s my children who are involved.’

 

He had been told that the children were safe, but he couldn’t be reassured until he saw for himself.

 

‘I’m glad I didn’t use it every time I came back after the slaughter. The imperial warp stones can warp to restricted areas.’

 

In the end, he used his imperial warp stones generously and was able to reach the children before the palace’s demonic investigators.

 

“How did you get here so quickly?”

 

“I happened to be nearby.”

 

Albert approached him as he lied, his face unchanged.

 

“Duke, it’s a good thing you came at the right time. May I speak with you for a moment before the inspector arrives?”

 

Keeping his voice very low, Albert whispered to the Duke.

 

“It’s about Eileen.”

 

The Duke stared at Albert for a moment, his eyes unreadable, then nodded slowly. He started to follow Albert out the door, but stopped and turned to Eileen.

 

“Eileen, you come with me.”

 

Albert, leading the way, looked back at them both and nodded. Clearly, Eileen needed to hear what was about to be said.

 

“Let’s go, then.”

 

The three of them started walking.

 

 

* * *

 

 

A small parlor off to the side of the ward. Eileen and the Duke sat facing Albert.

 

“So what’s going on?”

 

The Duke asked, and Albert hesitated before speaking.

 

“Did you know that Eileen’s elementalism reacts to magic?”

 

“What?!”

 

Eileen exclaimed in bewilderment. This was new to both of them. The Duke opened his mouth without batting an eyelid.

 

“Yes, sir. I heard about it from Mr. Orgen.”

 

“What?!”

 

Eileen’s eyes widened at the Duke’s admission that he knew this time. The Duke sneakily avoided Eileen’s eyes and said,

 

“I was going to let you know when you were older.”

 

Eileen was stunned by his sudden confession. As she searched for words, Albert spoke again.

 

“After what happened, it’s hard to hide the power anymore, and even if we can keep it hidden for now, those who have seen it firsthand will surely spread the word, and if Eileen encounters a similar situation in the future, she might unintentionally unleash it.”

 

“I agree,… but if this power is unleashed, the child may be forced into battle.”

 

Albert shook his head at the Duke’s answer.

 

“No. It doesn’t “might” happen, it will happen, and you realize that’s a great power, don’t you, Duke?”

 

The Duke’s eyes widened in realization. He had known the child was special from the moment they met. But it was one thing to be a Transcendent yourself, and quite another to send a child under your care into battle.

 

Eileen watched as the two adults looked deep in thought. It was embarrassing to learn the secret of her abilities, but it was easy to see that they had kept it a secret for fear of endangering themselves.

 

‘The Duke and the Professor must have given it as much thought as I have.’

 

With that thought, everything became clear. If they were unable to make a choice, it was Eileen, the one with the power, who would have to make the decision.

 

“I’m ready,” Eileen said in a calm voice.

 

“I’m ready for this.”

 

The Duke looked back at her wordlessly. Eileen didn’t meet his eyes and continued in a firm voice.

 

“I know you two are worried about me, and I understand why you’ve kept my abilities a secret from me, but I’m ready for this.”

 

“It could be a much rougher road than you realize. There are dozens, maybe hundreds, of times worse than what you’ve been through today.”

 

“But I’m not the only one going through it.”

 

Eileen laid her hand over the back of the duke’s. His were the hands of a swordsman, with far more calluses than soft spots.

 

“I know my strength will be a great help, so I can’t stand idly by.”

 

Eileen remembered the first time she’d seen the original. The young Cordelia, the shyness, the myriad misfortunes that unfolded for her. Finding her former self in the sobbing child, Eileen ended up holding his hand.

 

“And it was never wrong.”

 

That single act of determination has given Eileen so much. Now she didn’t just want Cordelia to have a happy future.

 

What she truly hoped for was a future in which the ruined lives of the people she loved were no more, and she could see herself laughing with them in it.

 

“I’m going to fight,” she says, “for the people I love, and for myself.”

 

‘So don’t worry too much.’

 

Eileen squeezed the Duke’s rough, large hand, hoping desperately that her feelings would reach him. The Duke, who looked a little surprised, slowly returned the gesture.

 

“Yes, I believe you.”

 

The small child he had always thought he had to protect was much stronger than he realized.

 

“And there’s one more thing I need to tell you.”

 

With the decision made, the next step was easy. Eileen decided to tell the Duke about the future she had been pondering.