<h4>Chapter 529: The Deration (7)</h4>


    The year sped by swiftly.


    The Grand Duke of Helmuth, the de of Incarceration, Gavid Lindman, had sent a personal letter to the Lionheart mansion shortly after his meeting with Eugene. The letter detailed the exact date, location, and manner of the duel set for a yearter. It also assured that Eugene Lionheart’s disappearance was solely for intensive personal training and that he had in no way harmed his opponent, the Hero destined for the duel. He had sworn on it.


    Gavid had no choice but to write such a letter.


    Eugene had vanished from the world afterst being seen at Alcarte Cathedral. Although he had hastily scribbled a letter, the unteral nature of its contents made it difficult to discern his intentions. Consequently, suspicion unavoidably pointed towards Gavid in regard to Eugene’s disappearance.


    “One year.” Ciel furrowed her brows deeply as she uttered, “It’s almost the agreed day for the duel, so what in the world happened...?”


    Her breath fogged in the air with each word — a biting cold. This chill was not from Kiehl’s winter. Ciel was at a training base in Lehainjar, where the Knight March had taken ce years ago.


    “It’s not like he ran away.”


    Though Cyan replied thus, he couldn’t stop his expression from contorting.


    In this vast world, there were far more fools unaware of who Hamel, or rather Eugene, was than Cyan and Ciel could have imagined.


    “Did I say otherwise? There’s no way he ran away,” said Ciel.


    She red at Cyan, her eyes intense.


    “When did I ever say he ran away? I said he didn’t.” Cyan hastily defended himself.


    He returned the re with equal intensity. The charged sh of res between the twins sparked white mes.


    Both had reached Six Stars of the White me Form, but the mes they conjured were uniquely their own, flickering as they quelled the snowstorm around them.


    “Ugh.”


    After a moment of intense staring, Cyan sighed deeply and withdrew his mes.


    “What are we doing? This is embarrassing in front of others,” said Cyan.


    “Sorry,” Ciel apologized.


    She also extinguished her mes and slumped her shoulders.


    The twins were quick to re up over minor matters. It was inevitable, given the sensitive circumstances.


    Only three days remained until the duel with Gavid Lindman. Yet, Eugene had not only disappeared but had also done so without sending a single message. Despite the twins reaching the Sixth Star of the White me Form and oveing the Dark Room, not even a brief letter had arrived at the Lionheart mansion from Eugene.


    Eventually, not just the Lionheart n but the entire continent had no choice but to search for Eugene. But even with empires and kingdoms leading the search, employing information guilds, and collecting tips from citizens, Eugene’s whereabouts remained undiscovered across the continent.


    Eugene Lionheart was rumored to have fled before the duel.


    It was inevitable for such rumors to be circting. The only reason the rumors hadn’t be more exaggerated was due to Eugene’s past achievements and his well-known personality.


    The year had passed by rather quickly. Since the duel was set, Eugene has vanished without a trace. Moreover, he wasn’t just hiding his whereabouts but also leaving no news for a whole year, and now, with only three days until the decided date of the duel, he still hadn''t made an appearance.


    “The sea...” Cyan muttered with a grimace. Eugene''s family and friends knew where he had headed, which was a small relief, but... the pressing time made it inevitably worrying.


    “That ce, the Southern Sea''s edge. I''ve never been there myself, but is there really a ce there that’s suitable for training?” asked Cyan.


    “There might... be,” Ciel answered uncertainly.


    The sea was where Iris, the Demon King of Fury, had been in after a fierce battle. Ciel knew that there was something hidden in its depths. But whaty deeper, in the abyss below the sea, she didn’t know.


    However, she understood that whatever it was, it held great significance and profound meaning for Eugene.


    “I don’t know what exactly is there. Only Lady Sienna and... Sister Saint Kristina truly know,” admitted Ciel.


    “Decide whether you’re going to call her Saint or Sister,” Cyanmented.


    “No. I don’t like just calling her Sister. It feels too familiar and embarrassing,” Ciel retorted, pouting her lips and kicking at the snow at her feet.


    During the year Eugene was missing, Kristina locked herself away in her room after returning from the Holy Empire. She drowned her solitude in liquor. The unexpected guest stayed in the confines of her room and only sought liquor. She had been left as Ciel’s responsibility to handle.


    “Hasn’t the Saint told you anything? We can''t keep secrets or hide anything now, with only three days left,” said Cyan.


    “Nothing, really. I tried to pry it out of Sister Kristina when she was drunk, but all I got in response was her stern face every time,” Ciel responded with a shake of her head.


    It represented the significance of Eugene’s secret. In the past, Ciel might have felt left out and depressed, but no longer.


    Eugene''s identity as Hamel’s reincarnation was already public, and Ciel had already been rejected by Eugene. She wasn''t about to give up.


    Being rejected once did not mean she had quit. The only thing that mattered was that she would be epted in the end. Ciel recalled the stinging p she''d received years ago.


    “Surely he didn’t get the time mixed up...?” Cyan muttered.


    He ignored his sister as she firmed her resolve. Ciel turned her head towards the nearby mountain peak. Beyond thaty Raguyaran.


    “Being in the middle of the sea, it''s hard to keep track of the date. Maybe he miscalcted the days while training...” Cyan suggested following his train of thought.


    “Do you think Eugene’s an idiot?” questioned Ciel.


    “He’s not an idiot, but he does have his ditzy moments. Besides,ing from the Southern Sea''s end here is literally crossing the continent. Even using a warp-gate, three days is cutting it too close.”


    Agents from various countries were already stationed along the shortest route from Shimuin to here. News would have quickly spread if Eugene had shown up at any of the warp-gates by now.


    But Eugene had not been spotted at any warp-gate so far.


    “He’ll make it somehow...” Ciel responded, but she couldn’t be entirely sure herself. Eugene running away from the duel was out of the question. He would find a way to arrive within three days, whatever it took.


    But how? Ciel and Cyan had no way of knowing how he would return. They would not have worried if Eugene had taken Raimira with him. After all, he could have simply flown back on her back.


    However, Eugene had not taken Raimira, nor had he taken Mer, so it was impossible to know what he had nned.


    Their only hopey in the fact that Sienna and Carmen had not yet returned. They had heard that the pair were metamorphosing at the World Tree. Was it possible that they would return with Eugene? If that was the case, they might make it back within the tight span of three days.


    <i>''But will that really happen?''</i> Ciel wondered as she was honestly skeptical.


    This ce was at the very northern edge of the continent, and Eugene was stuck at the southernmost tip of the Southern Sea. Crossing the vast ocean would directly bring one to Raguyaran. However, in the history of the continent, no one had ever crossed this vast ocean before. Nothing was at the northern end and nothing at the southern end either. Even though something might be there — no one had verified it.


    "He’ll make it somehow."


    The voice came suddenly. Ciel and Cyan jumped and turned toward the direction of the sound.


    The blizzard was intensifying. They could see Kristina staggering towards them beyond the swirling snowkes.


    "The vast... ocean... <i>hic</i>.... Crossing the ocean is, <i>gasp</i>, something not even Sir Eugene could do, but, <i>hic</i>, we''ll make it somehow."


    To their surprise, Kristina was holding a different liquor bottle in each hand. Both were equally emptied. Without any concern for how they might view her, she raised both bottles to her mouth and guzzled down their contents.


    "So.... So, <i>hic</i>, don’t worry, both of you. It’s-it''s very cold outside. So, <i>hic</i>,e inside, coe inside,” Kristina stuttered in a drunken haze.


    She was more worried about Eugene than anyone else. She had been drinking in an attempt to forget her worries and unease regarding Eugene. But surprisingly, despite drinking daily, Kristina did not spend her days like a reclusive invalid.


    During the first month of the year of Eugene’s absence, she had holed herself in her room. She had forced Ciel to keep herpany while drowning herself in liquor. But after about a month, Kristina took her bottles and stepped outside.


    She returned to Yuras and erected statues of Eugene throughout the holy kingdom. She added verses about Eugene to the holy scriptures. Then, she visited the World Tree alone and, in recent months, had moved to Lehainjar to bless the dwarves who were constructing an arena for the uing duel. She had also met with Molon, who lived secluded in the Grand Hammer Canyon.


    "Saint... Saint, you are drinking too much..." Cyan said, sounding worried.


    "Oh, Sir Cyan, I''m, I''m fine. It''s, it''s just so cold, I''m drinking to warm up. My mind is perfectly clear,” Kristina responded with a chuckle while holding two nearly empty bottles.


    Her smile, broadened by a pleasant tipsiness, made Cyan quietly shut his mouth.


    "How is the arenaing along?" Ciel asked.


    "Ahahaha... Ciel, didn’t you see it for yourself? That ce... that ce is tr-truly splendid. I asked the dwarves specifically, <i>hic</i>, asked them! It’s a beautiful and majestic ce, perfectly... perfectly splendid! A fitting site to write the grand myth of Sir Eugene,” Kristina responded.


    <i>Crash!</i>


    One of Kristina’s bottles shattered mid-sentence.


    "All we need now is for Sir Eugene toe. It’s time for him to... to arrive, but why hasn’t hee? I, I trust Sir Eugene very much, <i>hic</i>, but it’s truly hurtful that he hasn’t sent me a proper letter, <i>hic</i>, even now when I think about it,” Kristina said, sounding downcast.


    <i>Here we go again.</i>


    Ciel’s expression darkened. She instinctively took a step back.


    "Ciel! Where are you going? Come here,e to my room. It''s cold outside. Cyan... Sir Cyan, what about you?" asked Kristina.


    "I must... attend to my duties as the future head of the family.... I will respectfully decline,” Cyan said as politely as he could.


    "Ah! If it''s the future head''s duties, then, <i>hic</i>, there''s nothing I can do but understand. But Ciel, you''re okay, aren’t you?" questioned Kristina.


    Ciel’s gaze quivered.


    She wanted to run but couldn’t. Someone had to rein in Kristina’s rampage.... Anything else Anise could handle, but not when it came to alcohol.


    "Yes..." Ciel answered quietly.


    "Then let’s go!"


    Kristina stepped forward, beaming. She seized Ciel by thepels of her jacket.


    ***


    Ciel was dragged into Kristina’s room. It was already akin to a ruin.


    She nced fearfully at a corner. Therey Mer and Raimira, embraced in each other’s arms like discarded rag dolls, exhausted.


    “Why do you think that is?” questioned Kristina. Tears started to flow freely as she opened a fresh bottle of alcohol. "Why do you think Sir Eugene’s not sent even a single letter during the year?”


    "Maybe... he was too busy with his training,” Ciel suggested.


    "Yes, yes, I believe so too. This duel... Sir Eugene must win. If he loses, everything ends. That''s why he must have been fully focused on his training,” agreed Kristina.


    "Yes, that’s true..." muttered Ciel.


    "But I feel so, so heartbroken. I’mpletely left out. He hasn’t even thought about how I might feel being left behind. It’s not just me. What about you, Ciel? And Sir Cyan? And Sir Gerhard!" Kristina shouted.


    Ciel decided to keep quiet.


    "I... I do understand." Kristina seemed to regain herposure after venting her sorrow. Perhaps she was following a mental cue from Anise.


    <i>No... was that truly the case? </i>Honestly, it was hard to tell. Was it Kristina in her drunken stupor causing a scene, or was it Anise?


    "Sir Eugene must have gone to the abyss of the deep sea... a ce... that no one else but he can enter. No matter how much I may wish, I cannot follow..." muttered Kristina.


    "Yes," Ciel agreed.


    She had heard about it, just not whaty beneath. Thus, Ciel''s imagination had to work overtime to fill in the nk spaces.


    Might there be an undersea cavern at the bottom of the abyss, like the bottom of Lake Lionheart? Perhaps there was something akin to a dragon’sir.


    "But even so! He could have given me a hint. Then we could have waited for Sir Eugene nearby with a boat or something,” grumbled Kristina.


    "Isn’t there a boat there now? I understand Maise is there to meet Eugene,” responded Ciel.


    "That''s just for meeting him. But I can''t go there. I yearn to be there with all my heart, but I can''t...." Kristina sighed deeply while pouring more liquor into her mouth.


    "Ugh... I... have to prepare for the worst-case scenario. If Sir Eugene doesn’t arrive within three days.... Since Lady Sienna isn’t here either, I will have to face Gavid Lindman..." Kristinained.


    "What?" Ciel shouted.


    This was news to Ciel. She jumped up in response, startled by the revtion.


    Facing Gavid Lindman instead of Eugene and Sienna!? Could she possibly be thinking of wielding a il against the de of Incarceration, or is she nning to deliver a sobering p that would stop his tears in an instant?


    "Oh... even for the Saint, isn''t that too reckless? I''d rather call Sir Molon,” said Ciel.


    The arena in Raguyaran was close to the Grand Hammer Canyon. Summoning Molon with the Demoneye of Darkness would take but a step. In fact, Molon could leap to the arena in just a few seconds with his incredible mobility.


    Ciels’ abilities had dramatically improved after reaching the Sixth Star of the White me Form and oveing the Dark Room. She had focused particrly on increasing her pool of mana, which, irrespective of her achievement in the White me Form, had surpassed even those with Eight Stars like Gilead and Gion.


    "And.... There are others here as well, right? Sir Alchester, Sir Ortus, Sir Ivik, and King Aman are here, not to mention all the Archwizards..." continued Ciel.


    "I have no intention of fighting Gavid Lindman," Kristina said as she set down her drink and shook her head. "Truthfully... I''d like tounch a joint attack with everyone. But if we did, Sir Eugene would be furious when he returns. And there''s no reason for Gavid Lindman to fight us all if we attack together. If he escapes unscathed, the whole world will mock and insult Sir Eugene."


    It was only a contingency n in case Eugene was dyed to the duel. Kristina had no doubts that Eugene would definitely return.


    "What I intend to do is not to confront but to make a request — <i>hic </i>— to Gavid Lindman. He, too, earnestly wishes for this duel with Eugene, so he might understand if Eugene is a littlete..." said Kristina.


    "Really? Do you think so?" Ciel asked, sounding doubtful.


    "No, honestly, it doesn’t seem likely.... He might not be so understanding. He might even demand some kind ofpensation. I am prepared to kneel and bow my head if necessary,” said Kristina.


    Ciel briefly imagined Kristina kneeling and begging Gavid. It wasn''t just Kristina who would kneel. The Faithful Anise, too, would kneel before the de of Incarceration.


    It would be a terrible humiliation. Ciel''s gaze turned icy. She chewed her lip a few times, then abruptly stood up.


    "Then I will kneel with you. If it''s for Eugene, all of the Lionheart family will kneel,” dered Ciel.


    "There’s no need for the Lionhearts to invite such humiliation," Kristina said with a bitter smile while shaking her head. "The real question isn’t whether to kneel or not... It''s about trusting in Sir Eugene. I trust him, too. We’re just preparing for the worst."


    Kristina sighed deeply as she poured another drink.


    "I hope he arrives by tomorrow or the day after, at thetest..." she muttered.


    Despite her hopeful words, Eugene did not appear even after two days.


    Three days passed, and Gavid Lindman, the de of Incarceration, arrived.