Children of the Rune – Winterer - Chapter 556

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 8.
The Princess and the Detective (8)
When I reached the wall, I stabbed it with the short sword I’d borrowed from Lorang, but for some reason, it didn’t produce the same reaction as before. I tried with my own blade as well, but the result was identical. On the third attempt, desperation drove me to thrust with such force that the tip of my sword snapped clean off.
My composure, which had remained unshaken regardless of my inner turmoil until now, finally cracked. As the thought that there was no other way forward consumed me, my eyes wavered and my lips trembled. I turned to look behind me.
Lorang stood five paces away, single-handedly deflecting the concentrated assault of enemies we’d been holding back together—with such fluid agility that I wondered if he’d always been this capable. As someone who had devoted years to the sword, I found myself momentarily captivated, my eyes widening. Witnessing such skill, respect bloomed unbidden. This was why I had aspired to become Etoile—to reach that level of mastery.
To become Etoile as soon as possible, and one day achieve the rank of the most distinguished “Etoile Brillante,” to stand alone against any treacherous assault, and in doing so, to protect one person—
It was over. Without even a chance to fight.
The mission to “escort Lorang” was my first task and objective since that day of despair. Perhaps that’s why I had resolved to succeed at any cost. Because it was, of all things, a mission to preserve a single life.
Simultaneously, I knew this was my final mission as a trainee. Regardless of who the target was, that didn’t matter. Lorang was someone I’d never had a proper conversation with before being assigned to this mission, but that was irrelevant.
Once I returned, I would become the Grand Duke’s daughter—a person everyone would need to protect, never again tasked with protecting anyone. Of course, if I died here, that would be a moot point—
This is my final mission.
I won’t fail at this.
With that resolve, I bit my lip hard, turned back, and thrust the short sword at the wall again. I stabbed and stabbed, like someone possessed. Sweat or tears—I couldn’t tell which—glistened at the corners of my eyes.
“Please—”
Finally, there was a response. The wall gave way, splitting left and right around where I’d struck. This time, I would break through. I wouldn’t let him die again!
Light seeped through from somewhere—
Simultaneously, the pounding sound grew closer. It came from roughly three paces to the right of where I stood. Though still a trainee, my repeated practice in gauging distance was nearly precise.
I judged there to be empty space beyond that section of wall and continued thrusting. Let whatever else emerges come forth. Once I breach an escape route, once I escape this Cave, I’ll slaughter anything that appears!
Finally, a hole large enough for a palm to pass through opened up. I shoved the short sword through the gap and shouted.
“Come through!”
Strangely, there was no response. I quickly turned to look behind me. And my eyes widened in shock. What is that?
Beyond where Lorang stood, the scattered remains of wild dogs were suspended in the air as if caught in a whirlwind. They began adhering to one another, gradually taking shape. It was a grotesque tower constructed from the stacked corpses of hundreds of dogs.
Seeing it loom over Lorang and descend upon him, pure fury surged through me. My brow furrowed with intensity and my jaw trembled violently. How dare you touch someone I, Charlotte de Orlanne, have sworn to protect, whatever you are?
In that instant, a cry erupted from me.
“You filthy beasts!”
The enemy was literally dogs, but—that cry pierced even Lorang’s dulled ears. Suddenly regaining awareness, Lorang thought in bewilderment: Wait, the Princess? Such language is rather—
But the shock of the profanity was buried beneath what happened next. An inexplicable radiance erupted from where Charlotte stood, sweeping across the Cave and extending outward, engulfing the wild dogs and the grotesque tower. Simultaneously, a shriek so piercing that one had to cover their ears tore through the air.
Kyaaaaaaagh!
Even Lorang instinctively moved to cover his ears, nearly dropping his sword. But mercifully, the shriek was brief. What followed was even more astonishing. The wild dogs, the debris we’d destroyed, and everything that had formed the tower turned brilliant crimson and ignited. In an instant, they burned away completely, leaving not a trace behind.
Simultaneously, the Cave fell into darkness.
“Hah—”
A low breath sounded from beyond the darkness, followed by a dull thud. I had been so stunned by the unexpected sight that I barely regained my senses before turning around. As the enemy vanished, the power I’d been forcing myself to maintain disappeared, and my legs gave out beneath me.
“Charlotte!”
There was no response. Whether because I’d constantly changed direction during the fight or because the darkness had disoriented me, I couldn’t even remember where she’d been. I felt pathetic, and simultaneously dizzy and nauseous. Gritting my teeth and forcing strength into my legs, I walked forward when an unexpected voice reached me.
“That’s remarkable.”
It was Crupard. As I looked up in surprise, a torch suddenly appeared four paces ahead to my left. It was the torch Crupard held.
“Commander! You’re safe!”
My heart suddenly eased, and I barely held back tears. Seeing that Crupard had drawn his sword, had he also broken through the wall the same way? Was that pounding sound from him then?
As I approached, the torch moved ahead and illuminated a spot on the ground. Only then did I see her. Charlotte sat with her back against the wall, her head bowed. She had collapsed from exhaustion. Lorang rushed forward immediately and knelt before Charlotte when Crupard spoke.
“She’s lost consciousness.”
“That was, perhaps, just a moment ago….”
It happened then. The surroundings suddenly blazed with light. Not from torches, but from some unknown source.
Luminous points floated all around. They resembled fireflies, yet fireflies could not exist within such a cave. They were neither aggressive nor grotesque like the flame-wrought birds or the dimly glowing wild dogs from before. Soft, flickering lights simply hovered and swayed gently in the empty air.
Beyond that light, the walls on all sides began to move, folding away like a fan. Behind them lay an utterly dark yet vast empty space. With walls and ceiling stretching so far they vanished from sight, it resembled a windless plain, an infinitely silent sea, or a starlit sky atop a cliff. So utterly unreal that it felt like a secret from within a dream.
Toward the two figures standing rigid and aghast, a strange sound swept like wind. Not any language they knew—a sound closer to nature’s voice, yet one that seemed to carry unmistakable meaning.
Neither Lorang nor Crupard could speak, frozen in place. Someone was speaking in a language entirely unknown to them, with no face visible before their eyes, yet the meaning seeped directly into their minds. It began like the flutter of insects’ wings, the cries of birds, the howls of wolves, and finally swelled to the thunderous roar of a waterfall.
Save me, save me, save me, save me, save me….
Help me, help me, help me, help me, help me….
3. Charlotte’s Dream
Mother stood at the distant Lakeside. That dream was beginning again. Charlotte waited quietly. For Mother to call to her.
‘Charlotte, my daughter.’
I do not know if Mother’s voice was as it truly was. I had never heard it before. I do not know if Mother’s face was like that. I had never seen it before. There was not even a single portrait of Mother remaining.
As I walked toward that place where sky and water seemed to meet, Mother appeared, and Mother in the Lake appeared as well. I appeared, and I in the Lake appeared too. Within the Lake, sky and clouds flowed, and raindrops fell occasionally. In the center of the Lake lay a Small Island. A single tree grew there. Its fruit had not yet ripened.
‘This is my gift to you.’
Mother extended both hands. Mother in the Lake did the same. Her hands held nothing, yet she offered it as though presenting something precious. I extended both hands and received it. Yet even after receiving it, it remained invisible. In the hands of I in the Lake as well.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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