Children of the Rune – Winterer - Chapter 558

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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 10.
The Princess and the Detective (10)
Lorang shot another glare at the Island Elders, though he knew it was pointless to demand answers from people who didn’t speak his language. Just then, one of the elders at the back turned around and spoke something in their tongue. At that, a young woman pushed through the crowd and stepped forward before Charlotte and Lorang.
This woman was someone Lorang had never seen before. Though the Island wasn’t sparsely populated, he was certain of this fact because of her appearance. With a face like that, she would stand out not just here but anywhere in Orlanne. Her tawny skin, silver hair loosely bound—she was unmistakably from Recordable, a desert nation beyond the Land of Mortals. How had someone from that distant continent, practically on the opposite side of the world from Orlanne, ended up here on this remote island?
When the old woman at the front spoke, the woman opened her mouth.
“I greet one who carries noble blood. I am the Servant of Fire.”
Did “I” refer not to this woman but to the old woman? The Recordable woman, dressed in a simple peasant blouse and skirt, seemed ill-suited to such a grandiose title.
“Are you a translator? Why are you only appearing now?”
The woman didn’t answer Lorang’s question. When the old woman spoke again, slowly and deliberately, the woman continued.
“We have been waiting for you. Since long ago, before you were born, before your Mother was born, since the day this nation was first born, it was written that you would come to this place. It was a promise, a salvation, a secret—but now the time has come for that secret to be revealed. As you awaken to the power within you, so too shall the world awaken to this secret.”
I marveled at how well she remembered such a long speech to translate. Yet as she delivered this similarly lengthy passage, her tone grew increasingly dismissive. A capable translator, but one lacking sincerity.
The old woman spoke again, this time at great length. The woman opened her mouth to translate, then flinched and suddenly screwed up her face.
“Ugh, what is she even saying? Why does it have to be so tediously long? I’ll just simplify it for you. She’s saying she’s glad you came, you’re welcome, there’s something important in this box so take it. Got it?”
She had summarized it arbitrarily, but the old woman didn’t protest—likely because she couldn’t understand anyway. Charlotte watched them for a moment, then glanced at the box and asked.
“What is it?”
“How should I know? I’m just translating.”
“Then who are you?”
“Nay.”
Charlotte nodded and spoke.
“Fine, Nay. I have no interest in the customs of these island people. How they address me is irrelevant. We came here for a mission, and once it’s complete, we leave. If what’s in that box is the artifact they asked us to appraise, we simply deliver it to Captain Crupard. There’s no need for them to seek me out.”
At that, a smile—something between amusement and mockery—played at Nay’s lips.
“Not surprised at all, and so composed. Aren’t you curious about what happened yesterday? That cave nearly crushed you all to death?”
Lorang’s brow furrowed as he fixed Nay with a sharp look.
“Wait, you knew all along? Then why are you so confident about it? You nearly killed an entire unit of Etoile who came as peaceful envoys at your request. Among them was the Princess who will one day rule this nation. Don’t you think that constitutes treason?”
Nay lifted one corner of her mouth again.
“Treason? I wouldn’t know about that. I’m not from this nation. But yesterday’s events weren’t some meaningless game. And what would we gain from killing you? These people have had countless opportunities before now. If they’d wanted to, they could have razed an entire nation to dust. But they didn’t. Why? Because there was no reason to. So why yesterday? Why push you to the brink of death? And how did it turn out? You were trapped in there too, so you saw it all perfectly well, didn’t you?”
“….”
When Lorang didn’t answer immediately, Nay burst into laughter.
“What, surprised? Wasn’t that absolutely thrilling? I only heard about it secondhand, but it was so exhilarating I nearly lost my mind. Oh, it was magnificent.”
Nay turned her head back toward Charlotte.
“So, how are you feeling? Pretty spectacular, wasn’t it?”
Charlotte studied Nay for a moment, then looked back at Lorang and spoke.
“That woman seems rather strange, doesn’t she?”
Lorang nearly burst out laughing. Charlotte had dismissed her opponent with devastating efficiency—a clear retaliation for Nay’s disregard of Lorang. Nay seemed to recognize this, but she didn’t back down, simply smiling and speaking.
“Quite formidable. Well, you are his sister, after all.”
In that instant, Charlotte’s expression changed.
“You know my Older Brother?”
The initiative in the conversation shifted immediately to Nay. Sensing that Charlotte was about to leap from the bed, Nay’s voice took on an even more relaxed tone.
“I know him well. We’ve known each other for quite some time. Of course, there’s no way to prove it now that he’s gone. I wonder what he would have said about yesterday’s test. It was far more successful than we anticipated. The power we suspected might emerge—it erupted a hundred times beyond our expectations. We were truly astonished. If you’d been trapped alone, it wouldn’t have reached that level. It seems the Princess holds great affection for Etoile. In any case, you possess the power we’ve been waiting for, the power we absolutely need.”
“….”
While Charlotte stared silently, Nay pressed her lips together and uttered a single word.
“Bloodied.”
Charlotte turned to look at Lorang.
“You said yesterday that I destroyed those stone creatures in one blow, didn’t you? That I burned them?”
“Yes.”
Charlotte slowly turned her head to regard Nay, then swept her gaze across those prostrate below before rising from the bed. She pulled on the boots beside her, methodically laced them, draped her cloak over her shoulders, and spoke.
“If you are subjects of the Grand Duke, then as long as I remain here, this chamber is mine, and I have the authority to admit or dismiss you as I see fit. You have no right to burst in whenever you please and prattle on about whatever suits your fancy. I shall listen when I choose to listen, and where I choose to listen. Regardless of what you have to say. Moreover, your words suggest you possess the power to eliminate all those who annoy me. A most welcome revelation. So would you kindly cease your insolent chatter before I actually kill you?”
Charlotte swept past those prostrate before her and departed, as though no matter what remarkable or important tale they might tell, she had not the slightest reason to concern herself.
Lorang followed as naturally as breathing, yet something felt peculiar, and he wore a bewildered smile. Until now, Charlotte had steadfastly maintained the hierarchy—that Lorang was Etoile and she was a Trainee Soldier. But in moments like this, she was a princess, and he found himself playing the role of a guard protecting her with such effortless grace that it was almost absurd. Even to himself. He had despised such roles his entire life.
The house was small, so after passing through a brief corridor, the entrance appeared. Autumn sunlight streamed through the open door, spreading white across the floor. Charlotte stepped into it, squinting against the light before stopping, then surveyed her surroundings.
Beneath a clear blue sky stretched a sloping Meadow. Roughly a dozen houses similar to the one she had just left were scattered about without order, and among the wild heather and weeds, thistles and eyebright rose up. Beyond the Meadow, a Cliff and the Sea were visible.
Charlotte walked unhesitatingly to the edge of the Cliff and looked down. Beyond the Coastline dense with black rocks, the dark blue Sea churned with foam. She could also see the rocky path leading to the entrance of the Cave they had entered yesterday. They had said the only way to reach this place was through that Cave. The passage by which they had emerged was nowhere to be seen.
Charlotte turned where she stood. The elevation of her position afforded a clear view of the entire surroundings. Nay followed close behind and was about to face her. The Island Elders formed a procession in the distance, advancing slowly. Lorang, standing beside Charlotte, shrugged one shoulder as though bewildered and looked at Nay, but she pretended not to notice.

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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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