I Will Protect My Brother - Chapter 114

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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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Chapter 114
The emergency Continental Conference was held at the podium atop the Hexagonal Tower in the heart of the Delpiam Capital, just as it had been seven years prior.
Seven Transcendents in total attended the conference.
Myself representing Kirges and my successor Alpien, Owen and Kalien from Wynyak’s side. And the remaining Dorian Raylo, Chronos Yeljewa, and Luize Whezel.
This conference was not the formal gathering held once every five years, but rather an emergency session that I had convened.
I waited for all the Transcendents to take their seats at the round table before speaking.
“Now that everyone is present, I shall commence the recording.”
I enlarged the Planetarium and sent it flying toward the center of the round table.
At Continental Conferences, the Family Head of Kirges assumes the role of scribe—recording the proceedings as imagery and transmitting them to those observing from beyond the podium.
“As you all know, once the Planetarium activates, everything that transpires here will be transmitted in real time throughout all of Rahnar. Please exercise caution in your words and conduct.”
A hemispherical cosmos unfurled across the table.
The three-dimensionally rendered universe was densely packed with hundreds of millions of stars, as though they might spill forth at any moment.
“How beautiful….”
Yeljewa, seated to my right, murmured melancholically.
“Beautiful and merciless Stars. I beseech you, grant us your compassion and bestow upon us your wisdom.”
The incantation that rose above the Planetarium shone with light. The recording had begun.
“Then I shall commence the 244th Continental Conference.”
With all holding their breath, I opened the proceedings.
“I am grateful that despite proclaiming continental martial law and hastily summoning this assembly, all of you have answered the call. Today we gather to announce an unprecedented emergency crisis befalling Rahnar and to deliberate upon our response.”
Those seated around the table already possessed a general understanding of today’s agenda.
Yet for the sake of the ordinary people listening from without, I calmly summarized the matter at hand.
“The protection of the Five Stars, which the Five Transcendent Families have long revered as the ‘Guardian Stars,’ is withdrawing from Rahnar. To be precise, a planetary-scale defensive barrier currently operates to shield Rahnar from their threat, thereby severing their protection. Is this accurate?”
“It is accurate.”
Beginning with Luize, Raylo, Yeljewa, and then Owen each expressed their agreement in turn.
“We have experienced something similar before. Precisely 516 years ago, during the ‘Age of the Blind Stars,’ an emergency session was convened here much as this one is now.”
“…Yes, that is so.”
“At that conference, the Transcendent Family Heads violated the sacred law that ‘the contents of Continental Conferences must be transparently disclosed without falsehood to all humans of Rahnar,’ and classified all proceedings as confidential. The solution they deliberated upon was an experiment to create a ‘Guardian of Rahnar.'”
As I continued, I cast a sidelong glance toward Wynyak’s side. Kalien was sprawled in his chair with the most relaxed posture among all the Transcendents.
When I had asked Kalien whether it would be acceptable to raise matters concerning him in this Continental Conference, he had answered with casual indifference that it mattered not.
“I no longer harbor any particular desire to kill the Transcendents. I have found a better reason for living than revenge. But…if my mood sours, I might make a mistake. My hand could slip and strike out.”
His meaning was clear—he would remain docile for my sake, though the temptation gnawed at him.
Truthfully, I was anxious. Would no bloodshed truly occur even with Transcendents standing before Kalien?
“However, that experiment ultimately failed. They succeeded in consolidating the Stars’ protection into a single entity and rebirthing it as a new power, but a human body proved incapable of controlling such immense strength.”
Raylo continued haltingly.
“As the experiment stalled, the Stars’ protection fortunately returned, and the ‘Guardian,’ having become excessively powerful, was abandoned according to the formula of balance. At some point, he escaped from the detention facility and vanished. For over five hundred years thereafter, his whereabouts remained unknown.”
“He was the Family Head of Wynyak at that time.”
“…That is correct.”
“And he is now present in this very chamber.”
A pregnant silence descended upon the round table. All eyes turned toward Wynyak’s side.
Those watching this scene on screens from without were undoubtedly gazing in that direction as well.
Kalien, suddenly the center of attention, raised an eyebrow and smiled beautifully, waving his hand.
It was as if he were saying, ‘That’s me,’ with an ease and brightness all his own.
‘Lacking in tension, isn’t it.’
I suppressed a sigh and continued.
“The influence of Whiszel, Yeljewa, and Raylo has been greatly diminished. However, the sacred covenant they made with the Guardian Star under their family names still stands, making them currently the most vulnerable families.”
“….”
“Now that the Stars’ protection is disappearing one by one, the only remaining Transcendent is Wynyak. Especially since the family that housed that ‘Guardian’ from the past is also Wynyak.”
“So?”
“Therefore, I intend to dismantle the three families and bring them under Wynyak’s dominion. And to ensure they are neither crushed by the Guardian Star’s authority nor exploited by the Stars, Wynyak must fulfill not only its duty to watch over them, but also to protect them.”
“Pro, protect them? That’s hardly likely.”
Chronos Yeljewa muttered in a voice that sounded as though he might burst into tears at any moment.
“Wynyak surely harbors ill feelings toward us….”
The Transcendents exchanged anxious glances.
Though they spoke of “Wynyak” as a collective, every eye was fixed on a single person. Even the Family Head Owen himself.
Everyone knew who held the sole authority to decide in this room.
I shrugged my shoulders.
“Well, wouldn’t they grant it if we asked politely?”
“Why should I answer for the mistakes of my predecessors….”
“But those very mistakes are what brought us to this situation. If not the next generation, who else will clean up the mess left by their predecessors?”
When I countered sharply, Raylo’s eyes darted about. Unable to find another argument, he muttered awkwardly.
“Th, that’s true. I’m sorry, Wynyak. I know an apology now is hardly worth anything, but….”
“Allow me to begin first.”
The owner of the quiet voice that interjected was Luize.
I was inwardly surprised. Since Luize had long disapproved of Kalien, I had assumed he would be the greatest obstacle in today’s talks, but I was wrong.
“Whiszel also participated in that experiment, and after the Age of the Blind Stars, consented to imprisoning Karga in the Riltear Detention Facility. I will not excuse myself by claiming ignorance of what my predecessors did. I acknowledge Whiszel’s wrongdoing and offer my sincere apology to Wynyak.”
Though his expression was reluctant and even desolate, Luize appeared sincere.
“Furthermore, I agree with Kirges’s proposal. At least until the threat of the Stars is neutralized and Rahnar is safe, I request that Whiszel be placed under Wynyak’s protection. As for the reason….”
“Continue, Whiszel.”
“…When Whiszel’s Guardian Star, the Formless Messenger, borrowed my body, the memories remain with me intact. The Star trampled through my memories as it pleased, impersonated me, and drove a fellow Transcendent to the brink of death.”
Luize slowly raised his eyes to look at me. His golden eyes were deeply stained with guilt and self-reproach.
It seemed the events of that time still weighed heavily on Luize’s heart.
He bit his lip firmly before continuing at a rapid pace.
“I too nearly died, crushed beneath the Star’s authority. Rahnar gave them the name ‘Guardian Star,’ but I question whether they truly protect us, and whether their power can truly be called ‘blessing.’ If not for Kirges’s barrier protecting Rahnar and Wynyak’s strength, this planet would have crumbled to dust long ago.”
Yeljewa and Raylo, having quickly grasped the situation, raised their hands in turn after Luize.
“I too shall apologize! The Yeljewa Family Head was the one who conceived the initial plan for the experiment to create a Guardian of Rahnar during the Age of the Blind Stars. Even after the experiment was abandoned, Yeljewa kept everything about it secret. And afterward, I argued that the Princess of Abuye, who helped the prisoner escape, should be executed! A, and the prophecy I witnessed afterward was also hidden from all families except Kirges… I am reflecting on this.”
“As for me stealing a precious Sacred Relic from another’s house, I’ll simply let that pass for now. How about you cooperate with us instead…?”
Desperate gazes turned toward Wynyak.
“Hmm….”
Kalien straightened his previously tilted posture. He looked around the round table as if appraising it.
“Things are quite different from before.”
A pleasant smile lingered at the corners of his mouth. Kalien seemed to find this situation both unfamiliar and amusing.
“Back then, there was no one who would make such requests of me.”
I had not instructed Kalien how to respond to this proposal.
All I could do was create this opportunity; whether to accept the Transcendent Families’ apology was his choice, his freedom, and his right.
Kalien let out a low chuckle and tilted his head.
“Whezel, Yeljewa, and Raylo as well. Is this what you mean by ‘annihilation’?”
“Furthermore, Kirges shall be treated the same way.”
At my addition, a quiet stir rippled through the room. Alpien Kirges stared at me with wide eyes.
“Rosien, no—Family Head? Did you just say that Kirges would be subordinated to Wynyak?”
“That is correct.”
The moment I answered quietly, Kalien’s hand, which had been stroking his chin, froze like a painting. The amusement drained from his eyes.
Then Kalien asked in a remarkably tender voice.
“Kirges still possesses considerable power, so is there a particular reason you wish to transfer the family to Wynyak, Rosien Wynyak?”

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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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