I Will Protect My Brother - Chapter 17

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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 17
The Continental Conference proceeded as peacefully as it had in years past.
The publicly announced session had concluded. Regina snapped her fingers, and the planetarium slowly rotating in the center of the conference table came to a halt.
The starlight illuminating the planetarium faded completely. Now, not a single word spoken across this table would leak beyond these walls.
“Well then, the official conference is over. Shall we discuss something more… personal? Raylo.”
Dorian, the Family Head of Raylo who had been despondent throughout the meeting, lifted his head. He was the leader of Railo—House of Healing, renowned as the greatest physician on the Continent.
“I understand you have something to confess in confidence. What is the matter?”
“…It concerns a sacred relic.”
The Family Heads, who had been lounging comfortably against their chair backs, immediately straightened their spines.
“If it is a sacred relic of Raylo, you speak of the Crystal of Resurrection?”
“Indeed.”
Tension rippled across the table.
Dorian Raylo opened his mouth with the expression of a man wishing for death.
“I could not bring myself to mention it during the Continental Conference, but… in truth, the sacred relic of Raylo has been stolen.”
“What did you say?”
The tension transformed into shock in an instant.
The Crystal of Resurrection, Raylo’s sacred relic, was a legendary artifact said to resurrect even the dead. More than ten continental heroes had been brought back to life through the Crystal of Resurrection.
Though it carried the restriction of being usable only once every ten years and only for a single person, it was already unique beyond compare. Because of this sacred relic, Raylo had reigned alongside Yeljewa as one of the two most powerful Transcendent Families for centuries.
Yet such a precious sacred relic had been stolen?
Regina cried out as though screaming.
“When!”
“That would be… twelve years ago.”
Dorian Raylo broke into a cold sweat.
“We believed we could recover it within our own circles, so we did not report it. But as time has passed this long, we simply cannot proceed without seeking assistance…”
“Twelve years have passed—where could you possibly find it now!”
Regina’s voice rose sharply, Luize Whezel pinched the bridge of his nose as though exhausted, and Chronos Yeljewa clicked his tongue. Only Owen Wynack maintained his silence.
Owen Wynack alone remained silent.
Dorian Raylo, his face drained of color, fumbled for excuses.
“Which is precisely why I am appealing for your assistance through this Continental Conference. Should you recover the sacred relic, I shall compensate you handsomely.”
“With what? Free use of the Crystal of Resurrection?”
“If you find it, I would not begrudge such a privilege! I shall provide unlimited access!”
Truly?
Before Raylo had even finished speaking, the irritation vanished from Luize Whezel’s face. Regina Kirges ceased her frustration.
‘Unlimited access to the Crystal of Resurrection?’
What a windfall this was.
Chronos Yeljewa clenched his fist beneath his cloak.
The efficacy of the Crystal of Resurrection was not merely the resurrection of the dead, but also the restoration of lost physical and mental abilities.
That sacred relic was precisely what Chronos needed most at this moment.
In truth, he had long since lost his prescience. Yeljewa’s sacred relic was his right eye itself, which had been grievously wounded twelve years ago when a mysterious assailant raided the Main Headquarters.
He had been secretly tracking the traces of that assailant, yet he possessed no leads. All he could remember was the sudden darkness that engulfed everything, and how his right eye had been gouged out before he could even feel the blade.
That was precisely why he could never remove his hood in this place.
‘I was too embarrassed to even mention it at the Continental Conference.’
I had sent countless messages to Raylo requesting to borrow the Crystal of Resurrection, but they all went ignored. I never imagined that they too had suffered the theft of a sacred relic….
Now that I thought about it, both incidents had occurred exactly twelve years ago. The pieces fit together far too precisely to be mere coincidence.
‘Could there be someone targeting the sacred relics?’
A chill ran down my spine. Two Family Heads of the Transcendent Families had been robbed of their sacred relics, yet it seemed absurd to believe the perpetrator was not the same person.
After all, there couldn’t be multiple Transcendents who surpassed other Transcendents!
Meanwhile, Regina of Kirges was equally overcome with dread.
Regina bit the inside of her lip until it bled.
‘The Crystal of Resurrection vanished twelve years ago. Of all times, why twelve years ago?’
It was precisely twelve years ago that Lozietti Kirges had died.
And now, a girl who appeared like fate itself, bearing Lozietti’s likeness. The one so obsessively fixated on sacred relics—the Wynack Heir’s most treasured possession.
Could all of this truly be nothing but coincidence?
Regina clenched both fists tightly.
‘When I return, I must excavate Lozi’s grave first.’
To see if the corpse remains intact, or perhaps….
If it has vanished without a trace.
Regina lifted her head with resolve and made her declaration.
“I pledge that Kirges shall devote all efforts to recovering Raylo’s sacred relic and unraveling the truth behind this incident.”
“Yeljewa concurs entirely.”
“I shall also participate in the name of Whiszel.”
Unlike the four Family Heads burning with fervor and suspicion, the Wynack delegation faced a different predicament.
Owen clicked his tongue silently.
‘Now they’ll all be searching frantically for the crystal….’
He knew exactly where that sacred relic was now. He also knew which audacious fool had committed such an outrageous act.
Owen felt a headache coming on as he glanced sideways at his son.
Kalien showed no outward sign of agitation, yet neither did he appear particularly pleased. He seemed to be contemplating something deeply before turning to Owen with a question.
“Is the conference concluded, Father?”
“Well, officially speaking.”
“Then I suppose I may take my leave.”
Kalien rose from his seat without waiting for Owen’s response. All eyes at the table turned toward him.
“It has been an honor to meet you all, Family Heads. If you’ll excuse me.”
Kalien gave only a slight nod before turning on his heel and striding out of the Podium without a backward glance. His destination was painfully obvious to everyone.
Owen pressed his palm to his forehead.
‘What cruel fate has befallen me… What sin did I commit to be burdened with such a son….’
In the end, Owen reluctantly opened his mouth, his face etched with exhaustion.
“Wynack shall also cooperate in locating the Crystal of Resurrection. Very well then, let us all search with vigor.”
* * *
Even after the Continental Conference concluded, the Family Heads of the Transcendent Families showed no intention of leaving the Podium.
I stood quietly among the Wynack Knights, waiting for Owen and Kalien to descend.
Once they descended, we would need to travel together to the Delpiam Imperial Palace to attend the banquet.
However, before the Family Heads could even step down from the podium, an unexpected figure made an appearance.
A stir rippled through the knights, disciples, and clansmen of each family surrounding the base of the podium. I spotted a group approaching from a distance and my eyes widened in surprise.
‘What? The Emperor of Delpiam?’
By the stars above. The rabbit kidnapper himself!
That cruel tyrant who deserved every bit of condemnation!
The Imperial Guard Commander of Delpiam followed in the Emperor’s wake.
‘…Like master, like knight!’
It was only natural that my gaze turned cold.
“We greet the master of Delpiam.”
The people of Kirges and Whezel who served the Emperor of Delpiam as their lord immediately dropped to one knee. The other families offered their respects with a brief moment of silence.
I peeked my face out from between the Wynyak knights.
‘Well, let me get a good look at that perverted old man’s face after all this time.’
The Emperor of Delpiam, whom I was seeing again after twelve years, had aged somewhat since then. He must be well past forty by now.
He was strikingly handsome, both then and now. His physique was excellent, and his muscles still clung to his frame in an appealingly defined manner.
‘With that face, he prefers men? He must have broken quite a few hearts in other ways….’
“Has the conference not concluded yet?”
“The official talks have ended, but it appears the Family Heads are taking time to prepare and make their way down. They should arrive shortly.”
“I see. I do hope they hurry. That troublesome artifact is causing quite the commotion again….”
The Emperor muttered gloomily and rubbed his face with a dry hand. Now that I looked closely, deep exhaustion was etched across his features.
‘So it’s definitely the sacred relic causing trouble.’
If only he would stop being so greedy and simply hand it over to Wynyak, but I suppose he insists on being stubborn. I was clicking my tongue inwardly when our eyes suddenly met.
Though surrounded by knights, I stood out quite distinctly as the only child among them. The Emperor took notice of me.
“A child of Wynyak, I see. What is your name?”
“I am En Wynack.”
“Oh, you bear the Wynyak name? Are you also a child who wields the power of the stars?”
“Yes. The Family Head accepted me three years ago.”
This was the moment. This was precisely why I had risked everything and disguised myself as a boy.
‘Perfect, you perverted old man. Take me with you!’
But in the very next instant, someone called out to me loudly.
“Rosien!”
I spun around in shock. Kalien was striding toward me with long, purposeful steps.

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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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