The Crown I Will Take From You - Chapter 250

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

Part 2, Chapter 97

“The child of prophecy has survived, cutting through the mist of calamity. The Goddess has forgiven us foolish ones and has not yet abandoned this land.”

“Ah. The days to complete our atonement are approaching!”

“The shamans of Shadeia are passed down only through the maternal line. Have you never experienced divine power? Have you ever seen that horizon somewhere that no one can see, that no one has ever experienced?”

Neryl glared sharply at the man prostrating himself on the ground in rapture and the strange old woman.

“What are you talking about, suddenly blocking our path like this?”

“Wait a moment.”

Medeia raised her hand to stop Neryl.

My second life given to me. A miracle that no one has ever reached or experienced.

“By any chance, were you the one who told me about the dawn Nakru three years ago?”

The old woman before her eyes reminded her of the old woman she had encountered in a shabby alley in Valdina. Somehow, she gave off a similar atmosphere that was hard to explain precisely.

“Ah. So the shaman went to that place.”

The old woman let out a sigh as if she understood everything, then approached and grasped Medeia’s hand.

It was when she was about to move her lips.

Screech—!

“Aaaah! It’s wyverns!”

Terrible screams mixed with those of humans and magical beasts came from the village entrance.

Medeia raised her head.

A flock of wyverns with spread wings was circling in the sky. Wyverns were intermediate-level magical beasts with bat wings and lizard heads.

The wyverns covered the entire sky, making it instantly dark as if night had fallen.

“Oh no, already…”

The old woman squeezed her eyes shut and continued urgently.

“You are the child of prophecy who carries on the bloodline of our Shadeian shamans. Since we fell for deception and your mother was unjustly pushed aside, your generation’s power will be even stronger.”

Throughout her words, endless tears flowed from the old woman’s eyes.

It seemed as if a massive burden filled with regret and remorse was weighing her down.

“However, the greater the power, the greater the trials that follow. You will have to constantly seek light and drive away the darkness that surges toward it.”

“I don’t understand a single word you’re saying.”

Instead of answering Medeia’s words, the old woman pulled out a necklace from her bosom.

It was a wing-shaped pendant holding a transparent crystal beneath a gold chain. Multiple layers of golden threads overlapping the crystal sparkled.

“Tsk, I’m not a shaman so I can’t properly see your fate… but fortunately, you were born under Venus’s orbit, so you’ll be able to overcome any trial with that power. Venus has the power to determine fate—”

Screech—!

Just then, one wyvern spotted Medeia’s group and flew toward them.

Neryl leaped up and severed its neck, and the wyvern that flapped its wings in vain crashed toward the chapel.

Crack. The old chapel’s roof broke apart.

Shriek—!

This time, another wyvern folded its wings and dropped from the sky like an arrow.

Its sharp claws tried to grab Medeia, but along with a flashing light, its foot was cleanly severed.

“Are you alright?”

Chezare appeared above the falling wyvern.

His appearance of wielding his sword while seated on his black horse looked so serene that it contrasted even more with the surrounding chaos.

“Block them! They’re going for Her Highness Medeia!!”

However, the wyverns continued to gather toward Medeia.

“Damn it, why do they keep flocking here?”

Garo gritted his teeth while striking down the endlessly swarming wyverns.

Even though wyverns were instinct-driven magical beasts, it was strange that they didn’t stop at all despite seeing their kind being slaughtered.

“Medeia. We need to leave now.”

Chezare, who had somehow gotten close, spoke to Medeia. Silva’s reins were gripped in his right hand.

“…You should also evacuate this place for now.”

The old woman shook her head at Medeia’s words.

“This is punishment given to our tribe for not recognizing the shaman. Don’t worry, we too have learned how to survive by avoiding that punishment for all these long years.”

Thud—!

As if proving the old woman’s words, a wyvern pierced by a harpoon fell beside the man who had come with her.

Fighting spirit quickly boiled up in the old woman’s determined eyes.

Medeia recalled that the old woman was an herbalist who gathered herbs from the steep Moonlight Cliffs.

“Don’t worry about us. On the day when twisted things are set right, this deserved punishment will also end.”

“…”

“Child of Selene, you must leave quickly. Go your way. Move forward without looking back or hesitating.”

The old woman paused for a moment, alternately staring at Medeia and the necklace clutched in her hand.

“I never thought I’d be able to fulfill my calling to pass on the shaman’s token before closing my eyes.”

And she turned and leaped into the flock of wyverns.

Seeing this, Medeia felt a strange impulse to follow the old woman and her group.

These strangers who suddenly mentioned her mother and spouted incomprehensible words.

“Medeia.”

However, Medeia turned her horse’s head to follow Chezare, who called her again urgently.

Silva, undaunted even among the fierce flock of wyverns, galloped vigorously toward the anchored ship.

Medeia clutched the necklace in her hand.

Venus. Shadeia. Shaman.

Even though it was all a festival of unfamiliar words, the pounding in her chest wouldn’t stop.

* * *

The sailing ship carrying Medeia’s group quickly moved away from the shore.

When they were far enough that the flock of wyverns circling above the village looked palm-sized, they could see the wyvern flock flying away to another place.

“Anyway, it’s amazing that they can maintain even a rough semblance of a village with those things coming like that.”

Garo clicked his tongue.

“The magical beasts here are influenced by the movements of the highest-grade evil dragon. The fact that wyverns have pushed down to the village means the evil dragon is moving from its lair.”

“Don’t think so seriously when we haven’t even started yet, Brother Terrence. An evil dragon is just, well, think of it as a big wyvern, right?”

Terrence sighed at Garo’s jest.

After traveling the sea route for another full day,

The sailing ship carrying Medeia’s group arrived at the Pitch-Black Forest.

Chezare gave orders to some of his subordinates.

“Eta, Kappa. You two return to the base, take charge of the rear, and gather news from the continent. Then report to me.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Right. I’ve attached your scents to Falcon, so just hand it over to him.”

Garo pointed to Falcon’s fluttering talons.

The group that had unloaded their luggage and horses paused for a moment.

The sea breeze was cold and damp. Waves slowly rolled onto the blackened sand, wetting the expedition’s horse hooves.

The path from the coastline to the forest entrance looked like a natural tunnel created by rocks and roots tangled together at will.

And finally, the real entrance to the forest they had arrived at.

It was so dense that even though it was broad daylight, it was as dark as midday, and the inside of the forest viewed from the entrance was truly black as pitch.

“The atmosphere is no joke right from the start.”

When Tom grumbled, Neryl snapped back.

“Then get behind me.”

“A man has his pride… There’s no retreat in my dictionary.”

He stomped the ground.

“Brother Garo, may I go in first?”

Subtly provoking Garo as he passed by was a bonus.

“Huh? Look at that guy?”

Garo, who took the bait, chased after him, followed by Terrence and Chezare’s subordinates. And finally, Medeia and Chezare.

The faint mist and darkness rising from the forest enveloped the expedition as if testing their fate.

* * *

At that moment, in the Sacramontes Kingdom.

“Captain, do we really have to go?”

In the Temple Knights’ quarters, usually quiet except during training hours, the knights’ bewildered voices burst forth.

“The Princess of Valdina isn’t even a heretic or criminal, but I’m not sure if chasing someone who fled to survive and pushing them into mortal danger is what we should be doing as knights of God.”

At their clearly skeptical reaction, Leonor swallowed a sigh.

“This was decided by the Holy Council. We’re simply acting as members of the Central Temple.”

“The Princess of Valdina has disappeared!”

He recalled the Holy Council meeting, which had been just as full of arguments as the knights before him.

“Peleus, that man must have spirited away his sister. A man who would declare war on the Emperor of Kazen for his younger sister’s sake wouldn’t simply accept an oracle!”

When news of Valdina’s situation, which Sisear had tried so hard to delay, finally reached the Central Temple’s ears, High Priest Paulo was the most enraged.

“The oracle hasn’t even manifested across the entire continent yet. Isn’t it dangerous for us as clergy to hastily brand intentions?”

“That’s right. Besides, the Emperor of Valdina is also aware of the situation’s gravity and is making inquiries everywhere—”

“Ha! Aware of the gravity? This is clearly Valdina’s cunning deception to buy time. Don’t you understand?”

Even before the other high priests trying to maintain neutrality, Paulo didn’t back down.

“The Goddess has bestowed her first merciful grace upon our Holy Kingdom, but if we’re not careful, the worst disaster of failing to uphold her noble will could occur. This is not the time to sit idly waiting!”

Eventually, after much turmoil, orders were issued to the Temple Knights through a majority vote.

“Leonor. You must immediately select Temple Knights to track down the Princess of Valdina! Damn it, we should have moved the moment we heard the news, but who knows where that weasel-like woman has fled by now…”

Leonor thought that High Priest Paulo seemed more obsessed with the Princess of Valdina, the target of the oracle, than with the oracle itself.

A high priest held the position directly below the Pope, a rank only the most devout and noble priests in the Central Temple could attain.

But now Paulo looked like an ordinary human determined to bring down the princess who had humiliated him and witness her miserable end.

“Why are you silent! Didn’t you see it yourself?! How cunning the Princess of Valdina is!”

“…Yes. I’ll depart at dawn.”

How hard he had tried to hide his reluctant expression before Paulo.

“Captain, but…”

The Temple Knights still couldn’t hide their doubts.

In truth, Leonor shared the same thoughts as them.

“There’s no choice. Since an oracle has been given, going against its will is itself heresy and sin.”

However, as captain, unable to let the knights become divided, he sternly disciplined them.

“…Captain, I want to join.”

Meanwhile, Theo was the only Temple Knight who volunteered for this mission.

“Oh, Theo. Thank you, I’m glad at least you understand the gravity of this matter.”

Leonor, who had to shoulder the thankless villain role alone, was inwardly moved and patted the handsome young knight’s shoulder.

“…Yes.”

From his firmly gripped sword and clear features emanated the piety befitting a knight of God.

Leonor thought choosing Theo as his successor, someone who could separate personal feelings from duty, had been the right decision.

But he didn’t know.

That Theo’s fingertips gripping his sword were trembling.

‘…If she’s captured, only I can create an opening away from the Temple Knights’ eyes.’

The real reason his most trusted successor had volunteered for this mission.

Theo lowered his eyes.

The fear of betraying the faith of the Goddess he so revered still made him tremble.

But an inexplicable, strange conviction rose from deep within his heart.

A conviction close to a calling or sense of mission that he must prevent Medeia Valdina’s death.

“Yes. I must go.”

Theo, clenching his fists tightly, murmured as if making a vow once more.

The next day, the elite of the Temple Knights left the Holy Kingdom early at dawn.

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