CHAPTER 12

SACRED POWER (2)

“Lionheart.”

“Yes, Chieftain.”

“You chose a good husband.”

“…”

“…”

Noel silently refilled Dunadan’s glass. She had never expected her hobby of collecting fine alcohol to prove useful in a situation like this. It was undeniably early in the day to be drinking, but after seeing the state he was in, she could hardly refuse him another pour.

At first, she had wondered why he suddenly came to see her. After hearing what had happened, however, his reaction made complete sense.

“…You are saying Mr. Aiden formed three Sacred Power Cores within only a few hours?”

“With absurd ease.”

When Noel carefully repeated what she had just heard, Dunadan emptied his freshly filled glass in a single swallow. The sheer helplessness in that movement was anything but ordinary.

“Did you know, Lionheart, that creating your first Core serves as a coming-of-age rite in the Tribal Alliance?”

“I heard as much from the warriors I fought beside.”

“Then you also know that every person in the Alliance is required to learn how to handle Sacred Power from birth.”

Even with training beginning at such a young age, forming just one Core by the time a person reached adulthood was considered average. The fact that their people could achieve even that was why the Tribal Alliance possessed some of the highest individual combat strength per capita anywhere on the continent.

Noel searched through her memories for examples from the war. Had there not been countless warriors from the Great Plains who performed brilliantly in the hellish Coalition War with only two or three Cores?

Yet Aiden Kellermain had reached that exact same level in a matter of hours.

“Being born with a supernatural ability and using it well are completely separate matters,” Dunadan continued, staring gloomily at his empty glass.

Every so often, there were people blessed with the natural capacity to wield several abilities as easily as breathing. It was difficult to deny that Aiden Kellermain belonged to that rare category.

That was precisely why Dunadan had expected something very different when Aiden first approached him.

“To be honest, I was preparing to comfort him. Even people confident in their ability to control power struggle terribly when they first encounter Sacred Power.”

Dunadan had seen plenty of talented people become frustrated by the exact same wall: I am supposed to be a genius. I am supposed to be blessed. So why can I not even do this properly?

Aiden, of all people, had somehow acquired both Lionheart’s pure white qi and the Holy Kingdom royal family’s divinity simultaneously. It was only natural to assume he would possess enormous pride in his own talent. Dunadan had expected Aiden to encounter the same wall he himself had faced when learning Sacred Power—or at least something resembling the struggles he had watched others endure.

What Dunadan had never expected was to become the one staring at a beginner and feeling that wall himself.

“He is a genius.”

At Noel’s quiet nod, Dunadan frowned as though reconsidering the sentence he had just spoken.

“No. Calling him a genius is not quite accurate either.” He swirled the liquor in his glass before continuing. “He is a monster.”

“…”

Aiden’s talent was undeniably extraordinary, but talent on that scale was not entirely unique in the grand scheme of time. History books contained more than enough people whose gifts could only be described as violent in their magnitude.

Humanity’s Savior, the Defeated Calamity God, the Forgotten Demon King—terrifying names belonging to figures who had stood above the heavens themselves were carved throughout the continent’s history. Because those figures had existed, Dunadan had initially believed Aiden was still not quite a once-in-history talent.

That belief had lasted until he personally witnessed what Aiden did yesterday.

“I grew up hearing people call me a genius, but I have never seen anything like that in my life. If I return to the Great Plains and tell the other chieftains, they will probably call me insane.”

Noel remained silent for a moment after hearing such an unvarnished evaluation. “How long does it normally take to reach that level?”

“Ten years for an ordinary person.”

“…”

“It still took me two years.”

“…”

“Believe me, Lionheart. You really did choose a good husband. Even I am curious how far that fellow will grow.”

Something Dunadan—a man called a genius himself—had achieved in two years had taken Aiden a single night, and only a few hours of that night at most.

Noel rubbed her cheek, trying to decide what she was supposed to say. Dunadan had spent his whole life looking down from a position of talent so great that he had become one of the standard measures of genius itself. Now he had encountered a talent that made him feel a wall for the first time in his life, and he looked close to losing his mind over it.

Perhaps she was supposed to comfort him. Or perhaps there was a more natural response.

“That certainly sounds like Mr. Aiden.”

“…It is admirable for newlyweds to have a harmonious marriage, but must you boast about your husband directly in front of me right now?”

Noel gave a small laugh and refilled his glass again.

In truth, it was less an attempt to boast than an expression of her own bewilderment. His raw abilities were one thing, but she was also confused by the very fact that he had chosen to train in the first place.

‘…Why did he suddenly start training?’

Anyone with functioning eyes could tell that Aiden hated becoming involved in anything major, troublesome, or difficult to an almost pathological degree. Noel had brought him to her side because staying beside her would inevitably expose him to turbulent events, and she had wanted a man who seemed capable of surviving them.

Even so, his own attitude clearly showed that he did not welcome such situations. In fact, one reason Noel kept him near her almost constantly was to protect him from suddenly being swept into trouble without warning.

While she turned that question over in her mind, Dunadan spoke again in a hollow voice. “This is good liquor.”

“I have another bottle. I will give it to you as a gift.”

“Do you have no interest in drinking with me?”

“I still have official work remaining.” Noel smiled wryly at Dunadan’s invitation.

At least one person needed to remain sober enough to prevent accidents caused by somebody else losing their senses. That probably would have remained her decision if she had not voiced the question occupying her mind.

“By the way, why did Mr. Aiden want to learn Sacred Power in the first place?”

“He said there is someone he wants to impress. Apparently, he wants to become a better man.”

“…”

“I told you. You chose a good husband. A fellow blessed with that much talent is looking at you with that kind of devotion. Is that not a life worth living?”

Noel stared at Dunadan in complete silence. She remained that way for a very long time—long enough that even Dunadan began to feel uncomfortable. From one angle, it almost looked as though she were trying to suppress her own surprise.

“…I doubt he meant me,” Noel finally spoke with unusual caution.

Dunadan immediately responded with open disbelief. “If not his newlywed wife, who else would he be talking about?”

“…”

Noel’s expression became even more blank. Objectively speaking, his reasoning was perfectly sensible. That was true, but Aiden had been kidnapped and forcibly bound into a contract marriage. There should have been no reason for him to say something like that about Noel herself.

Then, old words unexpectedly resurfaced in her mind.

‘It seems you do not remember the past after all. Perhaps when you were young?’ ‘No, it is nothing. I truly did not expect you to have forgotten.’

Perhaps there really was a reason after all, no matter how unlikely it seemed.

A flood of those remembered sentences made Noel rub both hands over her face. The same thought kept returning again and again without mercy. No matter how much she wanted to dismiss it, these fragments kept seizing her attention as though she were being enchanted.

Had that man truly shared some past with her? Was that why he could say things like this without embarrassment?

Noel simply did not know what the truth was. Even when she wanted to push the question aside because there was no way to uncover the truth immediately, incidents kept forcing her to think about it.

Fortunately, Noel had a fairly clear method for dealing with intrusive thoughts like these. With a sigh, she pulled another glass from the cabinet.

Dunadan laughed when he saw the obvious meaning behind the gesture. “Do you not still have official work?”

“…Thinking about it again, a few drinks are more likely to help than interfere.”

“Naturally.”

CLINK.

The rims of their glasses met.

‘…Does he actually like me?’

As Noel poured liquor generously into her glass, the thought suddenly returned. She immediately tried to dismiss it as ridiculous. Surely not. That makes no sense at all.

She drank half the glass in one swallow while forcing herself to think of something else. Perhaps because of the alcohol, her face felt strangely hot.

✦ ✦ ✦

[SKILL INFO] 『 Dunadan U’Jal 』 Bond: Stage 2 You may copy 1 additional skill.

[COPIED SKILLS] ◆ Universal Ability: Sacred Power A supernatural ability bestowed by Urgan, Goddess of Ascension. It can be operated by imposing taboos upon yourself.

▶ Core Count: 5

• ※ Mastery rises rapidly due to correction from Omnipotence. An anomalous characteristic has been applied.

• ※ Only Unique-class taboos may be designated. The skill cannot be used through any other method. However, the skill will transform if the required conditions are satisfied.

Aiden stared at the number five beside Core Count.

‘I stopped at three because of the Chieftain…’

The more Cores Aiden had created, the closer Dunadan’s expression came to a complete mental collapse, until Aiden eventually felt too awkward to continue. Because of that, he had never managed to ask the additional questions he originally intended.

The two extra lines at the bottom of the skill window had become the main problem.

‘So only special ones work for me?’

In the original game, perfectly simple taboos had been possible, such as skipping a meal or sleeping fewer than seven hours. When Aiden had tried similar restrictions, every single one was invalidated. Just as the skill window stated, only special taboos appeared to work for him.

‘What does Unique class even mean here…?’

Judging by the terminology the system had used so far, it probably meant a restriction or characteristic that no other living person possessed.

‘A taboo that nobody else has ever used?’

Just thinking about the vast population of the Great Plains made his head spin. Thinking about how many Sacred Power users existed across the entire continent made it even worse.

At this rate, had he gone through all the trouble of learning Sacred Power only to be unable to use it properly?

‘I need to think about this.’

As Aiden prepared to close the window, a new message suddenly appeared before his eyes.

[SYSTEM MESSAGE]

• Noel Astria Seamus has become more favorably disposed toward you.

• Bond Stage has risen from Stage 2 to Stage 3.

• 1 additional skill copy has been granted!

• Related information will soon be added to the Main Quest!

Aiden blinked blankly at the unexpected notification.

‘…That actually worked?’

He had considered the possibility that the excuse he casually gave Dunadan might eventually reach Noel. Still, he had thrown it out half as a joke, so seeing her bond genuinely rise because of it left him feeling strangely awkward.

The speed of these increases was beginning to shift his perspective slightly. If Noel’s favorable feelings kept climbing this quickly, perhaps their relationship really could become deeper one day.

‘…As if it would go that far.’

Right now, coincidences kept piling up and Noel’s interest in him was gradually deepening. But once the true protagonist appeared, all the attention currently directed toward Aiden would surely shift to that person instead.

Aiden intended to dump everything onto the protagonist and return to an ordinary life as soon as they met. Until then, he only needed to make good use of whatever benefits came his way.

He tapped his chin thoughtfully while reviewing his remaining options.

‘What I have left now is…’

He currently possessed three unused skill copies in total: one from Katya, one from Noel, and one from His Majesty the Emperor.

‘There is no need to learn anything yet.’

He had no idea what would happen during the coming main scenario incident, so choosing skills in advance would be inefficient. He had already skimmed the available lists once. Ideally, when a dangerous situation appeared, he could dynamically copy whichever ability seemed best suited to that exact moment.

After all, the only reason he had worked so hard to learn Sacred Power was to prepare one more option for an unexpected emergency.

‘…The best outcome would be getting through everything peacefully without needing to copy anything at all.’

That was exactly why he was moving around so diligently now.

His steps carried him toward a place he had visited once before. Billy Hagan’s tool shop was where he intended to collect the information he had commissioned.

The moment Aiden entered, Billy recognized his face and snorted. “Ah, the fellow who likes sticking his head into dangerous business.”

It was a slightly strange way to remember a customer.

“Do you have the information?”

The moment he asked, a rolled bundle of documents landed on the counter.

“Trading volume, distribution routes, and most importantly, the trading locations. I organized all of it.”

Billy emphasized the locations because Aiden had specifically asked for them, believing there was a strong chance one of those places would become the stage for the coming incident.

Aiden nodded and skimmed through the documents. The quality of the work was easily worth the premium he had offered. He placed the sack of gold coins he had brought onto the counter.

“I added another fifty gold. Consider it a gesture of friendship.”

“You rich or something?”

Since Noel had paid him generously, Aiden gave a vague nod.

Billy emptied the bag to verify the amount, then laughed and separated the extra portion. “Take this back. I do not need it. I did not finish everything you asked for.”

“Pardon?”

“Those weapons. I could not find out who is releasing them. Whoever is behind it has hidden themselves unusually well.”

“It is five hundred and fifty gold. Could you not have tried a little harder?”

Billy laughed openly at the suggestion. “Go to hell.”

“…”

“If I cannot find them, then at minimum we are dealing with a high-ranking noble. You want me digging into that? Are you trying to get someone’s head cut off?”

“…I see.” Aiden nodded, but his expression tightened slightly.

‘Was the original story like this?’

A high-ranking noble was already a serious complication. In the game, tracking down the group responsible for distributing the weapons had not been particularly difficult. They were common criminals; the hard part had been identifying the person who hired them.

Getting blocked at the very first stage like this was quite different from the flow of the original story Aiden remembered.

‘…Something really is different.’

The Imperial Prince, who had been a heroic figure in Act 1, having a terrible relationship with the Emperor was one major discrepancy. The very first incident of the main scenario already being altered was another. Small details kept producing an uncomfortable sense that things were not quite right.

That feeling that this world differed from the ‘original game’ he knew became even stronger because of one additional fact.

“Billy.”

“Just Billy is fine. What?”

“The personal information about the person I asked you to find is not here.”

“If it is not there, that means I could not find it.”

“…Is that so?”

Information about the protagonist was missing again. Even an information broker this capable had failed to locate the person.

Aiden still had not abandoned hope. Even if the main scenario had become slightly distorted, the foundations of this world depended on the protagonist’s existence. But if that person was not at tomorrow’s scene either, then a chilling conclusion would become much harder to avoid.

What if this truly is a world without a protagonist?

QUEST INFORMATION

[WARNING] Failure to complete the events listed below will result in severe penalties!

◈ SHAM MARRIAGE You have been selected as Sir Noel’s spouse. Maintain your contract with your partner until the end!

◈ ACT 1: FRACTURE IN THE IMPERIAL CAPITAL Your frequency of contact with important scenario figures is increasing sufficiently. You will soon be formally incorporated into the scenario. The direction of the scenario will be determined by your movements!

• A related event will occur soon. (D-2)

◈ LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL Katya Heinkel Craven desperately wants something from you. Help the target experience ‘sensation’ fully to the greatest extent possible!

• A related event will occur soon. (D-2)

If he had to solve terrifying incidents like these entirely by himself, then there was one course of action he had already considered. He absolutely did not want to use it, and he doubted the situation would truly become desperate enough to force him that far.

But if the worst possible moment finally came, he would have no choice.

‘I will have to do it.’

When that moment arrived, Aiden would also have to fulfill the role placed before him.