Case 112: Upon the royal’s return.
Ever since entering this territory, Yuria felt as though her companion, Cecilia, had turned into someone else.
The gentle girl with a sunny smile was no more. Instead, an air of lofty exquisiteness now surrounded her. Each step she took held an unreal composure, each word spoken heavy and dominating. Even earlier, she had managed to get those thugs to vomit information in mere seconds, even if only a few of it was particularly useful.
The contrast was, perhaps, too genuine.
''...''
Even now, as the princess followed Cecilia, her thumping heart couldn't calm down. Instincts told her she shouldn't poke the sleeping bear, yet the saying always held true with Yuria—that curiosity kills the cat.
''...Who exactly are you, Cecily?''
Cecilia stopped in her tracks.
An immense pressure bound Yuria in place as the woman slowly turned around, her expression ambiguous. Thankfully, Cecilia wasn't the type of crazed 'bear' that would attack people at the slightest inconvenience.
''You said it yourself,'' She replied. ''I'm Cecily. Just... Cecily.''
''I... see.''
A non-answer, typical of the mysterious traveler, a warning, yet soaked with benevolence.
'I will let you off this time, so don't ask again.'
Knowing that her life could very well be endangered if she continued, Yuria shook her head and changed the question, ''So... how do you plan to break the progenitor's curse now?''
This time, a normal response flew back, ''When that guy died, he left behind a part of his soul to let it rot into this place. Both to strengthen this stronghold... and to protect the curse's integrity. I just need to eliminate his traces.''
''Left the soul...? Can someone really do that?''
''Do you remember the Ancient War?''
''Huh? Aren't the stories about that all made up?''
Looking at Cecilia's knowing smile, Yuria ran her mind through the topic. As an adventurer, she had heard countless myths and legends over the years, whether from renowned bards or so-called credible storytellers, sometimes even nomads.
The Ancient War, as she remembered, was a collection of short stories often told by the remnants of the long-living races, namely titans and elves.
'The omnipotent god who once governed this world became so bored with their omnipotence... that they killed themselves, wasn't it?'
At first, Yuria thought it was all nonsense. Yet, like those objectively outrageous myths that somehow were addicting to hear, she became quite intrigued.
But that was the extent of it.
'Then, pandemonium descended as the angels who governed the paradise and the demons who governed hell took the middle world as their battleground... in the end, no one really won, and the world was nearly destroyed whole?'
Too ridiculous to be a real legend.
Too flat to be a great fiction.
Those were Yuria's thoughts on the Ancient War until now. Realizing everything she heard might be true, she eagerly turned to the blue-haired girl.
''There's a piece of that story not many people know.'' Cecilia continued. ''Most would tell you that both sides perished completely, and that's true. It's why there are no pure demons or angels now. But the progenitor... Astaroth—he was one of the high demons with a deep ambition. Even as he was dying, his wish was so potent that it remained in the mortal realm, taking the form of a curse.''
''That's... fantastical. I mean, literally.''
''Well? You are free to think of it as a bedtime story.''
Chuckling, Cecilia gazed upon the road ahead, ''The progenitor's broken soul is now right ahead. You'll know it when you see him in person.''
''Ahead? You mean...''
The Heart of Demons—a fortress and palace where demons of royalty and their servants resided. It now loomed over the two, standing mighty tall and impenetrable.
''...Gulp.''
Hearing about 'curse' and 'legends,' Yuria had thought the spot Cecilia was heading to would be more... obscure, like in a grassfield, but to think it was inside such a high-profile structure...
Still, she couldn't back away at this point.
''How are we breaking in...?'' The princess cautiously asked.
''Breaking in?'' Cecilia almost laughed. ''Why should we? Yuri, are you seriously saying that I lack the clearance? At this point?''
''...''
Somehow, Yuria felt herself being teased all over again. Memories of the days inside the car, where she was thoroughly made fun of, surged. A rosy tint fell on her cheeks.
''F-Fine. Do whatever you want.''
Without a word, Cecilia headed straight toward the castle.
This time around, there was no one getting in their way. In fact, not a soul could be seen around the main entrance, or any entrance, for that matter.
There were two menacing statues of a three-headed hound on either side of the towering gate, each the size of a building. Upon sensing the approaching presence, mana roused in their stone layers, and their six pairs of eyes turned to the two visitors.
If it had been anyone else, they would have promptly been dismantled by the guards, yet after concentrating their attention on Cecilia, the statues remained static.
''The defensive system is completely automated. Impressive, right?''
''You speak as if you're introducing your house to a friend...''
The next words stuck to Yuria's throat. Still, the two's unbelievably bold journey resumed.
Countless traps and defensive measures were laid along the path, all useless before Cecilia. She walked herself in leisurely, seemingly without a care in the world, when it was supposed to be the toughest place on the continent.
At this point, there was little room for doubt in Yuria's mind.
'What have I stumbled upon...'
As the princess mulled over it, she soon realized they had made it into somewhere without traps.
''From here on, it's the living quarters.'' Cecilia quietly presented. ''If you ignore the demon servants, it does look like a normal palace, right?''
''No, no, I think there's a more urgent matter to address?!''
Indeed, the castle's interior was as beautiful as a human palace... ignoring the demon servants.
The moment Cecilia entered, not from the exclusive personnel's entrance but from the main one, all attention was on her. Maids carrying their duties, soldiers on their patrols, officers passing by—it was hard for them to ignore the clear anomaly.
''Let's go.''
Cecilia pulled the brim of her hat down and spoke, her voice steady. Even in the tense standoff, the woman appeared more than confident. Yuria, now a mere scaredy cat following her human, timidly walked along.
Eerily, as if coming out of a movie, the servants—without exception—lowered their heads toward Cecilia in unison. The whole room, with their waists bent so low—it looked as though they were terrified for their lives.
'Damn it... what have I gotten myself into...?'
The same scene repeated itself several times as they got closer and closer to Cecilia's true destination. Slowly, Yuria also noticed the familiar structure unfolding.
''This is...''
It was depicted countless times in various media—the throne room. Even knowing beforehand that she would be here, it didn't help to calm the nerves when standing in front of the real thing.
It was here that hundreds of brave heroes threw their lives to defeat the evil.
The soaring steel door was soaked in their blood. Scars of their battles could be seen across the floor. Somewhere, those people's traces could be felt.
...And right in front of Yuria, the 'evil' stood solemnly.
''Sorry.''
''Huh?''
''Sorry for bringing you into this mess.'' Cecilia suddenly said. ''But now that you're here with me... I ask you to be the witness to my story.''
