I Only Raised Men for Revenge - Chapter 26

“Seeing you keep denying that the place is safe, even though you know it is, it’s like you’re really trying to save face. Or am I wrong?”

Perhaps because she wasn’t as desperate as she had been in the past, Sesenia looked at him with a slightly puzzled expression.

“……”

“Don’t deny it. If you can’t trust anyone because of that pride, you’ll end up being nothing. You’ll live a life of being chased and chasing, always anxious. So, try to get along. This is a deal I made with my own reputation on the line.”

Only then did his expression change little by little.

“Then I’ll have to help you now. I also made a promise with the High Priest.”

“What do you want me to help with? Weren’t you supposed to come today to make a deal?”

“There’s something I need to make. You know what I’m talking about. A fake holy relic.”

“You want me to make that?”

“Yeah.”

“Even if I do, it won’t look like a holy relic.”

Sesenia slowly shook her head.

“No. It will look like a holy relic. Your power is close to the power of a god.”

“What do you mean?”

That was a story of the past.

In the past, when the Salmon royal family was being protected in the Empire’s temple, the temple attracted attention by announcing it. The changes that occurred because of their appearance were not limited to that one thing.

The High Priest knew it then. That the power of the Salmon royal family was very similar to the power called divine power in the Elzerat Empire. At that time, even though he recognized that power, he didn’t try to do anything else. He even asked the Emperor if he should send them back since they were the Salmon royal family.

Sesenia knew it then. That the power of the Salmon royal family was similar to divine power.

But the Emperor, who knew this fact, ordered the High Priest to use their power to maintain the temple. Three forces that were neck and neck. But now the power of the temple had weakened, and the Magic Tower had become stronger.

The Imperial Family and the Magic Tower were not friendly at all. In that situation, if the temple completely died out, the Imperial Family would lose even that much of an ally, so the Emperor continued to use the Salmon royal family, even though the High Priest didn’t want to.

‘The High Priest was very displeased at the time, but thanks to that I was able to find that object.’

One truth. The fact that the Salmon royal family possessed power originating from the Salmon God in ancient times was a fact known to everyone. But no one really thought that their power would be divine power.

And although they used power received from different gods, divine power seemed to attract each other.

When the Salmon royal family used their power in the Empire’s temple because of the High Priest, a reaction appeared. So, Silian had to use his power even more, and in the end, a solution came out.

‘In the end, the temple will find it. The holy relic of the first god, Lowick.’

This time as well, they would use the power of Salmon, but they would not reveal the power of the Salmon royal family. They had to move only for Sesenia.

“What are you thinking about for so long?”

“The power of the gods attracts each other. I’m going to use that. The holy relic you create is not fake. It’s just a holy relic created with the power of another god. That holy relic will eventually reach the object of the god Lowick that the Empire’s temple has been so eager to find.”

“……Do you think that’s possible?”

“Yeah. It’s better than doing nothing. Either way, whether this works or not, the temple will eventually end up using me. And in exchange for using me, they’ll protect you and your brother. It doesn’t matter, does it?”

“It doesn’t matter, huh. You say some really uninteresting things. Why do you think it doesn’t matter?”

Arrogant prince. Silian jumped up and down in the form of a puppy and settled on the windowsill where Sesenia’s gaze reached.

“Are you sacrificing yourself? For us?”

“Silian. Even if it matters, think of it as it doesn’t. The hypocrisy of a wealthy aristocrat. What I’m doing is just that much.”

“If you don’t achieve what you want by doing that. Aren’t you collapsing, as the High Priest said?”

Does she know? That her eyes are sadder than ever. That even her smiling smile is sad.

“But you guys will be left.”

“……What do you get by doing that? Are you really becoming a saint or something?”

“No. Just… an arrogant person. Someone who thinks that everything might go my way. Someone who wants to become a god myself. So, just do as I say. Follow me without saying anything.”

At those words, a phew sound came from the puppy’s mouth.

“What’s that sound of air leaking?”

“I really don’t like it. You. Why are you trying to erode your reputation so much? As if you have to look like a terribly selfish human being. In the end, there’s nothing for you.”

“No. It’s all for me. I can’t see it now, but in the very distant future, everything will be for me. So, I asked you to protect me. Look. Not everything is just for me, is it?”

The puppy’s mouth, as sharp as a fox’s snout, shook from side to side.

“What do I have to do in the end?”

“A contract to protect me. And create a holy relic. Nothing bad will happen to you.”

“……Okay. I’ll do it. What kind of holy relic do I have to make? What do I have to do?”

“Silian Salmon’s contract to protect me until the day I want. And a holy relic with a strong power that continues to emanate your power just by existing.”

That was the end.

Perhaps because he had already decided to do as Sesenia said, he transformed back into human form.

Very quietly, as if mumbling into the air, he made a small sound, and dust-like things sparkled and condensed on his hand.

“I, Silian Salmon, make a heart contract here.”

Silian looked at Sesenia and held out his hand.

He didn’t know well, but as if drawn by something, she also took his hand.

“I, Silian Salmon, protect Sesenia Bestel with my life until the day she wants. Sesenia Bestel also protects me and Pepe Salmon as far as her power reaches. This is a contract on the heart, and death will be faced if it is not kept.”

That was the end. Red patterns appeared on the backs of both of their hands.

“A contract that faces death is quite sad.”

Even though she knew, a corner of Sesenia’s heart became uncomfortable.

“Because it’s a contract made in the name of God. This is the only sin left by our God who loved humans so much. Come to think of it, this situation, which is not romantic at all, seems like a story about your God and my God.”

“Is there a story about the God Lowick and the God Salmon?”

“A very uninteresting story. And there’s a myth that no one wanted to know. And in that myth, the God Salmon, who was unusually human-like, is just like you. Unpleasantly.”

“What’s the point of saying that and making me feel bad? Anyway, just take it to the temple as it is. Then you and your brother will be safe.”

That was the end. Silian had already transformed into the form of a puppy. Sesenia hung the holy relic around his neck, and Silian, who had been looking at Sesenia for a while, turned his head away like a puppy who was very sulky.

“Are you perhaps sulking?”

“……”

In response to Sesenia’s question, Silian stared at her for a moment and then left the place. In the form of a puppy who was very sulky to anyone who looked at him.

“……Why are you sulking?”

But in the end, Silian left without answering, so Sesenia looked at such Silian as if she was dumbfounded and closed the terrace door.

“Still, I’ve finally accomplished something.”

That alone was enough. So, she felt even more drained.

Things that started with revenge. But those things were overwhelming and overwhelming. She pretended to be okay, but there was no way she could be okay.

Until now, she had just been a human being who lived an ordinary life as time went by.

So, her hands trembled, and worries about what to do if she didn’t do well, anxieties, made her even more difficult. Wouldn’t it be better not to do anything at all, wouldn’t it be better to leave far away so that she wouldn’t experience such things in the future? Such thoughts filled her head.

The humiliation she had suffered from her husband, the betrayal of her trusted family and only friend. Whenever the emotions of that time faded thanks to the great gift given by the god of oblivion, Sesenia vowed again and again.

Even if her revenge were to fail, even if the worst were to come, she would take away only their future.

Today, making such a vow, Sesenia closed her eyes with effort.

**

A few days later. The temple contacted Sesenia.

Saying that they wanted to repay Sesenia greatly for finding the holy relic.

“A holy relic. Did you do such a thing, Sesenia?”

Marquis Bestel could not hide his surprised expression at his daughter’s unexpected actions.

“You did such a thing?”

“No way!!”

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