Chapter 44: That Which Cannot Be Inherited (10)

“It’s been so long since I’ve spent time with the Queen. I’m so happy. Ku-hu-hut.”

“…Fran, it’s not too late. You can still turn back now.”

Inside Fran’s chamber, Selene, with her mana circuits completely suppressed, sat in her chair.

She appeared uneasy, her posture reflecting her discomfort with the situation.

Yet, Fran maintained her mischievous smile, looking unbothered.

Though her heart had been captivated by Diana, Fran still deeply loved Selene as family.

Even if she were to become the new queen, even if they were not blood-related, Fran had no intention of killing her mother.

“Then, are you going to sacrifice yourself for those humans again, Your Majesty?”

“It’s not a sacrifice. It’s a necessity. Without them, how could we possibly stop the Demon Lord?”

“If that’s the case, then it’s fine.”

Fran wrapped her hands around Selene’s right hand, holding it gently, and looked her straight in the eyes.

“Diana told me. Only the true Saint can defeat the Demon Lord. So you don’t need to worry about a thing.”

“Diana…?”

“Oh, the Queen doesn’t know, huh? Sera is beautiful, sure, but there was a slight mistake in the summoning. Diana is the real Saint. But those humans don’t even realize it!”

Fran stopped speaking after claiming Diana to be the true Saint.

The countless sins of humanity spun wildly in her mind, her emotions swirling uncontrollably within her chest.

“…You sold your soul to a devil.”

“A devil? Ku-hu-hut, no. I’m saving you, saving our kind, and finding true love. What’s so bad about that? We’re the greatest masterpiece God ever created, aren’t we? We should seize everything. There’s no reason for you to sacrifice yourself for humans.”

Where had it all gone wrong? Unlike Laura, who never showed much interest in anything besides following orders, Fran had always been curious and perceptive.

It was inevitable that she would quickly realize Selene’s intentions to sacrifice herself.

Thus, unlike Laura, Selene had never shared her plans with Fran, hoping to part ways gradually over time.

Yet she never imagined Fran would orchestrate something like this.

Selene felt as though all of this was her fault, a weight of despair settling over her.

“Eureka… What did you see there?”

Though Fran was ambitious, she had never crossed the line.

Everything she did had been for the world.

That’s what Selene had believed, until Fran began to change after her time in Eureka.

Fran’s magical abilities grew rapidly, and she somehow acquired knowledge Selene couldn’t trace.

While a parent should celebrate their child’s growth, Selene now wondered if she should have doubted it, even just once.

“I’ll introduce you to Diana soon. In the world I create, we’ll all live together.”

“…You’re so kind. Fran, you’re truly a kind child.”

“Right? Now you finally understand, Your Majesty?”

Fran was indeed kind. She must have despised seeing her loved ones and her kin suffer.

As proof, not a single member of the Dragonkin had been harmed in her schemes.

She had even accelerated Laura’s ancestral regression to gift her the form of a true dragon.

Though Fran had twisted it into a dark blessing, it was likely the greatest gift in her mind.

It was this kindness that Selene could sense would lead Fran to fall entirely.

Diana, that woman, had the ability to manipulate hearts with ease.

“Yes, my kind daughter… Even with such dangerous intentions, you cannot bring yourself to kill your mother.”

“…Huh?”

The conditions for using dark magic were surprisingly simple.

One only needed to have been exposed to miasma at least once.

While Fran had completely transformed her mana circuits for dark magic, Selene was no stranger to handling miasma herself.

After all, it was Selene who transferred the miasma into her staff, the Dragon’s Soul.

Fran’s mistake was assuming that suppressing Selene’s mana circuits would render her powerless—a miscalculation that would have irreversible consequences.

“Soul Ignition.”

With a roaring sound, black flames erupted, consuming Fran’s chamber in an instant.

“How is your body holding up?” Natalia’s voice came from behind the prison bars.

“I’m fine. No issues.”

“I see…”

On the other side of the cell was Laura.

Declaring herself the new queen, Fran had no intention of killing the Hero’s party outright.

Instead, she had sealed their hands and confined them in a prison cell.

“And Selene?”

“I don’t know. Fran took her directly…”

“…I see.”

Natalia was deeply worried about Laura’s condition.

Her composed responses were merely a front to hide her vulnerability.

Any companion who had spent enough time with Laura could tell her hardened expression betrayed her inner turmoil.

It had been a day since the Hero and Sera had vanished into the subspace.

Those who opposed Fran’s ideology among the palace staff had been imprisoned, and no news of the Queen had reached them.

To make matters worse, the effects of the potion Fran had given Laura were accelerating her ancestral regression.

The situation was dire.

Though Laura was treated with some deference as a princess, the presence of dark magic suggested the involvement of a Demon Lord or a high-ranking demon.

It was evident the Hero’s party was being prepared as sacrificial offerings.

“Ugh…!”

“Laura, are you okay?!”

“I’m… fine…”

At Laura’s sudden groan, Natalia raised her voice in concern.

Laura calmed her, staring down at the bowl of water in front of her.

The potion she had been taking over the past few days—if it was something Fran had created—was clearly accelerating her ancestral regression instead of slowing it.

Laura’s appearance was now indistinguishable between human and dragon.

Her horns had fully grown, and when she exhaled, flames occasionally escaped her mouth.

Pressing her lips tightly together, Laura avoided meeting Natalia’s gaze.

Her body was growing heavier, even without doing anything.

She knew she had reached her limit and had to make a choice.

“Sister, I have a favor to ask.”

“…No. I can’t.”

“You must. The Hero and Sera… they’re still alive.”

Natalia knew what Laura was asking for.

That’s why she refused so strongly, unable to meet her gaze.

As a knight who had already lost so many comrades, she couldn’t bear to lose anyone else.

“I envied Sera. She could always stand proudly before the Hero, without any selfishness or hesitation.”

“…You’ve noticed it too, haven’t you? The Hero’s eyes—they’re not normal.”

Laura’s sorrowful gaze turned to Natalia as she spoke of the Hero’s eyes.

Since the incident at the fortress, the Hero’s demeanor had shifted.

Anyone observing for long enough would notice something was off.

“Yes, those eyes… they seem to captivate the hearts of others. But my heart…”

“I’m not blaming you, Sister. I’m just saying… I’ve been using the Hero’s guilt from the beginning. I’ve never once thought about what he might be feeling.”

To earn the Hero’s forgiveness, and to atone for her actions, it was Laura’s turn to sacrifice herself. That’s what she was saying.

Recently, Natalia had been deeply troubled over whether her feelings for the Hero were genuine or a result of that strange power.

Surely, Laura must have been grappling with similar doubts.

Yet, hearing Laura’s true intentions left Natalia speechless, unable to offer any words of comfort.

“From now, I will force the dragon’s blood to run wild. In that moment, escape this prison.”

“Laura…!!”

Laura bore guilt toward the Hero. Only the Hero could stop her now.

As Natalia agonized over how to save her precious companion, the guards of the prison began falling asleep one by one.

“No, my daughter has no need to sacrifice herself.”

A woman walked in, pushing back her white hair. Covered in burns, Selene looked in no condition to stand, but her magical prowess remained intact.

“Your Majesty… your body…”

“I’m fine. This is nothing.”

“Don’t interfere!”

How had Selene escaped Fran’s grasp? The details were unclear, but for now, what mattered more was what Selene, who so deeply loved the Hero’s party, intended to do.

“I don’t need charity offered out of pity. This is a matter for the Hero and me to resolve,” Laura said firmly, urging Selene to leave quickly.

“It’s not pity,” Selene replied. “This mother of yours was prepared to die today. To purify the miasma that’s tainting the Saint’s body, a sacrifice is required.”

“What?”

This was news to Laura.

They had mentioned a way to escape the effects of miasma, but this method was absurd.

Laura couldn’t understand why Selene had kept the truth from her.

Though not biologically related, Selene had been Laura’s family and mother ever since she and Fran grew up together in the palace.

If Laura had known Selene intended to die, she would never have allowed it.

“I’m sorry. I just didn’t want to see you cry.”

“Selene…? What are you doing…?”

The presence of Fran’s miasma grew closer. Passing through the bars, Selene entered the prison.

Though she should have been unable to walk without aid, today she appeared unaffected.

“Three hundred years ago, I had wonderful companions. Some say they sacrificed themselves for humanity, but for me, it was about learning so much alongside them.”

“Stop it. Please, just stop…”

Laura’s hands were tightly bound.

No matter how much she cried and begged, Selene’s resolve couldn’t be shaken.

“And so, I became greedy. I wanted to keep watching over the world they protected. As a result, I tainted the Dragon’s Soul. But even so, meeting you and Fran has made me happy.”

“I’m happy too! I’m happy to have you, Selene! So please… don’t do this! Don’t go!!”

The stern demeanor of the queen was a façade.

Beneath it, Selene was a gentle mother with a tender heart, willing to do anything for her daughters.

Even as Laura, rarely one to express her emotions, shed tears and grew angry, Selene forced a smile and bade her a final farewell.

“A mage’s staff is another part of their soul. Remember, your mother will always be with you. And Fran… bring salvation to Fran’s soul.”

“No… don’t go…!!”

“Only with the three creations of the gods—the elves’ life, the dragons’ breath, and humanity’s courage—can the Holy Sword be restored to its original form. That is the only way to purify miasma without sacrifice.”

Taking the Dragon’s Soul, the black staff containing all its miasma, Selene began transferring the miasma back into her own body.

Her weakened state could not withstand the strain.

As if she had never existed, Selene’s body turned to ash and disappeared.

Laura and Natalia, unable to bear watching the scene unfold, looked away.

Yet, they couldn’t stop their tears as they witnessed the end of the great mage who had sacrificed herself for them.

All of Selene’s mana and memories, the legacy of one of the Five Heroes, now belonged to Laura.

The Dragon’s Soul, thought to never be passed on, had been inherited in a way no one wanted.

The dragon’s blood, so potent it consumed its host, was subdued by an even greater power.

“She’s… dead? Mother is…? No… she can’t be. She said I didn’t have to die anymore…”

“This is your fault!!”

Fran arrived at the prison just as Selene’s flames extinguished.

Her vacant gaze betrayed her disbelief.

The mother she had loved and wanted to save was now nothing but ash.

She had stopped her mother from sacrificing herself to save the Saint, only for Selene to die preventing Laura from becoming a full dragon.

Why wouldn’t anyone listen to her? Fran had promised there was no need for any sacrifice anymore.

There was no need to save the world.

Sinking to her knees, Fran wept, only to be brought back to her senses by Laura’s accusatory voice.

“It’s your fault Mother’s gone!”

Yes, Selene had died to save Laura. So it was Laura’s fault.

Thinking this, Fran drew her staff.

“You… I’ll kill you!”

Breaking free from her cuffs, Laura charged at Fran.

The two princesses, consumed by grief, had their first fight as sisters, blaming each other for their mother’s death.

“Laura… urgh…”

“Your opponent is me.”

Though Laura had gained the strength to suppress the dragon’s blood, her mental state was unstable.

Fighting a mage wielding dark magic was already a disadvantage, and her agitation only made matters worse.

Realizing this, Natalia grabbed a sword from a fallen guard and charged forward, only to be intercepted by Cain, the general of Edirne.