“However, we must leave a piece behind. Otherwise, how will we identify its nature?”

From Lyan’s perspective, it was a natural statement. Facing an unknown lifeform targeting the Empress, they had to identify its nature to prepare for the future.

However, the problem was the identity of the violet energy. Lyan thought that its power could only affect one target at a time, following that target. But it wasn’t that simple.

“……Hm?”

Fortunately, before disappearing into black smoke, Lyan enthusiastically lifted the piece she had extracted but suddenly changed her expression.

Touching the violet smoke, my hand was turning stiff and blue.

“Oh,”

Tuck.

Lyan dropped what she was holding.

Thion calmly took out his gloves, put them on, and then lifted the item. His expression was dark. It seemed that it wasn’t just because of what happened to Lyan’s hand.

“Lord Sigrès.”

As Lasillia approached, surprising Lyan, Esellion intervened.

“It’s still dangerous, Lady Lasillia.”

Lasillia looked at Esellion.

“What happened, Your Excellency? Where did this power come from that can infect people with a mere touch?”

Lyan, belatedly coming to her senses, also asked.
“Didn’t you say it could only affect one at a time? And a contagious disease… mixing that kind of energy with a sword? No, it’s strange enough to have something other than Sword Aura, but contagious… It doesn’t make sense, does it?”

Esellion, looking awkward, averted his gaze. Thion also just bowed his head without saying a word.

“Your Excellency.”

“Yes… Lady Lasillia.”

Even so, when Lasillia called, Esellion had to respond, as if he couldn’t ignore her.

“Please understand that I’m not questioning or blaming Your Excellency. What I want is to ensure that Lord Sigrès doesn’t come to any harm. Is that a disease? If so, is there a cure?”

“…….”

Esellion and Thion exchanged glances. Thion, seeing Esellion’s expression, let out a small sigh as if he had resigned.

“To cut to the chase, there is no separate cure. It’s not a disease.”

“Then what is it?”

“It’s not a disease… it’s a curse.”

“A curse…?”

Esellion nodded heavily.

“Yes. I have been granted sacred power… the ability to curse things contrary to the will of the gods.”

Sacred power was divided into five categories.

Foresight, Healing, Prosperity, Purification, and Curse.

Rarely, among humans, there were those born with sacred power. Healing and prosperity abilities were the most common. Seers were exceptionally rare and often not allowed in a generation.
It was a curse, a power entirely different from the four.

No matter how much one invoked the name of a god, it was difficult for a person who cursed others to be fully accepted.

Those who possessed the power of the curse were immediately entrusted to the temple when their power manifested. The temple erased their power with the abilities of healing and purification.

Among the priests, opinions were divided regarding the power of the curse.

If it was a power given by the gods, why did it harm humans? No one had a clear answer. Some even suggested not recognizing it as sacred power, claiming that these individuals represented the evil cast out by the gods to the mortal realm.

Therefore, Prince Esellion’s sacred power became a secret. He, too, had to undergo a lengthy and painful purification ceremony.

However, there was no priest with purification abilities strong enough to completely eliminate the sacred power he had been given.

With no way to escape from the power of the curse, Esellion had to find a way to control it.

The solution was a sword. Fortunately, Esellion had talent with a sword, and the lie about the sword named Sword Ora, imbued with the power of the curse, did not seem awkward.

Only a few priests, the royal chief knight who trained Esellion, and two knight escorts who, like Esellion, were born with the power of the curse but failed to purify it, knew this fact.

And both knight escorts, like Esellion, were unable to purify the power of the curse they possessed.

“I never thought there would be a Sword Ora.”

Riyan calmly murmured, looking at the firm hands.
“If it’s Sword Ora, there shouldn’t be such limitations. Moreover, there have been rumors that no Sword Master has been born anywhere on the continent. My hand is cursed, but strangely enough, my voice sounded cheerful. Rather than that, it seems like it’s time to worry about the Lord’s hand.”

Racillia said, “Ah, this? Well, it doesn’t seem to spread anymore. Besides, it’s my left hand anyway. Moreover, since you have sacred power, can’t you just find a priest with healing or purification abilities?”

“But it seems like the Lord has no intention of going to the temple.”

“Well, not now. We don’t know when they might appear again.”

Those things haven’t shown up again.

The only trace of their appearance was a piece that Riyan saved in exchange for the curse.

Another knight who came with Esellion first discovered its traces. To be more precise, it was not a trace but an association.