Sorry, the Patricidal Tyrant Seems Beastly - Chapter 54

For whom is this atonement?

What is this guilt?

I’m sorry.

I’m really sorry, but there’s no one to say it to.

The feeling was strange.

– Imperial Year AC 1259.

The recorded year was distant. It was over 30 years ago.

After that, the records stopped.

“The ink is all smudged after that.”

“We can have the investigation team restore it.”

“Leave it as is. Just, leave it like this.”

Charlotte traced the letters with her fingertips.

“30 years ago was before I was born. It feels intrusive to read mother’s inner thoughts like this. Like I’m peeking at something I shouldn’t.”

The diary was closed.

It was placed in a paper box and the lid was closed.

‘Ah.’

The ground beneath rumbled.

An earthquake?

Rumble. Rumble.

Rumble rumble rumble.

She steadied herself on the bedside table.

The tremors transmitted through her grip.

Tap tap tap.

Tap. Tap. Tap tap tap.

The bedside table shook.

Or not? Was it deeper? It felt like it was under her feet.

No, it’s even deeper. Going further and further down.

‘It’s creaking.’

Those with keen senses easily realized.

It was beneath their feet.

The vibrations spread across the ground.

Benjamin turned his gaze outside.

“Is anyone out there?”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

The guards made their presence known from outside.

“It’s noisy outside.”

“The ground shook a bit.”

“An earthquake?”

“We’re still assessing, but it seems so.”

“Look further out. The epicenter is far and deep. It’s not here.”

His gaze reached beyond the windowsill. Further. Deeper.

If that view narrows, the senses dull just as much.

“Where do you think the earthquake came from?”

“The east. Beyond the east.”

“For the effects to reach here…”

“It depends on the magnitude of the quake.”

The mansion’s servants milled about outside. Those with brooms swept away dirt.

Buckets and shovels were placed next to a mound of dirt, perhaps to fill the flower beds.

The dirt pile toppled as if pushed. The broom beside it was buried in the soil.

“We should go out and see.”

Tap tap tap – quick footsteps followed. The sound came from outside.

“Your Majesty! Apologies for the early hour! The head of the household urgently requests your presence. There’s been an incident outside…!”

Charlotte draped a shawl over her shoulders.

“We should prepare to leave.”

It’s clear this incident isn’t good for the empire.

Afterwards, things were put back in their places, and this time the closet closed properly.

[This is the timeline separator]

A rural village in Poputa.

A log cabin sat in a village nestled beneath sheer cliffs.

Each house had axes and firewood neatly arranged.

Firewood was stacked in front of doors, and squirrels scampered up the tower-like woodpiles.

Chickens fluttered in a coop on one side.

“Again! Again! They’re stepping on them! Why do these chickens keep breaking eggs, not knowing how precious they are!”

As a chicken stretched out its leg stiffly, an egg cracked underfoot. The yolk burst and sticky egg mixed with the dirt.

The woman waved her arm to remove the broken egg. She tossed it outside and gathered the other eggs in a basket.

“Huh?”

‘Cock-a-doodle-doo!’

“What’s wrong with these birds?”

‘Cluck cluck!’

The five chickens filling the coop flapped their wings, struggling. White and red feathers fluttered.

The woman, slapped in the face by them, flailed and stretched out her arms.

“Eek!”

The woman reached out and grasped a white wing. When the feathers obscuring her vision finally settled,

Her eyes fell on the basket. It was also full of root carrots and red cabbage picked from the farm.

Stir-fried vegetables and rolled omelette would do for breakfast today.

At that moment, breathing trembled nearby.

“H-hey, did you see that?”

“See what?”

“L-look over there! I said look over there!”

The woman jerked her head up. Black crows blanketed the sky.

Caw. Caw caw.

Those who had been shrieking raucously took to the air.

A clear sky, no clouds. That stillness felt out of place.

Again, it shakes.

Heeek! The woman tilted her head back, experiencing the anomaly with her body.

“Sh-shaking?”

The ground beneath her feet twisted and shook.

“The, the cliff is collapsing!”

Mercenaries staying at the inn came out. The muscular mercenary group tucked guests under their arms.

Crash!

The mercenaries slung fallen guests over their shoulders and ran outside.

“You, you idiots! Why are you falling here even when you fall, damn it!”

Coarse curses rang out loudly.

“Get out! If you don’t want to die, get out! It’s too late! Run, you idiots, I said run!”

“Don’t look back or you’ll be too late! Leave the fallen ones behind and run!”

Mercenaries who had fought monsters had keen senses. They were also the first to realize this anomaly.

Soon the animals realized too. Cows poured out of the barn.

Rumble.

Rumble.

The sound spread widely. It crashed as if hit by a bombardment.

Rocks tumbled down from the stone mountain, and soil poured down, burying the village.

“R-run! Don’t walk, I said run!”

“Flee!”

“You idiots! If you don’t want to die buried in dirt, then run!”

The sheer cliff crumbled right then. It slowly broke into pieces as if reason was splitting.

“Ah, ahhh!”

Vision blurred. A scream of “Mama!” rang out from somewhere.

“My, my daughter is in the house. My daughter is still in the house!”

The house was already buried under a mound of dirt.

[This is the timeline separator]

An aide hurriedly took a seat in the office.

This anomaly that arrived early in the morning could not be welcome.

The aide took out a topographical map of Poputa. A red dot was marked on the map. It was the epicenter of this incident.

Part of the sheer cliff was depicted on the topographic map. That terrain, that location was not good.

“This respite won’t last long.”

Aster pressed his temples firmly.

Nearby, he discussed details with his staff, while Benjamin spread out the map and carefully traced it with his hand.

The staff expressed concern.

“Given the nature of the situation, we must handle this urgently.”

“Has the epicenter been identified?”

“It’s one of the villages in Poputa. Its name is ‘Pyurote’, a village near the port. A mercenary group was temporarily residing there, and the village was established. As the stone mountain became famous, miners and their families settled there, and some mercenaries stayed in the area, so news traveled quickly.”

“The damage?”

“The paths between villages have been cut off, and part of the village has been buried in soil.”

The epicenter was presumed to be in Poputa.

Benjamin skimmed the urgent report and murmured.

“This is no ordinary earthquake.”

A guard nearby answered.

“Yes. Earth spider webs were mixed in with the dirt piles. They’re low-level monsters that hide in the soil to catch insects.”

“So the earth spiders are also responsible for the land collapsing.”

“Yes. It seems they undermined the ground.”

Benjamin fumbled at his stuffy neck, loosening the stiff shirt he had tightened.

“We’re heading to Poputa.”

“Your Majesty. We haven’t finished our internal assessment yet.”

“Is that concern?”

“…”

“Or is it distrust?”

“How could we harbor such disloyal thoughts towards the imperial family?”

The guard knelt down.

“I’ll have the war horses brought.”

“We depart as soon as preparations are complete.”

It was time to leave.

The respite until now was over.

“Escort the Empress safely back to the imperial palace.”

[This is the timeline separator]

“Return safely. The empire’s situation is unsettled.”

The Emperor and the investigation team headed for Poputa. As Poputa had always fought monsters and been at the forefront of subjugation and war, the imperial response was swift.

“Today’s farewell is also tumultuous.”

At that time, Windsor Avenue also became unsettled.

“I wanted to see you off more leisurely.”

Her maternal relatives clicked their tongues and grumbled.

“Take care of your health.”

“Eat your tonics well too. Put on some weight, stamina is important. Your body needs to endure firmly when your stamina holds up.”

Charlotte stood at the front gate wearing a shawl. Her dark red hair peeked out from under the shawl. As she adjusted the seams of the shawl, white gray hair flickered in her vision.

Leandro reached out and wove the seams together. His wrinkled hands were notably pale. Her gaze lingered on his fingertips.

“I wish you could rest more leisurely, but human affairs don’t always go as we want.”

“Don’t worry.”

This was not a granddaughter speaking to her grandfather, but the Empress addressing an elder of the imperial family.

“Stay centered.”

“…”

“You must firmly establish your roots and center yourself, so that those around you are not swayed by the storms. If a tree’s roots are uprooted, what use is it for its branches and leaves to try to endure?”

Leandro placed his hand on Charlotte’s shoulder. It wasn’t to burden her.

“I’ll always be by your side.”

The arms that tightly embraced her were firm.

Wherever you are.

Wherever you walk, I’ll be with you.

“…Don’t get deeply involved with black magic or monsters. Every step will become shackles that bind Your Majesty.”

“I haven’t even started walking yet, and you’re already trying to restrain my steps.”

“Poputa is close to monsters. And, Your Majesty has seen the ‘grave of monsters’. It’s part of the post-war trauma experienced by mercenaries and knights. Those who come closest to the essence of monsters have experienced the grave. Perhaps it’s a warning to withdraw since you’ve become deeply involved.”

“I’ll be careful.”

“I hope my concerns end up being just concerns.”

Leandro whispered softly.

“I see you getting entangled again.”

As if inevitably reaching that path even when told not to walk it.

“This too must be my concern.”

Even when told not to walk that path, she’s a child who would take steps without realizing blood pools beneath her feet. Yes, to him she was still just a child.

“I’ll be returning to the palace now.”

Charlotte, stepping into the carriage, looked back.

“Do you have something more to say?”

“Later. Let’s talk later.”

“Alright. We’ll talk later since there will be a later.”

The carriage door closed.

“We’re departing, Your Majesty!”

The guard announced solemnly. The presence of the imperial guards outside the carriage was solid.

“His Majesty has ordered to escort Your Majesty directly to the imperial palace.”

The Emperor and the investigation team headed for Poputa. The investigation team that brought war horses left the imperial city, and the imperial guards excluded from the investigation team protected the Empress.

The path was quiet even at this early hour. Perhaps due to the earthquake aftereffects, stone dust filled the streets of the imperial city.

“I’ll close the window for you.”

The outside view was blocked.

‘I see you getting entangled again.’

Entangled, he says.

Perhaps it will happen again.

The body becomes listless.

It feels like being left alone in an empty lot.

‘Why.’

The body sinks languidly.

As if the body is protecting itself, not wanting to get entangled with that side.

Strangeness.

Irritation.

Such things keep scratching at her.

“It’s irritating.”

Why is it irritating?

The window frame twisted. Why is the road so rough? It wasn’t this rough before.

“…It wasn’t that big of an earthquake.”

That anomaly was also noticed outside.

“Strange. It wasn’t that big of an earthquake.”

Charlotte, leaning on the windowsill, fixed her gaze on the gap in the window. The twisted window gap slowly widened.

An old man briefly passed by beyond the window gap.

It was an old man with a bent back. His spine was curved grotesquely like a shrimp, bent crookedly.

The old man moved away, carrying a cane.

His silhouette gradually blurred.

“Everyone draw your swords!”

The war horses reared up, lifting their front legs in a frenzy.