The commotion in the hall quieted down again.
They seemed to think, 'She must have been very nervous.'
Well, it's normal to think that way.
It's true that it's a somewhat overwhelming situation for a mere 10-year-old child to handle.
But...
'Is that right?'
It didn't feel right to just say she paused because she was nervous.
I quietly watched Miracle reciting the declaration.
Miracle, standing on the platform and reciting the Rodbel declaration with her head held high, as if she had overcome a crisis, was confident and radiant.
She was truly a shining Rodbel, the very image of it.
But the 모습 that only I saw was more like...
'She looked afraid.'
Her pale complexion, trembling pupils, and rigid expression. It was the look of someone who was terrified.
But that didn't make sense.
What reason would Miracle suddenly have to be afraid?
Miracle, who had finished the declaration, returned with light steps.
"Lucia, do well."
Miracle said with a bright smile.
I stared at Miracle and nodded appropriately.
Next, my name was called.
"Lucia Rodbel, please come up to the platform and make your declaration."
The duke's voice echoed through the hall.
"Hey, don't be nervous. No one cares about you, so don't worry about it!"
Bansis said something that I didn't know if it was encouragement or not.
I stepped forward.
As soon as I came out, gazes poured down on me from all directions.
'So this is what it's like.'
Now I understood why Bansis had moved so stiffly.
'It feels like the world is watching me.'
Whether intentional or not, the gazes of the people sitting in a semicircle were like spears aimed at me.
Like hyenas surrounding me, waiting for me to make a mistake, as if they would never give me a chance to escape.
Even the most confident person would be intimidated in this situation.
Not to mention Bansis.
But...
'This is nothing.'
I've endured even sharper glares.
When has the world ever looked kindly at me?
There was no reason to be intimidated by their gazes now.
I went up to the platform.
In the center of the platform was a marble table inlaid with gold and silver, and on it lay an old hilt.
I looked at the hilt with awe.
This is the ancestral sword of the first head of the family.
The Crystal Sword.
'The first head of the family, the great archmage Lucretia Rodbel, was the only one who could weaponize Rodbel's magic.'
'Weaponize?'
'Yes, it is to materialize Rodbel's magic and use it as a weapon. The first head of the family mainly shaped it into a sword. Therefore, she did not own any other weapons. Only this hilt called the Crystal Sword.'
'Wow, so it's an all-purpose hilt.'
'Haha, yes.'
Rigrin's face, as he said that, showed undisguised pride.
It wasn't just Rigrin.
So did Giles Smoore of the library.
'What are they so proud of?'
Of course, I understand their pride.
It's true that Rodbel is great.
Aristocrats above aristocrats.
Vast power that surpasses the imperial family.
A long tradition and a special power that only the Rodbel bloodline can use.
It was truly a family loved by God.
Just as humans admire God, people admired Rodbel.
But...
'Is Rodbel really that great?'
I stared down at the lonely hilt.
The surroundings began to buzz, but I didn't care.
A silver, old hilt.
In the center was a transparent crystal, which was said to turn purple when the first head of the family used her power.
'Lucretia Rodbel.'
A mythical figure who had a similar name to mine but achieved great feats unlike me.
And...
'A hero who sealed the evil god.'
I recalled my memories.
What I saw when the Crown Prince, the reincarnation of the evil god, Bethel Denab Arpedel, was caught in the darkness was definitely someone's memory.
'What was the relationship between the evil god and the first head of the family?'
They seemed quite close.
No, was it just close?
Anyone could see that...
'They were lovers.'
As the scene from that time came to mind, my face flushed instantly.
"Cough."
I coughed to release the heat.
I coughed to release the heat.
And reached out to the hilt.
I don't know what happened between the first head of the family and the evil god who seemed so close.
'It doesn't matter.'
What happened between them, who is good and who is evil.
I just.
'Release the seal of the evil god.'
And.
'Destroy Rodbel.'
If the evil god is resurrected, Rodbel will no longer be able to obtain his power through the abyss.
That alone would lead to a smooth path to ruin.
'But that would take too long.'
Even when I leave, I'm going to mess this place up.
With a determined resolution, I grabbed the silver hilt.
At that moment.
Whoosh-!
"...!"
A strong purple wind blew from the hilt.
With my hair and clothes fluttering wildly, I widened my eyes.
"What, what is it?"
"What's going on?"
I'm the one who's wondering.
'What the hell is going on?'
Soon, even the surrounding noise was buried in the sound of the wind.
It felt like I was separated from the world.
I stared blankly at the hilt.
And I found it.
'The crystal on the hilt...'
The color of the crystal, which should have been transparent, was dyed purple.
...Was there originally something like this in the ceremony?
'No, there was no mention of that.'
When Bansis and Miracle grabbed the hilt, nothing happened.
I don't know how things are going...
'Let's put the hilt down first.'
I can't continue the ceremony in this state.
If I put down the hilt, this wind will calm down too.
Judging so, I tried to put down the hilt...
[...Do it.]
"...!"
Startled by the voice that suddenly came through the wind, I turned my head.
There, a woman with black hair was standing and looking at me.
"...You are..."
I couldn't see her face, but I could recognize her at once.
That's because I've seen that fluttering black hair once before.
"The first head of the family...?"
Lucretia Rodbel.
It was definitely her.
But that doesn't make sense.
Why is a person from a thousand years ago here?
'Am I seeing things?'
How can someone who doesn't exist now be here?
Then maybe...
'Is it magic?'
Then this absurd situation is explained.
Looking closely, the first head of the family's body was a little transparent.
If it's really an illusion created by magic...
'Why suddenly?'
Nothing happened during Bansis and Miracle's turn, so why on my turn...
'No, that's not what's important now.'
I quickly looked around.
The purple wind had subsided quite a bit and turned into a gentle breeze.
The audience was still buzzing.
Conversely, I turned my head and examined the Duke's reaction.
The Duke was also staring at this place quietly, with a slightly surprised expression.
'Interesting.'
I get to see the Duke make that kind of expression.
I wanted to admire that expression for a little longer, but it wasn't the situation for that.
'I don't know why that suddenly appeared.'
If the ceremony is interrupted like this...
'That's absolutely not allowed.'
Judging from the surrounding reactions, it seemed that the appearance of the first head of the family was only visible to me.
If not, there would have already been a big fuss.
Then...
"I, Lucia Rodbel, declare under the glorious name of Rodbel."
I started reciting the declaration.
The declaration was the last step in the ceremony.
Once I finish this, the ceremony is over, and I can finally be recognized as a formal Rodbel.
The purple wind was still swirling around me, the people were buzzing, and the Duke was watching this way with an expression that I couldn't understand what he was thinking.
The chaotic atmosphere was like a chaotic market, not a sacred ceremony to be recognized as a formal direct descendant.
But it doesn't matter.
Even if it's not a market but a sewer, what I have to do here doesn't change.
"I will not forget the mission engraved in the blood flowing through this body."
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