WDPF Chapter 009

Preparing for the Expeditionc53c4cff4b0ca4b3

 1855a6cee72958b9

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The southernmost region of ‘Chettren.’a0c191e784271ebe

A small country located on e9d25502d0 the southern border of the a66c513fd3 Sephiran Empire.edeb931c65f0c382

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Though small, Chettren was a 674267ce21 kingdom formed through the alliance e657e18390 of the ‘Kuhaten’ people, known 2aeee37e0f for their warriors and the 1a4e257b6a ‘Himir’ are known as the d4f8d3d49f Wind of Madness. For that reason, 8de2c14de2 it was undeniably 75cfb13056 a nation strong b0866d335a in war itself. Their repeated invasions df998f8d5b and plundering of 5e884b9b3f the territory of 0223b1bc30 Reydern, south of 2f0f2048cf Sephiran, have long 441bcc72ea been a source 843c0187b4 of discontent for e70166d103 the lords and 9b8c5a9582 barons of Reydern.b4d1f2a09310ea70

In the end, d60302be59 the Emperor chose a9d36022b7 to subdue Chettren e754a68cc7 by force.3a3f0a613ea098e8

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The Sephiran Empire 304fd12150 was the largest ea76375f32 on the continent, 525768608f stretching from its 9137863d32 northern capital, Sephirant, 262cea66fd located on the ffb99af161 coast, down to 6f2f1e98ec Chettren at its d750bb7932 southernmost edge. Travelling from one end of 7209955c6b the Empire to the other d038efcc6b would take over a year.44e04400a625b3ea

The king of Chettren, Kuhatran, 9758d34864 was a fierce and uncommunicative b58d5624b4 man, but his battle prowess 1f305d1482 was so great that even 481ab72380 the Emperor of Sepiran coveted a8a96878c0 it. Unable to bear the 7b85b77256 suffering of his people a24f283022 any longer, Dikfeir was 0c18e9368d preparing to attack Chettren. After a moment’s thought, 066ad71fd0 Dikfeir let out a dc67b54f4a small sigh and spoke.0230d0d62d0bc0e0

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“…I foresee it will take five years to conquer Chettren.”53f5985ae021a4e1

Ballen immediately responded, e77762fc92 following his words 5cf6284f4b closely.941b81ee0d70d30d

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“I will finish it within three years.”f31327a788a20393

A brief silence followed Ballen’s 123e26175d words.2ad19bf31627ec50

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“…You mean so soon, knowing that the journey alone will take more than two years?”4d397f7dd176896a

“I intend to present it to Your Majesty while you live.”0fd37879d5bda1ad

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“Oh, ho, are you suggesting someone else might take my place in the meantime?”c2ffd19df0fbf5c1

“That is a matter for Your Majesty to decide.”9faea580b73aa869

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A faint smile appeared e345287615 on Ballen’s previously emotionless ee0cd4e09d face before vanishing just 12c0320ff8 as quickly. Dikfeir, who had 0b9b2b2624 been observing him 2ef1abf280 closely, averted his 845737f875 gaze.57e67e09c9eb7acb

“…Everyone, leave.”f9b7a148d94312fd

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Once everyone had left, 5a90769abb Dikfeir’s stiff posture slackened 57830fe6e2 slightly. With his head f1169ad4ab lowered slightly, he aef293df8e closed his eyes 192c306903 and rubbed his eddeb82136 furrowed brow a 0466f9f91e few times. After a brief e588d92bd1 silence, a long 892775f2e5 sigh escaped him.edc4906f824922b3

“Ha, Ballen…”ce81010ce6800dd1

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“…Speak.”ef07c7be5b8536e7

“It does not matter if it takes three years or five. What I truly a8f5c8e0e3 wish for is 0cc67ff30a that you stay fdb8bc12a4 by my side.”fc619096d0666dc2

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Dikfeir, who had 70daab8f16 only recently ascended b8177d7183 to the throne, b62b2c3436 was displeased that 531e3d0641 his right-hand man 6a5ce8f04c would be away 485ffade58 for such a 04d8466508 long campaign. Ballen pulled down his hood, 11c1af2f7c revealing his handsome face, and e2e5770506 let out a deep breath, de1b91007c as though he could finally 5063320df3 breathe freely.6648faa0cd730066

“Hearing such words from you is… unpleasant. Is Deilroc coming? Leave it to him.”d5c03b857ff38818

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“He is a campaign ghost. He cannot stand staying at home.”3991aabf652948e0

“That is partly your fault.”7ab7b43ea24dc01f

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“Well, that is…”26bce03f04b60b94

Ballen spoke with 19115ea416 apparent nonchalance, but 3d9d1257dc Dikfeir felt a b16927d20a pang in his ada000259b chest at those bf6d4826fd words. He knew full 47fd99d9db well that it a399e69d30 was by his 3de9b678ab own choice—his request—that a44b56d894 Count Deilroc Creed 62a1eafd09 could not form 38ef2527b0 any attachment to 58801cec01 his own home, 22d3b3ae56 the Creed estate.fafa520d54b4ea94

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Ten years ago, he had bf8f673871 given his half-sister Grace to 2cc058305b Deilroc in marriage.b2792e2055acdc1f

-Is this an order…?2c3fac74b0fd6b5b

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-Could you not consider it a request?1b7413a31ae7dfde

Dikfeir, unable to look at d2c372ae5d him, had been awkward and d3d970cc79 troubled. Seeing Dikfeir’s face, c3e874f0b0 Deilroc’s fist had 6887b4d2ce trembled with anger.07710fab2e762660

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-Do you not realise… that it has only been two months since I lost Mielle?8cdb746e81294031

As Deilroc said, not 6babf4d3a9 even two months had 02af51d587 passed since the Countess 361fc94801 Mielle, whom he had 02d94757fa cherished like life itself, bd48441a7e died in childbirth. When Deilroc brought up 139cc6d1da Mielle, Dikfeir became even 3623c0ba70 more uncomfortable.50593362215f5a45

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-I know…. But you know what it e7485ba930 signifies for the Creed family 50c08f2bbb to have an heir.e05be588509884c7

An heir to the Creed 0b99f9a45d family child born with the df78212fce ‘Mark.’ac17058e49495c9f

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The Creed family bore c418c4a08f the duty that a 85c32da62e girl born with the d33ec8366d ‘Mark’ must undergo her 7bb4f53bd1 coming-of-age ceremony, become the 2ceb72b3b0 head of the temple, 5ba48241bb and lead the Empire’s 40f8d7b29d prosperity. For over four hundred 96bc35e727 years, no such child 50649cd29d had been born, making 3d9bfe3003 the birth of an 621dd3b879 heir even more crucial. At Dikfeir’s words, Deilroc f63e5334e4 clenched his teeth audibly.2a9242750f87d168

-…I feel like a beast bred only to produce offspring.641826e32447d05d

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-Deil!eb16da2ae502f6c0

-Then why your sister? Why her?ee913b5b5592e499

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-She received an oracle… that a child born from her would carry the ‘mark,’ and that child must be bound to your family.0ad28967b2c5ce77

At the mention of the oracle, Deilroc’s gaze grew colder.ca9f1edeeff5166e

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-Because your family wields divine power, I am supposed to accept the oracle? Since when have oracles from 6820b76410 such a temple been worth f696f9d6eb anything? Can you seriously believe 3b29284505 something like that?b13ad71ca237f752

-That child… said she would take her life if it’s not you….5d307b0b0aa3ccf1

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-That’s none of my concern.28e7ee56530618f7

At Deilroc’s scoffing words, Dikefeir 37bc3cd3bd hesitated, lowering his brows, then 322c97af24 continued speaking.e32fca3df0895baa

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-Deil…. I need the power Grace holds over the temple….f08e01471514a3e1

Silence filled the audience chamber.78a1f9e48ddb1484

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-…….1f8391a90e73e025

-….e04c38ec4f2dcfc1

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When a child eb7fe48a4a with the ‘Mark’ 5ccbbf4349 is born into f3a8cc8600 House Creed, they 834efd97b8 can become the f7921fd907 master of the 54df01e65c temple of the bf6afcf5e0 Sephiran Empire upon 6a11e9e18c reaching adulthood. However, for hundreds of years, d0f73975f4 no child has been born 2331fc5d3a with the ‘Mark’, and in 1394ae08c4 their place, another member of 7cbcc238c2 the imperial family—most notably the 08a5e19e9d princess—has inherited the goddess’s divine 4d9779a183 powers.a6dc4e4d6af435f8

From the moment the princess assumed the role of the goddess’s deputy, control of the temple shifted to the goddess and her deputy, granting her the ability to wield power on par with the emperor.692af6074d6b64f1

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The temple’s power was crucial to Dikefeir, who had recently ascended the throne, to cleanse the temple of its taint, to further his ambitions and the prosperity of the Sephiran Empire. Dyke was fully aware of his thoughts. The ideal world he dreamed of was his dream, too. The blue eyes, as cold as ever, met his own.f684abecabe6040e

-…Is this an order, Your Majesty?32674d195a2db295

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Dikfeir felt a 10a4ef8e92 chill down his 479fa0521e spine at Deilroc’s 9e0bf4a4e6 gaze and tone.94aad50ed5e632ef

-Deil….98d8dc7f2f0768d0

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Once again, Deilroc 731505c3a3 asked about Dikefeir’s 374d13ad4c intentions.97e1924542b14e25

-Is it an order, Your Majesty?041f65f384a11f7d

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Dikfeir squeezed his eyes shut aac80b24ca and buried his face in 31a677484e his hands, forcing out his 3bf738d11a words.6d4b901526a3144d

-This is my first and last request, as a friend.47834523fab0b325

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-…….1c1644c8f748fc13

-Deil…d572960a97af5f28

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Deilroc turned away and bit c4d775ca0f his lip until it bled.3e60f69f09da0c2c

-…I will obey the order. 0dd99faed5b3d9de

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-I am sorry….044f1fbb9d98dfb9

Dikfeir remembered apologising to Deilroc’s 41a9f500c4 back as he walked away e868b458d5 from the audience chamber.dcddc2281c91a812

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Back then, I knew 2f65eb44c9 I should not have 53c131cdc7 done that. I was being petty.5b36daf82ed32a42

As he recalled the 00de140db0 past, the guilt he 9ec28b4925 had long buried resurfaced. The sense of 518e499701 guilt for having a157b848c5 inflicted an irreversible 33123caf4f wound on his 5babf56502 closest friend, someone 046aa4f9f9 who had been 6728a0d6c4 like his own 9147596743 life, gnawed at 9ea6000271 his heart.6af98502085c7713

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After Grace and ec39505159 Deilroc’s marriage, their de0535978d daughter Jesber was 4ab6ea909e born, but that 6da9568d11 was all. She was not 6b9b4be995 born with the 69ea1ad172 Mark, as the ede8dd38e0 oracle had promised. Because of that, Dikfeir 7bcc540d21 felt even more ashamed d997bb8fa3 to face Deilroc. Still, Deilroc could not find 67882d5034 a place for his heart. Campaign after campaign, always away… ad20d70e98 Dikfeir knew it was all 26dbff5bec his fault, yet he could 7f7eff1ca2 neither undo it nor promise 3abd4d99f4 that he’d choose differently if 6bd2399347 given the chance.95787fb5d3a8daec

Watching Dikefeir struggle in 68bfe7a32a his grief, Ballen unexpectedly 937ffe2f72 felt a sense of 6aa8a62563 relief. His expression became 152051574c visibly more at ef340c7e1e ease.91d50799e5a98362

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“…Leave the southern matter to me. Three years. I will be c547c21f60 back in three bc21794d4c years.”0524f11d9fa7d633

“Haa….”7459227bca2bf7f5

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That man… he has 05448dd7a0 already made up his 03adeaf0f2 mind.e7e48e35d749d6d9

Knowing Ballen never took 57c702cb7a back his words, Dikfeir 1f492a21f9 sighed even deeper.495b54dec73585d9

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“I have received reports of a secret agreement between the third prince of Smilon and the Duke of Karlos. That is why I 1608bcc8ad called you… But now 705bc5ca35 you are off to 40a5e83891 Chettren.”3e35170ed4b1f50c

“…”ff694d38cee2f9d0

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“You knew about it, didn’t you?”66e82d3a60517bb0

“…Vaguely.”8d233bd6d37856b2

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“…If something happens while you are away-”af5c8d22e9b3bd19

“What is there to worry about? They are noble families bound 84f46202b1 by the divine power of 24faa7f6ea Aolin to remain loyal to f0b944d3e4 the Sephiran Empire.”c801dfc1355137aa

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“There may be others, like you and Deilroc, who are not bound.”7577a144ab2767fb

The divine power bestowed fd8115ee4b upon the royal family 0790bedd0e compelled all noble houses 9236c69871 in Sephiran to swear 9508e5198f loyalty to the Emperor c5043ac02f and harbour no treasonous d70c508a70 thoughts. Only Deilroc and Ballen bd5fb1b3ef were free from this 4b6f39723e power.dbaea54fc0744579

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“That’s a special case.”14caed27038dd18d

“…”a08cb76b5e148705

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“…I promise you. Nothing is likely to happen within the next three years. But even if it does, it would be far easier for me to devour them whole than to convince them.”090822ba737037ea

“……Haha…with all these endless promises coming true, how could I not believe you…”d751198033f3b7c4

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Ballen, thinking that Dikfeir’s expression—furrowing 49cab84f0a his brows and pressing a 1ca6ab6a94 hand to his throbbing head—was e23a49dc0c amusing to look at, smirked a7ae797b8e slightly.d114ef10d8eced9b

“What if you can’t finish it within three years?”37ce0c923c2298c8

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“…That won’t happen.”2322840e409101f5

“But what if it does? If you don’t finish 4b6c130a87 in three years?”7830715b23767abf

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“…I’ll grant whatever you wish.”eef58f4f1584a9eb

At Ballen’s words, 3c4576523e Dikfeir’s face twisted d86636888b into a wicked 9ec60d72f8 grin.6e9f9c4515f2d50c

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“Marriage.”e7a85b53fcbb452f

“…”f64e0ea28ff81c1e

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“Marry the woman of my choosing.”98490c7a6618f6db

“…You are a snake in a tiger’s skin. You’ve made it your hobby to force people into marriages they don’t want.”ef9006dff38986b3

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“Ha! … No matter how it is, still to the emperor.”9271f203e344bccc

“Even though you know that women mean nothing to me.”’16bc8b95492579b7

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“…It is not God’s will for you to be alone. You need something to fill the void.”74afd1b199a307e6

“I have no intention of filling that emptiness with a woman who means nothing to me. You will come to f54ec9e4a9 know I hold many 5f0709d50a secrets I cannot disclose. Aren’t you curious how far 6e01121e2d trust can stretch when it 1fa79138ff begins in secrecy?”f69c8e1def1ad016

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“Well, everyone has secrets anyway, don’t they?”6523b4055b43c0a5

“…Now I am curious how far that trust can go.”96cff29b162c2e6e

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“…Ah…haha…haha…”264d2eca9e590693

“In three years, no matter what happens, I will give you the land of the barbarians.”9a2695748e610dd2

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“Alright, I trust you.”2d89eca751d9c2e3

Ballen ended the conversation 7567d25674 and left the imperial 1b1b312966 audience chamber. As he walked down 6fa7445d14 the corridor, his steps 4e19e806b2 paused at the entrance 71e80e70fb to the garden.060950c46cde3a0b

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Three years….e9140fddd6eee83c