WDPF Chapter 009
by ChloebookloverPreparing for the Expedition75170ea663e0c613
5e0f10928dd7ed55
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The southernmost region of ‘Chettren.’6300430ed2a6af5c
A small country located 7bbe028288 on the southern border ba9232eb02 of the Sephiran Empire.b48d44b160e31d0d
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Though small, Chettren was bf7185f84e a kingdom formed through e86a5d1472 the alliance of the 087fd87a66 ‘Kuhaten’ people, known for 9355230326 their warriors and the eef8e1bb0d ‘Himir’ are known as c0eb443c17 the Wind of Madness. For that reason, it 7978886c97 was undeniably a nation 91c76bb656 strong in war itself. Their repeated invasions and plundering 74adab5c62 of the territory of Reydern, 4e63fd7dd4 south of Sephiran, have long 02269c8396 been a source of discontent f7e628f978 for the lords and barons 2ee4fb777e of Reydern.11c7c794615b694f
In the end, the Emperor 98f988569e chose to subdue Chettren by 98d0f2797e force.d5da0df202df61e3
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The Sephiran Empire was the 951b5a1535 largest on the continent, stretching 0719136a8d from its northern capital, Sephirant, 597f0bc6e2 located on the coast, down b0226c32ef to Chettren at its southernmost fa1856d24f edge. Travelling from one end of fb1a3fb5ed the Empire to the other 93134210e8 would take over a year.6bb9e52865e57707
The king of 243e2a1ec5 Chettren, Kuhatran, was 498ea8c670 a fierce and 833003c53f uncommunicative man, but e8358f7b35 his battle prowess 5a4fb9f5d9 was so great 0552daf8e7 that even the 0b5f727ee7 Emperor of Sepiran fa43699fd0 coveted it. Unable to bear the 4806effdf2 suffering of his people ae427e26e7 any longer, Dikfeir was 01d8b14f66 preparing to attack Chettren. After a moment’s thought, Dikfeir cfc10442b3 let out a small sigh 8672c78f87 and spoke.68cbe59a020cd7f2
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“…I foresee it will take five years to conquer Chettren.”b9a0f89f892d93dc
Ballen immediately responded, following his 01ce3d3f15 words closely.d9c7e8ae3f57e6e5
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“I will finish it within three years.”d52b0bd9d7934dce
A brief silence 872c13e2ba followed Ballen’s words.42bcc30643ac90cc
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“…You mean so soon, knowing that the journey alone will take more than two years?”9ad59195b3308780
“I intend to present it to Your Majesty while you live.”37ff1fb8445d61d2
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“Oh, ho, are you suggesting someone else might take my place in the meantime?”c6c0b70daf7ad4c4
“That is a matter for Your Majesty to decide.”e32e935fcf140fde
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A faint smile 5a5e6bb933 appeared on Ballen’s 7f0883db2d previously emotionless face 0f32e55d4e before vanishing just 86ec5f1392 as quickly. Dikfeir, who had been observing 9210eddb01 him closely, averted his gaze.c2b83d2093feb1bf
“…Everyone, leave.”92906754bb278d44
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Once everyone had left, 3f56989e57 Dikfeir’s stiff posture slackened 14f2e1c4fb slightly. With his head d12ea0dd5d lowered slightly, he 5fb6fc5fbd closed his eyes 92e33d2175 and rubbed his 9a64ab7e4d furrowed brow a f9614de301 few times. After a brief silence, aa44bcb735 a long sigh escaped fbcd996431 him.b3772ac15d671671
“Ha, Ballen…”a96dadbb6c7ad9f7
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“…Speak.”14bff55cce585977
“It does not matter if it takes three years or five. What I truly 80875168ce wish for is 1b03d3f78d that you stay a617aee4d5 by my side.”4d7b3ff2c4c61e77
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Dikfeir, who had only recently 5429b2d8a5 ascended to the throne, was 484fbf34c0 displeased that his right-hand man 1269a8eb2a would be away for such ba46299af8 a long campaign. Ballen pulled down 3f46e666d8 his hood, revealing 42611a776d his handsome face, 2c89dcf87a and let out 804b2df166 a deep breath, 1ad667aa3a as though he 438e6e7881 could finally breathe 0ed2d1a2cb freely.d12dddda463efac1
“Hearing such words from you is… unpleasant. Is Deilroc coming? Leave it to him.”b1fbaca89c5b27d3
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“He is a campaign ghost. He cannot stand staying at home.”723d42639cc7ee9c
“That is partly your fault.”c8e22a629b23187b
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“Well, that is…”776f1414d314ef49
Ballen spoke with apparent nonchalance, f199f1e372 but Dikfeir felt a pang de36a4c699 in his chest at those 8b62ec4541 words. He knew full 035739427e well that it e9facc1f3e was by his 5c31bcfe59 own choice—his request—that 037189cd3f Count Deilroc Creed b21eb260e6 could not form a888896e3b any attachment to 7e027a1936 his own home, d26f2000c2 the Creed estate.5ad09f2e58aa03f5
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Ten years ago, a0f38e56bf he had given 9cd4438038 his half-sister Grace de03ea35b3 to Deilroc in 9c01b8c066 marriage.bbe452b04e487fef
-Is this an order…?ea2158b0342699c3
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-Could you not consider it a request?401566df784b1305
Dikfeir, unable to look eba9d9158e at him, had been 3bcdb3fc91 awkward and troubled. Seeing Dikfeir’s face, Deilroc’s fist 8548512372 had trembled with anger.508b7f213eb25bf3
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-Do you not realise… that it has only been two months since I lost Mielle?d363c22620103f4f
As Deilroc said, 5f6bc023f9 not even two 51a2c52e60 months had passed a98d807d5b since the Countess 117afbf986 Mielle, whom he 94aef482ba had cherished like 7cea588bbb life itself, died d522833d22 in childbirth. When Deilroc brought up Mielle, 7b7506634b Dikfeir became even more uncomfortable.af88a063ce3f26fb
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-I know…. But you know e605fa8427 what it signifies dfd746e763 for the Creed a265927860 family to have 32c2e9b635 an heir.e4db2c5d435b0875
An heir to the df7fd60bdf Creed family child born 9578901149 with the ‘Mark.’d38e920bbadb7ec0
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The Creed family 25061b1ab1 bore the duty 7ce2f5cfdd that a girl 3ae10303f4 born with the cc1122f5af ‘Mark’ must undergo 51d31478fa her coming-of-age ceremony, 883b872ff2 become the head c794ade680 of the temple, 7571d05727 and lead the 4947623f35 Empire’s prosperity. For over four f8e20b8ab7 hundred years, no fb268282b5 such child had 1341f6dd0f been born, making 71c0fb5cf0 the birth of 396ec93f54 an heir even 364501eb2e more crucial. At Dikfeir’s words, Deilroc clenched 808250701c his teeth audibly.affa4cfe23095ad9
-…I feel like a beast bred only to produce offspring.44940d550695b3cb
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-Deil!fa4a5e985e02fe68
-Then why your sister? Why her?fbef1dcb16536174
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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.394cece1c654e03a
At the mention of the oracle, Deilroc’s gaze grew colder.b2e839bf41f4b0cc
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-Because your family wields divine power, I am supposed to accept the oracle? Since when have oracles 934e198ebf from such a temple e9e48e2003 been worth anything? Can you seriously believe e769628f65 something like that?6983fedff2d41957
-That child… said she would take her life if it’s not you….1898a43368e828e5
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-That’s none of my concern.4a8a50e8b620ad88
At Deilroc’s scoffing words, Dikefeir c6497a052d hesitated, lowering his brows, then c215778b92 continued speaking.94f41f0bc80a8750
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-Deil…. I need the power Grace holds over the temple….f1f60cd9e09e79de
Silence filled the audience chamber.646bcc57bfabade1
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-…….b8a8c78bd501b663
-….ae8b23e64b80812b
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When a child with the 5d228780c7 ‘Mark’ is born into House 9b4073bf53 Creed, they can become the af2d1bf8db master of the temple of c2bb6779c3 the Sephiran Empire upon reaching 114d86a196 adulthood. However, for hundreds of years, 611907990c no child has been born e65832fb42 with the ‘Mark’, and in a482b9f72e their place, another member of 986b5d73ae the imperial family—most notably the 3e9dbdc07b princess—has inherited the goddess’s divine 24ab81bffc powers.50ab1c23cd5c1e34
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.1da05f61bbe9f338
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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.2117698de7b96ae0
-…Is this an order, Your Majesty?28c8907fc0900f80
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Dikfeir felt a d88cf8a4fb chill down his 5181f254f7 spine at Deilroc’s fdf38fde9b gaze and tone.7d70e6bcdf0a414a
-Deil….016deacb6e315c3d
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Once again, Deilroc asked 72eff05812 about Dikefeir’s intentions.c8401a8b8873ccfd
-Is it an order, Your Majesty?6c7137fdf45a82a5
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Dikfeir squeezed his eyes shut 0e2bbe735c and buried his face in a97f1b7f64 his hands, forcing out his 3c8caa735a words.4c785432360585cb
-This is my first and last request, as a friend.76772e183206fbec
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-…….5bb8a4db90875cc4
-Deil…d85bb0cef06c2d73
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Deilroc turned away 1f137ffa3b and bit his 3c5de8e1b0 lip until it 459af674e7 bled.a948186a639b3c51
-…I will obey the order. 7fd4fbdf545064be
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-I am sorry….c4b1bbed9807c2e7
Dikfeir remembered apologising c39780752b to Deilroc’s back 0335e24fa3 as he walked 902ad30ef6 away from the 2cd5f6e30f audience chamber.33150899e3e24265
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Back then, I knew I 34cd678898 should not have done that. I was being petty.32c887d22839a1f5
As he recalled e7e6ac3f8b the past, the d8a9ac9a08 guilt he had 9bd56f41b0 long buried resurfaced. The sense of guilt for 59ed5d8a92 having inflicted an irreversible wound 03ea53dc1b on his closest friend, someone 411d7755db who had been like his 97e4e0c858 own life, gnawed at his a82ac606a0 heart.3b006fac12a7a144
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After Grace and 4b47003564 Deilroc’s marriage, their 6533720d43 daughter Jesber was f5d33e420f born, but that 53304cf32f was all. She was not born with 91c8316a98 the Mark, as the oracle 56b58bd921 had promised. Because of that, Dikfeir felt fe44d79f21 even more ashamed to face 5c6f3a45fd Deilroc. Still, Deilroc could 30460890c8 not find a bcc917c97a place for his 43fbd5cd73 heart. Campaign after campaign, always away… d7e2be6922 Dikfeir knew it was all 11df122b0f his fault, yet he could 5e4f992c02 neither undo it nor promise 9d884e9444 that he’d choose differently if aef4e0bee4 given the chance.bdcddc22c60feb85
Watching Dikefeir struggle in a9107124fd his grief, Ballen unexpectedly c72c9d32f1 felt a sense of 2e97cb5c88 relief. His expression became visibly more 7119093fb8 at ease.5ae8da9b50900e03
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“…Leave the southern matter to me. Three years. I will be back 040448cbd8 in three years.”5e44b78710b4473a
“Haa….”3163f394e3d2451e
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That man… he has already f8acfb940e made up his mind.dfe307c8445f7a7d
Knowing Ballen never dfaff197f6 took back his 92b97f6931 words, Dikfeir sighed f52c39d46a even deeper.415a7913f9ece438
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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 92be6f5bad called you… But now f970a7092b you are off to 28b83e3103 Chettren.”ecc44a1ed608aefe
“…”54355b631d0d0620
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“You knew about it, didn’t you?”51bf70bae345920c
“…Vaguely.”42f29f3bcb57b553
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“…If something happens while you are away-”5710a1cecce12297
“What is there to worry about? They are noble families 9a037d2002 bound by the divine 2eb469ff1c power of Aolin to db32858807 remain loyal to the 9487302955 Sephiran Empire.”769707a71a6b6027
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“There may be others, like you and Deilroc, who are not bound.”aa03898e899fc7f6
The divine power bestowed 913ac29029 upon the royal family 041807fee9 compelled all noble houses c1510125cb in Sephiran to swear 5ac027d86f loyalty to the Emperor e5524fd845 and harbour no treasonous 86eedc2fa7 thoughts. Only Deilroc and Ballen 8e5ec89a15 were free from this 058c834c0a power.c6952060c5a53281
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“That’s a special case.”5696ec4de19c6a0f
“…”0c684d181eb2dbee
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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.”ed84335f789e26fa
“……Haha…with all these endless promises coming true, how could I not believe you…”b0b00b7751c6e778
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Ballen, thinking that Dikfeir’s 409d5ca761 expression—furrowing his brows and 2eac229e4c pressing a hand to e817de0ab6 his throbbing head—was amusing 0150e364a9 to look at, smirked d7f6a33229 slightly.b579ac89d2e44f4c
“What if you can’t finish it within three years?”81b5fb6023ca05a0
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“…That won’t happen.”d2e6225f7b04e362
“But what if it does? If you don’t finish in a30ec14e5d three years?”b7d4c1a9c44ef34c
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“…I’ll grant whatever you wish.”fe662fa1f67427e5
At Ballen’s words, Dikfeir’s face 146106df93 twisted into a wicked grin.7bb7b9966e827821
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“Marriage.”c172445398d56ee5
“…”33a973f3f7bac986
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“Marry the woman of my choosing.”bd80c3e2dd6400ba
“…You are a snake in a tiger’s skin. You’ve made it your hobby to force people into marriages they don’t want.”e2eae666d620b09c
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“Ha! … No matter how it is, still to the emperor.”4218d4c34e300f6f
“Even though you know that women mean nothing to me.”’2f1ad9eb71869e84
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“…It is not God’s will for you to be alone. You need something to fill the void.”21fcb35196f7ee14
“I have no intention of filling that emptiness with a woman who means nothing to me. You will come to 1ca26bab0a know I hold many 7dccc6b3c1 secrets I cannot disclose. Aren’t you curious how 79f144e929 far trust can stretch e7b48afda3 when it begins in 2a6264e144 secrecy?”c52fae0375e5ad1b
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“Well, everyone has secrets anyway, don’t they?”9e956752491658aa
“…Now I am curious how far that trust can go.”7f5dd24c3f20a844
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“…Ah…haha…haha…”d2ba56edc0497d99
“In three years, no matter what happens, I will give you the land of the barbarians.”1b2382b45568b3e3
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“Alright, I trust you.”95994cf85f96989d
Ballen ended the conversation 791d1edbb0 and left the imperial 930bbeedec audience chamber. As he walked down 927fc490e4 the corridor, his steps aa50e354f7 paused at the entrance f6dc722e3d to the garden.1e904cf24a7cade8
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Three years….604d5c76f7a8607a