Akatsuki Translations

“Guh… gahh! Cough! Cough!” -Farsa

Amidst spewing a large amount of blood onto the ground, Farsa wore an expression of obvious agony. With half his bloodline being of demonic heritage, his body was sturdier than that of a human’s, but the dagger Julia had thrust into his back, near his lungs, was undoubtedly a fatal wound.

“F-Farsa, why? Why did you… protect a demon like that…?” -Julia

Julia had lost her composure due to the sudden turn of events, but her demeanor had changed since earlier. The menacing aura she exuded seemed to dissipate, albeit not completely.

The wolf demon girl, Roux, who had been protected, was still trying to comprehend what had happened. However, she understood that the person kneeling before her had saved her, and she reached out her hand toward Farsa.

“U-Um, are you alrig―?” -Roux

“―Keep your hands off Far-nii!” -Julia

As Roux extended her hand with uncertainty, Julia swiftly struck it, preventing any contact. Julia glared fiercely while breathing heavily, and Roux cowered, being not even ten years old in human terms. It was natural for her to be frightened in the face of such open hostility.

“Julia… Please, calm down… I understand your hatred for demons. But…” -Farsa

“Farsa! I’ll cast healing magic right away, so please don’t speak!” -Julia

As Julia recalled that her actions had caused Farsa harm, she promptly pulled the embedded dagger out, causing him to wince in pain.

“In the name of the Goddess Fortuna, heal the wounded and fallen! High Heal!” -Julia

Farsa let out a small cry of pain while Julia began chanting the healing spell. Normally, one shouldn’t remove a dagger when using healing magic to avoid further bleeding. However, in the case of healing magic, removing foreign objects from the body was necessary. The healing magic forcibly amplified and accelerated the body’s natural healing abilities, and its efficacy depended on the skill of the caster and the blessings of the goddess.

Skill was determined by understanding the human body’s structure and efficiently infusing magic into the target. Blessings, on the other hand, were inherent talents bestowed by birth. Among the three types of sacred magic – healing, purification, and barrier – most practitioners could only use one, but individuals favored by the Goddess Fortuna, like Julia and Palmina, could use all three.

However, being able to use magic and mastering it were two entirely different matters. Julia’s healing spell had not fully closed Farsa’s wound yet.

“What… what do I do? The bleeding won’t stop. Farsa… it’s my fault… It’s my fault…” -Julia

Casting magic required a meticulous process to achieve the desired effect with magic power. Magicians must never lose their composure – that was the first lesson taught to those who learned magic, and it was the essence of mastery. In Julia’s current state, she was excited about the appearance of demons and distressed over causing Farsa’s injury, making it impossible for her to achieve the necessary precision.

If it were a simple injury, that would be one thing, but Farsa’s wounds were life-threatening, and even the slightest mental disturbance could affect the outcome. Farsa’s face had already paled, and he seemed to be slipping into unconsciousness due to excessive blood loss.

“J-Julia… I… in the end…I h…ave to, apol…gize…to you…” -Farsa

“No, no, no! Don’t say something like ‘in the end,’ Far-nii! High Heal! High Heal! High Heal!” -Julia

Farsa had many means to stop Julia’s attack. If he didn’t mind exposing his true identity, he could teleport Roux to safety or forcibly move Julia. Even without revealing his identity, Farsa, with enhancement magic, could have easily stopped Julia’s attack. He could have quickly kicked her away to disrupt her actions, but instead, he deliberately took Julia’s attack to protect Roux.

As a result, Julia regained her sanity, and while still not completely calm, she prioritized Farsa’s well-being over her hatred for demons. If Farsa had tried to hinder her with a different approach, the outcome might have been different. She might have even perceived him as an ally of demons and reacted far worse.

Of course, Farsa didn’t have time to ponder over these considerations. He had always believed it was his responsibility to confront the hatred directed at demons, and his body moved naturally as he felt that he should be the one to take Julia’s hatred head-on.

It was a self-indulgence and a foolish action, but Farsa, who was already on the verge of losing consciousness, was still unaware.

“Julia-chan, step back! High Heal!” -Palmina

Suddenly, a woman clad in a religious robe appeared, pushing her way through the crowd of onlookers who had yet to evacuate. She started chanting the same healing spell as Julia while rushing to Farsa’s side.

“Pa-Pal-nee…” -Julia

Calling her name in a tearful voice, Julia watched as Palmina, the saint of the Fortuna faith, ran her hands over Farsa’s cheek before proceeding to heal him, her face glistening with sweat. The ground around Farsa was already drenched in blood, and Palmina’s robe was turning red as well, but she paid no attention, continuing her magic.

While using healing magic, the area around a practitioner’s hands appeared to light up and shine as magic power became visible. But Palmina’s radiance was incomparable to Julia’s, carrying an almost divine aura.

“Phew, I managed to close the wounds somehow. But… it seems he’s shed quite a bit of blood, so he’ll need a few days of rest.” -Palmina

While healing magic couldn’t replenish lost blood, the process itself was a strain on the body, especially considering the severity of Farsa’s injuries. If not for Palmina, who was widely revered for her mastery of healing magic, it would have taken many times longer for him to recover fully.

Nonetheless, Palmina’s healing magic was so powerful that it could completely heal someone on the brink of death within a short period. She had saved countless lives, and that was the reason why she was known as the strongest knight of the Valois Kingdom.

Lovingly stroking Farsa’s cheek as she lay on the ground, the saintly Palmina got up and walked towards Roux with a calm demeanor.

“N, no… stay away…” -Roux

Roux noticed Palmina approaching and uttered words of rejection with a frightened demeanor.

With neither the strength nor magical power left to escape and unable to even stand, Roux instinctively had no choice but to huddle and shrink herself, as there were no other options to protect herself.

The characteristic beast-like ears of the wolf demon were folded down, her tail and body trembling uncontrollably.

Perhaps misunderstanding that she was about to be attacked just as with Julia, Roux wore this apprehension. However, Palmina was observing Roux’s state with a smile.

“It’s alright, you’re safe. Nobody will harm you anymore. My name is Palmina. Would it be alright if you could tell me your name? Also, you seem to be injured, so I’ll heal you right away.” -Palmina

“Wait, Pal-nee, that person is… a demon! The ones who’ve tormented us for hundreds of years!” -Julia

“Y-yeah! Even if she’s a saint, this is going too far for treating a demon! It goes against the teachings of Lady Fortuna!”

“Exactly what the Hero says! My family was also killed by demons! There’s no need for mercy towards those kinds of creatures!”

“Kill them! Kill the demon!”

“Saint-sama, please reconsider!”

In agreement with Julia’s words, the people around her simultaneously opened their mouths, starting to accuse the demon with their voices.

Since the conflict between demons and humans began around three hundred years ago, especially for those from the northern region of the same kingdom as Julia, it was understandable that they couldn’t remain calm.

Many had ended up in the capital after losing their hometowns and families. Even without that, the brutal deeds committed by demons were well known.

Even in the teachings of the Fortuna faith, demons are regarded as a race unable to receive the goddess’s blessings, meaning they are seen as entities opposing the goddess. The citizens of the Valois Kingdom are taught this from a young age.

The animosity between demons and humans runs deep. Even if Farsa were to advocate for peace alone, it would be meaningless. In fact, there’s a possibility she could be captured as someone siding with demons.

Before becoming a court mage, Farsa traveled through human lands for about five years. Because of this, she knew painfully well the emotions humans hold towards demons.

In times of war, it’s not uncommon for both sides to champion their own righteousness and perceive the other as absolute evil.

And the people of the Valois Kingdom, ignorant of how demons actually live under the Demon Lord, held only the perception of demons as cruel and malevolent creatures.

“Enough! Be silent! The custody of that demon over there will be entrusted to us, the White Lily Knights! For the Kingdom of Valois, obtaining information about demons is of paramount importance. Anyone who attempts harm right now shall face the Captain of the White Lily Knights, Zenobia de Ctesiphon! How about it? Is there anyone who wishes to challenge her?” -Zenobia

Emerging with a voice that drowned out the crowd’s anger was Zenobia, accompanied by a multitude of knights.

Her presence was commanding, exuding both dignity and beauty, boasting the overwhelming strength befitting the strongest knight in the Kingdom of Valois.

Naturally, everyone was overwhelmed by Zenobia and the many knights behind her. No one dared to voice a rebuttal.

And so, as a result, the four members of the hero party naturally assembled in this place.