The Genius Son-in-law of the Swordmaster Household—Blessed by Authority Chapter 60

Taken (14)

"Sword Spirit Release...!"

"What?"

At Ian's shouted cry, squeezed out with desperation, all traces of a smile vanished from Dellen's face.

― Wooong!

At the same moment, as if responding to Ian's call, Flostilla vibrated faintly in his grip.

"Wh-what...!"

That vibration was unmistakably the precursor to the release of a sword spirit.

'No way...!'

Ian Greysel, releasing the sword spirit of Flostilla...?

'D-damn!'

For an instant, a spine-chilling, ominous premonition seized Dellen.

'I-I have to kill him quickly!'

Dellen strengthened her grip on the sword hilt.

Just as she was about to slice Ian in half right then—

—Grab!

—CRAAACK!

Yuria's hand shot out like lightning and grabbed the tip of Flostilla's blade.

"W-what...!"

"Nngh...!"

The sharp blade dug deeply into Yuria's palm.

"S-such...!"

Thanks to that brief opportunity Yuria made, Ian was able to speak the sword's true name safely.

"Flostilla—!"

—KWAH!!!

With Ian's Sword Spirit release, a field of silver blossoms flourished across the earth.

"T-this...! Kuh!?"

As she witnessed the blossoming field, Dellen's eyes widened impossibly.

Laid out before her, with no room for doubt, was the perfect release of Flostilla's Sword Spirit.

—Swooooosh!!

In no time, the blossomed petals began swirling, soaring skyward in a storm.

"Kh...!"

Dellen immediately let go of Flostilla's hilt and leaped backwards, widening the gap.

—SHEEEEEEEE!

A savage current of petals then swept viciously across where she had been standing only a moment ago.

"K-kgh...!"

If her decision to let go of the sword had been delayed even a single second, her body would have been left in shreds.

—CharrRRRR!

—Sha~ sha~!

The silver petals gathered in an ever-growing, melodious swell, fusing into one like beautiful musical chimes.

"C-crazy...!"

Soon, a breathtaking blizzard of petals expanded, blanketing the sky.

An ocean of silver radiant in the moonless night.

"H-how...!"

Dellen's voice trembled.

The mighty silver wave before her was the pinnacle of Flostilla, a realm even Dellen, Flostilla's master, had never managed to reach.

A Sword Spirit Release performed at a far higher level of mastery than what Dellen could achieve, despite her over twenty years wielding Flostilla.

"N-no way... No way...!"

Dellen's eyes quaked with despair and confusion.

'How...! How can that brat... Flostilla...!'

There were three conditions necessary to release a Sword Spirit.

First, knowing the true name of the sword.

Second, that sword must be in contact with the wielder's body or aura.

And the last, third—

A long communion with the sword, building up deep understanding.

'Then how!'

Dellen could accept that Ian Greysel knew Flostilla's true name—he had just heard her say it when she attempted the release.

He could also meet the second condition: the sword making contact with one's body or aura—Flostilla was lodged in his chest even now.

But...!

'What about the third condition...!'

A deep communion over many years, accumulating extreme understanding of the sword.

'I haven't even achieved that perfectly myself!'

It had been over twenty years since Dellen was chosen to wield Flostilla at the Sword Spirit ceremony.

Even so, she still could not perfectly control Flostilla's Sword Spirit Release...!

'Ah... Ahh...'

Dellen gazed blankly up at the true pinnacle of Flostilla's sword spirit, displayed before her eyes.

Petals leaping skyward, gleaming like a brilliant Milky Way, dancing in the light.

'Impossible...'

How could anyone reach such an extreme realm of Sword Spirit Release...!

—Ssshhh...

Under the dancing petals, Ian slowly raised himself.

—Shlurrrp...!

He smoothly drew out Flostilla, which had been embedded in his chest.

─《Authority of Projection》─

◆ Item

[Highest-grade Healing Potion Lv.50]

◆ Trait

[Ghoul's Regeneration Lv.34]

─────────

Simultaneously, before his guts and blood could spill, Ian hurriedly activated the Authority of Projection.

The gaping wound across Ian's chest rapidly began to close.

—Crunch, crack!

—Snap! Snap-snap!

Broken bones mended, muscle and skin grew anew over them, locking tightly together like spun thread.

"...!"

Dellen's face blanched at the sight.

"W-what the...!"

A shriek, as though in agony.

"What the hell are you!!!"

Terror clearly blossomed in Dellen's eyes.

"T-this monster! Freak!"

The Sword Spirit Release alone was enough to drive her to madness with confusion.

To that, add the bizarre regenerative power that instantly healed what should have been a mortal wound...

'This goes beyond logic, rank, anything—it's unthinkable...!'

That was no human.

What was the true nature hiding behind that boyish shell...!

"U-ungh! Nghhh!"

Dellen's teeth chattered, shuddering in fear and confusion.

'I-if this keeps up, I'll die!'

She had to do something! Anything!

She needed to act before that brat completely coalesced Flostilla's petal blades into one.

—KWAANG!

Dellen stomped the ground in haste.

The earth split in an explosive leap.

—Sheeeee!

Dellen dashed at Ian like an arrow loosed.

'Just one hit...!'

Clenching her fist, Dellen wound up for a solid blow.

'If I can just land one good shot...!'

If she could just crack him in the head hard enough to break his neck, she might at least buy time to escape.

However—

—CharrRRRR!

The Flostilla's petals were faster than Dellen's fist.

—SLAASH!

"What...?!"

The petals floating in the sky instantly became chains, snagging her fist.

—CharrRRRR!

Like rotary blades, the petal chains drilled into Dellen's forearm.

"G-gyaaaah!"

—SLAASH!

Dellen's blood spurted into the air, her scream echoing through the forest.

—Thudthudthud!

Next came the sound of muscle tearing and bones twisting, ringing in Dellen's ears.

"G-grrgh!"

Frothing at the mouth, Dellen yanked her arm to pull free, but it was impossible.

"Grk!?"

The chain of bladed petals had already bored into her very bones, gripping her tight.

"G-gyaaaah!"

An excruciating pain stabbing into the marrow.

'Got her...!'

Ian didn't waste the chance as Dellen writhed in agony.

—FWASH!

Ian slashed Flostilla in his hand dramatically, like a conductor's baton.

—CharrRRRR!

The massed petals in the sky split into five chains, rocketing toward Dellen.

—SKREEEE!

Her left leg was the first to be seized by the tentacle-like blades.

"N-noo! Aaaagh! Don't...!!"

At Dellen's desperate scream—

—SLICKK!

"Gyaaaaah!"

Her left leg, soft as sausage, was severed cleanly.

—CharrRRRR!

But that was just the beginning.

—Slice! Stab! Crack!

The chains of petals bound one limb after another, invading her body and feasting on her blood.

"Gkh! Khak!"

Dellen was hoisted into the air, firmly bound by the petal chains.

—CRACK! CRASH! CharrRRRR!

For a while, like piranhas devouring prey, the blade petals ravaged Dellen until she was in rags.

—Thud!

"G-grgh..."

At last, she crashed to the ground, scattering blood—a wretched wretch.

Her right arm and both legs were utterly shredded, her guts reduced to mush leaking out like snot, and foamy blood kept bubbling from a hole in her chest.

The only part left mostly intact was the left arm caught in the petal chain.

Even then, all the nerves and mana channels were severed, leaving only the barest twitches possible.

—Thud!

"Haa... haa..."

Only when Dellen collapsed in ruin did Ian, too, finally let his legs give out beneath him.

From healing his body with the Authority of Projection to releasing Flostilla's Sword Spirit with his past life's skills...

Each one demanded extreme aura consumption, but he'd used them relentlessly in succession—no matter how tough Ian might be, his body and mind were at their limit.

'T-this is my limit...'

"Ian!"

Yuria rushed over in panic.

"A-are you okay...? Ah, your wounds...!"

She gaped, realizing how Ian, so close to death only moments earlier, was all but healed.

But Ian lifted a hand to stop her.

"I'm alright."

He then turned his head to indicate Dellen.

"... Go to your nanny. She's still alive, but she won't last long."

Ian looked at Yuria with calm eyes.

"If you want to say goodbye, this is your only chance."

"...!"

Yuria's eyes trembled.

Ian continued steadily.

"It's come to this, but I know what that nanny means to you. Go, say your last farewell."

At that, Yuria's eyes welled with tears.

Yuria seized Ian's hands tightly in gratitude.

"Thank you. Thank you, Ian...! I'll be sure to repay this debt."

Ian nodded silently.

He badly wanted to cough blood, but held it in.

He didn't want to distract Yuria or disrupt her final farewell with Dellen.

"Thank you... really, thank you, Ian."

Yuria squeezed Ian's hand one last time before heading to Dellen.

Ian watched her receding figure and quietly spat out the blood he had been holding back.

—Uweh.

—Drip.

'... Will she be okay?'

Ian looked at Dellen, lying in a pool of blood.

Both her limbs torn off by Flostilla's fury, her mana circuits all severed.

Probably all Dellen could do now was barely twitch the remaining left hand.

'That should be enough, but I still can't afford to be careless.'

Ian didn't take his eyes off Dellen.

His aura was totally depleted, and he felt he could pass out any moment, but he strained to catch even the smallest suspicious movement from Dellen.

If there was even the slightest odd sign, he would have to use even his innate energy to save Yuria.

"Del... len...?"

Yuria approached the fallen Dellen.

Dellen's face, fallen on the cold earth, was torn open to the bone.

Her once beautiful face was gone—now mangled, like prey partly eaten by a beast.

"Miss..."

"..."

Yuria knelt in silence beside Dellen.

She had so much to say.

But it felt pointless to speak at all, so the words wouldn't come.

"Hrk...!"

All Yuria could do was weep.

The betrayal of a nanny she had thought of as her birth mother.

And now the death of that nanny she had thought of as a mother.

Both were too much for fourteen-year-old Yuria to bear.

"Sob...! Dellen...! Nanny, whyyy!!"

Hot tears soon poured down, landing on Dellen's wounds.

"A-ahh... Miss..."

Yuria sobbed piteously.

'It's been so long... since my lady cried like this.'

Yuria, at age six.

Even then, Yuria had wept bitterly like this once before.

On Dellen's birthday.

Yuria had given many gifts to Dellen that day.

A necklace made of flowers, a drawing of Dellen's smiling face, a scarf made while pricking her fingers on a needle.

Dellen was astonished by the presents.

She hadn't realized, despite spending nearly all day with Yuria, that her young charge had secretly prepared so much.

Yuria must have scavenged time at night, sacrificing sleep to do it all.

She often nodded off in lessons—it must have been because of that.

Back then Dellen thought she just needed more sleep for being a child.

She never guessed Yuria had so earnestly prepared for her birthday.

Because of crowded lessons, Yuria had even less free time than her peers, and yet...

'Oooh...!'

But on that day, with all those gifts, Yuria looked as if she would burst into tears at any moment.

'M-miss?! Why, what is it?! Miss!?'

'I, I...! I...!'

It turned out Yuria had wanted to give Dellen even better gifts.

Her drawing, her scarf, her flower necklace.

She felt they fell short as presents for her beloved nanny.

She couldn't draw better, couldn't knit the scarf with finer yarn, or use fine jewels rather than short-lived flowers...

She had so little, no great patron like the direct line, so all her hard work and sleepless nights... resulted in only these meager things.

'Uwaaahh!!'

In the end, Yuria had sobbed in Dellen's arms.

Even though those gifts were the only birthday presents Dellen received that day.

Yuria wept because she couldn't give her nanny something better.

'Miss...! Please don't cry! Oh, goodness! Why are you crying after giving me such wonderful gifts!? See, look at this!'

Dellen hurriedly wrapped the scarf around her neck and carefully put on the flower necklace.

'See, miss! Does it look good? The scarf is so warm, and the necklace is beautiful! I'll treasure them forever! Thank you so much, miss!'

'Really? You'll really treasure them forever?'

Yuria, wiping away tears, looked up at Dellen.

Dellen gently hugged Yuria, careful not to break the necklace.

'These are the best presents of my life. Miss, I'll treasure them forever.'

'O-okay! Nanny! I love you! You're the best! Happy birthday! Let's always live together!'

'Haha... Of course, miss. My whole life is dedicated to you.'

Back then, Yuria in her arms was warm and soft.

—Drip. Drip.

—Throb!

Yuria's tears fell on Dellen's chest wound.

Hot and painful.

"Dellen! Dellen...! Do you hear me...!? U-ungh...!"

'Ahh...'

Dellen lamented.

'What have I done...'

She saw the child she'd nurtured crying so bitterly.

She had made her cry.

She had torn into the heart of the only one in the world who loved her, leaving a scar that would never heal.

'For what... for what purpose...'

Someone who loved her so must was already by her side, shining so sweetly...

'How...'

Why did she cling to faded obsessions from the past...

Why did she let it come to this...

"A... Miss... kuh!"

—Cough!

I'm sorry, miss. So sorry.

She wanted to apologize.

But her throat clogged with blood, leaving her voice strangled.

"S-sor, ah, aaah! Kugh!"

Each squeezed word made her consciousness slip away.

'Haaa...'

Right to the end, so disgraceful and pitiful, Dellen.

To wound someone you love so deeply and not even get to apologize.

'... It was always like this for me...'

Always sullen, always greedy.

Never doing anything right.

That's why I die this way.

'Please, miss, don't forgive me...'

No, just hurry and forget this pitiful woman.

Someone as lovely as Miss shouldn't waste a thought on trash like me.

She would soon have good and worthy people around her.

Someone truly devoted, not a lying wretch like her...

For example, yes...

'Like Young master Ian, over there...'

And trash like herself should just sink to the bottom of hell.

Dellen suppressed her wretched sobs, her lips trembling.

At that moment—

—a flash!

Her vision changed.

"What...?"

Blue fields. Bright moonlight. Grasses gently swaying in the cool, soft breeze.

The pain suffusing her body disappeared. The burden crushing her chest was gone.

"What is this..."

Then, she felt something soft in her palm.

Looking down, she saw six-year-old Yuria holding her hand, rubbing her eyes and yawning.

"Fwaaa... Dellen... I'm sleepy..."

"..."

Only then did Dellen remember what she was doing.

"Ah, that's right."

She was taking Yuria for a walk at night.

Sometimes Miss couldn't sleep deeply without a nighttime stroll.

"Carry me. Dellen. Hehe."

"Always the spoiled one, aren't you, miss? So clingy."

Still, Dellen offered her back willingly.

"Hehe... Dellen piggyback... So warm and cozy. I like it..."

"Hehe... hmm hmm."

Yuria's face nuzzling into her back.

Dellen smiled gently.

—Step, step, step.

With Yuria on her back, Dellen quietly wandered the field for a while.

"Nanny Dellen... Stay with me forever... I'll make you happy..."

"Of course, miss."

Dellen spoke softly to the sleeping Yuria on her back.

"You're like a daughter to me, miss."

"Sniff...sob..."

"...? Miss?"

"Dellen... Don't go, Dellen...!"

"Miss, your nanny is right here, not going anywhere, okay?"

It seemed Miss was having a nightmare.

"Oh dear...! No tears~ No tears~"

"No tears... please..."

Dellen whispered with ragged breath.

"Dellen...?"

With effort, Dellen's left hand rose shakily.

That hand wiped Yuria's tears—

—Thud.

And dropped limply back to the ground.

"Nanny Dellen...!"

Her hand had wiped Yuria's tears, but left a long stain of blood behind.

"When Miss cries... I hurt so much too... it makes me so sad..."

"Huh...?"

"Miss... my little, pretty Miss..."

Dellen's eyes were dull and empty.

A close look revealed her skull had split at the temple, brain matter leaking with the blood.

"Nanny...?!"

Dellen now seemed to be seeing a distant past, not the present.

"N-no... This isn't right... Nanny...! Nanny Dellen!"

Yuria desperately tried to stem Dellen's flowing brain, hugging the nanny's cooling body to herself.

"Don... cough...! I'll sing to you, so don't cry. Fuuu..."

When the moonlight shines

An angel comes.

At the corners of Miss's eyes

Pearl-like tears form.

"Hng, ghh..."

Dellen's lullaby continued, faint as death.

It was the lullaby Dellen used to sing to Yuria every night when she was very small.

"Ngh, ngh... Nanny...! Nanny...!"

Can you hear my voice

Sleep well, my Miss.

No more tears.

Under the moon and stars.

Sleep well, my Miss.

My beloved child.

My precious Miss forever.

"Nanny..."

Listening to that lullaby, Yuria hugged Dellen tightly.

Even in the vision Dellen was seeing, Yuria hugged her.

"Miss..."

As the song ended, Dellen, with a trembling left hand, caressed Yuria's cheek.

With effort, she lifted her lips, as if to kiss Yuria's forehead...

"My..."

—Thud.

But that last kiss never finished; Dellen's feeble warmth finally left her.

"Hrk, ngh.. ngh...!"

For a while, Yuria couldn't move, clutching Dellen to her chest.

Feeling the body of her nanny growing cold.

Thirteen years of memories flickered by in a rush.

Love covered in betrayal.

Truth ripped by lies.

Motherhood twisted by obsession.

All those things tangled together into the tragedy's end.

Yuria felt something inside her chest vanish forever.

"Mama..."

The moment a massive emptiness was born in Yuria's heart.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=

Fuck you Dellen.

You don't betray someone who treats you like a mother and get to repent.

Drop dead, bitch...

I feel no sympathy for traitors...

【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】