What a monstrous character.
The difference between only reading about it and experiencing it firsthand was terrifyingly staggering.
In this early of the story, Maya Hel Infinitum, the only direct disciple of the Infinitum's Tower Master, had a long way before she could reach her ultimate potential.
'But to think she covered the distance of one week by carriage in an instant. How the fuck is that balance?'
Looking at her standing beside me, I tried to quickly regain my composure.
"Would you stop with the sudden invasion of privacy? I almost coughed out my heart, seriously."
"I'll remember that. Because maybe sometime, I'd incidentally see you naked and what little thing you might have down there." Maya sneered before playfully twirling her finger, causing the big witch's hat atop her head to mildly hover and calmly spin.
'Is she cracking a damn joke?' I frowned.
Nonetheless, noticing the witch's hat spinning on her head, I initiated a meaningful conversation, "Just say why you're suddenly visiting. I'm sleepy."
I returned my gaze to the everlasting cosmos above, witnessing the pale moonlight and its ginormous looming source being surrounded by distant resplendent dots of light.
"It seems Princess Rosanna will eventually be eaten by whatever's corrupting her; it's subtle, and not anyone could identify it. It's perhaps being caused by the unknown Talent Uniqueness corresponding to her one unidentified 'Talent.' You need to act quickly, Lugh. Or else, I think she might take drastic measures just to forcibly summon you."
Maya's voice was masked with seriousness, formally referring to Rosanna rather than calling her an 'ImperialBitch.'
Hearing her, I could not help but fall into contemplation.
First of all, there was nigh certainty that the dormant [Talent] the Imperial Princess, Rosanna Quinn-selah Al Divinia, possessed had an increasingly dangerous [Talent Uniqueness] if left unchecked in the long run, which might perhaps be already affecting her in an alarming level one way or another.
In addition, in the original story, in relation to the case regarding Bishop Jacob of the Church of Luminary, the Imperial Princess tended to react 'negatively' to anyone who seemed genuinely faithful to the Goddess of Light.
It was borderline blasphemy against one of the wildly worshipped Orthodox Churches.
'But there's something they'd yet realize… that'll make the Imperial Princess a subject of inquisition in the future.'
It's that Her Highness, Rosanna, was nigh immune against the Divine Power of Luminosity.
However, it's perhaps not due to the Goddess of Darkness… or even the Goddess of Death. The former was also an Orthodox Church, though the latter, albeit peculiar, had a corresponding belief system that separated itself from the mainstream society.
I had unfounded ideas about her underlying, cocooned [Talent].
Similar to the original Lugh's background of being too lacking, there were a handful of 'names' or 'events' being scarcely mentioned through the Hero's Apocalypse.
'Even they were worthless, there's one that stands out…'
That would be the thorny path I would and had decided to take and…
-the Imperial Princess' would be my key to it.
*
Maya's troublesome and abrupt visit finally ended, with partings words-
"I'll trust you… for now.
Everything we had discussed was the Imperial Princess' condition.
Recalling her resolve for her own gain in the future, my voice swayed with the cold winds, "Is it time for them to meet… in an unfriendly manner?"
…
Several days since Maya's unannounced visit in the middle of the night.
In the renovated training ground dedicated to the Eshu County's forces.
The original 50 soldiers that dedicated their lives to this territory had now expanded by five times and some more, thanks to the new recruits and the well-taken care of slaves from the Golden Crown.
"Now, that's a sight to behold…" I muttered, my voice filled with subtle excitement.
More than 300 soldiers, though too small to be called a proper army considering some of this world's noble territories had hundreds of thousands, were still a leap of faith.
"Brother...? Am I included in this as well…?" Kaya's voice was frail, unable to believe the latest training regimen written on papers in her grasp.
Even Beatrice, as well as the other five remaining maids of the house, were not safe.
No, no one would be safe from my grasp.
Even I, as this place's new lord, or should I say 'Head Commander,' would be put to hell along with them.
"No, but know when to let your body rest," I said to her before addressing the properly lined-up soldiers.
"Everyone!"
Their attention was all on me.
Some were expectant. Most were nervous.
It's a mix of comprehensible expressions.
"By being here, you are already putting your life on the line for the weak… for the helpless… and for our families. That's a commendable attitude, I'll give you that… But reality's cruel."
"…"
"…?"
"We are here because we will eventually be preyed upon one day. You know that peace won't last… No, not in this ruined land. But are you going to leave it that way? To let others trample you and die meaninglessly…?"
Silence pervaded the area, turning the atmosphere gloomy with the truth.
But my words were deafening within their spirit.
"I will ask again! Will you remain weak and let others trample you and die a meaningless death?!"
"N-no…"
"No!"
"No! We will not remain weak!"
"We will become swords that slay the enemies, and shields that protect what's ours!"
The echoes of resolve reverberated.
Gesturing the soldiers to be silent, I continued,
"That's why… for the next sixty days, we will go an intense, hell-like training that you've never seen before… Prepare your body and soul! From this moment on, the Warbody Program will commence!"
On this day, everybody in this place had at least once thought that it would be better to die rather than to 'train' this way…
But throughout this hell, they realized something they could not possibly comprehend considering his previous reputation…
It's how serious the young lord was… and how intense the determination gleaming in his cold amethyst eyes.
'I have to be this determined… so that I'll reach the ending I desire…!"