“But Father.”

Yuta tilted his head and asked.

“Isn’t this... the location that appears on the map the Duke of Dyfenril took? There are only two places where divine power feels this abundant—Arhad and the High Temple site... And that person is searching for the ‘Divine Beast Awakening Site’ marked on the map...”

With a genuinely concerned expression, Yuta [N O V E L I G H T] rolled his eyes.

“If the ritual takes that long, what if the Duke of Dyfenril arrives while you’re activating the Sacred Relic of Power? I’m weaker than he is.”

“Once the Sacred Relic of Power is activated, no one can interfere with the ritual anyway. Don’t worry.”

Yuta glanced at Aietar’s composed face, then quietly let out a deep sigh in his mind.

‘It’s not here.’

That meant the location pointed to by the map—the place where ‘the Divine Beast Awakens’—was not Arhad.

If it really were Arhad, Aietar would’ve said, “Stop Zahid at all costs.”

‘And the security’s not as tight as I expected. They’re even accepting private tourists... I really don’t think this is the place.’

That awakening—where the Divine Beast and its master synchronize and gain tremendous power...

Considering how desperately Aietar had tried to conceal that map, it was obvious the awakening was something fatal to him.

He didn’t know what the price was, but if someone succeeded in that awakening, they might really be able to bring Aietar down.

“For now, I’d like you to handle some documents on my behalf, as my proxy.”

“Yes.”

Yuta nodded, desperately feigning composure.

“It’s an honor, Father.”

Of course, his mind was in turmoil. That meant there really would be no way to stop him once the Sacred Relic was activated.

“And once I regain overwhelming power...”

Aietar grinned.

“No matter if your Divine Beast’s master appears, they won’t be able to defeat me.”

Yuta’s heart started pounding so hard it hurt.

“It seems the successor child is becoming the Divine Beast’s master. I can’t just sit back and watch anymore...”

“Father, what do you mean by that...”

“I think I’ve found the successor, Yuta.”

“...What?”

Aietar slowly reached out and pulled out a document from the pile.

Yuta tightly gripped his sleeve to hide his trembling hands.

“It should be one of these thirty-two.”

“Thirty-two...?”

“Edwin Kaina of the Kaina Viscounty, Arwin Moriot of the Moriot Marquessate, Karl Obin of the Obin Viscounty...”

Name after name flowed out of Aietar’s mouth.

They had investigated children with even a trace of blood from remote noble families who were known to have been slow to learn letters—it was inevitable the list would be long.

“Or perhaps Rosie Noart of the Noart Count Family.”

And eventually, Rosie’s name was spoken too.

“Hm... quite a few...”

Yuta blinked slowly, hiding his reaction as much as possible.

He was certain Zahid, eavesdropping on this conversation, would’ve felt his heart drop as well.

“The next part is easy.”

Aietar smirked wickedly as he said it.

“If I become someone who can deliver divine punishment, I can just kill them all.”

“Haha... Th-thirty-two people? That’s a bit much to kill all at once, Father.”

“If I wipe out, say, five families as a test, the little wretch will eventually pop out on their own.”

Yuta gave a sheepish smile. Circumstantial suspicion was quickly turning into solid confirmation.

Aietar clearly intended to become Karso.

To surpass and surpass again the healing power of divine energy, and to become a being who could destroy others and bring down ‘divine punishment’ himself.

“I see, Father. Once you grow stronger with the Sacred Relic of Power, you won’t have anything to fear.”

“Exactly.”

Aietar’s eyebrows arched as he smiled.

“So don’t worry too much. Just rest well, Yuta.”

Yuta maintained proper etiquette, but his legs trembled beneath his priest’s robes.

He couldn’t think of a single way to stop Aietar. The difference in power was too overwhelming.

“I plan to begin the ritual around noon tomorrow. I’d like for you to stay by my side.”

“Yes, Father.”

Yuta smiled gently and bowed.

“It’s an honor. I will always remain by your side and follow your will.”

By the time he staggered back to his quarters—

The rabbit Liri was waiting on Yuta’s bed with a note in his mouth. It was a message left by Zahid.

As Yuta read the contents, a frown formed between his brows.

I believe I’ve figured out the location of the Divine Beast’s awakening. And how to initiate it.

I’m heading there immediately. I believe it’s the only way to stop the High Priest.

“...Huh?”

That meant Zahid had already left.

“How does he know the location? And how does he know the method?”

Yuta tilted his head and muttered to himself.

“There’s really only this place and the High Temple site where divine energy feels this strong...”

And of course, the High Temple site didn’t have a cave.

It seemed Zahid had figured out the location and method just from his conversation with Yuta and Aietar earlier. Otherwise, there was no reason to leave behind such a note.

But Yuta couldn’t figure out either of those things.

He felt a strange sense of defeat.

There was a time he’d thought—since he was also a Divine Beast’s master—it’d be nice if he could go through that ‘Divine Beast Awakening.’ If he gained that incredible power, he might be able to kill Aietar with it.

But in the end, it seemed Zahid had figured out how to awaken first.

It was the map the Duke of Dyfenril had brought—perhaps this was just fate.

“To awaken is to merge into one with the Divine Beast, huh...”

Would that mean he’d get to see Zahid become a wolf?

“...Anyway, I hope it goes well.”

Yuta muttered as he tore the note into tiny pieces and burned it.

“Just looking at it, he must’ve rushed there because he thought Rosie was going to die...”

At this rate, Rosie would die. Aietar, once transformed into a monster, would never leave her alone.

It wasn’t like before, where she could just hide.

If Aietar even threatened, “If the successor doesn’t come out, I’ll blow up all thirty-two territories,” Rosie was the type to walk out on her own.

She would never ask someone else to sacrifice themselves for the world, but she would do it herself.

She might make people angry with her words sometimes, but at her core, she was a fundamentally kind and upright girl.

‘That must be why the Divine Beasts choose her...’

Yuta let out a long sigh and collapsed onto the bed. Hugging Liri tightly, he whispered,

“Zahid left for Rosie’s sake too, Liri.”

He pressed his forehead against Liri’s soft fur.

“I can’t lose to him either, not as her brother. I have to do what I can. Right?”

Liri opened his eyes wide.

“Tomorrow... when the ritual begins, I’ll need your help, Liri.”

Liri looked at Yuta with a shocked expression. Just as he was about to shake his head wildly—

“Liri, I’ve already anticipated everything. I told you, no one knows Father better than I do. That’s why I stopped by the High Temple site too, just in case things went worst-case scenario.”

Liri scrunched his mouth with a pained expression.

Yuta hugged Liri tighter and gave a soft smile.

“I was hoping it wouldn’t come to this... but I have to give it my all anyway...”

Liri quietly buried his face in his front paws.

Yuta whispered softly,

“I’m sorry, Liri. For making you choose someone like me... I’m sorry for putting you through so much. I’m truly ashamed before the former Duke Orgon...”

But then Yuta furrowed his brows as if something felt off.

“Ah, wait. That’s weird now that I say it out loud. I’m the Duke’s son, so why do your lines sound like you’re the Duke’s daughter? That’s kind of lame. I should think of a better way to phrase that.”

As Yuta said this with his usual playfulness, Liri turned his eyes away and let his tail droop.