[But human greed really has no end.

There was a time when my only wish was to hear Rosie call me ‘oppa’ just once...]

It was a life he had resolved to give up for Rosie nine years ago anyway. So Yuta had told himself over and over—don’t regret it, don’t be afraid.

[I’m heading there right now. It seems that’s the only way to stop the High Priest.]

Without even knowing the price he’d have to pay, Zahid left without hesitation for the Divine Beast’s awakening. If that was the heart of a lover, then Yuta carried the heart of an older brother.

“I knew... I knew everything.”

Yuta continued, looking straight at Aietar.

“Even so... guh...”

His eyes were bloodshot from the pain he was enduring.

“...I still wanted to try—guh, one last time—for her...”

Swapping the relics had been Yuta’s final idea. It might fail, but he couldn’t just sit back and watch Aietar become stronger.

Even if it was a slim chance, he was willing to trade his life for it.

“You... guh...”

Yuta panted as he spoke.

“...you’re already a monster.”

Payton let out a deep sigh, as if he had lost hope.

Aietar had clearly intended to forgive Yuta. That’s why he gave him a chance and waited until he had solid proof of betrayal.

But Yuta, knowing all that, still chose to stand against Aietar in the end.

“I’d rather die as a comrade of people than live as a monster’s son.”

Before Aietar could even respond, Payton struck Yuta’s vital point and knocked him unconscious. He had realized that letting Yuta keep talking would only further enrage Aietar.

“Y-Your Excellency...”

Even Payton trembled as Aietar replied with a cold face.

“Bring me the report.”

His expression was one that had already planned everything out.

“Judging by this, it seems betrayal has a long history here.”

Aietar collected the Sacred Relic of Power and put his priest’s robe back on.

Just then, the Holy Knights who had chased the rabbit Divine Beast into the forest returned empty-handed.

“We’re sorry, Your Excellency.”

They bowed their heads with shame.

“We couldn’t find it no matter what... and the Sacred Relic of Time is now gone as well.”

“It’s fine. I didn’t expect you to catch it anyway. How could you find the Divine Beast of Grass in the forest? The foliage would’ve obscured your sight.”

Aietar spoke without even looking at them.

“No one can use the Sacred Relic of Time anyway. It’s useless.”

The Holy Knights kept their heads bowed.

“No one can defeat me.”

But even Aietar had one lingering concern—“the Divine Beast’s awakening.”

A method through which the Divine Beast and its master gain enough power to end him in a single strike.

It had always bothered him that the late Duke of Dyfenril had once possessed that map.

Still, he had hidden the location away long ago. So it should be fine.

After a short silence, Payton cautiously asked,

“Then what about Sir Yuta...”

“Imprison him for now.”

Aietar responded icily.

“Looks like he was prepared to die, but I won’t let him off that easy.”

He ground his teeth while glaring at the unconscious Yuta.

“If I kill him now, I won’t know who the Divine Beast of Grass will choose as its new master.”

“Ah...”

“So I’ll use him as bait.”

Yuta hadn’t revealed any information about the successor until the very end, but there were some leads.

Aietar gave a low command.

“From among the thirty-two children, extract the ones who attended the Academy during the same period as Yuta.”

—

One full day later, Aietar received that list. There were thirteen names.

“Send letters to the guardians of all these children, under my name.”

The message was identical:

That he knew everything, and that if they wanted to save Yuta, they should come.

Anyone who responded with anything other than “I don’t understand what you mean” would be the guardian of that child.

Aietar reviewed the final thirteen names and muttered:

“...Rosie Noart...”

It was the most irritating name to him.

The very existence of the Noart Count Family had always been a nuisance to him. And just seeing the name Julian Noart, Rosie’s guardian, made his skin crawl.

“Even if you’re not the successor...”

Aietar smiled, eyes narrowing.

Someone would have to be sacrificed to draw out the successor still hiding.

“You’ll be my first sacrifice once I gain my power.”

* * *

“Guh!”

Yuta’s eyes shot open. He looked around and gave a dry chuckle.

“Haha...”

This was Arhad’s crude prison.

There were no guards. Instead, his limbs were tightly bound. Everyone knew Yuta’s physical abilities were far from exceptional.

“So Father intends to use me as bait, out in the open.”

This prison was in plain sight if one entered the Temple grounds. Just by approaching slightly, it was obvious who was locked inside.

“Really, Father... Should’ve just killed me...”

Yuta shrugged.

“After all that provocation, you still keep your composure... You really do act your age, don’t you.”

He closed his eyes again and reached out for Liri’s presence.

Liri was nearby. He hadn’t been caught—that much was certain.

There was one thing Aietar didn’t know. Yuta, at least, could decide the moment of his own death. Because Liri hadn’t been caught and was still with him.

That was what Yuta had asked of him yesterday. If the relic-swap plan failed—he had asked Liri to kill him at the critical moment.

It was a heartbreaking request to make twice, and Yuta felt deeply sorry for it.

Of course, now wasn’t the time yet.

Even if he was powerless, the Divine Beast of Grass, Liri, still had ability.

So if Zahid returned after awakening his Divine Beast... then maybe Liri could provide just a bit of help.

Until then, Yuta planned to stay alive. Unless that one variable interfered...

“Feels like nine years ago all over again.”

Yuta opened his eyes and looked at the stars in the night sky.

“It was here that I saved Julian Noart...”

He murmured in worry.

“I just hope that idiot Julian Noart, with his lost memories, doesn’t come rushing in trying to save me.”

If that happened, Yuta planned to end his own life before he could become a burden.

“...That guy really seems like he would do it, which is what worries me.”

Yuta let out a deep sigh, thinking of the Julian he had watched over for nine years.

He had grown so much stronger than nine years ago—but unlike before, he had matured into a righteous person full of humanity. His expressions, his posture—everything had changed from the past.

“In the end, there’s only one thing I can do...”

He closed his eyes again and began to pray earnestly.

“Oh God, who teaches empathy and understanding, mercy and love...”

Though he didn’t follow the High Priest, Yuta was still deeply faithful, as befitted a high-ranking priest.

“This isn’t my own will, but I’m offering my first-ever fasting prayer.”

He prayed with more sincerity than ever before.

“Please, let Julian Noart regain his memories.”

With seriousness and desperation, putting his whole heart into every word.

“So that he may recover even his wretched personality, and laugh in the High Priest’s face no matter what threats are made—so that he can watch my death without batting an eye...”

Yuta’s prayers continued without pause through the entire night.

“Of course, I did risk my life to save that idiot here once... but I °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° truly hope he repays me with ingratitude. If he regains his memory and personality, he’s fully capable of it...”