Chapter 41 Part 8 – A deadly battle in the maelstrom. Mary tries to take the demon dog Gallam with her, while Bradd and Seraphy put everything on the line for the last hidden card. And then I learn the sad truth about the vengeful spirits that possess the Ruby

I swallowed back my tears and wiped the blood from Theo’s face with my sleeve.
His face was still young and full of pride, believing that he had done what he needed to do.
I will not let his feelings go to waste ……!!
「….. Theo. I will prove and share to the whole world about the innocence of the Light Bat Tribe. And I will tell the story that there was a little hero named Theo. So, rest assured ….. and sleep …..!」

….. There is only one way to prove the innocence of the Light Bat Tribe.
In the Holy City, the home of the world’s largest religious organization, the Holy Church, in the deepest part of the city, which can only be viewed by the upper echelons, lies a detailed report that contains the 「True History」 of every parish throughout the world.
This is not a history that has been twisted for the convenience of those in power at the time, but the real history.
It is one of the greatest weapons of the Holy Church.
The Holy Church has a long history and a vast range. Almost every part of the continent has a parish church.
The records that spell out the true history of the parish church are a threat to the rulers.
Because there are many aristocrats who have covered up the misdeeds of their ancestors and falsified them as great deeds, or who have risen to power in a turbulent age, but whose genealogy is in fact dubious. The Holy Church could expose this deception if it wished to do so.
The predecessors of the Holy Church must have had foresight.
This is one of the reasons why the Holy Church has overwhelming influence over royalty and nobility throughout the continent.
And there is no way that the Holy Church would not have recorded such a major event as the extermination of the Light Bat Tribe.
The relationship between the True Emperor and the Light Bat Tribe must also have been recorded.
They certainly must have the detailed records.
Of course, I know that it will take an extraordinary amount of effort to access and disclose them.
There will also be obstruction from the large kingdoms.
Still …. I cannot allow the honor of everyone in the Light Bat Tribe and the lives of Theo and the other children to end without being rewarded ….!

The flames of the vengeful spirits stirred at my determination.

「….. We are aware that you are serious, and that you are not talking pleasantries …..!! Restoring the honor of the Light Bat Tribe …. And to reveal the 「True History」 ….. Is such a miracle really possible ….. How happy would we be if it could really come true …..」.

I nodded. I gently laid Theo’s body on the ground, stood up, and looked around at the vengeful spirits of the Light Bat Tribe gathered around us. The vengeful spirits watched my actions with bated breath.

「I am not the True Emperor. However, the words I am about to speak are the words that the True Emperor would have said. Please listen with that in mind …..」

I strengthened my resolve and recalled my memories of the previous 「108 times」 as queen.
Let’s act as I did at that time.
But what I am about to do can be considered as falsehood.
Although I may be less prestigious than the True Emperor, who unified the entire continent, I was still the queen of a country, even if I was corrupt.
With an elegant, dignified, feminine, and compassionate tone…….
Just like that time after the coronation ceremony when I spoke about my ambitions as a queen to my subjects for the first time.
I took a deep breath and raised my face.

「….. I declare in the name of the True Emperor. Everyone in the Light Bat Tribe, from the adults to each and every child, has been a true warrior. I will not allow anyone to trample on that honor. I have not forgotten your loyalty and friendship. My friends. I swear on this bond …. That one day I shall restore all of your honor …..」

I spread my hands out in front of me, stared straight at them in the eye, and declared it.
The vengeful spirits of the Light Bat Tribe became still as if they had been doused with water.

「…. So, when your honor has been restored …. Be proud of Theo and the other children. Say to them that thanks to them, the tribe has regained its honor. That they protected the tribe ….. Praise them that they did a great job …..」

In fact, I don’t really know the character of the True Emperor.
What if her character was more of a heroic empress …….
But I couldn’t help but say this.
I wanted to give some meaning to the deaths of the children.

My fears were unfounded.
Before I could finish my words, all the vengeful spirits knelt down reverently at once.
The flame that had been distorted by the accumulated resentments had become a clear, pure flame.
On the hill where only the setting sun was shining brightly, beautiful flowers had bloomed before I knew it.
Theo’s small corpse became light and rose into the sky.
Probably because this world is the inner spiritual world of the vengeful spirits, their emotions are immediately reflected in the scene.
Under the soft sunlight filtering through the trees, they lifted their faces, and their feelings of grief for their children overflowed and spilled out as tears.

「…. Your words, it was just like what the True Emperor would have said …. that the death of the children was not meaningless! …. That is the very sentence we have been seeking all along ….. that those children were ….. splendid warriors …. And that we can praise them so …..!!」

I knew then.
They regretted not being able to protect their loved ones more than the fact that they had been so cruelly murdered.
The young children had no meaning left in their lives, as if they had been born only to be killed.
To realize this was more painful for them as parents than to be mutilated.
Their single-minded devotion was so strong that I felt guilty for acting.
These people are not evil spirits. They became vengeful spirits because of the depth of their love.
My heart hurts when I think that later they would realize that I was a fake and be disappointed.
I’m sorry, I’m not the real True Emperor ……
Seeing their expectant gazes, I knew the words they wanted to hear.
I looked around at them, nodded solemnly, then smiled and extended my hand.

「Please give them a compliment. Give the children a big hug inside your heart. And tell them that I, the True Emperor …… is looking forward to seeing the brave children one day grow up to be great warriors like their fathers ….」

My words had a greater effect than I had anticipated.
I could see them look downward and burst into tears.
Some of them even fell down and cried.
Uuh, it really hurts my heart …..

Then they changed from flame to light.
An overwhelming surge of gratitude and joy gently came over them.

「….. We’ll agree to the contract. Our hearts were intensely shaken. The mysterious girl who resembles the True Emperor! You have reminded us of our human heart. You promised to restore the honor of the Light Bat Tribe. And you have given meaning to the lives of our children ….. Please tell us who you are …..!」

「My name is Scarlet Ruby Noel Lingard …… My father is from the Lingard family and my mother is from the Melville family …….」

When I said that, the spirits of the Light Bat Tribe were in an uproar.

「…. Melville …..!! You have the blood of the Melville family!! …. This ….. I want you to see this …..!!」

Stunned by their unusual surprise, I looked in the direction they were pointing at.
It was a large tree on top of the hill with the deep red setting sun shining on it.
Is this a continuation of the past scene where Theo and his friends were atrociously murdered …..?
Why are they showing this scene again …..
I almost turned away from the painful memories, but then I was amazed.
There was a large hole in the big tree.
There were some movements in it, then a little girl, about two years old, crawled out.
With an anxious look on her face, she looked around at the empty space and timidly stretched out her toes to the ground, but because her legs were too short she lost her balance and rolled out.
She was hiding inside the hole of the tree …..!!

「…. Theo and the other children …. Preparing for the worst case, they quickly hid the youngest girl in the hole as quickly as they could ….. The children protected her, the only survivor of the Light Bat Tribe ….. And this girl is …..」