"The souls of those who perish within the barrier are almost certainly in the belly of that lowly Belial."
"Well, that isn't exactly a laughing matter, is it?"
I was appalled by the casual way Sebas dropped such a bombshell.
Behind three centuries of tranquility, something truly monstrous had been nesting. Where did the souls of the dead go? Since death was usually the end, I didn't honestly care, but I’d always assumed those souls simply dissolved into the mana filling the world to serve as the building blocks for new life.
I didn't put much stock in reincarnation. Then again, denying it would mean denying my own existence, given the hazy memories of a past life I still carried. I decided to just take it at face value.
"So the barrier protecting the Royal Capital was just a dinner table for a demon the whole time."
Belial trapped the mana of the deceased within the barrier and devoured it. At that rate, it seemed like no new life would ever be born, but I suppose an intelligent demon would know how to maintain a proper balance. It was a perpetual motion machine where the offerings were provided without him having to lift a finger.
"That doesn't seem very demon-like, though."
Demons craved entry into the physical world to tempt and corrupt. To them, this world—overflowing with life and the tangled schemes of humanity—was incredibly precious.
"Hiding away just to graze on mana doesn't feel like the demonic way of doing things."
"Indeed," Sebas nodded, agreeing with my assessment. "He likely had some other objective. Perhaps he sought a perfect vessel fully compatible with a demonic body, or perhaps he was wounded so severely that he required centuries of massive mana consumption to recover."
"Which one do you think it is, Sebas?"
I was certain he knew something. I kept my tone casual as I fished for an answer, and Sebas obliged with a firm reply.
"Likely both. I once obliterated eighty percent of his existence, and since I am currently present in this world, well..."
"..."
"Dear me, he has always been a boy who enjoyed imitating humans. Genealogically speaking, it wouldn't be wrong to call him my younger brother. Borrowing the terminology of this world, perhaps I should call him a troublesome little brother?"
"Sebas, the more I listen, the more it sounds like you’re the root of all these problems."
"The trigger was human karma, Young Master. I did nothing more than lend my strength."
"I guess that's true."
The fault ultimately lay with those who made deals with demons. It had been an established fact since ancient times: nothing good ever came from involving yourself with their kind.
"Then why are you with my family?"
I’d just finished saying how bad it was to deal with demons, yet the man standing next to me was exactly that. My logic was falling apart. Alicia and Mariana often said they accepted my actions "because it’s Ragna," but from my perspective, "because it’s Sebas" was the starting point for everything.
Sebas was the common thread in every single part of this story.
"Ho-ho. To speak of that, Young Master, you must learn a bit more about our history."
Whether he sensed my frustration or not, Sebas simply laughed.
"What am I supposed to learn?"
"The origins of House Brave. Come, let us begin your history lesson."
"Wait, right now...?"
I was curious, but I wasn't sure if a lecture would change anything at this stage.
"If I'm not dead yet, I need to figure out how to get back out there."
Time was of the essence. I had made a pathetic showing of myself and ended up in this state. On the surface, it looked like I’d lost to Belial, but if I wasn't dead—if I was still barely clinging to life—then I hadn't lost yet. In House Brave, if you aren't dead, you haven't lost! That was the family philosophy.
"That may be so, but the destination I am leading you toward may very well be the ultimate move you can play against Belial and the Royal Capital Royalty."
"Destination?"
Sebas snapped his fingers, and the door in front of us swung open.
Beyond the door lay neither the white void from the windows nor the familiar hallways of the Brave manor. Instead, a stone staircase descended into an abyss of pure ink.
"As I mentioned before, the catalyst for the Young Master’s awakening was the manifestation of the survival instinct, triggered by the death looming before your eyes."
"Right, the Beast of Brave."
"'Beast,' is it? A remarkably apt description."
"What does that have to do with history? Don't tell me I'm about to walk in on my parents' private business down there."
I really didn't want to see that. My old man was dead and gone; his private life deserved to be left in peace.
"Don't be absurd. Young Master, considering you and Lady Alicia have made so little progress that you haven't even shared a kiss while living under the same roof, I believe you are overthinking things."
"...I’m going to kill you."
"Well, you are a healthy young man. I suppose it’s only natural for your thoughts to drift in such directions. Besides, the sooner one secures an heir, the better."
"Just listen to me!"
Enough was enough. I stood up and marched toward the door. Looking down, I saw a single stone staircase stretching into the endless dark, illuminated only by floating, dimly lit candelabras.
"This is creepy. You couldn't have designed this with a little more flair?"
I didn't think it would hurt to give the place a more regal atmosphere.
"I am a demon, after all."
"Yeah, yeah."
"Shall we proceed?"
As I hesitated at the threshold, Sebas stepped past me and began to descend. Drawn in by his lead, I followed him down.
"Is there actually a point to this place?"
"A point?"
"If there’s something here meant to make me awaken, it would be a lot less tedious to just put it right in front of me."
This felt like one of those Saint’s or Hero’s Awakening Events. I’d heard that the previous head of my family awakened through the sheer rage of seeing his parents murdered. If the goal was to trigger the survival instinct, the combat drive, or whatever else lurked in the Brave Blood, then walking down a gloomy staircase felt like a waste of time.
"It’s not like I’m wary of you just because you’re a demon. If you’re going to appear in a crisis and grant me power, it’d be easier if you just cut to the chase. I’m sure I can handle it as long as you teach me how the power works."
I wasn't trying to brag, but I’d put in the work to back up that claim. I’d made a mess of things earlier, but I still had my pride.
"Ho-ho. I had not intended to be overly critical, but while you currently possess power more akin to a Hero’s than anyone else in your lineage, your heart is the furthest thing from one."
Sebas fixed me with a piercing gaze as he continued.
"Just how many people did you kill within that barrier?"
"..."
"I think nothing of your unsightly display before Belial. However, after seeing the disparity between the Brave Territory and the Royal Capital, I see a heart that has become tainted by pride."
Pride, huh?
"I'm not prideful. But if someone makes themselves my enemy, it’s only natural to kill them."
"That, too, is karma."
With that, Sebas reached out and grabbed my arm.
"Whoa!?"
I lost my footing and went tumbling into the darkness.
"What the hell are you doing!?"
"Taking a shortcut."
In the middle of my panic, Sebas’s face appeared right in front of mine.
"You’re falling with me!?"
"I have always had a certain talent for falling, you see."
I’d expected him to drop me while shouting some advice from above, but apparently, he was coming along for the ride. I couldn't wrap my head around it.
"Where we are headed now is the core of your being. It is a fragment of the Memory of the Bloodline that I have recorded over the centuries. Explaining it all would be tedious, so let us observe as we descend."
"Is the falling part really necessary...?"
"It is necessary to synchronize our minds through a spiritual corridor. Oh, by the way, there are three hundred years of history to cover."
"Three...!?"
"You will only see fragments—the information you need right now. It won't take long."
In a mental world, memories flowing directly into the brain can pass in an instant in reality, much like a dream.
"Furthermore, for the more complex parts, I have included a built-in commentary track by yours truly."
"How needlessly conscientious of you!"
"Now, let us journey into the past. I must reforge your heart and correct what has been warped by karma by showing you what it truly means to be a Hero—"