Chapter 50: Doesn't Matter, Aeron Will Take Action
"Thank you for your assistance earlier."
After Aeron had subdued all the Fisalia family members in Porto-Veno Castle who had fallen into madness under the Threnodian's influence, Cantarella immediately arranged for those still capable to provide treatment and administer secret medicines to alleviate the Threnodian's effects.
"No need for thanks, I'm not that particular. Are your people alright?"
Aeron waved his hand dismissively, his gaze sweeping over the Fisalia family members lying haphazardly in the corridor, temporarily pacified by the medicines.
To be honest, when Aeron had left Gilberto alone in the study and saw a group of people shouting nonsensical words charging at him, it was somewhat frightening.
At least he didn't hear anything like "give us candy" from their mouths.
Cantarella's expression was grave as she looked at the corrupted Fisalia members before her, her mind in turmoil.
"They're stable for now, but the corruption on them..."
"Can't the Fisalia family's secret medicines resist it?"
Cantarella looked up, her face bearing a gloominess Aeron had never seen before.
"The current medicines can only delay the process at most. If we don't find the source—"
Before she could finish, a series of violent, painful screams came from the end of the corridor, interrupting her.
In the area where the injured were being treated, several Fisalia members who had been calmed by the medicines were now writhing on the ground in agony.
Beneath their skin, what seemed like dark tides surged, their bones emitting grating sounds of distortion, and their eyes were being consumed by pure darkness.
Among them, Gilberto, who had previously tried to warn Aeron, was in the worst condition.
Deep corrosive marks covered his entire left arm, and ominous black patterns had spread across one side of his face.
"! Quick, we need—"
Just as Cantarella was about to have someone bring the secret medicines, Gilberto interrupted her.
"It's no use, Family Head... my spirit... is beyond saving. Please save the medicines for others with more hope..."
Seeing Gilberto's condition, Cantarella's expression grew even heavier.
In the past, she never accepted so-called "necessary sacrifices," viewing them as nothing more than the strong bullying the weak, and she still felt the same way now.
But when standing in this position herself, she found herself powerless.
Thinking this, Cantarella gritted her teeth slightly and slowly raised her hand toward her clansman before her.
"...Fisalia blood shall be ended by Fisalia hands."
Resonance Power coalesced into ethereal blue jellyfish, ready to strike.
"..."
Aeron remained silent. Although he had long prepared for such situations, witnessing it firsthand was a first.
Yes, this was the power of the Threnodian, Leviathan. Tormenting people's minds repeatedly, then using the Dark Tide to devour everything.
All of Rinascita was now shrouded in such shadows.
In Aeron's plans, if they were even slightly careless, everyone would end up like this.
Gilberto looked at the jellyfish about to take his life, a faint relieved smile appearing on his face before he turned his gaze to Aeron.
"...The Fisalia... Family Head... I leave in your care."
As the jellyfish in Cantarella's hand flew toward Gilberto—
Finally, Aeron made his decision and let out a long sigh.
"Pulling this move on me now, huh?"
But just as the jellyfish was about to make contact with Gilberto, Aeron reached out and intercepted it.
"!?"
Everyone present was shocked by Aeron's action.
"...Father, what are you doing?"
Cantarella looked at Aeron, questioning him.
Was this priest finally showing his true colors? And at this most critical moment?
Aeron paid no mind to Cantarella's question.
"Saving people. Though this arm seems useless now. Well, whatever."
Although he could currently immunity to toxins, blocking a Resonator's power with just his own strength was still difficult. His entire left arm had lost all sensation.
"This is Fisalia internal affairs. He's already—"
"I know he's beyond saving." Aeron interrupted her, his expression more serious than Cantarella had ever seen, even carrying a nearly cruel calmness.
"But killing him like this would be too wasteful."
"Wasteful?!" Cantarella could hardly believe her ears, the gloom in her eyes instantly replaced by anger. "What we're facing now is the Threnodian's influence, not like what you encountered before in Ragunna—"
Before Cantarella could finish, Aeron pressed his remaining hand's index finger against her lips.
"Doesn't matter. I'll handle it."
Having said this, he moved his hand down and pushed Cantarella aside.
"You—!"
Cantarella was thrown off balance by Aeron's sudden assault, all her usual elegance vanishing in that instant.
By the time she regained her composure, Aeron was crouched before Gilberto, pressing his hand heavily on his shoulder.
"Aeron... you..."
Meeting Gilberto's confused gaze, Aeron only said one thing.
"Bro, after this is over, get ready for a promotion."
[Focus Fire Target, activate!]
The next moment, an immense invisible suction force centered on him.
Dark energy violently erupted from Gilberto and every corrupted Fisalia family member in the hall, transforming into countless black torrents that roared and struggled but were forcibly torn from their hosts by an irresistible force, ultimately flowing toward Aeron.
"Stop! If this continues, you'll—"
Become a monster more terrifying than the remnants.
But for some reason, Cantarella couldn't speak the latter half of that sentence.
She raised her hand, attempting to violently interrupt Aeron, but amidst the chaotic Dark Tide, she couldn't concentrate her Resonance Power.
"Guh—"
If this was the Threnodian's own brew, this stuff was way too potent. Even Aeron couldn't help but groan.
His body trembled violently, dark patterns rapidly spreading beneath his skin, his eyes shifting between ink-black and struggling blood-red. He knelt on one knee, using his still-functional right hand to desperately brace against the ground.
But clearly, Aeron wouldn't allow himself to be corrupted.
"Persona!"
His shadow writhed madly behind him as the horned, laughing Persona Mask—Arsène—flew out from the darkness at top speed, its claws burning with shadow flames piercing completely through Aeron's chest.
.....
[Death Method: Suicide]
[Death Evaluation: S.... Actually, did you do all this just to say that one line?]
"Obviously. Now hand over the reward."
[Before granting the reward this time, the System will pose a question and provide rewards based on the answer?]
"Huh? When did you add this step? Just say it."
[What is your view on "Leviathan"?]
Hearing this question, Aeron was momentarily stunned. What kind of question was this?
How should he answer? Civilization-destroying scum? Still charming despite age? Or something else?
But before thinking too long, Aeron gave his answer.
"...It's in my way."
[Understood. The System has selected the most suitable ability for you—Materialist's Left Hand]
"?"
[Refreshing status]
.....
Looking at Aeron's corpse before her, Cantarella didn't know what emotion she was feeling.
Her mind was blank. As if all sound in the world had been sucked away, she couldn't even hear her own heartbeat.
What had he just done?
Concentrated all the corruption onto himself?
"Even that priest from outside?"
"The deep sea excels at devouring all light and dyeing it with its own color."
The phantom's earlier words echoed in her ears again, as if mocking Cantarella, pronouncing that judgment upon her:
This was the necessary price for bearing Fisalia's responsibility. Sacrifice was unavoidable.
And Cantarella, no matter how much she despised it, remained powerless before such enormity.
They were just using each other—why would he do such a thing?
Low sobs and sounds of disbelief began to emerge from the surrounding clan members. They pulled Cantarella back to reality. She was the Family Head; she couldn't indulge in any emotions now.
She had to maintain composure.
She took a deep breath, forcing herself to look away from Aeron and toward the clan members gradually recovering from corruption but still weak.
"Take them away," Cantarella steadied her voice, instructing other arriving Fisalia members. "Check their conditions. Be wary of relapse."
"Family Head... Father Aeron..." Gilberto's voice was hoarse.
"I'll handle it."
She interrupted, her tone brooking no argument, forcibly suppressing all questions and grief. Showing any weakness now would be irresponsible toward both the family and the newly saved clan members.
Then, Cantarella let out a long sigh, calming her thoughts. She had more important matters to consider.
The Threnodian had always influenced Fisalia through whispers, but such severe situations had never occurred before, without even any warning.
Even if they cleared the influence now, if they didn't deal with the source, the Dark Tide would erupt again.
But Fisalia members inspected the area around Porto-Veno Castle daily—if there were abnormalities, she would have known.
Thus, there were two possibilities: either the Threnodian had deepened its influence through some method unnoticed by Fisalia, or there was a traitor... But the Fisalia family couldn't possibly have a traitor.
"Then what did you encounter when you were alone in the workshop earlier?"
"That is...?"
The familiar voice sounded in her ears again, making Cantarella freeze for a moment.
How was this possible?
With this thought, she turned her head, and what met her eyes was Aeron's face.
After a moment of daze, Cantarella came to her senses and cautiously stepped back several paces.
"Rest assured, Family Head, I'm not some illusion or similar thing."
Cantarella examined Aeron using her Resonance Power—no residual Dark Tide aura, no mental distortion or turbidity, even the wound on his left arm from her poisonous jellyfish remained exactly as before.
"You... truly are as unexpectedly unpredictable as the rumors say."
Cantarella's voice was half a tone lower than usual, all emotions compressed into a brief syllable. She forced herself to relax her tense shoulders, the dangerous glimmer at her fingertips quietly fading as she resumed her elegant and inscrutable Family Head demeanor.
"But why would you go this far for Fisalia?"
She tried to mask her wavering with a statement tone, but her gaze never left Aeron's face.
"Victory always comes with sacrifice. I merely paid that price for you."
"You were the one who said our relationship was merely mutual utilization."
"After all, I was parachuted into Fisalia. It's normal that you don't trust me."
Having said this, Aeron extended his right hand toward Cantarella.
"But I trust you."
Cantarella's gaze fell on Aeron's face, on those eyes—no pretended sincerity, no pride of seeking credit, only a nearly plain statement, as if all this were taken for granted.
And in her chest, it felt as if a massive stone had fallen, sinking into water, disappearing without trace.
Anger, lingering fear, shock, a hint of indescribable bitterness... Various emotions intertwined, leaving her momentarily speechless.
It seemed she had still underestimated this priest's methods.
Thinking this, Cantarella hesitated no longer, but firmly grasped Aeron's hand.
"Then you'll have to accompany me properly until the very end."
"Of course, Family Head."
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