LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 33 - The Red Calamity
Translator: Marctempest
Editor/Proofreader: TempWane
—
Chapter 33: The Red Calamity
The carriage sped forward rapidly.
Even so, the ride was remarkably smooth.
Truly, it was worth the high price.
From beside me, I heard Sigina’s exclamation of admiration.
“Expensive things are always the best! Money is the greatest!”
Her point of admiration was a bit peculiar, but fair.
I tilted my head slightly to the side, gazing at her.
“Then, let’s hear the information.”
I needed to see if she was worth the ride.
At my casual comment, Sigina, who had been silent, began to fuss.
“…Wow! Even that pose looks like a painting! As expected, you have a natural elegance… You’re so cool. I envy you! The gods are so unfair….”
She laughed energetically, but her voice trailed off with a hint of despondency at the end.
How many words would she return for each one of mine? She was exhausting.
“Stop with the flattery.”
“What? It’s not flattery, it’s genuinely─”
“Do you want to get off?”
I interrupted her, invoking the magic words.
Sigina let out a strange squeak, then began waving her hands frantically.
“Wait! Wait, hold on! I’ll talk!”
“Go ahead.”
Leaning against the window, I rested my chin lightly in my hand.
She stared blankly at me for a moment before her eyes darted around.
I waited expectantly to hear what information she would share.
Sigina scratched the back of her neck, letting out an awkward laugh.
“Now that you ask me to talk, I’m not sure what to say…? I need a request!”
“….”
I’d have to know something to ask questions about it.
I’d been cut off from the world for ten years, after all.
I decided to reuse the magic words.
“Get off.”
“Whoa, whoaaa…!”
At my cold command, Sigina floundered, and I could almost see the exclamation mark flashing in her eyes.
It was just a feeling, of course.
“Agnatz!”
“What?”
“…His latest invention! Do you know about it?!”
It was Agnatz again.
He seemed as famous as ever.
At this point, I couldn’t deny he was an extraordinary figure.
I shook my head.
“He’s been progressing significantly in his research using Spirit Ruins as a medium, hasn’t he? He’s finally reaping the results of that!”
“…Hmm.”
Where should I start pointing out the flaws in her explanation?
Perhaps noticing my indifferent expression, she made a face that said, Oh no, that wasn’t the reaction I expected.
“Oh no, this wasn’t it….”
What an easy person to read.
“Spirit Ruins. Explain.”
“Huh?”
When I pointed out the ambiguity, Sigina flinched.
She planted her hands on her hips and pouted.
“Hey, no matter how much you may be annoyed, you can’t treat someone like a servant on our first meeting! Or can you? Even someone like me is a cherished child in my family….”
“Get off.”
“…Eek!”
As I infused magic into my gaze, Sigina trembled.
She leaned her upper body back as if to escape the full force of my “Winter’s Stare.”
“Please don’t look at me like that! I’ll talk!”
Frightened, she resumed her explanation, and I perked up my ears to listen.
After hearing her out, I felt a bit intrigued.
“Roblock’s Ruins….”
The Spirit Ruins she mentioned referred to the elemental ruins I had conquered ten years ago.
Though I had eradicated the relics and the abnormal climate, it seemed the remains of the Spirits were left behind.
“Spirits are incredibly rare, right? Even their remnants would be a monumental discovery! It’s all thanks to His Highness the Crown Prince!”
It seemed Artan had indeed visited the ruins as planned that day. And he must have confirmed what I’d left behind.
That was all there was to it. But since he was the Crown Prince, rumors had naturally been exaggerated.
“After the great discovery, research naturally followed! Scholars from all over gathered!”
The ruins, teeming with residual Spirit energy, had quickly become a hot topic.
However, since it was within the Empire’s autonomous region, access had been restricted.
Currently, only affiliated research institutes, including one led by Agnatz, were authorized.
And so far, Agnatz was the only one to achieve tangible results.
“Even though they were all accomplished scholars, they were nothing compared to Agnatz. Truly the continent’s greatest scholar!”
Considering how difficult the field of Spirit studies was, it made sense.
Agnatz was just an anomaly.
Though her admiration for him was evident, I needed to focus on the main point.
“So, what exactly is this invention?”
What could he have created by analyzing Spirits?
Curious, I asked, and Sigina answered brightly.
“I don’t know! It hasn’t been disclosed to the public yet. Maybe it’s some Spirit-related item?”
“….”
There was no substance.
I seriously contemplated kicking her out.
Perhaps sensing my thoughts, her expression grew solemn.
“You’re thinking dangerous thoughts, aren’t you? About me, specifically.”
“Yes.”
“Wait! Stop! Give me one more chance!”
She nervously fiddled with her braided hair, mumbling under her breath.
“Hmmm… If we’re talking about current hot topics… you know about the The World Exhibition, right…?”
“…?”
My ears perked up at the mention of a new keyword.
Noticing my interest, Sigina’s jaw dropped.
“Where on earth have you been living?! Are you some hidden master from the wilderness or something?!”
“Explain.”
“Uh, okay… Well, the The World Exhibition is a gathering of prominent figures hosted by the Imperial Family. It’s kind of like…”
Her explanation continued.
It wasn’t particularly impressive, and I was ready to let it drift past me until one phrase caught my attention.
“Apparently, all the important people are there. Even His Highness the Crown Prince and the Princess visited.”
“The Crown Prince?”
The only person I knew.
After I saved him that day, he went to the ruins and seems to have been living well since then… I wondered how he had grown.
In this twisted scenario, his growth was important.
“I haven’t seen them in person, but I heard both of them exuded incredible dignity and grace. They say birds of a feather flock together…”
“…Together?”
“Huh…? Don’t tell me you didn’t know they’re engaged? Even a backwoods recluse would know this!”
“!”
My eyes widened in shock.
But I soon understood.
Indeed, it was said that Empress Lysithea, the spouse of Artan Fricas, was also an extraordinary person.
I wasn’t sure if the current fiancée and the empress were the same person, but from Sigina’s words, she seemed like an exemplary woman on the surface.
“That’s good to know.”
It was a favorable development.
Two outstanding individuals supporting each other would foster the Empire’s growth.
Since there didn’t seem to be any scandalous rumors, Artan appeared to be walking a righteous path.
I hoped he would continue to grow and protect the continent well.
“Next.”
“Huh, huh? Already? That’s all I could come up with…”
“Out with it.”
“Wait a second…! I’ll try again!”
I listened to a bit more of her trivial chatter.
Though there was plenty of new information, most of it was useless. Honestly, her desperate attempts to survive were more entertaining.
“…Hmm.”
I half-listened while gazing out the carriage window.
Excluding his greed, Chevran was indeed an excellent coachman.
He maintained both speed and comfort.
Then, I suddenly recalled the reason for my journey across the continent.
“Ah.”
The Red Calamity.
Was I an idiot?
I hadn’t asked about the most important thing.
“Hey.”
“Ahhh…”
Hurriedly turning, I saw Sigina nodding off, her head bobbing with the carriage’s motions.
Her braided hair lightly slapped her face with each sway.
And yet, she didn’t wake up.
“…”
She must have been exhausted.
Well, she had talked quite a lot.
I quietly observed her.
“Hnnn… Hnnnn…”
She was sound asleep.
The act of sleeping.
It had been so long since I’d thought about it.
No, it had been ages since I’d even seen someone sleep.
It was deeply moving.
“I’ll ask next time.”
There was no need to wake her.
Only the rhythmic clattering of the carriage echoed faintly.
*
Capital, Disdel.
Disdel, one of the five satellite cities of the Holy Land La Fernia, was famous for its integrity and virtuous governance.
Separately, this place was also the origin of the news regarding the Red Calamity.
“See? There’s not a single beggar or homeless person around. It’s thanks to the virtuous governance!”
“That’s true.”
For reference, Sigina was the one who claimed Disdel’s fame for integrity and governance.
As she said, there was no one begging in the streets—a rarity in this era.
“Apparently, it wasn’t always like this, but it’s thanks to the Archdeacon’s grace.”
After parting ways with Chevran at a relay station, I found myself walking with Sigina.
I still hadn’t obtained all the information I needed.
She seemed to know a lot about the Holy Nation.
Given how she rushed here for an urgent matter, she might even have roots in this place.
“The Archdeacon?”
“Lady Clavia!”
La Fernia and its surrounding cities were under the governance of Archdeacon Clavia.
It was a name unfamiliar to me.
It didn’t seem particularly necessary to remember.
“Sounds like a good person.”
I let it slide and continued walking, glancing around as I went.
As expected of the Holy Nation, the architectural style was entirely different from what I’d seen so far.
Instead of dazzling gold, the buildings mainly featured sacred-looking silver and white.
There was even a temple visible in the distance.
Closer by, however, stood the Adventurer’s Guild.
As I adjusted my path towards it, Sigina followed alongside me.
“The Red Calamity, do you know about it?”
I finally asked the unresolved question.
Sigina blinked, as if surprised.
“Huh, so you know about that?”
“You know it?”
“I don’t know much about it myself. But someone who knows it well certainly exists.”
“Someone who knows it well?”
She smiled playfully.
“My younger sibling! I came to the Holy Nation because of them.”
“A younger sibling…”
They seemed to be quite close.
But her sibling knew about the Red Calamity, and it was the reason she came to the Holy Nation?
“Is the urgent matter you mentioned related to that…?”
“Curious? Then follow me for a bit! I need to hear the details myself, so let’s go together.”
Just as I was about to ask if it was disaster-related, she spoke quickly, smiling.
It was a decent suggestion.
I nodded and asked back.
“Where are we going?”
She didn’t answer, just grinned slyly.
Then, she kicked open the Adventurer’s Guild door and shouted.
“We’ve arrived!”
Bang!
The violently opened door made a loud noise.
All eyes inside turned toward us.
“What’s going on?!”
“Who’s the rude bastard…!”
The guild’s crowd was diverse.
The receptionist at the counter, the people setting up a drinking table in broad daylight, and those inspecting the request board.
All of them, armed as they were, were startled when they saw Sigina.
“Sigina of the Thousand-League Ears!”
“She’s a Gold Badge Adventurer! When did she return?!”
“Heh heh.”
Sigina puffed up proudly.
Was she famous? She suddenly seemed different to me.
I had thought she was just a clueless person.
“The one who came with Sigina is… huh!”
“Th-that woman… who is she?”
“…?”
The commotion subsided quickly.
Curious, I glanced around to see the room’s gaze focused on me.
As I tilted my head, Sigina smiled brightly.
“As expected, this happens! It’s convenient, isn’t it? Wait here; I’ll go bring him.”
“Bring him…?”
Before I could clear up my confusion, she disappeared upstairs in a flash.
I was abruptly left alone in unfamiliar territory.
A tense silence settled, followed by whispers rippling through the room.
“…Who is she? Do you know?”
“She was with Sigina, so… a Gold Badge Adventurer?”
They were whispering about me right in front of me. It was irritating.
My icy words slipped out without thinking.
“What are you staring at?”
“…….”
The room went silent again.
Under the weight of their quiet stares, I walked steadily to the request board.
The people gathered there quickly dispersed as I approached.
[Special Report! The Stirring of the Red Calamity!]
A special report was prominently displayed.
It contained the same details as the extras I had seen before.
Clearly, it was a hot topic.
As I eyed the massive bounty attached to it, I heard footsteps descending.
Tap tap tap!
“Sorry for the wait!”
The quick-footed arrival was Sigina.
Following her was a man with the same brown hair as hers.
Sigina introduced him.
“This is my younger brother, Kelly.”
“Hello.”
I greeted him casually.
I tried my best to make a good first impression. Kelly was startled when he saw me but eventually stammered out a reply.
“H-hello…”
He didn’t seem very confident.
His personality contrasted sharply with his sister’s.
I gestured to Sigina, and she nodded, pulling something from her pocket.
It was a letter.
“Could you explain this in detail?”
“Uh… sure.”
We moved to a secluded corner.
In a spot away from the noise, Kelly’s voice echoed clearly.
“The Red Calamity… isn’t an official adventurer, but they’ve done work similar to one.”
He began with a preface.
Since I had to understand the identity of this so-called Calamity, I listened carefully.
Even Sigina looked uncharacteristically serious.
“It seems they’ve been around for a long time, but we actually saw them a week ago.”
“A week?”
“Yes. During a monster flood, the adventurers stationed at the outpost were being overwhelmed, and… that person appeared.”
A monster flood.
An unexpected event where monsters appeared in large numbers.
In such situations, cheap adventurers were the first to be deployed.
It must have been a particularly strong flood.
“…With bright red hair and crimson eyes. They used magic—or maybe sorcery—so vivid it looked like a crimson storm of blood… It was especially ominous and filthy.”
“Ominous?”
I tilted my head.
What could make them ominous before they even acted?
Sensing my question, Kelly nodded.
“It just felt ominous. Strange, right? I thought so too… but if they’re a calamity, that makes sense.”
“And then?”
“…The Red Calamity resolved the flood alone. Their power was truly incredible.”
It didn’t seem like they were an ordinary being.
Completely crimson and exuding an aura of foreboding… I felt an odd sense of dissonance.
Before I could pin down what it was, Sigina interjected.
“If they solved the flood, doesn’t that mean they did a good thing?”
It was a valid point.
From what I’d heard so far, there was no reason to call them a calamity.
Kelly nodded as if he understood her reasoning.
“At first, I thought the same. Many lives were in danger back then. Even though they were repulsive, I was grateful. But… looking back, I doubt they had any intention of saving anyone.”
What did he mean by that?
Kelly’s words carried a strange certainty.
“They were probably just after the bounty. I almost fell for it. If I hadn’t seen that scene, I might have even thanked them…”
“That scene?”
I asked, my tone slightly urgent.
As if recalling something, Kelly’s expression darkened.
“…It was about a day after the flood ended. I happened to see them… and although I shouldn’t have, curiosity got the better of me, and I followed them.”
“And?”
The story was reaching its climax.
I could feel my heart pounding rapidly.
“The place it headed was the back alley. There, I witnessed a shocking scene. The Red Calamity, which had shown immense power during the flood, was sinking its fangs into a woman’s neck—”
“…Wait.”
What?
Before I could stop him, Kelly shouted as if in agony.
“It was drinking blood! A human was drinking another human’s blood! That’s a monster!”
“…!”
Thump, thump—!
I couldn’t recall the last time I had been so shocked.
My heart raced violently, and my forehead throbbed.
An excited Kelly passionately continued.
“That must be how it gains its strength! That power—it must have stolen it from others’ blood! I was lucky enough to escape unharmed, but… it’s no coincidence that the very next day, people began calling it the Red Calamity. There must be a reason the Holy Knights were deployed…”
His words fragmented like scattered pieces.
I mulled over them amid a dizzying headache.
It couldn’t be…
But if it wasn’t that, I had no other clues.
What was going on?
This world didn’t have any races capable of vampirism.
If such a race existed, then…
“Is that why you sent me the letter?”
“Yeah. The temple even issued an official notice to the guild. Many adventurers are after the bounty, but I was scared. After seeing that, I was terrified it might silence me…”
The shimmering round table and the two siblings wavered like a mirage.
I abruptly got up and headed outside.
“Quellière?”
Sigina’s voice followed me from behind, but I ignored it.
There was nothing more to hear.
The situation itself was critical.
“What the…?”
What in the world was happening?
Why was she here?
No—her very existence was a mystery.
Even if it was unclear why she was treated as a calamity, I couldn’t leave it as it was.
She might be more important to me than the scenario itself.
“…The back alley.”
By now, I could defend myself well enough.
As if drawn by some invisible force, I headed toward the deserted area.
I wandered aimlessly through the streets.
Before I knew it, I found myself at a remote outskirts.
In that time, I regained some composure.
I exhaled, chastising myself.
“There’s no way I’d meet her like this.”
She was likely on the run; there was no way she’d be wandering around.
I had acted too hastily.
I needed a plan before I moved forward.
Just as I turned around, I heard footsteps.
Step, step—
The sound pierced my ears.
I turned instinctively and froze in shock.
“…!”
A staggering woman was approaching.
Her blood-red hair fluttered like flames.
She swayed unsteadily, as if she couldn’t control her own body, but for a moment, her eyes locked directly onto mine.
Hypnotic, sinister crimson eyes.
From head to toe, she was someone I remembered.