Chapter 42

After dealing with her half-sister, Claudia removed the rose necklace from her and stood up, holding it in her hand.

"Princess Emilia is fine. Let's hurry back to the hall."

Noah nodded, then took off the coat he was wearing and placed it over Emilia.

The consideration he showed, as Claudia had taught him, was deeply ingrained, which was more than anything else, a good sign.

On the way to the hall, Noah asked briefly,

"Is the princess stopping the activation of the curse?"

"It's the magic used for the condition reflection, but it's working well."

Just as the magical lights in the hall went out, Claudia chanted on the spot.

"This curse attracts and drains magic power from the surroundings. On the battlefield, it's also used as a tool to replenish magic power, so it's designed to take magic power from the weakest slaves first."

"Slaves..."

"If their magic power is drained, some die from the shock. Maintaining slaves costs money, so it's more efficient to let the weaker ones die sooner."

Even after five hundred years, Claudia still disapproved of the methods used by the country that employed curses in war. Noah also looked uncomfortable, but when he saw Claudia about to stumble, he reached out his hand.

"I'll carry you. -- Please excuse me."

Saying that, he lifted Claudia into his arms. Even though Claudia was small for her age of six, she must have been heavy for Noah, who was nine, but he showed no sign of it and walked steadily up the stairs to the hall.

From the hall, the cries of many children continued to be heard.

"Waaan, Mother...!!"

"It's dark, I'm scared... I don't want to, I want to go home!!"

"Hey, stop crying, all of you...!!"

Prince Wilhelm, the eldest, was trying to calm the confused children. Meanwhile, his next eldest brother, Prince Erenfried, raised his voice, filled with anxiety and frustration.

"It's no good, brother...! No matter how many times I try, I can't use magic!"

"Damn it, if even Eren's magic doesn't work, what's going on!!"

(Indeed, it seems the barrier is also affecting the inside.)

The hall where the knight party was held was covered by a thick barrier.

It not only prevented interference from the outside but also restricted escape and the use of magic from the inside.

(Five hundred years ago, during the war, they brought slaves to replenish magic power and locked them up to prevent them from escaping and to drain their magic power.)

Claudia pursed her lips in frustration.

However, there was no time to be angry. The curse was under her control, but it wasn't perfect.

"Princess. How much magic power is left?"

"It's fine. There's still some leeway."

"You haven't suppressed all the curses, have you?"

Noah, who seemed to have seen through it, asked as he set Claudia down on the floor of the hall. Claudia nodded quietly.

(My current body isn't at full magic output.)

Even with vast magic power, she lacked the strength to convert it into magic and activate it.

The strength of magic is determined by magic power, but to use it effectively, various factors, including physical strength and concentration, were necessary.

"About 98% of the curse is suppressed. What's leaking out is just a weak curse..."

"Prince Wilhelm, my head hurts...!!"

"I'm scared! I don't want to, I don't want...!"

The small children, feeling uncomfortable, cried and clung to Wilhelm.

(The children with the least magic power will be affected first. -- Small children can't hold out long.)

With that conclusion, the task was clear.

"Light"

As she chanted, a ball of light gently appeared.

Although magic was sealed within the barrier, Claudia seemed to be able to use it. The treatment she gave Emilia earlier consumed a lot of magic power, but she managed to perform it.

"Noah. If we can pour more magic power, we might be able to use magic."

"I'll move. Princess, conserve your strength."

"You must feel that we can't afford to be so leisurely, right?"

Claudia smiled, and Noah frowned.

"Hic, it's... uncomfortable...!"

"Prince Wilhelm, Prince Eren...!!"

"Sorry. I'll definitely do something, so please wait a little longer...!!"

Then Claudia walked without hesitation to the princes.

"Eren, can you take care of the kids? We need to go find Emilia and Claudia...!"

"But brother, we don't know what's happening!"

"Can you leave the girls behind!! Their cries have stopped, they might be too scared to move...!"

"Then I'll go! If something happens to the brother, we are..."

"Prince Wilhelm, Prince Eren"

"!!"

When Claudia called out, the two brothers looked surprised.

"Claudia!! You're safe, are you hurt!?"

"Come here, Claudia, it's not scary anymore! ...Huh..."

The brothers, who had been worried about Claudia, looked at the several floating lights around her.

"You, those lights...?"

"They're shiny and warm. Look."

Following Claudia's instructions, the balls of light floated and moved toward the children.

In the darkness, the children, who found the warm, glowing spheres, raised their heads, crying.

"Hic... It's... glowing"

"This is beautiful..."

The fear seemed to lessen a little due to the interest in the unfamiliar light and the fact that it wasn't completely dark anymore.

The brothers, who had been unable to move due to the children clinging to them, seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

As princes and the oldest in the room, they had been acting bravely, but they must have been scared too.

"Claudia. Is this... magic?"

"Hey!"

Interrupting Erenfried's words, Claudia smiled.

"Princess Emilia is fine. She's just tired and sleeping over there."

Then, taking a small breath, she extended her hand toward the children and chanted.

"Barrier"

"!!"

A transparent membrane was formed around them to protect them.

"Is this a barrier?"

"No way! Neither Eren nor I could use magic. How can Claudia, who has no magic power, do it...?"

"Claudia, could it be that you..."

After Erenfried realized it, Wilhelm also looked startled.

Claudia didn't answer clearly but smiled and told her brothers,

"Brothers! Inside this, you can use a little magic. Also, you won't feel as bad."

"!"

"Prince Eren, try touching it with your hand. Can you feel it?"

Erenfried, hesitantly, touched the inner membrane of the barrier with his palm.

"...I can feel it. It's a very precise structure, but the magic formula isn't complicated. To create such a robust barrier and make it so clear... "

(Prince Eren is a talented magician with a strong theoretical foundation. If he can read this much at his age, he has a bright future.)

While thinking this, she gave the next instruction.

"Prince Wilhelm. Use your magic power to strengthen this wall so it doesn't break. Prince Eren will know how to do it... and most importantly, encourage everyone."

"Of course!"

"!"

The strength of his words surprised Claudia a little.

"More importantly, what about you...!! You should come inside, quickly!!"

"Hehe. ...Thank you, brother!"

After smiling, Claudia turned her back to them.

Noah, who had been standing nearby, extended his hand. As she took his hand, she turned back one last time to tell her brothers.

"Be good. -- I'll try to finish as soon as possible."

"...Claudia...?"

Then Claudia looked up at the ceiling of the hall.

The ceiling, illuminated by the magical light, showed the shadows created by the chandelier. But behind those shadows, a black mist seemed to be moving.

(Really... what a nostalgic scene.)

Thinking of the days five hundred years ago, Claudia let out a small breath.

She was careful not to let Noah notice the sweat trickling down her neck.