Trembling, I groped at my neck.
But the neck that should have been cleanly severed was smooth without a single wound, not even a drop of blood spilled.
Was that an illusion? It had felt so vivid...
"..."
Cautiously, I looked up at Starnassila Urtega.
"Things that can be cut... Things that cannot be cut... That's..."
He was mumbling something with glazed-over eyes, and I knew exactly what this state was.
It was the 'Awakening' state.
Also called 'Enlightenment.' In the game, it was just shown as a notification saying 'Awakening state activated!' when you leveled up a skill, temporarily boosting experience gain, attack power, defense, stats, and such.
It never depicted someone standing rigidly with vacant eyes, muttering nonsense like Starnassila Urtega was doing right now.
Probably because if your character froze up like that mid-game, it'd drive players insane, so they intentionally left it out.
But this was reality, and thanks to the setting documents, I had a rough idea of what people in the 'Awakening' state went through.
Right now, Urtega was probably deeply immersed in his inner world, reliving all his experiences and memories like a life flashing before his eyes, piecing them all together.
By doing so, he could elevate his realm and power to a higher level.
"Hoo... Ternien. Call a healer and have a few knights guard Father."
"Y-Yes, yes!"
Ternien moved swiftly at my command.
Her eyes, and those of the other knights, held inexplicable awe toward me, deep respect, and a hint of desire... which made sense, now that I thought about it.
After all, I'd pushed none other than Starnassila Urtega—the renowned Sword Master—into an 'Awakening' state with just a few words.
Honestly, even I thought this was a pretty badass achievement.
I hadn't imagined it would turn out like this, so the surprise and thrill were beyond expectations.
The sense of accomplishment from pulling it off, mixed with relief at surviving, had dopamine and happy hormones flooding my system.
...Though seeing the illusion of my head getting cut off might mean it was a close call.
Only Urtega probably knew the truth.
"..."
But my worries weren't gone.
Entering the 'Awakening' state meant elevating one's realm... but could that alone purge all the temptations and illusions that had shaken him?
In the game, various debuffs from 'Soul Gears' weren't that easy to shake off.
"Mm..."
Whatever. There was nothing I could do anyway, so might as well drink.
Even if I tried something, Alzen's trash reputation made smooth progress unlikely... Better to stay put than stir up trouble.
"...Alzen. Are you alright?"
At that moment, Pitra, who had been staring intently at Urtega, turned to me with a face full of worry and concern.
Her gaze carried a burdensome unease that stirred guilt and rejection in a corner of my heart.
Because I wasn't Alzen.
She was only worried about her son, Starnassila Alzen.
"I'm fine, Mother. The situation's calmed, so go back to sleep. You need to recover your strength, even if just a little."
"...I don't think I can sleep again. At least Vivian hasn't woken up, thank goodness."
She shook her head and gently stroked the back of her blissfully sleeping youngest.
To sleep so soundly amid all that chaos... that kid was going places.
"Then would you wait with me for Father to wake? I've got drinks and snacks right here."
"...I'll take the snacks, but alcohol's a bit much. Maybe you should stop too?"
"Haha, Mother. Do you really think that makes sense?"
Gulp gulp!
I downed the liquor demonstratively, and she rubbed her temples with a headachey sigh full of worry.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The Awakening state of Starnassila Urtega—the Family Head of the Duke's Family and the continent's pride, the Sword Master—showed no signs of ending even after quite some time.
His face bathed in the deep red glow of sunset, yet he stood motionless without so much as a twitch, looking more like a mannequin than a person.
"Goodness..."
How laid-back could he be?
Screams, explosions, the eerie howls of the undead, and the clank of armor still echoed outside the window, yet here was the Family Head...
Maybe the Starnassila Duke's Family deserved to fall.
"It's taking too long. Is it always like this?"
"...Mother. What would I know about Enlightenment? Are you mocking me?"
Slurring my tipsy response, Pitra narrowed her eyes and sighed.
"That's not it. I wasn't blaming you—I just had a feeling you'd know the answer."
"Hahaha... I don't know either."
"You've always had too low self-esteem. I just don't get it. What do you lack...?"
"Mm, are you serious?"
"Alzen, I've said it before: talent isn't everything in life."
"Maybe not, but Father didn't seem to think so."
"..."
As I invoked the Family Head shield, Pitra shot a sharp glare at the dazed Urtega.
"Haa... I should have opposed the training from when you were kids..."
"But you did block the youngest's training in the end, didn't you? And it's not just the training. With my personality... it probably would've ended up like this no matter what."
"Don't belittle yourself like that."
"..."
I downed my drink in silence.
Pitra fell quiet too, leaving the room steeped in awkward, uncomfortable silence for a while.
"...Alzen. I..."
As Pitra started to say something with a conflicted expression, Urtega finally awoke, radiating an overwhelming presence that lit up the surroundings.
"Kehk!? Cough!"
"Kugh...!?"
"Th-This is insane...!"
Thanks to that, I spat out my drink again, Ternien hurriedly raised her aura to avoid internal injuries, and Pitra hastily deployed a shield to protect herself and the youngest.
"...Hooooh..."
Urtaga, vitality returning to his eyes, exhaled deeply and scanned the room briefly.
His face was still an iron mask of expressionlessness, but the previous anxiety and impatience were gone.
"Starnassila Alzen."
"Aigoo, Your Grace. You called?"
"The situation."
"Which situation? The undead advance? The state of the Duke's Knights and Mage Corps? Or the overall damage?"
"...Report everything."
"Pffft... My apologies. Truth is, I don't know either. If you want to know, go check the front lines yourself—faster that way."
"..."
His eyebrow twitched for a moment, but he didn't erupt in anger.
"By the way, Your Grace. Did you fully sever the illusions and curse?"
"Only halfway."
"Halfway, huh... Well, figures."
"You know something."
"As I said before, the demons' 'Soul Gears' are like their exclusive weapons—totally different from artifacts. Made by sacrificing part of their soul, their power and viciousness are beyond imagination. Escaping their influence isn't easy."
"Indeed... Then, if we cut down the Soul Gears and kill the demon, the curse vanishes too?"
"Can't say for sure... but probably high chance."
Gulp gulp!
Downing even the share I'd just spat out, I looked up at him through my hazy vision.
"Heh... In that sense, failing to fully remove the curse might actually be a boon."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, if the curse lingers, Cambello will approach without suspicion. He's cunning and cautious—he wouldn't come near you without something like that."
"Hm..."
"So now, go out and command the knights. Sweep the undead while you're at it."
"What will you do in the meantime? Got a plan?"
"Pardon? Me? As you see, I'm faithfully fulfilling my role."
I waved the half-empty bottle and the smoldering cigar leisurely, drawing simultaneous sighs from Urtega and Pitra.
What a perfectly synced couple.
"Lord Starnassila Urtega! Are you here?!"
Suddenly, the door burst open without warning.
Everyone just barges in without a care for the door—it's bound to break soon.
The frantic entrant was a knight in full armor, carrying Starnassila Berga, whose shoulder was drenched in blood, slung over one side.
"Berga!?"
"I'm sorry! Even though I was right there, I couldn't protect Lord Berga!"
"...No, good work. Quino."
"Kugh...!"
Urtaga calmly soothed Quino, laid Berga on the floor, and checked his condition.
"Kugh, ah, Father...?"
"...Not a fatal wound. Are you conscious?"
"Y-Yes..."
"You're still green. Falling before your subordinates."
"Pfft. Not sure Your Grace is one to talk~"
"..."
His eyes turned menacing at my jab.
I quickly averted my gaze and pretended innocence by sucking on the bottle.
"Father... The battlefield's still chaos... Hahk, there are knights still fighting... lots of them. We need... command..."
"...Sorry, but I can't."
"Wh-Why...?"
Berga's eyes widened slightly at the unexpected words.
I was surprised too, staring at him puzzled.
In a situation begging for him to rush out, he says he can't—what was he thinking?
Maybe he looked fine but the curse had addled his brain?
"...Alzen."
"Y-Yes?"
I hadn't expected him to call my name, blurting out dumbly.
"..."
He looked at me with deeply conflicted eyes, then hardened his gaze as if resolved.
"You take command."
"...? Mother, looks like Father's lost it to heart demons. He's not in his right mind."
"Haa... Alzen, please. Take Father seriously when he is."
"No... It has to make sense first. Father, did the curse eat your brain?"
"If Cambello the high demon is as cunning and cautious as you say, he might suspect me commanding the knights. In that case, I'll focus solely on being bait to lure him."
"...I said cunning and cautious, but he can sense the curse in you. Commanding or rampaging on the field shouldn't matter."
"No, I must kill him with my own hands. I won't give him even a sliver of escape."
"Then have Quino do it. Better than me."
"Are you serious?"
His firm, upright gaze left me speechless for a moment.
"...Damn, always trying to overwhelm with presence. Why not brag you're a Sword Master to the whole neighborhood? Sigh... Fine, if Brother Berga hands it to me, I'll take it."
I smirked, knowing Berga never would.
"Go...od. Alzen. You... command the knights..."
"...Mother, looks like Brother took a bad hit to the head. What now? Family Head and eldest son both cracked—Duke's Family future looks bleak."
"Haa... Alzen, you really..."
"Father... Cough! Must have... reasons to entrust you... Hahk, hahk... It's not... that I trust you..."
"That look on your face... Sigh, alright Father. In the Duke's name, say a word to the knights, mages, and church. Tell them I've been given full authority—obey me unconditionally."
"Fine. So be it."
He took the communication artifact from Berga's ear, spoke a few words into it, then handed it to me.
"..."
I had no idea what they were thinking.
Hand full authority to a drunken wastrel?
"Hoo..."
But with things as they were, no choice.
I said I'd do it, so I would.
Gulp!
I took a swig, plugged the communication artifact into my ear, and pressed the button firmly.
"Ahh—can you hear me, you maggot bastards? This is Starnassila Alzen, the Duke's wastrel taking command from now on. Any complaints? Of course not— if you'd fought properly, I wouldn't have to do this crap."
I ignored the heavy sighs from beside me.