Chapter 65 : “Cradle of Fire, Mantle of Restraint”

Until Kane awakened, Lilia chose to remain by his side.

“I’m not sure what caused him to collapse mid-conversation with me,” she said, “but I can’t just abandon a brother who fell speaking with me, now can I?”

“If he wakes and starts another scene, feel free to send him my way,” Curtis  replied.

“It’s fine! I’ve calmed plenty of troublemakers in the Church before.”

She gave a confident smile, raising a tiny, determined fist in the air.

Curtis  doubted Kane would dare act so recklessly in front of Lilia again—but even if he did, the difference in their strength was obvious. After all, Curtis  had just finished using him as target practice for his Spirit Shells.

Leaving the reception hall with easy confidence, Curtis  made his way straight to Bishop Mayra. An audience was quickly granted.

“Your Grace. About the demon-hunting commission…”

“Hmm? Have you changed your mind?”

“No, nothing like that. But I’ve just learned something that might affect the situation. Does House Brutaine happen to be involved?”

“…Did I not mention that?”

Mayra paused, brows furrowing as she retraced her memory. A dry chuckle escaped her lips.

In her lengthy explanation of demonic corruption and the danger of a cradle left unchecked, she had entirely omitted the details of who had filed the report.

A rare lapse, but understandable. Bishops rarely needed to negotiate directly with mercenaries.

“My apologies. I must’ve overlooked that part. Lilia told you, I assume?”

“Yes.”

“Then she’s right. The report did come from Brutaine. They discovered the cradle.”

Though demon hunts were the sacred duty of the Church, it wasn’t omniscient. Without divine satellites in the sky, the Church relied on reports—often from wandering adventurers, mercenaries, or scouting parties.

In the East, where mountains loomed and monstrous breeds thrived, it was not uncommon for noble houses to stumble upon such threats while patrolling their lands.

“Now that you mention it,” Mayra mused, “Lilia mentioned that Brutaine’s second son had shown up. You ran into him, did you?”

“Yes… about that…”

And so Curtis  recounted the affair with Kane—omitting no detail, even the more absurd ones. Mayra listened quietly, only asking the occasional question.

When he finished, she nodded.

“So that’s how it happened.”

“Indeed.”

Mayra’s expression remained calm—almost amused. Curtis  hesitated.

“This won’t jeopardize the commission, will it? I mean… what if House Brutaine refuses to work with me?”

“That’s what has you worried? There’s no need. Rest assured.”

She waved off the concern with a soft laugh.

“Just because Brutaine reported the cradle doesn’t mean they’re leading the commission. The moment it was identified as demonic in nature, it became the Church’s domain. If they tried to withdraw now, they’d be declaring opposition to us.”

“I see… So the moment you took command, they were committed.”

“Exactly. And since I personally hired you for this mission, you’re considered Church personnel until it’s complete. If they continue to target you, they’d be openly challenging the Church itself.”

“Then as long as the mission’s integrity is preserved, I’m content.”

Mayra smiled—but her tone grew a shade more solemn.

“However…”

Curtis  paused, sensing the shift.

“Once the mission ends, the situation could grow… inconvenient. Regardless of the circumstances, a public dispute with a direct heir of Brutaine is not without consequence.”

“True, but I couldn’t just bow my head when provoked,” Curtis  replied, scratching his cheek.

It was unwise to clash with noble houses—but it was even worse to let one walk all over him without protest. That wasn’t principle; that was surrender.

Just as Curtis  had once guessed that the threshold for Silver was the unlocking of accelerated thought at level 30, he now speculated that level 50 marked the border of Gold.

And if that were true…

Being Gold meant a mage had earned the right to be bold.

Some houses, like Gaude or Narok, had no Gold-rank combatants at all, even while contending for dominion over entire cities.

Kane’s panic upon suspecting Curtis ’s rank had been genuine. For while a Silver might earn respect, a Gold commanded it—from any house.

“Do you believe I went too far, Your Grace?”

“Not at all,” Mayra said firmly. “He insulted you, unprovoked, and then admitted to initiating the first strike. You showed considerable restraint.”

Indeed, if Kane had truly suffered damage, things might be different—but there hadn’t been a broken bone, not even a burn. If anything, Curtis ’s mercy was cause for gratitude, not grievance.

“To be clear, I’m not saying retribution is inevitable,” Mayra added. “The head of House Brutaine is no fool. I’ve spoken with him. He’s not the sort to act rashly.”

“His son didn’t exactly give off the same impression…”

“Children rarely do as parents wish,” Mayra replied with a faint sigh. “Still, the patriarch is pragmatic. He won’t risk open conflict unless the gains outweigh the cost.”

“Then we likely won’t have trouble.”

“Be cautious, nonetheless. Wisdom and virtue are not the same. If he sees value in removing you, he won’t hesitate.”

“Then I simply won’t show weakness.”

Curtis  shrugged with quiet certainty.

Let them see the strength he wielded. Let them understand the risk of making him an enemy.

And perhaps, when they saw what he was capable of, they’d think twice before making the mistake again.

Surely even House Brutaine knew better than to blindly incite a mage whose power ran deeper than rivers.

Unless their patriarch was the sort of man who’d burn down his own estate over a bruised heir.

Hopefully not.

When Curtis  returned to the reception hall, he was relieved to find that only Lilia remained.

Kane, she explained, had awoken and left soon after.

“I told him you’d be joining the cradle expedition,” she said, “and he started trembling all over.”

“I doubt it was from joy,” Curtis  replied dryly.

Unfortunately for Kane, they’d be seeing each other again soon—whether he liked it or not.

After all, he was the one who brought word of the demon’s cradle.

And now, it was his duty to guide the Church there.