In the game [Echoes of the Fallen Sun]—players could lead a harem playthrough.
Easy Mode locks the player to the game's default heroine. Meanwhile, Normal Mode allows players to choose a different one through in-game choices, and in Hard Mode, the user can then attempt a harem playthrough.
But the harem playthrough was practically impossible to achieve, as the unlockable heroines were notoriously difficult—each with problematic personalities, complex traits, or complicated backgrounds. On top of that was Cael's own personality which only made it even more improbable.
That's why the route almost always led to a bad end, and many believed it was only there to bait players into playing the game. It was a game catered to men's fantasy, after all.
---
Countless rumors had begun to circulate among the nobility and within the Aldyvorn Dukedom itself. The truth was, the condition of the dukedom's only heir had been intentionally kept secret.
However, maintaining that secrecy was a complete failure from the start—after all, when Cael regressed and lost his will to live, it hadn't occurred inside the Dukedom's grounds, but rather in the Central District, a highly populated area where the authority of powerful nobles such as Counts, Marquesses, and Dukes overlapped.
Naturally, these noble houses held territories across various parts of the kingdom, but their main estates—towering symbols of their power—stood firm in the Central District, also serving as a symbol of their influence.
It also meant that keeping it a secret was close to impossible.
---
In the morning of the same day.
In the Valebryn Manor located in the south of the Central District, a noble family of Marquess rank resides—the Valebryn Marquessate.
The morning shine bloomed, and inside the manor—a room that was filled with extravagance: golden light shimmered from the chandelier, a table made of high-quality wood, and the walls so thick they seemed impenetrable.
Inside, three people were present, yet only two were engaged in conversation—while the third, a beautiful young lady with golden hair, fair skin, mature features, and a relatively tall stature (176 cm), remained silent.
Unlike most young noblewomen who wore dresses, she wore tailored trousers and a fitted, high-collared jacket reminiscent of a knight's attire, along with sturdy, knee-high leather boots—as if such garments suited her far more than delicate gowns. A sheathed sword hung at her waist, secured in a scabbard strapped to her side, and her golden eyes radiated an aura of justice itself.
It was Erica Valebryn, Cael's fiancée and one of the main heroines of the game [Echoes of the Fallen Sun]—and the only available heroine in the game's Easy Mode.
---
The man currently seated and in conversation was Bern Valebryn, the head of the Valebryn Marquessate and Erica's father, while also an old friend of Awsell Aldyvorn.
Yet their conversation was so heated, and the air so stiff and suffocating, that a chill ran down Erica's spine from the sheer pressure they were exerting.
"Awsell! What do you mean you don't care about such circumstances!?" Marquess Bern yelled with sheer disbelief he had just heard.
"Again, I don't care," Awsell replied, his voice resolute and unwavering.
"...Damn it."
Bern's expression shifted to one of resignation, realizing there was no point in trying to talk sense into the man before him. After all, even he had been forced to endure this entire issue—his daughter was also being hurt by this entire situation. Still, there was no use in getting angry.
"Sigh… I understand your circumstances. But this could potentially damage the engagement between Erica and Cael."
After a brief pause, his tone shifted—calmer now, carrying the detached weight of political reasoning.
"So? What are we going to do about it?" His voice was neither cold nor warm, simply practical.
But because of that behavior, the man before him snapped.
The air reverberated, the ground shook, and it looked like the very fabric of reality was distorting.
Kruung...
"...You may understand the circumstances—"
Awsell's voice was low and filled with fury, his eyes bloodshot.
"But not the implications, or how far I've had to go! My very own—my only son—is nearly on the verge of killing himself! He doesn't eat! He doesn't sleep! I don't even know if he's truly alive!"
"Priests from the Holy Kingdom, enchantresses, curse bearers, and... even those elusive demons of the lower realm—and to my utmost effort not to tarnish my son's reputation... I did all of those with utmost secrecy and by using nearly all of my estate's mana contracts of the third-highest rank!"
"...I've tried everything, Bern!"
Now the very earth itself was shaking with great intensity, and it was as if breathing itself became a labor.
Yet the two people in front of him protected themselves.
"A-alright, forgive me." Marquess Bern replied, his voice flustered. As the surging anger of the man before him made him lose his composure.
Erica, standing nearby and listening quietly, cast a defensive barrier around herself, causing a blue shimmer to envelop her. While the pressure itself didn't harm her, it was the words of the man before her that struck the hardest.
After all, when Cael suddenly lost the will to live—he was with Erica. And Erica deeply cared for Cael, not just because of her status as his fiancée but for who he truly was.
But the next words that came out of Awsell Aldyvorn shook everyone in the room—and the pressure he was exerting completely vanished.
"...That's why, if a single girl could allow my son to keep on living... I don't mind." His tone was low, and his voice filled with resignation.
He lightly massaged his forehead and closed his eyes, leaning against the backrest of the sofa he was currently seated.
My dear... I apologize. How much of a failure I am as a father to our child... I—I truly have no idea what I'm supposed to do.
His son had completely changed overnight, yet he couldn't even bring himself to ask about it.
When Cael snapped, there was no way he wouldn't have known. It was such an obvious display... Yet, he deliberately chose to ignore it at the time. He was a father, and being treated as one made him feel like a complete failure. More importantly, he was simply relieved by the fact that his son was still alive and breathing.
Then, after a while, his gaze shifted to the young woman standing to the side of the sofa, his gaze filled with helpless sympathy.
Noticing his gaze, Erica felt an unexplainable sense of dread. Still—she couldn't help but ask.
"...May I ask?"
"What is it, Erica?"
"If I may presume... it seems to me that they're already in that kind of relationship."
Her gaze hinted at a tinge of sorrow, yet to her, it didn't matter. After all, the fact that Cael was alive and had regained his will to live is what mattered to her the most...
She looked down, her gaze shifted to the floor as if she wanted to avoid the gaze of the man before her, regardless she muttered.
"Then, I wouldn't care..." She said, but after a while her face contorted out of the pain she was feeling, not physical but so much worse than that, "...No, that's a lie to say that."
...There's no way I ever could... That easily...
A smile formed on her lips, but she felt tears would fall anytime. Then, she swallowed her emotions, forcing the swelling emotions back down. Her gaze rose—firm, unwavering—as she looked straight at the man before her, her eyes burning with resolve.
"But that is beside the point... Rather, could I maybe meet Cael and that girl called... Nyx?"
"...I understand, it's also just a presumption of mine."
The display where they held hands was what made the Duke think of the possibility, as well as the act of Cael protecting her from his gaze. But those were still just presumptions.
Erica gave a slight bow, her voice steady and her expression composed.
"Thank you, Your Grace."
...Wait for me, Cael. I will definitely help you. As you always did for me... And if you truly cared and loved that girl, then I will not hesitate to leave...
Her golden eyes shimmered with even more radiance, blessed with the innate ability to see a person's intent—an extraordinary trait that allowed her to rise above her peers.
[Unique trait: The Arbiter's Eye]
That's precisely why...
If that girl did something despicable... Then I will... not hesitate...
Her head, once facing straight ahead, was now slowly tilting upward. It was as if she didn't want the man before her to witness her gaze—those golden eyes which now held a faint tinge of red.
Held a portion of killing intent.
---
What happened in the Merchant District that night was kept strictly confidential. Even the fact that the Aldyvorn heir had brought a girl was deliberately concealed.
The only information released to the public was that Cael was hosting an important guest—whose identity and even gender remained undisclosed.
The citizens were simply informed that this guest must be treated with the utmost care and security, ensuring no one dared to attempt anything reckless. As for the mansion's staff and vassals, they were all bound by mana contracts, guaranteeing absolute silence. Not a single word could be leaked, even if they wanted to.
But that didn't stop the citizens from gossiping. After all, unlike the mansion's workers, they weren't bound by any contracts—unless they got caught.
Especially not the nosy merchants. And merchants they were, in the Merchant District.
At the same time that morning—
"Hey, did you hear?" whispered the merchant selling magical antiques.
"What?" another male merchant beside the man's stall whispered back.
"Some people witnessed that the important guest the Young Master brought was actually a girl?!"
"Huh? No way, that Young Master already ha—"
Clunk.
They were about to gossip further about the topic, but they were interrupted by someone...
It was a young girl gazing at them—and she was close. So close, in fact, that her innocent-looking face was practically resting on the table where the merchant sold his magical antiques.
She was a girl of short stature (167 cm), with short gray hair and ash-colored eyes, round and wide. She wore a thick, fur-lined gray jacket with short sleeves, and a skirt that barely reached her knees. Her skin was alabaster—so pale it might seem uncanny to some. All of it combined made her look far too innocent—like a lost child.
She gazed at them with those round gray eyes.
"...A-Are you interested in my products, Little Lady?" the merchant asked, voice slightly nervous.
"Hmmm? Not really~ More importantly… continue your conversation~" A delicate, impish voice—light and airy, laced with childish mischief and innocent charm.
"Wh-what seems to be the issue, Little Lady?! O-oh, you want this gem? I-I'll give you a special discount just for you!" His voice came out flustered.
"Hey... mister merchant~ there's a guard to my leftmost side...." She didn't even glance at it—then grinned with a devilish smile, her round eyes physically slitting with amusement.
Once innocent, her gaze now felt like a predator watching its prey. She added, "Oh! Now 10 meters closer to us… and if you don't~ hehe, it won't be such a good thing~"
"…What do you want to know, Miss?"
"Hmm? Just tell me the appearance of that interesting person you've been talking about~"
The merchant sighed in resignation. His senses told him this innocent-looking girl before him was far too dangerous to mess with.
"…Alright."
---
A short while later—
She leaned even closer, now tiptoeing as if she were seeing something very amusing.
"Ah, by the way. As expected of merchants I've only just read in textbooks!" Her eyes shimmered red as she added, "That necklace you're wearing has something nasty with it… Hmmm? A nasty curse indeed. Probably gonna curse your bloodline for generations...? Just kidding! It's nothing serious. It'll only blow you up when you do something nasty~ hehe… So, as thanks for that information~"
She reached out her hand—her small fingers now touching the necklace, her lips curling up as her eyes slitted like a fox's and glowed crimson.
"Wh-what?! What are you?!"
Whoosh.
A dark substance emanated from the necklace, flowing through her hands then reaching forth towards her crimson lips.
She licked them, expression filled with euphoric delight—but then her gaze landed on the man's eyes.
The amusement vanished.
"Ah... by the way… forget everything," she said, her voice low and cold, like someone addressing something far beneath her. But after a while, as if something stirred inside her, her red slitted eyes turned hazy—darkness replacing the crimson glow.
The darkness swirled within her gaze.
"Confess everything you did. Everything." Her voice turned cold—so cold it could freeze hell itself.
"…I understand."
The merchant just looked at her, dazed. The second man beside him seemed to have already fallen into some kind of spell.
She then slowly began to walk toward the bustling streets, as if she had all the time in the world. Her gaze drifted to the mansion standing tall at the center of the city.
Then, as if nothing had happened, her entire demeanor changed—her expression shifted into one of amusement. Her eyes regained their slitted crimson glow, and she smiled with mischievousness.
"How interesting~ Maybe that girl will enter the academy? If so~ how interesting would that be???" She then added, her tone darker now, a tinge of amusement lacing her words,
"…isn't that right? Our dear archenemies… Al-kun~"
She walked lightly toward the crowd—her steps weightless, hands clasped behind her back, her small frame swaying gently from side to side.
And when she reached the crowd... as if a single thought carried on a gentle stream... she vanished out of sight.
She was one of the game's main heroines.
Half-demon and half-human.
Curse Bearer.
Vel Nyrosveil.
---
| Chapter 9 - Heroines