Chapter 469: Love Turns to Hatred

Chapter 469: Love Turned to Hatred

The expression on Mr. Eisen's face caused Karen's heart to stir slightly, his keen perception telling him that Mr. Eisen seemed to have realized something.

As Karen stepped onto the platform where Mr. Eisen was standing, ascending the stairs, he felt none of the warmth of a potential reunion with family; instead, a sense of trepidation and... a looming threat weighed on his mind.

It was not that his secrets had never been shared with anyone else—Neo, Ventura, and Muri all knew—but none of them were capable of betraying him.

Yet when it came to the Guman family, his own maternal lineage, Karen had always maintained a profound level of wariness.

But upon reaching the platform and seeing the smile and the tears on Mr. Eisen's face more clearly, a sudden wave of repentance and guilt washed over Karen's heart.

"Captain."

"Mm."

Mr. Eisen raised his hand to erect an isolation barrier. Then, opening his left palm, the Cube Key manifested, and he swiftly constructed a simple mental bridge array, one designed strictly for short-range communication between two people.

These actions proved that he truly had guessed something.

Karen sat down across from Mr. Eisen and voluntarily connected to the mental bridge.

"Captain, I have a few things I want to say to you."

It was not a question, but a statement.

Karen nodded and replied, "Please speak."

"I have misunderstood your identity many times in the past, especially during that time we researched space. For a very long period, I firmly believed you were a Temple Elder.

And you... admitted to it, too."

A faint, awkward smile appeared on Karen's face.

"Karen, you are my sister's son. You are my nephew."

Without the slightest hesitation, Karen nodded and answered:

"Yes, Uncle."

Mr. Eisen lifted his head and opened his mouth, but the moment the word "Uncle" struck his ears, the tears in his eyes completely breached their bounds, spilling over uncontrollably.

He began to weep, burying his head in his hands, crying with agonizing intensity. His body shook unceasingly, yet his sobs remained stifled and suppressed.

...

Philomena, who had fallen asleep sitting there, woke up halfway through. She turned her head to look toward the cat and the dog, then glanced over at Karen's side, letting out a cold sneer in her heart:

Since when did whispering secrets become the fashion within the squad? How did the atmosphere suddenly turn into this?

However, she was never one to harbor much curiosity. Closing her eyes, she returned to her state of "awakening."

...

Faced with Mr. Eisen, whose emotions were now visibly spiraling out of control, Karen, usually the most adept at offering comfort, found himself utterly at a loss as to how to confront him.

For he knew the profound depth of affection this man held for his mother.

Had that affection not been so deep, the man would never have fallen into such a state after his mother's death.

The bloodline of the Art family dictated that the closer the kinship, the deeper the bond. It was not the bloodline that forged familial relations, but rather genuine familial bonds that awakened the resonance of the bloodline.

Finally, Mr. Eisen lifted his head once more and took a deep breath. Though his eyes were already bloodshot, a distinct smile graced the corners of his lips:

"I truly never imagined that you would be my nephew. Truly. It wasn't until the day before yesterday by the well on the island, when I was deriving that concluding ritual, that I sensed a surge of anxiety and panic.

Everything, everything about it, was exactly the same as when I saw my sister in my dreams.

It was as if someone in my head was loudly telling me over and over again that this time I had to succeed, that I had to save your life, that I could absolutely never let anything happen to you!

At that moment, I hadn't yet reasoned it through.

The instant the concluding ritual was fully derived, I suddenly understood."

Mr. Eisen pointed to himself, then pointed to Karen:

"Between us, there is the bond of family."

"Thank you, Uncle."

"No, no, no, do not say that, do not say that." Mr. Eisen wiped his eyes forcefully with the sleeve of his clerical robe. "It is I who should thank you. I thank the Great God of Order for allowing me to see my sister's child."

Mr. Eisen leaned his body forward, seemingly intending to open his arms and embrace Karen, but his arms failed to extend fully. In the end, his "established perception" of Karen still carried a sense of awe that could not be erased in a short amount of time.

Ultimately, the embrace Mr. Eisen had envisioned manifested as a single hand extended toward Karen.

Karen reached out his own hand, grasping his uncle's in a handshake.

Mr. Eisen let out a sigh. Karen used his other hand to gently hook around Mr. Eisen's shoulder. Mr. Eisen froze for a moment, then used his other hand to hook around Karen's shoulder as well.

The nephew and uncle, in this manner, awkwardly completed their first intimate contact after recognizing one another.

A moment later, the two separated.

"You knew all along that I was your uncle?"

"Yes."

"You knew all along that Richard was your cousin?"

"Yes."

"And you knew even earlier that Richard's grandmother was your maternal grandmother?"

"Yes."

"Did Richard's grandmother recognize you as well?"

"I believe... she did."

Mr. Eisen nodded. His own son was foolish and likely had not realized that Karen was truly his brother;

but his mother had shown a peculiar warmth toward Karen from the very first time she met him. Looking back now, it could only mean that his mother had long recognized her grandson.

After all, as her son, he knew his mother's temperament. She was only warm toward the children of her own household; toward outsiders... she was actually very cold. She was not a benevolent and universally loving elder.

"Why not make your identity public?" Mr. Eisen asked.

"Because my identity cannot be made public," Karen answered, looking at Mr. Eisen with utmost seriousness. "Once my identity is exposed within the Church, I will face terrible consequences that I do not wish to encounter."

"But we are your family. How could you think that we would..."

"Family affection and devotion to the God—which, in the end, is more important?"

Mr. Eisen fell silent. After a moment, he spoke: "You are worried about your maternal grandfather."

Evidently, though Mr. Eisen had spoken very little over the past years, he understood his family members deeply.

"I simply feel that making it public or not isn't particularly important. Even without making it public, I can still visit your home frequently to see you all."

"No, it is different. To me, it is entirely different," Mr. Eisen said. "I am so happy that my sister still has a child remaining in this world."

"Uncle, I am doing very well."

"I know, I know. Sister has a very excellent child. The matters regarding your household... forget it, I won't ask. I can only say that I will keep this secret for you, and I will not tell anyone.

Karen,

my nephew,"

"I am willing to protect you with my very life."

Cullen nodded.

"It is good, truly good. No wonder I could never help but compare you to Richard. I found it so strange, why I would weigh a 'temple elder' against my own shiftless son, and for a time I wondered if I was being far too harsh on him.

Only now do I realize I was right all along; the boy simply lacks any drive!"

"I believe Richard has made immense strides under the lash of your modern pedagogy, Uncle."

"I like to think so too. Still, my heart feels much lighter now. He isn't someone else’s child—no matter how excellent they might be, he is my own flesh and blood after all."

Then, the two men sat facing each other, falling into a brief, heavy silence.

Cullen was at a loss for words; in that moment, he felt a stirring of emotion, yet he loathed to let himself become too sentimental.

Were he facing a "patient or client," he could perform with absolute confidence, but before his own "blood relation," he felt only constraint.

"I wish to know something of my sister's life before she departed, if you could tell me? Provided, of course, it does not infringe upon your secrets."

Cullen could not help but recall his "father" and "mother" stepping forward to protect him when Ranedal had tried to seize his body, remembering how he had lain with them upon the grassy fields of that dream.

"The affection between Mother and Father was profound. Though they are no longer with us, she spent a beautiful span of time with my father. They were deeply in love."

"That is well, that is well..."

Eisner nodded repeatedly, his eyes, which had only just cleared, reddening once more, though he swiftly took a deep breath to force the tears back down.

"I knew back then that my sister was safe, but she never contacted the family before she passed. There must have been some extraordinary reason that barred her from doing so."

"I imagine that was the case."

"In truth, sometimes you ought not to weary yourself so."

"What?"

"I am saying, Cullen, do not drive yourself to such exhaustion. If you wish it, stepping back to rest would be quite fine as well."

"Uncle, you misunderstand. My path is of my own choosing. Since I have set foot upon it, I shall certainly press forward with unwavering resolve."

"Ah, your character is very like your mother's." Mr. Eisner leaned back, propping himself up on his hands as he gazed at the starry canopy above. "Thank you for always helping Richard."

"We are family, Uncle; there is no need for 'thank you.'"

"Yes, quite right."

"Uncle, once we return, let us find another time to converse properly. For now, will you rest? You have severely overextended yourself to save me, and I worry your health might falter should you suffer further violent shifts in emotion."

"Very well, I shall take good care of my health, for I now have another person whom I must protect... though there is truly little enough I can do to aid you."

"Without you, I would not be sitting here conversing with you at all. Please, rest."

Cullen stood up, but just as he was about to dissolve the barrier and step down, Mr. Eisner called out to him.

"Wait a moment, Cullen."

"Yes? Uncle, is there something else?"

"You too possess the bloodline of the Guman family, which means you are capable of cultivating the Rubik's Key. It is an art of immense utility for the deployment of formations; with it, your efficiency in learning and utilizing arrays will be vastly heightened."

"Uncle, there is no need."

"No, there is! My Rubik's Key was taught to me by my sister; it is only proper that I now pass it on to her child."

"Uncle, really, it is unnecessary."

"Come, I shall first imprint this technique for you, and then I will explain the fundamental knacks of initiation..."

"You need to rest right now."

"Even if I must exhaust myself to the point of spitting blood, I intend to teach it to you!"

Cullen turned his left hand upward, and a delicate, intricate Rubik's cube materialized, hovering gently within his palm.

Mr. Eisner’s eyes widened in astonishment before a sudden realization dawned upon him. "Ah, of course. My sister would certainly have taught you."

"When I arrived in York City, I had not yet been purified."

"Then who taught you? It could not possibly have been Richard, could it?"

"It was Richard."

"Richard?"

Mr. Eisner stared at the exquisite, visibly high-tier Rubik's Key manifest in Cullen’s palm, then recalled the crude, unpolished cube his own son conjured, and could not help but ask:

"He was fit to teach you?"

"I requested it from Richard. He assumed I merely wanted to examine and study an abridged version, so he imprinted it directly onto a scroll and gave it to me. Richard is very good to me; whatever fine things he possesses, he gives them up the moment I ask."

"You are a genius, Cullen," Mr. Eisner said with a smile. "Even my sister in her youth could not match you. I truly hope that one day, you will be able to tell me that it is time to speak of your household affairs."

"That day will come, Uncle, and it is not so very far off."

"I look forward to it."

"Goodnight, Uncle."

"Goodnight, Cullen."

Cullen broke through the barrier and stepped down from the platform. Behind him, Mr. Eisner lay back down, but he turned his back to Cullen, his eyes closed, a faint smile gracing his features.

Through their preceding dialogue, Cullen could clearly perceive that Uncle Eisner’s malady was nigh fully mended, for the knot tightening his heart had finally been unraveled.

Which meant, if Richard were to be thrashed in the future, it would truly be...

Yet, if Richard suddenly ceased to be beaten and Mr. Eisner reverted to normal all at once, would it arouse suspicion?

It would be wiser, then, to opt for the most conservative and secure approach.

As Cullen walked toward the quarter where his own bedding lay, he passed before Philomena, who opened her eyes once more.

"Not resting?" Cullen inquired.

Philomena shook her head and said, "I wish to speak with you, Captain."

"Very well."

Cullen took a seat.

Though there were "rooms" here, each person's dwelling consisted merely of a canopy and side curtains to ward off the sun and rain; by night, the curtains were essentially raised, presenting no barrier to communication or speech.

Philomena raised her hand, casting a rudimentary barrier about them.

Cullen asked in puzzlement, "What is the meaning of this?"

Philomena replied, "I thought you might praise me for having the sense this time to erect it in advance without needing to be told."

"Very well, you have improved considerably."

"You speak in ironies. Then again, our relationship has hardly reached the level where we might share closely guarded secrets."

"Indeed. What a beautiful and lovely young lady, yet what a pity she possesses a mouth."

"I wish to ask a favor of you."

"Your form of address."

"Captain, I wish to ask a favor of you."

"Honorifics."

"Captain, I would like to beg a favor of you."

"Just speak plainly, you are my subordinate after all."

"My grandmother is waiting for me to mature, so that she can seize my body."

"Mm, I am aware of that."

"I want to beg you to help me deal with my grandmother."

"The same matter, if I remember correctly, didn't we speak of this topic that night aboard the Lunar Cult’s frigate?"

"It is different this time. I truly hope you can help me."

"Why?"

"Because through recent events, I have realized that you possess the capability. Of course, you may state your terms, any terms at all, and I shall fulfill them."

Karen shook his head.

Philomena’s gaze fell slightly into disappointment. "You refuse?"

"There is no need for terms. While you remain a member of my team, as your captain, it is my duty to protect your safety. Even if it is your grandmother moving against you, I will certainly stand by your side to aid you.

However, when will your grandmother strike?"

"I do not know. I am also waiting for her to move against me. We are each... deeply yearning for the other."

"Mm, then you may inform me in advance when the time comes, and I shall come to your aid.

After all, I prefer a youthful team. I do not wish for some elder to come along and raise our squad's average age; it would make our team appear rather devoid of prospects."

"Yes, Captain."

Karen prepared to rise and return to his berth, but he halted his movements and spoke, asking, "When the outcome between you and your grandmother is decided, does it mean that person's curse upon your Vilsher family will have ended?"

Philomena replied, "Do you believe I will ever marry and bear children?"

"Who can say for certain concerning the future?"

"I cannot imagine the scene of myself marrying and bearing children. Still less can I imagine a scene where I address a man as my husband. Most unimaginable of all is what manner of man would ever accept a wife such as me."

"When a bucket is filled to the brim with water, it often means it is on the verge of leaking."

"I cannot comprehend the meaning of your words, Captain."

"A proverb I just made up. The logic is a bit flawed, but the general meaning is that people who usually say such things find it very easy for the wind to slap their own faces."

"I simply feel that if I do not bear children, the curse will end. Because the curse dictates that the Vilsher family will slaughter one another until only the final soul remains."

"You could search for a way to break this curse."

"Captain, I feel there is no need for that."

"Very well. Do you hate the one who laid the curse?"

Philomena shook her head. "I do not."

"Why?"

"He made me understand how beautiful a thing it would be if this family were left with only me alone. I am grateful to him. Furthermore, I can sense that my grandmother does not hate him either. She even... still longs for him."

"Do not be so pessimistic. Perhaps you could converse more with Richard, or whenever you find yourself feeling depressed, you could beat him to vent your frustrations. He can take a blow."

"I hope he has not died. This is the first time I have ever cared for the life or death of another. However, I do not actually enjoy speaking with him very much, especially after visiting his home last time."

"Oh?"

"I cannot help but imagine that if not for that curse, would I have been able to live a life like Richard's? A background from a prestigious church family, a carefree childhood, a harmonious family atmosphere.

Rather than walking out of the house to see everyone wearing a smile to my face, only to add a line behind my back: Look, there goes a member of that terrifying, mad family."

"It will pass. Everything will pass. It is precisely because one has endured suffering that one learns to cherish life and treasure beauty all the more."

"Thank you, Captain. Actually..."

"Actually what?"

"Actually, I used to be curious about what kind of man could cause my grandmother to remain so utterly mindful of him even now, and how exceptional that man must have been in his youth.

Until I came into contact with you, Captain, and I gradually began to understand a little."

"Me?"

Philomena turned her head toward the berths of Aisley and Blanche. Those two girls never concealed their affection for the captain, yet they knew well that nothing would happen between them and the captain, so they confined themselves to enjoying that fondness.

She spoke:

"I think if I were a normal girl of the Vilsher family, I would fall in love with you too, Captain."

"Unfortunately, I already have a fiancée."

Philomena froze,

murmuring:

"So grandmother... turned her love into hatred."