Chapter 43: Grand Duke Inferno Arrives at Penacony—
{Children, the first act of the Penacony story concludes here. Let us now enjoy the Duke's declaration of war as our finale.}
{This will surely bring you a modicum of Elation, relaxation, and sunshine.}
〘Stelle〙: It better be.
〘Sunday〙: No! Show me the rest! I need to know who the culprit is!
{I don't know~}
[ NOW PLAYING — A NIGHT OF EVER-FLAME: SCENE 33 ]
『 "Penacony, Planet of Festivities. A cradle drowning in dreams," As the Duke speaks, the screen lights up. The four of them look toward the Duke sitting on the throne ahead.
"A resting place for the cowardly."
The Duke holds a bundle of Epiphyllum in his hand, which dissolves into flames. The frame is engulfed by fire before transitioning to a shot of a shattered mechanical pocket watch.
"The Family has summoned guests for its grand celebration."
As the words fall, the screen is filled by a goat's vertical pupil, as if golden fire were burning within it.
"The golden blood of Destruction shall flow alongside it." 』
『 ....』
〘Aglaea〙: The golden blood of Destruction…
〘Anaxagoras〙: Interesting.
....
『 The camera pans up to reveal a goat placed upon an altar, its golden blood flowing down from the wound via the altar.
"Offer up a grand sacrifice to Him."
"Children of the flame…"
As the golden blood flows ever more freely, the Duke's voice rises in intensity.
"This is your rite of passage!"
A giant eyeball wreathed in blue fire appears on screen.
"Akash, my most sensitive child."
"I lit a fire in your eyes and showed you music of the strings."
The eyeball sinks downward, shattering the glass below, and falls endlessly.
"You shall strike the banquet tune upon a four-stringed instrument, and leave the choir of Harmony in silence!"
"With pleasure, Father," A refined male voice replies. 』
『 ....』
〘Robin〙: Is this a declaration of war against the Harmony?
〘Hanabi〙: Ahahahahaha~ Never expected this, never expected it at all. The Duke is surprisingly bold.
〘Aha〙: Woo-hoo! If you had declared war on the Elation afterward, that would have been a real riot. A pity, you're already dead, Ifrit. Woo-hoo, I can't name you an Emanator of Elation now.
....
『 After the male voice replies, the eyeball transforms into a golden apple, spinning in circles.
"Dubra, my most intelligent child."
As the golden apple turns to its other side, purple flames ignite, burning away the skeletal frame within.
"I set your form alight and taught you mastery of the blade. Dubra, I set your form alight and taught you mastery of the blade. Temper it with sulfur, maim the Elation,"
"And let the performer's blood and tears pour into the abyss."
"As you wish, father," a calm, petite girl's voice replies. 』
『 ....』
〘Aha〙: Hahahaha! Ifrit! You truly bring me joy! This is just too entertaining!
〘Aha〙: If you weren't dead, I would have joined you on this job!
〘Hanabi〙: That is truly heartbreaking news.
〘Stelle〙: He's so bold. Do you think there will be one against the Hunt later?
〘Feixiao〙: Then he's had his brains scorched by his own fire.
〘Boothill〙: Son of a gun, if this son of a gun really declared war on the Hunt, I'd bet his precious Ever-Flame Mansion would be reduced to rubble by the Xianzhou and the Rangers together before long.
〘Belle〙: That would certainly be a display of overwhelming martial virtue.
....
『 After Dubra replies, the screen shows many gears operating with precision.
"Caterina, my most courageous child."
The camera pans up slowly until a large gear occupies the entire screen.
"I kindled a flame in your heart and granted you blood of fire."
After the words fall, accompanied by the grinding of gears, everyone finally sees the true form of the gear: it is, in the end, the door of a vault. 』
『 ....』
〘Aventurine〙: It couldn't be what I think it is…
....
『 "Use your wrath to shatter the Preservation's sanctum and melt their gold to create a statue of our savior."
The gold on the vault door in the image is melted away by flames.
"You got it, old man." 』
『 ....』
〘Aventurine〙: It really is what I thought it was.
〘Topaz〙: He really is bold.
〘Jade〙: It's hard to comment on this.
....
『 The camera pans up once more, then is filled by a blooming purple dahlia.
"And Constance, at last..."
"My most ambitious and exceptional child."
"I have nothing left to teach you. Just remember..."
"Without Penacony's midnight hour, strip away all they hold dear."
The image returns to the Epiphyllum burning in the Duke's hand. He burns the flower completely, looks down at the children below, and shouts.
"And leave naught but the Remembrance's tomb!" 』
『 ....』
〘Black Swan〙: ??? Coming for me?
〘Stelle〙: How come it feels like your trip to Penacony was just as rough as ours?
〘Hanabi〙: Drop the "feels like."
〘Sampo〙: What a pity. The Duke only had four children. If he had more, he surely could have declared war on every path in the universe.
〘Aha〙: Truly magnificent. Without my guidance, to declare war on the four paths all by himself—hahaha—and it even includes Aha's Elation. This is just too funny! A pity, there's no Trailblaze in there. And the Trailblaze and Elation are such a perfect match.
〘Pam〙: Who's a match with you, pam!
....
『 "Hahahaha, no need for her to show up; I alone am enough!" Caterina, with her red twin-tails, laughs loudly.
"Caterina, it would be better to be a bit more pessimistic…"
Constance says calmly, and the frame shifts to her face.
"What if we all end up dead?"
After she finishes speaking, she flashes a wicked smile, and a ghostly blue flame ignites beside her left eye. 』
『 ....』
〘Stelle〙: Hiss, a bad woman! But what an authoritative smile.
....
『 "Shh…" Akash holds up a finger to interrupt Constance, then draws his cello.
"Since when have those on the Path of Destruction feared death?"
"But we should also make preparations… Father."
The screen cuts to a petite girl with blue hair and red eyes, her left eye covered by a bandage; she holds a red apple in her hand.
After speaking, she collapses like a puppet, her eyes losing their luster, before being caught by a massive black robe.
"What is our fallback if things become perilous?" 』
『 ....』
〘Herta〙: Not bad. Aside from that warmonger, the other three children have some sense; they know to look for a way out.
〘Acheron〙: But he would never leave a retreat for himself.
....
『 "Fall back?" The Duke leans on his cane and walks down from the throne, passing through his children one by one. "Such a thing does not exist."
"Destruction is a glorious instant. If one were to grovel for survival, this life would be far too long."
The Duke looks at the star map of Penacony before him; the Penacony reflected in his monocle has already been incinerated by the fire in his eyes.
"Relish, Penacony, savor its invitation."
"Prepare this beautiful dream to welcome its new master from Fetora—"
"Ifrit, Duke Inferno,"
The four children stand beside him, the Duke standing in the center.
"Ever-Flame Mansion." 』
『 ....』
〘Hanabi〙: That was probably the last family photo he took with them.
〘March 7th〙: That's a bit too hellish.
〘Stelle〙: I've got something even more hellish. Who said the Duke didn't come to Penacony? Isn't he here, piece by piece?
〘Hanabi〙: The Duke of Inferno came to Penacony—
〘Stelle〙: Piece by piece.
....