Yohan stared intently at Gawain. His black eyes had grown much darker.

'... Am I imagining it?'

Perhaps he was mistaken. Ilea's words might simply be making him read too much into it. He needed definite confirmation. If the fell spear really was consuming Gawain, he had to find a solution as quickly as possible.

Gawain must never fall to corruption. He was the hero who would shoulder humanity's fate. Yohan needed Gawain's holy energy and powers intact to weather the calamities that would come later with relative ease.

Yohan's mind raced as he watched Gawain with his lips pressed shut.

Gawain gave an awkward smile. "Sir Yohan, is there something on my face?"

Yohan's train of thought snapped. "Ah, no."

"Then why are you staring so intently? It's rather unnerving. Haha."

After a moment's deliberation, Yohan spoke. "... Forgive my impertinence, Your Highness, but have you noticed any changes in your body lately?"

Gawain looked slightly puzzled. "What sort of changes do you mean?"

"Have you experienced any symptoms such as sudden nightmares, frequent mood swings, or your blood turning a little darker?"

Gawain answered with some surprise. "I can't say about the others, but I've been having far more nightmares lately. Enough to make it difficult to sleep. But how did you know, Sir Yohan?"

Nightmares so bad he struggled to sleep. Yohan felt a profound sense of dismay the moment he heard that. Gawain was experiencing the exact symptoms of the first stage of encroachment described in the original novel.

He spoke as calmly as he could. "I ventured a guess because your face looks more drawn than before. You seem quite exhausted. Might I suggest spending tonight at the castle?"

He could not let Gawain roam about outside. Certain high-ranking priests would surely notice what was happening to him. Ilea had detected it; there was no reason they could not. Yohan had to keep Gawain out of the public eye as much as possible until he resolved the encroachment.

Gawain spoke. "I was actually hoping to stay the night, so thank you for offering first. I'll remember your kindness, Sir Yohan."

That, at least, was a relief. A refusal would have made things very difficult. Holding Gawain here by force was all but impossible. His prowess rivaled that of the Twelve Holy Luminaries. Subduing him would mean risking their lives.

Yohan spoke. "Then allow me to show you to your room. You can rest there for a while until dinner is ready, Your Highness."

Yohan seemed a little hurried, unlike his usual self. Gawain was puzzled.

"We still have things to discuss... Has something happened?"

Yohan had begun behaving rather strangely after the girl who looked like a maid entered the drawing room.

Yohan bowed his head. "My apologies, but an urgent matter requires my immediate attention. I beg your understanding. Let us finish our conversation over dinner."

Putting a prince of the realm aside was something of a breach of etiquette, but Gawain did not mind at all. He had endured far worse contempt. Yohan was showing him considerable respect by comparison.

Gawain smiled. "Shall we do that, then? I'll see you shortly."

Yohan rose from his seat. "Thank you for your understanding. Allow me to escort you to your room."

They left the drawing room. After showing Gawain to a guest room for honored visitors on the second floor, Yohan headed straight to the underground library. It was time to devise a plan for dealing with Gawain.

* * *

"Are you certain? About the encroachment?"

Ilea answered Yohan's question. "That does seem to be what's happening."

"Isn't there a chance he's made a contract with a Demon?"

Minute traces of demonic energy sometimes flowed through a Demon contractor's body. These remnants of the contract were so faint that even the pope would struggle to detect them.

Ilea sounded skeptical. "The demonic energy was relatively strong for the residue of a contract. I don't think that's what left it there."

Yohan suppressed a groan. "Then it really is the fell spear?"

Ilea studied his expression. He looked gravely troubled.

"Would the Third Prince's corruption be that serious a problem?"

To survive the end that came later, they needed a proper balance between good and evil. Gawain was a pillar that would uphold the side of good. He must never fall to corruption.

Yohan said, "I can't explain in detail, but we absolutely must prevent it."

Ilea watched him for a moment, then nodded as though satisfied. "I see. All right. We'll have to start looking for a way to stop the encroachment."

Yohan sighed. "Ordinary methods won't be enough."

In the original novel, Geppetto, the specter of the duchy, had ultimately succumbed to corruption through encroachment. Countless high-ranking priests had worked on him, but even they had failed to find a solution. Once encroachment began, there was effectively no remedy.

Gawain would gradually deteriorate. In the end, he would become an evil spirit like Geppetto.

Ilea asked, "How much time do we have?"

"Ideally, we need to find a solution tonight."

Gawain had said he would leave tomorrow. They had no particular grounds for keeping him here.

"One day isn't enough. Let's buy ourselves some time first."

They needed a pretext to keep Gawain in the domain. Yohan could scarcely think what excuse to offer. After racking his brains for a long while, he spoke.

"There is one way to keep Gawain here, but it could have serious repercussions."

"What sort of repercussions?"

"An armed clash. Could you handle him, Ilea?"

In time, Gawain would join the ranks of this world's strongest figures. So would Ilea. Their potential was nearly equal. Even Yohan could not say who had the advantage at present.

Ilea said, "Gawain is immensely powerful. Probably beyond the human realm. At full strength, that is. Things are a little different now. He doesn't have his holy spear."

Without one's personal weapon, combat strength inevitably plummeted. As he was now, Gawain would not be able to display even half his true ability.

"Then he'll be no match for you."

Ilea nodded. "That's right. Besides, I have the first strike. If I choose to, I can subdue him without any losses on our side."

If Ilea and Gawain did clash, it would not be a duel. It would be a one-sided surprise attack by Ilea. Gawain would have no way to counter it.

Yohan said, "That's encouraging, but there's another problem."

"What is it?"

"Gawain's Royal Guard. They're probably stationed around the castle."

Even an abandoned prince did not travel without an escort. His Royal Guard was bound to be with him. Among them, the knight Yuri was particularly formidable.

Yohan had met her before. Judging by their conversation that day, her loyalty to Gawain ran deep. The moment anything happened to him, she would come rushing in, heedless of danger. Things would escalate considerably.

After a moment's thought, Ilea asked, "Could you handle them, Yohan?"

Until now, Yohan had never once fought a powerful opponent. He had always used trickery to prevent a fight from arising at all. This time was different. An armed clash would be difficult to avoid.

Yohan spoke calmly. "I'll try. This will be a chance to test exactly how strong I am."

He had grown considerably over the past few months. He had gained another horn and learned spearmanship. Even against a prince's Royal Guard, Maphel’tan should be more than capable of holding his own.

Ilea said, "Take Hakain with you. Just in case something goes wrong."

That was reliable insurance, too. The Sword Fiend Hakain. The Royal Guard would pose little problem for him.

Yohan spoke. "I will if it comes to a fight. But the best outcome would be keeping Gawain in the castle without a clash. I'll have to find some way to persuade him."

"I hope it works, but things might go wrong. I'll be ready to subdue him."

Yohan nodded. "Be prepared. I should go see Gawain now."

Dinnertime was approaching. Yohan headed straight to the dining room.

* * *

The long dining table was laden with food. It had probably emptied the castle's stores, but there was no helping it when entertaining a prince. They had to observe a certain degree of formality, even if it stretched their means.

Yohan looked at Gawain, seated across from him. "Please, eat before it gets cold, Your Highness."

"I will. Thank you for such generous hospitality."

Gawain took a spoonful of soup. Yohan began eating as well and said, "I ought to have held a banquet, but the domain's means are limited. I beg your understanding."

Gawain waved away his concern. "No, not at all. This is far more of a feast than I deserve. I'm more than satisfied. Let me treat you when you come to the royal capital."

"You normally reside in the royal capital, then, Your Highness?"

"I move fairly often, but I'm living there at the moment."

Yohan gave a contrived exclamation of delight. "How fortunate. I'll be heading to the royal capital soon myself. Would you care to travel with me?"

Gawain looked a little puzzled. "The two of us together?"

"Indeed. Let us set out together in about fifteen days."

"The Count won't look kindly on you if we grow close."

The Count and Gawain were political enemies. As long as Yohan was working with the Count, he was supposed to keep his distance from Gawain.

"You needn't concern yourself with the Count. He is in no position to interfere with me."

Gawain smiled innocently. "You seem to have quite a hold over him."

"Indeed I do. So you can rest here in the south for about fifteen days, then head to the royal capital with me."

Gawain's smile turned rueful. "A very tempting offer, but I'm afraid I must decline. I have a meeting arranged in the royal capital. In fact, I intend to leave early tomorrow morning."

Yohan groaned inwardly. He would have to be more persistent.

"If it isn't urgent, might you postpone it a little? You look unwell, Your Highness. It would be better to spend some time with me and rest for a few days."

Gawain kept smiling despite his continued urging. "I'm sorry. It's a very important meeting. Let's leave it for another time."

He was adamant. He did not seem likely to change his mind. Yohan would have to take a firmer approach.

Yohan set his cutlery on the table. "I shall speak at the risk of giving offense. The truth is, I need time to assess you, Your Highness. Before I meet the Count in the royal capital, I must decide exactly where I stand regarding you."

Only then did the smile leave Gawain's face. He, too, set down his cutlery. "... Do you know the full truth of my relationship with the Count?"

Yohan nodded, his expression composed. "I do. I've heard everything, including the untold story of that day."

Hostility crept into Gawain's eyes. His voice was cold. "What exactly do you want from me?"

Yohan slowly began to speak.