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Chapter 369: Wood, How Dare You Go Against Your Sister!
🕑 Added 2024-11-07 15:04:11 +0000 UTCAs the radiant golden light that enveloped the Sin Archbishop of Sloth faded away in Wood's grasp, everyone present was left in awe, unable to hide their disbelief.
The magic Wood had used was unlike anything they had ever seen before. Light and dark elemental spells were rare, and only a handful of individuals could even wield them. However, for someone to wield light magic at such an advanced level was beyond their comprehension.
The target had been none other than an Archbishop of the Witch Cult—a criminal of considerable weight, feared in many nearby kingdoms, and possessing immense power. Yet here and now, such a menace, roaming free for years, had been vanquished by a single spell from Wood!
The womanly figure that had appeared in the final flash of holy light also did not go unnoticed. Initially, many thought it was an angel, but later, they realized that the figure was actually a female spirit—and she seemed to know the Sin Archbishop of Sloth personally.
“Wood, tell me, what is the meaning of that caravan over there?” The sudden question rang out, drawing all eyes toward its source. “Didn’t you once tell me you had no interest in merchants at all? So why now, are you helping that half-elf build a trading caravan?”
The voice belonged to Anastasia Hoshin, Wood’s sister, who strode up with a fiercely determined expression. “You know full well that that half-elf is also my competitor in the royal selection. The one advantage we have is the Hoshin Trading Company's economic power.”
After a spectacular performance in subduing both the White Whale and the Archbishop of Sloth, Wood's presence was imposing. No one dared to approach him, save for one person—Anastasia. She approached without fear, grabbing Wood by the ear as if scolding a disobedient child.
The young woman was none other than Wood’s sister from the slums—Anastasia Hoshin, with whom he had grown up. The moment Subaru and the rest showed up, Wood knew things could get tricky. He had wanted to slip away quietly, but Anastasia had anticipated his every move. Before he could escape, she had ordered Mimi and her brothers to stop him.
“Dear sister, I don’t understand what you're talking about...” Wood tried to play dumb, his usual tactic. “It's true Emilia wanted to create a trading caravan, but it was all Subaru’s idea. He’s the one managing it. I’m just an outsider helping from time to time.”
From the memories he retained, Anastasia was like family—someone who seemed impossibly close, with shared experiences that felt genuine, as if they were truly his own. When it came to his strong-willed sister, Wood seemed to hold a natural fear—something embedded deep within him.
“Cut the nonsense, Wood. Venomous Thorn and the others practically cowered the moment they heard your name,” Anastasia continued, clearly not buying his excuse. “It's obvious they were protecting Emilia’s caravan because of you. Don’t lie to me. And now, my dear brother is working for another faction—and against his sister!”
Wood shot a glance towards Venomous Thorn and the others, who all shrank under his gaze until, at last, he sighed and admitted, “Fine, it’s true. Venomous Thorn and his men acted under my orders, but there was no intention of targeting you, sister. I merely wanted to reform the assassin group. If you have any doubts, we can merge Subaru's caravan with the Hoshin Trading Company—work together.”
Wood's original idea had been to expand his control over the assassin group, use the financial backing from the caravan to strengthen their influence, and infiltrate neighboring kingdoms. But after the incident with the White Whale and Sloth, his plans had been foiled. There was no longer any use for gradual development. Better to capitalize on his sister’s existing business.
“Absolutely not!” Anastasia was having none of it. “Anyone else is fine, but not that half-elf! Does she really think she can use a trading caravan to snatch away my advantage? She can hand you back over first!”
Julius, standing nearby, was initially delighted at Wood’s suggestion. But before he could say a word, Anastasia had already rejected it. Not only that, she insisted that Wood come back home with her.
“Sister,” Wood pleaded, trying to reason with her, “I’ve told you over and over again, I am not your personal belonging. You can’t lay claim to everything. You were never this prejudiced against demi-humans, so why now are you calling her a half-elf?”
Wood tried to persuade his sister to calm down, but Anastasia would not listen. She clung to him tightly, refusing to let go. To ensure Wood didn’t flee, she even ordered the cat siblings to help, but Hetaro and Tivey, feeling they were mature men, refused to engage in something so embarrassing. Mimi, on the other hand, had no such qualms and leaped forward to grab Wood’s head in a bear hug.
“Since Anastasia-sama isn’t interested in an alliance, I, Crusch, would be more than willing to collaborate with Emilia’s faction.” The unexpected offer came as a graceful voice cut through the sibling argument. Crusch, having finally regrouped with her retainers, approached alongside Felix and Wilhelm.
Among the five royal candidates, Crusch was considered a frontrunner, and until now, she had been confident in her chances of winning the crown. But after this expedition, her confidence was shaken.
The source of that uncertainty stood right in front of her—Wood Hoshin, Emilia’s knight. Among the five candidates, Emilia had always seemed the weakest. No one had taken her seriously. But now, Crusch saw that the "weakest faction" was anything but frail.
Wood Hoshin's prowess was on par with the Sword Saint, Reinhard. And his ability to absorb an assassin group into his faction indicated he was not only powerful but also tactically adept. Even Subaru, who often appeared lackluster, had unique strengths. In their earlier interactions, Crusch recognized his talent for negotiation and strategic thinking.
Moreover, when everyone else had been helpless against Sloth’s power of the "Invisible Hands," Subaru had been the only one who could see them. It spoke to a special ability—something Crusch valued.
If Reinhard was going to be an inevitable obstacle in the final stages of the royal selection, Crusch needed a powerful ally, and no ally seemed stronger right now than Wood.
“His name is Wood Hoshin, and he is my brother. If anyone wants an alliance, it’s going to be with me, not with others!” Anastasia, clearly frustrated that even Crusch was making a move on her brother, quickly pulled Wood behind her, shielding him like a mother hen guarding her chicks.
“Anastasia-sama,” Crusch responded coolly, “you may be his sister, but unless I’m mistaken, Wood serves as Emilia’s knight now. I’m interested in working with Emilia’s faction, not with you, Anastasia. So your permission is not needed.”
To Crusch, Anastasia was little more than a rival, and she had never particularly liked her. Growing up with strict knightly ideals, Crusch found Anastasia's overly mercantile nature off-putting. Adding to that, they were both contenders for the throne, and it was no surprise they often butted heads.
Ultimately, it was Wilhelm who had claimed the final strike against the incapacitated White Whale—a privilege granted after he pleaded to Wood for that honor. It was his way of avenging his late wife, and it left the old swordsman feeling fulfilled. By all rights, Wilhelm should have pledged his loyalty to Wood for helping him achieve this goal. However, Crusch's role in this hunt made him feel indebted to her as well.
“Sir Wilhelm, there's no need to feel guilty,” Wood said, noticing the tension. “I wasn’t here specifically for the White Whale. If my sister’s okay, then it wasn't a wasted trip. Besides, without your efforts to hold back the two whale clones, I doubt my sister would have made it until I arrived.”
With the deaths of both the White Whale and the Sin Archbishop of Sloth, Anastasia and Crusch began tallying up their losses and organizing their remaining forces. Of the three factions participating in the White Whale subjugation, Anastasia's had borne the brunt of the casualties.
The Hoshin Trading Company caravan had been the first to encounter the White Whale. Despite their rapid response, and even sending word for reinforcements, the merchants caught in the initial fog had all disappeared, and over half their cargo was lost. Although Crusch's knights had also sustained injuries and fatalities, Anastasia's hired mercenaries suffered greater losses.
Ironically, it was Subaru’s group—the one drawn into the battle inadvertently—that seemed to come out of it in the best shape. Since Wood had arrived almost immediately after they were engulfed in the fog, they had retained most of their cargo. Additionally, Wood had played a pivotal role in defeating both the Sin Archbishop and the White Whale, meaning their faction now held considerable merit in the eyes of the others.
This was a fact Subaru was eager to assert. The rewards from defeating the White Whale and the Archbishop could significantly bolster Emilia’s standing in the royal selection. Both threats had been long-standing dangers to Lugnica, and whoever claimed their defeat would gain a massive advantage. Subaru saw this as a chance to change Emilia’s reputation for the better—an opportunity to prove that she was not the same as the Witch of Envy, Satella.
In contrast, Anastasia was insistent that since the information regarding the White Whale’s whereabouts came from her, and because Wood had shown up for her sake, the majority of the credit should go to her. Meanwhile, Subaru’s claim was that since Wood was officially Emilia's knight, all credit naturally belonged to Emilia’s faction.
While Crusch observed both Anastasia and Subaru argue over who deserved the larger share of the glory, she herself was not willing to let the matter slide either. Crusch’s forces had sustained significant losses in this fight, and she had made prior agreements with Julius that guaranteed her a significant share of the spoils.
The three factions bickered, none of them willing to give an inch, until Rem and Emilia arrived on a dragon carriage in a frantic rush. They had an urgent message for Wood and Subaru: Roswaal's domain, particularly the village of Arlam where Meili had once stayed, had come under attack by the Witch Cult.
