253 Memorial Tablets (2/2)

Having her leave together with the members of the Holy Church would be no different from sending her off to be executed. It was possible that even Estrada would personally deal with her immediately if she left this city. It would be a matter of time before she died.

Aivla, too, had a bitter expression on her face. It had only been less than a day since she lost her faith and became fallen, and her heart was probably in utter chaos. She followed me only because she instinctively wanted someone to rely on.

I had a headache. Although this fallen angel following me around made for great eye candy, I felt like if I foolishly brought her home like this, nothing but misfortune would await me. If this fallen angel had a significant amount of combat strength, it would be even more trouble.

”…Since the Holy Light is unable to stop the warfare, then what can you do? Don’t you have any ideas? Do you only know how to raise questions but not solve problems? How irresponsible.”

Not long ago, I learned that Aivla’s parents had both died at the hands of undead mages. Her parents’ bodies had been defiled as well, which was why she had an almost fanatical hatred of the undead and was one of the Holy Light’s most fervent believers.

”Wait a little bit, and I’ll write a recommendation letter for you. Go learn Nanxiang Law for about two months, and you’ll understand everything. We even help you find a job after graduation.”

Alright, nobody laughed at my joke. This fallen angel only kept her unhappy expression as she silently followed me around.

Today my schedule was packed full, so if she wanted to follow me, then that was fine. I just had to find some place to give her something to do later.

I put on a black hood that I had prepared beforehand and tossed one to Aivla as well. If I appeared before everyone with my real appearance in such a lively festival, it would be impossible for me to accomplish anything.

My first stop was the central area of this Day of Peace Plaza. At this location, there were a series of stone signs, and all the members of the military parade passing by had to stop here and pay their respects. Now that the military parade was over, this place was crowded with people.

I merely watched for a while without a sound, then I intended to make my leave.

”What are those undead doing?”

When she saw those living people together with the undead—even having fun together—not to mention that these people were ordinary people with no powers whatsoever, Aivla was filled with disbelief. This was despite the fact that this was not her first time witnessing such an event.

In the middle of the spectators was a group of high-level undead. They were currently competing with each other as they scribbled on the stone signs; it appeared that they were inscribing something.

”Those are memorial tablets that record the names of all the brave warriors that have sacrificed themselves for our country. Over the past three hundred years, including the Mist Kingdom and East Mist, there are quite the number of names. In the end, with everyone trying to recall names, they still haven’t finished even up until now.”

However, a voice informed me of what the truth really was.

”No, they’ve actually finished the task of recalling the fallen already. Currently, they’ve been competing for several dozen rounds on who gets to inscribe their name in front of the others.”

A mysterious connection between us helped a certain hound discover me, but Ah Bas’ explanation astonished me.

What, was there something about the undead carving their own names onto memorial tablets? Yep—although it seemed a little strange, it seemed like the right thing to do in its own way as well. They were heroes; they had indeed fought to their deaths for our country. It was only natural that they had the right to carve their own names.

However, right now, these lively undead were nothing more than hoodlums who were fighting with each other in order to have their names carved into the first row. Why did I feel like this was all so awkward? This was no different from the dead crawling out of their own graves to write their own epitaphs!

”Why didn’t they inscribe their own names before? Didn’t they have plenty of time?”

”You know how the military parade had a ceremonial part of giving respect to the memorials? Everyone said that they felt it would be strange to pay respects to themselves, so they delayed it until after the military parade.”

”Isn’t inscribing their own names on a memorial even stranger?”

I felt rather helpless as I looked over at the horde of undead crowded around the obsidian memorial tablets.

Originally, I had intended to imitate memorials from my previous world and use one large tablet for everyone, but when Timier had, immediately afterwards, read out the entire aerial cavalry squad’s names and stared at me with an imploring expression, I discovered that merely one tablet probably wasn’t going to be enough.

In the end, as expected, all the high-level undead did their best to recall all their friends’ names, and more and more names were inscribed. There were already thirty seven memorial tablets over ten meters tall that had been erected, but judging by the situation, that still probably wasn’t enough.

”Why are they fighting over being in the front?” Perhaps it was because Aivla had changed species, as this was the first time she had ever expressed curiosity about the undead.

Bastian glanced confusedly at the black-clad person before him, but at my indication, he still answered.

”That’s for the honor of a warrior. Nobody wants to be at the end.”

”Then why don’t they just carve their names at the very forefront?”

”That’s also for the honor of a warrior. Compared to the brave warriors that are truly resting forever, we’re already so fortunate. How could we possibly want to compete with them?”

A long silence followed his words. However, Ah Bas seemed to recall something as he added as an afterthought:

”Relax! No matter how much they fight over it, we left the first position open for you. Only you are suitable for the highest position.”

Alright, I now knew what was more ridiculous than a dead person writing his own epitaph—it was a living person writing his own epitaph!

”Hey, I’m still living! That’s not necessary!”