Chapter 68 (1/2)
… Pitter-patter.
Snow fell from the skies, forming a thick layer of it on the ground as they accumulated, covering her vicinity entirely in white.
… Pitter-patter.
Winter here was eternal. The snow that fell never melted either. Regardless, she waited.
Would this coldness melt away in the distant future?
If she waited and held on until the snow became water for the land, would it ever sprout?
No, she doubted it.
… It was no different from her situation.
She often found herself wondering if spring would ever come to her.
Julie’s life began with death.
She gained life at the price of her mother’s, after all.
That was the first-ever sin she committed when she was born into this world.
“Wow…”
Freyden’s resistance was always held in gelid winter. The small child stared blankly at the knights’ swordsmanship in the pure white hall.
The knights brandished their swords as they sweated, but among them, her father and brother were the best. She was proud of them. They were beautiful.
It looked like a play from a distance, and from close up, it looked like a dance.
“…”
At that moment, her older brother, finishing his match, looked back at her, sweat dripping from him suddenly freezing like jewels.
“Ah, um… er…”
Julie avoided his gaze.
Zeit never spoke to Julie first. Everyone in their family was like that. Even though there was nothing wrong with her, they always drew an invisible line.
“Julie.”
However, that day was an exception. Her elder brother looked at her with a melancholic smile for reasons she couldn’t decipher.
Young Julie faced him with wide-open eyes.
“Y-Y-Y-Yes, brother?”
“Would you like to wield a sword too?”
“… Yes?”
Her dream of being a knight was etched deep in her heart from then on.
Knights served their masters. They became the swords that cut every enemy before them. They protected their subjects and the country while staying true to their beliefs.
There was no room for her in it.
Yet, despite taking away her mother from her family, despite her existence itself being a sin, she still dreamed of it, no matter how long and distant it was.
“….”
Julie opened her eyes. The morning sky was dark, and there was a throbbing pain in her heart.
Knock, knock—
Hearing a knock on the door, Julie got up from her bed. The aching pain spread all over her body, but with a little patience, she knew it’d go away.
“Your bath is ready.” The servant outside said.
“… Okay.”
Julie entered the bathroom and looked at the mirror blankly. Staring at herself, she remembered her promise to him.
‘If you can’t become the Guardian Knight within that time, we might have to get married after all. So, don’t get stuck in one place.’
Now, there wasn’t much time left.
* * *
Dephalem Forest near Hadekain on the western part of the empire.
[Side Quest: Support for Demon Purification]
◆ Store Currency +2
These days, the concentration of mana had increased in some areas, causing demon-related monsters such as gargoyles to appear. Today, I was tasked to suppress and purify one of those locations as part of a quest requested by the cathedral and accepted by the tower.
“… Hmm.”
Initially, I smashed all the beasts and foes that got in my way and moved forward, but at some point, I found an area dotted with death variables, covering it with the most vivid red I had ever seen.
“…”
My intuition told me that if I went in there, my death would be inevitable. The danger it posed was far from ordinary.
[The Villain’s Fate] worked according to my skills.
A trap prepared by just a few goblins wouldn’t even get caught by its radar.
But this forest was far from the threat such low-class monsters could pose against me.
On the other side, an enemy that I couldn’t overcome was lurking.
“Hmmmm…”
Of course, if my opponent were a demon, I would grow stronger.
However, there was a limit to that since the concentration of mana here was too thin. This forest wasn’t as rich in mana as the Crebas Canyon or the Devil’s Barrier.
“What’s going on, Professor?” A blonde priest asked, following my lead.
“Terpe,” I stood still and searched for a suitable excuse to run away without looking scared… “Let’s go back.”
I turned around without saying a word, causing Terpe to look perplexed.
“But we haven’t even reached the source yet.”
“We’ve done enough scouting and analysis. Let’s do the rest next time. You must always prepare ahead of time for anything to avoid being in danger.” I calmly spoke as I walked. “We can finish it quickly, but I want to teach you the method of getting rid of demons cautiously.”
Terpe nodded. After about thirty minutes, we finally reached the forest entrance, where Yeriel and my vassals were waiting. Her puffed cheeks displayed her anger.
“Are you done?” Yeriel asked.
Terpe shook his head.
“We just scouted ahead today and decided to finish the task at hand later.”
She quickly turned her head and glared at me upon hearing his reply. Ignoring her, I got into the car.
Terpe bowed.
“Thank you for your hard work, Yeriel.”
“You’re welcome, priest. Thank you as well.”
Yeriel also got in quickly. As soon as she took a seat, she yelled, “Why! Why couldn’t I?!”
“Be quiet.”
“You didn’t even make it to the end! It wouldn’t have been dangerous!”
The eldest daughter of the Yukline family and the deputy lord of Hadekain wanted to accompany me for today’s purification.
However, I had no intention of putting her on the battlefield.
“You’d only be a hindrance.”
“I’m also a Yukline, you know? I’m stronger against demonic entities!”
… That wasn’t true.
Yukline blood didn’t flow in her veins.
“Don’t be stupid. The ones in charge don’t stay on the frontlines. In the future, if you ever step into any warzone, I’ll assume our ‘promise’ doesn’t exist in the first place. You’ve been warned.”
“…”
Yeriel’s expression hardened.
“… Are you serious?”
She looked at me while grinding her teeth.
“You’ve been pretending to be a great brother lately, but today, you decided to humiliate me in front of our vassals. How will I be able to look at them now?”
Yeriel was really looking forward to this day. To assert her legitimacy to our subjects, she even brought
It was also happening near the territory of Yukline, so she probably felt a sense of responsibility.
Regardless, I ignored her wishes. I didn’t allow her to follow, causing her to feel shame in front of our villeins.
“Yeriel.”
“What?”
“Yeriel.”
“… What?!”
My face hardened.
“Yeriel.”
“Gosh, what is it… sir?!”
Yeriel pouted, her voice trembling.
However, this time, I couldn’t back down.
“Stop acting like a child. Don’t be stubborn.”
Everything I was doing was for her.
“Don’t make a scene. You should know better without me having to point out your behavior.”
“…”
“How long do you plan to act like a child?”
Yeriel knew the traditions of the Yukline family.
Perhaps the reason for her current actions was to prove to the vassals that the tradition had been passed on to her.
“Act according to your position. Show the dignity our estate deserves.”
Yeriel didn’t answer, leaning silently against the window instead. Her hair obscured her face, but she looked like she was about to cry.
Her tiny shoulders were shaking, and her breathing was ragged.
“Let’s go to the Isle of Wizard’s Wealth. I have work to do today.”
I didn’t talk to Yeriel.
•••••••
Dephalem Forest.
“Did he leave? Did he leave?” Asked Gerek, sharpening his dagger while holding his breath amid the long coniferous woods.
He was a handsome man with his long black hair tied behind his back and was nicknamed “multi-personality,” which didn’t suit him.
“Did he really leave?”
“Yes. He did.” Arlos nodded.
Gerek asked again. “Did he leave? For real?”
“Yes.”
“Really?!”
“I said he did, son of a bitch.”
“Oh~ No way~!”
Only when she cursed did he seem convinced.
Like this, each of the Ashes had a screw loosened.
“Did he notice?”
“Yeah, you moron. How could he not? You radiated so much murderous aura.”
“Deculein’s a coward, huh? I did it to lure him in!”
Arlos just smiled.
She actually seemed to understand why Deculein avoided Gerek.
His voice played in her head.
‘You don’t avoid excrements because you’re afraid of it, but because they’re disgusting and dirty.’