Chapter 80: Embers (2)
I sat down again with Ospreet and Jane. It was not a story that would end briefly.
Ospreet lifted the teacup, took a sip, and spoke.
“As you said, we alone are not enough to put out the flames.”
Ospreet said.
As he said, it is not realistic to resolve the Mangot attack within Constel.
I said.
“It is a threat to all of humanity, so all of humanity must join forces.”
“That is correct. The question is how to combine those forces.”
Jane said after hearing that.
“Everyone must have realized by now that the President has returned. “You must be aware that something is wrong.”
Ospreet is the zodiac. And it is the closest to the Grand Wizard.
By now, the entire empire must be on edge due to the return of Ospreet, who was lost from the world.
The person whose existence I had completely forgotten has returned to my memories, and that person is none other than Ospreet.
Something clearly happened. I guess everyone has that perception.
But that alone is not enough.
I said to Jane.
“Everyone will have no doubt that Mangot will attack. “If the chancellor tells the imperial palace and the imperial palace announces it to the entire empire, they will know it even if they don’t want to.”
“Then can’t we join forces?”
“Yes. On the surface, yes.”
Jane tilted her head at my words. I don’t know why Jane uses the expression ‘superficial’.
“I told you this to Teacher Isamaya before.”
I recalled a conversation I once had with teacher Isamaya. That time when I got into her car and headed towards the aerial railway to stop the Indus.
“At that time, the Indus was overlooking Cape Bay.”
It is impossible even for Ospreat to estimate the overall size and military strength of Mangot.
However, Ospreet has just confirmed who the god who is targeting him from the other world is.
In the process, you probably realized how dangerous Mangot was.
“Even Indus, which had been gathering information from all over, looked down on Cape Man. This is especially true for ordinary citizens. The same goes for professionals and the imperial palace.”
That’s the problem.
Even if we believe that an attack from Cape Mango is coming, how much will the continent invest to prevent it?
“… … “I think Frontier will be lacking support from the imperial palace and professionals.”
“That would be the same for you, President.”
Ospreet nodded at my words.
“It’s not an investment concept.”
“yes. This is a matter of sacrifice. How much blood does it take to extinguish the fire of Mangot? “That’s the problem.”
Jane opened her mouth at my words.
Ospreet is probably the only one who agrees with this statement now. Most people do not know the dangers of Mangot.
Mangot is a group that citizens become aware of through word of mouth.
Most people don’t know, and even if they do know, no one really knows. In other words, Mangot is close to the ‘fear of the unknown’ for citizens. Like a ghost or ghost.
Mangot is treated with a loose sense of fear, as if the threat can be reduced depending on one’s mind.
“I will try my best to appeal to you, but I am worried that even if the palace understands what I am saying, it will not support me as much as I want.”
Ospreet spoke in agony.
I thought for a moment and then sighed.
Yes, I knew it would end up like this. Because I was afraid of this future that would come someday, I made so many preparations.
“I will negotiate with the imperial palace.”
“You mean that?”
From Noble mtl dot com
Ospreet looked at me in surprise. But then he spoke as if something had occurred to him.
“yes. I heard there was a Zodiac call while I was away. At that time, I made friends with the Imperial Palace and the Zodiac. “Is that what you mean, Frontier?”
“Of course, you also got it right. only.”
Even after I made my decision, I still had some traces of deliberation, so I put my fingers together and said,
“Negotiations are not done through friendship.”
* * *
Mangot is not going to be invaded tomorrow.
After discussing what to do next with Ospreet, I went out. This time, I won’t get caught again.
I left the Constel building and headed toward the mansion.
Before negotiating with the imperial palace, I had something to do first.
“… … Phew.”
After coming out to the clearing, I used my ‘sixth sense’ to confirm that there was no one around.
I took a deep breath. At that time, it seemed as if some kind of determination flowed into my body.
“Selena.”
It’s been a while since I called that name.
I couldn’t see her always appearing as soon as I called.
But I didn’t bother to call again.
I’m not urging Selena. Whether she comes to me or returns to Mangot is up to Selena to decide. This was a promise I exchanged with Selena from the beginning.
So if you don’t answer this call, that’s fine.
The inevitable farewell,
“… … It’s a little late. sorry.”
“… … .”
I was about to do it, but Selena arrived behind me.
“It’s been a while, Selena.”
“… … Haven’t you seen each other in class every day? And I am also staying in this mansion.”
This statement is absurd.
After solving the drug case, meeting Mei at the imperial palace, defeating the demons, and rescuing the lost Elodie, until now.
I could barely pay attention to Constell. And during that time, Selena avoided interacting with me to an excessive extent.
If I think about it now, the changes in Mangot must have already started from then.
“You know the situation, Selena.”
“… … That’s right.”
“I wanted to give you more time, but I couldn’t.”
I saw Selena. Selena still kneeled in front of me and bowed her head deeply.
… … The sight seemed familiar, and I was rather uncomfortable.
Selena spoke in a pitchless voice.
“I don’t know what that means.”
Selena said so.
“From the beginning, I was Mangot’s body. “I’m sure Frontier knows this well.”
He spoke in a voice that showed no emotion.
“I came today to say goodbye. “I think that is the bare minimum.”
“… … is it.”
I closed my eyes deeply after hearing Selena’s words.
As Selena said the word goodbye, memories of the past days with Selena flashed through my head.
Everything from Selena’s shameless act when they first met to the time when the two worked together to destroy the fragments of Helheim.
I took a deep breath.
“Has Mangot completed the interpretation of the ancient language?”
“… … “Frondier has nothing to worry about anymore.”
“Or have you realized that the interpretation cannot be completed through what I teach you?”
“… … There is no need for you to worry about that either.”
Still a dull voice. A cold tone that conveys no emotion.
also.
I laughed as I realized something very obvious.
“As expected, it’s impossible.”
“… … “What do you mean?”
“I can’t see through your acting.”
A fact I have known for a very long time.
I don’t know Selena’s true feelings. I kept that fact stuck in my head.
I couldn’t carelessly read Selena’s words and actions after receiving thorough acting instruction at Mangot. Because I knew it was dangerous to judge something based on that.
Although this is the first time I’ve ever told her that I can’t read Selena’s acting.
Rather, that’s why there’s only one thing I can say to her.
“Lift your head up, Selena.”
“… … .”
“I told you this last time, right? “You don’t have to bow your head to me.”
“… … no. I am comfortable with this.”
Selena refused to listen to me and didn’t raise her head.
“The orders I received at that time were also very uncomfortable. “For me, it’s much easier to keep my head down.”
“Selena.”
I told Selena.
There was no more bravado or authority left to show to her.
It’s natural.
“It’s goodbye now, isn’t it?”
“… … !”
“Thank you for following me despite my insistence. “I am grateful for the consideration given to my seemingly insignificant appearance of strength.”
This time, Selena was silent at my words.
I have already thrown away all my doubts about Selena. Because it no longer has any meaning.
But is Selena still wary of me?
“Lift your head up, Selena. “Let’s at least say hello face to face at the end.”
“… … no. Sure,”
“Selena, I—”
“Please don’t do that!!”
Selena’s emotionless voice suddenly became a loud cry.
“Sure, please don’t do that. Don’t say that. This is not like Frontier. Just get rid of me like you’re throwing me away. “That is the relationship between me and Mr. Frontier.”
“What are you talking about? “Selena.”
I stopped Selena from saying something absurd.
“That’s not what our relationship is about.”
“No, I, I, I am from the beginning,”
“You are my benefactor, Selena.”
“… … !”
Selena is my escort.
Of course, that is not Selena’s original role. Selena’s role is to monitor me, recruit me, and deliver the ancient language to Mangot. Escort service is just a fake role to be seen by those around you.
But even so,
“How could I forget that, Selena?”
Can I forget the time when she saved my life?
How can I forget the time when they wrapped a cloth around my neck in front of the barrier?
Even if she is ultimately my enemy.
Even if I return as a member of Mangot.
Even if everything that was directed at me was really just an act.
That performance saved my life.
“Selena, I mean goodbye.”
I looked at Selena, who was still not moving.
However, I could see his shoulders shaking slightly. I could feel her mana trembling.
“This is where we end the role you and I have created.”
I could see his body trembling at my words.
“So you are no longer my escort.”
“… … .”
“Raise your head, Selena.”
“… … .”
“don’t worry.”
I smiled.
I learned how to smile from Selena, but this time, somehow, I smiled without having to think about that.
“I can’t understand your acting.”
I don’t try to read you any more.
I just want to say goodbye.
Just as Selena wants it, so do I.
“… … Mr. Frontier… … .”
Only then did Selena slowly, trembling, get up. He stood on both feet, but still had his head down.
But soon those eyes slowly raised their heads as if they had made up their minds,
“… … Is that so… … ?”
Tears flowed down the wet eyes, stained with moisture.
A sad smile turned towards me.
“I’m kind of good at acting.”
He spoke awkwardly, with a trembling tone, as if he was trying to be sly but it wasn’t working.
I saw that face.
I looked at it blankly for a moment, unable to think of anything.
But I soon knew what to do. It was exactly what I wanted to do from the beginning.
“Selena.”
“yes.”
“No matter what lies you have told so far, I will not hold you accountable. “I promised you that, but can you do me a favor?”
“What is?”
I took a step closer to Selena.
“You can still lie to me,”
For the first time, I couldn’t read her expression.
“I’m going to believe whatever it says.”
“… … !”
“So just one word.”
To see through Selena’s ‘acting’.
“Do you have something to tell me?”
Maybe I don’t know if I feel like this. Selena’s true heart.
But it doesn’t matter either way.
From the moment I first met her.
Selena’s lies and truth are decided within my heart.
That’s what I decided.
“… … Mr. Frontier.”
Selena slowly opened her trembling lips and spoke with wet eyes.
“… … Please save me.”
Right after those words.
Selena is gone. You can’t even hear my answer.
I was standing completely alone in the clearing, and the cold wind passed by me a few times.
“… … is it.”
I raised my head and looked at the sky as if I was chasing her appearance that was no longer there.
“is it.”