70 – Episode 70. Shogun of Despair (4)
In an empty void, a man opened his eyes.
“Where is this…?”
The man, known as Jade Hall, continued to move his body without adapting to the sudden darkness.
“…Where am I? Is anyone here?”
No answer came. Instead, darkness-like space was filled with light.
He closed his eyes and when he opened them again, the space had changed. It looked like someone’s home. This time, he couldn’t move his body.
“Is it a nightmare?”
Jade’s body, which had been moving on its own, came to a halt in front of the door.
– Jade.
A woman called his name. It was a familiar yet chilling voice.
Since the woman was taller than him, Jade lifted his head to see her face.
– I told you to answer when I call.
“Lisa…!?”
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The woman’s name was Lisa Maxmillion. She was like a demon that Jade personally killed 30 years ago.
“How are you alive? It’s been a long time since you died…”
– That’s right. Answer like that. Don’t make an unpleasant expression.
After saying it several times, Jade’s soul finally realized.
Lisa couldn’t hear her own voice, and this scene was unfolding just like what happened in the past.
“What did you say? A knight? Ha, someone like you? No, you’re just my puppet. A puppet that moves as I command.”
Lisa laughed with a wicked smile. Her friends who were watching the situation beside her laughed along.
“Be grateful always. Who else would treat you, the son of a fallen noble family, so generously other than me?”
“…Damn it!”
His soul burned. He was infuriated that he couldn’t even act despite hearing such disgraceful words.
The only consolation was that Jade’s body knew what would happen next.
“What’s this? Where did that dagger come from? …What are you planning to do?”
Jade’s body, which had been moving on its own, slowly approached Lisa and her friends.
What was about to happen now was both natural and just.
– Sigh…!
Jade, standing beneath a pool of blood, let out a sigh.
The soul that had been watching this spectacle spoke up.
“Who are you? Why are you showing me this?”
The soul’s memories were incomplete. They only vaguely remembered who they were and what had happened in the past, but they didn’t know why they were here.
“What do you want?”
Again, there was no response.
When the soul was lost in thought, the location changed once more.
– Th-thank you, sir knight!
A woman, holding a child of about seven years old, kneeled in front of Jade, tears streaming down her face.
– You’re the first knight who has ever used his strength to catch those bandits for us. I’m truly grateful.
An old man, with a grown-out beard, also kneeled before him.
– To show concern for people like us… Where else would a hero be? You are a true knight!
– Hero! Hero! The hero of the North!
The people surrounding him cheered and called out his name.
– Oh, it was nothing. I simply did what a knight should do.
A young and passionate voice came from Jade’s body. It was the voice of the soul from their younger days.
“…”
The soul, who had been watching, closed their eyes. Memories of the past had resurfaced.
“Knight.”
The existence he wanted to become. A term that meant someone who knew honor, remained loyal to their lord, and fought bravely against enemies.
It was Lisa who called Jade, who was filled with longing for knights. She promised to make him the best knight and took him away.
Lisa’s gaze as she looked at him was strange, but he didn’t care. She was the one who would make him a knight.
Contrary to Lisa’s words, all the members of the Ashen Wolf Knights were women, but he didn’t care. They would be his seniors from now on.
Because he believed in someone with all his heart, he was easily betrayed.
He didn’t see the hidden desires burning like flames under the name of righteousness.
“Humans are savage beings.”
Jade didn’t know that in his childhood.
“No, maybe he knew but pretended not to.”
It was after his body and mind were broken that he realized the savagery.
He killed Lisa and swore to himself.
People want an ideal knight because there are no knights like that in reality.
So I will become one. The one who guides knights and people onto the right path.
“A hero.”
To suppress and punish the savagery deeply rooted in human hearts, law and order were necessary.
To enforce law and order upon people, overwhelming power was needed.
A hero is a title given to someone who possesses such overwhelming power.
-Jade Hall. Impressive. To reach such heights with that body. I will remember your name.
In order to become a hero, he learned swordsmanship from a man known as Ganggeomgyeong.
He traveled the world, fighting strong opponents in order to create his own sword.
During his journey, he also killed savage humans. So many people began to call him the “Northern Hero.”
It was only natural for him to become the strongest knight, the Seven Swordmaster.
– Jade, my righteous knight.
And he met a woman who sincerely loved him.
Averie Tellas, the beloved of Count Tellas.
He suspected that she might be like Lisa, but Averie’s love was pure.
It was warm enough to melt Jade’s cold and icy heart.
He married her and they had a child.
The child’s name is…
“Hmm.”
The location changes once again. The soul, lost in thought, looks around again.
– Father!
The figure of a young girl comes into view. She clings to Jade’s body and rubs her face against his.
Amelia Hall. A daughter who doesn’t even hurt when you have her in your eyes.
– Do you know what people call you, Father? They call you a hero! The Northern Hero!
– Does that make me proud?
Jade’s body quietly laughs.
– Of course! But why do you speak politely to everyone? It’s strange when you do it to me too.
– Heroes should be role models for people. They should always treat others with a smile and dignity.
– Amazing…! My father is my pride!
Amelia’s bright smile is filled with the eyes of her soul.
Once again, the space changes.
This time it was the Telas Territory. The territory of her husband’s family, the place he personally set on fire.
– Jade…!
A tearful Avery looks at Jade’s body. Eyes filled with hatred, anger, and sadness.
Jade’s body silently swung his sword towards his wife’s neck.
– You bastard! You f*cking traitor!
The leader of the Silver Fox Knights, who had faced Jade, vented his anger.
– Jade Hall! You knew it! It was an outrageous law! Many people would have died if they followed it! And yet, you…!
His body, defeated in battle, was in a terrible state.
‘The Silver Fox Knights. I killed everyone except for that guy named Leonard.’
The soul quietly watched the leader’s face.
– Ah… Ah!
The cry of a child is heard from behind. Jade turned his head in the direction of the sound.
Standing there was Amelia.
– Amelia. Why are you here? Didn’t I tell you to spend time with Joanna Yang in Goldon?
Amelia, who pushed through the confused soldiers, silently approached and embraced Avery’s body.
– Why, why did this happen?
– Avery, the Count of Telas, violated the kingdom’s law. I had to execute him personally.
Jade’s voice was calm and composed.
– …A hero is someone who fights for the weak, for the world.
Amelia did not look at Jade.
– You are not a hero.
Her voice was as chillingly composed.
– A person who is trapped in the past, unable to save themselves, cannot become a hero who saves others.
– …How childish.
When Jade turned around.
– Jade Hall.
A man’s voice reached the depths of their soul.
– One who has dedicated their life to restraining the savagery of humanity, for law and order.
“…Who are you?”
A white soul revealed itself.
– My name is Hamel-Lion. One of the great Five Spirits.
“Watcher…!”
– Do you know why you are here?
A video played before Jade’s eyes.
It showed a fight between a man in black and herself, in a space filled with human skulls and weapons.
“Deserter, ninja!”
The memories of the soul came back.
Recognized as the strongest in the Chilgeomjing, he executed justice. But then, the Red Whale Matap appeared.
They assassinated the royals and captured the Swordsmanship Association and the Chilgeomjing.
He went to Matap to settle the matter himself, but the power of Matap was too strong, and he couldn’t win.
Believing that an opportunity would come someday, he decided to cooperate for now.
Several years passed.
Irina, his loyal servant and lover whom he had planted in Matap, brought him an opportunity.
She said she had discovered an artifact containing the soul of a Watcher in the Aioji Mine.
Irina said that if she fought and defeated the Watcher’s soul, she could obtain a great power. But for that, she had to create a safety device with magic.
When Irina took the artifact to study and create the safety device, a runaway ninja infiltrated the mansion.
He fought against the ninja and was defeated and killed.
– Now, it seems that all the memories have returned. Good. Look.
The Watcher, who introduced himself as Hamel-Lion, showed something to Jade’s soul.
“This is…!”
The ancient form that the Watcher ruled.
– Freedom is the realm of chaos.
Living beings, including humans, followed the laws and order they created, and the world was peaceful.
– You must know as well… Order and freedom cannot coexist.
The thorough oppression of savagery and desire.
“It’s beautiful…”
Jade’s soul admired the world. It was an incredibly idealistic sight.
We tried to control the savagery of the intellectual beings because we knew it well. We failed due to variables, but we didn’t give up.
Hamel-Lyon spoke.
“Jade. The world you desire is the same as the world we wanted to create. We can cooperate.”
“You mean… you can give me the power to defeat Matapju?”
“Of course. She is the ‘mistakenly chosen one.’ Although she is a powerful existence, she cannot face all the Guardians. You and I will lead all the Guardians and rule this world again.”
“In that case…!”
Jade accepted Hamel-Lyon’s proposal.
“Good. I, we, will lead…!”
Their souls merged, and a new being was born.
***
Jade, fused with the Guardians, finally opened her eyes.
“Ah… Jade.”
Jade turned her gaze to find the owner of the voice, Irina Penhoff.
Tears streamed down her face as she lay there, bleeding.
“My Jade, my warrior.”
“…Irina. Did we succeed?”
Irina’s body was a mess, as if it had been torn apart by swords and spears.
It was a situation where her breath was about to cease.
Jade gently took Irina’s hand.
The child who was almost killed as a witch in a remote village. The child he saved. Irina Penhoff.
“After my breath was cut off, it was difficult, but it was possible because your soul had not yet left your body.”
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“I see.”
“I’m sorry. I’m late…”
Irina gasps for breath.
“It’s okay. Rest comfortably.”
Jade embraces Irina and holds her position until her breath is cut off.
– Jade. This body is temporarily stitched together by me. It won’t last long. We need to find a powerful body to steal.
“I understand.”
Jade, who closed Irina’s eyes, stood up.
A sinister black energy enveloped his body.