Agnes – 10 (完)
After the match was over, time passed quickly.
Agnes personally introduced me to the sights of the city, but he did not neglect his training, and so did I.
Although it was imperfect, he showed the power of the stars to the blacksmith.
The blacksmith said he didn’t care, saying that he saw an excessive amount of light compared to his sword, even after hearing that his sword was incomplete.
The detachment in the eyes of the blacksmith who said that. The pupil seemed to have reached the end, and I was silent. Because the blacksmith was a craftsman until the very end.
The blacksmith said, “Aren’t you afraid?”
“It’s not something you can avoid just because you’re tired of fear, wouldn’t it be better to pretend to be calm?”
There was a blacksmith, a man who had now laid down his hammer and became an old man. I met him with the stars in the night sky. I hope to be able to capture that light with a sword sometime.
death at last. The funeral of the blacksmith was held with joy. The funeral was not grand, and people wore white instead of black.
It was the blacksmith’s intention.
He hoped that his death would not cause sorrow to linger. That’s why everyone postponed happiness.
With sadness buried in his heart, he saw the old man out with joy. In the last place, I and Agnes were also able to attend.
It’s because the old man’s son invited him. He said that the old man talked a lot about me, and he said he would like me to brighten up the place.
At that invitation, I attended without any hesitation.
Although it was a brief meeting, the blacksmith was a person who stood out clearly in my memory. The masterpiece of his life was a sword that was strong enough to withstand some of my sword strength. like the will of the owner.
Eventually, as the old man’s coffin entered the tomb, we stared blankly at the old man who was covered with dirt. It was covered with a coffin, but his form seemed to be visible.
And it wasn’t just a story that could only be told to us.
“Sigh.”
A cry was heard. Very little, and just put up with it. It was definitely a cry.
sound from behind. It was the little girl who dropped the tears. The still-juvenile-looking child was dripping like dew drops.
Still, it was impressive to wipe off the dew with a handkerchief.
The eyes of adults turned to her. The child turned his head as if his gaze was burdensome. The cheeks were stained red.
When the sniffling sound was heard, Agnes slowly approached the child.
He bent his knees and made eye contact with the girl. As he turned his head, he glanced into Agnes’ eyes. The surroundings became quiet.
Agnes stood still and watched the scene, then slowly opened his mouth.
“Are you sad?”
The child shook his head vigorously. Was it to not violate the will of the old man, wishing him to be happy?
It looked pretty desperate. But, paradoxically, the dew kept falling from the child’s eyes. Transparent water runs down the ball.
Looking at it, no one could blame him.
It was because he was a child. She is clumsy at hiding her emotions, and has not yet gone through the turmoil of the world. A clean child was there because it had not been defiled.
Watching such a child, Agnes spread out her hands.
Mana that gathers in an instant. And a pillar of ice rising from below.
Suddenly, a small ice sword stood in her hand. The size is too small to be a real sword, and it can be said that it is an accessory.
However, its shape was unique.
Agnes handed the sword to the girl. The girl looked into her eyes and carefully grabbed her sword. That was the end of it.
Agnes stroked the boy’s head a few times and stood up.
The child quickly stopped crying and started fiddling with the sword he had been given. It was made of magic, so it wouldn’t melt for quite some time.
I looked at Agnes for a moment and then turned my head.
I had a lot to say, but I didn’t.
First of all, the funeral was over.
After a little commotion, the old man’s coffin was buried in the ground without a hitch. The family watched the land where the old man was buried for a moment and then bowed their heads silently.
It was a sign of respect. For craftsmen who have dedicated their long lives to sword making. The greeting was even more special, as most of those who came to the funeral knew the old man’s life.
I also bowed my head briefly. The longer he knew the life of the elderly, the longer it took him to lower his head.
Although everyone may have a different opinion. In their own way, the old man will be remembered in the mind. Even the elderly will be satisfied with that.
Thinking so, he turned his head.
After everyone said goodbye, they left the funeral. He seemed restless. I didn’t know it was natural to see off the dead.
Because it was.
Woong Woong.
No one noticed that the old man’s sword on his waist swung to and fro and pointed towards the grave.
Even me.
**
After the funeral, I quietly walked out.
In the beginning, it was an old man’s funeral, so he only stayed there, and had no intention of having an affair.
Inside, Agnes was talking to the old man’s family. It’s noisy and the voices come and go, but it doesn’t seem like they’re just sharing.
“Is it time to leave already?”
When I looked up at the sky, it was dark as usual. The waves crash and the sand on the sandy beach is moist.
If you go back to the capital of the empire, it’s a sight you can’t see anymore. I caught the vast sea in my eyes. to be remembered forever and ever.
About a week passed in an instant. And even in that moment, a bond is formed and then scatters. I had all sorts of thoughts.
But I didn’t think about it for a long time. After all, the delusion was only in vain.
Surprisingly, Agnes did not invite me to the room. My room and her room were clearly separated.
I never even entered her room.
I knew I was going to call you right away, but I guess I was wrong. I sat down on the steps leading down to the beach and shredded bread.
It was pretty sweet. Although not comparable to the bread in the capital, it was enough to satisfy Deron’s picky taste.
As I was shredding the bread, someone tapped my shoulder.
I turned around thinking it was Agnes, and there was a girl standing there.
With the ice sword Agnes gifted to her neck, she smiled softly.
“Why?”
I stood up and brushed the dust off my body. Meanwhile, the child smirked and spoke brightly.
“Why are you alone?”
“Not uncle.”
The child tilted his head. With a short-tongued voice, you’re right… . He frowned at the distance, but he did not respond.
“I’m here because I don’t like the noisy atmosphere.”
“My brother always said the same thing. Then, every day, it is stuck in every corner of the house and I just touch the shiny thing.”
“What glitters?”
“yes! It was amazing to see the twinkling things just floating in the air!”
The boy covered his mouth, saying that his brother told him not to tell anyone. It was a pretty cute sight, but my attention went to the girl’s brother.
What the girl is talking about is probably mana. When I say this boy’s brother, I must be referring to that gloomy guy.
If you know how to use magic without learning anything… .
“Talent… I don’t know if there will be.”
“yes?”
“It is nothing.”
A girl who tilts her head. I looked down at the boy and patted his head slightly.
“I have something to tell your brother. Can you do it?”
“sure!”
Two hands outstretched while saying that. I put a letter of recommendation in her hand, and she took it and held out the other hand.
“Hmmm!”
I didn’t have to say it, but it was clear what the girl wanted.
compensation.
I grinned and rummaged through my pockets and pulled out a small gold coin. The child’s gaze is fixed on the gold coin. The twinkling eyes are so cute.
“Wow… .”
“Show it to your parents and they will love it.”
“yes!”
A girl who smiles broadly and runs towards the family gathering.
The expression on the child’s parents’ faces, surprised to see the gold coin, is good in his eyes.
and… .
“You will choose.”
Being able to use magic is a clear talent. Coming to the capital and entering the academy is your own choice, so you’ll have to figure it out.
With this, did you pay the price for showing the blacksmith an incomplete swordsmanship?
It’s a little bit, but it’s a feeling of emptiness.
“here… You were there.”
A slightly trembling voice was heard. This time, a really familiar voice.
Turning his head, Agnes was standing there. She was on the stairs in a white dress, her hair fluttering in the wind.
However, the appearance does not disappear. No, the fluttering hair made her appearance stand out even more.
I looked at her quietly and opened my mouth.
“Did you get drunk?”
“No… I’m not drunk.”
I’m drunk.
He licked his tongue and walked over to Agnes.
Even as I approached, Agnes was staring at me with a bashful smile.
“Go back. It doesn’t look that good.”
“Example… I do not like it?”
Agnes’ voice trembled slightly. My eyes widened at a sight I had never seen before. Has she ever seen something like this?
Water drops form near her eyes. It seems certain that it was tears, not sweat.
I hurriedly shouted.
“No, it looks good.”
“okay?”
Agnes looked up at me with bright eyes and smiled. He even muttered a little.
“If not now… .”
“What?”
Before I could say anything, Agnes grabbed my wrist. I was drawn to it by a force so strong that even a drunk person could not believe it.
She took me to the beach. The place where she and I had a match, and the place where I handed the gold coin to the girl a while ago.
A place where the stars are shining above, and a sandy beach like gold is below.
Agnes led me.
Because you were holding my wrist tightly, there was no room for me to go anywhere.
“What is this… .”
It was reflexive. Agnes continued to go to the beach with a smile even after hearing my words.
Eventually, halfway across the sandy beach, I heard the sound of the waves crashing.
She turned her head. A wide smile caught my eye. It was a look worth remembering.
But.
This smile was nothing compared to what I would hear now.
Overlaid with the falling shooting stars and the sound of waves crashing on the ground.
She declared bluntly.