269. Deius
“Wow, I don’t feel well.”
Soho gets off the blood horse and holds his stomach. It only took a week to get from the Principality of Balestan to the capital of the Clark Republic, but even that was an arduous task for Soho, who was unfamiliar with the travel route.
The Principality of Balestan is small in area, but in the case of the Clark Republic, the land mass itself is so large that it was bound to take some time.
“We’re almost there now.”
While patting the back of Soho, who is very distressed about riding the blood horse, his gaze turns to Clockwork, the capital of the Republic, visible in the distance.
“… ….”
In fact, the various experiences I had there were too urgent and tragic to be called memories.
As I looked around, a smile naturally appeared.
When I first stepped on this land to save Findenai, I heard the screams and wails of countless souls around me.
The sorrow that covers the sky, the tragic history of their lives buried in the ground.
“It’s quiet.”
With everything gone, only the sound of the wind passes by my ears and calms my mind.
About what I did.
I never thought of myself as great for creating a land of rest and saving this continent.
I just did it because someone had to do it and I thought I was the one who could do it best.
The atmosphere was very different from the Clark Republic I saw the last time I visited, and I felt a little proud of myself.
What I did was not wrong.
This land was telling me that.
“The Republic, what a ridiculous land.”
Lanhardt naturally came next to me and crossed his arms. He whet his appetite and looked at Clockwork, the capital of the Republic.
“If I had known that President Magan was the great devil, I would have gone to take his head before Deius Verdi.”
“I think you take the existence of the Great Devil too lightly.”
A remark that can only be described as a surprise. There was no need to explain how much nonsense Lanhardt was talking about, as he had killed the Great Devil himself.
But it seemed like Lanhardt didn’t just say it without thinking.
“I know it’s difficult. However, since there is such a goal, I must have used my brain and trained myself more to be able to hunt with certainty.”
“… ….”
“If that doesn’t work, there’s nothing we can do. “That’s the limit of the human being I am.”
One word, human, catches my eye.
Soho, who is finally feeling better, wipes his mouth with a handkerchief and looks at Lanhardt and me.
She must have thought that her atmosphere was not very good, so she secretly fell in love with her and left for Unyeop. She seemed to feel comfortable with Unyeop because he treated her Soho so well.
Looking at that, Lanhardt folds his arms.
“Do you know why Unyeop cherishes that child so much?”
“I guess he likes children.”
I answered half-heartedly because I wasn’t really interested, but Lanhardt didn’t pay any attention and continued with what he had to say.
“That guy’s daughter died from an illness some time ago. So she might be a little more special.”
“… ….”
“Wasn’t it a very nice story to hear?”
That is certainly true.
“Is there anyone in this world who doesn’t have a story?”
As I said that, I turned around and left the place again.
“Yes, that’s right.”
Lanhardt also does not deny it and summons the hunters again.
The North Weden Mountains were now just around the corner.
* * *
“They say they’re coming.”
Finden, who recently quit smoking, trembles her legs and blurts out a word.
Deia was about to ask why he was shaking his leg like that, but his body stiffened.
Looking at Deia’s reaction, Finden Eye continues her story in more detail.
“I received a call from a scrap metal dealer saying that he was riding a black horse called Blood Horse and riding very fast. “It was found in Clockwork, and considering its speed, it will probably arrive by tomorrow.”
“…… “Why are you saying that now?”
Although preparations had already been made, there was a feeling that the soldiers had become somewhat more relaxed as the waiting time became longer.
Deia jumps up with the intention of quickly telling Darius.
“I just heard it too. “In the first place, blood demons are abnormal because their speed is so fast.”
Finden Eye shrugs her shoulders and gets up from her seat, following Deia.
It was necessary to make sure this time to protect the mountains.
“I tell everyone to bring fire extinguishing equipment. “The soldiers at the mountain guard post were ordered to gather and go over to the Republic.”
“Are you really going to cross the mountain range?”
“Oh, let’s go. “It’s different from last time.”
It’s different from last time.
No one knew how hard Deia worked to say these words.
Unlike the Weilvelt attack where the mountain army warned, but did not have much time, there was some time left until Lanhardt arrived.
So what Deia prepared was a kind of plan. It made it possible to fight legally.
If Findenai and Darius had trained for the day when Lanhardt would come.
On the other hand, Deia was busy providing a background where the two could fight to their heart’s content.
“Because we reached an agreement to temporarily cross the border for fire extinguishing work. “We are going to put out the fire now.”
Although no fires have yet occurred in the mountain range.
Justification was created by slightly exaggerating the previous fire.
A certain number of troops have now obtained permission to cross to the other side of the mountain range in an emergency.
Because the Griffin Kingdom was friendly to the Clark Republic, the Republic was able to allow it with some conditions.
“Is it finally starting?”
Finden Eye is stretching and happy that it’s finally time. He felt like there was dust on his body because he had waited longer than expected.
“Don’t get excited. Keep an eye on the Whale Belter guys. “They might betray, or we might use it as a bargaining chip.”
“Don’t know.”
Before leaving the room, Deia grabs his shotgun. He had no intention of going to the front lines, but he had taken it with him in case of an emergency.
“… ….”
Before leaving the room, Deia glances around the office while holding the door handle.
Although it is used naturally, this was actually Deius Verdi’s office.
‘Don’t worry.’
As if speaking to him.
Deia quietly made up her mind and went out.
‘I will definitely protect the place you return to.’
* * *
“That’s high.”
Although Lanhardt was soaring into the sky, he looked up at the North Whedon Mountains, his natural barrier that dare not be seen, and let out a short exclamation.
“The owner of such a place would truly be a great being.”
White breath flows out.
Even though it was still summer in other areas, the North Weden Mountains remained consistently cold.
I also felt my cheeks becoming loose due to the familiar cold, but on the other hand, I also felt uncomfortable.
‘Why are you doing this?’
I felt it last time as well, but my personal greed that I didn’t want to return to North Wales like this came up.
But I have no intention of waiting for Deius’ body to stabilize. Still, I wondered why I was feeling this way.
‘It’s difficult.’
It was a good thing that the faint emotions were slowly finding their place.
Because it meant that I was growing as a person and overcoming acquired tendencies.
But it was also so confusing. I was unable to keep up with the rapid change.
At that time, Unyeop, who was out scouting, came running and reported.
“Commander Whalebelter was right to betray. “The Margrave of Northweden’s army is now encamped and waiting in front of the mountains.”
“Hoo.”
“It is very serious, even with wooden fences piled up. This is the territory of the Clark Republic. How can they do that? ….”
“I used a trick.”
I receive Unyeop’s words.
“The failure of the unit commander became the cornerstone for them to build a foundation.”
“… ….”
“I heard that there are quite capable practitioners in North Sweden.”
Funny enough, even as I was saying this, I felt like I was being sassy.
He acted as if he was explaining the situation to them simply and clearly, but while admiring Deia’s abilities, he was bragging without anyone knowing.
‘Excellent.’
As expected, Deia.
Madam Anbang from North Sweden.
She probably wouldn’t like it if I called her this way, but I wondered if there was a title that suited her better than this.
“Well, what does it matter?”
However, even after seeing Deia’s efforts and the defenses put together by Darius, Lanhardt held his spear without much emotion.
“Anyway, we came to hunt Sangun. “The Margrave didn’t bring the entire army, and if we can’t overcome even that much, the hunt for the mountain army will only end in bravado.”
Besides.
“It could be said that in order to seize the souls of Deius Verdi, a battle with them is inevitable. “Rather, isn’t it just right because you can destroy it while the troops are divided?”
Black and red mana gushes out from Lanhardt’s whole body, and the blood demons that protrude from within his shadow naturally support him.
“Get ready to rush. “It’s hunting time.”
* * *
A quiet, black room.
At one time, it was called a general store that sold antiques and rare items.
Now there was only one man sitting here, leaning against the wall like a broken, abandoned doll.
You may wonder if you are dead, but your heart is still pounding.
Nothing can be seen around him, but it gives the feeling that the space is strangely distorted.
A man who received hundreds of millions of souls and personally became their land of rest.
Commissioner Deius Verdi.
He was sitting calmly like a doll whose strings were cut, waiting for the owner of his body to come back.
Somewhat early.
“Ah.”
I shed my voice.
“… This…… “Us.”
He slowly became unable to speak properly as if his throat was full of dust.
He begins to move his body very slowly.
Because the body, which had been stiff for a long time, needed some time to function properly.
He moved slowly, touching his hands and feet as if tuning a musical instrument.
The moment when your eyes gradually come into focus.
“De, ius.”
The only name clearly specified.
“Day…… “Us.”
Understandably, countless souls had gathered around him as he leaned against the wall and slowly began to stand up.
All of them began to help the person who had taken over Deius’ body.