268. Romeo and Juliet (5)
Romeo and Juliet.
I touched the cover of a book with a pretty title written on it, then brought it close to my nose.
The smell of leather and paper.
In the meantime, I caught the faint scent of the guy.
It was evidence that Yulia’s hands were burned.
Kikik······
“Hey, Schluss? Can I have a minute?”
“Come in.”
The door opened and naturally, Erica entered.
She was one of the few people who could come and go freely in the boarding house.
“Speaking of the heart search ordered by His Majesty…”
“Oh, that one. Did you find it?”
“Tell me this first. If you found it, are you willing to receive a transplant?”
Erika asked with a firm expression.
I was surprised that he looked so serious.
That’s why it looks like you really found it…
No way. Did you really find it?
“Only for patients who have no hope of ever returning to consciousness, or death row inmates who have committed heinous crimes. Other than that, they cannot be sacrificed.”
“How about increasing that range a bit?”
“No. We can’t increase it any further. It’s a matter of trust with the people. The Empire is fighting Asylum, which uses people as tools. Not a single innocent life can be sacrificed to establish a just cause.”
“Haa… I couldn’t find it. Not a single one of the data that His Majesty gave me. None exceeded 40 percent.”
I thought so.
Where people with high concordance are easily born.
I was surprised when he said it as if he had found it.
“But, yes.”
“What.”
“You said that? Yulia’s heart is… Similar to yours.”
“Who is it?”
“Yulia told me.”
“What…”
Suddenly, her eyes widened.
What the hell are you trying to say?
“So, just in case, I tested it. Just in case…”
“Yulia? Erica, are you crazy?”
“I tried it just in case! Listen to it all the way! So I looked it up and it was actually very similar.”
“I don’t want to hear it. I don’t accept Yulia’s heart.”
“Concordance was 99.7%. Rejection was only 0.02%.”
“·······.”
99.7%·······.
It’s practically the same heart.
I laughed out loud because it was absurd.
“You know, Schluss. Yulia is on the verge of death. That’s why…”
“I said no.”
“Chullus. Listen.”
“What do you hear! She didn’t even say that she wanted to die!”
Erica stepped back for a moment, choking her speech.
Then she went over to the door and opened it wide.
The moment the wheelchair appeared on the other side, I felt my breath suffocate.
Mrs. Lichtenburg with a dark expression pushed the wheelchair, and Julia, who was sitting on top of it, slowly approached.
“Schlus. What do you want to hear?”
“I don’t have anything I want to hear from you.”
“It’s okay to die. As long as it’s for Schlust. Death has been repeated countless times. I’m not afraid of that kind of thing anymore.”
I didn’t want to hear those words.
I didn’t want to make those words come out of Yulia’s mouth.
“Yulia. Go back. The handover has already been completed, and there are people who made a big deal of saying goodbye as if they were going to die today. But how unsightly it would be if they came back to life.”
“Is that important right now?”
“I’m saying I can’t take your heart. If I kill you and survive, I might not be able to survive.”
It was not an exaggeration.
It wasn’t even a weak sound.
After losing Han Ah-reum, it was painful enough to make me want to die along with it.
As time passed and the wound gradually healed, Yulia appeared.
She has the same face, voice, and smell as Yulia.
I had to let go of the guy that dwelled in Yulia’s body once again.
And to kill Yulia this time?
No. Absolutely not.
That’s something my mind can’t stand.
“I’m reincarnated anyway, Schluss.”
“No. I won’t. If you give me a heart, as long as that heart lives in me, you won’t be reincarnated.”
If I receive Yulia’s heart, Yulia’s reincarnation will end there.
That means Yulia’s life is over.
Until I die.
“It’s okay though. As long as I can save Schluse-“
“I’m not okay.”
I didn’t want to hear any more.
I didn’t like it when Yulia was forced to say that she wanted to die or that she didn’t want to live.
It is human nature to want to continue living no matter how painful life is.
I didn’t want to make him lie to his heart.
“I’ll beg you too. Please accept her daughter’s, Yulia’s heart. Receive it and live… Lead humanity to victory.”
“Schlus······.”
“I don’t want to hear it. Get out of here. Let’s end this story here. Don’t bring it up again.”
When I turned my head away, the three of them, who remained still for a while, slowly moved their bodies and left the room.
When I was alone with the door closing with a thump, I lost all strength in my body and felt helpless.
“Ha······. Selfish bastard······.”
If you survive, you can definitely save humanity.
If you overcome the pain of killing Yulia, you can save the continent.
A selfish bastard who can’t stand it and plunges humanity into an abyss of an uncertain future.
A cowardly bastard who runs away to death because he is afraid to live.
“Haa…”
It was a heartbreaking day.
***
The Commonwealth of the Freya Empire has been newly transformed into the name of the Human Federation.
Its members were the Monarch Duchy, Trude Kingdom, the Great Forest, and the Elven Union.
The war against the Mine was officially declared, and the Federation entered into a full-scale war.
He had led his troops to places that had only been left unseen, suspected to be Asylum’s strongholds.
All-out war has begun.
Originally living quietly in hiding, intermittently committing small acts of terror, Asylum has now started rampaging openly.
The Asylum hunt that took place in the islands was taking place all over the continent.
The Asylum, unable to withstand the siege, soon gave up hiding and began to gather in one place.
In the case of the desert, there was no suitable place to be stationed, so only guerrillas fought against it, and in the case of the empire, very large groups gathered in the northern mountainous regions and swamps to resist.
Since they were stuck only in places where it was difficult to fight, the Imperial Army divisions also struggled.
Still, just putting Asylum in one place was quite meaningful.
However, the most important thing was, of course, not asylum.
Mine is the problem.
Mine hadn’t shown any significant movement until now, but he had to keep his eyes on him because he didn’t know when he would suddenly appear and blow up his entire division, turning the tide of battle. She
She Of course, even if she appeared, she organized enough to be able to counter.
If Til Fitz accidentally shows up at the trap where the Hurt Locker is waiting, he will be doomed this time.
It’s impossible to run away with that proud Durandal anymore.
“Collock! Coke! Heh uh uh…”
And I was dying.
Definitely.
I could feel that there were only a few hours left.
“Wow. Look at his pale face. He’s so white.”
“Why. Are you jealous?”
“What do you envy? Bronzed skin is a symbol of health.”
Resting her chin on her table, Celica sneered.
It seemed like I was in a very good mood after I died.
I wish I could at least hide it from myself.
“Did you come to see me die?”
“Talking cockroaches. They say that humans become nasty when they are about to die. It’s true.”
“You don’t think you’ll die? It’s only a long lifespan, you guys are the same.”
“Elves die much more gracefully.”
“Stop talking nonsense. Why did you come here, colog…”
“Just. See your face one last time.”
“What is the face of a dying weakling?”
“·······.”
Celica stared at me silently before raising her body.
I took something from her pocket and put it on her table.
A small ball made of iron······.
No, it was once a key, but it was an object that became a ball.
“This. I figured out where the key is.”
“Really?”
“Ataturk, that person. The person I hated all my life. That person actually put the crown and scepter inside the safe and gave me the key to restore the Ajax monarchy.”
It’s a bit late to realize.
When I saw Celica’s serious face, I ate and laughed.
“Good job. I figured it all out.”
“But that’s not the point.”
“What’s important?”
“All revealed, Atatürk fled the desert frontier from Damian’s men. How could that have been possible?”
“Ataturk was the prime minister of the desert frontier. If he were a private, he would have been to him too. With an escort, escape is a piece of cake.”
“No. There were no enlisted men from Atatürk. The captain of the escort eventually took orders from Damian. Someone let them escape. Is that you?”
“What kind of speculation is that?”
“Ataturk tried to burn the desert frontier to ashes with his obelisk. He prevented that stupid thing and let him escape. The only person who can do that is you.”
“·······.”
I have to admit.
Perhaps Celica isn’t that stupid.
She didn’t expect to find out so quickly.
“How many of these, you?”
“What?”
“How many times have you done something good for others while pretending to be in the dark? This isn’t the first time.”
“You’re mistaken. Am I a hogu? You guys are making things for your good? It’s all for the benefit of the empire.”
“Lies. There were ways to squeeze the elves even more to benefit the Empire. You could make the elves completely subservient to the humans so they had no choice but to obey them. But you dare to choose a method that could harm the Empire later. I did it.”
“It must be my mistake, then.”
“No. You’re just a hypocrite who doesn’t like to see anyone suffer.”
“·······.”
Hypocrite.
That word went deep.
I don’t know if I’ve hit the spot.
“A hypocrite who doesn’t want to see any race destroyed. A stubborn, self-aware hypocrite who doesn’t compromise. A greedy person. Or… Ah. A contemplative?”
“What?”
“Are you a person from this world? Your behavior is strange. You’re not a nationalist, you’re not a patriot, you’re not greedy for power. You’re a pervert who wants the three races to survive in a balanced way. It’s like someone from another world. . Just like a contemplative…”
It was a sharp blow.
Perhaps my true feelings were revealed that I didn’t even know existed.
If humanity wanted to develop the most powerfully, it was a problem that could be solved by driving power to the hegemon, the Freya Empire.
I just had to trample on all the kingdoms, beastmen, and elves and unify the entire continent.
But I didn’t.
For some reason, I felt rejected.
It must be because I have described, written, and drawn these races with my own hands.
The hypocrisy and greed of not being able to see the extinction of the living, breathing races of the other world that I created have always settled in a corner of my heart.
Hypocrite. Stubbornness. Selfish jerk.
And the observer.
Selica saw through my essence well.
“What are you really? Alien? Or did you once possess absolute power and then get trapped in a human body? It’s not something a human can possibly do.”
“Think freely…”
“Answer me.”
“I’m close to the answer. I’ll tell you that far. Instead, let’s take this story to the grave.”
From Noble mtl dot com
“Ah…”
It’s not quite right, but it’s pretty close.
Come to think of it, isn’t Celica the only one who reached the truth by herself?
I thought he belonged to the Paktong line too…
It seems that intelligence has been buffed without my knowledge.
I think the setting was that the Hurt Locker is quite smart, but I wonder when he will realize it.
There’s nothing good about realizing it…
“People are coming. I’ll move out of my seat.”
“Is he here?”
“That’s awkward…”
I heard the sound of the stairs from downstairs.
With a wry smile, Celica opened the door and left as if running away. She
She said take it to the grave, but could she really keep it a secret for the rest of her life?
I wondered if it would be difficult considering Celica’s soft snout.
Kikik······
“I came after hearing the news. Not long left.”
“Oh, Mr. Schlus. What the heck is this…!”
The door opened and people rushed in.
Ludwig, Professor Sergei, Erwin, etc…
As soon as he saw the crowd, his head throbbed and he almost lost consciousness and died.
In the meantime, my condition has not been announced at all.
This is because they prevented anyone from reporting that he was fighting a disease, dead, or alive.
But someone broke my order.
Once I look at the people gathered here, I’m not worried because they were only people who were on my side, but it’s hard to break an order once, so it’s difficult twice.
I was worried about my death.
They came in to pay a visit to the hospital, but it was practically the same as saying goodbye.
Everyone said their last goodbye to me in their own way.
Professor Ludwig, as always, spoke in a cool tone, undisturbed in the slightest.
I was a little surprised when he called me the best student.
“Again, a top student. Not a genius. I don’t think you’re very smart.”
“Professor.
“······Sorry.”
That’s right.
Still, everyone thinks I’m an undisputed genius, but I’m grateful that even one Ludwig recognized that I’ve worked hard.
Sergei… Was noisy.
A lot of that too.
“It’s my fault! It’s all my fault! If I knew this was going to happen, I would have taught it better!”
Several men had to work hard to get Sergei out because he was crying so hard.
Both Ludwig and Sergei swore in front of me.
I will devote myself to the future of the empire and the continent.
Now that the battle between mankind has been opened, the justification for the two educators to step forward is sufficient.
Ludwig, who vowed never to set foot on the battlefield again after he turned his hometown into a sea of fire with his own hands, and Sergei, who laid down his arms as a former marshal and said he would not intervene in military and politics, will join the frontlines together.
“Damn······. Even though she’s my student, she’s really cool. It’s like I raised them all······.”
“What is that, Professor Relic?”
“Ugh. It seems like yesterday that I entered the school.”
“It’s been less than a year. It’s normal to feel like yesterday.”
Anyway, I wondered why Professor Relic was called.
While procrastinating, he kept secretly and subtly appealing that he was his disciple…
He was a truly consistent human being.
I think it would have been more frightening if he had suddenly become serious and paid his respects to me.
“Did I say thank you?”
“What?”
“Thank you for saving my brother…”
“I would have done it.”
Ervin, who had been invisible at all, also came to visit.
She had long since canceled her spell that had been planted in Erwin’s heart. She
She was free and she thought she had fled far, far away, but before she knew it, she was back by the side of her enslaver.
Is this Stockholm Syndrome or something?
“You’d better run away. When I’m resurrected, I’ll find you right away and pierce her heart again.”
“Lies.”
“I’m not lying. Go. I’m going to a quiet country with my younger siblings. It’s going to be dangerous here for a while.”
“I might have to accept that advice…”
“Yeah. Far away, cool! Cool! Cool…!”
“Everyone, should we all finish here? Would you like to leave now?”
Suddenly, blood came out.
Emilia hurriedly defeated the sick visitors, and in an instant, her room became quiet.
When the door closed, it was just the two of us, Emilia and I.
“Whoa. Are you greedy?”
“What greed?”
“I wonder if it’s a romance to hold hands and watch the death of just the two of us.”
“Where is that kind of romance…”
Emilia looked at me pitifully and wiped the blood from her mouth.
She’s sorry, but she didn’t look like she was going to die right now.
Looks like I need another 3 hours.
I wondered if I would go to bed while sleeping at night.
After leaving her room for a while, Emilia came back with a teacup in her hand.
“Can I have a drink?”
“Maybe.”
“My brother’s favorite black tea… I made it.”
A steaming cup of tea.
I struggled to pick it up with both hands and brought it to the corner of her nose.
I didn’t feel any scent at all.
It seemed that his nose was already paralyzed.
“Hmm. It smells good. This will be my last black tea.”
“Brother…”
I drank hot tea.
It didn’t taste like anything.
Still, I could imagine what it would taste like.
It must have been the same calm, soothing and bitter taste as always.
“Thanks. Did I mention that your tea is delicious?”
“I did it every day, oppa. Every time I drank it, it was the same repertoire every day because I didn’t talk to anyone, but he always told me it was delicious.”
“Did I do that?”
“Yes. I did…”
I took the teacup and put it on the table, then Emilia took my hand.
Then she sat down on the bed and leaned on my shoulder sobbing silently.
There was no conversation about what to do after I died.
Because I’ve already finished that.
We just sat side by side, felt each other’s body temperature, and waited for the end.
“Emilia.”
“Huh?”
“I’m feeling dizzy.”
“Yes…”
At first I thought I was going to die.
My head was suddenly spinning and my eyes were about to close.
However, after noticing that Emilia’s answer was strange, she felt strange.
It was a sensation I had never felt before.
“I’m sorry, brother. I had no choice but to do this.”
“You, what did you feed me…”
It was the same sensation as when Emilia gave me sleeping pills one day.
I fell into a deep sleep without being able to resist the spell.
.
.
.
I was tricked.