649 – 8. Will (23)
The logic the swordsman brought out to dissuade me was simple.
‘What on earth are you going to do when you can’t even raise your image?’
So I replaced the answer with burning an aura. ‘Aura’ is the result of embodying an image, and this meant that I had the minimum qualifications to fight.
Of course, there were sacrifices that had to be made.
Isn’t it true even if you just look at my face right now? I had to make a huge sacrifice for today’s battle.
No, actually, it wasn’t my own sacrifice. Even this would not have been possible without Emma’s help.
The price had already been paid. Therefore, my will to participate in the war had to be firm. The swordsman must have realized that fact as he tried to convince him several times.
In the end, the swordsman couldn’t break my stubbornness.
“You fool, no matter what you do, it will only be a makeshift solution… But, good. Instead, if you feel like you can’t do it anymore, evacuate immediately to a safe place.”
“Thank you, old man.”
In spite of my cool answer, the swordsman only made a disapproving expression. It didn’t look like he believed me in the slightest, but it didn’t matter. The discussion about my participation in the war ended here.
The ‘swordsmith’ gave permission, but who could dare to raise an objection?
Only Shiene-senpai narrowed his brows as if he felt a strange atmosphere.
The silence was not long. It was because the swordsmith, who had organized the small agenda, went straight into the explanation of the operation.
“Okay, everyone has heard the rough story, right? I keep this place As long as the enemy’s target is this ‘relic’, they will have no choice but to come here. It’s the best strategy, even considering deception. And the rest…….”
Just then.
The cave shook with a thud. It wasn’t that big because it happened in a faraway place, but even the senses of the swordsmith and I couldn’t be fooled.
Tension rises in the silence. Even if he didn’t notice the vibration, there was no person here who was stupid enough to not know that the atmosphere between me and the swordsman suddenly changed.
End of a brief silence.
“Disperse immediately and kill all enemies in sight. Even if it becomes bait, right now… All!”
The swordsmith’s shout made the cave vibrate, and soon the people in attendance, including me, began to move briskly.
The wrath of the imperial family, and the anger of those abandoned by the whole world.
It was a day when anger and anger clashed.
**
Lia, the youngest member of the Percus family, looked up at the sky.
Smoke was rising from all over the academy. Accompanied by the noise of clashing blades, the angry shouts and the smell of blood brushed against the skin like a faint reverberation.
A sight so far removed from everyday life aroused a strange sense.
The feeling of the body floating, the cognition that is not in touch with reality floats because it cannot touch the ground. Only then did the girl remember her older brother’s voice, which she had warned her about several days ago.
“Lia, I am away for a while. Never come to the academy.”
Unwavering golden eyes, black hair that doesn’t reflect even a single point of light.
A slight tiredness accentuated the shadows on the man’s face. Even if it wasn’t so, the man who was deep enough to steal the girl’s soul blinded by her love had a strange charm.
But for a while, her eyes lit up at my brother’s cool figure.
Lia’s body tightened up as she soon understood her man’s meaning. A violent storm was blowing in her girl’s heart to the extent that she jumped and shivered.
“Mu, mu, what are you talking about?! To be away for a while… Do you know what your brother is doing right now?!”
Ian couldn’t carelessly answer that question.
You pursed your lips, then lowered your gaze.
All I could do was sigh when I saw my body wrapped in bandages. Even here, the intensive care unit of the temple, there was no excuse even if I wanted to put an excuse.
Ian’s body is a mess.
Leah had just discovered that and shuddered at her betrayal. She probably wanted to hide it until the end, but for some reason, Ian was in the middle of calling Lia to warn her.
Get away from the academy.
Leah didn’t become her stupid little sister, as she took it for granted.
“Then what about my brother? If you see me and tell me to leave, does that mean the academy is in danger? Then oppa, come with me!”
“No, Leah.”
“Brother!”
An appeal more like a shrieking scream ensued, but Ian’s face was more stubborn than ever.
Her man’s head shook as if it was not worthy of a second thought.
“I have to be in the academy… Did you hear the rumors too? A story about Celine.”
At the name that came out of nowhere, Lia swallowed her words as she tried to object.
Celine Haster.
How could I forget that name? She was the older sister who would often play with Lia, along with Ian and Leto, although she had been arguing with her romantically since childhood. She, of course, couldn’t help but cherish Celine as well as Lia.
To be honest, I still haven’t realized it.
Is that Celine sister attacking the Alpenhauser family and the imperial family in succession?
It was a pure lie. The Celine Leah knew was not a great person to commit such crazy things, and moreover, she was a person who cared terribly for her family and friends. There was no way she would carelessly do something that would spark sparks like this.
But there comes a moment when she has no choice but to accept the reality she doesn’t want to believe.
Facing Ian’s serious face, Leah felt as though her heart skipped a beat.
No way, really?
It seemed that the ghost story, which had only been abstract, appeared wearing a concrete shape. However, whether or not Lia’s face turned white, Ian was just reciting his decision in a low voice.
“I’m going to save Celine. Of course you and others… So don’t worry and evacuate to a safe place.”
As always, it was a strong declaration. From a long time ago, Leah liked this about Ian. It was said that the way she casually made her absurd remarks was toxic.
But Leah was no longer an ignorant kid. It was too many years later for Ian to imitate the legendary knight.
Stuttering, but clear nonetheless.
Leah raised her most fundamental question.
“Uh, how?”
Silence.
What that meant was obvious. Lia’s eyes, which had been pale for a moment, glowed with golden sparks.
“No, no… This is crazy, brother Ian. Even though my brother has always been crazy… Still, this is not it. You have to stop.”
“Ria.”
“I know when I see it!”
Lia shouted and groped Ian’s upper body with her hands in a panic. She almost fell into Ian’s arms as she collapsed in the process, but now her Leah wasn’t her concern.
Her heartbeat is irregular. The warm body temperature had cooled, and the hard muscles occasionally twitched and vomited painful sounds.
Lea wasn’t a doctor. She did, however, have her intuition as a girl who had touched Ian’s body countless times, who had lived her whole life as Ian’s sister, and who cared about the man she loved.
It was a strange feeling. The feeling of her downy hair standing on end, catching even the slightest breath of her man.
Her mysterious voice seemed to whisper in my ear.
‘I will die at this rate.’
“Brother… this is not Really, huh? Ooh, let’s leave the academy with me first. Then, yes! Shall we head to the Holy Land? You should be treated by the saintess there.”
“Lia, I love Celine…….”
“I can’t find it!”
A biting appeal.
Even so, Ian’s expression didn’t show any emotion. She just closed her eyes and let out a small sigh.
Lea continued her anxious persuasion.
“Stop being stubborn, please… Now is the time to grow up! What’s next for Celine? If she loses her brother, what am I to do? Are you going to die like this?”
“Leah, I told you. I won’t die…….”
“Do whatever you want!”
Leah jerked her head away as she shouted as if she was fed up with it.
It was her biggest defiance that she could see. Ian usually did, because if Leah acted her pout she would defy my argument.
Of course, it was useless once the decision was made.
So Leah decided to add a few more words to her nonsensical threat.
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“Let’s see, I won’t be leaving my brother alone! And what if your brother dies? I’ll die too! Really, really! Not a lie!”
And then she couldn’t fight back and stamped her feet several times.
Ian couldn’t help but laugh at how cute he looked. Leah, who was so serious about her, couldn’t help but be angry.
Enjoy the girl! She snorted and turned her back on her. I will go out like this and prove it to Ian. The fact that her determination was never false.
What caught her step was her usual playful voice.
“Can’t you kiss me today?”
“It’s done!”
As expected, Ian did not take Lia’s threat seriously.
Lia was so upset about that fact that she couldn’t calm her anger and went outside.
Within a moment, she remembered Ian, who seemed to have no energy today. I feel sorry for her, and if she leaves like this, I don’t think I’ll see her again for a while.
Can I leave Ian, who is having such a hard time, like this? After going through a lot of inner conflict in just a few seconds, Lia finally turned her steps back, and her dodo ran up and kissed her on the cheek of Ian.
Of course, even so, Leah’s determination did not change.
I will definitely let Ian realize. How terrible was her sister’s anger.
Yeah, she thought so, so she stayed at the academy.
Before I knew it, Lia was wandering around her academy in a daze.
Why the hell?
I couldn’t figure out why. It’s just that when Leah came to her senses, she was already in the midst of fire and smoke.
Oh, right after the girl regained her sanity.
“Quaaagh!”
A miserable scream hit Leah’s eardrums. Golden eyes, still unable to comprehend the situation, stupidly turned to her side. There, her face had melted, revealing a monster whose eyes and nose were indistinguishable.
While tearing at the arm and neck of the soldier who had just climbed on.