690 – 8. Last Words (64)
The moon rose at the academy in the middle of winter.
The snow-covered scenery combined with the moonlight created a dreamy atmosphere. Originally, under the frost moon, numerous students would have been walking around the campus whispering romance.
But not today.
A snowstorm blows across the deserted land, burying the entire landscape. The academy remained silent, like a huge tomb, and the tall marble building stood like a tombstone.
Isolation.
If I were to summarize the situation the Academy was in, it would be like this. On this day, thousands of people were trapped in a mysterious barrier and holding their breath like scared small animals.
An unfamiliar rumor was causing a small stir.
“Lupin, did you hear?”
The boy with light brown hair turns his head. He had a small build, blue eyes and a handsome appearance, but he had a tired look on his face.
How many times had he almost lost his life at the Academy over the past few months?
Anxiety and nervousness robbed the boy of sleep. This insomnia became more severe after the Academy was isolated.
Anyone can see that he has been trapped by a suspicious spell, but it would be even weirder if nothing happened.
In this way, Lupine evolved into a more sharp-minded person than usual.
“Huh? What?”
A retort mixed with irritation.
Nevertheless, Lupine’s motive for speaking showed no signs of hesitation. Lupine was naturally a prickly person, so he would get irritated dozens of times a day.
In other words, he also meant that there was no need to worry. Lupin’s classmate was already well known, as they had been friends for several years.
“They say we can be used for exploration?”
“Bullsh*t.”
His classmate’s head tilted at Lupin’s blunt attitude. Lupine showed that he was annoyed, but eventually revealed his guess as if throwing it out.
“I’m not that type of person.”
“Who? Aha, your brother-in-law?”
At the same time, the motive is to burst into laughter.
Her eyes were sparkling, wondering what was so funny about her. Lupine actually got angry at that one word.
“W-what…” Who is my brother-in-law…… ! No, I would become a brother-in-law!”
“Then you are my brother-in-law, right?”
“That’s not yet… Should I say this is a story from the future? Anyway!”
Shaking her delicate fists, Lupine added her explanation.
“There must have been some misunderstanding. If not, you could put in talented people who are at the top of their grade or second graders… “There’s no way people like us would be taken in.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s too dangerous.”
Hmm, my friend seemed to agree without saying anything.
Anyway, Lupine’s last name was ‘Lynella’. She was the one who traveled the battlefield with ‘Ian Perkus’, so her younger brother Lupin must also have a connection with him.
She decided that her Lupine side would be more trustworthy than herself, whom she had no real knowledge of.
Nevertheless, there is a strange feeling of regret in ending the story like this.
“But I heard she is a human being without blood or tears?”
“That’s right… ….”
Lupin’s question left a strange lingering feeling.
A human being without blood or tears?
He also knew where such an evaluation came from. This may be because of the story that she used force to instantly subdue the high-ranking people in the ‘conference hall.’
In fact, she had also been hit by Lupine.
It was only a threat, but it was a scene so terrible that it came out of my dreams for a while. Even the nightmare of that day continued and even my older sister fell under the man’s spell.
It was a terrible memory in many ways, but still.
“…… Well, that’s true though. “There must have been a reason.”
“Why?”
“You said you were trying to take the initiative for no reason?”
From Noble mtl dot com
The past year has been long for Lupine. At the time, I just hated Ian, but now I know.
The fact that Lupine also did something that deserved to be beaten.
So, I had no intention of whining and getting angry now. Because it didn’t fit the name Lynella.
Did the motive also feel the same way?
The face that was pretending to be playful took on a light shade. Her eyes were faint as she sat on the floor and looked at the moon beyond the window.
“I guess we can get out safely… ….”
“Probably because that guy is there.”
That was all Lupine could offer.
“I will do something. “As always.”
And this is not only said to the same class.
The night at the Academy was deep, encouraging ourselves and relying on each other.
The next day, Lupine joined the search team and headed toward the southern forest.
And a few days later.
“It’s melanoma.”
Dozens of search teams were quarantined following the simple diagnosis of a man with golden eyes. Among them, Lupine’s motivation was also included.
With black stains all over the body.
**
The ghost’s gaze was cold.
Even I, who had faced so many strong fighters, inadvertently froze for a moment. The eyes, worn out by countless waves, resembled aquamarine crafted by a craftsman.
Just as a rolled stone becomes beautiful when it reaches the downstream.
For a moment, I wondered what to say.
That woman may be ‘Seria’, but she was not Seria. Because Ceria never had such a cold and empty expression.
While I was so lost in worry.
Sigh, the woman’s body turns towards me. As the wind blew her gray hair, I realized that this woman was not just a sword.
That sad look.
It was the face of someone who buried her tragedy in her heart. Even though I have searched through the memories of ‘I’ from the future, I don’t think I have ever heard of this woman’s past.
The worries did not last long.
I took a womanly step, and immediately after that.
Time stops as it pleases.
It wasn’t at the level of running. Before I knew it, the woman had come to me and was ready to swing her sword.
One sheet.
An extremely short section of time passes by like a moving picture. It’s such an overwhelming speed that only then can you barely keep up with it.
My hand, startled, was pointing towards my waist.
Another piece.
The moment my hand touched the sword, the woman’s sword path began to chart a full-fledged trajectory.
One, two, no, countless sword roads.
Thousands? Tens of thousands?
The virtual road extended countless times and formed a cloud of fog. Blood vessels immediately burst out of my widened eyes.
It was my first time experiencing swordsmanship. My mind continues to spin like crazy, trying to discern what is emptiness and what is real.
One last piece.
At the same time as I was doing the inspection, I realized.
The fact that all the swords were real.
It’s hard to believe, but there was an optical illusion as if the woman’s sword was splitting into tens of thousands of pieces. A miracle that cannot even be compared to things like the Golden Blade.
This was no longer a sword attack.
Bombing.
The ghost’s sword, which I could never physically stop, attacked me at once.
Amjeon.
I gasped and opened my eyes. Surprisingly, my body remained intact.
In fact, countless sword marks had been carved on the ground in the area.
“Ilhap.”
Like the blade of a guillotine, one cold word touched my uvula.
The woman had already burrowed into my arms and was holding her blade to my neck.
“I can’t even stand it.”
It was a tone that did not even convey the unique vitality of a living being.
At first glance, it sounds like a sigh, but when you listen to it again, it sounds like a moan.
The woman gave me a clean verdict.
“That’s wrong.”
What does that mean?
Before I could ask, the woman’s sword cleanly sliced through my throat.
Let’s go.
I fall over and my vision shakes. It was unclear whether her body had collapsed or whether her head had fallen off alone.
What is certain is that the moment I blinked, the scenery changed completely again.
“Huh.”
I thought I was getting used to this world, but it seems I was mistaken.
When you see someone suddenly cut off their head and laugh out loud.
My eyes, which had been carelessly fiddling with my neck, looked around. Although I was a little angry at the fact that I was beaten without even being able to use her hands, or that I heard arrogant comments like ‘You suck.’
Anyway, the opportunity would come again.
This was the world of the unconscious, and images were connected to memories. In other words, the woman who dropped her head must also have a deep connection with the memory of her appearing in front of me now.
Then we can meet again. All you have to do is get revenge then.
On the other hand, I felt secretly relieved.
She doesn’t have to go back yet.
Thinking like that, it took just a few seconds for my face to stiffen as I looked around.
It was a scene I had seen too many times somewhere.
An old stone building, weeds growing all over the yard, and children in shabby clothes playing among them.
Gilford Orphanage.
It was right after I remembered the name from my memory.
“What are you doing?”
At the sound of an old man’s voice, my body instinctively jumped up.
It’s been a long time since my hands went to my waist. If he wanted to, he would be ready to draw his sword at any moment.
It was worth it. The old man who called me had a very familiar face.
Guilford.
He was the director of this orphanage, a demon who sold orphans, and a man who was once a famous mercenary.
He looked just like I remembered, just a kind old man. Even the emptiness could be felt from the sturdy old man wearing his apron and carrying a couple of dusty boxes.
He seemed calm despite my attitude as if he would pull out his sword at any moment.
“It’s almost dinnertime. Would you mind helping me out?”
“Gilford, you… ….”
Will I raise my sword or not?
I thought hard, but I couldn’t come up with an answer. First of all, it was in my subconscious, but not only did I not want to draw my sword in front of the children, but I couldn’t sense even an ounce of hostility from Gilford.
The moment I hesitated.
“I probably don’t want to go back yet anyway.”
These words were spoken as if looking into my inner thoughts.
While I was flinching after being hit in the head, Gilford leisurely passed by me. I looked at the back for a moment.
Immediately, I sighed and withdrew my hands from my waist.
You don’t want to go back yet?
So, does that mean I will want to go back someday?
I smiled, shook my head, and walked away.
With the intention of hanging out once in a while.
The end of the dream was approaching.