722 – 8. Will (96)
Blood drops flow along the crossed blades.
There was no need to question the owner of the blood. After all, the two people standing on the battlefield were the same person.
Me and the man too.
He was a human named ‘Ian Perkus’.
The path we walked was as different as the crossed swords.
My sword was touching the man’s neck. On the other hand, the sword her man used just grazed me.
Win or lose was clear. It was a fight that I did my best in, and although many coincidences helped me, in the end, victory was mine.
But, why?
The man’s face was still blunt. She just stared at me with a silent expression.
Those golden eyes are particularly hollow.
“I was different from you.”
The hand holding the sword trembled. The sound of panting breath buzzing in my mind along with the sound of my beating heart, and my vision became blurry due to loss of focus.
On the other hand, the voice of the man touching her lips was just calm.
It was enough for anyone to mistake the whereabouts of victory or defeat.
“Even if I wanted to save it, I had no power to save it. “I lost someone precious to me, and I stayed up countless nights hating myself and feeling unbearable.”
I stayed silent instead of answering.
In fact, it might be more appropriate to say that I was so out of breath that I didn’t even have the strength to choose words.
The man didn’t seem to have any particular expectations of me. She just vomited out her voice calmly.
“I was jealous of you.”
It was a confession.
“I thought I was lucky. Unlike me, you were in a more advantageous position… “Every time I hear you say that you will protect what you want to protect and that you will not throw anything away, I am reminded of my past that I regretted to the point of disgust.”
I thought about her male life.
Unlike me, he would not have received any help. He would have had no ‘letters’ to guide him, and no specimens good enough to give him a glimpse of his vision.
So he failed. He became frustrated and denied himself the path he truly wanted.
“That was my son.”
It was a refreshing admission that did not fit the bitter tone.
I was about to say something, but stopped.
Sometimes silence is the best answer.
“But, there is still a long way to go.”
Should I say that it is indeed like him?
The man did not forget her advice until the end.
“You are not a proper ‘master.’ I just awakened the image… A true ‘master’ must have a clear vision.”
Originally, you would naturally create a vision by awakening your imagery.
He didn’t necessarily add anything, but I felt like I knew what the man wanted to say. It was the same for me and him to become masters through unusual means.
That amazing walking technique I saw last time.
Perhaps that was the company’s true ‘vision’.
“It starts now.”
After hearing those words, there was one fact that finally became real.
There will be no more men from now on.
“You may not know this, but the responsibility of being a ‘master’ is by no means light… The whole world will depend on you. “There was a time when I was like you.”
I have to walk alone.
“I realized that my wrong choice could cost countless lives. “Hundreds, thousands, even tens of thousands.”
As I took a deep breath, I closed my eyes.
I remembered the day I received my first letter. It was a long time later that I met the man. Many other memories swirled through my mind.
“You will too.”
Painful and difficult fights.
“Can you not give up?”
“Yes.”
There was no gap between the questions and answers.
Because it was the answer I gave at the end of all those roads. It was not the man’s answer, but the answer he came up with after struggling and agonizing over himself.
I will never hesitate again.
“I promised.”
The man didn’t bother to ask about my situation. He just let out a faint laugh.
It was my first time seeing this face.
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“Then…” ….”
With a snap, the man’s hand holding the sword loosened.
His body relaxed and assumed a comfortable posture. Although he only realized it now, the man’s body may have always been preparing for battle.
That’s why his seemingly peaceful appearance looks so awkward.
“Don’t leave it to me.”
I didn’t ask again without notice.
Furthermore, I had no intention of responding to that last request again. The answer is, my knife at the back of his neck was enough.
“Can I ask you one last question?”
My gaze filled with puzzlement turned to the man.
This was the final question he had. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t curious.
“Who did you learn that vision from?”
The vision I learned was countless. However, among them, there was only one technology whose origin the man did not know.
‘Diffraction’.
“Guilford, you’re a mercenary… “I retired and served as the director of an orphanage.”
“I see.”
As if her curiosity had finally been resolved, the man nodded his head a couple of times.
“I’ve thrown it away so many times that I can’t even remember its name, but the technique that finally reached my neck was the nameless mercenary’s sword… ….”
He fell to his knees. Blood was already overflowing from the nape of his neck, soaking the ground like a river.
The man laughed in a voice that made my blood boil.
“It’s a fitting end.”
That’s the end.
In no time, my fingertips were turning into light. My vision became increasingly blurry, followed by a feeling as if my body was floating.
Amjeon.
It was finally time to wake up from the dream.
*
The conference hall became chaos.
“Anger? “Celine Hastur is here?”
“You didn’t say the academy was completely isolated from the outside world!”
“Ji, with all my power right now… There is no way to respond…….”
The noise of frightened people talking with pale faces was loud. Even those who were calm were just moaning with their eyes closed.
Who is Celine Hastur, ‘Wrath’ among the Seven Sins?
He was a pyromaniac who was crazy about revenge. She said she would avenge the Hastur family, and hundreds of people were burned at her hands.
Princess Iris of the imperial family also could not avoid the witch.
Although their lives were spared, looking at the pain the victims suffered, death seemed more merciful. Because I said that every night, my whole body screams in burning pain.
So, no one can blame those gathered at the conference hall for being afraid.
“I don’t know what they did, but the relic of the Seven Sins fell into their hands! If we don’t respond right away, how strong will we become…… !”
“Sir Ian! Sir Ian!”
In the end, the only person who could deal with Celine was Ian.
In fact, the owner of that name just closed his eyes and remained silent.
Those who ostensibly called ‘Ian’ were also unable to shake off their anxiety. I already knew that Ian’s physical condition was not normal and that he had lost in a bloody fight with Celine the other day.
Even the ‘Relic of the Seven Sins’ fell into the hands of Celine Hastur?
No matter how hard I tried to think about it, the situation was hopeless. So much so that even the saintess who was about to leave her conference room turned pale.
The princess was equally embarrassed.
Her original plan was simple. She gives the lupine Lynella a drug that puts him into a state of suspended animation.
The necessary medication was delivered from her by Emma. The effect was so outstanding that even a saint who was an expert in the medical field was fooled.
If time passes, it will be discovered quickly.
The important part was that a psychological blow had to be inflicted on ‘Ian Perkus’. Although she didn’t show it, it was vaguely visible in the princess’s eyes.
The fact that her man is reacting particularly sensitively to her relationships, including Lupine.
But, what if Celine Hastur came back?
“Well, come to think of it, Celine Hastur was like that! “Tell ‘Ian Perkus’!”
“Sir Ian! No matter how much I think about it, Sir Ian has to step forward…… !”
No.
The princess almost accidentally put those words into her mouth. Ian’s body had already been in tatters for a long time. He couldn’t guarantee his life if he went into battle again.
Still, she had no suitable alternative.
The barrier did not break down, and since Celine Hastur appeared, there was no choice but for someone of equal skill to intercept it. Because he could not quietly sacrifice the lives of thousands of people.
Then, do we have to let Ian die like this?
The saint must have been thinking something similar. Just by looking at her pale complexion, she could tell that she was holding back the urge to immediately scream no.
Her Ian still had no answer.
She just closed her eyes without even the slightest moan.
Several people who were interested in her were approaching Ian.
“Sir Ian, Sir Ian!”
“We must evacuate immediately…” ….”
“We must muster all the forces we can muster! “Students or anyone!”
Countless noises swirl in chaos.
Just when the commotion reached its peak.
“Stop.”
Mocking his lips, Ian finally uttered one word.
The volume was not loud. Still, for some reason.
Silence fell all at once.
All the audience’s attention was focused on Ian. He frowned slightly and let out a faint sigh, like a lament.
“It’s noisy.”
Honorific language.
The two women’s complexions brightened at the tone that was not dry and full of emotion. Because it was clear evidence that the ‘Ian Perkus’ they knew had finally returned.
But the joy lasted only a moment.
Why did you come back at this time?
The princess bit her lip and thought. If it was his usual Ian, it wouldn’t have been strange for him to run out immediately to go see Celine. Although it was giving off an unknown atmosphere right now.
What should I say?
It was like the feeling I had a long time ago when I first encountered a saint or a swordsman.
It makes no sense.
No matter what feelings the saint and princess had, Ian’s expression when he finally opened his eyes was calm.
“What about lupine?”
“Sir Ian, that’s not the problem. You have to compete right now…… !”
It was immediately after that that Ian pulled out his sword.
The middle-aged man’s complexion, who was ejaculating in a mournful voice, quickly became pale. I forgot for a moment, but the owner of this conference hall was none other than Ian Perkus.
A crazy dog that doesn’t care about anyone.
It wasn’t strange at all to say that I was entering middle age right now. The moment the middle-aged man realized this, he hurriedly fell down.
“What did Celine say?”
At that low question, the dusty body of the knight trembled. Although he was briefly absent-minded, it was he who reported Celine’s return.
“Well, that…” “Tell Sir Ian.”
“What?”
“They said they came to get the Hastur family’s rightful share… ….”
As soon as Ian heard that, he laughed and laughed.
It was a calm response that could not even be compared to before. Obviously, just hearing a word related to ‘Celine’ made me look depressed.
It was around this time that everyone started to have vague doubts.
“Ask him to come.”
Wow, the conference room became brighter.
It was not a lamp. In the first place, a ‘lantern’ could not produce such an overwhelming amount of light.
I don’t know if it’s ‘the sun’.
The audience’s eyes widened in astonishment. At the end of his gaze, Ian’s sword emits a brilliant light.
No, can we call it a ‘sword’?
The aura burning like wildfire was so intense that it seemed as if it would set the entire area on fire. Against the backdrop of starlight reaching up to the ceiling, Ian’s side was shimmering like a haze.
Even the sound takes my breath away.
It felt like a lie. It was possible to express anxiety or doubt, but no one spoke. He just froze and stared at Ian’s sword, as if he were encountering a work of art created by a master craftsman.
Even saints and princesses were the same. Only their shaking pupils could tell what they were feeling.
Beyond my five senses, my intuition was screaming.
Like when encountering Mother Nature.
“I will be waiting.”
‘Master’.
Humanity’s strongest power, a true transcendent unbound by common sense and laws.
That was the first reaction of those who witnessed a scene that would one day become a famous painting.
Silence and astonishment.
It was the birth of a new master.
Uohhhhh.