About a week after Daejeon was closed, the atmosphere of the cradle, which had been sharp as if it was going to explode at any moment, began to slowly return to its former relaxed mood.
The first reason was that they could not let their lives go away as they didn’t know how long the war might be closed, and the second reason was the belief of the dead that Maleus would never lose to anyone.
From https://noblemtl.com
Of course, the front of Daejeon was not empty.
Whether there was a manual for such a situation, the dead set their turn among themselves to be on the lookout for the front of Daejeon.
Among them, the companions… Unfortunately, I couldn’t do this or that, and I had no choice but to wait for Maleus to come out.
Isn’t that right, since the purpose of coming to the cradle in the first place was the ‘coffin’ possessed by Maleus, it was impossible to return without any income.
So, in the end, all you do is repeat what you’ve been doing the whole time in the cradle.
[Looks like he has a lot of worries.]
the entrance to the castle.
Now, to some extent, Hodrick, who has returned to his normal life, said to Vera opposite.
As for Hodric, the question asked by Vera, who continues to fight, is why he seems more cluttered than usual.
Vera trembled at it, then shook his head.
“… no. For a moment, I was confused.”
[Because of His Majesty?]
“… .”
[That’s right.]
Hodric drew the sword.
[How about taking a break and doing it again? There’s no reason to push yourself for nothing, as you swing your sword to awaken your will. No, it would be more accurate to say that such things are poisonous. Because the sword that cannot contemplate the inner world can never reach the will.]
Hodric sat down with a creaking sound, beckoning Vera, who had been standing still and holding his holy sword. The gesture of waving up and down was an expression of its own to persuade them to sit down.
Vera hesitated for a moment, then drew the holy sword and sat down near Hodric.
“Is that okay? If Alaysia, no other opponent, is there… .”
[Well, I guess my explanation was insufficient.]
“… Yes?”
[Why are we so reassured? Let me explain in a bit more detail… Remember when I said first that this wasn’t the first time something like this had happened?]
Vera nodded. I remember hearing that on the first day when Daejeon was closed, so it was an action with a positive intention.
Hodric nodded to face it and continued.
[The opponent I fought back then was Alaysia. The place was also the Daejeon of the cradle here. According to the timeline, it was just when the new era was coming to an end.]
Vera’s body stopped. A look of surprise appeared on his face.
[It was the time when Ardain woke up. Well, referring to the story I heard from the lord, it would be correct to say that it was the time when the ‘shell of Ardain’ was awakened. Anyway, at that time, His Majesty and the woman had already had a fight once, and at that time the victory was already divided, so we are not concerned.]
“Did Maleus win?”
[Wrong. It was a draw. No, it had to be a draw. Sure enough, ancient species can’t harm each other unless they use a very special attack, right? In addition, since both are immortals and complete beings from birth, there is no such thing as a change of superiority or inferiority due to their growth. With a very high probability, the fight will end in a draw again this time.]
Vera smirked at it and frowned.
It is because Vera’s words had a very plausible basis to say that they were just uttering to reassure themselves.
“… If that’s the case, then you’re lucky.”
[Yeah, don’t worry too much, you just need to think about the sword.]
Hodrick’s playful response was brimming with laughter.
[I have a lot of worries.]
“It’s because I tend to think that no matter how meticulous the contrast is, it’s not enough.”
[I think it’s a good habit for a knight, but bad for a swordsman. Right now, when you swing your sword, don’t you just leave it to your instincts?]
Vera did not deny it. However, it made the shy look that was slowly coming to mind even stronger.
[A will is, after all, a path engraved in instinct. For me, for example, it’s a sword that was made after the regret of not being able to erase it for the rest of my life. So, think again, sir. What shape is the road engraved on the instinct of the Lord?]
“… It already knows.”
[Well?]
“Where is the sword that I will wield? We already know that.”
Vera’s gaze was still fixed on the floor. What floated above his face was a very calm face that seemed to continue his deep contemplation.
“I have already made a decision. Before coming here… So, this is a path I have already decided on since the time I wrote a promise on this heart.”
Vera’s hand moved softly towards the location of my heart.
Hodric, who had once lived as an apostle of the oath, knew very well what that action meant.
[…] I hope it’s a good thing. It is a blessing to have an unshakable belief.]
“Yes, indeed, but… . Even though I know that, I’m not seeing any progress as far as dealing with ideology. It’s frustrating.”
[Then I guess there is only one reason.]
“Yes?”
Vera’s head flashed.
Hodrick chuckled at the sight of Vera and continued.
[Your approach is wrong. The Lord is only looking at the destination right now, so he doesn’t know what the road to it looks like.]
Vera’s brow narrowed slightly. Because I couldn’t understand the intent of what Hodrick was saying.
Hodrick smiled broadly, added one word to Vera, and stood up.
[Ask yourself the ‘why’ question. It would be a good way to ask the essential questions related to the way you want to go and your destination.]
Sleung-.
Hodric drew his sword.
[Now, I’ve rested long enough, so I’ll try again.]
Vera pondered for a moment at Hodrick’s words, then nodded and got up to follow.
The next matchup, this time, was also Vera’s defeat.
*
After the battle with Vera was over, Hodric stood alone in front of the gates, staring at his hands wrapped in black gauntlets.
The battle with Vera was rewinding in his mind, as he repeatedly clenched and opened his hands.
‘At this speed… .’
Sooner or later, Vera will be fully enlightened.
Hodric, who was revisiting Dalian, smiled as he recalled such a conclusion.
‘It’s fast.’
It was really fast. He was also clever.
Unlike himself, who was so stupid, he realized ten words with just one word.
He knew the prudence worthy of the name of the apostle of the oath as a virtue.
Also, haven’t you already made a single promise that will last the rest of your life?
As Hodric thought that Vera could be a much better apostle than himself, a small footstep approached the gates.
Hodrick said as he looked at his hand.
[I hope you are here, lady. Did you eat well?]
I say this because I already know whose footsteps belong.
At that, Jenny shrugged her shoulders in excitement, and then made a pouty face.
“… Master’s eyes.”
[I didn’t say that you have to spread the power a little more thinly to hide your presence.]
“difficult… .”
[It will get better gradually.]
After saying that, Hodrick turned his head to look at Jenny.
[Are you not playing with the saint today?]
“yes… , Sister said she had a meeting.”
[Isn’t that right? The young lady is the same apostle, so why not join?]
“… No, I am a cradle.”
Jenny came to Hodrick. He slowly reached out and tapped the sword hanging from Hodric’s waist.
Hodrick remembered his troubled mind.
[…] Lady, as I always say. You must also go out into the world someday. This is not a land for living things.]
“Then die… .”
[Is it something you want to get excited about?]
Jenny’s body shook.
Immediately after, as Jenny, who made her pale look stronger, lowered her head, Hodrick felt a feeling of suffocation in his lungs, which he didn’t even have.
This poor child, who had been abandoned at the entrance of the cradle when she was a baby, was so pitiful that a child who only knew how to be ashamed of living with a dead who knew no warmth for the rest of her life.
Hodrick didn’t want her to end her life here in the cradle.
So he turned to Jenny, got down on his knees, and said, at eye level.
[…] Outside the cradle is a wider world. If you go there, you will be able to see and experience a lot of things you’ve only heard in stories, don’t you wonder?]
Jenny shook her head without a single thought at Hodrick’s words.
“I’m not curious.”
[miss… .]
“There is no His Majesty, no Master, no Kiki or Toby… .”
The long words came back to Hodric with the same answer this time.
Hodrick was both grateful and sorry for Jenny’s love for him and his cradle, so this time too, he ended the conversation without further pressure.
[…] Yeah, it’s not urgent.]
Jenny rolled her eyes to look at Hodrick, then smiled shyly and nodded.
“… yes.”
Hodrick shrugged. What it does on the outside is to burst into laughter.
But Hodrick knew.
The reason his heart is weakened by this pure white and cute smile is that this smile is so similar to someone else’s smile that he couldn’t protect.
That is why, when you stand alone in front of Jenny, your own regrets are boiling over.
Hodrick spent time with Jenny as he struggled to erase the sadness that came to him.
*
An all-black space.
Now, Maleus had come and crushed Alaysia with a body that became one with the underworld.
However, there was no such thing as annihilation of Alaysia.
If it was natural, it was natural, and if it was familiar, it was familiar.
“How long are you going to be like this?”
puddle. puddle.
Alaysia, who was repeatedly crushed and regenerated, asked.
Maleus responded with a sarcastic tone to it.
[Well, I wonder if it will stop by the time four years are crushed to death.]
“Knowing it won’t happen. We can’t kill each other. So Lokrion and Ner are still fighting.”
[It’s not that there’s no way. If four years were counted by the number of Ardains killed.]
“Ar is not dead.”
[Oh, yes. he didn’t die It’s been torn apart because of four years, and I can no longer call it Ardain. I forgot that.]
The words spoken with a smile were full of ridicule and criticism against Alaysia.
Maleus continued looking at Alaysia, whose body had been shattered once more.
[Oh yeah… I don’t know what your parents were thinking, keeping the four years alive.]
“Because I did nothing wrong? And do you love me?”
When Alaysia, who had quickly restored her face, answered that, Maleus’s expression wrinkled.
[It is very regrettable that there are only four years of fertility in this cradle.]
“Wow, you look like a grandfather. None of that is fun.”
puddle-.
Alaysia’s face squashed again.
Maleus clicked his tongue and spoke again of accusation to Alaysia.
[An ignorance that does not give up is such an ugly thing. How far must I fail in four years to know when to give up?]
“I have never failed, so I don’t know.”
[Ah, it must have been that he didn’t know how to give up because he had a bad brain. Didn’t you know that you had never had success in your four years of life?]
“A fool Maleus can’t tell the difference between success and failure.”
Alaysia laughed.
“And I thought it was your toy, not me?”
Maleus wasn’t stupid enough that he didn’t realize that the toy she was talking about was a ghost under his control.
The darkness grew. The pressure on the space grew stronger.
[Are you using Ardain’s legacy in that way?]
What comes out is anger filled with anger.
To that, Alaysia answered with her mouth ripped open.
“Your toys are so easy. Did you really get the color right after mixing it a little? It’s really funny, how it rewinds every time I write it, but I can’t get over it once.”
Alaysia, who had burst into laughter and laughter, breathed out a long breath with those words.
“flaw… It’s a pity I didn’t get the coffin, but thanks to that, I can handle the kid with ease. If you’re at his level now, you’ll never be able to beat your toy.”
puddle-.
From https://noblemtl.com
Once again Alaysia was crushed.
That’s what Maleus spit out after all.
[No matter what you do, nothing will go your way.]
It was a curse word for Alaysia, and at the same time, it was a word to ensure that his friend did not fall apart.
About ten days after the end of the Daejeon, the conversation between the two transcendents, who were constantly fighting for strength, ended with that again.