to change the future (3)
My eyes scanned the surroundings.
The inside of the Great War vibrates with a bloody smell.
All the knights surrounding me were aiming their swords with hostility, and Estera, the royal sword, shone in the light.
And an old man standing proudly on top of it.
This place.
It is the battlefield of betrayal that was the beginning and end of everything.
“… … fantasy?”
I know it’s an illusion.
It is something that cannot be explained unless it is a fantasy.
However, the consciousness that is getting clearer and the shivering sensation felt from the wounded body. It seemed to remind me that now is reality.
“What trick is it?”
“Oh, what a great spirit. You already know about this space.”
Duke Asus, whose identity was discovered, approached stroking his chin.
I slowly raised my head, listening to his voice ringing in my ears.
“Stop saying things that don’t suit you. On the topic of remnants of black magic.”
“Such an example, all of this was created based on your memories.”
It was as the guy said.
This bloody battle and death-bending situation were created to destroy my mental strength.
of course… … .
“Even with this tone of voice.”
tsk-
I clicked my tongue as I recalled the events before the return.
It wasn’t the situation I was envisioning.
Rather, I was surprised by the fact that I could plant fantasy in the artifact subject.
‘It’s more dangerous magic than I’ve heard.’
Either that or not. The bastard began to examine the treasured sword, Estera, by turning it around.
“It is a very good sword. It’s a pity to hear from a guy like this.”
“Are you being sarcastic?”
“If you felt that way, Allen Esteban. It would be like admitting your patheticness.”
I couldn’t protect it because I was stupid.
It was a really simple story that sounded straightforward.
“I have no intention of denying it.”
“Khehehehe. He’s a really likable personality.”
I don’t know if I’m laughing or crying.
Vomiting rises because there is nothing different from the image in the memory.
He slowly lowered his stance and met his eyes.
“So this must have come to me. You will need strength.”
“… … .”
“Are you going to say it was wrong this time?”
I didn’t feel the need to answer.
As someone who has already peeped at every piece of my memory, he must be saying that to shake me.
Rather, I threw a question to the face of the guy who was splitting the room.
“You are coveting my body.”
“of course.”
He just nodded with a bright face, as if he had no intention of hiding his desire for the body.
“It is precisely a story of mutual benefit.”
“You’re cheeky.”
“This is not a bad story at all.”
Dark magic rose above Duke Asus’s shell.
That guy started to directly erode into the mental world.
“You get powerful magic, and I get a new body, not a discarded skeleton.”
“… … .”
“Do you think it is a loss? I just want to have a body that I can live with. The initiative will be with you.”
I couldn’t guess what the calculations were in that brief moment.
However, the meaning behind the words is easily understandable.
As if they were going to give us their strength without any conditions.
From noble mtl dot com.
If you stretch out your hand like that, I will give you mighty power… … .
“See for yourself. How do you look now?”
I lowered my gaze and examined my body.
Seven packs of blood painted over a body full of wounds.
It was like a loser.
“Isn’t that so? The sword king of the world.”
“… … .”
“But if you accept me, everything will be different.”
The illusion was distorted, and a new sight unfolded before my eyes.
I no longer collapsed alone, and I could see strong loyalty in the eyes of the ministers lined up.
“How is it? A new future.”
It was an ideal future that I dreamed of.
The terrible sense of defeat that had already engulfed my heart had long since colored my whole body, and now only a ray of ugliness that yearned for power remained in me.
“Now, make your choice.”
Do you accept the power and be reborn as a strong person, or live the life of a loser?
Ahead of a choice that determines life and death.
All I can do is… … .
“Ha ha ha ha ha!”
All I could do was laugh out loud.
Duke Asus’ eyebrows twitched.
“… … Did you even go crazy?”
“Reality? Is it real?”
Can I express how I feel right now?
Rather, it could be said the opposite.
… … okay.
To be honest, I was enjoying myself right now.
“It’s funny.”
“what?”
“What are you talking about, I was going to wait and see. I’m so pathetic that I can’t listen any more.”
Sensing something strange, Duke Asus took a step back and wrinkled his face.
I shrugged my shoulders and stood up.
“… … what!”
“Still, since you dared to entertain me, I won’t let you go in pain even if you look at that sincerity.”
“Stop, no way! Mind control didn’t work?!”
“Mind control? Hmm… … .”
A sense of defeat and a longing for power engulfed the body.
As long as it exists in this space, it must have been an unavoidable temptation.
but.
“So what?”
He is cut by the swords of the subordinates he trusted, and finally stabbed in the heart.
It was a scene that I would have replayed a hundred times every time I closed my eyes.
The sense of shame and disappointment repeated every day.
But even so, he was never discouraged by a sense of defeat.
Because I regret that I will never live like that again.
Because I promised to never let go of my precious things again.
The sense of defeat was the driving force that proved my existence, so I could laugh at that trick a thousand times over.
Because the current ‘I’ was not a puppet dying helplessly in a nightmare.
“Are you trying to devour me with the subject of a ghost who just died?”
-sh*t!
“Where?”
He strangles Asus who was trying to escape in a hurry.
The bloody eyes reflected in the sword that had fallen to the floor were shining like beasts.
Although it was only an illusion, there was no image of himself as he died helplessly.
“I won’t let you appear in front of me again.”
– Kerr, gagging!
fool? Scarecrow? a warmonger?
It didn’t matter even if it was my imperfect and immature self.
this moment.
I faced the nightmares of the past and triumphed confidently.
* * *
Whoa!
The space slowly begins to collapse.
And my body was standing in the middle of the warehouse.
“… … !”
At the same time, I felt the muscles of my whole body burning, and all the energy in my body began to explode.
It feels as if a dam artificially blocking the flow of energy has burst.
Dig!
Unknowingly, the mass of negative magical energy soon became a black dot and was slowly seeping into his body.
However, this was not just a light phenomenon that settled in the body.
“Kuk!”
It was infinitely weak, but it was clearer and stronger than any other energy.
On the contrary, a huge negation that is uglier than any other energy.
After the gap between the two energies finally disappeared, all that was left was an aura that completely covered the body.
I accepted defeat in the battle for leadership and chose to become a part of myself completely.
Hoo-wook. Hoo-wook.
I took a quick breath and caught my balance.
The eyes that had turned black for a moment slowly returned to red.
Even so.
Apart from the aching head, his body condition was better than ever.
“… … light.”
I lightly clasped and opened my hands and began examining the inside of my body.
The aura that flowed naturally through my blood vessels was no longer lacking, and on the contrary, it felt like it filled my entire body.
It is an unparalleled success.
By completely absorbing negative energy with power, he succeeded in regaining some of his former glory.
It was a tougher road than I thought, but I gained a lot as well.
I knew it only with the feeling that I felt unconsciously.
At least ten times the amount of error.
Now, he has risen to the level of a sword master that no one can deny not only his simple Aura proficiency but also his power.
Was the youngest sword master in continental history 30 years old?
It was 10 years earlier, so it was a growth rate that made no sense even thinking about it.
‘I expected it to take at least three years… … .’
One of the factors was that they discovered the hiding place ahead of time.
It was only because the energy trapped in the skull had not yet escaped from the outside.
Although he suffered because of that, the fact that he was able to absorb all energy was an undeniable variable.
“It was the right decision to find this place.”
I stood for a long time looking at the place where the skull had been.
Afterglow about growth? Regret that the situation is over? The feeling of freedom that you are finally out of your nightmare?
… … maybe all three
Whatever it was, what was holding me back was an emotion I wasn’t even aware of.
but.
Haven’t you just laid the groundwork? It was too early to stop like this.
Even for the sake of the baron, who would be trembling outside.
“As a result, is it really like an excuse to purify?”
I smiled and my eyes lit up.
This will prevent the surrounding villages from being attacked by the undead in the future, and the hiding place will not be discovered due to that.
Again, the future has changed.
Is this also fate?
“let’s go.”
kiik-
“majesty!”
When I opened the warehouse door and went out, I saw the baron’s pale face.
I smiled a little, feeling glad for the fuss.
“Wow, are you okay? A huge vibration… … .”
“You’re fine, so don’t make a fuss. Rather, how much time has passed?”
At my question, the baron said, wiping away cold sweat.
“About two hours.”
“Hmm. Has it been that long?”
“that… … sorry. His Highness ordered me to return to the palace, but I couldn’t bear to go on like this.”
I was talking about 30 minutes in preparation for any unexpected danger, but… … .
It was probably an act done without realizing it, worrying about me and maintaining my position even after experiencing vibrations that shook the hideout.
Because of that, it goes without saying that I want to be my person.
‘by the way… … .’
It was an ordeal that passed by in an instant, but two hours had passed?
I wasted too much time than expected.
“I’m done with my errands, so let’s go back.”
The way out is to move through the door, just like when you entered.
I had to check my increased skills, so I needed to move quickly.
However, it was the baron’s urgent voice from behind that pulled me back.
“Oh, Your Highness! Something just appeared over there!”
“hmm?”
“It’s under the stone statue!”
I moved my gaze in the direction the baron said.
What was visible was an antique ring with a black jewel embedded in it.
“This?”
I slowly approached and picked up the ring from the floor.
Then, the baron approached with slightly cautious steps and glanced at the ring.
“I don’t think it is Mimic. It probably looks like some kind of artifact.”
“Hmm.”
“that… … Sorry for not being helpful. Because Soin is so stupid… … .”
The subtle reaction was by no means due to ignorance of the object’s identity.
Rather, the corners of my mouth go up without even realizing it.
Because I found a really unexpected harvest.
“Is the mana of the negative dimension hidden in the thorns?”
Bodice engraved with geometric patterns. A black jewel that catches the eye above it.
I wasn’t sure at first, but after looking closely, it seems like the stuff I knew was right.
“Good. If you hadn’t found it, you wouldn’t have known. Good job.”
The baron’s expression brightened at his sincere words.
“I’m glad I was helpful.”
If the thing I know is right, it won’t be of much help if you use it in a place like this.
Because things have their own uses and people who are suitable for them.
I said as I put the ring into my bosom.
“First, let’s return to the palace. It wouldn’t be nice to be away for a long time.”
“All right.”
Woo woo woo-
The vision flickered with a roar that was now familiar.
The hand that opened the stone gate was more relaxed than ever.
… …
After a while.
When I came to my senses, we were standing where we were before.
“Whoa. This teleportation is not adaptable.”
Return of the cemetery.
Even though it was already morning, visibility was not secured because of the fog that had gathered again.
However, his senses, which were wider than before, were clearly visible as if a cemetery hundreds of meters wide was in the palm of his hand.
“I don’t think you need to adapt to teleportation.”
“That is true, but… … .”
“That story is over.”
I shrugged and put my hand on the scabbard.
Then, the baron shook his head with a tired face.
From noble mtl dot com.
“Are you going to be a ghoul again?”
“no. It seems that other guests have come this time.”
“Well, in that case, maybe it’s a ghost… … .”
He replied with a short sigh at the baron’s fuss, who had contracted the disease again.
“Fortunately, it is a living creature.”
“Phew. then… … .”
“But in a way, the ghost could have been better.”
At least it wouldn’t have made me feel bad if it was a ghost.
I said, looking through the wild beasts hiding their lives in the fog.
“I am an assassin.”