Chapter 6. Reunion (6)
Since it was winter, the sun had already set.
The dazzling moonlight seems to have somehow cooled down today. Feelings that may have been just a feeling ran through Ludwig’s head.
It might take a while to get back.
When I turned around, the long, dark night road caught my eye. Perhaps because of the wide gaps between the buildings, the leaking light did not illuminate the entire street.
But fortunately, there were oil lamps hanging on the walls of private houses built nearby, so I didn’t get confused about the direction. The darker the darkness, the more precious a small light is. He took that as a milestone and moved back to his lodgings.
‘I knew, but… It’s a bit like what I’ve been through.’
The corner of his mouth curved slightly as he recalled what had happened at the inn. However, anyone would know that the emotion contained in it was not joy.
Every time the lights of the oil lamps hung here and there flickered faintly, the light in his eyes also spread one after another.
What kind of oil was used to light the oil lamp? castor oil? fish oil? nut oil? A myriad of useless thoughts that I normally wouldn’t even listen to spread. Perhaps it was a kind of defensive action that held on to the consciousness of sinking further into the abyss.
‘It must mean that he is still an outsider.’
I pride myself on having changed quite a bit.
He didn’t want to shut himself up in the house any longer, withdrawing from the flow of the story, turning his head away as if he were a wise man who knew everything.
This must be the change Emilia brought to her. It contained a handful of courage that a girl had wrung out even when her heart was rejected.
However, the moment he heard the order to celebrate guests from the Sword Saint, he suddenly felt something pushing his shoulder. Don’t come across this any more. It felt like drawing a line like that.
it’s still not enough Feeling resentful, Ludwig bit his lip.
‘The thing that shouldn’t happen… … .’
The moment she left the Sword Saint’s side, it was clear that she would not be able to keep up with the growth of the original.
In the yard where uncertain elements have already been twisted as much as possible, this is something that should not happen the most.
That’s why I tried to placate the Sword Saint somehow. Even if Emilia, the party involved, accepted the excommunication without saying anything, she had to step in and change the situation. Because that’s what I thought.
However, the result was grim and he was powerless. Even if he had declared that he would listen to the story while refusing the order to celebrate, nothing would have changed. That fact pierced Ludwig’s heart even harder.
‘It’s like a game.’
He moistened his dry lips with memories of the previous world that had come to him after a long time. When he was in that world, he enjoyed RPG games.
In that virtual world, you can’t move on to the next story or see the NPC’s story unless you complete certain conditions. This condition may be the combat power of a character controlled by the user or a specific status.
There are no tall walls or strong castles that seem impossible to overcome even at first glance, blocking his path. Just one phrase, ‘I can’t proceed any further’, appears in front of my eyes.
However, there is an absolute deterrent that no one who has been in that world can deny.
Every word Ludwig heard from Rebecca felt something as absolute as that phrase. It was a message that seemed to warn that even irregulars could not change the change as long as they set foot in this world.
“Is it still far?”
Ludwig mumbles to himself while leaning over a private house, lost in thought. Shaking his head as if to shake off something, he looked up at the dark night sky again.
I decided to become a new variable in a world made of variables, and at least to support her. Even though he may not be a great man who solves the case in style like the main character in the original work, he will protect him somehow even if he becomes a fodder for arrows.
Did the resolution that I had made at that time collapsed with just that one word?
Because the opponent is a swordsman? Because it was the words of someone who had stepped into a territory that he himself had not yet reached? it’s bullshit I just ended up getting scared.
Because he faced himself so powerless that he couldn’t be sure of anything about the future of Emilia Bayemurn.
‘It looks like a beggar.’
Don’t have power, it’s a problem from before. In this state, even if he had reached the level of a swordsman, it was clear that he would not be able to take a single step at a critical moment.
Did he say nonsense that he would get involved in the story with this kind of mindset? I felt like I was going to vomit from my own pathetic feelings.
‘Let’s go back for now.’
It was around the time when the blade of the moonlight, which had been piercing his body, had become even cooler and sharper.
In any case, you shouldn’t forget what you have to do now. The most urgent priority right now is to somehow convince either Emilia or Rebecca so that their relationship can continue. Because this is an immutable truth.
“Ludwig.”
A warm voice tickled my ear through the cold night air. It caught Ludwig’s steps.
I turned my head to the all-too-familiar voice, and sure enough, Emilia was standing there with a warm smile. With a small oil lamp in one hand.
“Emilia? Why do we go to this distant place… … .”
How did he come to know where he was in the first place? Emilia lightly approached him at the question full of doubts.
Without saying a word, she met his gaze and touched his hand.
“Wasn’t it cold? I’m sorry for me.”
“It’s okay because it’s strong against the cold. Rather, I’m sorry that I made you come this far because of me.”
“Don’t talk like that. Because of you, I also like night walks.”
Even though she said that, her body was faintly trembling in the midwinter night air.
Even if you take off your coat and put it on, it will be hard to get rid of this cold easily. After much thought, Ludwig raised his hand that touched her and murmured softly.
It was a secret that would one day be revealed. I had no intention of hiding it until the end, and it was not a secret weapon that could be used in an emergency. Then it would be better to show it at the most useful moment.
“Foregello.”
Soon, a faint yellow light seemed to illuminate the surroundings, but Emilia was enveloped in a warmer air than a moment ago. Only then did she realize the identity of the sentence he recited, and her eyes widened.
“Ludwig, no way… … ?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Ludwig expressed an affirmation to the question without a subject.
It was. In this world, magic that is even referred to as a miracle of a god was manifested in his hand.
“You must have been very surprised.”
“I can only be surprised… Since when did you start using magic?”
“It was a little while ago. Unfortunately, I can’t use fancy magic.”
Magic is an area of more talent than swordsmanship. Unlike swordsmanship, which anyone can take a step towards, magic cannot even be manifested by those without talent. In other words, it is a miracle that only the chosen can use.
And more talent is required to use it more skillfully, but Ludwig unfortunately did not reach that level. At best, a level that gives warmth like this and heals simple scratches. It was an embarrassing power to be called a miracle, so I had never informed anyone about it.
“It’s great, but on the other hand, it’s a bit annoying that it’s been hidden so far.”
“It wasn’t great enough to boast in front of Emilia, it was just that.”
If it was at least a level of fire-breathing, he would have proudly displayed it. Magic that can only be used as a trick at best. that was all he was.
“It can’t be. Is it still this warm?”
At his self-deprecating words, Emilia swayed in place and performed a turn, as if proving that the cold was gone. At that, Ludwig’s mouth naturally burst into laughter.
Of course, it’s magic that brings warmth, but it’s hard to completely relieve the cold with your own abilities. At best, it would have been just standing there naked, putting on a couple of clothes and going into a shack where the wind would let in.
Even so, exaggerating is probably from the desire to instill confidence. She was a truly grateful woman.
“Because it is like this, it reminds me of the time I stayed at Ipretz Street.”
“That’s right. Back then, we often took walks together in the garden.”
I felt a déjà vu for some reason when I heard the voice calling me a while ago, and I thought maybe it was because of that.
When they were staying together on the Eifretts Street, when he stood out for a walk in the garden, she would appear, call her name, and approach him. It was like a daily scene that happened very often when I was in the mansion.
“Then and today, Ludwig still has a lot of worries.”
“I have no face.”
“Worrying a lot means being serious. I think it’s good.”
Guided by her hand, the road back to the lodging somehow felt brighter than before.
If there is such a thing as the natural light emitted by humans, the girl named Emilia will shine brighter than any other star. Just by keeping the seat next to her like this, she was able to benefit from that light.
Unlike himself with a bittersweet smile, a bright smile did not disappear from her lips.
Did the story with Rebecca go well? This was not very good news for him, who had to somehow prevent excommunication. If Emilia accepted this result calmly, convincing her would be quite difficult.
“Looks like the story with Sir Stenbaum has come to an end.”
“Yeah. Thanks to Master, I gained some enlightenment. I also reflected on my ugly past.”
“… … .”
What is that awakening? I wanted to ask in detail, but it was hard to get the words out.
“Ludwig.”
“Yes.”
“Actually, I didn’t put any meaning or meaning to the sword.”
“It is surprising.”
I thought she must have some grand aspirations. Even so, it’s not surprising because I thought it was good anyway.
“I just want to make a name for myself in this country someday, to a higher level because it’s good… With that thought in mind, I used to swing my sword every day.”
When I think about it now, it was an ambition that was frivolous. An ambition that is so shabby that it would be embarrassing to bring it out to others, and that is not sound.
The reason she openly confessed it in front of the man who had a crush on her was because she believed in the man named Ludwig that much. Because he knows he’s a man who won’t get tired of himself over something like this.
“Master told me. Don’t set your mind on the sword, put your mind on what you want to protect. I want you to be the one who makes the sword chase, not the one who chases the sword.”
“indeed.”
A soft groan escaped from his mouth.
If someone else had said it, you might have thought that it was a cliché that you spouted out as if you realized it, but when you think it came out of the mouth of the swordsman, it was considered a rare prestigious.
“And he also said this. Meet the person I want to protect, and make the person I want to protect.”
“Did you understand that?”
what did you understand Even without deliberately digging it up and burying it, Emilia already knew the meaning behind it.
Giving up the teachings of the Sword Master. For her, who had always only looked at the sword, this was no different from throwing away an irreplaceable opportunity.
If, by any chance, there is a hint of hesitation in her eyes, make a decision somehow. Her eyes met with that thought in mind.
“Yeah. Enough.”
There was not even an inch of shaking. Much less, what was contained in it was not the scenery of a cold night road spreading out in front of my eyes.
She was a girl who thought that the moment she lost her sword, she would be engulfed in pitch-black darkness again. There was always something close to obsession and madness in those eyes.
There was a sword at the end of that line of sight, but in the end there was only emptiness where nothing existed. Even so, Emilia had walked so far without knowing that fact. Just staring at the reality in front of your eyes.
However, that wasn’t the case anymore. I had the will to draw the future, and the surroundings were no longer dark. Besides, I have a man who wants me to draw a future together.
“So, Ludwig, will you do me one favor?”
“As much as you like.”
Even if I couldn’t pick up a star from the sky and hand it over, I wanted to listen to anything that was possible. It would be really embarrassing to ask for something like that.
“If someone appears to protect me in the future, I want that person to be Ludwig.”
Without hesitation, Emilia reveals her true feelings as they are.
I didn’t even feel ashamed at this moment. On the contrary, with each word she uttered, she felt something hot rising in her heart, and an overwhelming feeling of fullness surrounded her.
“Thank you for your words, but I do not have the power to protect you. Emilia.”
Contrary to her expectation that he would gladly accept it, he took a step back and shook his head.
But I didn’t find it surprising or hopeless. On the contrary, I smiled at the thought of saying something like that.
It’s not because I hate it. It’s not because they want to push me away.
You’re just afraid that you, who you consider insignificant, won’t be able to protect me. It always has been.
If it was me in the past, I might have secretly cried in my heart, disappointed by your words. But not anymore.
Her outstretched hand wrapped around Ludwig’s cheek. Unlike her hands, which had been warmed by magic, his face was as cold as ice.
What a stupid man. Even in the midst of this cold, you took care of me first.
It seems that the meaning of ‘protect’ that you and I think has a slightly different meaning. Like the heat you feel from this hand and the cold that comes from your face, they have different warmth and texture even though they are facing each other on the same line.
It’s sad, but maybe that’s the relationship between you and me. It’s still a little clumsy, but one day, at the end, you’ll miraculously come across.
“It doesn’t mean that. I am not at all afraid of all the monsters in the world or men from other families who have their eyes on me.”
With the sword given to me and you standing by my side, I can overcome anything.
All I want to keep is
“Keep me where I am. Ludwig. And, I want you to be where I am.”
I didn’t want to go back to that dark darkness again. What she wanted to protect now was neither the sword, nor the family, nor her own prestige.
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Just a handful of light that brightly illuminated his heart. It was the most brilliant and precious jewel that only he had in the world.
A jewel that cannot be obtained even if you pay tens of millions of gold and risk your life.
“It’s not a sword that can cut down enemies, nor a shield that can protect me. Just remaining as a light to light my way, when I come back to your side… … .”
Carefully reaching down, Emilia took his hand and led him to her face.
His frosty hand touched his cheek, but for some reason he didn’t feel the cold. It may be because the whole body was enveloped in heat.
“Become a warm light so that I can warm up like this.”
That’s all I want. The noble knight said so.
One day, when you were able to care for yourself more, when you became a little more confident than you are now and willingly stood next to me.
At that time, this wind may change a little. But for now, this was enough.
Because I couldn’t ask for more from you, who is my goal.
However, as a greedy person, what kind of whims will I have in the future? Unfortunately, I don’t have eyes to see the future, so I can’t predict it at will… … .
‘It must be clear.’
Only this heart towards you will remain the same. That was all I could be sure of.