256─Return
Tsk.
“This is truly foolish.”
Hearing the sound of the trumpet sounding over the battlefield from afar, Corleone clicked her tongue lightly toward Prince Raymond, who was pulling out his sword.
“Do you see it?”
“Yes. “Elderly.”
“An ideal is like a star. “You can’t get it, but it becomes a compass in the night sky and tells you which way to go.”
And.
“The destination of fate is never good. “The moment you hang on a cliff and pick the flowers blooming there, all that’s left is to fall.”
“That is a wise statement. If not…… Are you going left wing now?”
hehehe.
Hearing his words that he did not repeat, Corleone let out a humorous laugh and smoothed his beard.
“Let’s make it wait. “At least letting me face death on this battlefield is the least and last courtesy I can give you.”
“I understand.”
Clouds have already set in the clear, blue sky, casting a huge shadow on the land that was once filled with sunlight.
Is the sun also giving the last consideration?
Caw──!
Even the battlefield cleaners come and roam the air even before the decision has been made.
I flinch.
“…… “
No, there were too many crows roaming the sky to say that, so Corleone was momentarily puzzled.
Even if the army followed the scent of blood and flew in to eat the corpses.
It must be only a very small number, but why are there so many flocks of crows roaming the sky in this empty plain with nowhere to sit?
“Oh, old man…… “
Eventually, as if to resolve his doubts, he was able to see clearly when he turned his head to follow the vassal who was calling him and pointing to a certain place.
The aging process has progressed so much that even the eyes of an old body can clearly see the hundreds and thousands of dead people far beyond, filling the horizon.
Yes, the flock of crows flew in not because they were attracted by the bloody smell of the army……
I arrived at this battlefield, drawn by the smell of death they gave off.
Soon after, a man walks in front of the dead, sending away a crow sitting on his arm.
No matter how far away.
That dignity.
That appearance.
That look.
How could Alfred forget?
“Hmm…… hahahahaha!”
Not even death could stop their loyalty.
‘No──!’
Opening his eyes wide, Corleone gave his hands a firm squeeze.
The fact that mortal beings cannot avoid death has already been proven by a long history that has continued since the beginning!
So, the fact that a man named Fersen died on the battlefield was nothing more than a trick.
The clear purpose would have been to set a trap to track down those who were rebelling against the imperial family at this moment.
“Elder…… “
“hehehehe…… !”
Corleone was quite shocked, to the point where the back of his head hurt, but his mood had reached its peak.
“Has the imperial family, who was just a puppy for a day, finally grown up to the size of a tiger’s cub?”
Even if the war was won, the power of the imperial family was bound to be weaker than before.
Because the structure of the war itself was like that.
Even if the cause was provided by the Elmark Empire, it was the Ernes Empire that declared war first.
The difference is not small.
However, through this trap, the power of the noble faction can be greatly reduced, so how far-sighted is this plan?
If I had been a little hasty and given the order to attack our army’s left wing.
He must have become a traitor without hesitation and could not avoid execution.
But since that wasn’t the case, Corleone was willing to go up on stage for them at this moment.
“Okay. Let’s go. The target of the assault is the center of the Elmark Imperial Army.”
Shedding the most blood.
By making the greatest sacrifice.
“Bring me the most precious glory.”
“Yes──!”
Soon, Alfred Corleone Wayne Barretta and the army he led began to advance.
* * * * *
Stop it──!
As the serpent-like old man’s army charged towards them, Gremory smiled and turned his back.
In fact, in this battlefield, it was none other than Gremory who noticed the presence of the man named Fersen the fastest.
‘I definitely saw it with my own eyes…’ … ‘
How can a person who has died and gone to the underworld come back to this world again?
But Gremory decided not to care about that.
Because the only thing that mattered was the result in front of us.
‘Yes.’
Is it praiseworthy for making a mockery of the natural order of this world and blinding the eyes of mortals?
‘What are you going to do with those ugly, rotten corpses?’
With a faint sneer.
The Gremory he carved, the greatest stone of this era and the king of all ills, takes a step forward.
* * * * *
Why can’t I really feel like I’m back?
It feels as if I am quietly walking down a dark street in the wee hours of the morning when everyone is asleep.
Lizzy clearly said that the period of time she can exist as a human being is one month.
Has that time already passed?
‘No…’ … ‘
If you think about it, the place he wanted to return to was not the land mass called the Ernes Empire.
Beyond the Elmark Imperial Army blocking the road, it would be them and the spot next to them where they were waiting.
Therefore, Fersen gently stroked her altar and then took her steps.
Cow!
Soon after him, the door to the Underworld opens behind him and leads to the 4th floor, just before the depths.
What descends there is not a monster in the form of a living creature, but “The earth.”
“Wow…… ! “aaah!”
From Noble mtl dot com
Yes, the land I was stepping on was rapidly expanding around the gate of the Underworld, turning the earth into a writhing mass of flesh.
It caused the legs of the Elmark Empire soldiers standing on it to become rooted and twisted their bodies.
Their bodies, which were quickly squeezed like laundry, vomited out all the blood, organs, muscles, and veins in their bodies.
The remaining bones protrude through the twisted skin and grow little by little to form a bare tree.
A place where tens of thousands of troops of a great empire were stationed.
The sight of the forest slowly transforming into a winter forest was truly bizarre and awe-inspiring.
And the Gremory encountered in the center was sitting down in an ugly manner, its remaining left foot swallowed by the writhing earth, as if the momentum it had when first approaching Fersen was insignificant.
Unlike the monster on the 3rd floor, the amount of magic consumed when resisting the monster on the 4th floor was also different, so all he could do was spit out his magic and barely extend his life.
Of course, there was no feeling of mercy towards the monster that was watching it quietly, so the bare trees around them bowed down and clung to Gremory.
The wriggling branches are then slowly implanted onto her skin through that contact.
In one sense, it may seem like a parasite, but in another sense, it can be said to be a perfect grafting of a flower and tree.
Naturally, Gremory’s magical power began to be consumed more rapidly……
Ouch!
Psik!
Eventually, as the resistance weakened along with the fading magic power, her slender waist twisted and her spine was crushed.
The bright red blood that flowed from her torn skin did not end there, beautifully staining the hem of her clothes.
“Great…… hehehe…… !”
27 Years of life, during that time.
Have you ever felt so helpless and overwhelmed by incredible violence?
The open door to the Underworld──The fact that the number of floors written there is 4 is undoubtedly proof that Fersen has advanced to the next level.
Yes, in the end he was unable to overcome himself and headed to the underworld.
What kind of feelings will you give at this moment when you return to this world and overcome yourself?
That was what Gremory was curious about at the threshold of death.
Jeobbuk.
But Fersen passes by as if he doesn’t even care about his existence.
The only thing his red eyes contained were the women and them waiting for him beyond here.
Then, Gremory tried to use what little strength she had left to turn Ferzen back on his feet, but……
In the end, she gave up and shut her mouth.
By nature, humans look up at the top of the mountain they want to climb.
On the contrary, the top of the mountain does not look down on such people.
Yes, that makes sense.
‘Ah…… ‘
It’s not bad.
Rather than standing at the top with nowhere else to climb and ending your life in boredom……
It would be much better to close your eyes and look up at the peak of the mountain you could not climb.
Wow!
The bones growing inside Gremory’s body, which was twisted so cruelly, turned into branches.
A woman named Gremory Eldin Ishtar Elmark became the largest tree in the world.
54,221.
If you count the number of people, it was the number of Elmark Empire troops gathered here.
If you count the number of trees, it was also the number of trees in this great plain.
Jeobbuk.
So, Fersen, who had made it all the way through, took a deep breath with only a few steps left.
My heart is pounding unsteadily.
I see emotions surging, whether it’s excitement or tension.
Fortunately, at this moment, the being standing here on two feet seemed to be a “Human” Named Fersen.
Tuk.
Finally, as she lightly struck the floor with the heel of her shoe, all 54,221 bare trees bloomed at once.
It was a fresh scent that was in full bloom.
Beautiful cherry blossoms with pink petals are in full bloom.
Jeobbuk.
Jeobbuk……
15 Steps.
Looking at Prince Raymond, who had a tearful expression in front of him that could hardly be called a good expression even with empty words, Fersen knelt down on one knee and bowed her head.
“Fersen von Schweig Ruerg. Now on a long journey…… I’m back. Majesty.”
Cherry blossoms blowing in the wind and falling like rain block the view.
And even though the rain had stopped, the fact that Fersen was in front of her was proof that this moment was not a dream at all.
Everything that is born prepares for an unexpected separation.
At the same time, we live while waiting for a fateful meeting.
So, remembering what he said before parting ways, Prince Raymond smiled brightly and answered in a voice full of tears.
“Welcome…… Count.”
Of course, it wasn’t just the welcoming.
Even though I step on the fallen cherry blossom petals, the sound of my footsteps does not die.
At this moment of reunion, Uriel, whose emotions were surging like a cherry blossom in full bloom, ran over and hugged Fersen.
“Hmm…… Turn it off!”
Stuttering, the thin hands that touch his face and body are pitiful.
Is he really alive before my own eyes?
I fumbled my hands dozens or hundreds of times to confirm that fact.
And at the end, as a very large hand gently brushed away her hair, Uriel carefully placed her trembling body in his arms and said,
“Welcome…… ” Called.
After hearing her words, Fersen was willing to give her her answer, but……
Quuk.
Laura came up next to him and smiled jokingly as he clasped her left hand without saying a word.
Now, even though Uriel is right in front of us.
Does this mean that there is no reason to live in hiding?
Ttogak.
One more person.
If it is far, it can be said to be far, and if it is close, it can be said to be close.
As Princess Elizabeth, looking at herself from a mere four steps away, brushed her bright white blonde hair behind her ear, Fersen met her gaze with a faint gaze.
…… Her feelings that she loves him are something that he can easily sense from her.
But that cannot be accomplished.
Elizabeth knew that it was her greed to pour out her feelings to Fersen.
Fersen Also, she knew that accepting her feelings was greed.
That’s why the two were careful with each other, but wouldn’t it be okay to loosen up a little at this moment of reunion?
“Promise…… “I kept it.”
Winter has passed, spring is approaching.
Her words asked her to still be by his side.
Fersen smiled slightly, replying that she did not break it.
Then, at a short distance, Elizabeth slightly clenched her fists, then slowly opened them and smiled along with Fersen.
“Okay…… Welcome. Fersen.”
It’s not about being a count, it’s about keeping his name.
Even if it’s childish, it’s a low-key desire to show off once.
Fersen, who returned to their side, raised her head and looked at the sky, feeling the realization that she had returned.
She then opens her mouth, forcing the words she must say down her throat.
“I’ve been there.”
* * * * *
March.
Spring.
The villain was there.
With blooming happiness.
“Hmph.”
No, I guess that’s definitely not the case.
Among the cherry blossoms in full bloom, Lizzie, who is quietly watching the scene out of their field of vision, snorts her laughter.
The birth of life.
The beginning of the season.
Even the beautiful and bright cherry blossoms that announce it all, Lizzy thought, was truly like him, using someone else’s life and misfortune as a seed to make it bloom.
Yes.
In the blooming happiness.
Calm blue also seeps in.