Chapter 43 : The Road to the Kingdom (5)

Faith, when excessive, turns into fanaticism, and on the contrary, when it reaches the bottom, it becomes disbelief. 

Excessive faith, in fact, becomes poison. 

If the Jackal had committed a wrongdoing, he would have apologized.

It is not right to blindly trust and take sides without any conditions. 

But in the current situation, the story is different.

 Wolfgang knows the Jackal too well.

A child who despises himself as a monster and blames himself. 

A child tormented by a horrific past that goes beyond abuse. 

The day when all of the Jackal’s wounds will heal will never come.

No matter how much Wolfgang fought in the Winter War and witnessed countless horrors. 

The wounds the Jackal carries are so severe that even he cannot mention them recklessly.

But does that mean there is nothing that can be done?

Absolutely not.

Wolfgang chose to accept the Jackal as he is.

“You are not bad, you are not a monster,” she became the pillar of support for the Jackal, telling him these words. Someone might say that a few words can easily persuade her, but ironically…

What the Jackal needed was not something grand or elaborate.

It was just those few kind words.

Had the Jackal committed a crime, Wolfgang would never have taken him side. 

But since that was not the case, as the leader he trusted and followed, Wolfgang had the duty to believe in him.

“……That was an excellent strike, Sir Leonhart.”

“I wondered why a dragon suddenly appeared. Were you riding on the dragon’s back after all?”

“Yes, that’s right. The guardian dragon must protect the saint.”

Surprisingly, the one who appeared from the fallen guardian dragon’s back was none other than Saint Jeanne. 

As she faced someone with similar white hair and golden eyes, a strange sense of discomfort rose in Wolfgang.

‘It’s like meeting a doppelgänger.’

It was akin to the uncanny valley. 

Just like how people feel uneasy when they see someone who resembles themselves too closely. 

A poorly resembling saint was not pleasing to Wolfgang.

But it wasn’t just her appearance that made him come this far. 

Wolfgang walked past the fallen guardian dragon and approached Jeanne. Naturally, the knights did not simply stand by and watch.

Just as the Vendetta Legion is loyal to Wolfgang Leonhart, the royal guards are loyal to Saint Jeanne, even more so than the kingdom itself. 

They would sacrifice their lives for her if necessary.

With that level of commitment, they were able to stand in Wolfgang’s way, even though he had just struck down the guardian dragon in one blow.

The red-haired boy, Allen, with a stiff expression, opened his mouth.

“Don’t approach any further.”

“Why is that? I’m just looking for a conversation.”

“Do you think this looks like a normal conversation?”

Allen pointed to where the guardian dragon, still unconscious with its head buried in the ground, was lying. 

However, despite his words, Allen’s hand was trembling.

‘…To think that the kingdom’s guardian dragon, White, would be so easily knocked out.’

White wasn’t officially part of the royal guards, but was treated as an honorary member. 

He had been close with the royal guards and even often mingled with the members in human form.

Allen had fought White several times, and each time, he felt as though he was sinking into an endless swamp. 

It was literally a feeling of having no end in sight.

That’s why Allen paid no mind to the noise outside. 

After all, the kingdom’s guardian dragon was truly the strongest force. 

If White was involved, everything would surely be fine.

However, that belief shattered completely in an instant. 

Any martial artist who had truly honed their skills would recognize it. No, even someone with normal senses would have known.

White did not even have a proper fight with Wolfgang Leonhart. 

And with the gods’ powers weaker than White, they could never protect the saint.

“Don’t be afraid, Allen.”

“Jeanne…?”

“It’s okay. I’m here.”

Her words, like a warm light, seeped into his heart. 

Before long, his fear stopped, and his body ceased trembling. 

Saint Jeanne, having spoken those words, stepped forward.

“It seems there was some commotion.”

“Yes.”

“I’m not sure why you came to the kingdom, but we love and respect peace. 

We’ve already caused each other a lot of harm, so what do you think about ending it here?”

Saint Jeanne’s choice was mediation. 

Although she was certain she would not die here, that didn’t mean she could defeat the person in front of her.

Rather, Jeanne once again felt the gap in power. 

How could someone like that possess such overwhelming strength? Originally, they were just supposed to disappear without a trace.

‘I still can’t read his desires. What does he want…?’

The golden eyes that couldn’t read desires made Jeanne even more exhausted. 

If only she knew what she wanted, she could have dealt with it accordingly…

But not being able to read her desires didn’t mean she couldn’t deal with her. 

Whatever her purpose, if she had come here with Theodore, it was highly unlikely it was for an honorable reason.

In other words, starting with such a commotion was something the other side likely didn’t want either. 

Using that, Jeanne suggested not only apologizing but also moving past the current situation.

Her judgment was accurate. 

Wolfgang knew that she couldn’t kill Jeanne right now. 

So, for now, she would first settle as Enlana Frost in the kingdom.

Then, slowly, she could strike later. 

That seemed like the best course of action, at least until just a moment ago. 

But now, the situation had changed. 

The only answer Wolfgang could give Jeanne now was one.

“I refuse.”

“…May I ask why?”

“Once a fight starts, it has to end. Don’t you think?”

Wolfgang’s golden eyes glowed fiercely.

How dare you try to end something that you started?

Time is fair to all.

Whether noble, commoner, or slave, the time given is equal to all. 

But not everyone spends the same amount of time. 

The kingdom’s ten years are incomparable to the empire’s ten years.

Of course, the kingdom wasn’t completely unprepared. 

To fight against external invasions, or to handle internal enemies, the kingdom had steadily built its national power and cultivated talent.

But, in other words, that meant they had the luxury to steadily invest all their resources and time. 

And the flowers that bloomed in a warm greenhouse had no way to withstand the harsh blizzards.

On the other hand, the empire had to fight against unimaginable calamities like the apocalyptic winter. 

Famine, cold, and the undead monsters. 

To survive in hell, they would do anything.

Cannibalism is an unforgivable sin.

But in the empire, cannibalism isn’t viewed as that bad.

In fact, those about to die sometimes left cannibalism as their last wish.

Why? 

Because it’s better to be eaten by your family than by Wendigos! 

They wanted to fill their family’s stomachs, even just a little, before they were left behind in this hell. 

That is the true nature of the apocalyptic winter.

Allen also spent his time faithfully. 

From the age of seven, he had been training with a sword every day without missing a day. 

But when Allen was in the training grounds, receiving guidance from his masters, swinging his sword…

The Jackal was fighting with her life on the line against the undying monsters. 

And now, after ten years, the results of their paths seemed inevitable. Allen let out a harsh breath.

[Once a fight starts, don’t you think it should be finished?]

[Is it really necessary? It’s a pointless fight with no gain.]

[The empire isn’t weak enough to end a fight like that. Those kinds of people lost their lives in the Winter War.]

With Wolfgang’s strong assertion, the fight between the Jackal and Allen began again. 

Honestly, until then, Wolfgang had no particular thoughts about it. She’d admit to the Jackal’s great strength, but that was about it.

A brute force without speed and skill was just a fun toy to play with, and that’s how it was. 

However, Allen had overlooked one thing. 

That was the burning determination the Jackal held in his heart.

‘Who’s this crazy bastard…?!’

At first, he was confident of victory when he saw Jackal charge in without defending himself.  

He planned to dodge until he tired, then counterattack when the chance came. 

It was a textbook way to win.

But ironically, that textbook method didn’t work at all against the Jackal. 

Though he swung his arms and legs as though to break them, even if his limbs were shattered, he showed no sign of hesitation.

The pain of broken bones was beyond imagination. 

Of course, it might have been possible to forget the pain for a brief moment. 

But it was impossible to keep swinging broken limbs for so long while ignoring the pain.

“Kugh!!!”

In the end, it was Allen who ran out of energy first. 

His exhausted body couldn’t dodge the Jackal’s attack anymore, and his fist slammed into his abdomen with the same force as before.

Thud!!!

The pain felt like a spear piercing him, and Allen felt his vision blur. 

With tremendous strength, Allen’s body began to crumble. 

Looking at the collapsed Allen, the Jackal spoke.

“You’re weak.”

Even if your limbs are torn off…

Even if your neck is severed…

You must never stop fighting.