Chapter 161: I Lost – 5

The news about Kailo spread across the continent as if it had wings.

The eldest son of House Alan had once again protected Vivian Rondor.

Though she had been accused of being a witch, it was in fact the wicked schemes of the Las Order.

Through a trial by combat, Kailo Alan had proven Vivian Rondor’s innocence.

“But isn’t Kailo Alan already an exceptional swordsman? Even if it was a trial by combat…”

“Listen, my friend. There’s more to it.”

Kailo argued that if he was in the right, then the god Las would grant him victory as many times as needed.

He even declared that if they were unsatisfied with the verdict, he would accept as many duels as necessary.

And so, the duels continued over and over again… and every time, Kailo emerged victorious.

“Wait, are you telling me the Archbishop himself denied the results of a trial by combat? Is his faith lacking?”

“That’s what I’m saying. It was Las himself who delivered judgment upon that heretic.”

Moreover, the Archbishop’s death was enough to shock everyone.

He had attempted to execute Vivian Rondor, only to meet his own demise instead.

People called it the will of Las.

***

But among the many rumors, there was one that people found hardest to believe.

“Stop lying. The story must have been exaggerated.”

“Blum himself, who witnessed Vivian Rondor’s execution, counted them one by one.”

“You believe what that fool says?”

“Then what about Blum’s wife? Do you doubt her as well? She saw the same thing.”

“…No… then does that mean it’s really true…?”

The number of Paladins Kailo Alan had defeated for Vivian Rondor’s sake was said to be eighty-nine.

Those who had not seen it for themselves struggled to believe it.

It was not a number that a single person could possibly defeat.

It was unheard of.

And more than that, he had not fought for himself, but for another.

What meaning did Vivian Rondor hold for Kailo to go to such lengths?

No one could find an answer, but they all arrived at the same conclusion:

Even if they didn’t fully understand, there must have been a deep and powerful emotion between the two of them.

However, amidst all the speculation, one pressing question remained:

Many had seen him, bloodied and battered.

“So then… what happened to Kailo Alan?”

***

-Dong… Dong… Dong…-

A bell tolled—a sound that felt strangely familiar.

Figures cloaked in black stood in silent mourning.

At the forefront was Vivian.

She stared blankly at the scene before her, unable to believe it.

Flowers were scattered around the fallen hero.

In the northern lands, it was said that when someone died, flowers were scattered upon the high snowy mountains.

But this place was far from his homeland.

Vivian looked down at him.

Perhaps because she had cried too much, her emotions felt frozen and hollow.

It didn’t feel real.

The man lying there looked as though he could wake up at any moment, his face serene, far too peaceful for someone who had perished after such brutal battles.

How many times had it been now?

How many loved ones had she lost like this?

“Lady Vivian. You should say your farewell…”

Farewell?

Lady Linne’s voice barely registered in her ears, but it made something stir deep inside her frozen emotions.

Farewell?

To whom?

“To Kailo Alan, of course…”

A sharp pain twisted in her chest, growing more unbearable by the second.

And as the pain spread, she finally realized—

Among all the losses she had endured, this was the worst of them all.

Vivian looked around.

Everyone present at the funeral had already offered him their final gifts.

She looked down at her own hands.

She was the only one who had not yet let go.

In her trembling grasp was a single red flower—one that Kailo had once given her long ago.

It was her refusal to let go that kept the ceremony from concluding.

His closest friends, Valon and Wallace, gently urged her.

“…You have to let him go.”

Even Martin, struggling to contain his own sorrow, pleaded with her.

“Lady Vivian… Kailo is gone.”

“It’s time… to say goodbye.”

Even as she clenched her teeth, tears poured down her face.

Her shoulders trembled, a quiet sob breaking free.

Dead?

Kailo?

Even as she stared at him, unmoving, her heart refused to believe it.

She had given him nothing in return.

He had only ever given to her.

If only she hadn’t been so selfish.

If only she had let him go, so he wouldn’t have returned.

If only she had ended things quickly.

If only she had never become a witch.

“Hhik… ugh…”

Her hands, still clutching the flower, trembled violently.

She knew she had to let go.

She knew she had to send him off with flowers, to make his journey easier.

But she couldn’t do it.

She refused to do it.

Her hands wouldn’t open.

If she gave him this flower, it would truly be the end.

She would never see that beloved face again.

Never hear him call her name.

Never feel his hand reaching out in this cruel world.

Never be held in his warm embrace again.

Vivian finally broke.

“L-Lady Vivian!”

Before anyone could stop her, she collapsed onto his grave.

-Thud!

Her tears splashed onto his face.

The mourners reached out, trying to pull her away, but she shoved them all aside, reaching out to touch his face.

“…Can’t you wake up?”

She knew it was impossible, but she begged anyway.

Then, quietly, she leaned against his chest.

Her wretched tears soaked into his pristine funeral robes.

“Or… can’t you take me with you?”

Kailo did not answer.

Despite everything, she pleaded.

“I… I told you I can’t be without you… over and over again… so many times…”

Vivian closed her eyes and held onto Kailo tightly.

This was her place.

By Kailo’s side, or in the grave.

The voices of the departed rang from above, shouting at her, but she couldn’t hear them.

Yet, as the realization of Kailo’s absence slowly settled in her heart, her cries grew louder.

“…Kailo…”

***

—Swish.

Vivian’s eyes fluttered open weakly.

For the first time, she felt the tears soaking her blanket.

And at that moment, she felt it—the warmth from his hand.

—!

She quickly raised her head.

“Ha… ha… ha…”

Her hands trembled in relief.

She had been having a nightmare.

The most terrifying nightmare she had ever had.

Kailo was lying in bed, unconscious, unable to wake…

But he was alive.

He was still alive.

His face was exactly as it had been in her dream.

So peaceful.

That sense of déjà vu made her throat tighten, but for now, she was simply grateful that he was still breathing.

The trial by combat had ended in chaos.

After hearing Kailo’s actions and Vivian’s desperate cries, the enraged crowd tore the Las Order apart.

The Paladins could not resist the furious mob, and with their support, the Fourth Knight Order did not hesitate to take their lives.

The Archbishop, too, met a grim fate—stoned, beaten by the people who had captured him, until he drew his last breath.

Some members of the Las Order managed to flee, but most of the apostles who had participated in the event perished.

The bodies of the Paladins, who had long oppressed innocent citizens, were burned.

And as for the Archbishop…

Bearing responsibility for Kailo’s condition, he could not escape Vivian’s wrath.

Showing no respect for the dead, Vivian ordered his body to be discarded on the plains of Loctana.

On the other hand, no one could understand how Kailo had survived.

It was simply another one of the bizarre miracles he had always performed—his very existence defied logic.

Vivian had no desire to understand it.

She did not want to dissect this miracle.

She feared that questioning it would make it disappear.

Vivian rubbed her tired eyes and threw more logs into the fireplace.

She carefully wiped his body with a damp cloth.

After ventilating the room with the crisp night air, she sat back down beside him.

And gently, she took his hand.

She had to suppress the urge to hold it tighter.

She had no idea what could harm his fragile body now.

Vivian gazed down at Kailo, feeling a strange sense of familiarity.

He had collapsed for her sake so many times before.

He always got hurt because of her, but… did he even know?

Did he realize that, to her, this was far more painful?

Perhaps, in their own way, they both wished they could suffer in each other’s place.

…What am I?

What could I possibly be, that this brilliant being keeps staying by my side?

Had she been granted this miracle as the price for carrying all of the world’s misfortunes?

“…Kailo…”

Vivian gently brushed his hair.

“…Just win one more time.”

Just this once.

Endure this final battle.

After that, she would accept any punishment.

Vivian’s wrath had not only consumed the Archbishop.

She, too, could not escape her own fury.

She wanted to punish herself for what had happened to him.

But that could wait.

For now, Kailo had to wake up.

After that…

Vivian recalled the nightmare she had just woken from.

Even as she watched Kailo being buried, she had not let go of her selfish desire to crawl into the grave with him.

The thought of it disgusted her, so much so that she almost laughed bitterly.

But right now, she didn’t even have the strength to do that.

The words she had once spoken to him still held true.

She had lost the bet.

She no longer had the right to cling to him.

And yet, she still dared to love him.

She despised herself for it.

Whatever happened, though—

Vivian looked at Kailo once more.

—He needed to wake up first.

She glanced out the window.

Wallace and the soldiers had ultimately failed to capture Elena.

There had been another day in the past when Kailo had been just as close to death.

Vivian stood still for a moment before stepping toward the window.

She placed a hand on her lower abdomen.

Her energy was completely depleted—she could no longer cast the same spells as before.

After finishing her thoughts, she hung the banner of Loctana outside the window.

It was always a signal.

A message shared only between Elena and herself.

A call to meet.