episode_0279

Episode 279 The Time of Confrontation (3)

I left the mansion. The time was around 11 PM. It’s about time everyone was asleep.

Of the main building and the annex, only the main building is lit. This is because the people in the mansion are running around diligently even late at night.

Because of that, all the guests are staying in the annex. Of course, some people left after the war, but most are staying at the mansion.

That’s because you can get information if you stay in the mansion. Moreover, if there is anything they can do to help, it would be beneficial to be indebted to Arden. The damage is significant right now, but Arden was Arden.

“……”

I stared blankly at the mansion and then moved my feet again. The gloom still enveloped me, but it was slowly fading away.

Where should I go? It would be a good idea to go back to my room as it is. If I fall asleep next to my beloved lover, this feeling will soon be resolved.

But I was too depressed to do that. I turned my direction. The place I’m heading to is outside the city, the plains where the corpse of the Four Dragon is.

Walking, walking, and walking again. I moved by walking normally without using martial arts or magic.

Like that for 1 hour. After walking through the city, exiting the gate and walking through the plains, I arrived in front of the dead Four Dragon.

“As expected of a dragon. It’s fine.”

It’s the 2nd day, or soon it will be the 3rd day since it died. And that’s enough time for an ordinary creature to rot and decay.

But the Four Dragon had no signs of decay. It’s as if it’s fallen asleep, looking like it’s about to wake up at any moment. Well, it’s natural since dragons don’t rot even after 100 years.

I stroked the scales of the Four Dragon and muttered.

“How should I process this and give it to him….”

After all, the basic thing is to process it based on the dragon heart. The dragon’s body is so excellent that there’s nothing to throw away, but it’s not as important as the heart that generates mana.

I can’t make a weapon. Evan already has a sword. So, if I’m going to make one, it’s better to make armor or magical tools.

While I was worrying like that, a spatial distortion occurred right next to me. I could feel a familiar energy from there. It was Evan’s.

Soon after, Evan appeared, and as soon as he saw me, he said.

“Hyung-nim. I heard you had a big fight in the family?”

“Is that all you have to say as soon as you see me?”

“Hey, I can’t help it. That’s all everyone is talking about. Do you know how noisy the mansion is?”

“…Damn it, I tried to do it as quietly as possible.”

The family members were mainly in the main building, and the guests were mainly in the annex. Even so, I didn’t intend to cause a big fuss, so I went to the conference room quietly, and I worked to prevent the internal sound from spreading outside.

But the guests already knew. I roughly expected it. How many people were in the conference room. It’s enough for it to reach the guests’ ears even if they just talked a little.

“How far has it spread?”

“Just that Hyung-nim and Hyung-nim’s father fought? Rana-sunbae also knows that?”

“What about you.”

“Well, me… I know everything. Who do you think I am. Hyung-nim, I’m Evan.”

A smug look on his face, saying that he knows everything but other people don’t. I wanted to punch that face. But I didn’t raise my fist.

“I understand why Hyung-nim did that. When you think about it, it’s karma. How did Arden treat Hyung-nim? Even if they don’t know the details of today’s incident, other people roughly noticed it. How Hyung-nim has lived in the family.”

“……”

“So, don’t get too stressed.”

I laughed at those words.

“Are you worried about me?”

“Of course. What kind of relationship do we have. It’s the way of the world for a younger brother to worry about his older brother.”

“Bullshit. Not even a real brother.”

“Heok! Are you saying that to make me sad?”

I clicked my tongue inwardly and didn’t answer.

It’s too late to restore the relationship with the family in the first place. The accumulated emotions are too great. So, I don’t have any intention of doing anything in particular.

“More than that, what are you going to do about Bale? It’s a relief that he’s out right now. It will be a mess when he comes back.”

Currently, my younger brother is out. He went out to support like other knights. He did it himself too. Bale’s personality made it difficult to just give orders from the mansion.

“That’s something I have to solve.”

The relationship broke down only between my father and the family. It’s different with my younger brother. Besides, there was a promise I made with Bale last time. I have no intention of breaking that.

“Then what about Ellaime-nunim?”

“…Mind your own business.”

I didn’t answer about my older sister. This was something hard to say.

After that, I talked about this and that with Evan.

“With this corpse? Well. Can’t you just make it yourself, Hyung-nim?”

“What did you leave to me? You son of a bitch.”

“Hey, Hyung-nim~ Please.”

Things related to the disposal of the Four Dragon.

“Do you know that? Elena said to me yesterday….”

He talked about the fun things that happened with the elf.

And.

“Hyung-nim.”

“What.”

“Graduation is coming up soon. What are you going to do after you graduate?”

Evan asked about my plans after graduation.

“Are you curious?”

“I’m curious. It’s going to be hard to see you at the academy after you graduate.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“I want Hyung-nim to be at the academy. It’s perfect since you’re also working as a teaching assistant. Staying at the academy. Or do you have something else to do? Traveling with Rana-sunbae? Or are you going to the Holy Kingdom?”

Evan said various things. I watched him and slowly walked forward. Towards a place that was a bit secluded and had flat ground.

“Where are you going? Let’s go together!”

When I moved, Evan hurriedly followed me. Like that, I walked side by side with him for a while, and after moving to some extent, I raised my head and opened my mouth.

“Hey. Isn’t it beautiful?”

The night sky where the moon and stars are shining without a single cloud. I’ve seen it countless times, but it’s a really beautiful sight. Just looking at it makes my heart peaceful.

“The continent’s night is incomparably beautiful. I saw it with Elena on a tree when I was in the Holy Kingdom. Kiya, it was completely spectacular. But this is good too. Just like Hyung-nim said.”

“The scenery you see in the Holy Kingdom is also beautiful.”

Even if the location is different, the night sky is really pretty. It’s not different because it’s the Empire or the Holy Kingdom.

And I wanted to keep protecting this scenery.

“Evan.”

I called Evan softly and turned my head. In my vision, I saw Evan’s figure. Navy blue hair, and an appearance reminiscent of a puppy. But unlike that, the power he holds inside is extremely violent.

I asked Evan that.

“Do you like this world?”

“Like it?”

Evan smiled brightly at my words. His face was full of brightness, and he answered in a cheerful voice.

“Of course. I like this place so much because I get to meet and become friends with various people, have people I love, and… it allowed me to meet Hyung-nim.”

“You’re good with words.”

“It’s real. If there is any luck for me, it is meeting Hyung-nim.”

“……”

I smiled at Evan’s words and walked again. Very slightly. I distanced myself from Evan like when sparring. He didn’t follow this time.

After that, I asked again.

“Have you ever felt that sensation?”

“What kind of sensation?”

“A sensation that can’t be described in words. It’s like the world is watching me.”

“Hmm….”

Evan rested his chin and fell into thought. And then he answered.

“I have. I’ve had that before. I didn’t have it often in the past, but I’ve been feeling that a lot recently. It was like that in this incident too.”

“Is that so?”

It seems that he is slowly starting to become aware of himself as the protagonist. And that also meant that the end was approaching.

Sreung, I pulled Karsar out of its scabbard. The black light glowed softly under the moonlight and starlight.

“Evan, draw your sword.”

“What are you going to do? Sparring?”

I nodded slightly.

“That’s right. We’re going to spar. You learned a lot while fighting this time, right? Let’s see how much your skills have improved.”

“Haha, Hyung-nim. I lost last time, but I won’t lose this time. The me from then and the me from now are different.”

“You said that last time too. Anyway, you weak bastard talks a lot.”

“Uh-huh, Hyung-nim. If you provoke me like that, I won’t let you off this time.”

Evan took out his sword from its scabbard. The white sword, the opposite of my black sword, shone in his hand. The white light brightened the world.

“Say that after you beat me.”

I slowly raised my energy. A stream of mana flowing from my dantian rotated throughout my body, and soon a sense of omnipotence filled my entire body.

The feeling I felt when I first awakened mana. A lot of time has passed, but the sensation I felt at the time was still with me.

But it didn’t end there. I released all the power I had accumulated one by one. The ground cracked each time, and the wind raged.

Evan, who knew I was serious, similarly raised his power. The power he had accumulated over the past 2 years raged around him.

“Come at me with all your might.”

This isn’t just a simple sparring match. It’s the finishing touch to complete him, the protagonist.

So.

As a senior who walked the path before you, as a magic swordsman, ──I will let you know.

I beckoned Evan with my finger.

“Come, Evan.”

This is the last teaching I give you.