episode_0130

When I came to my senses, I found myself lying on the bed in Ariel’s room. A cold wind blew through the open window, but it didn’t feel cold because of the warm sunlight and the heat inside the room.

Oh… I should drink in moderation. I drank one or two drinks without realizing it, so my head was pounding due to a hangover.

“I’m awake now. Good morning, Venice.”

“Yes… good morning…”

“…Drink in moderation. I’ll at least cast a spell.”

As Ariel cast a spell, looking at me holding my head with only my upper body raised, my headache disappeared like a ghost.

When I went out of the room with Ariel, the girls who seemed ready were waiting for me. We decided to head straight to our next destination.

I feel like all the accumulated stress has been released… We talked enough last night. There is no reason to remain in the North any longer.

“Please…please come back.”

“Kuh…keuhuk…”

“Our Ariel…”

“Please contact me more often. Got it?”

“Do I really need to contact you?”

We headed straight to the restaurant, and when we said we were leaving where everyone was gathered, the Frost family, Kale, Fria, and all my acquaintances welcomed us with blessings.

Some people were sobbing and crying… but it’ll be okay. This won’t be the last time we meet, and we will definitely meet again.

“…I’m doing well everyone. Not often… though. I’ll be back.”

Ariel smiled brightly as she got on the automatic carriage that the Grand Duke of the North had just given us as a gift.

A smile that is much brighter and more brilliant than the warm sunlight on the pure white snow field.

Everyone smiled at Ariel’s expression, showing no signs of anxiety, worry, or negative emotions, and only hope for the future, and waved at the departing carriage.

The automatic carriage starts running quickly. But the coachman did not exist.

As for what kind of magic Ariel has cast, it is said that if you just set a destination and continue to infuse magical energy into it, it will drive on its own.

“Really… I can’t believe it.”

Ariel speaks while looking at the changing scenery outside the window in a fast-moving automatic carriage.

“….what do you mean.”

“Just… I can’t believe I can be this happy. Like this… only warm energy can fill the heart, and everything else.”

In response to Cerise’s puzzled question, Ariel spoke with a really bright smile.

When I first met her, the empty purple eyes that showed no life at all were, at this moment, much brighter and more brilliant than the light shining on the pure white snow field.

…okay. Looking back, many things happened with Ariel.

From the moment I first met her, I almost died, and I went back and forth between life and death several times… but those days were really meaningful to me.

Come on.

“…….!”

Looking at Ariel like that, I, who was sitting right next to her, held her hand tightly and looked up at her.

“…From now on, there will only be happy days. Because we… will always be together.”

“Venice…”

“So, just make that look in front of me. Because she is much more beautiful now than the lifeless and cold Ariel..!”

“…….”

When I looked at her who looked happy, I felt like I was also happy, so I smiled and talked to her, and her eyes started to tremble quickly.

Although it felt like tears were welling up in my eyes. They were not tears of sadness due to negative emotions, but tears of joy and happiness.

“….Yes. Let’s live happily ever after.”

Ariel hugs me tightly, shaking her body slightly as she talks. I hug her face to face.

In the automatic carriage where we gave each other our hearts and wished each other happiness.

The monster that killed itself, hated itself, and fell into emptiness disappears. There was only one girl left whose heart was filled with feelings of hope and happiness.

***

“Whoa… I feel a little nervous.”

“That feeling… I understand.”

“I don’t know.”

Cerys looked at her slightly trembling hands and spoke quietly. The reason is that we are crossing the North and heading to the South.

Southern part of the empire. The space where my first alter ego activity took place, and the place where I first encountered Seris.

A place where I learned about this world for the first time, led the Scar mercenary group, and spent hot and passionate days with the mercenary members.

We were heading there. Before traveling or achieving personal goals, I decided to face the past days like Ariel did.

“South… It’s been a long time.”

Let’s see… It was around the beginning of summer last year that I came to this world. It was now the middle of summer…

Even if I were to guess, it seems like it’s been a year since I came to the South. It’s been such a long time, and it’s also my first time working in this world… so I feel like I’m looking forward to something more.

“Captain… I, this Seris… I waited for this moment every day and prayed for it to come.”

Cerys clenched her fists as if they were shaking, and looked at me as she spoke. Her eyes, which were always full of life and passion, seemed somehow empty and sad.

…I guess so. It was the first time I was active, and the first person I met was Seris.

Seris must have been the one who suffered and was immersed in sadness for the longest time after I left.

It reminds me of the days after I left that Seris herself told me about.

The story of living every day without being able to die, processing countless requests like a machine without resting even for a moment.

Not only Seris, but all the mercenary members followed her in silence without even uttering a single word of complaint.

Subjugating 4-star monsters that ordinary people or mercenaries would never dare to do, and even subjugating 5-star monsters called disasters.

It is said that after I left, the Scar mercenaries started making requests like crazy. Spewing out hatred and anger, as if the reason I left was because of all the monsters.

“…….”

Thanks to this, the Scar mercenaries became the best mercenary group in the empire that Seris had hoped for, but a corner of her heart ached.

Even though they reached the top position, it seemed like they were not happy and just fulfilled requests empty-handedly.

And, I feel like it’s all because of me that they, who are in the best position and should be able to enjoy all the happiness, can’t smile.

“…I can’t wait to see everyone. There’s a lot I want to say…”

so that. I had to face them.

Because I don’t want to see the brilliant light that will shine on the world beyond this empire fade away just because of me.

***

The carriage ran for a whole day and finally arrived in the south.

As it is the warmest region in the empire, the hot summer weather made us all sweltering.

“Ugh… Why is it so hot…!”

“…The weather is crazy.”

“Ugh… This is on par with Daegu…”

As soon as we entered the south, the carriage was hit by crazy heat, and the carriage quickly became so steamy that everyone made noises of pain.

“…Captain. Do you remember this heat?”

“Yes… really… it’s been a really long time. I think it’s hotter than then…”

Only Cerys and I could laugh in the face of this familiar and crazy heat.

Really… this heat that feels like my whole body is melting and ripening. If it were me on Earth, I would have been swearing and standing in front of the air conditioner with my mouth open and my eyes closed…

As soon as I encountered this heat, I couldn’t help but smile as it reminded me of the past days.

Crazy heat. We trained without rest even under that. We were drenched in sweat in the sweltering heat, and after completing the request, we exclaimed exclamations while eating fried chicken and drinking beer with ice floating in it.

At the same time as those happy events came to mind, right in front of our carriage there was a village so large that it could now be considered a small city.

“Let’s go together, Captain. To our… Leria Village.”

“…Yes!”

After a year… I returned to Leria Village.

***

“”…….””

The weather was as sweltering as usual. Sweat ran down everyone’s bodies like rain.

Even with the air conditioning artifacts purchased for a large sum of money, the weather was so bad that anyone would have been cursing and complaining.

No sound was heard from the small mercenary base, which was too old and small compared to their majesty and skills, but was neatly maintained.

Everyone just has empty eyes, sighs or quietly sips their beer with an expression that seems to recall a distant past.

Today is a holiday decided by everyone. One day off a week given to those who go on dangerous, life-threatening missions every day.

It was a holiday that should have been relaxing, but no one could smile. Everyone just quietly took up a place in the small mercenary base without any conversation.

And it has already been several weeks since Vice-Captain Seris, who currently leads the Scar mercenary group, suddenly disappeared without a word.

I knew very well that Seris would not be in danger. If she becomes dangerous, it will mean the fall of the empire.

Therefore, even if she was not there, they were carrying out the request on their own.

For the departed leader, to honor and remember him.

-Good…

At that time, the sound of a carriage stopping was heard on the road outside the mercenary group’s base.

Although the sound was so small that it could not be heard by ordinary people, they were already first-class and superhumans who had surpassed the category of ordinary people.

…Someone must have come to recruit us again. I have emphasized several times that I will never leave the mercenary group.

“…I’ll go and see.”

“Please, Biruong…”

Birong was always bright and energetic. There was no trace of cheerfulness on his face, and he slowly left the base, looking limp.

Hans quietly passes the beer while looking at the back of his close friend and colleague.

Those days of laughing like an idiot and telling lame jokes are gone. Everyone just processes the request with an expressionless expression, unable to smile.

…It’s hard and painful. I miss the leader, and I miss those days.

But no one expressed it. Because we know that everyone feels the same way.

And because I know that it will be a nuisance to Vice-Captain Seris, who has hoped for and even admired the leader more than any of us.

Expectations and hopes have long since disappeared. Because the leader left, we were no longer a ‘Scar mercenary group’.

Sigh..

Birong, who was walking carrying a small bowl, opens the door to the base. His eyes widen a little.

“…Vice-captain Seris.”

“Vice-captain Seris?”

“You’re finally back…”

Everyone responded to Birong’s voice. It must be good news that our vice-captain, who disappeared without saying a word, has returned.

“…….”

Click-

And at that time, Birong dropped the bowl he was holding and looked outside the base with an expression of disbelief.

“What’s going on, Biruong!”

“Damn… Something happened to the vice-captain..!”

Did something happen to the vice-captain? Has humanity finally begun to perish?

At the sight of Birong, all mercenary members hurried out of the base. Birong had already slowly walked out of the base, shedding tears.

“Vice-captain-! What happened…”

“”…………””

“…Hello. It’s been a while, everyone.”

All mercenary members stare blankly ahead.

Vice-captain Seris. She, who had never once shown any positive emotions other than sadness, pain, despair, and sorrow since the leader left, was smiling.

Hope had disappeared, and the eyes that only reflected the deep abyss seemed to be looking back at the past, filled with happiness and joy.

“…..Kk, kkuh…”

And when Birong looked at the little boy who was walking holding Seris’ hand, he sat down and started crying like a child.

Flutter- flutter.

“Ah…ah…”

“Ha…Haha… Am I even dreaming?”

“Black…Ugh…”

After that, one, two. Soon everyone sat down on the floor and started shedding tears.

“……”

Finally, to Hans. He started shedding more tears than the other members.

“Everyone…. It’s been a while.”

Jet-black hair color, like looking at the night sky. And red eyes as if looking at a rose.

He is no longer the reliable person he was back then, but has now become a small boy. Because those sincere eyes haven’t changed.

And… Managa, who was always looking at him and was full of warmth. Because I felt it, even if only in a small way, inside the boy’s body.

How could I forget? The traces that saved our lives… and gave us hope to live again.

How long have you been looking forward to it and thinking about it? This moment that I have longed for and never forgotten every day, every moment.

“Sweet….Blind…!”

“”Captain!!!!!””

Starting with Hans’s cries. All the members began to cry and shed tears like children.

The strongest mercenary members of the empire who slaughtered monsters without emotion. A small light began to return to their empty eyes.