Ch.126Side Story: Each One’s Life

“Your Majesty… the remaining otherworlders in Westret have started another rebellion.”

“Your Majesty! South Ret is more urgent! All sorts of demonic beasts are swarming there!”

“Your Majesty!! There are signs of demonic beasts trying to emerge from the Demonic Prison!”

“Your Majesty!”

“Your Majesty!!”

“Argh, you fools!! How many times do I have to tell you not to report all at once but to organize your reports properly!!”

The officials cleared their throats awkwardly at the sharp rebuke from the woman sitting on the imperial throne.

Among them were some familiar faces.

Tiaran Darkmoon, who had become the leader of the Guardian Spirits after Radios left.

And Jirva D’Black, the strongest living human who had fought alongside her.

They had taken official positions in the government at Veichel’s request.

Other high-ranking Guardian Spirits were also working under Veichel for the prosperity of the Kadinant Empire.

Of course, Veichel, the mastermind behind all this, felt the urge to slap herself.

‘Damn… what was I thinking, seeking power and glory by ruling a country… tsk.’

Veichel had ended her life in the final battle by absorbing Chaos’s power and passing it to Radios.

She had no regrets.

She was certain Radios would win and stabilize the world, honoring her last wishes.

But then something unexpected happened.

Suddenly, he gave up all his Ascended Orders and revived her along with Poseidon and Kraud.

Of course, after reviving them, he disappeared somewhere…

Veichel didn’t make much effort to find him. Even though she knew where he was, she didn’t approach him first and waited instead.

After giving up such power to revive them, it would be normal to at least show his face.

She couldn’t help but worry since he never showed himself, probably due to some guilt.

Nevertheless, Veichel continued to offer him official positions.

His achievements deserved more than mere government positions.

But she couldn’t give up the imperial throne she had worked so hard to obtain.

Or so she thought until recently.

Now she wanted to throw away this damn imperial throne and run away somewhere.

But what could she do?

Without her powers, even when she tried to escape secretly, Jirva or Tiaran always caught her.

“Hey, I’m the Emperor! The Emperor! How dare you capture the Emperor!”

“First, let’s return to the palace, Your Majesty!”

“This is an imperial order! Release me and go your way! Now!”

“Before an imperial order, I am the deputy commander of the Guardian Spirits, former Commander Veichel.”

“You rotten bastard.”

Veichel had given up on escape attempts since it always ended this way.

There was no point in wasting energy when she’d just get caught.

It would only increase her backlog of work.

‘I’ll kill him. I’ll definitely kill that damn bastard who revived me…’

Though becoming Emperor was her own doing, she couldn’t accept losing her powers.

He could have at least left her a bit of magical power.

Then she could have trained honestly to become stronger.

“Your Majesty! Your Majesty!!”

“Huh? Did you call?”

“What are you thinking so deeply about? I’ve been calling you for quite some time!”

“An important person has arrived. He requests an audience with Your Majesty.”

“Send him away. I feel like I’m going to die from overwork, I don’t have time.”

“It’s Radios Magnum.”

“..!”

Veichel stared at Tiaran with wide eyes.

Asking if it was true.

And she nodded in response.

Radios had come to the palace for the first time. After three years.

“Ministers, withdraw! I will receive Radios alone.”

“But Your Majesty…”

“This is an imperial order. If anyone disobeys, know that you will not be safe.”

When Veichel showed such obvious firmness, the ministers had no choice but to leave the imperial court.

The shadow of a man was visible outside the firmly closed door.

“Why did you take so long, you jerk?”

“Yeah… even though this place is so easy to visit.”

Radios didn’t open the door to enter.

Nevertheless, Veichel spoke first.

She didn’t know how much he had struggled to come here.

She just wanted to ease his tension a bit by starting the conversation first.

“You’re such a narrow-minded guy. If you were going to save me, why not do it properly with all my powers intact?”

“That was the best I could do.”

“…Geez, you’re ruining my mood.”

She had tried to joke around.

But Radios answered so seriously that Veichel couldn’t help but laugh wryly.

Well, he had always been that kind of person.

So, enough with the jokes.

“Why didn’t you come to see me until now? What wrong did you do?”

“I… destroyed the lives of many people.”

“What did you destroy? Ha! You’re someone who saved people, not destroyed them. You know that well.”

“..”

Radios couldn’t answer easily.

It seemed the guilt he felt was greater than Veichel had anticipated.

That’s probably why he hadn’t come to see her for three years.

So, Veichel poured out everything she had been holding inside.

“Actually, when I came back to life… I was happy? I thought I was going crazy.”

“…”

“I told you before, right? A long time ago… that I loved you.”

“Hmm…”

Radios recalled a very distant past.

For him, the time when he fought against Veichel, who was acting as Yog-Sothoth’s deputy.

It was more than 200 years ago.

“Anyway, a lot of time has passed since then, but you don’t think people’s feelings change easily, do you?”

“..?”

“Don’t tilt your head. I can see your shadow clearly, you know.”

Veichel didn’t know why she was saying these things.

But somehow, she felt that if she didn’t say it now, she might never get the chance, so she continued.

“I think I still love you. What are you going to do about it?”

“…”

“I know you’re in a relationship with Arsia. It’s not like me to cling so pathetically, but… ugh!”

Veichel’s face turned red as her words started coming out strangely, and she closed her mouth.

What was she saying?

Confessing love to a friend who had finally gathered the courage to appear after so long.

Saying such things to someone who already had a lover, knowing it was inappropriate.

Veichel couldn’t stop herself.

“Tell me straight. What am I… to you?”

“…”

At Veichel’s words, Radios lowered his head.

What was Veichel Breate to Radios Magnum?

At first, he relied on her. He respected her, found her amusing, and stayed by her side.

Then those feelings turned into love, only to sink into despair after the battle in the Demonic Prison.

When they met again, he felt anger, and when she died, he was devastated.

How could he explain all this?

“You are… someone precious to me.”

“Really?”

“Someone who must be by my side, someone I can’t do without.”

“Then..!”

“But it’s not love. It’s closer to… friendship than love.”

Veichel’s excited face turned cold at Radios’s answer.

Well, she had already expected to hear something like this.

How many sins had she committed against Radios?

She had betrayed him, fought him with her life on the line.

Although she thought she had resolved all debts by letting him absorb Chaos’s power.

By reviving her, Radios had put her in his debt once again.

“Right. You were always that kind of person.”

“I’m sorry, Veichel.”

“…”

How could he speak so coldly?

Even as she felt sad, Veichel couldn’t help but smile at the thought that he hadn’t changed from the Radios she knew.

It was the first time in three years she had seen him, or rather, talked with him.

Even just this much made her happy.

“Thank you for today. Drop by occasionally–“

Creeeeak.

Before Veichel could finish her sentence, the door opened.

It was Radios’s face that she was seeing after three years.

He hadn’t changed at all. As if time had stopped.

Perhaps because of this, Veichel felt a surge of emotion rising within her.

Having seen Radios’s face after talking to his shadow, Veichel finally.

Couldn’t hold back the tears flowing from her eyes.

“Don’t cry. Your smiling face is pretty.”

“…Kuk, do you know that comforting someone like that is in really bad taste?”

“I should have come to see you sooner. I’m sorry, Veichel.”

“…Damn you.”

Veichel rose from the imperial throne and walked toward Radios.

Radios also approached her step by step.

Finally, the man and woman faced each other.

And Veichel embraced him tightly without a word.

“Just being able to see you like this makes me happy.”

“…Yeah.”

“We’re still… friends, right?”

Veichel’s back trembled slightly as she asked this.

She seemed to be trying her best to hold back tears.

Radios found such a Veichel incredibly endearing.

“Yes, we will always be friends.”

“…Sniff.”

Veichel smiled at Radios’s answer, released her arms, and looked at his face.

“No more seclusion from now on. Promise?”

“…Yes, I promise.”

Veichel still loved Radios.

But because she loved him, she only wished for his happiness.

‘May your future be filled with blessings.’

For that purpose.

She gladly decided to be a friend he could rely on by his side.

She made this vow with a bright smile.