Ch.133Pelheim Senova (6)

# Fellheim Senova (6)

“The advantage of a rapier is that it’s specialized for thrusting while also being capable in defense.”

Fellheim Senova’s response after confirming Esmeralda’s determination changed noticeably.

She began to ease up in her fight against Esmeralda.

Until now, Esmeralda had barely managed to hold on, relying almost entirely on luck, but now she could visually track the trajectory of the swordsmanship that matched her skill level.

Elegant, beautiful, and fast.

The thrust-focused attacks executed with one hand, the cross guard decorated for defense, and the rapid speed maintained with the other hand kept in reserve.

It was overwhelming. Frightening. But Esmeralda could feel herself gradually becoming accustomed to Fellheim Senova’s sword.

“Even I find your spirit sword enviable. However, if you can handle multiple swords, it wouldn’t be bad to learn various types. Different sword forms allow for different capabilities.”

By this point, Esmeralda couldn’t fail to understand. Fellheim Senova was training her.

In the midst of this life-or-death battle, Fellheim Senova was exerting her maximum effort to impart her techniques to Esmeralda.

The process might appear violent at a glance, as if she were trying to kill Esmeralda.

But anyone who trains with swords would understand the true intention.

And…

‘Legion Commander Six isn’t a swordsman.’

Legion Commander Nine wasn’t a Death Knight with consciousness, but rather no different from an automatic defense magical tool programmed with behavioral patterns.

This meant that Six couldn’t notice Fellheim Senova’s hidden intentions with his gaze.

‘I don’t know why, but…’

This was an opportunity for growth.

“The longsword is a well-balanced weapon in many ways, but since you can handle multiple weapons at once, specialized forms would be better than versatility.”

Fellheim Senova pointed out things that others couldn’t identify.

Because they were both human, because she had reached mastery with her bare hands.

That’s why only she and Esmeralda could share this discourse about swords.

“You’re right. Thanks for the advice.”

Esmeralda responded with her full strength.

***

She had learned nothing.

Ironically, to survive, she had to risk her life.

What she learned in that process was that she wasn’t the only one living such a life.

‘Comrades who died trying to save me.’

Some threw themselves into harm’s way on the battlefield to protect her.

And the reverse happened too.

For the girl who had struggled just to survive, relationships began to grow.

‘The dreams they proclaimed.’

How many of her comrades actually achieved their dreams?

Everyone only knew how to live on the battlefield and couldn’t do anything else.

Even when they wanted to leave, they couldn’t because they worried about her remaining behind.

So they only spoke of ideals with their mouths and ultimately died on the battlefield.

‘Even abandoning their dreams for someone like me who knew nothing!’

She survived.

She alone survived.

But it was because of their sacrifices that Fellheim Senova gained life.

A commoner who rose to a position in the military that couldn’t be surpassed, she was finally able to look around her.

She fell in love and created a family.

She could dream happy dreams.

Nevertheless, she never left the front lines.

The reason she did so was…

‘The number of fools who choose the battlefield because they can’t learn anything else must decrease.’

Yes, the abolition of child soldiers.

But she knew reality. Would the Empire want to do something that would damage its prestige?

The reason child soldiers are used is because that’s the only way to maintain the front lines. Someone has to sell their life cheaply so others can feel safe.

‘I’m surely not the only one who dreams of such a world.’

Fellheim Senova could see herself gradually being pushed back by Esmeralda. The power of a hero.

Someone who could save the world.

Because there was someone who held a dream more noble than anyone else’s.

“Haah…”

Fellheim Senova parried Esmeralda’s sword, who was half in a trance, and gradually retreated.

It was partly because Esmeralda was noticeably getting stronger, but she was also waiting for this situation.

Yes, Esmeralda had done well.

Even in her trance-like state, she had pushed Fellheim Senova back.

Thud.

And then.

“Lady Fellheim Senova?”

“Oh my, it seems it will take some time to completely regain my former sense. I thought I’d be fine if I pressed with speed, but you adapted so quickly.”

Fellheim Senova’s back bumped into Legion Commander Six, who was struggling against Garnet.

“Hmm, that’s possible. Then shall I provide some support until you get accustomed?”

Fellheim Senova sneered.

Legion Commander Six, the emotionless yet rational mage known as Despair Undertaker, didn’t know.

He had perfectly grasped the situation and circumstances, and naturally assumed Fellheim Senova would hate the Empire, but he couldn’t possibly notice her true feelings.

How complex the human heart is, changing for all sorts of reasons.

He was making assumptions based solely on appearances.

And because of that gap…

“No, let’s end it here.”

“Fellheim Seno—”

Thunk!

Fellheim Senova pierced through both her own heart and Six behind her.

“Someone like you would surely have tampered with the process of restoring my body, so this was the most certain way.”

She led the opponent to lower their guard.

She entered the deepest part of the archmage’s domain without harm.

After completely removing suspicion by offering her own heart.

“Why…?”

She pierced that heart together with his.

The strategy of commander Fellheim Senova—achieving perfect victory with minimal damage.

“Why would you do this?”

Legion Commander Six, with his armor and mana core center simultaneously pierced, still couldn’t understand even then.

He needed to think rationally.

This made no sense.

Aren’t humans creatures swayed by hatred, love, and emotions?

But why? Why fight for the Empire even in this situation?

“I serve people, not the Empire. Did you say the Empire abandoned me? That’s strictly incorrect. If the Empire hinders my goal, isn’t it just another external enemy?”

She wasn’t betrayed; she simply lost on the battlefield.

Of course, that feeling is also devastating. Unfair and resentful.

But for her true dream, she could endure even that.

“The dream I have is so difficult that anyone who hears it would scoff. Who would believe someone like me, not even a hero, could achieve world peace? There are plenty of such people.”

Those who dream such dreams.

Those who died holding such dreams.

But step by step.

She walked one step at a time on the path built from the corpses of comrades.

They sacrificed for her?

She should live happily because of their sacrifices?

No, that’s wrong.

“They willingly gave their lives for the world, and now it’s simply my turn.”

She didn’t just walk that path.

She too is someone who willingly ran to the end of that path to become part of it.

And someone else…

Will continue running this path endlessly and reach its end to create a new path.

Though she doesn’t know where that path leads, as long as someone continues on it, it’s a dream that will someday be realized.

“As an adult, I cannot block the path of someone I’ve already seen running on it.”

Fellheim Senova looked at Esmeralda standing across from her with a blank expression, even as she coughed blood. Seeing her panting, she couldn’t help but laugh.

“What an ugly sight, old folks who should have been in coffins long ago doing this.”

“Fellheim… Senova!!”

Fellheim Senova calmly put a cigarette in her mouth while Legion Commander Nine struggled, impaled on the rapier alongside her.

“I’ll at least lend you a light.”

“Oh, thank you. Though we didn’t speak much, I’m glad you stood on our side.”

Garnet lit Fellheim Senova’s cigarette.

A courtesy toward someone who gave the best opportunity by throwing away their life.

Even as a former hero, Garnet found Fellheim Senova’s actions worthy of respect.

Respect for a commander who did her best for the world even while facing purging under false accusations.

Her determination included a justice that didn’t hesitate to offer her soul as a sacrifice for black magic.

“Now finish it.”

“Not yet… Not yet! Millia!!”

Legion Commander Six, frantically trying to contain his leaking mana, finally screamed.

His disciple, Millia Asrin.

He needed to escape this crisis, even if he had to use her.

But no matter how much he screamed and shouted, no answer came. Legion Commander Six looked up at the fortress wall where Millia had been standing.

And simultaneously…

“When I learned you were the former tower master, I thought you might act this way from the beginning. Having visited the magic tower once, I knew how strange the minds of old tower masters could be.”

Esmeralda approached, her holy sword emitting brilliant light.

Yes, she knew. She knew things might unfold this way.

From the beginning, she never truly trusted her companions. Weren’t they a broken party that could split at any time based on personal interests and benefits?

Esmeralda wasn’t naive enough to trust blindly.

That’s why she delegated.

That suspicion, that countermeasure.

“How unfortunate, former tower master. It seems Millia is a bitch who prioritizes men over you.”

What Legion Commander Six saw when he looked up at the fortress wall was a young man embracing Millia from behind, covering her eyes with one hand.

“There’s no one left who can help you now.”

The hero of the fortress city, Fellheim Senova, twisted the rapier that had pierced Legion Commander Six’s magical core, increasing the damage.

Hero Esmeralda’s holy sword beheaded Six as he screamed in agony.

Former hero Garnet’s flames penetrated the gap created by the fallen helmet, burning the inside.

“That I… that I should die… like this… for such a… ridiculous… reason…”

And so, the mage who abandoned humanity for truth fell silent under the combined attack of three people who had taken up swords for humanity.