Ch.148Chapter 148

The snow had begun to pile up, turning the ground white, with one part stained red.

The red bloodstain mixed with the pure white snow, fading to a subtle wine color.

Come to think of it, I had never once tasted alcohol during my life as a knight.

If I had known it would end like this, I should have occasionally enjoyed drinking with people dear to me, like the other knights did.

Swoosh.

The spear that had pierced my chest was pulled out.

With it came the sensation of my breath leaving me, and strength drained from my entire body.

“Raedan!”

A scream came from directly below me.

The voice belonged to Oko.

Haha, how silly of me.

To think I would forget my precious person, even if it was because of Aghartha.

Still, I was grateful to my body.

Even in such circumstances, a knight’s conviction had succeeded in saving someone in mortal danger.

And the fact that it was Oko made it all the more worthwhile.

“Wh-what? What’s happening right now…?”

The Knight Commander’s expression gradually soured as he watched me collapse, leaning against Oko.

Fortunately, it seemed Aghartha’s brainwashing had been broken by stabbing me.

Perhaps she kept that promise she made earlier about restoring memories if I died.

How unnecessarily honorable in a situation like this.

The Knight Commander’s gaze fixed directly on me.

“Wh-what? Raedan… what have I done? Raedan!”

The Knight Commander suddenly started running in another direction.

Since he couldn’t do anything with his own hands, he must have gone to find a doctor.

Whenever knights were injured while catching troublemakers within the empire, the Knight Commander always made such decisions.

And generally, his actions increased the chances of survival.

But it was meaningless.

What had pierced me was none other than the Spear of Longinus.

I’d heard that even divine beings couldn’t recover from wounds inflicted by the Spear of Longinus unless they healed naturally.

In fact, it seemed like Oko was pouring something into me right now, but my body showed no signs of recovery.

I wondered if Oko could turn back time like before, but this was unavoidable.

When the fate of the world tried to kill Oko, I chose death by my own will.

Once human will was involved, even Oko couldn’t do anything about it.

Still, I have no regrets.

Of course.

How could I possibly regret it?

Strength is gradually leaving my body.

Ah.

So this is what dying feels like.

They say humans feel most miserable when they’re cold, lonely, and hungry.

The reason people hate dying must be because all three sensations are felt simultaneously.

Trying to alleviate the loneliness, I clutched Oko’s arm.

“Raedan!”

“…Haha, Oko. Stop it. You’ll exhaust yourself.”

“If exhausting myself could save you, of course I would…”

“…It might sound cold, but you know it won’t work, Oko.”

As I stroked Oko’s arm, I could feel intense trembling.

I saved you because I wanted at least you to live.

I wonder if that has become a shackle for you instead.

But Oko will live a long time.

Oko is strong, incredibly strong.

Hiding the 4 Supreme Beings until now.

It must be because Oko and Apta were among them.

If I had thought about it a little, the answer would have been clear.

The power to see only what one wants to see.

The power to record what Oko sees according to their own perspective.

Isn’t that beyond the concept of reality manipulation that only appears in novels?

Even more than Demeter I saw earlier.

Even more than Aghartha, who symbolizes the concept of creation and now wears that hollow expression.

So, I’m just a passing mortal in comparison.

It will be alright.

“…Why.”

A voice came from behind Oko.

It was Aghartha’s.

“Why did you do such a thing…?”

“…Naturally, it’s a knight’s duty to save someone in mortal danger…”

“Don’t be ridiculous! Do you think I can accept such an explanation? You’re human, aren’t you…? A creature steeped in desire! You should live selfishly by your own standards! Why? Do you think you’re the protagonist of a novel? Do you think you’ll come back to life if you die like this?!”

Aghartha began hurling bitter words at me, contorting her face.

I suppose she’s falling into despair as her firm beliefs crumble in the face of my actions that contradict them.

Well, well.

I did something righteous, and now I’m being cursed by the root of all evil.

No.

Being cursed by the root of all evil might be the most glorious moment for a knight.

Because it means I’ve done something truly righteous.

But I feel sorry for her.

I should say just one thing to comfort her.

“Aghartha.”

“…!”

“The humans you’ve seen might appear to desire futile things, fight and tear each other apart, and even resort to various methods of theft—truly filthy creatures. But…”

My throat tightens.

Now even breathing seems like it will stop immediately if I don’t focus on it.

But for the sake of what I wanted to say, I forced my abdominal muscles to move and compelled myself to breathe.

“…Even so, they all act that way for something else.”

“…”

“Having vast territories is so that their descendants might live more comfortably. Taking things from others—while there are many with bad intentions—is often done by those in difficult circumstances trying to provide for their families. But if they were to betray even that, no creature could survive in this world. After all, even the animals running across those plains bite and tear at each other just the same.”

With those final words, my diaphragm began to stiffen.

The pain of paralysis was far more agonizing than I had imagined.

The burning sensation that naturally produced groans as something that should move refused to do so.

Dying in the arms of someone precious.

It felt strangely pleasant because it was exactly like His Majesty’s end that I had just witnessed.

I looked around.

Knights were approaching with spears.

Among them, the Knight Commander was bringing a doctor, and there was blood on the Knight Commander’s spear.

“Don’t say anything more, Raedan. I’m sure we can save you…!”

“Oko.”

I gave this soft-hearted absolute being my best smile.

“…Thank you for being with this humble knight. The days I spent with you were more valuable and precious than anything else.”

Oko began to say something with an urgent expression, shaking their head.

But I couldn’t hear it.

In my fading consciousness, I looked at her until the very end.

“Tell my grandfather… I’m sorry…”

Before my life ended, I felt a slight regret.

How did Oko feel about me? Did she truly like me?

If so, I would have protected all of this and confessed my feelings first.

Such.

A futile regret.

#

Tanthyn lay cradled in The Chronicler’s arms.

But he had already breathed his last, wearing a smile that seemed peaceful.

When the doctor came to check, it was already too late.

Even if he had been alive, the doctor couldn’t have saved him.

It would have merely delayed death.

The Chronicler looked down at Tanthyn, forcing a smile to hide her heart-wrenching pain.

In a situation where she should have died, Tanthyn had saved a woman he didn’t know while having lost his memories.

As she caressed Tanthyn’s gradually stiffening body, The Chronicler made a choice.

For the only way to meet Tanthyn again, though extremely radical.

The Creator approached The Chronicler.

Her eyes looked somehow very sad.

Despite the irreversible mistake she must have made, The Chronicler didn’t get angry at The Creator.

The Creator, who had been standing silently, gritted her teeth and carefully opened her mouth.

“…Soon, The Princess will begin to completely lose control. Out of jealousy for seeing gods and humans getting along, she’ll completely distort the appearance of gods who can influence humans. Humans who see this will suffer fatal psychological damage. If you don’t want humans to be harmed, you should take the gods and leave the empire now.”

“…Yes.”

“…She’s in a situation where life is painful right now. Even if I render her incapacitated, I won’t take her life. Humans will be able to survive sufficiently.”

“Yes.”

The Creator spoke like that but finally found it difficult to contain her emotions.

“Are you a fool!”

“…”

“Why don’t you even express your resentment toward me? Why don’t you get angry? I took something precious from you. Please don’t just stand there blankly…!”

“If I haven’t lost it yet.”

“…?”

The Creator, who had bowed her head after pouring out her feelings, raised it again with a questioning look at The Chronicler’s words.

The Chronicler’s expression, turning only her head to look at her, seemed sad but by no means desperate.

As if she had already figured out a method.

“Aghartha, there are more hidden elements in this world than you know. Something that transcends what humans call scientific and philosophical knowledge—things that even you, who can only create, don’t know.”

“…”

“I don’t think you’re arrogant because of that. After all, meager knowledge often leads beings to ruin. But fortunately, you didn’t perish. Except for Raedan and the Emperor, no one else died in the end.”

The Chronicler smiled with her eyes.

“So, has this experience been an important lesson for you, Aghartha?”

“…”

What could The Chronicler have seen to display such composure?

Her actions, which had been urgent until just now, were now infinitely relaxed.

“…You.”

“Aghartha, I probably won’t exist in this world for a while.”

“…What does that mean? Surely, you!”

The Creator looked at The Chronicler with an astonished expression, but she seemed determined not to break her resolve.

By then, The Chronicler, who had somehow approached, looked at The Chronicler with a restless expression.

The Chronicler gave The Chronicler an apologetic smile.

“I’m sorry, Apta. I think I’ll have to ask you for something unreasonable.”

“…Yes.”

“While I’m gone, take good care of Raedan. He’s more careless than you might think. Whenever he seems about to make a mistake, tell him directly.”

“Yes.”

“…Souls that have already departed quickly move to other worlds. To retrieve a soul that has separated from its body, one must first breathe life into that body. In other words, a price must be paid.”

As The Chronicler still looked at The Chronicler with worried eyes, The Chronicler sighed and gathered her emotions.

“It’s only until I return. And if you find something to substitute for Raedan’s life force… then guide Raedan on the right path. The path that can save this world. Then surely… by the time he does something properly, I might be able to awaken too.”

“You don’t sound certain.”

“Still, we have to try. I don’t want to see a space without Raedan.”

The Chronicler took Tanthyn’s hand.

Then The Chronicler’s body began to glow with an ethereal blue light.

Concentrating all her mind on Tanthyn, The Chronicler smiled brightly for no reason.

“You were the reason for my existence, Raedan.”

Gradually, her body began to become transparent.

Her existence was being converted into life force, slowly seeping into Raedan’s body.

As a reaction to this, Raedan’s hair and eyes began to take on her colors.

White hair and blue eyes.

“With my power, I hope you alone can see the truth.”

The Chronicler’s tears rolled down her cheeks.

Yet she smiled until the very end.

“I’ll wait for you.”

“This is my final gift to you, Raedan.”

With those words.

The concept known as The Chronicler, without completely disappearing, temporarily vanished from sight.