Ch.201The Forgotten One (3)

The Constellations define themselves in their own way.

For instance, Quixote, Star of Contempt made it his identity to look down upon, despise, and belittle everything.

The Empress of Bliss, whom Quixote serves, defined herself in a similar context. She perceived a single life, and further, the entire world as one play. If everything is merely a play, she questioned why anything should be exempt from mockery, and thus she laughed at all things in the world.

In this way, Constellations view the world “in their own way.” They establish their identity by defining everything according to their taste. For firm self-confidence inevitably led to strength.

“Merlin.”

And, Najin.

“There’s somewhere we need to go tonight.”

Najin, who coincidentally or inevitably came to stand at the opposite end of the Empress of Bliss, had not yet defined himself, but knew well which path he should walk.

The path standing opposite to the Empress of Bliss.

If the Empress of Bliss hides in hesitation and anguish to seduce knights, leading them to deny their own lives with their own hands… Najin intended to walk a path directly opposite to that damned demon.

“Aren’t you already knight enough?”

Your anguish has value.

That hesitation is not worthless. Because of them, your life has value. Even if everyone else forgets, I will remember. Your life is not so light as to be reduced to a mere farce.

It was a path Najin had been walking from the beginning, but one that became more firm with the existence of the Empress of Bliss. Having committed to such a path, Najin could not ignore The Blue Spear.

-Where to?

“Let’s go outside first.”

While The Blue Spear slept, Najin crossed the desert and stepped outside the forbidden area. After inhaling the cool air, Najin exhaled a long breath.

“I don’t know much about The Blue Spear. Perhaps even The Blue Spear himself doesn’t know much about himself. But one thing is certain.”

Najin took a step forward.

“He cannot be left like that.”

Living one day and dying the next.

Losing memories every day, feeling fear every day, and repeating the same things without even knowing what value any of it has.

“That’s just not right.”

-Then what are you going to do?

“First, I think we need to learn more about The Blue Spear… so we can figure out what to do.”

-That’s true. Whether it’s mourning or helping him let go of attachments, we need to know first…

“Then we should find someone.”

When Merlin asked who, Najin answered.

“Someone who would know about The Blue Spear.”

Rondinell, The Blue Spear’s homeland, was destroyed, and not only destroyed but erased from history. With only extremely limited records remaining about Rondinell, discovering who “The Blue Spear” is would be nearly impossible.

But Najin knew.

A person who remembers the forgotten nation of Rondinell. Someone who might also know about The Blue Spear.

“Kirhov.”

Kirhov, the last knight of Rondinell.

2.

Kirhov, Sword Master of Ruin.

This Sword Master, occasionally spotted at the borders of the Outer Continent or battlefields, is naturally one of the greatest figures. Though he possesses only one star, he is strong enough to have records of single-handedly subjugating a Constellation with seven stars.

Usually, such prominent figures cannot be met simply by wanting to meet them, and one would have to hope for a chance encounter, but…

“Oh, isn’t it Sir Najin?”

Najin was an exception.

Najin visited a battlefield relatively close to The Blue Spear’s forbidden area and sought out the commander. The commander was from the Empire and knew Najin well.

“I’ve heard much about your reputation. You were active on the western front too, right? Thanks to your help on the northern front recently, we’ve gained some breathing room.”

The commander shook hands with Najin with a friendly smile. While he certainly had intentions to make a good impression on Najin, the Empire’s future hero supported by the First Pillar of Empire, that wasn’t all.

While traveling the Outer Continent, Najin often visited nearby battlefields to offer support, and because that support was so appropriate and effective, commanders knew Najin’s name well. The commander currently conversing with Najin was also someone who had received Najin’s help.

“You have a favor to ask? Of course I’ll help! Let’s talk inside first.”

Because of this, the commander showed respect to a young man decades younger than himself without any discomfort or resentment.

Rather, pleased to be able to help Najin, he welcomed him into the tent.

“You wish to see Sir Kirhov? Normally he’s not one to come when someone asks to meet him… but for Sir Najin’s request, it might be different.”

Najin had met Kirhov several times before. He had seen him during the battle with the Witch of Glimmer, Ermina, and during the battle with the Empress of Bliss.

“Please tell him I have something to discuss about a knight of Rondinell.”

“Ah, if that’s the matter…”

The commander nodded and sent a telegram somewhere. After some time passed, Kirhov visited the tent where Najin was waiting alone.

“I’d like to say it’s been a long time, but it’s only been a few months, hasn’t it?”

He sat down on a chair with a thud, smiling slightly.

“Good to see you, boy. No, I should call you Najin now. Unlike before, you’ve earned a star. Should I call you Morning Star instead?”

“You can just call me Najin.”

“Right, Najin? We’re on friendly terms, having each thrust a sword into the Empress of Bliss’s body once, so I’d like to have a drink and chat using that as a conversation starter.”

Kirhov narrowed his eyes.

“But it seems there’s something we need to discuss first. You sought me out? I hear you have something to say about a knight of Rondinell.”

Najin nodded. Kirhov listened attentively as Najin told him about “The Blue Spear” he had encountered by chance.

“…and so, I came to find you.”

After finishing his explanation, Najin looked at Kirhov.

“Do you know anything about The Blue Spear, a knight of Rondinell?”

“The Blue Spear.”

Kirhov took out a piece of paper and drew something.

“Does his spear look like this?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Then it seems to be the person I know. I wondered where he had gone, so he was in such a place.”

Kirhov’s expression darkened as he muttered this. He sighed deeply and touched his forehead.

“You say he loses his memories every day.”

And yet, he still wields his spear every day.

Kirhov gritted his teeth.

“First, I thank you for finding where he is. But unfortunately, I cannot fulfill your wish.”

“What do you mean?”

“Even if I know where he is, I cannot go there. That place would be forbidden to me. And the moment I approach that place… my memories would likely be in danger as well.”

What does that mean?

As Najin tilted his head in confusion, Kirhov opened his mouth with a weak smile.

“First, I need to explain about the fall of Rondinell. How much do you know about Rondinell?”

“I know it fell 300 years ago, and that the Empress of Bliss and the Star of Oblivion were involved in its downfall. Also that most records were erased because of it.”

“Let me add one thing: Lancelot, a former Knight of the Round Table, was involved too. Thus, my homeland fell at the hands of three stars and several witches.”

A downfall involving as many as three Constellations.

Yet Rondinell managed to leave records that “such a country existed.” Having encountered the Empress of Bliss and beings completely forgotten because of her, Najin could understand how remarkable that was.

“Once, Rondinell was a great nation rivaling the Empire. Just as the Empire has five pillars, Rondinell had three spears. They were spears given to the most noble knights.”

Kirhov held up three fingers.

“The Red Spear, The Blue Spear, and The Golden Spear. The owners of these three spears were all great. All three were transcendents and worthy of being called exemplars of knighthood.”

Perhaps that was why, Kirhov thought as he folded his fingers one by one.

“On the day Rondinell fell, they sacrificed themselves. They tried to leave traces of the nation of Rondinell at any cost. Two of them gave their lives to help one knight escape from the falling Rondinell.”

It was unnecessary to ask who that knight was.

“And the remaining one sacrificed himself to protect the memories of that last knight, so that he would not forget Rondinell. He cried out that if even just one person remembered Rondinell completely… Rondinell would be eternal.”

That person was the owner of The Blue Spear.

Saying this, Kirhov, the last knight of Rondinell and the only person who completely remembers Rondinell, smiled bitterly.

“But his words were false.”

“False…?”

“My memories are not complete. I remember everything else, but I cannot recall the ‘owner of The Blue Spear’ who protected my memories. That must be the price he paid.”

To not be remembered by anyone.

Not even by himself.

That was the price The Blue Spear paid, Kirhov said.

“The Blue Spear, his very existence is a kind of forbidden area to me. I cannot access those memories, nor can I approach that existence.”

Kirhov’s expression was different from usual as he said this. The Kirhov who always overflowed with confidence and wore an expression like a fairy tale hero was not there.

“Previously, I told you why I wield my sword, didn’t I?”

“You said it was your lord’s last wish.”

“That’s right. To add, this is also a compulsion. It’s something ‘I must do’ as someone who survived through countless sacrifices.”

A human groaning under the burden he carries.

There stood a human feeling the weight of the burden pressing down on his shoulders. Kirhov smiled awkwardly and said:

“Najin? May I ask you a favor?”

When asked what it was, Kirhov answered:

“From now on, I intend to tell you as much detail as possible about the title ‘The Blue Spear’ and related matters. I cannot recall who the owner of The Blue Spear was, but I should be able to tell you about the periphery.”

I’ll tell you that story.

“Please convey it to him. And.”

Kirhov thumped his heart with his fist.

“Tell him that I am here because of him, and that the youngster he sent away is still wielding his sword as a knight of Rondinell, taking step by step toward reclaiming Rondinell…”

After exhaling a long breath, Kirhov smiled.

The pitiful appearance was gone, and with a smile as splendid as a fairy tale hero once again, Kirhov exclaimed:

“Tell him his dedication was worthwhile.”

Convey that to him.

3.

After traveling back and forth between the battlefield and the forbidden area for several days, Najin headed to the middle of the desert. The sun had already set in the desert, and The Blue Spear was sleeping with his head bowed near a tent placed in the center.

Najin sat down in front of him.

Recalling and organizing in his mind the story he had heard from Kirhov, Najin planted the Cross Star Spear he carried on his back into the middle of the desert.

Then he thought.

About what he should do, and what he could do.

Time passes.

The setting sun slowly rises, and as morning arrives in the desert, The Blue Spear opens his eyes. With transparent and empty eyes gazing at the world, he turns the hourglass and opens his diary.

Rustle.

The newly born Blue Spear flipped through the diary as if searching for who he was. But there was no answer written there. Only what he needed to do.

“Greetings, Blue Spear.”

Najin stood before such a Blue Spear.

“I am Najin. Free Knight Najin. You’ll find information about me on page 781 of your diary.”

“Yes, it’s written here.”

“I’ve come to find you because I have something to tell you, and something to ask of you.”

A request? The Blue Spear blinked.

“Please teach me your spear.”

Najin knelt on one knee before The Blue Spear, holding the Cross Star Spear.

“Please teach me the spear of Rondinell, the spear you have protected for 300 years.”

That was where it would begin.