Ch.229Report on the Collapse of Patience (Complete)

“Are you really going to put me on trial?” Laios looked up at the sky.

“Those people believe in me. They think I’ll represent their hatred. But I… what have I been doing all this time… why? Why… what did Ismene and I do so wrong…?”

Kain remained silent for a moment.

“Why did you gather the Demon King’s fragments?”

“That’s Ismene’s soul.” Laios hung his head.

“She became a mindless monster. Her heart contains nothing but revenge. The demons of the wasteland hate each other, but now she reigns over them. I… I wanted to return her soul to her. Then…”

“She would return to being human?”

Lightning struck. Thunder roared. Laios was silent. He had no certainty. Only speculation. But it was the last thread of hope he could cling to.

“She’s the kindest person I know. She’s just not in her right mind now. If she regains her senses, surely.”

“And you traveled the world gathering monsters because?”

“Her forces have grown so strong that even I can’t get close to her. So I… created my own army. Everything staying in the sky is my army.

Only greater hatred can pierce through hatred. But now, all of this… all of these things. It was all… all fake.”

Kain pondered for a moment. But his answer remained the same.

“We must go.” Then he whispered something. Laios, who had been shaking his head, narrowed his eyes.

* * * * *

Dawn.

The warehouse was dark and cold. But it was spacious enough for a carriage to enter. It was a storage warehouse built in an abandoned village they had noticed on their way.

The intensity had diminished, but sleet was still falling. Because of this, Kain and Lily had to build a larger fire. Fortunately, there were many empty wooden boxes in the carriage. When broken apart and added to the fire, they burned well.

Lily prepared the bedding. She spread out bundles of straw and covered them with soft cloth. She wrapped clean fabric from the carriage to make pillows.

“Cough, cough.”

Though the blood had been wiped away, Maria still couldn’t get up. Her consciousness was hazy, but pain continued to consume her.

Kain gathered four water pouches placed beside the fire. He kept them just close enough to feel the heat without burning the leather. They had warmed up just right as he’d hoped.

Sitting with his back turned so Lily and Maria couldn’t see, Kain rummaged through his pocket. The refined asas and salt chunks were still intact.

Since they both looked white and indistinguishable, Kain brought one to the tip of his tongue. Judging by the salty taste, this must be the salt chunk.

Kain put the salt chunk in one water pouch and the asas in another. Since the water was adequately warm, they would probably dissolve quickly.

“I’ve prepared water.”

Kain handed over the water pouch with dissolved salt.

“Sister. Sister.”

When Lily whispered, Maria opened her eyes. She nestled into Lily’s arms.

“You did well. You worked so hard.”

“…Did we catch him?”

“Yes,” Lily’s eyes welled up with tears. “We did.”

Maria looked beyond her feet. She saw two men sitting silently. Kain and a man she didn’t recognize. A slender young man with distinct features and brown hair.

“Is that him?”

“That’s Laios,” Kain nodded. “You did well, Maria.”

“Will he be okay if we leave him…?”

“It’s fine. Nothing to worry about.”

“I’m sorry,” Maria whimpered.

“I’m sorry…” Kain silently took Maria’s hand. Lily shook her head and wiped away her tears.

“I didn’t mean to deceive you. Suddenly… suddenly that power, without me knowing.”

“It’s okay,” Lily comforted her. “It’s okay. You saved everyone. We all survived thanks to you.”

“Rest. Drink some water.”

Lily carefully poured water into Maria’s mouth. At first, she seemed to drink it well, but then she frowned and spat it out.

“Oh, sister?”

“…Salty. What is this… seawater?”

Confused, Lily took a sip. She covered her mouth, ran to the exit, and spat it all out.

“Kain, this is too salty.”

“Is it that bad? Sorry. How about this?” Kain was about to hand over the water pouch with dissolved asas, but changed his mind and sat beside Maria.

He carefully poured it so she wouldn’t choke. After drinking for a while, Maria shook her head.

“A bit, a bit better.” Maria’s face relaxed. Kain offered the water bottle to Lily.

“Thirsty?” Lily drank without suspicion. She wanted to wash away the saltiness in her mouth. Since the bottle was empty, Kain passed a new water pouch to Laios.

Laios seemed to have given up on everything. He didn’t even resist being tied with ropes on his hands and feet. Still, he could drink water without much difficulty.

Maria coughed again. “Sister.” Lily lay down beside Maria and held her gently. Maria sobbed.

“How… how will I live now…?”

“What are you worried about?” Lily stroked her hair.

“You’ll live with me and brother Kain. We won’t let you starve, will we? We’ll eat delicious food, drink plenty, and live happily. That’s all we need.”

“And watch you two and die of jealousy…?”

“Then you can play with me.”

“Ha. Ha.” Maria let out a hollow laugh. Lily hugged Maria a little tighter. “Sleep now. We’ll worry about tomorrow together. You worked hard today.”

Maria’s body gradually relaxed. Her anxious breathing subsided. Lily held Maria tight. After confirming she was asleep, she looked toward Kain.

“Will sister be okay?”

“Yes. We’re heading to the capital now. We’ve done our job. We’ll get treatment there and then, well.”

“I won’t abandon sister. Remember that.” Lily yawned languidly. “I’m sorry.”

“No, get some rest. We can’t leave until the sleet stops anyway. I’ll wake you when you need to get up.”

“You must wake me.” Lily lay down next to Maria and soon fell asleep.

About an hour later, Kain checked on the two. Thanks to the day’s fatigue and the effect of the refined asas, they were sound asleep.

He thought about kissing Lily’s lips but, afraid she might wake up, only stroked her hair a few times. Maria seemed to stir, but didn’t wake up.

“Lady Elisabet. I know you can hear me. You’ve always watched over Maria. As you always have. So I believe you’re listening to these words too. Please ensure their comfortable journey. This is my last wish.”

Kain whispered softly. Maria seemed to shake her head, but fell back asleep. Kain used a half-burned piece of wood to leave a simple message on the carriage wall.

It was a note for Lily. After wondering what to write, he left only brief instructions. He couldn’t write anything more.

From the carriage, Kain gathered the Mercy Knights’ sword and staff, and Hope. He drew the sword and cut the ropes binding Laios.

He carefully opened the warehouse door to prevent wind from rushing in and to avoid making noise.

The air was cool. Kain handed the magic sword Hope to Laios, while he fastened the sword and staff to his belt. Even as a knight’s sword, it wasn’t much different from an imperial sword.

The two walked across the dark, muddy field. It was a sloppy path with neither sun nor moon visible.

“…Why?”

Laios asked. Kain tightened his collar and asked back.

“What?”

“Why are you…?” Laios swallowed the rest of his words. Kain answered curtly.

“Is it so hard to understand that I said let’s go to the wasteland because there’s one more person to save?”

“That’s not it. Why, I asked why you’re helping me. Is it out of kindness?”

Kain bowed his head.

“No. Because it’s what the Empire should have done for you and Ismene ten years ago.”

Laios stopped walking. It was too dark to read his expression clearly. Kain also stopped and looked at him, waiting for him to move again.

Only after a long time did a suppressed voice come.

“Kain. Do you get seasick easily?”

“No. Why?”

“It’s a long way to walk. It’s not exactly… a comfortable ship.”

“Better than trudging along in sleet.”

Laios shrugged. “Yes. I suppose so.” He gripped the sword upside down. Darkness rising from the ground clothed him in armor again. But he didn’t wear his helmet.

The scabbard pointed to the sky. A large ship descended from the sky of rain and ice. Despite the darkness, its eeriness and ugliness were impossible to conceal.

At least normal ships had barnacles attached, not human and beast heads, and they didn’t silently roll their eyeballs while staring at passengers.

Nevertheless, Laios and Kain boarded the ship. Beasts and monsters they had never seen even in dreams hesitated as they looked at them.

Kain didn’t turn away. He looked at those things—mixtures of human and human, human and beast, beast and beast.

This was the sin of the Empire and the sin of the Order. These were the things the world had turned away from, called sinful, and discarded.

“Let’s go inside.”

Laios guided Kain to the rear deck. Soon, the cursed ship made of wood, beasts, and humans rose. It flew up into the night sky rumbling with lightning and thunder.

Along with what looked like more than twenty vessels, the ship they boarded moved forward.

It was the departure of the cursed fleet—the 6th Crusade that rose against the Demon King, yet was made up of branded beasts.

* * * * *

The warehouse.

“He’s so selfish.”

Maria. No, Elisabet was already sitting up. The moment the asas entered her daughter’s body, Maria had already fallen asleep, and Elisabet had awakened. But Kain had prevented her from getting up.

Normally, she would have played a prank.

“Selfish indeed. You bad man. If you just say what you want to say and leave, what becomes of me, and what becomes of Liliana and Maria?”

Looking at the unrefined memo written on the carriage, Elisabet muttered. She caressed her left arm. The last unbroken leather strap remained.

She felt only sorry for Maria. She didn’t think what she had given her daughter was a gift, but she hadn’t realized it would be such a lifelong burden.

“I’ve only given you bad things. Me. My parents… and going further back, everyone above them.”

Lily stirred with a soft “mmm.” Elisabet placed her finger on her forehead.

“Good and kind child. Sleep peacefully. No one will harm you. But when you wake up, you’ll surely be surprised…”

Elisabet whispered in her ear for a long time. Lily, who had been tossing and turning, fell back into peaceful sleep.

After tending to the fire one last time, Elisabet opened the warehouse door and went out.

Leaving a protective ward on the door to keep unwanted things away, she disappeared into the darkness.