Ch.23878. The Hasty Arrangement Between You and Me (3)

“Where do you intend to go?”

Hosuyong, Lansruth, asked.

The Fairy Forest. Or in other words, the Elven Domain.

The Black Knight had reached the first gateway to Ardisus, the capital and royal city of the elves, their nation and seat of power.

And accompanying him was a dark armored warhorse.

Krrrr!

The horse’s snort sounded like a large beast growling.

A fierce aura emanated from its glowing red eyes.

Yet it neither shook its body restlessly nor pawed at the ground.

“I have something to return.”

Though he hadn’t found the method he wanted from the World Tree,

He had acquired an alternative means.

After all, he had managed to complete Haevatein one way or another.

“You mean the Imperial Princess.”

“…Has word spread already?”

Lansruth answered, half-opening his reptilian eyes.

“At my level, I can discern news from across the continent without leaving my seat.”

“……”

“That aside, do you truly intend to go alone?”

“That would be correct.”

Though it was on hold, he was still burdened with the mantle of the Demon King.

At least until that changed, it would be better to move alone.

“What of those you’ve left behind?”

“…I’ve made arrangements.”

As he was thinking this, for some reason, a heavy presence manifested beyond the forest, revealing itself as a tangible mass and phenomenon.

Boom!

A massive beastman landed on the ground and stood up.

“Thanks to a sharp-eyed child, I barely managed to catch up.”

“……”

“You should at least say your farewells properly before leaving. What kind of behavior is this?”

Gazef demanded with an incredulous tone.

“I left messages for those who needed to hear them.”

“That’s just your opinion.”

“……”

Perhaps he was right.

“Get down.”

As Gazef hunched his upper body, a child leapt to the ground.

“Where do you think you’re running off to?”

Then she immediately confronted him.

Between her yellowish-brown bangs, two crimson eyes burned with clear hostility.

“……”

Delica, is it?

She should have stayed by Lutesia’s side…

Did she really come all this way?

“The Lutesia I knew is dead. Because of you!”

Delica’s words were resolute.

“Kariel. You still haven’t given me an answer I can accept.”

“What do you want me to do?”

A chilling voice extended into the air, penetrating through the invisible gaps of his helmet.

Yet it was remarkably feeble and faint.

“If Lutesia failed, then I’ll do it instead, so hand it over.”

“……”

What does she want to do?

I’m not unaware.

In truth, even as I dealt with Lutesia, I briefly wondered if I would need to handle Delica as well.

But… I didn’t want to toy with someone else’s life to that extent.

Even if it might have been a kind consideration for her.

No one should control another’s life.

“……”

Perhaps this too is merely an extremely selfish notion.

Barely two days had passed since then.

Everyone must be incredibly busy right now.

…Though that’s no concern of mine.

Merit and honor are utterly meaningless.

For me, even if I participated in a great battle that would go down in history, even if I had the great achievement of proactively bringing an end to the situation as a main force.

It’s all completely meaningless.

“It’s beyond your capabilities.”

“I’ll decide what’s beyond me!”

“Abandon any thoughts of escaping through death.”

“Who said anything about dying!”

“Lutesia could handle it because she was a vessel for divinity. Normally, she couldn’t have become a Demon King. What made it possible was her quality and… probably the blessing of the Demon World Tree.”

Indeed, without the blessing of the Demon World Tree, Lutesia would have been ousted from the position of Demon King at any time.

…It would have been fortunate if she hadn’t died before that.

Perhaps for her at that time, that would have been the best and most welcome outcome.

“Say, instead of having a conversation only you two understand, why not explain it so we can understand too?”

At this point, Gazef interjected, scratching near his broken left horn.

“And Kariel, if you’re planning to go to the Empire, wouldn’t it be better to go together since you’ll need to report about this matter anyway?”

“……”

That would be troublesome.

If it’s like that…

It would be very, very troublesome.

“You misunderstand. What benefit would I gain by going together?”

“Are you still holding a grudge?”

“……”

“I didn’t see Lueld directly so I didn’t hear properly, but I heard from Loroana. It seems things got a bit too complicated between you all, but about that…”

“Please don’t worry.”

I shook my head as I spoke.

“When the time comes, I’ll go. Not right away, but soon.”

“You still won’t say you’ll go immediately until the end, huh.”

“…Or perhaps I will.”

From here to the Empire was essentially a journey across the continent.

It wasn’t simply a matter of going from south to west, but from the eastern edge to the west—the exact opposite direction.

And taking a ship wouldn’t shorten the distance either.

It might be somewhat more convenient to make such a choice midway, but in my current state, moving as I am would be at least five or six times faster.

“Delica. If you find it difficult to stay there, follow me.”

“…You knew.”

“I see the future, albeit imperfectly. Do you think my presence here is mere coincidence?”

There are no coincidences in this world.

I declare that, at least for me, there will never again be trivial coincidences in my life.

“If you want to gain more than you desire, you must follow me.”

“……”

Delica seemed to be deep in thought, her eyes tightly shut.

“That’s why I came anyway. Good that we don’t have to argue.”

“……”

The warhorse backed up and lowered itself.

Gazef naturally picked up Delica with his thumb and index finger and placed her behind the saddle.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Gazef wore a somewhat complicated expression.

Being different from humans, the feeling it conveyed was also different.

“I don’t know how you ended up like this, but… I know what you’ve done, so in any case, I won’t harm or criticize you.”

“……”

As if having concluded all remaining business, the warhorse began to move of its own accord, without Kariel’s command.

“Lansruth, can you explain? I didn’t have a chance to ask directly because things were so busy…”

“I’ll explain as we go.”

Lansruth didn’t refuse.

“We’ll have plenty of time before you head to the Empire.”

“Well, well.”

Gazef looked up toward the branches.

There, Loroana was lying on a branch, flicking her tongue in discomfort as she watched Kariel’s retreating figure.

It was an expression of mixed emotions, a sentiment of regret.

====

“I knew all along.”

This place, once Kariel’s residence, was still being maintained even after his departure, as it remained in a tidy state.

Looking down at Lutesia, who lay motionless on the bed barely breathing, Alesia, seated in a chair, casually responded to Mines’s bewildered question.

“He’s always been the type to try to do everything alone.”

“But we should follow him…”

“I may have lost him once… but now I’ve let him go.”

Alesia murmured bitterly.

“If you’re so anxious, why don’t you go after him yourself? You have the ability, don’t you?”

“I suppose…”

Alesia might have been asked to care for Lutesia.

But Mines had been separately asked by him to protect Lutesia.

He should have realized at that moment…

Mines sighed deeply and climbed onto a nearby desk, as if in resignation.

“Come to think of it, I have no reason to follow him.”

“I suppose not.”

Alesia responded casually.

“Don’t we all make our own reasons?”

“……”

“Don’t worry. Wherever he or we go, it’s all the same anyway.”

The same? What?

Mines’s eyes showed confusion at this vague statement.

“I just have that feeling.”

Alesia merely shrugged her shoulders slightly.

Kariel had specifically told her:

He wouldn’t say goodbye.

So we’re not parting ways, he said.

“Hmm.”

Surely he wouldn’t try to deceive me like that?

…If that’s really the case.

Then I truly won’t let him off the hook.

====

“So, he has departed.”

Though there were still countless matters to attend to,

Even without the luxury of proper sleep while sorting through the situation,

The Elven Queen was still managing to maintain a small semblance of composure in that moment.

“Are you not disappointed, Your Majesty?”

“And what about you?”

To this, Lemira bowed her head with a bitter smile.

“He was both a help and a hindrance.”

Those damnable beings from the demon realm would have invaded the World Tree without hesitation anyway.

But we know that his existence ultimately stemmed from his own decisions and actions.

Or is it just me who knows this?

The Queen clasped her hands together while seated, with self-deprecation.

“I tried to provide him with all the conditions I could. But it seems that was of no help, which is regrettable.”

“Your Majesty…”

“A march toward death. Or perhaps a Wilde Jagd.”

The wild hunt.

“When will we ever escape being the prey?”

The Queen lamented.

“Life simply refuses to leave us be.”

Endless war, endless hunting.

Die or die.

Be devoured or devour.

Be caught or flee.

Our lives are this simple.

……

……….

And.

Seated on a throne made of black skulls, in a dark, pale, yet blood-red debased world.

In an absurd world where lava and frost rained down on either side.

He sat quietly, catching his breath.

“……”

Left alone in the middle of a desolate, pale world, he suddenly asked.

“You damned bastard. When do you intend to make your move?”

When the war god asked in a crushing tone,

The silence broke its seclusion and shone.

“Not yet, at least.”

Through the light that seemed to drive away all ominousness, darkness, paleness, and desolation,

It spoke.

“But seeing your condition, I might have to step in soon.”

“Damned youngster.”

“Pull yourself together. It’s pitiful to watch a weakened dog bark.”

“…Impudent bastard.”

The light laughed lightly and disappeared.

“Laugh while you can. I will, I will surely erase you all.”

Erase the false world.

Let good and evil be fed to the wild dogs.

====

And so, the long, long day came to an end.

Kariel glanced at the sleeping Delica while gazing at the campfire lit in the clearing.

Through the crackling flames,

He quietly murmured, as if ruminating.

“A small revenge.”

Damn that World Tree.

“Hey. You didn’t even say anything.”

Even if he whispered softly, she would understand without difficulty.

In fact, she would understand even without him saying anything.

But unless it was urgent, he usually spoke aloud.

“……”

It wasn’t unusual for her to disappear for days without a word or to be quiet.

But the current silence and void were probably not like that.

At least after such a major incident, she would typically become more talkative.

So this kind of silence doesn’t make sense.

“Hah…”

You know and I know.

I was in no position to easily accept or welcome you as the Demon King.

Because I had heard about all the evil deeds and disasters you caused since I was young.

Even if you were to apologize, it would be meaningless.

Because I’m not the one you should apologize to.

Even accepting your apology would be deception.

What right do I have to accept an apology and speak of forgiveness?

I have no right.

Also.

She was never the type to speak such words anyway.

Similarly.

I might not have had a reason to hate her either.

That’s why I neither hated nor resented her.

Nor did I try to harbor opposite feelings.

As she knows and I know.

We were fine just standing face to face on parallel lines.

Because she’s not my mother.

Nor my partner.

She’s closest to being my mentor, but she herself rejected that.

The arrogant Demon King only rambles one-sidedly, indoctrinates one-sidedly, and bestows one-sidedly.

That’s the dignity of a Demon King.

I don’t know what calculation of gain and loss was hidden in that.

…It’s not my concern anyway.

We tacitly accepted that about each other.

“……”

So.

If there’s one thing I regret.

Even at this moment, I don’t know what to call you.

Not mentor, not teacher.

Certainly not friend.

And since I couldn’t bring myself to use the term Demon King, I resorted to calling you “hey” or “you” or such.

Yes.

If I had to pick something that was a bit sad and hard.

…It would be that.

Because not once did I ever address her by her name or title.

Just because there was no farewell.

Where is the guarantee that it’s not an eternal separation?

“This is ridiculous.”

It’s quiet.

Only now did I begin to feel as if this vast darkness was finally embracing me.

From the night sky I’ve always seen, I felt an unfamiliarity beyond strangeness, a distant sense of alienation.

A deep silence I’ve never experienced before settles in.

A deep, dark stillness.

As each day passes, I live.

As each day passes, I die.

We live each day, and we die each day.

Perhaps death is no longer unfamiliar.