Ch.25985. If You’re Going to Apologize, Do It to Yourselves! (3)

I will build enough stamina to run for at least half a day.

Whether alone or involved with others, I will firmly maintain my mental strength and will so that I never waver or break down emotionally.

I will thoroughly internalize everything I’ve been taught, constantly reviewing it through action or thought.

To prevent my mind from becoming rigid or lax, I will always think critically, observe the world, learn and absorb knowledge, and make practical use of everything I acquire.

Those were the instructions Kariel left for Delica and Raymon before departing for the Empire.

The two were entrusted to a guild affiliated with the Relief Knight Order that had joined the local effort.

They were personally greeted by a one-legged man named Userp.

“I never thought I’d see that appearance again in my lifetime.”

The fact that it happened to be the child of his enemy, and that it was the master’s will that chose him…

His expression was complicated—conflicted yet somehow relieved.

When Kariel had briefly seen him before, he seemed to have a large build and ample flesh, but now he had a moderate physique.

Kariel had entrusted the two to Userp until he came to find them.

“……”

Delica reminisces.

Was it when she first saw him in Pheisran?

Or was it when she thought she had returned to the past?

He had clearly expressed his ambition to challenge her father, the strongest of his generation. No, it wasn’t an ambition…

In any case, he had expressed that determination in an extremely dry, matter-of-fact manner.

But the process of achieving it could never have been dry or dispassionate.

She had watched him with difficulty.

Standing against Lutesia, he was, in a different sense, the embodiment of madness.

With his mouth shut tight, he would scream, frantically tearing at his own skin with his fingernails.

Yet he maintained his silence to the bitter end.

That silence was resignation and frustration—the understanding that his complaints, opinions, statements, and ambitions had no meaning or influence.

Perhaps he eventually came to feel that nothing had meaning except proving himself.

Many had become living witnesses and products of madness, consumed by vengeance and resentment.

Delica herself was like that, and Lutesia would be the same.

Such people surrounded Delica.

And they all died miserably, emptily, wretchedly.

Our lives are that miserable. That wretched.

There is no meaning in it, and all that remains are trivial memories that we recall and repeat among ourselves.

Whether one could even beautify such a past, such memories, by calling them “reminiscences” is questionable.

“What is Kariel returning to the Empire for? Is it revenge after all?”

Though Raymon hadn’t heard anything specific, he was gradually approaching the truth of Kariel’s circumstances through careful consideration, especially thanks to what Eras had freely shared.

But that was, at best, like licking the outside of an egg.

“I can’t say it’s not revenge, but I think it’s a bit different from the kind of revenge we know.”

Userp added his own perspective.

“If that were the case, he would have had no reason to keep playing the role of a righteous person all this time.”

“Then perhaps… his revenge is to succeed as a righteous person? Could that be what he’s thinking?”

“That… I don’t know. I’m not him.”

Kariel’s existence is extraordinary and mysterious in many ways.

That must be why he possesses such great power and ability.

“Once, a friend of mine said something.”

“Your friend?”

When Raymon looked puzzled, Userp cleared his throat and spoke.

“Hmm. Yes. A friend who once led us. A remarkable friend who could somewhat erratically glimpse the future once said this about Kariel.”

He stared down at his missing leg and let out a small sigh.

“His anger is like a forest fire, but the flames will never spread or infect others.”

“What does… that mean?”

“I don’t really know either, but I think it might be like this.”

A being who embraces even the spreading flames.

And thus, in the end, a being who will burn and die alone.

“Of course, that was just my friend spouting his own thoughts, so I didn’t care whether it was right or wrong.”

“Magic theory is complicated, but the human heart also has aspects that are both simple and complex.”

Raymon deliberately recalled the words and thoughts his brother had repeated as he died, which Kariel had passed on to him.

His dying brother, despite everything, had felt longing, regret, sorrow, and remorse when thinking of him.

And in the end, he had worried about his foolish self.

Even in that chaotic environment where everyone was desperately crying out, wanting to live and survive.

In that extreme despair where everyone’s vitality was being drained, their lives torn away, reduced to corpses.

Even in that moment of being gripped by such despair.

He had thought of Raymon, the future of their family, and their parents who had departed before them.

…He wasn’t a good brother.

As the head of the family, he wasn’t such a good person either.

His competence was recognized, but competence is ultimately proven and constructed by trampling on someone else’s incompetence.

But Raymon couldn’t resent him for that.

Raymon himself was not only lacking and bad, but at that time, he had been vicious, incompetent, and a useless parasite.

He had merely disguised himself shabbily with the family’s power, influence, and accumulated wealth.

“Living with such complexity makes life exhausting.”

At that moment, Delica snapped irritably.

“…When things could be defined simply, clearly, and intuitively.”

Needlessly making things complicated.

“You’re struggling to untie a knot that can’t be untied, but no matter how hard you try, what can’t be untied won’t come undone. If it was tied wrong from the start, there’s nothing you can do.”

“That’s true. Other than cutting it if necessary… or asking a friend with good hands for help.”

“……”

At those words, Delica naturally fell silent.

We’ve always pursued a life of cutting things off.

We’ve never expected anyone to alleviate our anguish or solve our problems.

Any expectations we might have had always returned as betrayal, with severe and numbing consequences.

Needless expectations always eat away at people, if not destroy them completely.

We must never trust anyone.

We must never hand over control to them.

Because they will absolutely try to consume us.

“……”

Even Kariel agreed with this sentiment.

[Gold and silver treasures have no meaning in themselves. It’s the promises and trust we place in them that create value and derive meaning. Trust is, in fact, the most powerful resource.]

Delica thought the content was appropriate, even if the expression was old-fashioned.

So, idiots who carelessly hand over such things to others at a bargain price deserve to die.

Just die already.

Then at least you won’t have to feel wronged.

“……”

But Delica never reveals these inner thoughts.

Even though this is the plain truth, humans become extremely violent or don’t hide their displeasure when faced with such truths.

Truth itself is a deadly poison, a weapon.

Just as Kariel removed the poison Lutesia had harbored and the weapon lodged in her heart by concealing the truth.

“We’ll depart in a few days, so if you have any farewells to say or matters to settle, take care of them in advance.”

Though it was an unnecessary reminder, Raymon nodded quietly and replied that he would, feeling it was appropriate.

Delica gave no response at all.

‘Just wait until I hear news of your death.’

She was quietly suppressing her rage, venting her unquenchable anger inwardly.

====

“Princess, you’ve never been one to yield so easily. Why have you suddenly decided to return?”

Two figures on horseback.

One a male knight, the other a beautiful woman in practical light armor, different from a knight’s.

From the woman’s cherry-like lips, the male knight was addressed.

“Veilot.”

“Yes, what is it?”

“You said it’s my rightful place? Then I have no choice, do I?”

“…That’s rich coming from someone who abandoned her duties and responsibilities, even getting cursed by a fairy!”

“You said I have no choice?”

“No. You could have kept refusing and rejecting like before, perhaps?”

What was that attitude, as if he had secretly hoped for that?

Aseth thought this human was quite exceptional, now as before.

In his own way, he was remarkably unique, no less than herself.

“Do I look kind enough to just take a beating and endure it?”

“Pardon?”

“They not only failed to help me but tried to manipulate me by exploiting the Empire’s movements. Should I just let that slide?”

“…Are you planning to purge everyone when you return?”

“Have you already forgotten what you said? About turning everything upside down?”

“That was just… me being provocative to start a conversation. If I hadn’t been that dramatic, you wouldn’t have even listened to me, would you?”

“…You’re old-fashioned yet strangely skilled at scheming. Not good with words yet slick.”

A peculiar human—extraordinary but not particularly capable.

“Still, I’m pleased that we’ll likely have plenty of fighting ahead!”

“Sigh.”

That battle-hungry temperament too.

“Besides, if we’re not going straight there, where are you planning to stop?”

“I’m not the only one who came looking for you, am I?”

“Well, no.”

“I’ll find them one by one or make them come to me, then spare those who follow me and kill those who don’t.”

“…Isn’t that too harsh a plan?”

“You think so? Then should I just cut off an arm or a leg instead?”

“…That might be even more terrible.”

“Damned if I do, damned if I don’t—what do you want me to do? Why don’t you be the king instead?”

“Hey! That’s absurd!”

While the conversation might sound comical or gloomy to an observer, the expressions of the two speakers were extremely plain or emotionless.

The incongruity would have seemed highly abnormal to anyone present, enough to send chills down their spine.

“Besides, it wasn’t because of me that you changed your mind, was it? Did something happen with the Dabas royal family?”

“Not with them.”

“Then… that Black Knight?”

Black Knight?

An apt yet ill-fitting description.

But for now, it would do.

“One month a year.”

“??”

“He asked me to give him one month of my time each year.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means I won’t have anyone to stand beside. If there is such a person, it could only be him.”

“Um… what exactly is this Black Knight to you, Princess?”

“We’ll have to see.”

Kariel. Will you be able to keep your promise?

Or will you pretend not to know about the past again, like before?

“In the past, we agreed to be together.”

“In the past? You mean during your mercenary days?”

“Even before that.”

“…Such a person existed?”

“……”

The person from back then and who he is now might seem like different beings at first glance.

While one was a genius who, despite being smart, chose to take losses.

The current one is a fool who, despite being ignorant, chooses to sacrifice himself.

Yet they were certainly not different beings.

Even back then, when his life was in danger.

There were times when he deliberately put himself at risk, his lips trembling.

What did he say then?

‘No matter how great I am, I’m afraid I can’t take responsibility for even one girl.’

Though the context of his words seemed confusing.

That statement had been deeply engraved within Aseth in a strangely profound way.

When he told her about the World Tree, why did that memory resurface?

‘In the end…’

He must have considered it his duty as a hero.

No matter how great he was, if he couldn’t save even one crying girl.

He could willingly throw away this world or himself… such a foolish choice.

For the foolish Kariel of today, such a choice would be inevitable, his destiny.

But for the intelligent Kariel of that time, it was certainly not…

“Answer me, please? With such a long journey ahead, how boring would it be to pass in silence?”

“……”

Aseth sighed.

“If you need conversation, you’ll have plenty soon enough, so shut up for now. Before I smash your mouth.”

“Haha… there you go again…”

“……”

“Ha, ha! Ahem! Ehem!”

The man forced an exaggerated, awkward cough.

After all, she was not the type of person who would emotionally spout nonsense on a whim.

====

And then.

“…Well. How long has it been?”

Kariel, about to reach a small uninhabited island with just a sailboat after leaving the port of Dabas.

On this faintly marked island on the map, the three met as if by appointment.

“……”

“What? Won’t you call me auntie anymore?”

Nedeth Germansia.

One of the Nine Heroes.

The Nightmare of the Island Witch.

The Sea Witch.

The Moving Siege Weapon.

With all these epithets, she now appeared before Kariel in the Island Witch’s distinctive dark, form-fitting uniform with a coat over it, fully prepared.

Also.

“Slurp.”

Loroana.

The Twilight Hunter.

The Shadow Predator.

The Silent Deadly Poison.

She too was one of the Nine Heroes.

And both were close friends and comrades of Kariel’s father and mother.

“It’s been a long time.”

“…Yes. I was needlessly worried that you might not be able to communicate in that form.”

Not that he could tear off her armor either.

“……”

“Ah, you know that was a, a joke, right?”

Though it was too convincing to be a joke, Kariel knew that was just how she was.

They say sailors are naturally rough, don’t they?

For someone who one-sidedly beats and commands such men, it would be normal for her to exude a fierce aura and snort with every breath, overflowing with intensity.

That’s what temperament is.

A person’s innate disposition.

And their environment and position often determine their character and temperament.

“Are you worried about what I’m going to do when I go to the Empire?”

“…Yes. I am, indeed.”

Nedeth, at least, didn’t put forward false pretenses or maintain appearances.

“I’m worried about what you and my friends, all of them, will go through.”

“……”

A long, heavy sigh escaped through the helmet.

“I made a promise with my master.”

“Master? Could that possibly be… connected to the Relief Knight Order?”

Since Grandeus couldn’t have come back to life to guide Kariel, this must be correct.

At least, that was the conclusion reached by everyone who thought they were approaching some of the truth, including the Empire.

However.

“My master is the Demon King of Wisdom.”

Kariel deliberately didn’t hide it.