Ch.320EP.68 – The Knight Act at the Appointed Time (2)

The kingdom’s citizens were bewildered.

No, they were bewildered yet couldn’t help but admire it.

They were confused because such an enormous statue had suddenly appeared overnight, and they were in awe because they were certain that nowhere else in the world could one find a statue so massive and majestic.

“What in the world is that…?”

It was truly a beautiful and magnificent sculpture.

And so, curiosity inevitably arose within them.

Who created this sculpture, and what thoughts went into making such a piece?

Such curiosity was warranted because,

“Why does it feel so sad?”

Despite its grandeur and magnificence, there was an inexplicable sadness that could be felt.

The emotions of the sculptor had seeped into their hearts.

And the person responsible for creating this colossal sculpture that everyone wondered about…

Drip, drip.

“Ah, I wanted to make it even bigger, but time was limited, really.”

He was sprinkling wine at the base of the statue.

If people had seen this, perhaps they would have understood why they felt a tinge of sorrow.

After all, this was an act of commemorating someone’s death, creating a “tomb” to ensure that death would not be forgotten.

…A tomb for someone whose remains no longer existed.

As Ihan continued sprinkling wine, voices came from behind him.

“Well, are you satisfied now?”

“Even a king’s tomb couldn’t be grander than this!”

The main contributors to this project.

Lac and Maximus, those two had worked hard as well.

Of course they had. How could one say they hadn’t worked hard when they had compressed soil and sand with their strength until it was as hard as iron, and then meticulously shaped it with spears?

Well, he himself had assembled the handcrafted blocks, welded them with sword energy, and refined them with half-tan techniques, so he could also claim to have worked hard.

But neither Ihan nor they had any desire to boast.

“I haven’t finished pouring it all. Want some? The person who gave it to me said it’s quite a rare wine.”

“…I’ll have just one glass.”

“A northerner never refuses alcohol!”

They had no desire to boast about commemorating someone’s death.

The three knights shared the wine.

It was the first masterpiece of the three knights.

* * *

…The nun’s remains had vanished.

It was as if they had disappeared like a mirage, and those who witnessed it said…

– The Light has taken her.

– Just like the previous Grand Saint…

It is said that the remains of the previous Grand Saint also disappeared before everyone’s eyes.

Ascension. A human chosen by God ascending to heaven.

It was truly a historic achievement, but…

– What, taking her away without even turning on the blinker?

For an acquaintance who witnessed this, it was bewildering.

– At least let us hold a funeral.

It wasn’t that the Confucian light dormant within him had awakened.

It was simply the regret over such an abrupt disappearance, and the emptiness that came with everything seeming like an illusion.

Vanishing without leaving a single trace made it feel as if only an imaginary friend remained in his memory.

And so, what he thought was:

– Hmm… should I build a large tomb?

As if to prove that she wasn’t just an imaginary friend existing only in his memory, he decided to build a tomb.

A massive one, for example:

– As large as a pyramid.

When pharaohs died, they built enormous stone tombs for themselves. If she was a Grand Saint who appeared after a thousand years, one who had made great contributions in stopping the High Demon and eliminating the Hellgate, she would be at least as great as a pharaoh, if not greater.

So Ihan decided to build a tomb.

If some minister or official had heard this, they would have been horrified.

Asking why he was deliberately exposing something that should be kept secret.

But if such an official had been before Ihan, he would have replied:

– It’s my choice.

There’s nothing more unproductive than seeking permission from others when you simply want to do what you want.

Above all, it’s always been said that it’s quicker to make a mistake and ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission, and Ihan:

– Better to act than to spend time seeking permission!

Made an immediate decision.

However, working alone would take a long time. Ihan looked for simple-minded individuals who would join him in this self-satisfying act, and when he found two such individuals and shared his idea-

– Are you crazy?

– Haha, if I did such a thing, my Grand Duke brother wouldn’t let me off the hook, hehe.

– So, what’s your answer?

– …Well, wouldn’t a statue be better than a stone tomb?

– My brother scolding me is a daily occurrence! Hahaha!!

And so the team was formed.

Three people with functionality and strength surpassing most modern heavy machinery.

The progress thereafter was swift.

First,

– What are you making? No, what are you asking me to provide?

Thanks to the gray-haired Taechang who “gladly” provided a “mountain of stone” for the sculpture.

– Land, you say? I do have some real estate… What? What did you say you’re building?

And the black-haired returnee who “gladly” provided a scenic “property.”

– Instructor! It’s been so long! I brought a gift… What? You want help moving a statue? …Heavier than a pyramid? …H-how do we move that?

And they also secured a baby magician with historic magical power who would “somehow” “diligently” “well” move the completed statue.

Thanks to them, the work progressed smoothly, and it was completed in less than half a month.

And now,

“People made this?”

“And just three people…?”

“Wow…”

“My goodness…”

“H-humans really can do anything if they set their minds to it.”

“No, no, don’t be mistaken. Only those gentlemen can do such things. If you try to imitate them, you’ll die.”

“…”

Acquaintances who couldn’t hide their amazement, as if seeing a pyramid for the first time, were visible.

They were the ones who had provided big and small help in placing the statue.

“Master…!”

“Ah, you’ve worked hard. You must be tired from your journey, and I made you work even harder. Would you like a glass too?”

“N-no hard work at all. I just flattened the land.”

“Yes, and that was incredibly hard work.”

Certainly, if one were to name the main contributors to this project besides them, there would be about seven people.

Besides the two young wealthy boys who provided resources and land, and the magician who moved the structure, there were four more.

Those four could include the Sword Saint who took charge of the architectural design.

There could also be the enslaved professor from the magic department who cast reinforcement spells for 10 days without sleep (forcibly) to ensure the statue couldn’t be tampered with.

It might include the leader of the Hundred Ghosts who used the power of spirits to conceal the sculpture’s journey to this place.

But in Ihan’s view, one of the main contributors was none other than the blue-haired girl who, in place of the busy men, controlled people and carried out the flattening of the land and the final construction work with perfect precision.

‘Managing people at a worksite is extremely difficult, and doing it perfectly without any errors is even more impressive.’

Having worked at construction sites before, he knew.

If the groundwork is done well, a structure won’t collapse even after hundreds, no, thousands of years.

“Thank you. This was erected thanks to you.”

“No need for such words. But, Instructor, is it really okay to do this? There will be problems…”

“Well, it’s not like we built a structure on someone else’s private property. The black-haired guy got all the construction permits, right? There’s absolutely no problem!”

“I don’t think that’s the kind of problem I’m referring to…”

The blue hydrangea-like girl, Levi, smiled gently.

From what she heard, her beloved master had gone through a lot this time.

He seemed to have worked hard too.

That’s why she could understand his emotions behind erecting this statue, and she thought it was amazing.

…Although.

‘I think he’ll get in big trouble later…’

According to Levi’s prediction, the high-ranking officials probably didn’t want this to be revealed to the public.

At least for 10 years?

They probably had no intention of revealing the truth until then.

‘The kingdom is not only facing external issues but also internal political turmoil.’

There might be economic issues or temple issues, but those are secondary.

The most important thing is…

‘Their own benefit.’

Some might say that hero worship could increase the kingdom’s unity, but the nobles would not welcome this and would try desperately to prevent it.

‘No noble would want the temple’s authority to be revived.’

There are problems that arose from the temple’s downfall, but the kingdom’s nobles are definitely securing their own benefits.

Just by criticizing the temple, their approval ratings among the people are rising, so if the sacrifice of the Saint is suddenly revealed, those in power would be struck as if by lightning from a clear sky.

Of course, the temple has a history of ignoring the Saint’s requests for help for decades, but…

‘That wouldn’t matter.’

Humans are easily deluded creatures, and can be brainwashed just by the appearance of an outstanding agitator.

Therefore, unity cannot occur.

No, even if unity is achieved, it’s the unity of the people, not political unity.

Instead, they will continue to tear each other apart.

‘That’s the nature of those in power.’

No matter how much the kingdom is in crisis or heading towards ruin, people will display their lust for power and indulge in greed to their heart’s content.

Just like his adoptive father and grandfather, who were nobles in name only, couldn’t let go of power until the very end, even when they were on the verge of being thrown out onto the streets.

Therefore…

“I’ve deeply infused my, the spear guy’s, and the big guy’s will into this. It’ll remain intact even during an earthquake, and it can’t be destroyed by ordinary artillery. In that sense, how about ‘The Indomitable Saint Statue’? Not a bad name, right?”

“…Hehe.”

Levi found her master both respectable and amazing.

Because he was acting on his beliefs for the pure reason of wanting to express gratitude.

And in a way that doesn’t break the law-

“…You’re truly amazing, Master.”

“Hm? Oh, the statue? Nah, you just haven’t seen truly amazing structures yet. There’s a 330-meter iron tower… oh, not here.”

“1,038 feet? There’s such an amazing structure?”

“…”

“Master?”

“…It’s a peculiar talent to convert that to feet.”

“What?”

“Ah, nothing…”

“??”

And so, people gazed up at the structure they had built for a long time until the soldiers arrived.

─It was a farewell ceremony that was neither entirely gloomy nor sad, but rather lively and joyful.

*

*

*

“Wow! Mister, look at that! It’s so huge!”

“…Louise, can’t you start calling me daddy soon?”

“What?”

“…We have the same eye and hair color, why won’t you believe me…?”

“Hmm, I’m still at the stage where I need to be suspicious. Santa told me so. He said I shouldn’t trust people too easily. He said there are many scammers who can change their faces!”

“…He really educated you thoroughly, …unnecessarily thoroughly.”

“Hehe.”

“I’m not praising Sir Santa…”

The Margrave, not hiding his sorrow, grumbled as he pondered the difficult question of ‘How can I get her to call me daddy?’

However, there was one thing.

The girl had a secret: she already knew he was her ‘daddy’.

The reason she couldn’t call him that was…

‘It’s embarrassing.’

It was still such an awkward word that it wasn’t easy to say.

So even though she felt a bit sorry, Louise couldn’t call him daddy right away.

She just needed a bit more time.

‘Is that okay, Mom?’

The child looked at the woman who was always by her side.

The spirit of the precious woman who had been clearly felt for some time now, who had been by Louise’s side from when she was a baby until now.

And the woman smiled and nodded.

[Hehe…]

As if to say it was okay to tease that man a bit more.

Louise smiled mischievously, resembling the woman, and then looked back at the statue.

And as the child’s gaze moved to the top of the statue…

“Ah!”

She waved both hands with all her might.

As if expressing joy to someone.

“Hehe.”

The child smiled brightly.

Because she was so happy to see her waving back with a kind smile.