Ch.9090. What Was Left in the Past (5)

The predetermined division. Or the machinations of this world itself.

I looked at Aryen who had stepped between me and the Commander-in-Chief. The Commander-in-Chief raised his eyebrows with a surprised expression, but Aryen merely gave him a cold glare before turning back to me. Aryen stared at me, his black eyes gleaming through his shaggy long hair.

“Why do you think that way?”

The Commander-in-Chief asked, addressing the back of Aryen’s head. Without turning around, Aryen kept his eyes on me as he spoke. His eyes showed no intention of backing down.

“Didn’t you say the warships we deployed on the sea were helplessly defeated?”

Then, Aryen took a step closer to me.

“When we don’t even have a foothold to fight against that thing, how can you expect us to battle the Kraken on the sea? That would simply be suicide. We’d just become fish food, that’s what I’m saying.”

Then Aryen lowered his voice and whispered to me.

“What are you thinking? Fighting the Kraken on the sea? Are you staging some kind of protest, offering your life as an apology because the evacuation of residents was delayed?”

“It’s not the residents who should risk their lives. From the beginning, there’s no option that minimizes all risks anymore. So it’s us who should take the risks. Not those people.”

I calmly responded to Aryen. Yes, in the original work, the argument continued endlessly like this. Eventually, both had to draw their swords to prove they had the ability to demonstrate their convictions and ideals. Ilroy was weaker than Aryen. And Aryen ultimately proved his point by capturing the Kraken.

“Think about it again slowly. I admit the Commander-in-Chief misjudged the situation. But we don’t need to take on that responsibility. We can just step back. We don’t have the final authority anyway.”

Aryen changed his tone to a calmer one. I couldn’t say Aryen was wrong. After all, the root cause of everything was the Commander-in-Chief who had delayed the evacuation of residents.

“If we fight on water, any decent ship will be broken and sunk before it can offer proper resistance. I’m not just thinking about our position. The sea is where the Kraken can exert its full power. Are you saying you want to face it fair and square without thinking about weakening the enemy’s strength?”

I let out a deep sigh.

“The sea route is narrow with many protruding islands. We have plenty of space to use as footholds to fight. The Commander-in-Chief also said the width is just enough for the Kraken to barely enter. That means fewer monsters can enter the sea route. We can focus all our forces on just one Calamity.”

“Even so, it will be much harder than facing it on land. Do you think the Calamity can’t destroy a small island?”

The argument was getting longer. I tried to speak to the Commander-in-Chief, bypassing Aryen, but the commander extended his hand to stop me.

“Enough. Even within your party, opinions are divided, so you can’t advise me based solely on your own stubbornness, Hero. Let’s postpone this matter until your party reaches a consensus. Come back to me after you’ve coordinated your opinions.”

“But, Commander-in-Chief, time is…”

“Your mercenary has probably been through more battlefields than you. Talk it over well. I don’t want to create another chaotic meeting room where everyone just speaks their mind.”

You damn Commander-in-Chief. All previous experience becomes useless in a war against a Calamity. You’ve seen that monster yourself, don’t you understand that?

I felt like shouting that, almost forgetting this was an illusion shown by the fog. What was the original Ilroy thinking at this point?

“Of course, I’ve been listening carefully to the opinions you’ve shared. I’ll incorporate them well when designing the strategy.”

The Commander-in-Chief sent us outside. We came out of the barracks and stared blankly at the sea for a moment. The visibility wasn’t bad today. At that moment, I thought perhaps everyone was sharing the same thought.

Woooong.

It sounded like a whale’s cry. I felt a presence distinctly approaching from beyond the horizon. I wasn’t the only one who felt it. I looked at the members of the hero party whose expressions were hardening.

“…it’s getting closer.”

Nella uttered in a sinking voice. This was a familiar sensation to me. It’s surprising how clearly this is manifested in the fog. Isis’s face had turned pale, and George inhaled sharply. Even Aryen, who was usually expressionless, was staring at the horizon with a rigid face.

“…even with that, you still want to face it at sea?”

Aryen turned to look at me.

“That’s exactly why we need to face it at sea.”

I turned my head toward Aryen. Aryen seemed confused by my composed expression. He seemed to wonder if I really knew what that thing was, and also curious about why I appeared so calm.

“If that thing reaches land, Barktins is finished that day.”

“Nothing in this world can fight that one-on-one. The navy won’t even be a handful.”

Aryen shook his head vigorously.

“Even if we go out to face it, we’ll barely be able to hold it back, if at all. Not to mention if the battle takes place on the sea.”

I looked at Aryen’s expression. A slight fear visible behind the face pretending to be calm.

“One of us will definitely die. Maybe even total annihilation, including you.”

“…I won’t let that happen. You and I will be at the forefront, George will protect Isis as always. And if Nella supports us…”

“If she does? You think we can defeat that? Do you really think so?”

I was momentarily speechless. I looked down at the Holy Sword. Would it speak to me again when the time comes? I am weaker than ever, and my companions don’t trust me.

“We probably can’t defeat it.”

I said honestly. Aryen frowned as if he couldn’t understand.

“Then why on earth…”

“And there’s no guarantee we could on land either.”

We must face it at sea. To protect people.

“I might understand if you were strong enough to take responsibility for those words. But you’re weaker than me, and even though I say I don’t have confidence in defeating that Calamity, why do you keep urging us to fight at sea, hastening our death? What kind of nerve do you have to say such irresponsible things?”

Aryen approached me, spitting out words like a machine gun as if he couldn’t hold back anymore.

“Then let me hear your opinion.”

I lowered my voice.

“Let’s say we lure the Kraken to land and defeat it, as you suggest. Then we definitely can’t protect the residents of Barktins. But there’s no guarantee we’ll defeat the Kraken unscathed either. Maybe the result won’t be much different from fighting at sea.”

“Our chances of defeating it increase, and the possibility of reducing our sacrifices also increases. Don’t force sacrifice upon us. If you want to die, go die alone.”

I shouted, forgetting for a moment that this was the fog.

“Which side is forcing sacrifice now!”

Aryen’s eyes widened in surprise, and I glared at him. I understand. I know why he has to say these things. But I couldn’t follow Aryen’s words, even if this was just an illusion in the fog, even if I didn’t know what the fog wanted.

“Fine.”

Aryen’s hand moved to his sword hilt. Before he could draw his sword, I quickly drew the Holy Sword in response.

CLANG-!!

I collide with Aryen. Swords entangle in the air, then separate. I swung my sword, recalling my previous duel with Aryen. His habits, breathing, movements that he showed then. Aryen was strong even in this illusion, and I was still lacking compared to him.

“You’re arrogant. With just this much skill.”

So I capture just one precise moment. I endured. I endured until Aryen pushed in. Among all those I’ve fought so far, none were weaker than me. When I first faced the Ash Bear, when I faced Aragrid, when I fought the giant. I’ve always faced opponents stronger than me, and now I knew how to defeat them.

Don’t back down. Dive in.

Aryen thrust forward with the most concise movement. My side gets cut. A hot sensation flowed down my side as if I’d received a laceration. Ignoring it, I grabbed Aryen’s arm and threw him forward. Aryen tried to resist my force in surprise. And I used his resistance as support to turn my body and trip him.

“-!!”

He falls. And the Holy Sword was positioned above Aryen’s neck.

“What were you trying to do?”

I asked Aryen, pointing my sword at him. Aryen just let out a hollow laugh as if dumbfounded.

“I was trying to teach you. Why we shouldn’t go out to fight according to your words.”

I helped Aryen up. Aryen looked into my eyes as if he couldn’t understand.

“Don’t run away. You’re essential for this Calamity raid.”

“…Run away? I need to get paid. The kingdom only gave 30% upfront.”

Aryen pushed my hand away and spoke in a bitter voice. Aryen gave up quickly. I met Aryen’s eyes as he was about to walk away but turned to look at me. Those black eyes were looking at me with a somewhat meaningful light.

“That will be your downfall, Ilroy. Can you really affirm that you won’t regret this choice?”

Was that something Aryen would say? I frowned as I looked at him, and soon Aryen disappeared from my sight. I stared blankly at the place where he had vanished.

“…Fortunately, I don’t need to step in to mediate.”

George spoke up. I turned to look at him.

“I’ll follow your opinion without question. I think it’s rather fortunate it turned out this way.”

Wasn’t he the one who pledged to remain neutral? I looked at George and let out a hollow laugh.

“Please protect Isis well in battle, I’m asking you. Aryen and I will somehow manage the front line together.”

“I’ll trust you this once. Anyway, this battle seems like we have nothing to lose.”

George gave me a slight smile and walked away. If Ilroy had approached with a more gentle attitude from the beginning, could George have taken his side? Or if Ilroy had fought and won against Aryen… No, if that had happened, the original work, “I Won’t Return,” couldn’t have existed.

“…Even if it’s just here.”

Can it be different?

Can I see what happens after?

I clenched my fist. What the hero Ilroy wanted. The scenery he wished for. Can I fulfill it here in his place? I made a new resolution and opened my eyes. The Holy Sword said I am me. Here too, I continue as myself. Whatever the fog wants, I will break through.

With that determination, I headed to the barracks. Tomorrow, I will convey the unified opinion of the party to the Commander-in-Chief and go into battle. Then, defeat the Kraken and move on to the next stage the fog will show.

My steps became stronger. I felt like I could do it. I resolved to follow wherever the end of this maze might be.

Not realizing that was my grand delusion.

The next day, I woke up early to report the operation outline to the Commander-in-Chief and went to the barracks where the meeting was held. With somewhat hopeful and somewhat tense feelings, I pushed open the barracks door and faced the Commander-in-Chief.

And I froze at the scene unfolded inside the barracks.

“Hey, Ilroy. You’re late.”

George. He was greeting me as if very familiar. I waved my hand to him in confusion. Aryen was sitting quietly next to George, looking at me. There was no hostile gaze. I found that strange and frowned as I turned my head.

“Ilroy! We’ve been waiting for you.”

“Hero, you’ve arrived.”

Huh?

“We’re about to depart to catch the Calamity, right? We conveyed the strategy Ilroy briefed us on yesterday to the Commander-in-Chief. The Commander-in-Chief approved it.”

“All preparations are complete. Now we just need to move to the ship we’ll board.”

There were two people who shouldn’t be here.

“Trust me. I’ll be able to fight well this time.”

I faced Daphne’s bright smile.

“I will protect your side, Hero.”

I saw Marianne’s resolute expression. And I turned my head back to Aryen. Aryen, as always, opened his mouth with an utterly expressionless face.

“I told you, Ilroy.”

Aryen’s voice pierced my ears so clearly.

“This will be your downfall.”