Ch.9130. That’s Why I’m Doing This (2)

Skin like marble.

In contrast, a heavy panuela.

His appearance and attire resembled those from several centuries before the current era.

Like those from the old Great Empire, rather than the current Berk Empire.

He was leisurely observing the village from a temporarily constructed tent.

“You ask why I didn’t deal with it there?”

Perhaps he had too much on his mind.

His reactions had become sluggish.

The man accompanying him as a temporary adjutant was, in stark contrast to Bargo himself, a man with dark skin.

Though tall and lean, the muscles and scars covering his entire body clearly conveyed how harsh his past had been.

Was it because he was sitting in a small chair?

The height difference between Bargo and his black adjutant seemed even more pronounced.

“Those who followed were fully prepared for this. At that time, it would have been better to dispose of his child instead…”

“Don’t carelessly judge the lives of our comrades.”

“…”

“We are neither arrows nor targets, regardless of who he is. Following a cause doesn’t mean carelessly spending lives.”

“However.”

“We fight to live, and die to survive. If I had dreamed of revenge, do you think I would be here now?”

“…”

“What was my purpose in coming here?”

“According to the prophecy, isn’t it to see the one who is both hero and demon lord?”

“That’s right. And from what we’ve seen so far… this seems to match up quite well.”

Rueld’s child learning Grandeus’s swordsmanship and yearning for his sword.

And in the midst of all this, traces of that person were detected in him.

“…”

Looking back now, there were many unsettling aspects.

But still.

“That’s not reason enough to spare him.”

“Then why did you let him go at that time?”

“I want to test him.”

As the prophecy states, if fate has truly chosen him.

If the Demon Lord of Wisdom has arranged this.

“Whether he can find a way to survive with one reprieve.”

“Are you planning to spare him?!”

“Not at all.”

I will kill him.

“…But isn’t it quite intriguing that a hero and demon lord are born at the same time?”

Moreover, that condition is fulfilled by drawing Grandeus’s sword?

In a sense, wouldn’t that make him Rueld’s greatest enemy?

If only he could break down Rueld’s barrier.

No, if he could at least hold him back.

“And to think it would be accomplished by his own son’s hand. How lamentable.”

“Does he have reason to oppose his father? Rather, it only increases the possibility of creating a greater enemy…”

“Even so, he’s not our enemy. We’re in a lower weight class. If it were so dangerous, why would we still be alive?”

“That…”

“But you know what? The elves are still desperate to kill us. Out of pride, they’ve been trying to eliminate us for years, excluding interference from others.”

If I had killed Kariel back then.

Perhaps the forces trying to eliminate us now would have expanded across the entire continent.

The empire would have been in turmoil, and they would have actively cooperated just to avoid getting caught in the crossfire.

“Then we would have been dead long ago. The problem was that I realized this too late.”

“But… don’t forget that those achievements put you where you are today.”

“I know that well.”

I don’t regret it.

Though I do regret.

Initially, I threw myself into this just to shine through fighting and winning, to instill pride in those who would follow me.

But that was all.

I came to know too much.

I really should have died in ignorance.

Still so foolish.

“If humans were foolish enough to cause strife among themselves, that wouldn’t have been so bad either.”

Bargo shook his head regretfully.

“Even if he truly draws that sword, if his skill is lacking, he will die.”

After all.

How could someone who can’t even overcome himself hope to influence Rueld or the world?

Besides.

Rueld might arrive at any moment.

Even if we deal with Kariel, we need time to escape.

We need to put at least a few days’ distance between us, or at the very minimum, one day.

He’s hesitating now, moving cautiously to avoid political and diplomatic conflicts.

But whether he would still pursue us coldly after his son’s death…

…There’s no need to think about it.

“Or perhaps.”

Perhaps, due to his devotion to the cause.

Maybe he even sees his own son as a tool to realize that cause.

‘…With that personality, I doubt it.’

He’s the type who cannot abandon his humanity.

He grew strong while embracing his humanity, and became stronger by preserving it.

‘It’s hard to imagine he would abandon his humanity now.’

Above all, whether sacred swords or holy relics would favor someone who has abandoned their humanity…

…I’m not sure about that.

====

Among the guards, I noticed the man I had seen before.

With a scar etched on his face giving him a fierce impression.

His expression was firmly set, as if allowing no compromise or leeway.

But even they were merely following Kariel’s group for surveillance.

Even during the riot, they neither sided with the chapel nor joined the rioters.

That alone made their intentions and purpose quite clear.

“By the way, Riel? Kariel? Which should I call you?”

The journey back to the top, the 4th level, while being supported by Leo, was quite exhausting.

Even a location that would normally take moments to reach would take half a day in this condition.

“Whatever you prefer.”

Despite appearances, the age difference between them was just one year.

“I’m a forest keeper, so I’m confident in my stamina.”

“…Forest keeper?”

“It’s not a big forest, just moderately dense. You might not know this, but… forests can actually deteriorate if left unattended.”

That’s something I hadn’t heard before.

“Not all forests are like that, but ours was, they say. So we cut trees at the right time, because when a forest gets too dense, less sunlight reaches the smaller animals and plants, which isn’t good. Without sunlight, small plants struggle to grow, and animals suffer from lack of food. Also, trees that get too old become twisted and… suffer, they say. I still don’t quite understand it myself.”

I don’t understand either.

It’s content that’s hard to come across even in books.

“Depending on the season, we’d prune the branches of trees near the village. Otherwise, they say the trees get hurt?”

Leo continued talking as if rambling, but in a way that made it less boring for me.

“Is this kind of talk unfamiliar to you?”

“…”

Instead of answering, I shook my head in response.

Originally, I was interested in everything in the world.

I was curious about everything.

Even after my memories became vague, I didn’t mind much.

Because I thought there was more to learn anew than what I had lost.

…I only vaguely remember thinking that way.

Very vaguely.

“Why… are you helping me?”

Because Luirin asked?

“Helping someone in need is only natural, isn’t it?”

“But because of that, you got into trouble, didn’t you?”

He could have been in mortal danger.

And if he had pointed weapons at the villagers during the riot, or resisted with violence…

…That would have led to another misunderstanding and tragedy.

It was a statement with multiple implications, but my mind wasn’t working properly, so my retort seemed to skip the middle context.

“In our village and country, various races live together, not just humans. Sometimes, small misunderstandings escalate into big fights.”

But when they actually talk, most issues turn out to be trivial.

However, when that conversation doesn’t happen, misunderstandings and distrust build up, leading to problems.

Leo explained.

“Even when I went to rescue Rio at Luines’ request before. You took the lead without hesitation, didn’t you? Even though it wasn’t a paid request, just a simple favor.”

“…”

“In the current situation, strictly speaking, it’s the fault of those Demon Army remnants, not yours, right? So… I just acted according to my heart.”

And you know what?

“My grandfather once told me that his life was saved by your father.”

“…”

“As humans, we must fulfill our duties. Besides, my father always said that turning a blind eye to what’s right shows a lack of courage.”

Humans.

Sometimes, they can be quite peculiar.

Even in places where everything is miserable and nothing seems salvageable.

Sometimes, flowers bloom.

Suddenly.

A pure white landscape unfolds before my eyes.

No, it’s different.

Starting from the ground, it had frozen everything connected to it into a pale rigidity.

The soil, plants, common weeds, houses, livestock.

Even people.

Walking on the frost-covered ground with leather shoes, the boy was at a loss in a world that had turned completely white.

Overnight, everything had frozen.

Everyone was frozen as if peacefully asleep in their beds or homes.

Very rarely, some were outside, but they were either in storehouses or leaning against walls.

The boy.

Leo wandered around for a long time, looking around, unsure if this was a dream or reality.

Nothing changed, but.

Overnight, he lost his neighbors, his family.

And so everyone was buried in ice, asleep.

Even in broad daylight when the sun was high.

Even in the scorching sun.

The ice chunks and frost covering the area merely emitted a white chill, like smoke rising from burning firewood.

After waiting for days.

It never melted.

And they never opened their eyes again.

“Shall we rest a bit?”

“…”

Kariel shook his head.

The destination was just ahead, just up the stairs.

By the way, what I just saw…

-There was a great tragedy in the village, wasn’t there? That seems to be the result.

“…”

Is it because of our fateful connection?

I had a feeling the Demon Lord would know exactly what kind of incident and tragedy it was.

-…

Usually, he would babble on after sensing my mood, but now he’s unusually quiet.

My head is dizzy.

As if Luines had just treated me yesterday, my whole body was in pain, and beyond that, it was exhausting.

Chills and lethargy.

Persistent pain.

Even the slight effort to move sent pain throughout my body.

And staying still felt like my body was rotting and softening.

The absurdity of it all made me feel like my mind would collapse at any moment.

Since confronting the Demon Lord, I had never been in such a difficult situation.

Above all, this isn’t a dream.

It’s reality, and one misstep… my life and existence would quickly be exposed.

“…”

Death approaches.

Life also resonates intensely, but.

All of that is buried under pain and hardship.

“We’ve finally arrived.”

Once again.

That cursed sword.

I reached the damned sacred sword stuck at an angle.

“You said you wanted to talk to it, right?”

“…”

And the question I had been holding back.

The reason I didn’t refuse when Leo offered to support me.

“You said you heard the sword’s voice?”

The reason Leo was able to find Kariel at the opportune time early in the morning and guide him to the chapel.

“Yes. Though it only scolded me and drove me away every time I saw it.”

“…”

The sword scolds?

So he received treatment that even Venus never got.

Or perhaps everyone else just didn’t show it, and the sword had always thrown a few words at them.

“…”

My thoughts aren’t organizing or connecting.

As the Demon Lord said, willpower indeed has its limits.

Is it because I’m enduring and bearing the pain?

Even simple thoughts bring a sense of exhaustion, as if squeezing my brain.

“I hope you achieve the result you desire.”

“…”

Leo, who slowly set me down in front of the sword, gave words of encouragement with determined eyes.

Perhaps he noticed that I lacked the strength to reach out.

Held by Leo’s hand.

I barely manage to grasp the hilt of the sacred sword.

“…Huff.”

I regulate my breathing.

Even if I get an answer here.

I don’t think the situation will improve.

However.

…That’s not a reason not to try.

Holding the sword, I activated the ability I had been using all along, this time directed at the sword rather than a living being.

And once again.

[You… are about to die.]

I faced the damn sacred sword.