episode_0038

Despite the intense pain, I got up from where I was lying down.

For some reason, I had to at least understand the situation, so I went out the door, leaving behind the pain that was constantly pounding my body.

As I opened the door, a woman came into view.

The woman’s existence was someone I was well aware of.

“Ilen.”

The strongest of the 10 paladins who follow me.

Ilen quickly turned his head at my call and quickly approached me.

“Ka, Kariel? You’re okay, right? I heard that you shouldn’t overdo it even if you wake up… ”

I carefully stroked Ilen’s head as he stuttered here and there, looking anxious.

“Because I’m fine. Can you tell me what the situation is?”

“… Yes.”

Ilen nodded and opened his mouth.

“… When I discovered Kariel. There was an attacker who was holding the fallen Kariel on his lap and was stroking her hair… Okay. He said that although Kariel’s wounds have fully recovered, the recoil still remains, so it would be best to be careful… ”

“Then who is that person?”

“… It turned into dust and disappeared. He said it was because he had used up all his strength. And finally, I asked you to tell me this.”

“What did you say?”

“… ”

Ilen looked like hesitating for a moment, then closed his eyes and spoke.

“’Kael. Thanks for stopping me. Thanks for stopping me. Even though it ended like this, I will be cheering you on from the sky. So you move on. Even though I couldn’t do that, it ended up like this. Because I believe you can do well. So goodbye. ‘Kael.’ I asked you to tell it like this”

I couldn’t even think about anything after hearing Ilen’s words.

This was because I needed time to organize my thoughts and was able to roughly understand what had happened while I was unconscious.

‘… ‘

After roughly organizing my thoughts, I spoke to Ilen with a faint smile.

“I see. Thank you.”

“No… I just did what I had to do. By the way, Kariel… ”

“Why?”

“Can I ask who that person is?”

“Who was it?”

“Yes.”

surely.

From Ilen’s perspective, as well as other paladins, it would be surprising.

Unless you were an idiot, you would have guessed that I had some kind of relationship with Arina, who attacked me.

By the way, who was it?

How should I explain this?

After thinking for a while, I came up with one word to describe her.

When I thought of that word, I automatically smiled.

“Family. A precious family that cannot be exchanged for a thousand gold.”

“Ah… ”

Ilen seemed to want to tell me something.

However, when he seemed to be unable to speak out for fear of getting hurt, I said with an air that it was okay.

“You can say it. Because I’m fine.”

It’s really okay.

No matter what Illen asked, I was willing to answer.

But she just shook her head at my words.

“… no. Even if Kariel says it’s okay, I’m not okay.”

“Really?”

I respected her opinion.

I had no intention of forcing myself to speak to someone who didn’t want to hear it.

“But I want to ask you this one thing.”

“Hmm?”

At Ilen’s words, I turned my head and looked at her.

Her face seems to be filled with many emotions.

Ilen took a breath and asked me.

“… What does my existence mean to you, Kariel?”

I couldn’t help but pause when I heard her question.

It was an unexpected question.

I was momentarily taken aback because I never expected it to come out of Illen’s mouth.

I immediately regained my composure.

‘I don’t know the intention.’

All I had to do was answer her question sincerely, so it wasn’t a particularly difficult answer.

“Precious family.”

Was my answer surprising?

Ilen’s pupils were trembling like crazy, as if an earthquake had occurred.

She asked me again with a trembling voice.

“Why… ”

“You think so?”

Illen nodded slightly.

It seemed like he didn’t understand why people thought of him that way.

In response, I poured out the truth that was in my heart.

“Even though it happened 3 years ago. I know that it comes from acting for me, and you show me undeserved loyalty and follow me. So, Illen, you and the other paladins think of me as family. Although they were tied together as a warrior and a paladin. If I’m not a hero, you won’t follow me?”

“No.”

“Yes. So do i. Whether you are a paladin or something, you are my precious and family. Is this enough of an answer?”

Illen lowered his head instead of speaking.

I laughed at the sight of him holding back his tears.

“I think I got the answer. But there’s a place I have to go to first. Would you please pass this along to others?”

“Yes… ”

Illen answered in a voice full of tears.

I got out of there after hearing her answer.

I wondered what would happen if there were people guarding it, but fortunately there was no one guarding it.

‘It’s probably because Ilen is protecting it.’

Considering Illen’s power, it would be difficult for him to win even if a member of the Demon King’s army came.

So there was no need to have any other expenses.

Of course, even though strong security was deployed, there were cases where more security was deployed, but it was an unpleasant situation for me as I had to go outside.

‘Now that I think about it, it must be difficult to go in this body.’

At that time, I wondered if I should go back to Illen.

Ilen came quickly from a distance.

“Now that I think about it, I think it would be difficult to go alone… ”

“I was wondering if I should ask for help again, but I’m glad I did. By the way, you don’t shed any tears?”

“… Sniff.”

It’s already been spilled.

I smiled automatically at the laughter that came out and said to Ilen.

“Can you prepare a carriage for me?”

“I’ll prepare it right away. Please wait here for a moment.”

With that said, Illen was out of sight in the blink of an eye.

As I looked at the spot where Ilen was, I was lost in old thoughts.

‘It’s back again.’

When I met Ilène again after three years, her personality had become a little hard.

Although her loyalty to me was still the same, she still felt extreme guilt about what happened three years ago.

Because of that, I was a little worried because I saw that he was a little cautious in dealing with me.

‘You don’t have to worry about it.’

I was happy to see it running as brightly as before.

Of course, only the personality from that time should not return and the behavior from that time should not return.

I waited for Ilen to come back with foolish thoughts.

Not long after, Ilen returned.

***

The destination I headed to on the carriage prepared by Illen was a nearby mountain and cemetery in Fate City.

Before heading to the cemetery, I stopped by Fate City for a while and picked up a tombstone before arriving there.

Ilen also followed me to escort me, and she continued to keep an eye on the surroundings until I entered the cemetery.

Honestly, I don’t know who would attack.

Nevertheless, Illen was able to enter with maximum vigilance in case of an attack.

“Ilen. Reduce your guard here.”

Here, those who died without even leaving behind anything proper are buried.

I said that because it was disrespectful to those who died to be on guard here.

Ilen realized what I meant and lowered his guard.

“I’m waiting here for a moment.”

I left Ilen at the entrance and went inside.

It didn’t really matter if she came in, but it was because I felt strongly that I wanted to be alone right now.

I looked around the tombstones, found Master’s tombstone, and erected Arina’s tombstone next to it.

Then he started carving words on the tombstone.

March 20, 2000, Imperial Calendar. Dead.

Name, Arina.

After writing just two sentences, I stopped engraving.

This is because there is something I promised when I engraved it on my teacher’s tombstone with Arina five years ago.

If one of us dies first, let’s erect a monument here and engrave only the date of death and name.

Only then can we no longer have regrets and move forward.

At the time, I thought Arina’s words were just a joke.

After 5 years have passed.

I came here to keep that promise.

Did Arina know from then on that she would end up like this?

If so, it seemed really sad.

I poured a drink into the glass I brought with me.

“I have received a lot of grace from Arina and Master. In fact, it is no exaggeration to say that I am where I am today. It was Master and Arina who guided me from my confusion and enabled me to run toward a clear goal.”

I paused for a moment and bit my lip to prevent the tears from leaking out.

It was so painful that blood flowed out, but the tears in my eyes would not go away.

I barely suppressed my emotions and continued.

“… As Master said in my dream, I have a responsibility to fulfill. There are also goals to be solved. So, I have to keep it in my heart and move on.”

“I will cry for you at this very moment. I don’t think I can shake off this regret with just one cry. Even for those who remain here. From the moment I leave here, I will bury death in my heart. so… ”

The tears I had been holding back burst out.

I bit my lip once again as the tears poured out without any intention of stopping.

“Thank you… I’ll never let you… I won’t forget… Please go there… Sigh. I hope you are doing well… ”

After I left my last words to her.

I stayed there and cried for a long time.