episode_0051

Whoosh—

Feanor’s lighthouse gently illuminating the surroundings, and the magnificent view of the capital seen from below the terrace.

In the early morning, Kara leaned alone against the terrace railing, gazing at the distant view of the capital spread out below.

To clear her overly complicated mind, even if just a little.

“……”

Two days had passed, but nothing had happened.

Even if they didn’t intend to kill them, she’d expected brutal torture or even biological experiments, given their bodies inherited the power of the stars from ancient legends…

Instead, they were treated like genuine VIPs, sleeping in separate bedrooms within the VIP suite and receiving three luxurious meals a day.

Furthermore, a doctor with medical skills comparable to those of the Imperial Palace physicians had visited to examine Captain Idel, whose arm had been severed.

‘Why, specifically, are they treating us like this?’

She briefly thought it defied common sense, then decided to stop pondering it.

There would be no point in worrying about it; she wouldn’t figure anything out anyway.

Instead, she worried about the safety of her other comrades who had decided to join forces in Numenlora and returned to the Empire with them.

‘I hope everyone is safe and sound.’

Six heroes, led by Uncle Orlando, participated in the siege of Numenlora, and the other half led their armies to their respective cities to suppress the coup.

I, Danoa, and Maugrius went to Mulifen.

And Astolfo and Talfinus went to Mirzam, the city of Imlyupiti.

And Bradamante, along with Duke Valium, the Imperial Knights Commander, went to Adhara.

“……”

Frankly, given their defeat, she didn’t think the scattered comrades could win against those guys.

It wasn’t a regrettable defeat after a fierce battle; they had been completely defeated by just one enemy without even offering proper resistance.

Such a person might not be common in Gram, but if there was even one more strong individual of that caliber in Gram…

“……”

Even if all six heroes who returned to the Empire combined their strength, defeating those guys would be impossible.

The situation being what it was, Kara abandoned any optimistic thoughts of her comrades winning and prayed only that they would be safely alive.

For better or worse, they were comrades she had spent an incredibly long 25 years with.

‘…25 years.’

Yes.

25 years had passed.

Since being dragged from her hometown and undergoing training to become a hero.

And since donning magnificent armor, being praised as the Hero of Verdure, and beginning to eradicate countless evils as a hero.

This nightmare-like life, which she had wished would quickly pass and end, had lasted for a staggering 25 years.

‘Now…’

She wanted to let go of everything.

The burden she had to bear as a hero.

Letting go of the calamity, the Empire, and even issues concerning the Prophets.

Throwing aside this heavy armor and sword, returning to her hometown, and embracing Agape…

“How much effort, I wonder, would it take to kill a cursed orphan with no standing?”

“Yes, in Fallen, your lover might have seemed the strongest and most steadfast.”

“But remember this.”

“In this vast continent, the existence of a human named Agape is nothing more than a speck of dust.”

“How insignificant and weak a human named Agape truly is.”

“Your lover’s life is in my hands.”

“So you should think carefully.”

“Whether his presence by your side is truly beneficial.”

“And if you try to escape with him, whether you can truly escape from me and the other Prophets.”

“……”

She couldn’t.

For her, possessing only the power of a Sword Master, to escape from the Prophets, who held the highest status and power on the continent.

No, to be precise.

To escape from Lucas, the Prophet of Light, their leader.

It would probably be impossible until she fulfilled her ‘promise.’

Because Lucas had said that if she showed even the slightest hint of a trick, he would immediately kill Agape in Fallen.

So, if she were to go see Agape ‘before the calamity was fully subjugated.’

Agape would…

Clench—

Unconsciously, she clutched her collar tightly, her body trembling.

“No…”

She didn’t even want to imagine it.

She was already living such a horrible nightmare-like life; to imagine Agape dying on top of that was unbearable.

With her contact with Roland suddenly cut off 15 years ago, she had desperately endured, relying solely on the news that Agape was still alive and well.

Now, if Agape, her sole pillar of support, were to completely disappear from this world…

She no longer had the confidence to live alone in this harsh world.

So…

“Lady Kara?”

She turned her head at the familiar voice.

A handsome man characterized by remarkably white and beautiful hair, though not as white as her own, and very dark purple eyes.

It was Danoa.

“…Danoa?”

“What are you thinking about so intently this early in the morning?”

“Nothing.”

“Is that so?”

She’d expected him to press further, but.

“Then that’s fine.”

Danoa said nothing else, leaning against the terrace railing beside her and admiring the city view.

“I thought you’d be incredibly curious and pry.”

“Haha, me? Perhaps if it were Bradamante, that tomboy, but am I really that kind of person?”

Indeed, that was true.

Unlike Bradamante, Danoa had always been particularly perceptive, not just intuitive, even before receiving the fairy’s blessing.

If he hadn’t had such a keen sense of observation and wit, he wouldn’t have been able to charm the Fairy Queen as a human in the first place.

“Still—”

“Hm?”

“If you’re suffering greatly from bottled-up worries, I can offer some advice to help ease your mind, even a little.”

Danoa said, flashing his characteristic gentle smile.

“……So that’s how you charmed the Fairy Queen.”

“Haha, isn’t it my trademark? What do you think? Isn’t it enough to make my wife swoon?”

“No. It’s as greasy as having eaten a handful of butter.”

At her words, Danoa made a hurt expression and spoke in a bitter tone.

“……I’ve felt this before, but both Bradamante and Lady Kara seem to have a rather…unique taste in men.”

“Really?”

“Yes. The standard of ‘manliness’ that you both always speak of is quite different from what typical Imperial women consider manly.”

“Hmm…”

She didn’t really know.

She felt bad saying this to Danoa, but the faces of those whom the Empire considered handsome…well.

Far from looking manly, they felt more like effeminate playboys, and she felt no romantic attraction to them whatsoever.

“…Didn’t you just think something quite rude?”

As expected, perhaps due to his keen perception, he asked with a blank expression, as if he had already seen right through her thoughts.

Seeing that expression, she couldn’t help but laugh.

“Sorry.”

“You’re not denying it.”

“Isn’t it better to be honest than to lie and get caught?”

Anyway, because of his unique intuition, lying wouldn’t work on him.

“That’s…true. It’s a hundred, a thousand times better than Bradamante awkwardly lying and insisting on something.”

So.

“Do you feel like talking now?”

“Hmm…”

‘At first, I definitely didn’t want to talk.’

After a few moments of conversation, her troubled mind had eased slightly.

‘Come to think of it, Danoa was always like that.’

Not only with her but with their comrades too, his unique witty conversation and the sensibility within it could even soothe the hearts of their eccentric companions.

‘Yes, perhaps it’s better to.’

It wasn’t a story that absolutely had to be hidden.

Danoa, and Bradamante, who wasn’t currently there. With these two, she felt she could comfortably confide her worries to a certain extent.

Especially Danoa, who disliked the Prophets and was also tight-lipped.

After a long deliberation, I told Danoa about the inner circumstances I had kept hidden until now.

“Actually…”

Starting from when she met Agape, and their memories of living together in Fallen.

Roland’s true identity, and the incident where the Prophet of Light visited the city. Finally…

Even the ‘promise’ she had made with the Prophet of Light, just the two of them.

Upon hearing all that, Danoa…

“So…”

He brought up the memory of ‘that day,’ which he had tried hard to forget.

“When that man, Agape, came to our camp, did you say such cruel words to him?”

To that extent.

Did you say such cruel words to that extent.

“It’s been 10 years.”

“Many things have happened since then.”

“I’ve gained precious people in my life too.”

“Going through life-or-death battlefields, I’ve gained comrades who are now incredibly precious to me.”

“Astolfo always protected me when you weren’t around.”

No.

“Even from the pressure of the Prophets.”

No.

“Even in battles against the army of death.”

No, I didn’t.

“…Because you were too weak.”

Please.

“Let’s end this now.”

Please, Kara…

“It’s time to wake from this dream, Agape.”

There was no need to push him away so cruelly.

To that extent…

To that extent…so cruelly…

Shush.

“!!!!!!”

She didn’t want to talk about it.

She didn’t want to talk about how cruel she had been.

That she missed him. That the letter was actually a lie.

That she loved him more than anyone, she wanted to tell him honestly.

As ‘that man’ in white robes looked at her from afar.

Shush.

Until he put a finger to his lips, demanding silence.

Until she saw him holding the Book of Sustenance, the Prophets’ main weapon, in one hand, ready to unleash his divinity as if to kill Agape at any moment.

She hadn’t wanted to tell such lies, nor had she wanted to cruelly push Agape away.

Trembling.

Her eyelids trembled uncontrollably.

With his power, strength, and prestige as a Prophet.

With just one word from him, Agape could have been erased from existence on this continent.

So…

Agape, I…

What should I have done then—

“—Lady Kara!”

The voice of someone shaking her by the shoulders pulled her out of her most horrible nightmare.

“Are you alright?”

“Haa, haa…A, Agape…?”

“Agape? It’s Danoa, Lady Kara!”

“…Da, Danoa. I…actually, back then…”

“I know you didn’t mean it! I’m sorry, if Lady Kara was struggling this much, I shouldn’t have brought up that story…”

“No, I’m fine. It’s alright.”

“Lady Kara…”

Fling—

She flung Danoa’s hands away and stumbled from the spot, steadying her swaying body.

Her face was drenched in sweat, her whole body was feverishly hot, and she was breathing heavily.

“Yes…”

It would be alright.

She had sent a letter, hadn’t she?

Saying she was sorry. That what she said back then was a lie.

She had begged the Prophet of Light somehow and cleared up that misunderstanding, hadn’t she?

So, it was a problem already resolved.

Everything would be alright.

‘If she just kept the terms of the ‘promise,’ she could finally be free.’

‘If only the calamity could somehow be defeated…’

If she just defeated the calamity on this continent, as per her promise with him.

She wouldn’t need to be the Prophets’ puppet anymore, and she could spend a happy life with Agape.

Yes.

Uncle, who went to Numenlora, would somehow subjugate the calamity.

Astolfo, Lucas, Impurity.

This long-standing bitter relationship, she would soon be able to sever it.

***