episode_0175

“It was an honor to serve you.”

The little maid, who had finished her polite greetings, no, the maid who could now be called a full-fledged lady, bowed to show her respect.

“I didn’t know that lump of flesh would grow like this. It’s a new feeling. It’s been a long time since I felt a sense of accomplishment.”

“Thank you for taking care of me when I couldn’t do anything.”

“Well, you actually couldn’t do any work. Most of the work you did was cleaning windows or dusting.”

“No, but wouldn’t it be a little embarrassing if you took my words like that?”

“Is that so?”

Raoul chuckled and handed over a pouch full of gold coins.

“Even by elf standards, it’s more than enough money to last you a lifetime. It’s retirement pay, so take it.”

“No, I already received a house to live in in the capital, so this is a bit excessive…”

“It’s not me, it’s my son sending the money, so keep it.”

“If that young master earned that money…”

“Yeah. It’s definitely not clean money.”

The two people’s level of trust in Charles was almost at 0.

In fact, even though he was only 18 years old and was making money by manipulating the country’s black market, the money he sent to Betty was clean money earned legally.

For Charles, Betty was a good nanny, a good toy, and his first friend.

At least I hoped she would live comfortably for the rest of her life, and I also felt sympathy for the miserable life she had lived after seeing through her true identity.

“Still, I’m glad. That the young master thought of me.”

“And this is from my wife.”

Raoul handed her a ring with the emblem of the House of Argos engraved on it.

“They said that if you show it anywhere, you’ll be treated to some extent. I can’t understand it though.”

In addition, she was given a horse as a gift from her coachman who had passed away recently after being with her for many years, beef jerky that Sharia gave her to eat on her journey, a dagger that Cecilia gave her… She was now about to embark on a long journey, and many other gifts were given to her.

“And this is what I’m sending…”

What Raul handed over was a light piece of paper.

“It’s a document of ownership of a wasteland. It’s not that expensive, since it’s the ownership of a place where a fierce battle took place and someone threw themselves into the ground…”

“… Did you know?”

“Even if vaguely.”

“You didn’t hate me, did you?”

“There is no one in the empire who is qualified to do that.”

Raoul quietly knelt down on one knee.

“Don’t you hate us?”

“… I’d be lying if I said I didn’t do that.”

Betty quietly stroked Raoul’s cheek.

“But I forgive you.”

“… Why?”

“I helped my husband to care for the people of this empire. I saw the country being conceived, I laughed with the people as they laughed and chatted, and I praised my husband for defeating the beings that threatened the humans. The people of this empire are like our children.”

“Have you ever had that happen to your own children?”

“There is no mother in the world who shakes the hand of a child who is apologizing.”

Betty grabbed Raoul’s one remaining hand.

“The day you and the other children corrected their mistakes, I forgave everything.”

“……”

“So now you can be proud of yourself. You’ve done more good than bad.”

Raoul bowed his head.

“But I took countless lives with my own hands…”

“Anyone can commit a sin out of anger. If you trace it back to the root cause, it’s my husband. So forgive yourself now.”

Betty hugged Raoul tightly one last time.

“I hope we can meet again someday.”

Betty showed her bright smile one last time and walked out the front door.

“Oh, and you didn’t forget that today is our wedding anniversary, right?”

“… Ah.”

“Every time I see you, I wonder how you’re still alive.”

“The year I missed it twice in a row, I broke my leg.”

“Foot…”

Betty found this boy in front of her, Raoul, quite funny.

If you think about it, it was funny that he took in a girl who had nowhere to go. A child who never smiled even though she was in one of the most important positions in the empire.

That kid was now occasionally smiling, even having kids, and even knowing how to make jokes. It was so new and awkward that it was almost funny.

I didn’t hate that awkwardness.

“Then goodbye. Raoul Bergé, who was so funny it was stupid.”

Betty walked along the path, chewing on the jerky Sharia had made for her. The weather was perfect for walking, with the sun shining warmly and the breeze cool.

It was as if heaven had arranged this environment for her after her tragedy.

She seemed to be walking aimlessly, but her eyes were set on a certain direction from the beginning.

The eyes that had been looking at a single grave beyond countless fields and mountains finally went beyond them and took in the tombstone once again.

It was a shabby gravestone without even a name. Even the person who built the grave couldn’t bring himself to carve his name on it.

The man who started the greatest war in the history of the continent, and the worst demon who turned the border regions of the empire into a sea of blood. The moment that demon’s name was written on the tombstone, it was clear that even his final rest would be disturbed.

“Belred, no, my king. I’m here. It’s been a while since I’ve been here, so you’re not lonely, are you? No, you must have been lonely. Because you’re the one who feels the loneliness more than anyone else.”

Betty smiled bitterly as she laid flowers in front of the tombstone.

“The empire is regenerating. That’s what the war you started was. An act that will eventually create wounds that will regenerate. A destruction that will eventually lose its meaning. Later, the whole world will laugh at you for being foolish. I understand the circumstances, but you were too radical. ”

Then he wiped the dusty gravestone with a towel soaked in water.

“But I will remember it like this. It was the desperate struggle of a man who was suffering from feelings of losing his place. There was sadness in that hatred, and tears mixed in that blood. At least I will remember it like that.”

Betty sadly placed all the presents in front of the tombstone and continued on her way.

Now, I didn’t have a set destination, but I thought it wouldn’t be a bad idea to go back to the capital. I didn’t have any good memories, but I wanted to take a look at the capital that had been changed by the current emperor at least once.

But strangely enough, the road to the capital was always rough. Suddenly, wind and rain would come down, I would get stuck in the mud, and I would be chased by wild dogs.

It’s as if the heavens are saying that they will give them some consideration.

“This is truly unlucky. It can’t get any worse than this…”

“Ku …

“No, that’s not true.”

When I saw a horned tiger running towards me from afar, roaring, I thought that the weather and muddy feet were not bad at all.

What use were the gold coins Charles had given him or the ring Camilla had given him now? All the beast needed was flesh to provide nourishment.

“I guess this ending wouldn’t be so bad. If only I could see you…”

It wasn’t really a problem that I had to blame anyone for.

Unlike the emperor who thought he was the most painful being in the world and could do whatever he wanted, that beast really just wanted to eat to survive.

If it was simply a survival instinct and not malicious intent, I could have given up some flesh.

“Still, unlike the Emperor, you’re not disgusting.”

Just as he was about to greet the hungry beast, a lightning-like strike came and cut off the tiger’s foreleg.

“Ku …

“This technology is…”

Swordsmanship that is extremely graceful, smooth, and quick.

A sword technique that even I, a layman who is not familiar with swords, remember because I have seen it being polished thousands of times.

A swordsmanship that was a trace of a man she loved, and a swordsmanship that only one person could use.

“Haa… I wanted to say this in a slightly more romantic place. My heart always seems to be off track because of one beast.”

The one who appeared in the darkness between the trees clicked his tongue as if embarrassed.

Even though his face was covered by a robe, judging from his voice and general appearance, he seemed to be around Charles’ age or perhaps a little younger.

But that didn’t matter at all.

Neither gender, age, nor appearance mattered. What mattered was the soul.

“You…!”

The inspector sighed, approached her, and handed her a bouquet of flowers.

“It’s a gift.”

“What kind of flower is it?”

“I don’t know. I just picked some wildflowers that caught my eye.”

“It’s been a while since I’ve given you a gift, isn’t it too much?”

“I tried to prepare properly, but no matter what flowers I prepare, they are nothing compared to your beauty.”

He lifted the corners of his lips, barely visible under his robe, as if he had no hesitation in saying such embarrassing words.

“And as you can see, I was still young and didn’t have any money.”

“The latter is the main reason.”

“You are wise after all.”

Betty smelled the scent of the primroses, then smiled brightly, wiping the jewels from her eyes.

“You saved me this time, my king.”

“… I intend to continue to do so from now on, dear Rain. So please let me swear again. ”

He put his sword in the ground, knelt on one knee, and said:

“I am Beled. I am a lowly swordsman.”

He pulled back the hood of his robe that had been covering his face, revealing his wolf-like eyes.

“I will protect you who stole my heart.”

“… I didn’t know this before, but this is really ticklish.”

“Don’t nitpick over a phrase that’s been around for hundreds of years.”

The two finally embraced each other and enjoyed a reunion of souls.

“I will never miss you again. No matter what happens.”