episode_0736

The moment I heard Mama’s tone, I felt a chill.

Even when she was receiving all kinds of criticism from me, Mama’s voice was always gentle, but the voice I was hearing from behind me now had no emotion whatsoever.

A cold sweat runs down my face at the sound of the hellish air from which everything else has been excluded.

We can’t leave it like this. If we do, something really big will happen.

“Mama?”

Following my intuition, I raised my head and called out to Mama with all my affection.

If it were the Mama I knew, she would have smiled faintly at that one voice, but today’s Mama just smiled faintly and took a step forward.

The moment I saw it, I knew I couldn’t stop Mama.

“How strange. You came to meet someone who has a wife. Is he that attractive as a knight?”

“What can I say? You are the best and the strongest.”

“You seem to be in a position where you can be called the best, so why don’t you know manners?”

“I don’t know. I just ignored it even though I knew.”

Even though both Geumseongdo and Mama raised the corners of their lips, the atmosphere was completely different.

The space where their gazes were divided was so heavy that it felt like a crack was forming in the atmosphere.

“That’s really amazing. Do you think it’s worth surpassing what you’ve been given?”

When Mama asked, tapping her chin as if she really didn’t know, Geomseong shook his head without hesitation.

“No, never. I’m just human.”

“But how can you possibly take my person away?”

“Because I am human and you are God.”

“Interesting. Can you elaborate?”

“Do you truly love Alun Kyung?”

Mama’s smile, which she had been trying so hard to maintain, collapsed and the cold of midwinter settled in.

As if responding to the great god’s mood, the surrounding air freezes and a chill spreads throughout the arena.

“Stop there!”

At that moment, an old man who had risen from the stands hurriedly came down shouting at the blacksmith, but when Mama snapped her fingers, a barrier appeared between the audience and the stadium.

An old man, presumed to be the previous swordsman, swung his sword to break the barrier, but Mama didn’t even glance at him, even though she heard the impact.

“Are you saying that I don’t love him, Your Majesty?”

“If he truly loved Kyung, he wouldn’t have disappeared without saying a word. He wouldn’t have left her alone for decades.”

“…That’s.”

Mama, who was about to say something, quickly closed her mouth and shook her head.

“It’s my fault. I won’t deny it. I have to do it to fulfill my duty.”

Kwaaang!

I turned my head following the loud noise from above and saw Papa with his fist clenched.

Papa’s fist, raised high while gritting his teeth, was imbued with an aura of such enormous power that it distorted the space around it.

As soon as he confirmed this, he pulled Mama back and raised his shield.

KWAAANG! Another loud noise rings out and the barrier Mama had created is shattered.

Papa appeared from the dust that had risen in the aftermath and hugged Mama without saying a word.

Mama was suddenly flustered, wondering why this was happening, but soon after, a blush appeared on her cheeks.

The girl’s innocent reaction pointed to one emotion that anyone who saw it could tell.

love.

The great god loved a human being.

“Now I’ll do it.”

“But.”

“If you don’t distrust me, please watch over me.”

“…Yes.”

Benedict stepped forward away from Mama and bowed his head respectfully toward the swordsman.

“Sorry, Mr. Black.”

“Ah. No. This is something I caused on my own. I was so impatient with my emotions that I.”

“But I should apologize first. If I had responded properly, this wouldn’t have happened.”

It was difficult to understand why Papa was bowing his head.

This incident is entirely the fault of the prosecutor.

That idiot did something on his own, so why?

After hearing my grandfather’s story about how the one with both authority and power bowing first is forcing a concession, I was able to understand my father’s actions.

However, on the other hand, I was worried. If he was the kind of person who would give up at this point, he wouldn’t have come all the way here and caused a fuss.

“Alright sir.”

My worries became reality. Geumseong asked in a rough voice, his eyes reddening.

“You must have felt it too. The concept of God and man is different. What is nothing to Him but a few decades can be an endlessly long dozen years to man. It is never easy to bridge that gap. In the end, we will hurt each other.”

“It is not true that there is no gap between people. When two beings who lived in different worlds come together, their stories merge. Conflict exists everywhere.”

Benedict, who had been talking indifferently, turned his gaze towards me and Mama and smiled happily.

“So what’s important for a couple is not how much they resemble each other. It’s whether they can accept and understand each other’s shortcomings and become better. I’m confident that I can move forward with a smile if I’m with her.”

Geumseong trembled at the overwhelming happiness that was transmitted to the viewer, then covered his face with both hands.

Then he haphazardly tousled his hair, and placed his hand on his sword.

“I know it sounds so shameless and pointless, but since it’s come to this, are you going to let me be spoiled until the end?”

“I would gladly accept any challenge that would give me the chance to compete with you.”

I turned my head to the side as I watched Papa take out a sword from his subspace pocket.

You might think she was being sarcastic, but Mom was smiling faintly.

“Did you think I would be angry?”

“It’s the right situation to give it.”

Even if you turn away coldly, I’m telling you that I’ll let you go even to the last bit of your regrets in a situation where you can’t say anything.

“Haha. I am a god of mercy and compassion. There is no way I could be this angry, right?”

“But at first, I think he looked at me with the intent to kill me?”

“…tea. Maybe you’re mistaken?”

It wasn’t a convincing story, but I decided to believe it for now because Mama’s embarrassed expression was cute.

But what will happen to my game if this happens? I don’t think the swordsman, who is giving his all with a look of mixed sadness and relief, will have the will to fight me.

Hmm. I don’t know. Let’s just enjoy it like a crow with shining eyes in the stands.

No matter what, just watching the fight between these two people is enough to make you exclaim in admiration.

*

Joy, who had been anxiously waiting for Lucy and Kensei’s fight, was completely absorbed in the unexpected love story.

The love I had for the knight who seemed lonely.

The spouse who returned to him.

A feeling that you just can’t forget, even though you know you should.

A love that is hard to bear even though you know it won’t work.

A polite rejection of that love and a final consideration.

What a beautiful love story this is.

What particularly touched Joy’s heart were the words Benedict spoke.

I am confident that I can overcome any ordeal with her.

That line, which would not have been out of place in a romance novel, struck a chord with teenage girls.

How can there be such a romantic line!

Joy had even thought about writing it herself if possible, but her excitement cooled the moment she got off the field.

The opponent standing across from you is not someone you can win against while thinking such stupid thoughts.

Frey Kent. The girl who was clearly destined to become the next generation of swordsmen was an enemy that could not be assured of victory even if she risked everything.

When we were on the same side, he was incredibly reliable, but when we meet like this, the pressure is no joke.

I doubt if the Frey who would smile brightly when Lucy spoke to him while he was eating his food and the Frey who would approach me now and give off a slashing aura are the same person.

I wish I could just run away from here.

Ugh. It’s too late to do that now.

You came here after beating other challengers and winning against Lina.

Now it’s time to take responsibility as the winner.

As befitting a princess of the Partran family.

“Partran Youngae.”

Joy turned her gaze to Frey’s soft voice and let out a hollow laugh as she heard Frey’s continued words.

“Surrender quietly. I don’t want to fight you.”

It was an arrogant and presumptuous remark, but Joey knew it was a consideration for her.

If someone else were standing in this spot, Lady Kent would have decided the match without saying a word.

But I’m close to Kent Youngae, so she told me anyway.

Get out of here.

No matter how much you struggle, you can’t beat me.

When you look at it objectively, Kent Youngae’s judgment is correct.

If it were a wizard’s workshop that had been fully prepared, then it would be different. There’s no way a wizard could beat a skilled swordsman in an open space like this.

With no one to protect him and not enough time to prepare his magic, and the swordsman he has to face being Frey Kent, defeat is certain.

So, it would be efficient to accept Kent Youngae’s decision and step down.

Because either way, the result is obvious.

“This is an unfair match.”

I’m sure other people will understand.

Even the people I knocked down will tell me that they were bad guys.

Some people might even praise you for being wise.

But still.

“You talk a lot, unlike other Kent Youngaes.”

I have no intention of backing down quietly.

I’ll correct it. It’s okay to say things like it’s the winner’s responsibility.

That’s just an excuse to be noble.

The reason I insist on facing Kent Youngae is simply to see how far I can go now.

“Are you afraid of me?”

Because I want to be the first for my precious friend.

I am a noble person, so I am very greedy.

“Don’t worry. I’ll win it for you soon.”

“Huh. You’ve become a fun person.”

Frey smirks and draws his sword, and Zoe casts darkness around herself.