#1027. It’s this way
* * *
Squeak.
“How are you feeling?”
“Hehe. “My back hurts and my stomach hurts sometimes, but it’s not enough to cause me to faint right away, so don’t worry.”
“…I’m glad you said that.”
A hand holding a teacup.
A smiling face.
Even small shoulders covered in shawls.
Until half a year ago, she exuded youth and beauty on her white, taut skin.
But now, looking at the old woman, whose dry and wrinkled skin was showing the depth of time, Li Qingyu smiled bitterly.
No matter how many lives were saved.
How would it feel to go from immortal to mortal, losing eternal youth and lifespan?
Because as a woman, I couldn’t not know.
“Don’t look at me like that. “Because I’m really fine.”
But the legendary great witch didn’t care.
It seems that old people have their own way of showing off their charm and enjoying the passage of time.
Although she may not be as bewitching as before, she just drinks tea and talks lazily in an elegant yet virtuous manner that is not tied down to her appearance.
“At least I’m better than the Fairy Queen.”
“The Fairy Queen’s condition… is it still the same?”
“I saw you the other day and you seemed to be having a bit more trouble.”
“As expected, the aftereffects of overdoing it by handing over half a wing are likely to be serious.”
“Well, don’t you think it’s more that you’ve relieved yourself because you’ve achieved your lifelong dream?”
“…I guess so.”
Li Qingyu understood. She was a fairy queen who had lived since the beginning of civilization
before gods
even existed to take care of humanity and prevent the constellations.
It was not unreasonable for her to become like that now that she had achieved the goal she had dreamed of for so many years.
It was a pity for mankind, who had always received her protection and is still receiving help from the spirits.
At least Li Qingyu could be sure that the Fairy Queen herself would be satisfied even if she died right away.
Rather, the problem lay elsewhere.
“Even that person is better than ‘you’.”
“….”
“How are the other babies?”
In return for offering himself as a living sacrifice at the gates of Valhalla, he lost all the power he had absorbed from the monarch in his past life and became unable to even move his legs.
After looking at the great witch who was actually asking about the condition of others rather than herself who was in a wheelchair.
Li Qingyu said softly.
“Honestly, it’s not very good.”
“How much?”
“To put it in perspective, it wouldn’t be surprising if a knife fight broke out between us today.”
one year.
If it’s long, it’s long.
However, in such a short period of time that the comrades who had risked their lives fighting together were separated, Li Qingyu had a bitter look on his face.
Well, it was something that could not be helped.
To begin with, they were competitors before they were allies.
Even though the seven dragons joined forces to fight the constellation, they thoroughly decided what was theirs and divided it up.
It’s more like fate.
As dragons who were fanatically obsessed with treasure and territory and born with an arrogant and noble nature, it was only natural for them to fight with each other.
Rather, it was unusual that we were able to cooperate so closely until now.
And the reason why it was possible and the reason why conflict arose again was determined.
“Hmm, it looks like you’re having a hard time waiting for your baby.”
“It’s already been over a year since he left.”
Limon Asfelder.
Their beloved companion.
The protector and savior of mankind.
His absence was disturbing to the seven princesses.
The half year after the constellations disappeared was even more difficult to endure than the half year when we forgot about erosion, guarded the defense line, and fought monsters.
This was especially true of Catherine.
If Limon doesn’t come back, I’ll go find him.
Because they were going crazy, putting their clan and people on the back burner and even messing with other clans’ supplies.
“Ekatrice is still better. “The gap in supplies and manpower can somehow be supplemented if everyone cooperates.”
“Then the really dangerous one is the white baby.”
“Yes, she is the White Dragon Princess.”
Start day.
When the stars fall
Her foresight returned, and she looked mesmerized ever since.
Instead of leading the clan, he doesn’t even eat his favorite krembo unless someone feeds him, and he just stares into space without saying a word. It
‘s as if he’s trying to find the future he wants…
or rather, someone.
But no matter how much time passes.
Instead of recovering, the white-haired girl became more serious day by day.
Even if it was expressionless, even traces of emotion disappeared from the expressive face, to the point where if left alone, it wouldn’t even blink once for the whole day.
As if I had really turned into a doll.
And it wasn’t an unfamiliar sight to the princesses of the Seven Dragons.
Because I always look to the future.
Little by little, my emotions wear away.
By even losing the will to live.
Among the seven clans over the past hundreds of years, she is a princess who has been short-lived for generations along with the Green Dragon Princess… or in a sense, even faster than that.
Because it was the ending of White Dragon Princess.
Of course, that is only half the story of the previous princesses.
Ainsha, who had perfected the dragon’s blood, was able to perfectly control her foresight.
If he had stopped using psionics even now, he could have recovered well with just a little bit of treatment.
Nevertheless, Li Qingyu closed his eyes, thinking of Ainsha, who continued to look only at the future and was wearing out faster than any previous generation.
Why is she doing that?
Because I knew the reason.
“―The fate of the swordsman has disappeared.”
“….”
“You definitely said that, Ainsha.”
“You all know that sword masters, especially Aga, do not naturally have foresight.”
“Yes, I know. “It’s so frustrating that Ainsha knows this better than anyone else, but is pushing herself like this.”
Li Qingyu smiled bitterly.
In fact, Ainsha was largely to blame for Catherine’s rampage right now.
If Limon’s return continues to be delayed like this, Ainsha could really lose her life.
“If only Ainsha changed her mind, the confusion could be resolved… but the problem is that there is no other way.”
It’s like the stubbornness of a fool.
Because I’m stupid like a fool.
Keep moving forward honestly.
Like Woo-gong, who can even move mountains without any effort.
I tried persuasion, negotiation, and even forcible suppression or threats.
When Li Qingyu sighs, remembering Catherine, who was unable to change Ainsha’s mind and ended up frantically searching for Limon.
Sir asked meaningfully.
“Do you really think so?”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m asking if you believe that if you clear up the confusion and wait, your baby will come back.”
That moment.
Li Qingyu kept his mouth shut.
And after a long silence, he slightly lowered his head and asked.
“Do you think he’s in trouble too?”
“Well, how can I know something that you don’t know either? “There is only one thing I know.”
“What do you mean?”
“If it were just that fate could not be seen, the white baby would not be squeezing out her life and wandering around looking for the fate of her husband’s return.”
“…You have a correct answer to a question.”
Iroh, who was the world’s greatest prophet in the distant past.
Unlike himself, who is still unable to read the future half a year later, White Dragon King regained his powers of foresight as soon as the stars lost their power. What a great prophet he is.
And what kind of fate did such a prophet see that ended up ruined like this?
Even if I can’t predict it.
predicted by deep dispensation.
Li Qingyu smiled bitterly after hearing the wise witch’s answer.
“Honestly, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried about him.”
Yes, that’s right.
Two sisters stand out in particular.
The longer Limon’s return was delayed, the more anxious everyone was.
Because I knew it.
The beginning and end of all swordsmanship.
About the magic sword of Yam Yongsalgeom.
Geomhu, Geomryeong, and even Geomgun. I heard about the Sword Master’s taboo through three of Limon’s disciples.
What if the fight against the Constellations became more difficult and intense than they thought?
As a result, what if Limon used magic to protect humanity, risking co-extermination with the stars?
That’s something I don’t want to even imagine.
They made Ainsha look like a ruined person.
It was the biggest cause of Catherine’s runaway.
Especially in the fact that Geomhu and Geomryeong seem to have sensed something, and even after their bodies recover, they remain restless or sleep all day long. If it stays
like this for a few more years…
no, just a few more months.
In fact, other princesses might rush out to find Limon, more than two sisters.
Because they are the White Dragon and Silver Dragon, who control the future and time, the two sisters are just falling apart a little faster than the other princesses.
Because everyone was so thoroughly addicted to him that they couldn’t live without him.
“But he will come back.”
“….”
“Definitely.”
nevertheless.
Li Qingyu did not hesitate to answer.
I just grinned after clearly stating that having such anxiety was meaningless.
“Because the Duke of Swords is not the kind of person who would break a promise he made to his wife.”
Calm as always.
But a calm smile.
And the delicate hand that grabbed the hem of the clothes.
The old witch, who had been staring blankly, eventually nodded quietly towards the young princess who was sitting across from her.
“Yes, that will happen.”
* * *
When I opened my eyes.
What greeted him was a flower field.
Even though there wasn’t a single flower.
When I got up.
It was the river that got him wet.
Although the water did not flow.
When I raised my head.
What he saw was the sky.
Even though there was no sun or moon.
Everything is there, everything is not there, everything is dark, but everything is bright, it’s hazy like fog, but there’s not even fog.
I’m slowly getting used to it now.
But this was my first time in my life.
He nodded slowly in that infinitely familiar yet unfamiliar space.
“Right.”
If it were an ordinary person, I would have been surprised.
However, in a place that would not be surprising to someone who had passed through life and death like a neighbor, he muttered softly.
“Is this the afterlife?”
Not the boundary between life and death, but something completely beyond.
He quietly closed his eyes in a place that the living cannot and should not reach.
There was nothing surprising.
This is something I have already decided to do.
It was an ending he had to reach from the moment he swung his sword to protect what was precious to him.
Therefore, the moment he tried to take a calm step without hesitation or fear.
…what.
“…?”
That’s not it.
“….”
This way. This way.
Something.
called him.
I heard a sound that was too quiet to be a cry and too distant to be an echo, and I thought for a moment.
He eventually followed the sound and took a step.
And so, after walking shorter than a dragonfly’s yawn and longer than a snake’s skin, he finally found it.
The owner of the voice that called me.
“―HELLO.”
“…!”
That moment.
He had a strange expression.
This is because the person who called him was such an unexpected person.
A slightly baggy hoodie.
Jeans that reveal one thigh.
A musical instrument case carried on one’s back.
Even a cheerful smile that was completely out of place in this place.
A person who would be suitable if you met him in the middle of the street rather than in the underworld… or in fact, he was like that.
Even though they only spent a few days together, they left such a strong impression on me that I will never forget them for the rest of my life.
A street musician.
The ghost of the 3rd ranked liberation brigade.
No, to be exact, he was the 3rd ranked ghost and a powerful enemy called Berserker.
And the blonde beauty who attacked Leviathan and died after a fierce battle with him and the Black Dragon Clan.
“It’s been a while, partner.”
“…Eugene?”
Limon couldn’t help but make an even more strange expression as he saw Eugene greeting him with a cheerful smile, the same as when he was alive.
