◈ 065. [STAGE 3] Road (2)
Evangeline passed out after collapsing.
Not even that. He was wounded all over his body, and he continued to fight even in that condition. It is useful to not faint and endure.
I took off my cloak and put it over Evangeline’s body. it’s getting cold We should also make a bonfire.
“With firewood… Where did my torch go?”
I saw a blue flame torch that had fallen on the floor over there. It really doesn’t turn off and rides well.
I picked up the torch and made a few large circles over my head.
It was a sign that we were all right. Damian would know.
Then after a while it
sparkles!
A light shone from the side of the castle. It means that this signal was received.
And the signal that followed
flashed. sparkle. sparkle.
lights up three times.
It was a signal that the defense battle had been completed safely. Fortunately, it seems that they did well too.
“Whoa… .”
Then I felt a little reassured.
I lost all strength in my body because I let go of my mind. I was barely able to stand on my wobbly legs.
It looks like this situation is finally coming to an end.
‘I really scraped all the way to the bottom… … .’
At the last minute, I had two insurances left.
One is Damien’s support shot.
From here to the cross road is about 12 km along the road. In a straight line, the distance is approximately 10 km.
Considering that the longest distance sniping on Earth is 3.5 km, requesting support fire at 10 km sounds crazy.
There is no way the bullet could physically reach it before it can be seen.
But Damien can shoot and hit if he can see it. [Clairsight]’s correction is far beyond the level of common sense.
‘No matter how many times I can’t ask for something like this.’
Probably, just one shot of this would have put a lot of pressure on Damian. I begged nonetheless. Because it was so urgent.
just one foot.
I decided to signal with a blue torch after the sun went down so that Damian could easily see it.
what is the result It was great. When I go back, I should praise him a lot.
‘And the last insurance… … .’
Gathering firewood and lighting it with a torch, I glanced to the side.
Evangeline, who had lost her mind and fell asleep, was making a creak-sack-sound.
This guy is my last insurance.
To be precise, Evangeline’s dedicated set equipment buried here was my insurance.
I carefully removed the spear and shield from both hands of the fainting Evangeline. Options flashed before my eyes.
[Cross Family Spear (SR) Lv.30]
– Classification: Cavalry Spear
– Attack power: 25-30
– Durability: 3/30 < Repair required! >
– Exclusive weapon for the character ‘Evangeline Cross’.
– Upon upgrading, true abilities are released.
[Cross Family Shield (SR) Lv.30]
– Classification: Shield
– Defense: 25-30
– Durability: 2/30 < Repair required! >
– Exclusive armor for the character ‘Evangeline Cross’.
– Upon upgrading, true abilities are released.
> Set Effect: Cross Family Heir (2/2)
– A set effect exclusive to the character ‘Evangeline Cross’.
– If the character wears both items at the same time, the exclusive attribute ‘Crossroad’ will be acquired.
All SSR grade characters have their own ‘exclusive equipment’.
Usually, it is equipment that is related to the character in terms of story, and has exclusive characteristics or exclusive effects.
It serves to maximize the strengths of the character or cover the weaknesses.
‘This is why the SSR guys are especially good.’
In terms of character performance, there are many excellent heroes in the SR grade, but due to the presence or absence of this exclusive equipment, the SSR grade character has no choice but to become stronger.
So, what kind of item is Evangeline’s exclusive attribute – this [Crossroad], which has the same name as the city?
[Cross Road] < Exclusively for 'Evangeline Cross' >
– Characteristics that have blossomed from the accumulated karma of the Cross family that has killed monsters and protected people.
– In any combat environment, you can identify the optimal movement line and move as it is.
– When activated, MP is continuously consumed.
The path the Cross family has walked.
The accumulated experience of all the cross family members of the ancestors. It is the crystal that bloomed in Evangeline’s generation.
In any combat environment, you can always make the best move.
‘Evangeline said she could see the road in front of her eyes.’
The explanation is complicated, but it’s just a self-buff. Turning on this mode doubles combat efficiency.
Evangeline itself is not a character with a lot of mana, so I can’t keep it for long.
‘In the game, it was just a set equipment that was obtained automatically when I got Evangeline and my loyalty increased.’
In this episode, I never thought I would bury him in my father’s grave. I was appalled when I first saw the question.
Still, I left him alone because he was a child who would be sent away forever from this frontline anyway… … Can you do anything about the situation? I have to take it all out.
‘Thanks to that, I was able to finish the battle.’
I glanced at the tomb of the Margrave of Cross, where the side of the tombstone was dug unsightly. But you’re not going to get mad at me for asking to save your daughter, right?
“Oh my go-go waist.”
Fatigue came over my body as well. A subtle pain spread through his shattered left arm as well.
If you treat it properly later, it will really hurt.
‘I don’t think there will be much damage to the city.’
In the distance, the flames could be seen burning from the walls of the city.
The signal came to say that it was well fought, but it seems that the battle is not completely over yet. The remaining golem remnants must be being dealt with.
‘… I’ll do well.’
When viewed objectively and calmly, the troops on the city side are sufficient.
Lucas has Jupiter Lily and Damian.
There are a lot of water-based equipment and artifacts prepared with blood and sweat over the past two weeks. The repair of the castle walls is complete.
You would have done well without me.
you have to believe that
I have to trust my party members.
‘Let’s get some rest… … .’
Reaching out for the campfire, I began to doze off.
Fatigue rushes like waves… … .
***
I dream.
In my dream, I see a child lying on a bed in a hospital room.
Wearing an oxygen mask, shaved head, closed eyes and asleep.
Beep-beep-
The regular mechanical sound rings in my ears.
I stand by the bed and look down at such a child.
Beep-beep-
only the mechanical sound repeatedly beats in my ears.
Beep- Beep-
Beep- Beep-… .
***
“Whoops!”
I shuddered and woke up.
What is still dark is still night. Seeing the stars twinkle, it seems like time has passed.
“what.”
It was warm for some reason, so I turned around and found a cloak covering my shoulders. Didn’t I cover this for Evangeline?
“You’re awake.”
A gruff voice came from the front.
Looking over there, it was Evangeline. He walks with a limp and gathers firewood around him. When did he wake up again?
“Are you feeling okay?”
“I put my eyes on it and it’s a little better. It’s not about dying… … . What about you?”
“It’s easy for me to kill 50 golems.”
I grinned as I endured the sharp pain in my left arm. Evangeline snorted.
“You don’t have to pretend to be strong.”
“What are you going to say?”
“joy… .”
Evangeline threw the firewood she had brought into the bonfire. The flames quickly grew stronger and spread warmth in all directions.
Putting both hands in the pockets of the messy jacket, Evangeline exhaled. haaa… … .
“Should I spend the night here?”
“I guess so. You can go back only when the situation on the city side is over.”
“I wonder if those people will be okay… .”
“It will be better than us. You don’t have to worry.”
It was then. Kurrung on Evangeline’s ship! There was a sound of thunder.
At about the same time, my stomach also made a faint growl.
“… .”
“… .”
Evangeline stared at me. what. what is this baby
“I am hungry.”
“Me too.”
“Senior, you are really good at cooking.”
“Since you graduated from the academy, you must have learned how to make a camping meal, right?”
Then Evangeline jerked her hand up.
“scissors.”
“uh? no real? Are you really going to settle with that?”
“rock.”
“Wait a minute! I don’t know the rules of this town, but here again, rock wins scissors, scissors wins boy, and boy wins rock?!”
“paper!”
I held out a rock and Evangeline held out a beam.
“Hehe.”
Evangeline shrugged her shoulders triumphantly.
shit! Fearing that the rules of rock-paper-scissors might be different from the earth, it was a failure that I had too many thoughts at the moment. Same!
I went to the cottage, rummaged through the kitchen cupboards, grabbed a few things, and returned to the campfire.
“Old.”
All I brought was a glass and a bottle of whiskey.
And a bag of dried fruit. Evangeline did not hide her disappointment.
“Is this all?”
“I’m grateful that at least this is left in this mess.”
The alcohol is mine and the fruit bag is yours.
Receiving the bag of dried fruit, Evangeline quickly took out one, put it in her mouth, and then spat it out in fright.
“Wow! It tastes awful! what’s this!”
“It’s the fruit your father harvested.”
At my words, Evangeline stiffened in the same posture she had spit out.
“Marquis said he was chewing it every day.”
“… It was really stupid to be really stupid. our old man.”
Taking out another piece of dried fruit, Evangeline hesitated and tossed it back into her mouth.
“… !”
His face turned red and he repeatedly crumpled and straightened it, but in the end he succeeded in swallowing it without spitting it out.
“Wow… It tastes awful… .”
Evangeline, who was panting with her short tongue out, gestured towards the glass in my hand.
“Give me a drink too. I have a sore throat, so I want to drink something.”
“Is this alcohol? You are underage.”
“What does it matter? I lived and died.”
Why does Evangeline have a spleen expression?
“Your senpai told me earlier. Try everything you haven’t done before. Don’t regret it, waste your life.”
“… .”
“Now I know. There is something I want to do, but holding back is foolish. I won’t hesitate anymore and I will do whatever I want.”
Evangeline waved her hand at the glass.
“Oh, that’s okay, give it to me quickly!”
“The blood on my forehead isn’t even dry, so I’m peeling my feet… .”
I clenched my tongue and poured a small amount of alcohol into my glass.
“It’s just one sip.”
Taking the glass, Evangeline closed her eyes tightly and drank it at once. Aigoo, well done.
“Puha!”
Wherever I saw it, I let out a strange sound and spit out my breath. Is this alcohol okay?
“really… It’s terribly tasteless!”
“What is it?”
“The fruit and alcohol taste terrible.”
Evangeline, who returned the glass to me, put her hand on her forehead.
As if he was already drunk from his first drink, his face turned red in an instant.
“Did Dad eat this and drink this every day?”
“… .”
“Did you keep this city for three more years in that state?”
“Even if you chew dirt and drink dust, don’t look back and don’t run away even if you want to get rid of it, and do your own thing every day.”
Pouring a drink into the returned glass, I smiled.
“Because it is an adult.”
“I don’t want to be an adult.”
“haha. It sounds cute.”
However, Neverland does not exist in the world and all Peter Pan must let Tinker Bell go.
Everyone becomes an adult.
I didn’t dare to tell such a cruel truth. Because it’s something the girl in front of me has to realize.
Supporting her flushed cheeks with both hands, Evangeline began to mumble in a loose voice.
“… yes actually. I knew.”
“what?”
“My dad secretly leaves home every night and stays up all night here in front of my mom’s grave… I knew.”
Evangeline slowly turned her head. I saw the tombstones of Marquis Baek and his wife standing side by side.
“Even if I went to inspect the outpost instead of the funeral, I was sobbing in my heart even if I didn’t cry out loud. Dad is that kind of person. I knew.”
Evangeline’s small hands slowly covered her small face.
“I still hate my dad. So, I want you to be alive and in front of me. hate it to the fullest If I gave you a chance to be a bad daughter, I wish you would get angry with me and give your soul to me.”
“… .”
“I hate everything now. The resentment alone and the longing alone. i just… … .”
The monologue soon turned into the whining of a child.
“i miss you… .”
“… .”
“Mom and Dad… I miss you… .”
Evangeline started to sob.
I didn’t comfort Evangeline like that. left me to cry alone
in this cold world. in this harsh world.
What you have to endure while chewing the soil and drinking the dust in the future.
Having to live alone as an adult… … Because it is Evangeline herself.
“I miss you, Dad… .”
Evangeline, who sobbed, eventually fell asleep drunk. Squat down with your head buried in your lap.
After putting my cape back on the child’s back, I stood up with the bottle and glass.
I went to the tombstone of Marquis Baek and his wife, opened the bottle, and poured the liquor over the tombstone.
“… .”
I swallowed the rest of the drink in a glass. Feeling the heat rising inside, I slowly turned to the east.
The far eastern sky had cleared. It was soon dawn.
all over again… … .
Under the brightening dawn sky, I could see my soldiers running along the road in the distance.
I smirked and waved my hand. I could see relief flashing across Lucas’ face as he rode the lead horse.
Another stage was coming to an end.
