Episode 251 Temple of the Abyss – Finale (3)
“Thank you, Vashe.”
I grabbed Jose Vachet’s outstretched hand and lifted myself up.
I saw his arms shaking just by holding his hand and standing up. He really fought to his limit.
Not only was my magic power depleted, but there was no divine power that I could feel constantly circulating within my body.
It feels like every muscle in my body is screaming.
…still.
The devil who was relentlessly attacking me just moments ago is now lying limp on the floor.
Paimon.
Is this hideously shriveled, mummified body the devil?
For some reason, I couldn’t really feel it, so I was staring blankly at the corpse-
“Look! This great magic power! This feat! “This is another brilliant glory that will be recorded in the history of the Magic Tower!”
The old man’s frivolous voice rang out.
“Waaah!”
“I survived! “He lived!”
Only then did the entire camp erupt in cheers and I looked around and felt relieved.
All the drones that seemed to be threatening to annihilate us all just moments ago are now lying limply on the floor, like dolls whose strings have been cut.
Even Bael, who was fighting against three of the most invincible enemies in the Central Continent at the same time and even holding up the anti-magic attack with both arms, disappeared without a trace.
The magic tower’s great magic clearly wiped out the demons and drones.
“Ha this.”
Did you really win?
You really won.
While everyone was shouting with joy –
Jose Baschet, who had helped me up, was still standing as if nailed, unable to take his eyes off Paimon’s corpse.
I walked up to him and held his shoulders.
“…Good job, Bashe.”
The man who avenged his younger brother looked blankly at me, so I gave him a small smile and added,
“I guess hiring you again wasn’t just an act of generosity?”
-I am an incompetent bastard. He was swayed by petty emotions, lost many of his subordinates, and was humiliatingly taken prisoner. Why do you show mercy to people like me, Your Excellency the Marquis?
That’s what he asked when he was taken prisoner by the Krafte army.
A man who killed his younger brother with his own hands, was dragged into a war he did not want, fell into a trap, and was consumed with guilt.
As if he had finally found a sense of reality, he knelt down and shed tears.
“Thank you, Your Excellency the Marquis. … thank you.”
“…It’s something I’m thankful for. “Thanks to you, I survived.”
I glanced down at Paimon’s corpse, unable to move again.
That devil only had eyes for me until the end.
However, in the end, the person who brought the end to that devil was someone who did not even enter the author’s eyes and did not even form the framework of the author’s big plan.
“Jack…”
I turned my back on the tearful Vachet so that he could be alone and walked towards Crocs, who was lying down in the distance.
“Are you okay Crocs?”
“Hahahaha, of course it’s okay, brother! under! “He was a strong enemy!”
Contrary to what they say, his entire body is covered in wounds, which can be seen at a glance.
There was Eris’s blessing, but the effect would have worn off by now…
“Get some treatment first. “If I leave it like this, the scars will double.”
Even without that, he’s a big guy with muscles and full of scars, so he’s really scary…
“No, there’s no need!”
“what?”
“It is a glorious wound earned while fighting a powerful enemy! Shouldn’t it be left as a medal? Hahahaha!”
“I guess so…”
I thought I had some tolerance for cultural differences, but maybe even that was hubris.
I thought the scars all over Crocs’ body were proof that he had gone through all kinds of hardships and hardships as the king of Iberica…
but thinking that they were caused by neglect for such macho reasons makes me feel like my illusions are shattering.
“Okay, get some rest.”
“Hahaha sure!”
I turned to look at Gaston and Lord Beaumont with a confused look on my face.
The two are still in better condition than Crocs.
Perhaps it was because Crocs was more aggressive and threatening that he received more concentrated attacks.
“Thank you for your effort. “Lord Beaumont.”
As soon as Lord Beaumont heard my words, he jumped upright.
“It’s such a shame. If I had been 10 years younger, I would have fought more convincingly…”
That’s right. I faced that monstrous person as a middle-aged man over 50.
The royal guard knights of yesteryear were the ones who trusted and entrusted the emperor’s favorite woman.
“Then I will go to see Her Majesty the Queen.”
“Of course. Thank you again. Still, get treatment and go. “Her Majesty probably won’t be able to wake up for some time.”
Only after Lord Beaumont walked away, waving his hand, did I go over to Gaston, who was sitting down, and extend my hand.
“Good job Gaston.”
Gaston grinned and held my hand –
“Ugh.”
I almost stumbled while trying to help him up.
Oh, this is so embarrassing. I’m really tattered.
“I’m sorry, Your Excellency the Marquis.”
“no. I’m not sorry. Still…”
I grinned, looking at the gas tank that had bruises here and there.
“I’m glad you’re safe. … Now that you’ve dealt with the devil, don’t you think you’ve achieved everything you dream of becoming a knight?”
Gaston scratched his head and then smiled brightly.
“I’m a happy guy.”
As soon as he did that, Shandra ran over and hugged him tightly.
“Ran!”
…The strongest knight and his lady who stood against the devil.
They’re both covered in blood, but I guess something like that tastes good in its own way.
I smiled at Gaston, who looked a little embarrassed, and turned my back.
I’m happy that I won, but there will be a lot of casualties, so I have to deal with it and figure out how the reinforcements came, but Damien…
“Hahahaha! I lived, I lived again! Look! “This defense master is immortal!”
“Oooooh-!”
It was such a mess….
I shook my head as I looked at the revolutionary army camp in complete disarray.
Fortunately, even in times like these, there are people who find something to do.
“Congratulations on your victory, Your Excellency the Marquis!”
Louis Desget, who was in charge of the rear, rode his horse and saluted me.
“Good job commanding the main unit. Acting Commander-in-Chief.”
Deje answered with a grin.
“It was an honor.”
“Everyone is happy, but the casualties are so high that we can take control… So how did those reinforcements come?”
I looked at the dwarves who were cheering and the revolutionary army wearing the emblems of the three National Assembly parties and asked –
“The person who can answer that has come in person.”
“hmm?”
As I was puzzled by Dezey’s answer, I heard a voice that exuded age and calmness that was not suitable for this battlefield.
“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you, Marquis.”
“President Brissot?”
Liberal Party leader Nicola Brissot.
The old politician, who was completely unsuited to the battlefield, looked at me and opened his mouth.
“Thank you for your hard work, Marquis. … I came late, but just by seeing this battlefield, I can understand how fierce the battle was.”
“I never thought the president would come all the way here…”
Brissot replied with a hollow laugh.
“After Her Majesty the Queen arbitrarily landed with the remaining army, the National Assembly was shaken.”
“That’s right…”
I had forgotten in the heat of battle, but you told me and Eris, as well as Christine, to appear at the hearing, right?
“But then I suddenly realized. The National Assembly had always left the war to the Marquis and Her Majesty the Queen. … It was fortunate that there were no interruptions due to issues such as budget.”
Brisso continued speaking slowly.
“Even the reason our revolution broke out was because of these devils. So, for the first time, we have decided to do everything we can to help you and Her Majesty. “Well, this is a war that became the basis of the revolution, so I thought that only the nobles and the queen should step forward.”
“Haha….”
“Talleyrand persuaded the Kingdom of the Alps, and the Count of Anjou mobilized cadets from the military academy and reserve forces, and we saved war funds. It was urgent, but I wonder when the National Assembly has ever worked with one mind and one mind like this. The reason I personally set foot on this island was because I was planning to retire anyway and had enough to live on, but…”
Brissot took it slow-
“I wanted to tell you this in person, so I stood there.”
He spoke in a calm and gentle tone.
“The Marquis made sure that the old man did not regret his choice. … So this time, I have come to make sure that you will not regret having fought on the battlefield while protecting Franzia.”
-The dogmatism of this foolish old man. …Would you please make sure I don’t regret this choice?
A person who turned a blind eye even though he had information that could drive me out of the war against Krafte.
At one time, this was a member of an organization that was chosen as a lesser evil to avoid the worst, and someone who was indecisive and thought it was easy to get along with.
“thank you. …and congratulations.”
“hmm?”
“My strength alone was not enough to defeat those demons. In the end, you are the ones who achieved the final victory.”
Nicola Brissot looked blank for a moment, but then smiled and answered.
“Yes, the revolution won. “But you are our proudest member, so shouldn’t we celebrate together?”
* * *
Eris slowly opened her eyes.
Then he realized that he was in a dark hallway.
A dark and musty prison hallway.
Ah –
it’s that dream again.
Clap.
The door opened with the noise of rusty hinges
.
Eris waited for the guard to enter the door with a calm face, then slowly tilted her head.
The person who entered was not a guard.
A woman with long blonde hair wearing a nun’s uniform.
Although she is dressed quite impurely for a nun’s uniform, she is not a prison guard.
Have you ever had a dream like this?
Eris thought so and slowly tilted her head and asked.
“…Saint?”
“I have the amazing experience of being called a saint by a real saint.”
The first saint laughed while saying that, so Eris asked softly.
“Am I dead?”
The first saint smiled with her golden eyes shining even in the darkness and gestured to Eris.
Eris obediently walked towards her as she was told, but lamented with her mouth.
“Even God, can’t you just answer me a little more obediently…”
The saint made a bewildered expression, then laughed and opened her mouth.
“That’s too bad.”
“What?”
“I couldn’t approach your dreams, so I couldn’t meet you in person…”
the saint added, taking Eris’ hand and leading her.
“I think we would have gotten along quite well if we had met.”
The saint said so and opened the door –
and when Eris blinked in the sudden light, the place had changed.
Eris recognized this place at a glance.
The square where she ended her life.
A place I have seen in my dreams over and over again.
There are people filling the square just like when she was executed.
But they don’t boo Eris.
Eris slowly raised her gaze towards the sky.
There is no sun that took away her eyesight and made her critics unrecognizable.
However, it is filled with only the blue night sky and the starlight that softly illuminates the square.
Eris slowly turned her gaze to look at the golden saint who had guided her.
The saintess smiled lightly.
“It’s a kind of atonement.”
“Atonement?”
“Or maybe it’s repayment.”
Eris couldn’t understand what she was saying.
Then, a knight came up and knelt down in front of the saint.
The saint smiled so brightly that even Eris was surprised, and placed her hand on Eris’ chest.
“You’ll be fine.”
Before Eris could even react, a warm and soft energy began to flow into her chest.
By the time Eris realized that it was divine power, the saint’s body was half fading.
“Now wait a minute!”
The saint just smiled and held the hand of the knight kneeling in front of her –
and together they dispersed into light and rose into the sky like smoke.
“…In the end, he just said what he had to say and disappeared.”
Eris muttered as she looked up at the sky blankly, but for some reason she knew what to do.
someday.
Because we will meet again.
Eris slowly turned her gaze to look at the center of the square.
There is an eerie structure made of wood, like a dream, as always, in a previous life.
The guillotine that cut off her head and killed countless others.
Maximilien Isidor is standing on the platform.
But Eris was not afraid of him.
Isidor also bowed politely to her instead of sharply shouting for her to request the death penalty.
Eris slowly walked up to the platform where the guillotine was located.
The terrifying blade remains the same, but there is no bloody smell that would stain even the soul.
This is the border between the past where Eris was murdered and the altered future.
Eris, who came up to the podium, slowly turned her back and stood still in the square, looking at those who were watching her.
There are countless people.
Some people know Eris, but most people don’t know her.
There are countless people who have passed through this square.
Atonement of its own.
Or reciprocate.
After seeing their faces, Eris realized what the saintly woman had said.
They are the ones who killed Eris.
At the same time, they are the ones who killed themselves.
These people started a revolution under the banner of freedom, equality, and fraternity, but ended up being suspicious and hating each other, leading to their own destruction.
Those who were saved in the history Pierre changed with her origins.
Those whom Eris could not save even though she had the power to save them.
The basis of the sense of responsibility that has weighed on Eris.
Eris slowly sat down on the platform, feeling the divine power given by the saint flow from her chest through her body.
Eris smiled slightly when she realized that she was wearing the robe she always liked to wear, rather than the tattered clothes she wore when she was imprisoned.
Just what she wanted, the harp was in her arms.
Eris slowly placed her hand on the familiar strings of the harp and
began to play.
I learned that I should help them.
But it didn’t help properly.
I didn’t want to blame them.
But I couldn’t help but feel resentful.
I want her to live happily too.
But I didn’t think I was qualified.
Just a small miracle. Even though a last minute prayer could have given a better result.
In the end, the tragedy of the past ended without changing anything.
A requiem dedicated to those who sacrificed Eris and were sacrificed.
Songs played with heart and prayer echo in the square under the stars –
one by one.
Those who filled the square scattered with light and began to rise into the sky.
Those with faces filled with melancholy and earnestness fade into comfortable faces the moment they turn into light.
Is this salvation?
She can’t know.
Is it just comfort?
I don’t know that either.
Just someday.
One day, when she too ascends to the sky like them.
I sing in hopes that they will smile like the moment they turn into light.
In her previous life, Maximilien Isidore treated her harshly.
In this life, the man, who was already cold when she ran to him, greeted her politely and then turned into light and disappeared.
The last time I saw him, I thought I saw a faint smile on his face.
As the people filling the square gradually faded into light and disappeared,
Eris slowly raised her head and made eye contact with the man in front of her.
-I will still pray for you. I hope that the hearts of those who have hatred and revenge on you can feel at least a little at ease, and that you can find some peace in the arms of God. … If God continues to give strength to a child like me, he may be more generous than I think.
Brother.
-If not, I will serve and do good deeds for the people of this country in your place, so that the weight of your sin can be lightened even a little.
The man who asked for the sacrament of confession confessed his sins and died in front of the guillotine.
It smiled softly and slowly dispersed into the light.
When Eris smiled at him, he pointed to one side with his disappearing finger – and
the moment Eris turned her head in that direction, she almost burst into tears.
I somehow managed to move my trembling hands and continued playing.
because.
A woman who looks exactly like Eris.
Because her mother was watching Eris.
If you work hard like this.
If you struggle like this.
Then, when you go up to heaven and see God, ask him to forgive your mother for her sins.
The mother’s face as she prayed did not look painful.
I wasn’t suffering in hell.
Her mother simply smiled sweetly, just like she had seen when Eris was very young.
Eris was saved by that alone.
Finally, even my mother turned into light and ascended to the sky.
Eris lifted her gaze from the empty square and looked at the sky filled with twinkling stars.
I feel like tears will flow.
Actually, I wanted to stop playing right away and give my mother a hug.
But not yet.
someday someday
Let’s meet and tell you when we get up to the sky.
I did my best.
and.
…I lived happier than anyone else.
So that I can say that while smiling brighter than anyone else and happier than anyone else.
So for now.
Let us thank God for this miracle.
Eris slowly closed her eyes and woke up from alert.
To return to those who wait for her.
