657. [Side Story] Dusk Bringer (5)
Things got weird.
Layton and his soldiers, who caused the coup, became surrounded by veterans and civilians.
Weapons fell one by one from the soldiers’ hands.
In the first place, it was a coup without a justification. Because of the nature of the organization called the military, the leash was passed on to Layton, who had been in power for a long time…
‘Kuk!’
Layton, feeling that the situation was turning against him, gritted his teeth. At the point where the coup d’état, which should have been dealt with swiftly, was delayed up to this point, many things were already twisted.
‘Still, it’s not too late. If I kill the Grand Duke and take the Dragon Heart and Dragon Blood…!’
The legitimacy of the Duke of Bringer comes from the power of the dragon.
The Daybringer is currently in a situation where it is unable to exert its original power at all due to the dragon killing sword.
It was still possible for him to become a ‘dragon’ and the next Duke of Bringer if he could steal the dragon heart and dragon blood left from her and take over.
Citizen reaction?
If you trample on that kind of thing with absolute power…!
“Don’t worry about the back, drill the front!”
Despite Layton’s order, most of the soldiers hesitated and hesitated. But Layton didn’t care and jumped forward.
A handful of knights and soldiers loyal to him followed him.
The situation of Gihojise (騎虎之勢), who had already participated in the rebellion. Rather than lower the knife and give up here, he decided to fight with Layton.
The veterans formed a wall by blocking the front of the queen with their bodies, but they were quickly slaughtered and blood spilled.
Swinging his sword at the forefront, Layton ran towards the Day Bringer.
‘I’ll rip out your heart and swallow you! Then I will…!’
When Layton shook his way through his blood, he finally reached the Daybringer.
“…?!”
oh oh oh…!
There was already a girl with dark red hair that burned like flames flying upwards—
the girl who inherited the name of Bringer was standing with her eyes closed.
***
The Daybringer was already in a dying state when he was stabbed by the dragon slash for the first time.
Immediately after escaping the palace, she felt death hang over her neck. It was appropriate to start the succession ceremony right away and hand over the Dragon Heart and Dragon Blood to Dusk.
But she gritted her teeth and endured death.
And before the ceremony of succession, he tried to control his emotions and the courage and blood that ran rampant inside him.
Anger at being betrayed by a subordinate he trusted and cared for swelled up to the tip of his head. The desire to destroy everything by transforming into the form of a dragon by going wild at any moment boiled over.
But I persevered.
He couldn’t give Dusk his heart and blood that had been heated with such anger and hatred.
So as not to destroy the little body and soul of the girl and her life afterward. Because I had to hand over the legacy… intact and precious.
“Dusk.”
And finally peace came.
The rising anger and resentment faded away like a lie when the girl’s eyes met. Realizing that it was ready, the Daybringer smiled.
“Take my hand.”
Dusk held the queen’s hand as if possessed.
The next moment, the girl’s consciousness moved into Dusk’s mental world, not reality.
“This place…?”
Dusk looked around in surprise.
It was a land where embers were burning. It was a place where the heat of the flames still shook on the floor even though it was pitch black and burned and everything was reduced to ashes.
On this black dead earth, the Daybringer was smiling as usual. But only then did Dusk know.
Why did the Daybringer smile so often?
That she always laughed to endure the thousand dollars boiling inside.
That this desolate landscape was the true image of her who had lived as a king for over a hundred years.
“To become the Duke of Bringer, you must first admit it.”
The Day Bringer slowly opened his mouth.
“The fact that you are a monster.”
“…!”
“He has superior physical abilities than ordinary humans, enjoys a lifespan several times that of ordinary humans, and governs while looking down on ordinary humans. I felt the difference between being an ordinary human and becoming a dragon.”
The Daybringer carefully scanned the world in his heart, where ashes were flying all the way to the end of the burnt horizon.
“You might think that’s impossible now… but if you stand on top of a high tower, on top of a high castle, your mind will change. A sense of superiority and a sense of choice is inevitable at some point.”
“….”
“So, Dusk Bringer, the founder, judged one qualification as a criterion for selecting future dukes.”
And the Daybringer smiled at the girl who had obtained that qualification.
“A strong mind that will not give up living as a human being.”
“…!”
“That is exactly what a person needs to become a dragon. Qualification to become a descendant of the Red Dragon.”
Kneeling on one knee in front of Dusk, the Daybringer took the girl’s hand and placed it on his chest.
“The truly strong thing is not the magic that runs through this heart or blood.”
“Then…”
“The courage you showed me to not hate is truly strong.”
Dusk widened his eyes.
“Do you have the courage not to hate me…?”
“There is always a reason to hate someone. But you were determined not to hate even those who almost killed you. That’s great.”
The Day Bringer nodded.
“It was because of your courage that people saved you… us again.”
“…”
“But miracles like this won’t happen often. From now on, as king, what you have to protect is not the weak and the good. Ordinary people who are weak, timid, naive, and very occasionally good.”
Just like you and I-” laughed the Daybringer.
“Sometimes they will please you, but most of the time they will use you, betray you, and hurt you. Many trials will come to you in the future.”
Daybringer pressed the girl’s small hand on his chest.
“Rage and hatred will burn inside you. The time will come again and again when you will want to give up being a human being.”
“….”
“But I love you, Dusk.”
In the world inside his heart that has been burnt to black.
“Even if your heart is burnt to the point of being covered in soot, still… don’t hate it, love it.”
Don’t give up on living as a human being.
The former Dragon Blood Duke whispered as he looked at his descendants who would now inherit this burnt world.
“I am giving you this crown and this blood… because you are a child who can do it.”
“…”
“I’m sorry for leaving you with such a heavy burden.”
Dusk nodded slowly.
“…I’ll do it, mama.”
Facing the woman who was her mother for a very short time, the girl smiled.
“From the beginning, I was born as soot. Even if it burns a little more, it won’t even show.”
“….”
The Daybringer, who was looking at the girl affectionately, pulled the girl’s hand and
pushed it into his chest.
Eventually, Dusk grabbed something from inside his chest and pulled it out.
It was a bright red flame.
The fire that spewed out consumed the girl’s entire body. Gritting her teeth and holding it up, the girl slammed
the flame into her chest with all her might .
***
“….”
The consciousness that entered the mental world emerges as a reality.
Dusk- No, Dusk Bringer opened his closed eyes.
The amber dragon’s eyes glowed in the swirling flames. Dusk Bringer slowly lowered his gaze.
“Ker kew…”
Layton was already lying on the floor, covered in blood, and Dusk had his foot on top of him.
The dragon sword, broken in half, was lodged in Layton’s stomach. It was a deadly weapon even for the dragon knight, so Layton trembled in pain.
“Save me… please…”
“…”
Anger filled Dusk Bringer’s amber eyes.
Cheolcheon enemy who killed the person who gave him love for the first time.
With just a little bit of strength on the tips of his toes, this man’s life could easily be evaporated. Dusk Bringer was overcome by a fierce urge.
“Dusk.”
However, when I heard the voice of the Daybringer, who was weak from behind, I suddenly came to my senses.
Taking a deep breath, Dusk Bringer looked around. Realizing that the situation was already over, all the soldiers knelt down and surrendered, and citizens were arresting them.
Everyone’s eyes fell on them. Dusk Bringer slowly opened his mouth.
“I am Dusk Bringer, who officially inherited the duchy from the great Dragon Lady, Day Bringer.”
The girl’s voice trembled, but she did not hesitate.
“This is the first order I give as Grand Duke of Bringer. imprison the guilty And let them be judged by the strict law.”
The priests who came running pulled out the sword from Layton’s belly and gave him first aid.
Dusk Bringer coldly muttered to Layton, who was gasping for breath.
“This is not where you should die. The location of the execution ground, watched by all citizens. Until that moment, I will definitely hold on to your life and protect you.”
“…”
The bound Layton was dragged away and Dusk Bringer turned around.
I saw the Day Bringer leaning against the collapsed stone wall.
As Dusk Bringer hurriedly approached, Day Bringer smiled faintly with a pale complexion.
“It’s unfortunate. It’s the first fall festival we’re spending together…”
The Day Bringer slowly took off his silver crown and placed it on Dusk Bringer’s head.
“I’ve been looking forward to the days I will spend with you, but… to be separated like this.”
“…”
“Don’t cry, baby. We’ll see you again.”
Day Bringer gently stroked Dusk Bringer’s sobbing head.
“According to the legend, red dragons who have reached the end of their lifespan gather on the shore at the end of the world and wait for the last sunrise of the world… I’ll wait there, so slowly come down. got it?”
“…yes mom.”
The Daybringer raised his now blind eyes and asked in a dying voice.
“The surroundings are quiet. It’s an autumn festival… are the citizens enjoying the festival?”
Citizens surrounding the dying queen were weeping in silence.
Wiping away the tears, Dusk Bringer smiled and lied.
“Sure, Mama. The whole city is full of laughter and singing.”
“Huh, that’s how it should be. That’s why it’s an autumn festival. And again…?”
“People who had food and drinks gathered in the square like a cloud. This year’s bountiful harvest is praised as being thanks to Mama.”
“Everybody grumbled when we ordered the dam to be built… Look at that. Farming is going well because you do what this old man tells you to do… Huhu. What other scenery do you have?”
Dusk Bringer raised his eyes and looked up at the clear sky.
“There are fireworks in the sky.”
“I’ve been told to do it only on the last day, but these people… they don’t get tired every year…”
“Colorful fireworks are blooming all over the sky. look. That resembles a bud, that resembles an umbrella, and that…”
Dusk Bringer, who was describing a non-existent fireworks display, grabbed Day Bringer’s cold hand.
“…Now the citizens are waiting for Mama’s words. What message have you prepared this year? Please do it.”
Then the Daybringer smiled thinly through parted lips and said,
“All the good people in this country.”
He repeated the words he said every year to every citizen who fought against the soldiers to save himself.
“Spend every day like a festival. Drink, dance, sing and… love.”
The queen’s voice faded slowly.
“Love you children. Love…”
That became a will.
The Day Bringer’s head fell down. She couldn’t breathe anymore.
Dusk Bringer, who had been looking at his deceased mother for a long time in the midst of a sea of crying, also slowly lowered his head.
***
…a long time has passed since that day.
Did he live as good as his mother asked him to do?
Dusk Bringer thought to himself that he couldn’t do that.
The crown that was suddenly placed on the little girl was too heavy. Citizens constantly compared her to her ancestors.
Neighboring countries looked down on the young queen, and scammers were overflowing to take advantage of it.
It was difficult to watch state affairs, and the war continued without a break. He was desperate just to survive.
He struggled with inertia and survived for over a hundred years.
The courage not to hate had long since burned away.
Dusk Bringer came to hate many people.
I came to hate many countries. Also, many people and many countries came to hate Dusk Bringer. I killed a lot and lost that much.
‘I’m sorry, Mama.’
Dusk Bringer murmured softly as he looked around the world inside his mind, which had been burnt as black and ugly as his mother’s before he knew it.
‘I didn’t live as you wished.’
I trusted him and left it to him, so I tried to live uprightly…
Looking back, only my own long footprints were left, crooked and crooked, covered in ashes and soot.
Looking down at his hand, which was blackened down to the base of his fingernails, Dusk Bringer clenched his fist.
‘So at least…’
As much as that child who has the same warmth as you…
***
“….”
Dusk Bringer suddenly opened his eyes.
A cool breeze blows in through the curtained windows. The feather pillows are soft and the duvets are warm. There is a refreshing fruity scent somewhere.
Because I had a long dream of the distant past, I couldn’t tell whether it was real or empty.
“…What is it, did you really die and come to heaven this time?”
Dusk Bringer murmured absentmindedly,
“You might be wondering if this is heaven or not if you see such a handsome angel flying beside you.”
I heard a familiar voice from beside me. Dusk Bringer looked that way in surprise.
“It’s a pity, Archduke. This is on the ground.”
Sitting in a chair next to the bed, a black-haired young man – Ash closed the book he was reading and smiled mischievously.
“How did you have a good dream while you slept for so long?”
