1. A slightly serious story (1)
#1
It was the evening of the third day when the battle ended.
The rain still showed no sign of stopping. The rain hitting my skin felt more like a whip than water.
“Hey heo…heo….”
Ronan who had barely caught his breath raised his head. The quiet battlefield was filled with only the sound of rain.
As my vision which had been focused on one place widened a landscape that seemed like a part of hell unfolded before my eyes.
The wasteland extending to the horizon took on a reddish color overall. It was the color of mud mixed with blood.
The fragments that once made up humans were scattered across the muddy ground. Bloated corpses were floating in puddles here and there.
Apart from him no one was seen moving. While I was scrubbing the blade with my collar I heard a voice from behind me.
【Strong. How can humans be this strong?】
It was clearly audible even in heavy rain. The voice was deep like a cave with flowing lava. Ronan turned around with a look of disgust on his face.
“Are you dead yet?”
【This is Ahayute’s clear disregard.】
About five steps in front a huge human was sprawled out. He was the culprit that created this tragedy. The giant called himself Ahayute.
The giant who appeared to be at least 4 meters tall had two pairs of wings on his back. It had a similar appearance to the angels that frequently appear in religious paintings.
His hair was as bare as an egg and his features were distinct. Dozens of long deep stab wounds were carved into its white muscular body.
Blue blood flowing from the wound formed a puddle around the giant.
【That’s right. Not yet.】
Ronan’s hand holding the hilt of his sword tightened. I wanted to tear it into ten thousand pieces but I didn’t have the strength left to do so.
That one bastard vaporized ten legions of the empire.
Every time the four wings flapped a storm raged and every time the spear made of light was swung hundreds of people lost their lives. The number of innocent lives lost before the decisive battle was countless.
【But it won’t be long. Ahayute is defeated and will soon return to His bosom.】
“Thank goodness. Step on dog poop on the way. “It’s so fucking squishy.”
Ronan sat on his shoulder and let out his fart. Still seeing as he didn’t wake up it seemed like he was definitely mortally wounded. Ronan who was rummaging through his inner pocket cursed.
“Hey you bastard.”
The cigarette pipe I paid a lot of money for was completely shattered. He threw the broken pipe at the giant’s face and stood up.
“By the way do you know that your friends got lost too?”
【friend?】
“Yes the bastards who came down with you.”
【Are you talking about Nirvana and Duaru?】
“I don’t know the name but…anyway it’s gone.”
Twenty days ago three giants descended on earth. The reason was unknown.
They crisscrossed the continent and committed acts of destruction that required redrawing the map. Ahayute was the last remaining giant.
“One was burned by an ill-tempered dragon and the other was sealed forever by an old enchantress named Lorhorn. “I don’t know what you guys are doing but it’s over now.”
Ronan wanted to see the giant’s face twist in despair.
Therefore I did not bother to mention minor information such as the fact that the Red Dragon Navardose and her clan suffered damage equivalent to a co-destruction or that Archmage Lorhorn used his soul as a medium for the sealing technique.
However the answer that came back did not meet Ronan’s expectations.
【Thank goodness.】
“what?”
【The fact is that there are no longer strong people like you. You can’t stop us now.】
Ronan slowly drew his sword. The flashing tip of the sword was aimed at the giant’s uvula.
“…Did you know?”
【Children of stars share each other’s senses.】
“Really… you’re a bastard I don’t like until the very end. “What do you mean there are no strong people?”
I still have it.
Ronan did not bother to add that comment. He was confident that if he actually fought this lump again he would settle it in one day. But Ahayute knew everything.
【I know that you don’t have much time left.】
“her.”
【You strong one. Do not cover the truth with shallow deception.】
The sword shook slightly but Ronan did not show it. He thrust the tip of his sword into the giant’s throat.
The tough leather was torn and blue blood gushed out. Aha Yute continued her words as if nothing had happened.
【It is truly fortunate for us. You have rotted your talents in the mud. If you had refined yourself you would have become a huge obstacle to our long-cherished wish.】
“Let’s stop chatting. “I’m sick of it.”
【You are a great human being. It’s okay to be proud. The story of the man who kicked up the sky and cut down the stars truly deserves to be told beyond tomorrow’s horizon. However】
He spat out as if driving a wedge.
【Your world will eventually disappear buried in starlight.】
Suddenly!
Ronan’s sword drew an arc.
****
“If you’re alive answer me! “Is there anyone?”
Ronan cried curling his hand and putting it to his mouth. No answer came back.
Ahayute died without even moaning. Her blue blood flowed like a river without soaking into the silt. Ronan urinated on the giant’s corpse and left.
He began wandering the battlefield. He was trying to find any possible survivors. Death was everywhere you looked. Walking while avoiding the crushed corpses was not an easy task.
Wow.
Ronan who was looking at the pale faces gritted his teeth. Most of them were familiar faces. Comrades in the punishment unit who shared life death and ups and downs. Ronan muttered bitterly.
“You foolish bastards.”
The punitive unit was a special unit made up of criminals. The bottom of the military that considers martyrdom a duty. The height of a ragtag group with no proper discipline.
He knew why the guys who usually just ran away after making a fuss rushed at such a monster for dear life.
“Did you think that just because I was a little strong you would also be strong? ok?”
Ahayute was strong. Even the knights’ Auror Spears which were said to be powerful enough to cover the sky with arrows and even the secret weapon of the sword saint Schlieffen known as the best sword of the Empire could not inflict the final blow.
Only Ronan’s sword could cut through the giant’s flesh and draw his blood. No one not even Ronan himself could figure out why the Punisher’s sword which could not even feel mana let alone use auras was used by a giant.
However in a battle where the fate of the empire depended status was meaningless. The general destroyed all of his existing plans and re-established a strategy centered on Ronan.
Suddenly the punitive force became the most important force protected by 10 corps. These fools with their lungs full of wind did not hesitate to make their colleagues into heroes.
They were torn and shattered paving the way for Ronan ultimately proving the High Warlord’s judgment to be correct.
“You idiots….”
Ronan opened his eyes brightly and closed the eyes of his dead comrades one by one. The frozen eyelids were as tough and hard as the skin of an old tree. How many times did that happen again?
“uh?”
Ronan suddenly felt a faint feeling of dizziness rising to his temples.
Clap and flutter.
The ground suddenly stood up and hit my cheek. His eyes were spinning as if he had been drinking. Ronan fell down and grumbled.
“Hey.”
His body didn’t move. Even though the whip-like rain hit the face of the side that wasn’t stuck in the mud I couldn’t feel anything.
The words of Aha Ute talking about his remaining time lingered in my head. He knew that too. After a fierce battle the body had long since reached its limit.
This phenomenon was a kind of declaration made by the body. I will no longer play along with the bravado of a bastard like you.
“Wow!”
A cough came out of nowhere. It was a cough full of dark red blood. Ronan felt his senses which had been stagnant under extreme tension slowly returning. His lead jockey was in pain.
“You…mi….”
If he was going to die he wanted to die looking up at the sky. Ronan turned his body over with all his might. A sky as coppery as a poopy diaper appeared. Neither the sun nor the moon nor stars were visible. Between the roaring dark clouds only a light blue thunder flashed at a glance.
“Until the very end…this is shit.”
Ronan closed his eyes feeling like it was only making him feel worse. Now he just wanted to die quickly. When I thought about dying it felt like the days I had lived were floating in the dark.
[This is truly fortunate for us. You rotted your talents in the mud.]
The bald man’s words crossed his mind again. It was frustrating but it was true.
Most of the memories that flowed like a flash were made up of scenes of doing stupid things or wasting time like an idiot. It was no one else but Ronan himself who ruined his brilliant talent.
“Maybe I should have gone to the academy…”
His talent was quickly recognized. Because extraordinaryness is not something that can be hidden like poverty or a cough.
His sister his only family repeatedly urged him to get a proper education. You raised him with love and sincerity saying that he could definitely become a great person.
Ronan didn’t like it so he left home. He was troublesome and burdensome.
After that he wandered the continent like a wild dog for three years. Like most criminals Ronan was also taken to the punishment unit for not being able to control his anger of the moment. To be precise he embroidered it himself.
The military was surprisingly bearable. Ronan sat in the unit for seven years where he would be discharged if he survived three years.
As long as he was cut they fed him and put him to sleep but he had no particular reason to go out. Job offers came in from all over but he turned them all down.
The result was like this.
The invasion of giants took everything. The idiots who had been together for seven years the kind sister and the countries and villages that were indebted to them during their wanderings all returned to ashes.
If I had learned the sword properly and devoted myself to training would the results have been different? Could you have protected it?
I don’t know.
It’s a meaningless worry.
Ronan closed his eyes and relaxed his body. I felt his soul slowly leaving his body. Who said that death is nothing but a deep sleep…
My mind…
I’m getting dizzy…
It was a car….
[Is there…no one?]
A human voice was heard.
“It’s here!”
Ronan jumped up from his seat. Mud dripped down from his back and the back of his head. He focused all his attention on hearing and listened. A voice was heard once again.
[…I’m injured and can’t move. Is there anyone?]
“It’s fucking here! “I am here!!”
A woman’s voice. Judging by the fact that it resonated directly in my head rather than in my ears I was using electromagnetic magic.
“Keep talking! “I’m going now!”
Ronan who had vaguely figured out the direction ran out. His legs gave out and he hit his face in the mud again and again but he didn’t care. All that mattered was that he was still a survivor.
[…here….]
The voice became increasingly faint. Whatever the reason it was clear that he was dying. Ronan increased his speed even further. His regret-stained thoughts had long since flown away.
He soon arrived in front of a rock. It was a structure where two slanted rocks faced each other like a roof providing shelter from the rain below.
“Huh…uhuhuh…!”
Every time I exhaled the regurgitated blood dripped down. Ronan wiped his mouth with his sleeve and entered the crevice in the rock. The owner of the voice was lying inside.
“you are….”
And the moment Ronan saw her face he had to swallow the sigh that rose up to his chin.
“General.”
It was a familiar face.
“…Your Majesty.”
The woman lifted her head with difficulty and opened her mouth. Her voice was dry and cracked but her previous dignity did not diminish in the slightest.
He was taller than most men and had gray hair caked with mud. In contrast the skin was so pale that it was white.
Ronan repeated his words as if something about him had fascinated him.
“General Adeshan.”
Despite seeing all the imperial idols Ronan did not salute. She had no arms to receive her salute.
────────────────────────────────────
────────────────────────────────────
