Episode 404 Waiting (1)
“…..”
Belkat couldn’t answer.
The boy doesn’t know who he is. Even if it was him who tried to destroy the forest a moment ago.
It will.
The bad guy who tried to destroy the forest was a demon in black armor.
But here was a middle-aged man with half white hair, about to collapse.
messed up ugly
can’t do anything now
such a man
Belkat said with a mixture of sadness and joy, looking like she was laughing or crying.
“This man…is someone who wants to help you.”
“Can you help me?”
“okay. tell me anything.”
the child asked cautiously.
“Then can you help me find my friend?”
“A friend.”
“yes. They are friends and I really want to meet them, but I can’t.”
“Do you know where it is?”
“It is a place where a lot of people gather. I watched all the time. But that was all I could do.”
the child said
He said he had been waiting for his friend here all along.
I hope to see you again someday.
“I see. It must have been very difficult.”
Belcart said with a soft smile that he doesn’t normally show.
“This old man will help. You can bring your friend.”
“Can I really see my friend?”
“then. Could you wait a moment near that white wall? I’ll bring my friend soon.”
“Really?”
The child stared into his face and asked.
Belkat did not dare to face those transparent water drop-like eyes.
Belkat said, averting her gaze in guilt and anguish.
“This man always keeps his promises.”
anger.
At that, the child’s expression brightened.
As Belkat said, the child ran toward the fog barrier.
After running like that, I looked back and shouted at Belcart.
“I’ll wait! promise!”
“….okay. promise.”
Belkat waved to the child once and walked slowly towards the outpost.
“It won’t take long.”
The sensation in the body as he moved his steps slowly diminished.
it was a sign
A warning that the end of life is approaching.
A cry that can’t be beaten any more.
‘It’s nice to be able to walk comfortably.’
But Belcart didn’t care.
As the pain throughout the body disappeared, there was no resistance to walking.
Belcart walked along the lonely forest road.
The sound of the leaves rustling and scattering under the soles of my feet was somehow familiar.
The forest of Kassar Basin was amazing.
The first time I saw it, it was a forest I had never seen anywhere on the continent, but the more I looked at it, the more I felt a sense of déjà vu as if I had seen it somewhere.
It was the same even now.
Belcart was walking through the woods where she used to play with her childhood friends.
Are you walking in the present?
Or is it walking in the memories of the past?
Then, is this an illusion created by one’s guilt?
Or is it a kaleidoscope that you see right before you die?
It doesn’t matter what it is.
You can give this life as much as you like.
But give me just a little bit more time.
Time for my friends to be saved.
– Ahahaha!
-Go with me!
Children’s visions passed by Belcart.
Belcart stared at the back with a nostalgic look.
All three children looked familiar.
Isabella is the bright blonde girl running in the lead.
The brown-haired boy running behind him is Leslie.
And the child who follows as if chasing after him is his childhood self.
-Belkart is in last place again!
Isabella, who was in the lead, shouted as she touched the trunk of a large beautiful tree with her hand.
-You guys are too fast.
Belkat passed the vision under the tree.
The mystery of the forest gave Belcart a strange experience.
The illusion that was left behind melted like a watercolor in contact with water and changed into a new illusion before I knew it.
It was the year I turned 11.
It was a scene where the three of them were learning magic together, and Isabella, who was sweating first, recalled a sphere of magical power on her hand.
The next to succeed was Leslie.
The two of them were delighted with each other, but soon stared at Belcart with nervous eyes.
As if to live up to that expectation, Belcart focused his mind and created magic.
Seeing Belcart finally succeed, Isabella and Leslie jumped in their seats and were happy.
-and! Success!
-Congratulations Belcart! But you’re late again!
Little Belcart laughed shyly at Isabella’s smile.
Growing old, he passed by, ignoring the sight.
The memories of the past presented by the forest were so vivid.
Even the details that are not easily remembered are implemented.
But Belkat didn’t find it mysterious at all.
Because he remembered everything in this moment. Even if the forest doesn’t help it.
To Belcart, Leslie and Isabella were dear friends.
No, since when did it go beyond that.
The three of them lived together, but Belcart was secretly in love with Isabella.
I thought that one day, if I could be proud of myself, I would confess at that time.
The landscape has changed.
In the backyard of the building, Belcart, who had become an adult, stood there with a very nervous expression on her face.
In his hand was a letter from Isabella.
What was Isabella trying to say by calling her aside?
Belkat tried not to be conscious, but maybe she too? I couldn’t erase the thought.
I thought about what to say when we met.
Actually, did I like you for a long time too? no. that’s boring Wouldn’t it be better not to force it? And what if she gets disappointed?
– Leslie. did you wait
-Isabella.
And after Isabella arrived at the meeting place, Belcart heard a shocking fact.
– Yes. Leslie confessed to me.
-…..
Belkat kept her mouth shut.
Even he, who had been watching him closely, knew that Leslie had similar feelings for Isabella.
But I never thought that Sukmaek would have confessed first.
Even more shocking was Isabella’s reaction.
As if she was shy, she couldn’t hide a smile of joy on her face.
Belcart’s heart felt like it was being torn apart.
-Why did you do that to me…
-Yes. we are friends But I don’t think our relationship will continue like it used to if Leslie and I get along.
Belkat felt her body get cold to the point of being strange.
It felt like everything about him was sunk down there, like an anchor sinking in the deep sea.
why are you asking me that?
Why are you showing those feelings to Leslie and not to me?
I have you since a long time ago…
-Like an idiot. What are you talking about?
At the same time, his mouth uttered words that contradicted his heart with all too ease.
-That’s definitely something to celebrate.
-really?
-of course. Isabella, did you think that would ruin our friendship? Then it’s very disappointing.
-Hehehe. Sorry. I’m just you…..
-I’m fine. rather good The two of you got along really well from before. congratulations.
-Really?!
Isabella, who was innocent, accepted Belcart’s words wholeheartedly.
– Thank you very much Belcart! you are my best friend!
Even after Isabella left, Belcart had no choice but to stand still as if a nail had been driven into the seat.
That was Belcart’s first and last broken heart as a young man.
The middle-aged Belkat smiled as if he was self-deprecating.
“okay. I am always late.”
It always has been.
I didn’t have the courage or the will, so I just exploded slowly.
—Nevertheless, you waited for me.
waiting
cheer me up
hold my hand and lead me
I owed a huge debt that I could never pay.
“So now it’s my turn to lead.”
Bassrock.
Belcart stared straight ahead with a blurry gaze.
There was a man there.
The man who had been in a fight to the death with himself a little while ago.
“John Doe.”
Belkat had a bitter smile on her pale face.
“no. Is it Ludgar Chelsea?”
“…..”
“Congratulations on your victory. Judging by the fact that he has walked all this far alone, it seems that he has come to finish me off completely.”
Belkat gasped, trying to catch her breath.
“But I am already dying. So there is no need to bother.”
There was no use in pretending to be strong here.
He was already bruised and had no energy to use magic.
Rather, it was a miracle that he was still alive.
“So please. get out of the way I still have work to do.”
“Is it for a greater cause or for a very personal matter?”
I didn’t ask why you asked that.
Belkat closed her eyes and replied.
“…It’s very personal and selfish.”
It was an attitude that he would accept even if the other person got angry and cursed at the word that he did such a crazy thing for personal reasons.
“is it.”
But Rudger didn’t show much reaction to those words.
He just nodded his head in agreement and stepped aside.
Belkat wondered what this was all about, but eventually opened her eyes wide when she saw the child hiding behind Ludgar’s back.
“Isabella.”
blonde little girl.
The girl from when we were playing together in the forest was in front of me.
Little Isabella looked up at Rudger with a wary gaze.
It was as if he was asking, ‘Should I follow this man?’
Rudger nodded his head silently to Isabella.
Isabella cautiously approached Belcart and opened her small lips.
“mister. My brother did that. You say you can find my friend.”
Belcart said in a weeping voice.
“okay. As usual, this man is on his way to find our little lady at the request of a friend.”
“Really? My friend is…”
“Leslie.”
I didn’t even ask her name, but when the answer came, Isabella’s eyes widened.
“The child is waiting over there.”
Leslie raised her hand with difficulty and pointed to the forest path she had come from.
“Would you like to go with me?”
Isabella nodded wordlessly.
Belcart cautiously reached out her hand toward Isabella.
Scarred hands full of calluses.
On top of that, the white, slender hand of the child slowly covered it.
Belcart took Isabella’s hand and led her away.
Belkat silently went back the way he had come.
Heading towards the veil of fog that can be seen in the distance.
In fact, there were so many things I wanted to say.
I’m sorry. and that I loved
I cried and wanted to tell everything.
But that shouldn’t be the case.
There is no one that Isabella and Leslie knew.
What is in this place is the executive of a secret society, the murderer who tried to kill many people, and the criminal who deserves to be scolded.
That too is an evil person who has become dirty right before the fire of life goes out soon.
So I just kept my mouth shut and silently took Isabella to her destination.
Isabella occasionally looked up at Belcart and tried to say something, but couldn’t.
The moment I saw Belcart’s determined expression as she kept her mouth shut, I felt the firmness of not being able to ask questions.
Eventually, the two arrived at their destination.
The childhood Leslie, who was sitting on a small stump, noticed this and smiled broadly.
“Isabella!”
“Leslie!”
Isabella let go of Belcart’s hand and ran towards Leslie.
The two children held each other’s hands and twirled around in their seats, rejoicing.
Beyond those children, I could see the hole carved in the mist veil slowly healing.
“Guys. I don’t have much time.”
Belkat said as she approached the two close friends.
“If you stay here, you will never come out again. So now is your chance. See that road over there? Go ahead and get out there.”
The two children stared blankly at Belcart.
Then, he bowed his head.
“thank you.”
“…..”
“Thanks to you, I finally met you.”
“….okay. That’s a nice thing. So go ahead. If you stay here, you will be in big trouble.”
“mister. Can I ask you one more favor?”
“What are you asking for?”
“I have one more friend. My friend’s name is Belcart, but I can’t leave him behind.”
“…..”
Belkat’s lips trembled at those words.
The children asked without noticing Belcart’s reaction.
“Can you come visit him too?”
“…that friend is not here.”
“no. we can know Belcart is here.”
“Why do you think so?”
“Because we are friends.”
friend.
Belkat opened and closed her lips again and again.
Eventually, he calmed down and answered.
“That friend won’t look for you. Rather, I want you guys to leave. Because he is a really bad kid.”
“no! Belcart is a good friend!”
Isabella sighed at Belcart’s words.
It was an act of grumbling.
“He must be waiting for us too!”
“no. i can tell The child has already forgotten you. I mean, I forgot.”
“lie! How does he know that!”
“Yeah…!”
Because the friend you’ve been looking for is right in front of you.
Because I am that child.
Belcart’s heart ached. My eyes, which I thought were now dry, were watery.
But no. So it didn’t work.
The Belcart the children are looking for and the person he is now are completely different people.
“…There’s no time for arguing like this. Come on, get out there. before the door closes.”
“no, I do not want! I won’t go unless you bring a friend!”
“…”
Belkat bit her lip.
he said in a sobbing voice.
“Come on…if you’re late, you’ll be locked up here again. Forever…”
“But I hate it!”
“Go!”
When Belcart screamed, Isabella and Leslie’s shoulders trembled.
Tears welled up in the eyes of the two children.
Belkat’s face contorted in guilt.
He immediately took a deep breath and put a soft smile on his face.
As if trying to reassure the two children.
“I’m sorry for being angry with you.”
“Your uncle is bad.”
“I’m sorry. My uncle did it because he was in such a hurry. If so, let’s do this Let’s make a promise.”
“A promise?”
“okay. promise. Uncle must bring a friend. So, the two of you, go out first and wait for me.”
“…..”
Isabella and Leslie didn’t respond hastily.
Belcart calmly said without losing her smile.
“I promise.”
yes, it’s a promise
wherever you go
no matter how far away it is.
I will definitely go see you
“Could you do this man’s last request?”
