◈ 270. [Side Story] A goal that cannot be filled
After discussing the future with the punishment unit.
I instructed them to prepare for the departure separately. It was the intention to leave under the Lake Kingdom tonight.
After watching the punishment unit members disappear to get ready, I went looking for the rest of the party members one by one.
Damian was not seriously injured, but he lost his eyesight for a while due to the excessive use of his clairvoyance.
So, as I was recuperating, I was unable to attend this funeral.
Lucas is still in a situation where he can’t come to his senses due to the side effect of turning into a beast, so he is tied up and imprisoned in the dungeon.
The last main party member is Junior.
“… .”
Junior stood still on top of the hill.
What she’s looking at
is gooooooh!
An airship flew over the crossroads before I knew it.
It was the Imperial Royal Navy ship Alcatraz.
The non-empty ship was dispatched to retrieve the magic troops dispatched here and return to the ecliptic.
The flying giant was slowly landing in front of the south gate of the Crossroads.
Soon, Reina and the magic corps will board that airship and leave for the ecliptic.
“… .”
Junior was watching the non-empty ship landing with an expressionless expression.
Junior muttered softly as I approached.
“… I vaguely believed that people could understand each other.”
I stopped walking as I approached. Junior continued.
“But it wasn’t. There are gaps between people that can never be bridged.”
“… .”
“The gap is so deep and so deep that it can never be filled… .”
Junior slowly lowered his head.
“A deep hatred that you cannot overcome even if you try, and that you cannot ignore even if you turn away.”
“Junior.”
“I wanted to fill that goal and get close to that person. I wanted to forgive him and put my mind at ease.”
A bitter smile formed on Junior’s lips.
“But I realized. I only realized it when I saw that person and Mr. Camus fighting to kill each other.”
“… .”
“There are things in this world that can never be forgiven. There is a gap that will never be filled. There is such a deep chasm between me and Sir Reina.”
Junior shook his head.
“Getting closer was impossible from the beginning.”
“… You might be right, Junior.”
maybe from the beginning. It may have been impossible to bridge the gap between the two.
I smiled softly at Junior.
“But you don’t have to come close.”
“yes?”
“People can talk to each other even across a deep valley.”
It’s okay to be friends or not to have a friendly relationship. Even if it’s an enemy, it doesn’t matter.
People can talk to each other.
If there is a will to do so to each other. However much.
I nodded my head at Junior, who was indifferent.
“I don’t think Reina is right. I don’t even think that what he did in the past can be forgiven.”
“… .”
“But I know you’ll regret it if I let that person go like this.”
I lightly pushed Junior’s back.
“go. Go and have a last talk.”
“… .”
“You don’t have to forgive. You don’t have to understand each other. Even if it’s far away, shout out and talk.”
Junior, who had been silent for a long time, asked cautiously.
“Then will something change?”
“It’s okay if you don’t change.”
I said with confidence.
“But the regrets will be less.”
Reina killed Camus.
He bombed Junior’s kingdom, inflicted irreparable wounds on Junior, and did not ask for forgiveness from Junior.
This resentment is the kind that can never be washed or erased.
However, the two worked hard for each other.
Raina tried to improve the relationship by treating Junior’s body, and Junior was slowly accepting such Raina.
A sloppy bridge was being built between the two of them.
I have been watching this process from the sidelines.
So I couldn’t wait to see the two say goodbye without saying goodbye.
Even if this gap is never filled.
Even so, these two wanted to see each other properly and part ways instead of looking away from each other.
… Whatever fate awaits them in the future.
I wished the two could understand each other even more.
for juniors.
And for Reina too.
“… I’ll go see it. I’ll personally say goodbye to Sir Reina.”
After hesitating, Junior made up his mind and bowed his head to me.
“thank you. majesty.”
Junior jumped and ran towards the Crossroads barracks where Reina had disappeared.
I looked at the back of it and then turned my gaze to the southern wall as well.
Wheein-!
Now, on the airship that had fully landed, the officers and soldiers of the magic corps were busy loading their luggage.
***
When Junior reached the southern gate.
oh oh oh-!
The airship was ready for flight, emitting engine sounds with great vigour.
And it was the last time Reina climbed into the airship through the open hatch.
“Sir Reina!”
Junior, who ran hastily, shouted urgently. Surprised, Rayna looked back.
“Junior?”
“… .”
An awkward silence passed between the two as they looked at each other.
Reina smiled and shrugged.
“I’m asking just in case, did you come to accept my offer from before?”
Saying that we will go to the ecliptic together.
A sweet proposal to walk the path of magic together in the ivory tower at the cutting edge of magic research.
But Junior shook his head quietly. It had already been rejected. Reina smiled bitterly.
“Then why are you here? For what purpose?”
“… .”
“Did you come to pour out curse words because you hated me? Saying goodbye like that isn’t bad either.”
Looking at Raina, who smirked, silently said,
“You… .”
Junior spat out anew.
“… I decided not to forgive.”
Reina’s lips were tightly closed. Junior continued.
“but.”
“… ?”
“I am grateful for what you have done for me.”
Junior slowly raised his hand and placed it in front of his chest.
“It healed the body. who taught magic. Going back-to-back and crossing the line of fire.”
“… .”
“Meddling in my affairs, dragging me to a restaurant, and talking about my mother… The journey of the past few months with you.”
Junior said honestly.
“I enjoyed.”
“… .”
“If I had a magic teacher, I would have liked someone like you. I thought.”
Because he was a junior who had never had a proper teacher and learned everything on his own.
Each and every one of Reina’s teachings was appreciated and precious.
All the time we spent together… … It was useful and enjoyable.
“If we meet again someday.”
Junior spat out in a trembling voice.
“I still can’t forgive you, but… .”
After hesitating, Junior looked straight into Raina’s eyes and said.
“Then tell me your story.”
Hearing the unexpected words, Reina’s eyes blinked.
“… my story?”
“What kind of life have you lived? Why did you have to live like that? How were you feeling at the time?”
In the meantime, the topic of conversation between the two was Jupiter.
It was also a point of contact between the two, and it was a common interest.
How Jupiter behaved when he was with Junior, what kind of person Jupiter was when he was with Reina. We shared such a story.
So, we didn’t really talk much about each other.
“Tell me about you.”
“… .”
“I will also tell you about my life.”
Wizards who trampled other countries for their own country, and
other wizards who survived and grew up being trampled on like that.
Two people who are very different from each other.
Standing on the edge of a bridge that has already collapsed on the other side of the valley that can’t be filled.
Nevertheless, Junior shouted.
let’s talk
let’s understand
Although we are so different, we cannot bear to forgive you.
Still want to hear your story.
“… huh.”
after a long silence.
Reina barely opened her mouth to answer with a faint, trembling voice.
“Let’s do that.”
A smile of relief hung over Reina’s lips as she closed her eyes and opened them.
“please.”
“… .”
“I look forward to the day we meet again. Jupiter Jr.”
Gii-i-!
The hatch closed slowly. Reina smiled brightly and waved her hand.
“Until then, keep a lot of great stories together! got it!”
thud!
The hatch closes and
throws-!
Blue flames from the magic furnace spewed out through the airship’s thrusters.
The empty ship carrying the magic corps pierced the air and disappeared in an instant.
Junior was still watching the trail left by the emptiness that was moving away from the clouds.
I hope you understand the next time you meet that unforgivable wizard.
***
Crossroads. manor house.
After all the funeral events were over, the three shadow corps members were waiting for me when I returned to the mansion.
I called. I have work to do and I need to hear a report on how the mission I entrusted has turned out.
“God Hand. body bag. Burnout.”
I nodded as I looked around at the three elves who had returned safely.
“The long-term dispatch mission was very difficult. I am glad you returned safely.”
“I’m only sorry for being late, Your Highness.”
The three elves bowed their heads at the same time. I tapped them on the shoulder.
“Thank you for coming back alive. Besides, as soon as he returned, he contributed to the defense… … . It was really hard.”
Under my rule, the three elves were delighted, but somehow looked at each other.
Without much thought, I smiled and looked at God Hand.
“So the Dragon Lady… Have you met the Duke of Bringer?”
“yes. majesty.”
The mission I entrusted to these shadow units.
That is to deliver my letter to the Dragon Lady, the king of the Principality of Bringer.
The content of the letter is simple. If the Duke of Bringer escapes to the monster front here, he will hide him and help him recover.
The Duke of Bringer, driven to the brink of destruction in the war with the Everblack Empire, escapes to the monster front anyway.
In the game, it was a choice to accept this or not.
Instead of twisting this, I suggested that they come to the monster front first.
I had long ago made up my mind to place the Duke of Bringer under my command.
That’s why I threw a proposal in the first place to take the initiative.
And the Shadow Unit, who was the messenger of the letter, returned like this.
What this means is that the Duke of Bringer has decided to accept my offer.
“… Here is the reply from the Duke of Bringer.”
God Hand, who was hesitant for some reason, handed me a letter.
I opened the wax-sealed letter without hesitation and read the contents in one fell swoop.
And the corner of my mouth that had been forming a smile slowly hardened.
I was dumbfounded and looked at God Hand holding the letter.
“What is this?”
“… So, that’s it.”
God Hand really didn’t want to answer, but he had no choice but to explain the contents of the letter to my question.
“It is a declaration of war.”
“… ?”
“Duke Bringer has declared war on the southern front here.”
The contents of the letter were not wrong.
After meeting with the Duke of Bringer in person, God Hand clearly conveyed the Dragon Lady’s intentions to me.
“… They say that they will march directly here soon.”
what kind of dog is this… … .
No, it’s the sound of a dragon!
