◈ 535. [Side Story] Funeral (6)
I drew my sword.
Sreung-!
With a cool sound, the sword revealed its blade to the world. Unknowingly, I was amazed.
“… light.”
Although I was a person with poor stamina that could not be considered an awakening character who had completed the 3rd job advancement, I was able to wield this ceremonial longsword very easily.
Moreover,
“… … You made it so beautiful?”
The white sword is so transparent that it gives the illusion that it is made of glass. It’s not a sword, it’s like a piece of art.
As I continued my admiration, Kelly Bay shrugged.
“It was the first time in my life that I had made a ceremonial sword that was not for actual combat. I’ve been trying to make it for ceremonies.”
“Awesome, Kelly Bay. It’s great.”
“Instead, the durability is filthy low, so you have to use it lightly! got it?”
Circled around me, Kelly Bay continued to explain.
“It has all the features you asked for, and as you requested, the blade was intentionally blunt. You can’t even cut vegetables, let alone paper. Just a pretty club, club.”
“It is exactly what I hoped for.”
“Sweet guy… And the scabbard.”
Kelly Bay cast a slightly nervous glance toward the sheath in my opposite hand.
“You’d better handle it with care. Rather, the sheath is more dangerous than the sword side.”
I also saw the scabbard in my hand.
It’s black… … A dark sword sheath that was even ominous with a color like the darkness of midnight.
sigh sigh… … .
It seemed as if he heard the sound of an insect that gnaws at the darkness from the scabbard.
At the same time, the lights of the base camp flickered and shook all at once. As if someone had put their mouth to the torch and blown it at the same time… … .
“Warm Mum!”
“Mommy medicine?!”
Frightened, Kelly Bay and Hannibal hugged each other. Something sinister was swirling around us.
“Suck!”
I applied strength to the hand holding the scabbard and focused my consciousness to infuse magic into it.
Then, the sound of gnawing insects that had been encroaching on the surroundings disappeared at once.
The shaking lighting was restored at once, and the base camp was enveloped in bright light as if it had never happened.
“I can handle this much now.”
I grinned and slowly inserted the ceremonial longsword [Light] into the scabbard [Shadow].
Not only the scabbard, but also this longsword had an unmistakable spirit.
Not only is it beautiful in itself… … I can feel the magic that attracts people’s eyes by itself.
And when they merged into one and put the sword into the scabbard, the yogi emitted by the two equipment disappeared as if they offset each other.
‘If you’re not careful, you’ll get eaten.’
This is the Nightmare Slayer.
You can bewitch people with both light and shadow.
But also man can handle both light and shadow.
I will take the risk and wield this equipment to advance to the next stage of the attack. I thought so as I wore the sword around my waist.
“Now, it doesn’t end here! I have the ‘transformation’ gimmick you asked for!”
Kelly Bay was excited and tried to explain something more, but I didn’t listen and activated the locking device installed in the scabbard – the so-called tong, and locked the sword.
click!
This locking device is a unique one that was used only for the Hwando, but when I ordered it while it was made to order, Kelly Bay made it wonderful.
“Huh? don’t you try? transform?”
When I locked the sword, Kelly Bey, who was taken aback, asked, giggling.
How to say… … I bought my young son a transforming robot toy he likes, but his son didn’t use the transformation function, so it’s like a disappointed father’s look… … what is so specific
I smiled bitterly and nodded.
“There is a funeral today at Crossroads. I have to go slowly. It would take too long to test the transformation gimmick.”
“but… Mmm. Yes, it can’t be helped if it’s a funeral… … .”
Kelly Bay was respecting my duties as a lord, but she kept licking my lips, looking at my waist, as if she was very sorry.
The transformation gimmick must have been a masterpiece of conversion.
However, there are too many things to test if you use that gimmick. It’s a weapon that you have to learn by actually using it.
So I’ll postpone the test until the next opportunity and prepare for the funeral soon.
“… That master.”
Then Hannibal cautiously called Kelly Bay. Since when did the master-disciple relationship start?
“Is it okay if I go back to the ground for a while?”
“… .”
Kelly Bay, who looked at Hannibal’s earnest gaze for a moment, gave a big laugh, whisking her beard away.
“good night! let me go too I just wanted to get some fresh air.”
“yes!”
I thought while watching the two of them getting ready to go out.
I don’t know about Kelly Bay child farming, but he seems to be doing well in raising disciples.
After applauding, I led the way to the teleport gate.
“great! Let’s go. Time is running out!”
***
West of Crossroads. grave site.
A funeral is now in full swing here.
The choir sang, holy water was sprinkled on the tomb, and the life after death was blessed… … .
As I watched the funeral procession proceed, I turned my head to stare at the graves.
Over the past three months, more graves have increased.
From stage 27, deaths continued to occur, and the scale was growing. He was familiar with this scene because he had been holding funerals lately.
I hated that.
Getting used to death, being numb to sadness, making funerals a natural part of everyday life… … I didn’t like it.
After the ceremony, it was my turn to speak.
Standing on the podium, I cleared my throat and recited a paragraph from an English poem.
Do not go gentle into that good night
Old
age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage
rage against
the dying of the light.
Rage towards the dying light, rage again!
After the recitation, silence came.
It was a verse that was somewhat different from the usual funeral tribute. So, the citizens were a little puzzled.
Taking a long breath, I opened my mouth.
“This year, funerals have been held frequently one after another.”
From stage 27 to stage 30.
For each defensive battle, four consecutive funerals are being held.
“Are you used to funerals?”
When I suddenly asked a question, the people gathered in front of me were taken aback.
Unlike my usual funeral tribute, I shot at people in an aggressive and harsh tone.
“Has it become a daily sight to collect the corpses of allies after a defensive battle, gather here, listen to funeral ceremonies, and send the dead away?”
People looked into each other’s eyes.
“It is my reciting sad verses, giving touching speeches, and remembering the people who have passed away with tears… Are you feeling more natural now?”
Some nodded their heads cautiously, as if in agreement, while others shook their heads slightly.
“If not, tell me honestly. Now, isn’t it sad enough that a few people die? Has all of this become a normal daily routine?”
And most people were looking at me with eyes that did not understand the intent of the question.
I breathed out the heat.
“Don’t get used to it.”
“… !”
“Don’t treat funerals as routine. Don’t take death for granted. Don’t be numb to sadness. Don’t give up. Don’t give up!”
I shouted.
“Be angry!”
“… !”
“To the monster! to death! to this war! Rage and Rage! If a scab sits on the wound in your soul and has healed, tear it apart with your own hands! Bleed yourself! Remember the pain!”
The wounded soldiers’ teeth clenched. A hand wrapped in bandages clenched into a fist.
“No matter how strong the enemy is! No matter how difficult the battle was! Do not resign yourself to the fact that all these deaths were unavoidable sacrifices. Think about it one more time and stretch out your arms one more time.”
I also gritted my teeth and clenched my fists.
“There is a way. There is a tombstone. There is an attack. It’s just that we didn’t find it in time.”
“… .”
“Do not accept the result meekly. Resist tenaciously! Struggle desperately! Fight with all your might!”
I caught my breath. His voice was slightly hoarse.
“… And if the funeral comes again despite fighting like that.”
I looked around at the people.
“Cry then.”
“… .”
“Don’t be indifferent, say you did your best, but you couldn’t help it, say you did what you had to do, don’t let go of your hands and be sad and angry at each death of a colleague. Don’t forget the pain.”
After brushing back my disheveled hair and tidying it up, I continued.
“Currently, our front faces great challenges. To protect the human world from monsters. And at the same time preserving our humanity.”
if you give up the latter.
If people’s lives were changed, soldiers’ emotions were removed, and the frontlines were operated mechanically and efficiently.
Maybe it will be easy to clear. however.
The way I’m going and the way we’re going are not there. Because I’ve come to a conclusion.
“Humanity is not a great thing. Something you can still be sad about, still rejoice in, and still angry at. that the heart is not worn out. That is humanity.”
I nodded slowly.
“I will find a way to protect the human world from monsters. So, I hope you all keep your own humanity.”
The monster front faced a crisis.
The soldiers are exhausted from fatigue, and the hastily united groups and heroes collide with each other and create dissonance.
but however.
There will be a solution.
And I’m the one who finds it
“Don’t just stare at the dying light of your dull mind.”
Towards the people, I chanted lowly with all my strength.
“Be angry.”
After a moment of silence, I slowly lowered my head.
“The 19 knights of the Kingdom of Vermillion who took the lead in protecting the world while flying in the sky. Thanks to their efforts, the world was able to survive this time too.”
“… “
I hope you will forever remember that they flew higher than anyone else and were braver than anyone else. First, I will pay a silent tribute to the 19 members of the Sky Knights who returned to the sky.”
I bowed my head first, followed by others.
Eventually, the silence ended and I went down the podium. Evangeline, who was in charge of this funeral, waved her arms wide.
pop! Pervert!
A dry roar in honor of the lion resounded.
The funeral ended with this. However, people did not disperse easily and were quietly chewing on the place.
This death, the previous death.
And, perhaps, each person’s heart that has become calm to death.
***
Mikhail was on a hill overlooking the grave site.
Sitting on top of the exposed roots of a beautiful tree, he was quietly looking down at the funeral.
The boy, dressed in black mourning clothes, was emaciated. The vivid scarlet hair and eyes had faded as if they had lost their vitality in a few days.
“Mikhail.”
As he approached, Mikhail spoke in a low voice without looking away from the funeral.
“… Prince Ash. Thank you for taking care of my subordinates’ funerals.”
“Of course that’s what I have to do.”
The bodies of the 19 knights of the Kingdom of Vermillion were all cremated.
At the tomb site here, they planned to first make an empty tomb for a funeral, and then send the ashes to the Vermillion Kingdom in such a way that they were reburied.
In front of that empty tomb, the people of Vermillion Kingdom were weeping.
However, Mikhail was far away from this place, not being able to join him.
“… How about going over there? Everyone will be waiting for you.”
When I cautiously recommended it, Mikhail shook his head bitterly.
“I have no face… I killed them all, so how can you shamelessly cry over there?”
“Mikhail. You know that accidents in battle are unavoidable. Besides, I was the one who gave the instructions… … .”
“Your operational instructions were correct. My men were perfect too. The only thing wrong was me, who rushed into the enemy camp at that time.”
Mikhail let out a weak laugh.
“I have no confidence. How to hand the box with the bone meal to the families who have been waiting for their return from their hometown… … .”
“… .”
“Having nothing to give back except death and defeat… .”
After washing his face dry with empty hands, Mikhail muttered in a low voice.
“But yes. know. That this is a responsibility I must shoulder as the Crown Prince and the Knight Commander.”
Before long, Mikhail staggered to his feet and smiled precariously at me.
“Thank you, Prince Ash. really… As you said, I will go to my people.”
“okay. Everyone will be waiting for you.”
Mikhail started down the hill with a wobbly step.
While looking at her back, Mikhail suddenly stopped and looked back.
“Oh, what a great speech. “Be angry”… … .”
“… “
Yes, you should be angry.”
With a smile on his lips that seemed like it would collapse like a landslide at any moment, Mikhail murmured once more.
“You should be angry.”
Then he staggered down the hill.
“… .”
I watched the shadow reeling like the boy knight’s haze.
Praying earnestly that the danger of that boy would not destroy itself.
