◈ 055. [Side Story] Funeral
Lucas’ eyes are blue. It is a very deep blue beautiful wall eye.
I don’t know what temperature that gaze, which is usually gentle like a big dog looking up at its owner, is now.
Did you ask such a question out of sincere concern for me?
Or to test if I am the ‘real’ Ash.
“Uh, that… .”
I broke out in a cold sweat.
There’s no way I know something like Ash’s family life. Since he is the emperor’s son, I guess that his family life is not simple.
I struggled, not knowing how to respond to the attack from an unexpected direction.
“… .”
Lucas, who stared at me silently for a while,
said, “I’m sorry. I have touched the part that the lord is reluctant to do.”
I bowed my head and apologized.
I hurriedly waved my hands.
“No no! Just thinking about it all of a sudden made me feel dazed for a moment. haha.”
“Both the master’s family affairs and Miss Evangeline’s family affairs will all go well.”
Lucas smiled brightly. It is the usual pure-like Golden Retriever smile.
Was it just that I was too sensitive? Could Lucas just be worried?
“Ughhhh… . thank you sleep well! I’ll see you tomorrow!”
Stupidly, I waved my hand and hurriedly ran into the bedroom.
‘Ash, this bastard has family problems too?’
no, he’s a prince Because he is the king’s son.
Of course, there must be a bunch of dirty, dirty stuff. The problem is that I don’t know anything.
‘What kind of past are you hiding?’
I’ll have to dig up some info later. Whew.
I had the realization that this body belonged to someone else. It’s not usually difficult to live as a stranger… … .
***
The day after I went to the dungeon.
I dealt with overdue work and expanded my defenses for the next stage.
[Enemy Information – STAGE 3]
– Lv.? ??? : 5 bodies
– Lv.20 Steam Golem : 152 bodies
– Lv.15 Rock Golem : 103 bodies
In particular, since we knew that the opponent in this defense match was the golem army, we had to change the defense equipment accordingly.
‘Large monsters and few elites. Modify the tactics accordingly.’
A little over a week left until the next stage.
This time, prepare really thoroughly.
So that you can respond perfectly to any variable that appears. no.
‘So that no matter what variable appears, you can chew it with more firepower… … !’
I spurred on the preparations for the next stage by repeatedly ordering and wiping out all the production union facilities in the city.
***
And again a day later. early morning.
Field west of Cross Road. grave site.
“… .”
I stood in silence in this place bustling with funeral preparations.
In Stage 2, there were several injuries, but only one fatality.
‘Marquee bag.’
I kept my mouth shut while looking at the list of funerals. The name Charles Cross was written on it alone.
“Your Highness said that the coffin has departed.”
“hmm.”
Lucas said into my ear. I nodded.
The coffin departing from the temple was transported along the main street in the city and came out through the west gate.
Soon, a long procession of citizens followed the coffin.
It was the death of the former lord who had ruled this place for decades.
Even in a city insensitive to death, many people were expressing their condolences.
Before long, the coffin stopped in front of the cemetery.
Only a funeral was held here, and the coffin was to be buried in the orchard where the Margrave lived.
Because there is also the tomb of the Marquis Marquis.
rattle!
The flag of the Everblack Empire was covered on top of the coffin that was carefully lowered to the floor.
The priests surrounding the coffin offered prayers, and behind them the choir sang funeral dirges.
A series of meals is over. The time has come for me to give a brief speech.
I got up on the podium. I’m used to getting a lot of people’s attention now.
“after.”
Take a breath. After working out what to say in your head.
I raised my voice.
“I said last time. Your death is expensive. It’s not a figurative expression, it’s actually expensive in terms of money.”
Compensation for funeral expenses.
To be honest and without empty words, death is expensive in this city.
“But the death of Marquis Charles Cross goes beyond financial loss… It hurts to the depths of my heart.”
I squeezed my chest with my hand.
still people are quiet
I swallowed for a moment, then exhaled slowly.
“… The Marquis told me. Give people joy.”
I smiled faintly.
“The city doesn’t move just by being sad. Because this is a fortified city, there is no choice but to be a place where death always lurks. Reign with hope and joy instead of sadness.”
Immediately after, I shook my head slightly.
“But today I will violate the Marquis’ will. I will be sad today.”
“… .”
People were listening to my story, swallowing dry saliva. I raised my voice.
“This front is maintained at the cost of precious lives. Not only the marquess, but every single life that perishes here is painful.”
I pressed my chest tight again.
“I hope you always remember that the sacrifice is worth as much as it hurts. That the Empire and the entire human world are maintained because of your sacrifice and dedication. I hope you always remember.”
I scanned everyone under the podium.
“I will say it over and over again. You will always die here on the front lines!”
I nodded heavily.
“And it’s definitely worth it.”
In front of the silent audience, I slowly bowed my head.
“I will observe a moment of silence for those who saved the world.”
I bowed my head first, and the people gathered also bowed their heads one by one.
Even though thousands of people had gathered, in an instant the cemetery became extremely quiet.
“I hope one day this city will have a festival every day instead of a funeral.”
Slowly raising my head again, I murmured in a low voice.
“Just as the Marquis had hoped.”
I went down the platform and Lucas waved his arms at the artillerymen.
pop! Boom!
Gunfire rang out in honor of the dead.
The funeral ceremony ended with that. The old soldiers, who were directly under the Marquis, lifted the coffin and carried it, and I got on my horse.
We started to move to the place where the margrave’s coffin was to be buried.
***
About 30 minutes on horseback to the southeast.
The orchard of the Marquis began to appear.
“huh?”
As I rode at the head of the procession, I noticed that someone had come to the orchard first.
A small, platinum-haired girl was standing in the back yard of an orchard. He shrugged his shoulders with his hands in his jacket pockets.
“… .”
I slowly slowed down the horse. One by one, other old soldiers following the coffin procession also spotted the girl.
“what? That person… … .”
“Miss Evangeline?”
“It’s a young lady.”
“The lady is back!”
Soon the procession entered the orchard.
Evangeline stood in front of a small tombstone in the backyard of the orchard. Perhaps that was her mother’s grave.
“… ah.”
Evangeline turned to us and muttered nonchalantly.
“You are here.”
Old soldiers rushed to Evangeline, surrounded them and greeted them.
“Meet Evangeline after 3 years!”
“You have come a long way from the capital to here.”
“I am really sorry for Mr. We should have protected… … .”
“… .”
Instead of answering, Evangeline silently bowed her head.
The old soldiers soon closed their mouths and bowed their heads to Evangeline.
“The coffin.”
Evangeline looked at the coffin on the floor and asked.
“May I check the coffin?”
The priests in charge of the funeral looked at me in bewilderment. I nodded.
“You have that right. check it out.”
Evangeline came to the side of the coffin and the priests carefully opened the lid on the head of the coffin.
“… .”
Evangeline kept her mouth shut and studied her father’s face.
The corpse, which had been prevented from decay by temporary magic, was pale.
Fortunately, the body was horrendous with a lot of damage, but the face was relatively intact.
“… It’s real.”
Evangeline muttered slowly.
“He always fought in front as if he would never die. at last… .”
Evangeline, who pursed her lips, quickly turned around.
“… thank you It’s done now.”
The coffin was covered again.
Evangeline turned around and did not move until the coffin went into the ground.
The coffin went into the deep-dug, and now all that remains is to cover it with soil.
Then one of the old soldiers spoke cautiously to Evangeline.
“miss.”
“yes?”
“I think I should ask you something.”
The old soldier held out what he was holding in his hand to Evangeline. It was a flawed cavalry spear and shield. Evangeline’s eyes widened.
“This… .”
“It is an armament passed down from generation to generation in the Cross family, used by the Marquis. Originally, I was going to put it in the grave of the Marquis. I would like to ask just in case.”
“… .”
“It is old and slightly damaged, but it can be used again if repaired… .”
“Ask me.”
Evangeline shook her head.
“Please bury me next to my father.”
“… I will. miss.”
The old soldiers dug a separate space next to the tomb, put a box in it, and put a spear and shield there.
The two arms that have supported the Cross family for generations have disappeared into a pile of dirt.
I looked at it a little sadly.
Finally, soil was covered over the coffin.
The priests recited the last words, and with this the funeral was over.
“Oh my go-go shoulder.”
I swung my shoulder and loosened it. Even though it was only a few hours, I am very tired.
“Everyone, have a glass of cold drink!”
Lucas offered a drink to everyone who worked hard.
While everyone drank from a glass, I stood in front of the grave and looked down at the tombstone.
‘Many people will die in the future.’
I remembered the dead in the past. Looking back, all of them were vivid deaths that could be grasped by hand.
how much in the future
How much.
At that time, one of the words of the Marquis suddenly came to mind.
– There will come a moment when you have to sacrifice your most precious thing to protect this city.
“… .”
What precious things will I lose?
Even if I lose it, can I still be myself?
While thinking, I recited a low verse.
It
was a verse from a poem I liked on
Earth
.
I thought it was a poem suitable for Marquis, so I originally planned to recite it as a funeral tribute. I left it out because it didn’t fit the order.
I look down at the tombstone, lost in many thoughts.
It was then.
“I didn’t know you had the noble hobby of reciting poetry.”
A young girl’s voice came from the side.
Looking back, sure enough, it was Evangeline.
