612. [Side Story] The last festival (2)
The two glasses on the table were filled with wine
.
emperor and grand duke.
The two rulers shared a cup with each other and inhaled the incense. Dusk Bringer spoke first.
“It smells nostalgic.”
“It’s an Everblack Western wine that you used to like.”
“There is nothing difficult to say. Isn’t that the wine made at the border between the principality and the empire?”
“you’re right. This is a bottle produced there this summer.”
Dusk Bringer raised his glass and looked at the red color of the wine in the sunlight.
“All of the borderlands there must have been burned, but they managed to produce wine.”
“It has already been more than a year since the war between the two countries stopped. The farm was quickly restored.”
“Hey, is it a fruit that grows in blood and ashes…”
Dusk Bringer dipped the wine into his small scarlet lips for a moment, then swallowed it down with a slender throat.
“I thought it might taste like blood, but it’s just sweet. Ha ha.”
“Do you like it?”
As well as the taste of wine.
The war between the Empire and the Principality- It was a question about whether he liked the post-processing.
The Everblack Empire gave full support to the restoration of the Principality of Bringer. Compensation was generously paid and manpower and materials were provided.
This wine, produced again in the border area between the two countries, was a symbolic token of that.
“…”
Dusk Bringer kept his mouth shut.
No matter how sincerely the Everblack Empire apologized, the tantrum in their hearts could not go away. A trampled life and a ruined honor cannot come back.
But I have no choice but to accept the apology.
Because the king is a position to live for the light of tomorrow, not for the revenge of yesterday. Because it is a place where we have to look at the joy of the living people, not the sorrow of the dead subordinates.
The other fallen kings gathered on the world defense front were also in the same position as Dusk Bringer.
Emperor Traha and the Everblack Empire contacted them behind the scenes, forcibly washing away their past silver dollars and offering them an irresistible peace.
This was the reason why the emperor deliberately visited a few days early before the festival.
Most of the negotiations with the fallen kings gathered on the front here have been concluded.
While the World Defense Front fought desperately against the monster, world politics was being renewed from the bottom up.
“sister. I will make Ash the next emperor.”
The emperor, who held up his cup and inhaled the incense, spat out in a low voice.
“For that, I intend to shoulder all the darkness remaining in the empire.”
“….”
“Ash is brilliant. But pure. That innocence may lead to popularity, but that alone cannot rule the world.”
soft
It’s unmatched.
From the banner you stand up to the ideal you want to protect…
‘Everyone who tries to communicate is a human being, and if they are, they will protect them all.’
The emperor laughed.
Everyone is fascinated by that frailty, that pure cause, and fights together here, but that’s only valid as long as a common enemy exists.
After the common crisis of the monster disappears, the world will once again become a battle of competitions biting each other. The emperor wanted to prepare for that time in advance.
“That child… doesn’t know the dark. Innocent will be needed to protect the world right now. But the hundred years that follow require darkness.”
“….”
“I will go into that darkness instead. In the meantime, I will shoulder all the hatred and all the grudges that Everblack sowed and will be buried together.”
Dusk Bringer smiled and cast a sharp gaze.
“Aren’t those stories all stories after saving the world from destruction?”
“Because it is the responsibility of the prince to prepare for the future.”
“It must be the responsibility of the prince to defeat the enemy at hand. Monsters are not easy enemies. Especially the next enemy… more.”
The next enemy – Black Dragon.
Recalling that existence, Dusk Bringer bit his lip and looked at the emperor again.
“As long as Ash is the commander of this frontline, the child’s life will continue to be at stake. Why don’t you worry about that first?”
“That’s why I gave the Glory Knights to Ash.”
The emperor nodded heavily.
“The knights will protect Ash. Even if it means covering the child with darkness.”
“…”
Dusk Bringer, who was silent for a moment, shook his head with a sigh.
“They are not knights. They are evil spirits who can drop anything under the darkness for the sake of the empire’s light.”
evil spirits of the empire.
It was another nickname for Glory Knights. And when the name came out, the emperor burst out laughing.
“Aren’t you the one who turned the Glory Knights into such an evil knight?”
“…”
Dusk Bringer lowered his amber eyes.
The Principality of Bringer was originally the shield of the Everblack Empire, and when the Empire waged war, it fought alongside it on the front line.
The position of leader of the Glory Knights of the Imperial Guard was held by the Archduke of Bringer for generations.
That’s why Dusk Bringer was once the leader of the Glory Knights.
During the Tribal War a hundred years ago, Dusk Bringer took the lead as the Grand Duke of Bringer and the leader of the Glory Knights, trampling and burning the countries of the different races – and at the same time protecting the emperor.
“…the emperor at the time requested it.”
And in this fierce war.
Dozens of loyal knights died in front of the desperate counterattack of the allied forces of different races, and the emperor, who had passed the test of death several times, made a request to her.
“We need an army that will never lose.”
invincibility.
You don’t have to be the strongest. Just never lose and maintain the front line… I definitely needed troops that could protect the emperor.
“The blood of the Guardian Dragon, who swore to protect the empire, runs through my body. I… couldn’t refuse the emperor’s request at the time.”
Curses and magic forbidden…
and dragon blood.
By all dark and dirty means.
The Glory Knights, which were simple imperial guards, were reborn as invincible monsters that would never be defeated.
And the person responsible for creating this was none other than Dusk Bringer.
“The darkest shadow among the many darkness of the Empire… That is the Glory Knights. And my sister was once the vanguard leading that darkness.”
“Because then I knew it was the right thing to do.”
Dusk Bringer was also young.
It was a hundred years ago, so I was only twenty years old at that time.
The young Dragon Lady was young, and the country inherited from the previous Grand Duke was engulfed in war.
I had to do something, and I reached out to the darkness with ease.
The knights he created were powerful, and the Empire and Principality eventually won.
….
A sloppy life continued, and the sloppy legacy he left behind was also twisted and distorted.
Under the guise of patriots, in the form of evil spirits.
“It’s not just the political arena that needs darkness. The battlefield is the same.”
Dusk Bringer glared at the dark red wine glass with a bitter heart, but Traha spoke softly.
“Like the Glory Knights, I believe that you too… will bear the darkness in Ash’s place.”
“joy.”
Dusk Bringer snorted.
“Your youngest son will shine in the dark.”
Ash was never stupidly innocent.
The young prince suffered countless deaths and realized his limits.
He knelt down in front of the harsh reality, was frustrated, and even broke down, blaming his own weak beliefs.
And despite that… I got up again.
That’s why the innocence was more valuable.
The goodness of not giving up in the end even after experiencing the cruelty and bitterness of the world and holding onto it again even after giving up once was great.
Both the emperor and the grand duke willingly became wicked as rulers. It was because he realized long ago that ideals were beautiful but difficult to carry through.
But both were vaguely aware of it.
That it is an excuse for those who gave up.
Because it is difficult to maintain innocence, because it is painful, because it hurts, and above all, because the benefit is not great….
Those who let go are probably the weak.
The fact that that young prince, who is still struggling to hold on to that innocence, may be the real strongman.
“The light emitted by your son, the glare… the evil spirits may also be affected and melted away.”
Like the warmth of a bonfire in an autumn field where winter is approaching…
‘Ah.’
Suddenly, Dusk Bringer closed his eyes and recalled that day two years ago.
– You worked hard to come a long way… Come on.
– Let’s come to crossroads, an independent route for all those who fight against monsters in the southern fortress city.
The warmth the boy gave off that day was really warm…
so I couldn’t even stand up and melted away.
Traha cautiously asked Dusk Bringer, who was drinking the rest of the drink.
“Your sister too. Are you going to melt away like that?”
“…”
“Like the Grand Dukes of the past… Are you going to scatter like foam?”
widely.
Putting an empty glass on the table, Dusk Bringer smiled with an aged smile.
“I have lived too long, traha.”
“sister.”
“You live long. Live long and bear the darkness of the Empire instead of Ash, as you said. Carry as much as you can carry.”
Traha had a hunch.
The fact that this place is now a turning point in fate.
To the world, and to the Dragon Blood Duke in front of me with the appearance of a girl…
“Instead of that, I… just like you said, I’ll guard the bonfire by her side.”
The world is dark.
After this fall, winter is just around the corner. The rain is cold, the wind is cold, and the frost will cut your flesh.
The winter night is coming. The master of the night – the Nightbringer himself will draw the veil.
Just like setting fire to stop a fire. If you need darkness to stop it, yes. I’m willing to be that spearhead.
Even the mistakes he left behind… Even the evil spirits of the empire, if necessary, he dragged in all of them.
I will guard this little bonfire.
Dusk Bringer made a promise, and even without words, Traha could read its meaning.
Afterwards, the two rulers exchanged a drink in silence.
“It reminds me of the day I first met the former Grand Duke, Day-Bringer.”
Dusk Bringer whispered softly as he inhaled the scent from his last glass.
“That day was also the day of the Fall Festival.”
“What was the festival like a century ago?”
“How is it different from now? Drinking, dancing, singing, and…”
Dusk Bringer, who was about to say something, paused and stopped, then burst into laughter.
“This is how the last festival of my life goes.”
“What are you talking about? This is just the beginning.”
The emperor rose from his seat and held out one arm.
“Go away, sister. It is a festival day and night for the next three days. Go laugh and have fun. No, you should.”
“….”
“I will escort you after a long time.”
Dusk Bringer, who looked up at the emperor with sharp eyes, let out a sigh.
“I think your son has a lot more taste than you…”
“Hahaha! Please be sure to search for your conscience first before going out.”
“okay. Well, instead of a pheasant, call it a chicken. Shall we go?”
After lightly draping the outdoor cape over the negligee and slipping your feet into comfortable sandals.
The Dragon Lady walked out with the Emperor escorted.
And I started to walk slowly towards the crossroads in the afternoon when the festival was in full swing.
***
“Everyone looks happy.”
Inn Etty’s honey. above the roof.
Hecate, in a dress, was sitting on the roof with a wide-brimmed hat pulled down, a white parasol draped over her shoulders… and a mat spread out on the roof.
“….”
She looked at the city view with faint eyes.
People laughing, talking, drinking and being happy.
“Yes, I set myself up to be like this to protect this kind of scenery.”
The faint smile slowly faded from Hecate’s lips.
“But…”
I saw Lucas having a drinking match among the heroes gathered in a plaza not far away.
The silvery-red werewolf who was sitting next to him briskly drank several beers in succession, and then went backwards as if he had reached his limit.
Cheers poured out all around, and Lucas jumped up from his seat, set his empty glass in the air, and then fell to the side with a crash.
People burst into laughter, and a brown-haired priest ran to cast a healing spell on Lucas, who was sprawled out.
The platinum-haired girl knight quickly scribbled on Lucas’ face with a pen, and the cone-hat wizard brewed a hangover cure beside him.
The black-haired lord-Ash, who was watching this scene, grabbed his stomach and laughed, and his shoulders trembled when the other heroes approached and laughed wickedly.
Ash let out a long scream as he was led to the next drinking match. Everyone chanted Ash’s name and mixed all sorts of liquor into his glass.
Hecate, watching the joy and happiness of his former classmates, buried his face in his arms.
Between the long sleeves of her dress and her white gloves, a bandage with magical inscriptions was suddenly visible.
Smelling the disgusting smell of blood coming from her body… Hecate murmured lowly.
“…I want to be a little grumpy.”
