619. [Side Story] Last festival (9)
Junior’s room.
Hecate’s condition looked so bad that Junior invited him to his room and Hecate did not refuse. I didn’t have the mental strength to refuse.
“…”
Standing at the entrance of the wizard’s room, which smelled of old books, Hecate looked around blankly. There were many books, but not only magic books…
‘…history books?’
There were also piles of old history books.
Then Junior approached and handed over the robe.
“Would you like me to put this on…?”
After a while, Hecate, wearing a robe, sat across from Junior at a narrow table. Junior hurriedly picked up the drink bottle.
“Would you like something to drink? It’s just a health drink…”
Hecate didn’t refuse. Junior handed over a cup of the only drink in the room – healthy juice made from tomatoes and spinach.
“I don’t have any tea, but do you eat a lot…?”
“…thank you.”
Even though the taste must have been horrible, Hecate drank well. Even though he was in the position of handing out the drink, Junior thought to himself, ‘This person has a good stomach.’
“thank you.”
After an awkward silence, Hecate opened her mouth. Junior is one beat late, yes? answered.
“Thank you for caring.”
“Ah… no… it’s not that great…”
“You don’t have to be so kind to someone like me.”
“You don’t have to belittle yourself like that. Hecate is a great person…”
“….”
Hecate put it back in while trying to say something and looked out the window.
“Are there many festivals in Crossroads?”
“Um, no. At least, it’s about twice a year that I get excited. Autumn festivals and New Year events.”
“I see…”
“Ecliptic… Festivals are often held in New Terra, right?”
“yes. It’s often. Although I, a native of New Terra, didn’t go well.”
Junior tilted his head.
“why?”
Hecate hesitated before answering.
“…My parents died when I was very young. So, since there is no one to take me to the festival. When I was young, I always watched from a distance.”
“I’m sorry. I just…”
“No. I’m sorry. Talking about something sensitive…”
An awkward silence settled between the two of them again.
Not knowing what to do, Junior jerked his eyes left and right, but Hecate spoke first.
“My parents were soldiers, but they died in an accident.”
“That’s right…”
“With no relatives, I became an orphan… And His Majesty took me in.”
Junior blinked.
Hecate poured out incoherently with blank eyes.
“Because there is an orphanage run by the imperial family that raises the children of war veterans. I grew up there.”
Hecate’s face brightened a little when the emperor’s story came out.
“His Majesty visited there regularly and encouraged us. He said, ‘I owed my life to your parents, so I will take responsibility for your lives’… and he stroked each one of us.”
Hecate closed her eyes and recalled that day.
“For me, who couldn’t even remember my parents’ faces, his kind touch was salvation.”
“….”
“How can you not respect a monarch who takes care of even the little ones like us…? How could I not love you?”
Just as Jupiter, who took her to Junior, was her mother.
For Hecate, the emperor who took her in was… her father.
Hecate’s red eyes opened to the contents of the mug in her hand.
“I decided from an early age to give my life for Everblack, and because of my talent for swords, I was able to enter the Imperial Academy as a scholarship student. It was my dream to join the Glory Knights that protect His Majesty, and that’s how it turned out.”
“…”
“I am standing on the battlefield with His Majesty. Your Majesty has trusted us. Even though I became like this and went through countless terrible pains, I was told that I would ‘stop’ after not being able to endure for long, but I was still proud of it.”
Hecate’s bandaged hand gripped the mug tightly.
“But the front line I risked my life to defend has now signed a peace agreement.”
“…”
“I know. Weapons should not be questioned. But it’s bound to be embarrassing. I stopped the gods of different races for the sake of the empire. dying endlessly But now they say that the different races are also on our side.”
Junior quietly looked into Hecate’s eyes.
“Then what is the meaning of the battles I’ve been fighting and the life I’ve dedicated to becoming this kind of body?”
Hecate’s eyes were in confusion.
“I came here to see my old friends one last time before my life ends. Everyone was surprised to see my body like this, but actually, I was more surprised.”
“….”
“The enemies of all the frontiers that we have been guarding as the Royal Guard… have united as one army in this city. All the Lords of the list, who should have been dispatched and beheaded if I had to, are laughing together while enjoying the festival calmly.”
Hecate shook his head.
“That’s when I realized. The only thing wrong with this world is me. It was me, the evil spirit of the empire, who was far from the trend of the times.”
“…”
“I willingly accepted the curse and became a monster for the sake of the empire, but all of that was in vain… the world is going in the opposite direction.”
Junior quietly listened to her complaints.
“With a body like this, I can’t even get close to my old friends again. You cannot fully enjoy this festival with this demonic mentality.”
Hecate lowered her head bitterly.
“Even as a knight. Even as an individual. My life has no meaning left. It’s tattered. everything. Like my body in these bandages.”
“…”
“After all, what was the meaning of my life…?”
Junior couldn’t answer easily.
Hecate bowed her head.
“sorry. I was suddenly beaten up by myself and spewed out my own words.”
“Oh no. are you okay. Really! So, I guess I should say that I understand a little bit…”
Silence settles down like dust, and the sound of festive laughter reverberates in the distance…
Knock.
Suddenly there was a knock.
Junior, startled, jumped out of his seat making a sound of air escaping. Then, a familiar voice came from outside the door.
“Junior. Are you there? This is Lucas.”
“Lou Lou Lucas?! What are you doing here…?”
“I went to find Hecate, but he was not in the room. I was wondering if you had seen where it went…”
“Ah! If it’s Hecate-sama, here…”
Junior, who had been talking with a smile, looked back and saw Hecate shaking his head with a pale face. Junior stuttered and finished his speech.
“…He’s not here.”
“Looks like you’re there.”
Why are you smart at times like this! This selective eyewitness knight guy!
Thinking to himself, Junior tore his hair. The only thing he didn’t notice was himself. You should have hidden this lady. What are you doing!
“I want to talk, so could you tell me to come out?”
“…”
Hecate let out a long sigh and slowly rose.
Junior, who hurriedly stood up, struggled with his limbs.
“Oh oh clothes! I’ll lend you some clothes! wait a minute?!”
Immediately after opening the closet, Junior saw only the magician’s robe that looked the same. Junior screamed.
“Aww! Nothing deserves it, damn it! How did you end up eating it? My fashion sense!”
“…are you okay.”
Hecate smiled bitterly and headed for the door.
“I’ve already revealed all my ugly insides, so what’s the use of dressing up?”
“Hey Hecate!”
“Thank you for lending me the robe. I’ll wash it well and return it later.”
Hecate, who showed an example, opened the door.
“….”
“….”
After meeting Lucas’ eyes, the two knights quietly walked down the aisle as if they had promised.
“…”
I looked at the backs of the two knights walking away through the window.
“Wow, I don’t know!”
Junior also quickly followed.
***
The red color is gradually mixed in the late afternoon sunlight.
Lucas and Hecate are walking side by side on the road from the central plaza to the end of the stall street.
And behind him,
“sneaking… sneakily…”
Me and Evangeline are following in silence.
Evangeline is following me with a sound effect coming out of her mouth like that, and I am following Evangeline.
Since we are famous in this city, the merchants and citizens who found us were all puzzled and puzzled. I don’t have time to pay attention to those eyes now.
‘Lucas! With someone who once liked you! It’s just the two of us walking down the street!’
What is more important than intuition?
It was then. After us quietly following us, Junior ran out in a huff and made a sad face.
“What are you two doing here?!”
“Shh! You?”
“I am… that’s why…”
“Ah Junior unnie! lower your voice! Follow me, sneakily!”
“Suddenly, stealthily…?”
Anyway, the juniors also joined. The three of us followed the two knights.
At that time, I found Damian buying food at a stall. Demian, who had both hands full of food, probably intending to use it for a temple dinner, also noticed us and widened his eyes.
“uh? Prince? And everyone? What are you doing?”
“Shh-!”
“Brother Damian, stealthily!”
“Come here. hurry!”
In the end, even Damian, who was captured without knowing why. The four of us caught up with Lucas’s date(?) watching from behind.
The two knights walked without speaking for a long time. It was Hecate who spoke first.
“It’s been a while since we’ve been together like this, Lucas. No, come to think of it, is this the first time the two of you ever met?”
“yes. Because we’ve always been the 3 musketeers. Because the lord led you and me.”
Immediately after, Lucas narrowed his eyes and looked at Hecate.
“Anyway, I’ve been curious since the last time. Why are you respectful?”
“Because I am an adult now. You have to be polite.”
Hecate laughed awkwardly.
“Because I graduated. ‘Cause I’m no longer a child Because we are adults.”
“…Then I will respect you too.”
“ah. I don’t like that…”
“Then you speak plainly too.”
“…”
Hecate was silent for a long time.
“…Yes, I will. Lucas.”
put the horse
And only then did the air between the two become warmer. The strange tension on Lucas’ face softened.
After walking silently for a long time, the two knights stopped in front of a stall. It is a street stall with the signboard saying ‘New Terra-style Baked Snacks’.
Lucas silently bought two cookies and handed one to Hecate.
“ruler. You liked this.”
“…It did.”
Accepting the nostalgic sweets, Hecate swallowed his breath.
“I know that? I never went to a festival when I was young. In my school days, when even the smallest festival was held in the ecliptic… His Highness the Prince used to drag us out.”
“At that time, it was really hard. You and me too.”
The two knights stood still holding the snacks for a while.
Maybe it’s reminiscing about their school days and the past Ash that stood between the two of them.
“…sorry. In fact, I can’t taste it anymore. My tongue is out of order.”
Hecate, who had not been able to finish eating the sweets, laughed bitterly.
“My memory is not perfect. It seems like everything has turned into porridge. I remember the scene, but I can’t recall the emotions at that time. I remember that I liked you…”
“…”
“I don’t know what it felt like anymore.”
“Hecate.”
Lucas sighed softly.
“Originally, people change after they graduate.”
Hecate’s eyes widened. Lucas sighed lightly.
“Memories of my school days are bound to fade. You were young and immature back then. I don’t even know why I was living such an idiot back then.”
“…”
“It doesn’t matter what you look like now. It doesn’t matter how much has changed since then. To me, you… have always been the same.”
Lucas stared at Hecate with an unwavering gaze.
“An undefeated swordsman I couldn’t defeat even once from the day of the entrance ceremony to the day of graduation.”
“…”
“Then and now, you are the same in me. So-”
Lucas laughed.
It was really a straight smile without any sense of the main character.
“Let’s compete. Properly in this martial arts competition.”
