◈ 068. [Side Story] Good Brother
Far north from the crossroads located at the southernmost tip of the world.
the central part of the continent. This place can be the center of the world.
The capital of the Everblack Empire – ‘New Terra’ is proud of its grandeur.
This city, which has a large port that touches the continent’s inland sea, is the center of global trade and logistics, and people flock to it all year round, day and night.
The size of the city, which is expanding without knowing the end, is already equivalent to the territory of a small country.
The center of this most prosperous and huge city in the world.
A corner of the imperial palace called the Thorn Palace because of the rows of black spiers.
In the office of the tallest spire to the west, a man was looking at papers.
“… .”
The black hair tied at the back of his neck had a subtle red aura, and intelligent red eyes gleamed in the frameless glasses hanging over his nose.
The Emperor’s second son and the Chief Executive of the Everblack Empire. The powerful among the powerful who are in charge of the administration of the empire.
Fernandez ‘AmberKeeper’ Everblack.
His desk was littered with all sorts of papers.
Reports from all the territories of the Empire awaiting his official seal flew in as if the moment was far off.
An adjutant approached behind him as he was immersed in thought while examining the pile of pending issues.
“majesty.”
“What happened?”
The adjutant cautiously continued to speak to Fernandez, who asked without looking back once.
“Your brother asked for reinforcements again.”
“Are you Ash?”
“yes. He requested that reinforcements be organized immediately, saying that the invasion of monsters on the southern front is intensifying day by day.”
Click.
Asked Fernandez, who took off his glasses and pressed his hand between his tired eyebrows.
“How many times have you been to the Relief Office?”
“This is the third.”
“Hmm.”
Fernandez seemed to be lost in thought for a moment, but then shook his head.
“Ignore it.”
“But, Your Highness. The situation on the southern front is really dire.”
The adjutant opened the other piece of paper in his hand and read it.
“According to the report of the intelligence agent, the monster invasion is at a level unprecedented in recent decades and is getting stronger… .”
“Ignore it.”
But Fernandez did not waver.
“Aren’t you finishing the war with the Principality of Bringer on the Western Front? There are no troops to devote to the southern front.”
“Yes, but… .”
“Subjugating the principality is the top priority. If a problem really arises later on on the southern front, we can fix it even then.”
Right after that, Fernandez babbled a little.
“It’s hard for Ash to be rude. Well, I’ve always been rude, but… … .”
“yes?”
“it’s nothing. Rather, what about the situation on the frontline on the side of the Duchy of Bringer?”
“Currently, the 1st Legion is directly attacking the capital of the principality. It is likely that news of the capture will be heard within this week.”
After hesitating for a moment, Fernandez cautiously added:
“… What about your brother?”
“You are on the front line.”
“No matter how many times I tell you to fix that habit… .”
The first prince of the Everblack Empire. Lark ‘Avalanche’ Everblack.
As the commander-in-chief who holds the military power of the empire, all knights and soldiers under the empire follow his orders.
First Prince Lark, a naturally boneless man, enjoyed going to the front line.
It was the same in this war. That’s something Fernandez didn’t like.
No matter how strong the body’s power is, isn’t the name of the first prince?
The commander’s role should be at the command post, not the front line.
‘My older brother and my younger sister are only rotting me… … .’
Quietly chewing his lips, Fernandez asked the adjutant one last time.
“I wonder if I can ask, what about Obama?”
“You are still in hiding.”
“… What would you do?”
The sole emperor of the empire had been confined for several years.
Locked in the deepest part of the imperial palace, he only occasionally wrote personal letters or called people to the inner palace and quietly gave instructions.
That is why the first prince took care of affairs outside the country and the second prince took care of affairs within the country.
As this situation continued, even vicious rumors began to circulate that something had happened to the emperor.
The absence of the emperor must have had an impact on the war with the Principality of Bringer this time as well.
“… .”
After thinking about his father for a moment, Fernandez waved his hand.
“All right. Just go.”
“Ah, Your Highness. I have one more thing you need to pay for.”
The adjutant took out another piece of paper from his pocket and held it out. Fernandez took it indifferently and read it down.
“Is it an execution?”
“yes. This is the death penalty case of treason criminals imprisoned in the dungeon. Would you like to approve?”
“Of course I approve. Aren’t these people all rebels against the Empire?”
The criminals were the soldiers who committed the treason half a year ago.
Of course, among the prisoners imprisoned in the dungeon, those who were caught for a crime other than treason were rarer.
‘What if there is no crime as good as treason?’
Immediately, Fernandez’s hand, which was about to raise the quill to approve the death penalty, stopped abruptly.
“for a moment.”
“yes?”
“You said Ash requested reinforcements earlier, right?”
“Yes, but… .”
“Please send.”
“Ah, do you mean reinforcements?”
“no.”
Choke-
Fernandez tore the death penalty certificate in his hand in half.
“Send these death row inmates to the monster front.”
“… yes?”
“Ash doesn’t need a meat shield either? You’ll be hanged anyway, or you’ll be torn to pieces by monsters, but I think it’ll be similar.”
The frightened adjutant was immediately cut off.
“Ha, but Your Highness! These are not usually heinous criminals. They plotted treason and did terrible damage to the Empire!”
“… .”
“I don’t know what they’ll do if I send them to the South… … .”
“Ash will take care of that.”
Fernandez was unconcerned.
“Ash seems quite hungry for his troops. Whether it’s sour or rotten rice, you’ll have to accept and eat whatever they send you.”
“… .”
“I will write an order with the authority of the Minister of Administration. The execution of the 5 high treason criminals will be carried out on the southern front, and 3rd Prince Ashe will take responsibility and fulfill it… … .”
Fernandez smiled with satisfaction as he wrote on the new paper in a sleek handwriting.
“Since my younger brother is having a hard time, he sends me reinforcements like this. Because I’m such a nice and good older brother.”
Fernandez turned his head to the south. Through the wide windows of the spire, the sun in the southern sky poured dazzling light.
Fernandez whispered softly to his younger brother who was far away.
“You think so, Ash?”
***
My ears are itchy.
“… Who is swearing at me?”
I diligently dug the inside of my ear with my little finger. Why are you so ticklish all of a sudden?
‘It’s my job to get criticized.’
I am the Lord of Crossroads.
is the final officer
If something goes wrong, it’s natural that someone will curse at me. It’s just that it’s itching my ears, so I’ll gladly accept it.
‘by the way… .’
I looked down anxiously at the vase in my hand.
‘Is this okay as a consolation gift?’
The place I arrived at now is the temple.
Even in this facility that treats the wounded, it was a building used by seriously injured people.
Standing in front of the door in the white hallway, I swallowed a dry saliva.
No matter how many times you go to visit someone in the hospital, you never get used to it. Having made
up
my mind, I opened the door and stepped inside.
It was solitary. Because I specifically asked the temple to leave this patient alone.
“who are you?”
The boy sitting on the bed made a small voice.
My heart felt heavy when I saw the guy with his eyes wrapped in bandages.
I raised my voice as I placed the vase on the table in the middle of the hospital room.
“grow. Damian.”
“Oh, Prince?”
The patient was none other than Damian.
“How are you?”
I went over to the bed and sat down on a chair. Damian shrugged and scratched the back of his head.
The brown curly hair is tangled in a mess.
“It’s not a big injury. You must be busy, but until you need to come in person… … .”
“do not say that. You got hurt because of me.”
He speaks in a bright tone, but his heart is heavy.
In the last defensive battle, Damian executed an ultra-long-range sniping at my request.
It is said that blood flowed from both eyes immediately after, and he became blind.
It must be because the excessive use of [Clairsight] eroded the durability of the body.
I thought it was a temporary symptom, but my eyesight did not recover even after a day, and even if I was healed by the priest, it was no use, so I was hospitalized in an intensive care unit.
“It’s not because of the prince. no!”
Shocked by my words, Damian hurriedly waved his hands.
“I’m just overdoing it myself. There is nothing wrong with the prince!”
“Yonseok.”
I tousled Damian’s hair.
Damian couldn’t resist at all because he couldn’t see the front and said ‘Ouch!’ ‘Stop it!’ I just spit out the same sound.
When I removed my hand, Damian smiled bashfully.
“If you rest for a few days, your eyesight will come back. You don’t have to worry.”
“… .”
can you not worry
you are my cheat A beacon to guide you through this terribly difficult game.
‘No, not just because it’s a cheat character.’
Believe in me, follow me and sincerely want to help me.
Isn’t it such an admirable subordinate? How dare you hurt a child like this?
Blaming myself, I opened my mouth heavily.
“Don’t overdo it in the future.”
“yes?”
“No, yes, of course I’ll pamper you, but I won’t force you to do something this unreasonable. promise!”
I put my little finger forward and said.
But Damian shook his head slightly.
“I am the prince’s trigger. As long as my ability reaches, I can use it as much as I want according to my needs.”
“hey… .”
“If I kill the monsters, someday I’ll help defeat them for good.”
Damian raised his hand and pressed it against the bandaged eye area.
“Even if my eyes burn out, I’m willing to pull the trigger.”
“… .”
“So please use me until I wear out and break. Prince.”
Damian was still smiling faintly.
“Because I’m on this front for that.”
I couldn’t say I wouldn’t do it.
As long as he has the [Clairsight], Damian will always be eaten to the limit.
Looking at this faithful and pitiful boy, I slowly opened my mouth.
“Damian.”
“yes.”
“Do you remember the first promise I made to you?”
Damian tilted his head.
“A promise… ? What was it?”
“It was a promise that I would die to you at any time.”
“ah… .”
Damian shut his mouth. I continued
“You said you hated me for killing your friend. … So I told you to help me just once, because someday I will die.”
It was during the tutorial stage.
At that time, Damian lost his friends and completely lost the will to live.
I even used the hatred towards me as fuel to force Damian to stand up.
How is Damien now?
“Do you still hate me? Me for killing your friend?”
Is that hatred still valid?
“… .”
Damian didn’t answer and slowly lowered his head.
It wasn’t long before an answer flowed from the boy’s dry lips.
“I am… .”
