◈ 693. [STAGE 40] Night Closing
Crossroads. downtown.
“Aaaah!”
I’m crying.
Serenade.
He hugged me tightly and poured out tears and snot on my chest.
“Three Serenades? It’s okay, calm down…”
“Huhhh.”
“I can’t do it. “I went into complete infantile regression.”
I gave up trying to appease the serenade somehow and raised my hands.
Serenade’s exclusive maid, Elise, came running in late and tried to cheer Serenade up somehow.
“My lord. Everyone is watching, so calm down….”
“Aaaahhh.”
“Don’t cry … I want to cry …
Elise raised her red eyes and swallowed her nose. No, why are you making me cry too… Several characters are broken today.
Anyway, Elise also failed. Serenade continued to cry, clinging to my arms like a cicada, and Elise, who had given up, also raised her hands. Then he wiped the corners of his eyes and smiled at me.
“You’re back, Your Highness.”
“It’s still too early to feel at ease.”
I smiled bitterly as I looked at Serenade’s wet face.
I couldn’t tell you that I died and came back to life, or that I don’t know how much of the me you loved will remain in me.
Instead, he gently patted Serenade on the back.
Everyone broke into a cold sweat seeing the Serenade ruined.
“Is this the kind of personality you have…?”
“I guess what you’ve been holding in for so long has finally exploded…”
“I understand. This is Ash Inum’s second return after going missing. “How upset would you be?”
Kelly Bay grumbled and slapped my back. As if they had been waiting, the other heroes subtly hit me one by one. He said, ‘This is Serenade’s responsibility.’
Stop hitting me, you bastards! Lucas, don’t just sit back and watch, stop him!
“…I didn’t want to see you this warm.”
Crown, who had joined, was muttering behind him, and Damian was next to him, rubbing the tip of his nose with red eyes.
“Hehehehehe… I’m sorry. This is not the case…”
At last, the true serenade retreated with a muffled sound.
That is correct. It’s cute and heartbreaking, but right now is not the time to relax like this.
I asked, carefully wiping Serenade’s messed up face with a handkerchief.
“Serenade Emperor, where is your Majesty?”
Before leaving on an expedition.
I told the Emperor in advance about the final strategy… that is, Operation Night Closing.
He said to consider it if all previously prepared defense measures from Plan A to F have been neutralized.
And now, in fact, all remaining measures have been neutralized.
Did the emperor really prepare for this final strategy?
“You are in the warehouse area. “We are preparing for the final operation left behind by His Majesty the Crown Prince.”
As expected, my father, the Emperor, did not waste his time!
“I also prepared together. “Now this way.”
We rushed towards it, following Serenade’s lead.
A hangar was seen standing among the warehouses that collapsed and burned under the Night Bringer’s breath.
Even though super-giant monsters were fighting outside the castle walls with the force of destroying the world, the production union people filling the hangar were busy working without even blinking.
And what they are grooming is….
“…What?”
It was the first time I had seen a private ship.
It was an aircraft carrier that was much smaller than Earth’s aircraft carrier, but had a similar shape.
There was a long deck extending to the front of the hull, and the hatch was also open forward so that heroes could come and go through it.
Overall, it looked like a half-mix between Alcatraz and Geronimo. The beautiful curved design and tightly attached armor were from Alcatraz, while the plain thruster on the back was from Geronimo.
The commander seemed to have used everything he had at hand.
At the front, there are about 10 machine guns that fire magical bullets, and at the rear, all remaining ammunition inventory, including Dwarf-made tracking missiles, appears to be loaded.
My mouth widened when I saw this seemingly plausible emptiness that suddenly appeared. Where did this stuff come from?
“The technology accumulated while salvaging and repairing Geronimo, the ancient information collected from all over the continent, and the craftsmen of different races brought in from all over…”
Serenade lowered her voice and looked around.
“Hmm. “This is Your Majesty’s private plane as a new airship that our company was building, incorporating the original technology of an imperial engineer who scouted the design drawings obtained by paying a kickback to the Imperial Air Force Fleet.”
Serenade explained in an awkward manner, as if she had been caught in advance about the birthday gift she was preparing.
I couldn’t close my mouth. This is a boat you built from scratch just to give it to me? I really didn’t even think about this.
“Actually, it was an unfinished product that was barely capable of flight… but thanks to His Majesty the Emperor transferring a large number of Alcatraz parts and the Crossroads’ magical construction technology and the capabilities of everyone in the Production Guild. “Now I can fulfill my role with just one aircraft.”
As I got closer, the production union people covered in oil and grime all stood up and saluted me. I saluted in silence.
Everyone was fighting together without giving up until the end.
‘I was only thinking about putting my father as a pilot on the decommissioned Alcatraz and forcing him to operate it…’
I was truly caught off guard and took a close look at the new ship. Serenade continued the explanation.
“It is an amphibious assault ship built with the design philosophy of prioritizing the sortie and recovery of heroes, and its name is…” After saying that,
Serenade gave me a sideways look.
“Your Majesty, please paste it yourself.”
“….”
At that moment, a name appeared in my mind as if it had been decided from the beginning. I slowly spit out the name.
“La Mancha.”
“La Mancha….”
Serenade, who had been rolling the name in her mouth, tilted her head.
“What does it mean?”
“Now we have to create that meaning.”
At that time, someone came down from the deck of the new airship, making footsteps sound, and approached me.
“Now that the ship has a name, all we have to do is sortie.”
When I looked there, sure enough, it was the emperor.
The Emperor looked at me with unexpected relief on his unique steel face and smiled, raising his beard.
“I was just about to jump into the sky on this plane alone, but now that you’re back, I guess I’ll have to hand over the helm.”
“We can’t let Abama monopolize the monumental first flight.”
Actually, I have work to do on earth, not in heaven, so I have to stay here… As I
made eye contact with the emperor and had a silent conversation between father and son, someone cautiously called out to me.
“ash.”
It was Kelly Bay. Kelly Bay winked at the Siren statue [Solid Superstition] that he was dragging on the floor.
“Is it okay if I attach this to the bow?”
“Sure. Kelly Bay. “Rather, I would like to ask you a favor.”
When I nodded willingly, Kelly Bay’s complexion brightened and she ran to the front of the ship, dragging the Beulinake statue.
While Kelly Bay was attaching the statue to the bow and the production guild members were making final adjustments to the airship, I looked around at my assembled heroes and said,
“There is no time, so I will explain the name of Operation ‘Night Closing’! “The operation is simple.”
For some reason, I feel like I always start by saying ‘simple’ and ‘easy’ like a medicine seller, but no, the outline of this operation is really simple.
It’s just difficult to do.
“All members of the special charter team will board this airship ‘La Mancha’ and fly to the southern sky… approximately to this point.”
After pointing out on the map the area in the sky where the unknown pillar of light had scratched, I continued my explanation.
“Heroes on the ground will indicate the exact point of attack. Then, you will pierce the veil at that point and continue to ascend…”
Bang!
After tapping the map once with my fingertip, I finished my explanation.
“You just have to cut down all the subsequent curtains and break through to the final, highest point.”
The emperor, who had been listening quietly, let out a laugh.
“Easy to say.”
Yes. The outline of the operation is extremely simple, but the content is not easy at all.
You must jump into the very center of the evil veil of darkness that pollutes your mind just by approaching it, and soar to the very end of the sky, cutting down the evil intentions that try to destroy all who come close.
‘But this battle has already gone beyond the question of whether it is easy or difficult. It’s long past time to consider possibilities.’
Will you make it or will you not make it? That’s all.
Lucky or bad, the current special rental heroes have their bodies and souls stained by darkness.
It will be able to withstand the curse poured down by that veil of darkness. Since the mind is already polluted, it is a principle that can withstand further pollution.
“There is no time. Prepare for sortie immediately!”
“yes-!”
All members of the special lease team immediately packed their equipment and ran toward the airship without even asking a single question.
Luna Red looked around and when there were many eyes watching, he made a groaning sound as if he had no choice and ran to the airship.
‘Go, men of Mancha.’
As I watched them walk away, I called out to Lucas who was about to pack up his equipment and leave.
“Lucas.”
“Yes, my lord.”
I walked up to Lucas who immediately stopped.
“Just keep this in mind. No matter where you fall or where you wander, it’s okay. Just don’t forget what we were watching.”
I took down the torn and fluttering black flag of the World Defense Front hanging from my flagpole… and tied it to Lucas’ left arm.
Lucas stuttered as he looked down at the black flag that was swinging like a long string from his left arm.
“If this happens, my lord, the flag will be….”
“I’m fine.”
I grinned.
“I have it. always.”
I gave Lucas, who had an expression of confusion on his face, a pat on the back.
“Now go quickly! escort. Go and clear the way for me!”
He seemed to have come to his senses after hearing those words.
Lucas bowed his head to me, showing his usual serious expression even with a fierce face that still had traces of beast painting.
Then he jumped up and ran to the airship. I watched the back until the end.
“Almost all of the parts were removed, leaving only the skeleton, but Alcatraz is still operable.”
The Emperor then headed towards the hangar next to him.
“Jim take Alcatraz and help La Mancha. “Son, I will leave you to the land.”
“Please, Abama.”
“ash.”
The golden light no longer flashed in the emperor’s eyes as he glanced back.
“I feel a confidence in you that wasn’t there before.”
Instead… there was a wave of joy as a prince.
The joy of a father who is relieved to see his heirs grow up.
“I guess you’ve found the answer to your ordeal?”
“….”
I smiled wordlessly, and the emperor grinned, showing his molars.
“I can’t die until I hear that answer.”
“….”
“If you are certain, probability is not important in that direction. “Believe in yourself… and follow the path you have decided.”
The emperor waved his hand and left.
After organizing the team to take to the sky like this.
“Thank you Serenade.”
He faced the serenade who had prepared the private ship and expressed his gratitude and request.
“Please follow La Mancha’s sortie process until the end. “I’ll go and direct the rest of the operation from the walls.”
“majesty!”
Serenade, who called me, clenched her fists with both hands as if she had made up her mind and looked up at me and said.
“I too have decided. I will not give up and fight until the end of this life. So…”
She smiled brightly with a haggard face.
“I won’t wait any longer.”
I chuckled.
This person really doesn’t seem to know himself.
I’ve never waited quietly before. I have always fought the best I can.
“It’s enough to serenade what we’ve done so far… wow?!”
I was about to say something, but Serenade grabbed my collar and pulled me in… and our lips overlapped.
Oh, what does this mean by not waiting?!
“Three Serenades? “I see all the people, so just calm down a little… wow.”
Serenade didn’t calm down at all and showered me with kisses several times. I cried so hard earlier that my internal limiter seems to have been shattered…
Everyone around me turned their heads and pretended not to notice. Damien, who was avoiding his gaze, cleared his throat with a red face, followed by the sound of Crown muttering helplessly.
“…I didn’t want to see you this hot.”
Shut up! Because I didn’t want to show it either!
“Go first.”
Serenade, who finally let go of me, changed her haggard appearance to a face that was as shiny as a lie and smiled brightly.
“I’ll catch up with you soon.”
“….”
After holding her hand tightly.
I turned around and walked toward the castle wall. Damian and Crown, who had been waiting, immediately followed on either side of me.
Crown’s eyes narrowed as he looked at me through the mask.
“I don’t want to see you this warm…”
“Shut up! “If you repeat that repertoire one more time, I won’t let you go, Crown!”
I was feeling embarrassed for no reason and was huffing, but Damian laughed.
“Hehehe. Still… it was much better to see it than to see everyone crying.”
“….”
“As expected, the presence of the prince will bring vitality to the front line.”
okay. What’s wrong with being embarrassed on a kiss show?
If the world didn’t end and everyone could make fun of me and laugh… then what would there be to worry about?
‘I’ll do it.’
To protect moments when people can smile.
I will run to the end on the one and only path to clearing.
With renewed determination, I hurried my steps towards the castle wall.
“Let’s go. While the people in heaven are splitting the darkness, the people on earth also have to do their job.”
Then Crown laughed and joked.
“Then what should the lake people do?”
“…Follow me quietly.”
By the way, Crown, aren’t you enjoying yourself by quietly dripping from earlier…?!
