760. [Side Story] Brand new day (2)
Evangeline’s screams sounding from afar in the background.
Lucas and Hecate were sitting by the window of a cafeteria, drinking coffee in silence.
Lucas had a cold and functional face as always when his master was not around, and Hecate stared at his face as if admiring a statue.
“Not wearing armor.”
“hmm?”
Hecate looked at Lucas’ coat and smiled faintly.
“It’s been a long time since I last saw you.”
Lucas absentmindedly brushed his hand against the collar of his coat.
“is it?”
“huh. “Because you were always in uniform, even during your academy days.”
School uniforms at the academy and armor here on the front lines…
Lucas was always armed in most situations. It was also an expression of his will to always be alert to his surroundings as the prince’s bodyguard, but Hecate now seemed to understand the true intention a little more.
‘I was closing my mind too.’
So, I was glad to see him in civilian clothes after a long time, but I
also felt sick to my stomach as I reaffirmed the fact that Lucas had closed his heart to me for the rest of his life.
“It may be a difficult time, but it’s nice to have peace like this.”
However, Hecate, who spoke softly but did not show it on the outside, winked playfully.
“I asked you out on a date first, but are there any other special courses?”
“I didn’t think about anything other than eating and having a cup of coffee.”
“That’s just like you…”
Or should I say I’m proud of him for asking me out first and even having a meal and a coffee with me?
Isn’t this a huge improvement for a golden retriever-human who only knows swordsmanship and his master?
Sweet.
At that time, Lucas put down his cup of coffee after taking a sip and looked at Hecate with serious eyes.
“So Hecate. “How did you organize your thoughts?”
“….”
Lucas’ question was none other than that.
The question is whether Hecate, who can no longer live as a knight, has decided what to do and where to go in the future.
“…well.”
Hecate smiled and picked up a spoon and stirred the coffee cup.
“I wish the handsome driver would catch me. “I don’t think so.”
“….”
Lucas, who had been silent with his eyes downcast, carefully opened his mouth.
“Hecate. If you really want to…”
“Lucas.”
But Hecate interrupted him.
“I know. “You’ve never had feelings for me, right?”
“….”
“That’s why I pretended to be insensitive and built an iron wall. “I know everything.”
Lucas was silent. Hecate eventually stopped stirring the spoon.
I’m tired of going around in circles without any meaning.
So, I put down the spoon and slowly but surely swallowed the last bit of bitter coffee left in the cup… then
mustered up the courage to face Lucas.
“I’m not that selfish. I also have pride. “I have no intention of holding on to your heart with sympathy.”
Actually there was.
There was a time when I wanted this man to look after me, even if it was just sympathy. Apparently not until recently.
But….
‘Huh.’
I try not to do that anymore.
Even for everyone.
“I don’t even know what I will do with my life in the future. “This time, when I almost got killed by those zombie flesh pieces, I remembered one thing I wanted to do.”
“What do you want to do?”
“huh. “It’s something I never dared to imagine, but maybe I really wanted to do.”
Hecate laughed like a child about to play a naughty prank.
Lucas, surprised because it was the first time he had seen her smile like that since he was very young, blinked like an idiot.
“It’s a really small and insignificant wish. “Can you listen to me?”
“If only I could listen. However much.”
Lucas nodded.
Then Hecate took a deep breath.
“Lucas. “Can I kick you?”
He said something like that.
“…?”
Lucas couldn’t react because he didn’t understand the meaning. Then Hecate covered her mouth and giggled.
“I’ve been clinging to you my whole life, but in the end, I’m going to kick you to the curb. Yes, this is my wish. how is it. “Can you listen?”
“uh…?”
Hecate suddenly thought in front of Lucas, who was still confused.
that day. Before the Monsters – The story told by Junior at the end of the world.
– After losing everything. You just… be you.
– Not the one who inherits the curse, the avenger of the old war, or the knight of the empire. You’re just 24 years old.
“….”
Hecate closed her eyes for a moment and caught her breath.
“I still don’t know what kind of life I will live in the future. “I can no longer use my sword, I have lost my curse, and even the stage for revenge has disappeared.”
lost everything
And that’s why.
“So I’m trying to be reborn.”
From the beginning.
On these ruins.
Anything can start in either direction.
“Now I’m just… me. “I’m only 24 years old, and I can do whatever I want to do, far removed from the past…”
I know.
Maybe this is just a pun. Maybe this is a loser’s excuse.
But Hecate decided to stop looking at the dark end of the tunnel.
He is a survivor of a country he hates, but like the young wizard who saved him from a monster…
Even though he cannot dream of a tropical resort with a sparkling swimming pool, he decided to find something else shining.
“I will let bygones be bygones, find new goals, and start again from the beginning. So, I’m done clinging to you now.”
I liked it so much.
No, maybe I still like it.
However, Hecate smiled coolly and declared to this disgusting and cruel first love who had never opened her heart to her.
“Live happily, you bastard.”
“….”
“This is what I kicked you for. Surely? got it? “Did we agree?”
“No, that’s it.”
“Then I’ll go.”
Hecate stood up and smiled, clutching her sore but relieved chest.
“The first and last date was fun.”
“….”
“Goodbye then.”
Leaving Lucas with his mouth slightly open, Hecate left the cafeteria and quickly disappeared into the snowy winter streets.
“….”
I quietly looked at the back.
With another 0 confession 1st chime score recorded.
Lucas, who was sitting in a daze, opened his mouth slightly and barely made a sound.
“burdock…?”
It was a very bear-like sound, not inferior to Evangeline’s scream as she recreated a pterosaur.
***
Crossroads downtown street stalls.
“Wow, there’s a lot of delicious food!”
Hannibal shouted with a bright face in front of the stalls set up by each country.
Zenith and Rosetta were held in each hand of the boy spiritist.
“Come on, Dad! “Priest!”
“Ugh…”
“Okay…”
Both Zenith and Rosetta looked very uncomfortable.
That’s right, the sight of Hannibal between the two is…
‘It’s like family…’
Isn’t it the atmosphere of a married couple and their young son?
Of course, this was a very intentional atmosphere created by Hannibal, and Hannibal naturally played the role of an innocent young son and led the two into the street.
Zenith and Rosetta were quite embarrassed, but they did not seem to dislike each other.
The three people tasted New Year’s food from each country and walked together, laughing happily and joking with each other while holding a bowl of food in their hands.
“Oh, it’s cotton candy!”
Then Hannibal found a cotton candy stand and shouted.
“Let’s eat cotton candy, cotton candy!”
“okay. “I will come back.”
Rosetta winked at Zenith and headed to the cotton candy stand and ordered three.
While Rosetta was receiving the cotton candy, Zenith bent down on one knee to make eye level with Hannibal, who was smiling brightly.
“Hannibal.”
“Your father.”
“I understand how you wish you had a mother, but… please don’t be too upset with Priest Rosetta.”
Hannibal’s big eyes were shaken by the sudden but poignant words.
The boy spiritist stammered.
“But you two are good friends, right? “It’s not like dating or marriage is prohibited for priests of the Goddess Church.”
“Sai… Well, okay. “Not bad.”
Zenith laughed bitterly.
“To be honest, I even liked it at one point.”
“really? “But why?”
“So…”
At that time, Rosetta came back with cotton candy.
Hannibal urgently asked Rosetta.
“Priest, do you hate my dad?”
“huh? I don’t hate it. “I almost had him executed because of his doctrine, and I am steadily accumulating heresy points, but I still don’t hate him.”
Then Rosetta laughed.
“On the contrary, there was a time when I liked it when I was younger.”
“yes? Then you two…”
“The timing was different, but yeah. “We liked each other.”
Speaking calmly, Rosetta handed each person their own piece of cotton candy.
“But our relationship is deeper than just love.”
They are life savers, sworn siblings, comrades in arms, and serve the same god.
The relationship between Rosetta and Zenith was complex.
“I’m afraid that if we become closer as a man and a woman, all other relationships will lose their depth. “We were afraid of that.”
“….”
“So even though we knew each other’s feelings, we pretended not to know each other. And a lot of time has passed.”
Rosetta looked at Zenith and Zenith smiled awkwardly.
“The hearts that used to be young are now properly worn out. “We are comfortable with it the way it is now.”
“but…!”
“Hannibal.”
Rosetta quietly comforted Hannibal.
“There are many types of relationships in the world. And you and I don’t necessarily have to be together within the confines of family.”
“….”
“I can’t be your mother. But I can worry about you, bless you, and think about you.”
Rosetta gently stroked Hannibal’s hair.
“How about we start from there?”
“….”
Hannibal nodded slowly with his head down, then urgently wiped his eyes and ran into the street.
“I’m going to buy something more…!”
Zenith sighed deeply as she watched Hannibal run away and disappear.
“I think since the first day of the new year, I’ve only said things that are too harsh for a child.”
“Because it’s not a world where you can have everything you want.”
Rosetta grinned. There were attractive wrinkles around her mouth and eyes.
“Still, the kid’s idea is really cute. Are you thinking of joining me with you? “I guess I should say that it was a plan that seemed immature and bold and therefore plausible.”
“Hahaha….”
“It’s not a world where you can have everything you want, but those who don’t give up and work hard will someday get the right fruits.”
Rosetta made the sign of the cross and said a small prayer.
“I hope that many good relationships will come to that child.”
Zenith laughed quietly as they prayed next to each other.
“I hope that as many new relationships have been crossed here at Crossroads.”
The two priests prayed together.
May Hannibal’s future be blessed with the relationships of others who become entangled in the Crossroads.
To everyone on the first day of the new year….
‘…but wait a minute.’
At that time, while they were praying, a random thought suddenly entered the minds of the two priests.
‘We’ve never really opened up to each other.’
‘I never confessed properly, but am I dumped now…?’
The two priests glanced at each other, then closed their eyes again.
“….”
“….”
The 1st chime score of 0 confessions that only hurt was spreading throughout the Crossroads.
***
Small town near Crossroads.
In front of a small brick house in the suburbs, with the smoke of freshly baked bread rising.
“….”
Standing in front of him with crutches.
He held the letters he exchanged with his daughter tightly in his arms.
Chain took a few deep breaths, closed his eyes tightly, and then opened them.
I slowly put my hand on the door.
And then
, I
gathered up my courage and knocked.
