144. plaudite!(3)
[The second Confucius… is very weak. You are also very vulnerable to stress. I think it would be a good idea to create an environment as stress-free as possible.] [
The child called me because he was vomiting blood… Does that mean he vomits blood even when he is stressed?] [
Yes… That’s right.]
[Oh my god. ]
[…Did you hear, Cruel? Our second child broke many people’s hearts when he was born, and it looks like he will do so often in the future. Although he has a unique appearance, there is no denying that he is our child and your younger brother. You will live longer than us, who are all old, so please take good care of me as an older brother.]
[Yes, father.]
[Yes. They say children are sensitive, but if you take care of them too much, your child may think he is a useless person and fall into a sense of shame, so don’t do that. It would be better to keep a reasonable distance and take care of him knowingly or unknowingly.]
[Brother, I want to go outside the mansion.]
[That…]
[I’m just kidding. I don’t even have time to go out because I’m busy reading books. What do you have in your hand? It says ‘chess’… Is it really the ‘chess’ mentioned in the ‘Basic Chess Rulebook’ I read the other day?] [
Yes, I thought it would be good to keep it with you.]
[Oh, of course it’s good. I was bored just reading books, but it was good… oops.]
[….]
[… tongue hyung. How is your swordsmanship these days? How’s it going? Last time I took a peek out the window, it wasn’t a joke, so show me properly later.]
Yes, but.
How could I kill this child?
It is only necessary to combine a few circumstances to know that the child is the leader of Corps 0 in the Demon World. Since he was even given the non-existent position of Commander of the 0 Corps, his life and treatment there must have been quite good. That’s why I took the time to come here.
It would be better to lead a safe and peaceful life in the demon world than in the human world, which is full of all kinds of threats.
The right arm with the dagger in it is hot.
It was so clear that it was an action for the child, so even Deon seemed agitated this time. As a bright child, I could already see his head spinning, so I reached out and covered my eyes to stop my thoughts.
“Don’t think about it.”
“….”
“Just like always, rationalize and ignore it.”
Perhaps because of the content, the mouth that spits out the words is bitter.
It wasn’t long before I discovered something else. Perhaps it is an aftereffect of the war, but the child remembers only what he wants to remember.
I was devastated beyond words when I found out that I had given myself two personalities and that the other personality, which remembered everything, was only brought out when needed. I was truly sorry and saddened. How hard would it have been to make such an extreme choice?
It was probably a choice made to protect the body, which is vulnerable to stress. therefore.
Rather blame me.
Don’t have any doubts, just think of it as refreshing.
He continued speaking while striking down and cutting down those who showed up and attacked. Since the child’s eyes were still covered, some injuries were inevitable.
“But…”
Since that day, you have always disobeyed me, so you will be stubborn this time too.
therefore.
“If you really want to open your eyes.”
I can’t stop you
“Before that, face everything you have done so far.”
This is my arrangement.
To prepare my younger brother, who is weak against stress, so that he does not collapse from shock.
Even this might be too much for you. I would rather live and die without knowing anything.
It’s a small desire because I’ve realized how great a blessing a peaceful death is.
‘The choice is up to Deon.’
As an older brother who loves his only younger sibling, I will support every choice you make from now on.
Even if it means destroying the world.
‘Deon baby.’
I will protect you even if I die.
“Now go.”
hurry.
No matter how much of a hero you are, there is nothing you can do in the face of overwhelming numbers.
Cruel laughed while holding numerous weapons on his back.
….
He had to see his parents die at the hands of his younger brother, and
in order to protect his younger brother, he went under the duke’s wing and served as a dog.
At the end of the war, he rolled over and over again to become a hero, and
fought a battle of wits with the Duke, who was trying to kill his brother.
It may seem like a pathetic and shabby life. Some would say it is a miserable life.
But Cruel was quite satisfied.
In any case, isn’t it a death he faces while protecting his younger brother?
‘It’s the perfect ending.’
I hope that the child receives a lot of love in the demon world. If not, I sincerely hope that you will receive a lot of love in the future.
I don’t mind dying, but I’m worried that after I die, you’ll be left alone in a world where no one will love you.
***
Stupid Cruel Hart.
Even if you cover your eyes and turn your back, you won’t be able to hide it until the end. Just now, isn’t he pretending to run away and then looking back like this?
Deonhardt looked at Cruel, who was dealing with the attackers with arrows and daggers stuck on his back, with an expressionless face. It was no exaggeration to say that he had enough troops to kill a hero, and he was struggling against numerous enemies.
Arrows and daggers fly and raiders rush in. Funny enough, in a situation where his life was at stake, Cruel prioritized blocking attacks aimed at Deonhardt rather than at his own body.
Bisu stretched out his bandaged left hand to block. His palm was pierced, but he pulled it out without any hesitation and struck down another dagger aimed at Deon. The guys running directly towards Deonhardt threw the small weapons strapped to their thighs as they passed me, piercing vital points, so it was natural that the priority they had to kill was set on Cruel.
Deon, who had been moving diligently considering the other person’s sincerity, slowed down and stopped before he knew it, tilting his head.
‘Do I have a reason to do something like that?’
The reason he ended up in this situation is because of me.
I’m thinking about it again, but didn’t he abandon me? I thought he was probably hiding his feelings of dislike beneath that terrible expressionless expression…
Cruel paused as he resumed his interrupted thoughts.
[Don’t think about it.]
But.
[If you really want to open your eyes.]
[Before that, face everything you have done so far.]
Since when did I listen to him?
Just as I was about to ignore it and continue my thoughts, I heard a voice that I couldn’t ignore.
“Now he’s dead.”
what?
My head turned reflexively. I could see people dressed in black stabbing the fallen Cruel with their weapons, as if confirming the kill.
“Toxic guy. I didn’t even shed a moan until the end. “How many people has this bastard killed?”
“Since he is a hero, let’s give significance to his killing. “Of course… there was a lot of damage.”
uh…?
“Anyway, I have to complete the remaining requests.”
One guy gestures towards Deon, who is standing in the distance.
Even though he hesitated and moved reflexively, Deon could not fully accept the situation just a moment ago and only blinked his eyes blankly.
‘Is he really… dead?’
I didn’t think I would be very impressed if Cruel died, but I thought I would actually be happy.
‘Uh…’
Is it because I have doubts about his actions?
Emotions wander aimlessly, as if confused about what to express. Even my head, which is supposed to make a cool decision, doesn’t turn as if it’s blocked by a white curtain. While looking at Cruel’s tattered body, I saw the remaining attackers moving towards me and turned my back.
Even though Cruel has killed many of them, the remaining numbers are still a threat. They are seasoned human hunters who work well together, and their confidence has already increased by killing one hero. Even Deon himself is not in good condition right now, so fighting would be a loss.
‘First… first, to the Demon World…’ Okay,
let’s go to the Demon World. No matter what anyone says, living right now comes first.
I forced myself to start walking faster. When I heard the sound of someone chasing me from behind, my feet picked up speed and I started running with all my might.
It seemed like the weapon was being thrown from behind, but because the distance was quite wide and the snow was blowing from the front, only a few hits were made.
However, it wasn’t like it wasn’t there at all.
Clink!
One day, the magic stone necklace that Lirinel gave me broke. This means that there was a threatening attack among the attacks coming from behind.
Deon ignored it and ran on.
I’m glad it snowed. Thanks to the cold snow hitting my face, my head began to spin to some extent.
──No. It wasn’t ‘fortunate’.
As my mind accepted the previous situation, emotions came flooding back like a tidal wave.
It wasn’t until the cold wind scratched his face and stole the liquid running down his cheeks that Deon realized he was crying.
‘What is this… what on earth…!’
The pursuers had long since lost sight of the enemies and covered their tracks with snow, but they didn’t even realize it and kept running. Even though his ankles were buried deep in the snow, which would have cost him a lot of stamina, Deon didn’t even realize it and forced his body forward.
“Cough!”
Patter.
Blood pours out of my mouth. A fishy liquid seeped onto the white snow, causing dark red flowers to bloom.
In a way, it was natural. With the physical and mental shock added to the harsh cold weather, it would be rather strange that my physical condition was normal.
Only then did Deon realize that the chase was over and stopped walking.
‘Why why?’
Damn Cruel. Stupid Cruel.
If you wanted to stop thinking, you shouldn’t have done anything that would raise suspicion in the first place.
Don’t think about it? Rationalize and ignore it like you always do?
“Haha- lol, I never thought I would get back what I said to the crazy dogs like this! Ouch! “Big!”
Blood dripping down my chin. The two eyes, filled with clear liquid and bloodshot, shake as if they will break. I wasn’t even blinking, but for some reason, countless tear marks were left on my cheeks.
You died for me before my eyes. The contradiction of what I had believed to be true up to now was clearly revealed before my eyes, but did you think I would be so simple as to just ignore it and be happy about it?
rationalization? outside? There are degrees to that too!
‘To begin with, I’m the type of person who knows and buries everything, whether I rationalize it or ignore it.’
Deon raised the corner of his mouth trembling.
But… yes, considering your actions of sacrificing your life for me, I would like to listen to your last will.
I said that if you really want to dig into it, you have to face everything you’ve done so far. That shouldn’t be difficult.
I knew everything from the beginning.
Even so, it had recently reached its limit. Now that the mind has been devastated by war, there is a limit to forcing yourself to ignore the memories that keep coming back and pretending not to notice.
Therefore, Deon gave up holding on to the cracked and leaking dam, using Cruel’s will as an excuse.
After I gave up trying to hold on, it was a quick time.
The embankment that had been built for the past 10 years collapsed. All kinds of memories that I had been ignoring come pouring out, and the emotions of the time come flooding back vividly.
I know that no matter how limited it may be, it is an issue that needs to be seriously considered and decided over and over again. Although it was somewhat impulsive, it was an action that came from the judgment that it would be okay since, unlike back then when I was immature, I have now become an adult for a long time.
“Huh huh huh huh huh huh…”
I can’t breathe.
My head felt like it was going to explode, I couldn’t move my body, I stumbled and fell down in the snow.
The cold touch woke me up, but unfortunately it had the opposite effect.
“Ugh ugh ah… ah ah ah….”
My vivid mind replays the nightmare-like situation over and over again. It feels like my brain has been hacked countless times by sharp daggers. As the scene plays out vividly before my eyes, I find myself contemplating whether to gouge out my eyes.
“Aaaaaah!!!”
I felt like I was going to strangle myself with these overwhelming emotions, so I clenched my frozen hands into fists and hit the ground for a long time until my bones broke.
“Daemon!”
The last time he heard the young voice, Deon Hardt lost consciousness.
