151. Cruel Truth, Cruel Fate (4)
The snow fell without stopping, as if I was not tired.
Deon Hardt arrived in front of his mansion hurriedly through the snow without any intention of putting on his hood, which had fallen backwards due to the heavy snowfall. He spotted me from afar and stopped in front of the noisy gate.
“The Marquis is back…?!”
The gatekeeper could not finish his sentence.
Deon Hardt’s knee buckled. He falls to his knees as if collapsing. The situation was not directed at a specific person, but simply occurred because the body could not withstand it.
Even though I knew that, I couldn’t help but feel embarrassed. One of the gatekeepers, startled, was about to approach him in a hurry when Remember, who did not know when he came out, passed him and approached Deon.
“Marquis.”
The old butler, who was also kneeling because he did not dare to look down at his master, let out his usual old voice.
It’s a normal voice, but it makes me nervous for no reason.
“Can you hear me? Wake up. “It’s cold.”
“…Remember.”
“I will take you to your mansion, so please forgive my rudeness.”
Remember, who had reached out to support him, paused for a moment as he felt the sudden heat.
He pretended not to notice for a moment and tried to support him, but his attempts were thwarted by the owner’s actions of holding on to both shoulders and almost clinging to him.
‘….’
The white hand that was tightly grasping the butler’s shoulder trembled painfully. The tremors that started in my hands gradually grew, and soon my whole body began to tremble.
The desperate calls continued, like a helpless child clinging to its only adult.
“Remember Remember….”
“…Yes, Marquis.”
“My I…!”
A suppressed cry, not knowing whether it was a scream or a sob, came out with difficulty.
I thought there was nothing more to break since my spirit was already broken after going through all the trouble in the Demon King’s Castle, but it seems that wasn’t the case.
Funny enough, I’m finally starting to realize it.
‘I killed my family.’
They killed innocent family members and made them die.
Maybe it’s the heat or the emotions that are too much to handle, but my eyes are spinning. At the same time, the direction of the accident jumped out at random.
Now I understand why I asked the emperor ‘why’ at that time. I was hoping for an excuse.
It’s not like a petty feeling of betrayal. What kind of idiot would trust a monarch who is supposed to be for everyone in the first place? At least it wasn’t Deon.
just.
‘If you say you were swayed by someone’s intentions from the beginning.’
The Emperor’s affirmation is an affirmation of the Duke’s actions informed by the Demon King.
In other words, it is an affirmation that they calculated and intended to use me thoroughly from the beginning.
‘I’m becoming so miserable.’
There is a difference between using something just because the situation happened to be right and using it intentionally by creating a situation from the beginning.
Participation in the 8 Years’ War among numerous ‘exploits’. Thinking that it was not someone’s calculated situation, he chose to ‘exterminate the family’ and moved on.
‘What kind of life have I been living…?’
Maybe that was someone’s intention.
My fingertips were cold.
In a seemingly precarious and dangerous situation, Remember stopped watching him and patted his back with one hand, aimed at the back of his neck with the other hand and lifted it up.
puck.
“…!”
Amid the silent astonishment of the gatekeepers, Deon Hardt’s eyes slowly close.
At some point, Remember, who had lost his strength and was supporting the collapsed body, cast his gaze towards Dan, who was watching the situation nearby.
“Take me to your room.”
“…yes.”
Despite the confusion in his eyes, he strides over and hugs Deon.
Remember watched him enter the mansion, then turned his head again and saw the gatekeepers, who were dumbfounded by the situation.
…There’s still some work to be done. You kneel down and cry in this open space.
“You… haven’t seen anything today. Do you understand?”
“Yes…yes!”
***
Deon Hardt locked himself in his room. I didn’t even eat food.
The food that Remember had carefully brought inside the door without even touching it had dried out and had to be collected again, as it never came out. At times like that, where the stamina comes from, the sound of breaking things resonates violently throughout the mansion, putting the mood of all the occupants on thin ice. It was made with
He even strangled himself or pointed something sharp at his body, and Remembert often had to rush in to stop him.
It was like that today too.
“Marquis, this is enough, right? “Stop hurting this old man and stop now.”
“Huh huh─.”
After receiving a call from the personal limb attached to Deon Hardt, Remembert immediately rushed in and overpowered the owner who was about to hit a piece of glass on his forearm.
My body, weakened by complete lack of food and drink, was unable to resist properly and was held powerless.
“Marquis…”
I know that he only targets non-vital parts because he can’t bear to die, but as a butler, I can’t just sit by and watch my master get hurt on my body. Remember took the sharp piece of glass from Deon’s hand and let out an inaudible sigh.
“This old man does not know what the Marquis has seen, experienced, and learned.”
“….”
“But we can’t keep doing this forever. “He’s not even going to die.”
I don’t know what bound him to life.
Most likely, something he saw or a truth he learned made him want to die and at the same time held him back from dying.
“So, come to your senses now. “You have to live.”
“….”
Dan, who was watching this whole scene from the hallway outside the open door, was silent.
The state of Deonhardt, who was devastated and had no idea what had happened, was truly a sight to behold. It was a shock.
‘I came to follow disaster.’
Which aspect of the author is the cause of disaster?
I thought that a mental shock would reveal the appearance of a disaster, but the current Deon Hart is just a weak human being eroded by emotions and struggling, and the appearance of a ‘disaster’ was nowhere to be found.
I decided not to doubt it.
‘Did I guess wrong?’
When I see this, confusion comes to me.
In the meantime, Remember, who had laid the calmed Deon down on the bed, quietly closed the door and came out.
Even with Deon Hardt out of sight, Dan couldn’t move easily. Until Remember, who couldn’t wait, urged him to get out of the way.
***
The confusion was resolved sooner than expected.
The deacon’s words had an effect, as a few days later he gathered himself and came out of the room.
“Are you out already? “You don’t rest anymore.”
“….”
Deon passes by Remember, who is worried about his health, and stands in front of Dan.
A gaunt face and deep dark circles, as if the new weight had been lost. In addition to the completely different atmosphere from usual, Dan flinched at the extremely dry expression. For a moment, Dan tilted his head as if he had something to say.
“Marquis…?”
“….”
Remember, who was looking at the two in turn, quickly found a nearby room suitable for a private conversation and guided them, and Dan, who was rolling his eyes here and there in the space left alone, couldn’t overcome the awkwardness and opened his mouth.
“I’m feeling fine….”
“What am I to you?”
“….”
Deon, who was quietly looking at him, spoke.
“Why are you following me?”
I know that Dan’s purpose is to follow him. The person he wants me to be is not a gentle person, but a rough one.
However, since he had no idea what the reason was, Deon decided to make a different decision based on his answer and waited for Dan’s answer.
“….”
Dan looked at Deon’s sunken eyes and fell silent for a moment.
After following him and learning various things here, Dan realized that he had a talent for speaking. So, I could have come up with an answer to this question in a fancy way, but…
…I just didn’t want to do that.
“The person who ruined my life.”
He gave a raw answer.
Dan smiled softly at Deon, who was silent for a moment as if embarrassed by the unexpected answer.
“And the person who will achieve my goal and the goal itself.”
I resent you, but at the same time, I like you.
I know you are not guilty. I know very well that what was wrong was the witch doctor grandmother who spoke the wrong way, the village people who were swayed by her words, and ultimately, some evil adults who wanted me dead.
‘But without you, my life would have been pretty easy.’
You would not have appeared in the future predicted by the shaman grandmother.
That’s why I felt resentful, but I was also glad that it was you who was the one who could give the mean adults a proper blow. It couldn’t have been better because during the short time I followed you down and set up the upper level, I encountered all kinds of dirty people.
‘disaster? It’s good. very good.’
Let this dirty world be destroyed.
“…Come with me.”
Deon, who had been silent, held out his hand.
Dan is neither the emperor’s person nor the devil’s person, but he is the only person of mine who has followed me solely for Deon Hart. It wouldn’t be a bad thing to have at least one person like this.
Dan, who saw the bright red eyes, smiled faintly.
Instinct was speaking. That’s the ‘disaster’ you wanted to see.
…iced coffee.
‘In the end, no matter how many excuses I make.’
I guess I’m destined to fall in love with you in the end, just as the shaman predicted.
Yes, in fact, any reason I came up with was quite weak as a basis for following ‘disaster’. Looking at this, it seems like fate really exists.
Otherwise, I wouldn’t be overwhelmed by the sight of you right now.
We held hands.
Deon pulled up the corners of his mouth and drew a dry smile.
I was going crazy alone in my room, and after coming to my senses after hearing something from Remember, I was worried the whole time.
‘What should I do?’
What can I do to atone for you, Cruel, even just a little bit?
A way to atone for my brother and suppress the desire to die right now. After thinking about it for a bit, the answer came quickly.
‘plural.’
[You have to live.]
[…Yes, you have to live.]
Let’s get revenge.
I’m going to kill them all.
***
And Deonhardt asked.
[You’ve met me in the past, right?]
Dan nodded.
***
Early part of the Eight Years’ War.
Dan was moving with the village elders following the instructions of the shaman grandmother.
Did they say that this village will soon become a sea of fire, so we need to move the village quickly? Young Dan only remembered ‘having to move’ and ignored the rest.
And a short break during the trip.
Dan, who had curiosity and great stamina like other children, quietly got up and walked around.
Because he was an orphan who lost his parents at a young age, it was not difficult for him to secretly leave his place as there was no guardian who would notice and pay attention to him even when he was away.
After walking through the grass for a long time, not far from where he started, he came across a boy covered in blood.
“….”
“…cough.”
He was vomiting blood.
Instead of opening his mouth carelessly, Dan carefully examined the other person.
White hair and red eyes. Extraordinarily white skin. I thought his eyes resembled those of a cat, but as if he were really a cat, he was glaring at Dan with his fur bristling and snarling.
“…who?”
“….”
Yes, there was no way I could answer…
Instead, I lowered my gaze and looked at the other person’s doubles. It was hard to see because it was covered in blood, but I was able to figure it out right away without having to wait too long. This is an outfit I once saw from afar while traveling.
The uniform of regular soldiers in the Imperial Army.
The moment Dan realized this, he blurted it out without even thinking about his age.
“A soldier? “A child like this?”
“….”
The child’s eyes narrowed with embarrassment and irritation.
“do you want to die? go away.”
“…You have a foul mouth.”
“Show me what a real foul mouth is? Fuck you, you little bastard, if you don’t go away right away, I’ll cut off your limbs and rip your light snout off…” “
Stop it! I’m sorry I was wrong.”
