Chapter 71. The sun rises
again (2) .
The whole sky turned red.
The sky was so high on that day when it was completely blue. The sky, which had been so clear, turned red. Not because the sun rose, but because everything that illuminated the sky burned. So even the sky forgot its blue color and turned red.
Cold water dripped from the ends of Bern’s hair, which was deeply stained by the same light as that day.
“Lord Hertz.”
Calian opened his mouth.
Arsene did not answer.
“Lord Hertz.”
Calian opened his mouth again.
“……Arsene Hertz.”
Bern called Arsene.
“Yes. Here I am.”
Arsene answered.
Calian burst into laughter for a moment.
Bern turned his head. I saw the dark sky turn red. I caught that sight in my eyes. The sun was locked in my light purple eyes. It was so dazzling that Bern’s eyes closed for a moment.
– Flash.
The sad eyes were lifted again and turned towards Arsene.
“Actually, I’ve wondered about it sometimes.”
Words came out instead of swords.
As if trying to chase away drowsiness. As if trying to temporarily push aside the murderous intent that was flowing stronger than drowsiness. As if he was trying to dissuade himself.
“I’d like to say that I’ve never been curious, but I’m really bad at lying. So, let me tell you, sometimes… Just like there comes a day when I think of sweet honey tea instead of mint tea. There were days when I was curious like that.”
Arsene, still breathing hard, nodded as if he had barely found a place to breathe amid the fear that was hard to believe that it belonged to someone with four circles. I couldn’t even get the words out of my mouth to say what I was so curious about. So instead of answering, I just created a small silent film to cover the two. Bern continued, not paying attention to such an appearance.
“I wonder what kind of expression he was making… Because.”
Bern’s finger touched his face.
“They were wearing white masks. They were all wizards.”
The finger pointed to a person sitting on a white horse far away with his eyes closed.
“That guy over there, my fucking unbiased brother and that bastard. Except for that one, brother and bastard, all the other white guys were wearing masks. Thanks to that, I couldn’t see any of their expressions. That’s why I was curious.”
Flash. Flash.
I forgot to clean off the water that had a lot of sleeping scent on it and it dripped down. Calian or Bern continued speaking while using Aura to push away the deep sleep that continued to trickle down.
“What kind of expression did he have? Did he wear a mask when he passed me and went to see you? I hope not. No, it might have been better to keep wearing it. Isn’t it? Still, you are the king of a country. Even if it is the last time, the moment is over. Until now, your brother is the king. That’s how it should be. Shouldn’t bastards who stand in front of the king dare to cover their faces? So, wouldn’t it have been better to go to your brother with their faces exposed? But, isn’t that true as well? So anyway, what kind of expression is there under that white mask? “I wonder if it was there… I thought.”
Drip… Drip.
“I understand. Now.”
Now I understand.
Bern muttered once more and turned his head.
I looked at Arsene. I looked at a face that was probably the same as the one that was under the mask that day.
“Lord Hertz.”
“…….”
“Arsene Hertz.”
“yes.”
I’m so stubborn. Bern chuckled.
I patted my hand with water dripping down my clothes. I knocked the gray sword on the floor. Then he stopped moving, as if he had something to swallow. He saw the sword in his hand.
He lowered his gaze like that without saying a word.
“Okay. If you say you won’t get bitten even if you make that face. If you say it’s true that you intentionally summoned my abyss. If you say you have to do it anyway… then I have to follow you.”
I looked down at the gray sword that did not reflect anything other than the pure white sword that was not stained by anything, as if I was watching it for a long time.
Drip drip.
Tuk-tuk-tuk.
Drip drip.
Tuk-tuk-tuk.
Drop, drop….
Twouk. Tuk.
-Tap!
Then he suddenly grabbed the handle of the sword.
In fact, he held the sword handle upside down as if he didn’t like both the sword that didn’t stain and the sword that didn’t shine. And without anyone standing in the way.
– Whaaah!
He threw away the gray sword.
Arsene’s pure white clothes became disheveled in the wind caused by the sword. But that’s it. The sword filled with blue aura continued to extend past Arsene. With a speed that no one can block or avoid, and a power that no one can dare to block. It spread like that.
Toward Planz.
– Slut!
Plantz saw the sword flying towards him.
Actually, it wasn’t an attack that could be avoided, but I didn’t even try to dodge it. I took in the entire sword flying towards me, full of life, in my eyes. I watched until the end.
No, I was going to do that.
But I couldn’t do it.
In the end, I closed my eyes.
– Kwasik!
Her pale emerald hair was disheveled in the wind. And then it sinks again. It passed over my closed eyelids and grazed down the bridge of my nose. Past the white armor covering his neck and shoulders, to the back of his hand.
– ……Sarak.
The cut hair fell down.
For the first time in front of a sword flying in front of me. For the first time, Plantz, who had closed his eyes, opened them. I looked down for a moment at the hair that had fallen on the back of my hand, no longer than a finger’s length at most. And then I turned my head. Instead of looking at the sword that passed by him and was deeply embedded in the tree behind him, he turned his gaze towards Calian.
Kalian’s red lips smile flawlessly.
Bern’s bright red lips draw a nice curve.
Then he opened his mouth slightly and let out a low voice.
“check.”
Now I will attack your king.
– … Wow!
– Ugh!
A red and blue sword was held in Bern’s right hand.
A red and blue sword was held in Calian’s left hand.
Two swords that are neither pure white nor dark. The person holding two brightly colored swords looked at Arsene and opened his mouth.
“… stop it.”
Protect it.
you also.
Where once.
Drip drip.
Bern, who had been called out without his back to the castle wall, rushed towards Arsene, who had his back to the king.
* * *
– Was there ever a day when you felt unfair?
-Why wasn’t it there? There was.
– Were there any days when you felt regretful?
– yes. There were days like that too.
– Have you ever had a sad day when you felt unfair and regretful?
– There were a lot. There are a lot of things that I feel are unfair and regretful about, so I feel sad. Even after the night is over, I still feel sad. There were many days when I stayed up like that.
-Is that how you lived?
– That’s how I lived. I am a person who lived that way in Bern.
– is it so.
Alan laughed.
It seemed like there was nothing to worry about. Even if there is a problem, it seems like everything is okay. I just laughed.
– I wish I could live like that. You lived well.
And I said this.
* * *
The person who lived that way took a step toward the person who would live that way.
Living like that is also living, so I went through those days and eventually took a step toward living again.
If you wake him up from a nightmare and push him out of the abyss, he will fall down on the floor and stretch out his arms into the abyss. Throwing stones, thorns… Throwing everything he can get his hands on, he wakes up people who are sleeping in a nightmare, and then grabs them by the collar and drags them back to where he is. He’s like an enemy who won’t leave anything alone.
I took a step towards that guy.
-Ssam!
An arrow of ice flew in front of this person’s wet shoes, which had so many old things that it seemed like they would crumble just by brushing against them.
– Kaang!
As if there was nothing to worry about with the two swords held in each hand, one of the daggers that were still hovering in the air flew out and struck down the arrow.
Eighty-six.
For some reason, one wizard was missing from the list of eighty-six. Arsene took his place. So, it means that Arsene’s summoning of Bern now was unplanned. I don’t know if the enemy-like brother had plans to bring Bern out from the beginning, but he probably had no intention of giving Arsene his ‘first greeting’.
Arsene took that role on his own.
If not, Plants ordered it. Whether it was planned or not.
– Coo…!
It was none of Bern’s business now.
Since I called you out like that, I have no choice but to repay you like this.
– Weeing weeing!
A wind blew across the ground filled with white frost created by Arsene. Long blue-silver hair danced in forks. The thin wind that was stirring the floor became stronger. And soon it became a whirlwind.
Arsene stood behind Bern, who trapped the thin ice spears flying towards him in a whirlwind and crushed them. The magic power condensing in that hand was faster than Bern’s head turning back.
– Blah blah blah!
– Crash!
A stream of ice stretched out from beneath Arsene’s feet. An ice stalk full of thorns extended through the ground and rushed towards Bern. Like a deep scar protruding from the ground, like an ice mountain range rising from the ground.
The two swords in Bern’s hands moved quickly. He plunged his sword in front of the stream of ice rushing towards him. The blue aura that poured down from the sword blocked the ice stream.
– Quagwagwang!
The ice, shattered by the power of the auror, scattered to the floor. Arsene slightly raised his head, the hem of his robe fluttering in the wind. Magical power gathers.
– Tsk tsk tsk tsk!
– Damn it!
– Kugugugugung…!
Each and every small piece of ice, which is difficult to count, summons water from the ground. Freeze. It spreads out like it’s pouring out. The ice, which had only been a single thick strand just before, became dozens and hundreds of pieces of ice and ran across the ground. They appeared from all directions and gathered towards Bern.
Bern’s body, with one sword still stuck in the ground, rotated once. A round circle is drawn on the frozen ground. The wind that extended from that round crack, filled with a red aura full of cool blades, swept widely around Bern.
– Kwagwagwagwa…!
– Boom kwaaang!
The sound of thin ice stalks and sharp winds crushing each other echoes throughout the forest. Bern stopped and kicked the floor. At that moment, a whirlwind of wind blows around Arsene. Small winds swirling up Arsene’s arms and legs block his movements.
Arsene’s blue eyes, caught in the wind’s grip, saw the eyes of a beast rushing towards him. Two blades were seen in the beast’s hand.
– Boom!
– Let’s go!
Bern’s sword was blocked by the ice barrier that broke through the wind.
Red aura penetrates into the ice. Cool ice rises up the surface of the sword.
A battle of swords, magic, aurors, and magical power took place for just a moment.
Bern, who was driving his two swords into the ice wall, pulled back his right sword. And he slashed the blade full of auras horizontally.
– Suddenly!
The thick ice is cut straight through.
Without missing the opportunity, the left sword plunges towards Arsene’s neck.
– Faaah!
– …… Kwasik!
Instead of Arsene, Vern threw himself straight away without even looking back, leaving a deep scar on the wooden pillar behind Arsene.
– Kwasik!
At the same time, a spear of ice plunges into the tree where Bern’s sword was stuck moments ago.
– Ujikkeun… Coogung!
A tree that lost its balance due to the sword and ice slowly tilted and fell down with a huge noise. Splintered wood fragments are scattered around. But Arsene could not afford to watch the spectacle.
Bern has disappeared.
As soon as he evaded the ice spear, he disappeared.
Arsene hurriedly released his mana. I tried to find the energy of Bern, who had hidden himself arbitrarily in the forest where light was starting to appear.
“here.”
It seems like it will save you that trouble.
– Shhh!
A cool voice came from right behind me. The sword, faster than voice, rushed towards Arsene’s head and heart. Like a wild animal chasing a fawn and charging at it with all its might. At a speed that doesn’t slow down at all.
– Faaah!
Your body moves faster than you think.
Arsene’s appearance disappeared. It appeared on top of Bern’s head. I stepped on a thin tree branch and stood.
– Howling!
– Kwaaaaang!
And he sent a fireball the size of a head.
Bern, who was the target, launched himself.
The flame that fell on the frozen ground cooled down, emitting pure white smoke.
– Hwiiing!
– Slut!
The wind carrying the smoke headed towards Arsene.
Arsene, whose vision is blocked, hears the sound of the wind blowing at high speed in his ears. It is a window of wind.
Arsene clenched his fists. I used my magic power to teleport to an invisible place. however.
– Suddenly!
The tree branch he was standing on was cut off by Bern’s dagger.
Because he ran without even taking his uniform with him, the light gray robe he was wearing was caught in the wind.
Arsene quickly stood up after rolling around on the floor and looked forward.
– Shhh!
The blade flies.
The blades held in both hands fly towards me with nowhere to avoid. A strong wind blowing from behind blocks Arsene’s vision again.
Arsene, standing in front of a sword attack that was sure to reach him faster than teleportation, looked into Bern’s eyes. And when you have gathered your magic power for the final blow.
– Bow down.
A low voice rang in my head.
Arsene, who was not incapable of interpreting even such a short statement, quickly lowered his head. And between them
– fuck!
Three arrows flew and grazed Arsene’s head.
If I hadn’t lowered my head, I didn’t even have time to feel bad thinking about where exactly the three arrows fired by the deputy commander over there would have landed.
– Kagan kang!
Bern deflected two arrows. Then, without hesitation, I removed the knife in my hand. At the same time, he stretched out his arm towards the arrow heading between his eyes.
– Percussion!
The remaining arrow was caught in a hand that stretched out like lightning. Bern caught the arrow with his bare hand and held it upside down. and.
– …… Kwasik!
Not a sword, not magic.
Planz struck Arsene in the shoulder with an arrow.
“…… Pfft!”
“I’m not that broad-minded.”
Then, he pulled out the sharp arrow without hesitation.
Arsene’s hot blood gets on Bern’s clothes.
The flowing blood soaks Bern’s shoes.
I took revenge on someone who was not magnanimous. And then I made a sword again. Aimed at Arsene.
“……Can you hand me Annelucia?”
Arsene, who had injured his shoulder the same way he had injured it sometime ago, looked up at Bern.
Calian nodded.
“I have to hand it to you, Annelucia.”
I gave the answer.
And instead of a blade, he struck Arsene’s neck with a sword filled with old emotions.
– Bah!
With all my honest heart, I want to give you a red Annelusia, not a bladeless red sword.
– Slurp!
Arsene’s unconscious body made a loud noise without a caring hand to support it.
Bern raised his head, leaving the sound behind.
I moved towards Plantz, who was standing still with an unwavering expression on his face. Ten to nine steps, seven steps, three steps, one step. With a movement that was neither slow nor fast, I approached the front of Plants.
– Ugh…
I raised my sword.
I made a day that wasn’t meant to be made.
Planz did not avoid it.
The red sword was aimed at Planz’s neck.
The blue sword was aimed at Planz’s neck.
A low voice was directed at Plants.
Bern finally.
Bern, which had been subjected to a one-sided war from Planz in the past, finally. Bern could not see the end. for the first time.
“Checkmate.”
The end of the war was finally announced.
Planz, who was looking at Bern like that, closed his eyes for a moment. I opened my eyes filled with the immature life that can be seen everywhere in this season. I opened my mouth.
“It’s not.”
“What is it?”
“Is my brother deeply confused?”
Beneath the light green eyes that met each other without looking down, one corner of the lips that had been well attached was curled up awkwardly.
“You are saying the impossible.”
Plantz answered quietly and looked straight at Calian.
And Kalyan’s error was corrected.
“There is no king.”
“…… Is that so.”
There was no king in this game from the beginning. From the beginning, there was no king who could do nothing and just be protected. That’s what I understood.
The sound of laughter from the person who answered kindly echoed through the forest.
Without waiting for the laughter to end, Plantz jumped off the horse. I left behind the bow that didn’t suit me and pulled out the Sinastar. I divided it up right away.
– Taaat!
Plantz rushed towards his younger brother.
There was a proper brotherly fight.
Calian’s eyes lit up after he stopped laughing.
“If you think so… I’m willing.”
I gave the answer.
– Kagang kaaaaang!
Calian’s new form spread out like a gun.
The four blades intertwine with each other.
