Chapter 90. There is a lot to gain (1)
How could I forget?
I remembered that today was the second time.
The first time was a while ago. Instead of spicy liquor, there were scentless flowers. The day was quiet and the sun was setting. I remember that I had a bandage wrapped around a wound I had received from an ice knife. I thought the peas would be soaked in the salt water I spilled, but I remember feeling aggrieved because none of them were soaked.
That day was the first time.
And today is the second time.
– Rattling.
I’m talking about the day when my wounds were reopened as I had to teach a frustrated pea who didn’t even know how to release the accumulated stuff to vomit.
What are peas?
Whether it was your first time crying or your second time today. Whether or not I revealed my true feelings for the first time today. Is there really a need to look at the numbers? Like finally blocking Kirie’s extended sword, what should have been done a long time ago has now been done, so why count the number and meaning of it as a great thing? People just grow up.
With that in mind, Bern said nothing more. He said he was good. He did well without any encouragement. Dadok didn’t say anything more and just stayed where he was.
– Rattling.
– Grumble.
Thanks to that, voices don’t come and go and just stay quiet.
Time passed slowly as one of them lowered his head and the other held up his drink with his open and healing arms.
How much did the moon move?
The wind blew a little more and left a little faster, leaving a strong scent of flowers behind. Regardless of the color of the flower, whether white or red, when the scent of roses passed by, I was worried that it might be the scent of Renier again, and the wind repeatedly blew for a moment.
A certain amount of time passed again like that.
A vague time passed in silence.
“Bern.”
Until there are two empty bottles.
Until the tingling sensation in my arm subsided by about half.
Until I heard the low voice again.
“uh.”
Bern, who was refilling his glass with an unknown number of drinks, answered. He turned his head and without looking at the guy sitting next to him, he just looked down at the tip of the new bottle of liquor that was gushing out its pungent scent.
“why.”
Am I being blunt?
Maybe I’m not used to seeing someone crying.
A dry voice, made for a reason that could have been both, came out of Bern’s mouth once more. Then Plantz, who had been silently listening to the answer given, opened his mouth.
“Loosen it.”
“Take off what. Take off the leash?”
“Not your bandage.”
The answer is really dry.
Bern grinned at this thought.
Even though it is the middle of the night, it is noticeable that the hands have turned blue as blood has not flowed properly for a long time. Because of the change in appearance, the bandages Yan gave her were tight.
“That’s surprising. I thought you were going to tell me to leave you, who is foul-mouthed, and give my nice and pretty sister back.”
Although I was joking, it was true that Plantz’s words were surprising. I didn’t know they were going to tell me to stay on until they took off the bandage that was tightening the wound.
“Bark… Take off the bandage.”
Bern nodded his head without saying anything, put down his glass and unbuttoned his sleeves. Then, he pulled on the end of the bandage that he found under his roughly rolled up shirt sleeve and unwrapped it.
Since it was a bandage made without skill, I tried to leave it alone until the disguise was removed, but what could I do? It has healed a lot in the meantime, but more than that. The green-faced guy who would normally have cared about his wounds is showing unfamiliar stubbornness. I need to listen.
– Tuk.
Bern put down the roughly wrapped bandage on the floor and picked up his drink again.
Amidst the pungent smell of alcohol, there is a faint smell of blood.
Plantz asked after seeing the blood on the bandage that came out last.
“Are you hurt a lot?”
It looks awkward because you’re crying.
I saw you talking about something meaningless.
“It’s okay. This much.”
Bern glanced at his arm, which had been slightly cut by Demirea’s suddenly extended aura, and turned his head. And then I furrowed my eyebrows thanks to the pea’s face that I finally saw.
okay. I knew it would be like that. As expected, he has a pale face that doesn’t show any signs of luck.
Bern smiled as if he was tired and opened his mouth.
“Did you all cry?”
“I didn’t cry.”
“Everyone cried.”
“I didn’t cry.”
“Are you going to cry more?”
This time, the corners of Planz’s eyes furrow.
If it had been my obedient younger brother, he would have already said ‘yes’, but he keeps asking questions. How can something change just by changing one’s appearance?
Plantz, looking at the man who was so needlessly meticulous and put all his effort and effort into inviting a friend other than his younger brother, let out a low voice.
“I didn’t cry.”
“It’s okay. People have to cry to survive.”
– Grumble.
“…… okay.”
“Did you all cry?”
“Everyone cried.”
“That’s it.”
– Slurp!
“you.”
“What about me? I have no reason to cry.”
“Did I live because I cried?”
Plantz asked, filling the now empty glass with alcohol. Bern, who was looking back on his memories for a moment while putting the tip of his glass to his mouth, chuckled.
“…… I am.”
The starlight that had been stagnant for a while flutters for a while.
Bern, who brushed his long, visible hair, continued speaking.
“I couldn’t live because I couldn’t cry.”
“He cries a lot. My little brother.”
“You couldn’t live without it, but you learned later. That’s why your little brother cries a lot now.”
“Did your brother teach you?”
“No. Kiriega.”
“how.”
I have a lot of questions.
There are unusually many.
I think I finally understand why I was stubborn. I think I understand why I was told to stay longer, even if it meant opening up my wounds.
“…… this.”
Bern said with a smile.
“What can I do? I have no intention of being comforted. Plants.”
“I don’t plan on comforting you.”
Then Plantz responded right away. He made a very annoyed face, as if he had been greatly misunderstood.
Bern asked back, looking slightly surprised when he told me that his thoughts were wrong.
“I will not?”
“I’m not foolish enough to comfort you. Lennon wouldn’t even think of such a thing.”
Even stupid Lennon wouldn’t have thought that he would need comfort in his life. Even Whitlin, who is so arrogant, would not have the belief that he could bring comfort to any part of his life.
‘I am like this. ‘It’s okay to drink good wine with a friend who is like an enemy in a wide wheat field.’
Who else but Calian would dare offer comfort to a man who already knows full well that he lived each day and died as best he could?
“I’m glad you didn’t.”
“okay.”
“But why do you keep asking about me?”
“To listen.”
“what.”
“About you.”
“Why? Because it’s fun?”
“Not really. It’s not fun.”
“Then why?”
Nevertheless, the reason for asking.
“curious.”
To find out.
Bern, who couldn’t console anyone, somehow consoled Plantz. Plantz, who was comforted, tries to understand Bern, who has nothing to console.
“curious?”
“curious.”
“Are you going to listen to me? Planz.”
“I will listen. Everything.”
Bern must be heartbroken as he now realizes that Devlan’s shadow was longer and darker. Bern, which has already disappeared, where I have finally discovered the footprints of a ghost that has already disappeared. I’m trying to get some recognition on behalf of the alcohol I can’t get drunk on.
“What are you going to do after listening to me?”
“I won’t forget it.”
“What are you going to do if you don’t forget?”
“I’ll tell you later when I find my memories.”
“What are you talking about and to whom?”
“To you. You endured well and lived well.”
“Are you going to praise the guy who died because of you for living a good life?”
“okay.”
“Then I’ll just have to give you one beating.”
“Sure.”
“Crazy guy.”
“You crazy bastard.”
Bern laughed as if the words were coming back without hesitation.
“When did Kirie… teach me how to cry…”
And hold still.
She searched her memory for the first time she cried.
Not her own memory, of crying when she remembered that Chase’s hair was naturally short, the night she had an unexpected dream on the third floor of Chermill Palace. On the day she set foot in the lake of Chermil Palace, she was surprised by a grass bug that landed on the back of her hand, and cried into the arms of Orte, her superior servant, wiping out her tears and snot. Not the memory of.
She brought up a memory of herself that was a little louder and more tingling than that.
“I hit you.”
“You. Kiriega.”
“Yes. Kirie is me.”
“Was that right?”
“That’s right. I got hit on that again.”
Bern clenched her right fist and pointed to it as she spoke.
“Did you see Kirie’s fist? It’s so big. It hurts.”
“I was just looking at it.”
“Yeah. He’s good at kicking too.”
“… Even the bones are misaligned.”
“that’s right.”
Bern, grinning, nodded her head.
“He’s good at putting together even misaligned bones. Kirie is like that. He’s good at a lot of things.”
“Did you cry because you got hit?”
“I cried because I got hit.”
“I was sick.”
“Yes. Because it hurts.”
“Good job.”
“I’m good at it, of course.”
“No. Kirie.”
It’s also resolute.
“Good job, Kiriega.”
“okay.”
“Thank you. To Kirie.”
“me too.”
“Are you thankful to Kirie too?”
“Not to you.”
“Have all the people you should be grateful to have died? You’re looking for the wrong person.”
“Thank you. To you.”
“It’s not good to hear a thank you from a friend who is like an enemy. I.”
“Whether you like it or not. Thank you.”
Bern, who only smiled like a sandy field in the middle of winter, tipped her drink. Plantz, who was staring blankly at the scene, asked another question.
“Why are you drinking alcohol?”
“It’s delicious.”
“doesn’t exist.”
“It’s delicious.”
“not really.”
“It’s spinning. Round and round. How delicious that is.”
Round and round.
Vern stretched out her finger and twirled it around.
“When I drink alcohol, everything spins around. So I drank it. It’s no fun if I’m the only one spinning. The world has to spin too. Then I’m not the only one with money, so I find my place and walk straight. How great.”
Dan Bern drank another glass of wine after giving the reason he thought he would.
“So you still drink it. Even now.”
The reason Kirie lived like that was the reason Gray Brisen extended his sword to the father of her siblings. If she had stayed alive, she would never have entered the royal palace, whether Silicae or Freya. The reason her queen Aisha died was why Randel had to grow up alone.
Freya enters the palace and Silike becomes her queen. As time passed, a car was handed to Kalian.
…… Bern took its place.
It all started with Devlan. Devlan can’t go to the abyss and complain. I feel like I’m going back to what happened in the past.
I guess I brought alcohol because it was painful.
“No. It tastes good, so drink it. For now.”
Bern shrugged his shoulders and answered.
“No matter what my father did, I live my life, so what does that have to do with my father? Are you going to blame me?”
“no.”
“Then that’s okay. Kirie, Hina, Randel, and you are all not the ones to blame me, so why am I tying myself up with my father again when I don’t feel any resentment?”
“okay.”
“Don’t even think about comforting me about my father. I hate that even more.”
“I won’t do it.”
“Your brother too. There’s no need to try to comfort him.”
“…… why.”
“Your brother just needs time.”
– Grumble.
“If nothing happens and it’s a very ordinary 27th birthday. You’ve lived a really good life. Continue to live like that until you grow old and die. All you have to do is say something like that. I’m living because I want to hear those words.”
“no.”
“What? Why again?”
“no.”
“So. What.”
“I’m going to interfere and say other things. I don’t plan on just watching quietly and saying a word.”
“Who told you to let go and watch? That’s not what I’m saying.”
– Swish!
As if cutting off Vern’s words, Plantz took the bottle of alcohol in his hand and poured it into his own glass. drank. And then I poured it again and drank it again.
And then again and again.
I started pouring that strong drink into my empty stomach.
“Planz.”
Like Kalyan, does he want to check for himself whether the blessing does not filter out alcohol? It’s late, but are you trying to get on the path to becoming a fool now?
“Planz. In moderation.”
When Bern, embarrassed by the sudden action, stretched out his hand to snatch the drink from the hand of the guy who seemed intent on becoming a pea soaked in alcohol.
“……You bastard.”
The low voice of the deadly pea stopped Bern.
Bern’s lavender eyes fluttered for a moment, unable to understand the situation. Then the pea curled up at one corner of his mouth spoke softly.
“What a piece of shit.”
no.
He swore.
“Me? Did you swear at me?”
Then, surprisingly, the pea made a pitiful face.
“No, you crazy bastard. You bastard.”
“… Ah. You’re talking about another kid.”
ah. I’m glad.
“That bastard who is pettier than Evan, dumber than Lennon, and more arrogant than Gray.”
“Are you talking about Serenti?”
“okay.”
“Why are you saying such harsh things?”
No, oh my god.
There are things to say and things not to say.
Evan, Lennon, and Gray. Even though it’s Serenti, it’s too harsh, right?
“What if Serenti wakes up and says she heard everything you said?”
“That bastard will curse at me, get angry with me, and fight with me. Why do you say I’ll curse at you with my younger brother?”
“No, neither did I. No, your brother didn’t say such harsh things either.”
“So what.”
“… No. It’s just that.”
Suddenly, I didn’t really wonder why Plants was doing that.
If you can’t understand the situation while looking at that, you’re in trouble. Even if the pea has a face that hasn’t changed at all, let alone the look in its eyes, if you don’t know it even after hearing those words coming out of that mouth, it’s really Danu.
“Planz. I think you are now.”
“you.”
“huh.”
“Not you.”
“…… yes.”
Calian, who calmly returned, gave his answer.
Plantz, who had been looking at her younger sister with eyes that had not changed in any way, let alone her complexion, opened her mouth.
Then.
“I know how to use a sword too.”
Suddenly, I started showing off my abilities.
It is certainly.
Now Plantz in one word.
“Brother. Are you drunk?”
The alcohol tolerance limit has been exceeded.
No, it didn’t turn around. It means drunk.
“I know how to fight too.”
“You know.”
“I know how to use a sword, fight, and get angry.”
“I guess so.”
Listen carefully to sleeping pills and listen to anesthetic drugs carefully.
Even though the alcohol is strong, it seems to work well with alcohol as well.
“I know, you crazy little brother.”
“Yes. I know.”
“I know how to use a sword. I know how to use a bow.”
“Yes. He knows how to use a sword. He also uses a bow. He knows how to fight well. Moreover, my smart brother is even good at using magic.”
“I can’t use magic.”
In the meantime, I can’t use magic again.
He doesn’t mess up his pronunciation at all and is good at giving shots.
Calian lifted his scarred hand and covered his face.
“Ah… what should I do?”
…… I’m going to be amazed.
Whether you heard it or not.
I kept hearing Pea’s words.
“I can’t use magic.”
“Yes. You can’t use magic. It doesn’t matter.”
“you.”
“yes.”
“not.”
ah.
Serenity.
“Answer. Bern.”
What happened to the slip order?
It’s been so long since I’ve used it that I don’t remember.
Should I just let it sleep?
“…… why.”
Bern, who had tried to shake off these thoughts, answered.
“you.”
“Okay. Why me again?”
“…… Do not come.”
Blink blink.
Bern closed his eyes a couple of times and the corners of his mouth moved slowly.
He drew a long arc.
* * *
What should I say?
I had the same thought for just a moment.
That’s why he couldn’t ask back. I wonder if I heard correctly or if what was said to me was correct.
Planz, who was looking at Bern like that, opened his mouth again.
“No. That’s not it.”
My mouth was dry from the alcohol, so I pressed down the words that I couldn’t say out loud. He corrected his words clearly, as if he was pressing down on each letter.
“Don’t come when you’re sick. Don’t come when you’re sick.”
Slowly.
“Come when it’s okay.”
He said something like this.
So Bern looked into Plantz’s green eyes.
“What are you talking about.”
I pretended not to understand and asked back.
Jangle jangle.
Planz, who was looking down while twirling the last drink in his hand, spoke quietly.
“Don’t come when you’re hurting because of me, but come when you’re in a good mood. Come when you’re feeling well, not when you’re in pain.”
“Did you look okay?”
“It wasn’t okay. I came when I played chess, I came when I drank, I came when I ate, I came when we sparred. It’s all good. Don’t come because of me and get hurt again, but come because of you. Come when you’re okay. It’s okay to come when you’re suffocating and need to breathe. So, come to me and tell me to stop doing things that make me unable to breathe.”
A small sigh comes out from under the light purple eyes and between the bright red lips. At the end of that breath, a low voice is heard.
“Then what are you going to do if you can’t see your friend forever?”
“no.”
“no?”
“I’m not telling you not to come, but to come when it’s okay. You frustrating bastard.”
“Why do you keep swearing?”
“You taught me.”
“When did I?”
“You keep going.”
“I didn’t teach you to swear.”
“Then why don’t you teach me?”
“Why are you teaching that? Why do we talk about it so much?”
“Keep coming and keep teaching me.”
The wind blew.
“Come when you’re okay. Not when you’re sick. When you’re okay.”
“Why don’t you come and teach me how to swear when it’s okay?”
“So be it.”
The wind blew.
Bern laughed.
“okay.”
I gave the answer.
“I’ll try that, Planz.”
“huh.”
“huh.”
Plantz nodded his head.
Okay, now go to sleep. Bern opened his mouth to say those words, but Plantz’s words were heard first.
“you.”
I guess I still have something to say.
“why.”
“not.”
“Ha… yes.”
ah.
Sispanian.
Your descendant is drinking and intoxicating on the roof of his brother’s territory, Yeongju Castle. What do you think of this situation?
“Kalian you.”
“Yes. Calian is here.”
A bony finger pointed at Calian. A dry voice that continued to fade away was addressed to Calian.
“I’m going to learn magic later. From you.”
“yes.”
“Don’t die, don’t get hurt….”
“yes.”
Blue, unclouded eyes looked at Calian.
“If you’re having a hard time, talk to me, you crazy little brother.”
Calian looked at Plantz blankly.
“Who is going to say something now?”
“I know how to listen too. Please talk to me.”
“I haven’t really hidden anything.”
“You don’t need to talk to calm him down, you frustrating bastard.”
“…… under.”
“Me too. I’ll comfort you.”
“So I don’t really”
“Answer. Kalian.”
ah.
Damn peas.
Kirie’s injection was quiet. My bully’s injections were laughable.
[Slip]
I can’t listen to you anymore. I brought out my friend and went back to being her sister, but I was so confused that I couldn’t do it anymore.
– …… Sreuk!
Plantz’s head dropped.
Calian, who sat like that, lowered his head and left the pea sleeping, moved his hand. Then, after emptying half of the peas, I brought back the remaining liquor bottle and poured it into my glass.
“ah…….”
And eventually.
“I’m going to be amazed….”
In the end, I couldn’t hold back and burst out laughing.
It wasn’t the waves, the scent, the raindrops, or the cold frost, it was just laughter.
Look what happens when you cry and then fall asleep.
No matter how much of a big brother he is, he will still be a toad.
Thinking like this.
– Grumble.
-Tap!
He squatted down, buried his head, left the sleeping peas alone, laughed, and then brought the glass to his lips.
I laughed again.
While drinking again.
“yes.”
do.
“All right.”
The answer was delivered much too late at the latest.
“What do you know?”
But there was an answer to those words.
Kalian turned his head. And then he laughed again.
“What? Did you drink again while I was having a hard time?”
Because I heard a voice like the ocean that I could encounter at any time. That’s because I could see the flapping gait of a small bird’s wings between the blue and silver feet that were shaking in the wind.
So I laughed.
“Welcome, Aila.”
“Yes. I went.”
“okay.”
Aila, who walked silently, dexterously curled her body and smiled as she looked at Plantz who was sleeping. Then she covered the planz with her black robe, which she had taken off when entering the castle.
Thanks to that, she abandoned Planz, who looked more like a charred hazelnut than a pea, and Aila came in and sat down between Planz and Kalian. Then she picked up the remaining bottle of liquor, smelled her scent, and opened her mouth.
“Serenus.”
The alcohol that Calian has drunk so far. It’s a slightly different color from Secretia, but the scent is the same. It was Serenus.
“Did the elves learn how to make alcohol in Secretia?”
“Is that possible?”
“Then where did you get Serenus?”
“Lord Siren brought it to me separately. I asked him to steal anything from the lord’s castle, but he didn’t steal it and he was very talented. How do you know?”
“It’s rewarding to discover the prince’s secret.”
“You know, there’s more than one reward for discovering a secret.”
Ayla, who always looked cheerful at the pleasant scent, held out her hand. Calian, who saw this, chuckled and drank the remaining alcohol in his glass and handed her his empty glass.
There is a strong smell of blood coming from Aila’s fingertips. It’s not Eila’s. So Calian, who thought for a moment about using magic to wash away the smell of blood, just picked up the bottle. Aela just followed Serenus, whom she liked so much, to her heart’s content.
A hot wind blows, the gently swaying sea in the distance is all light green, and the heads of the three princes sitting next to it are filled with starlight. The scent of Serenus in her hand was simply delightful.
“Good.”
said Ayla, after taking a long sip of her only favorite drink.
“Are you feeling better?”
And she asked.
“How do you know I was in a bad mood?”
“If you look like that and are secretly drinking with me, then you won’t notice.”
“It’s resolved. It’s getting better.”
“Are you completely relieved?”
“huh.”
“Oh, you should have come a little sooner.”
“why.”
Slowly.
Aila’s voice, which sings like a whisper, is sweet.
“The prince would have felt better even if he had seen me.”
“I’m feeling better anyway, so will anything change?”
“If that were the case, wouldn’t there have been more drinks left?”
“Do you regret drinking?”
“It’s a shame then.”
“Ah. I thought I was missing something again.”
“If the prince says he feels sorry.”
“I’m excited again.”
“Ah, that’s a shame. I should have tried.”
“That’s right. It’s a shame.”
Calian let out a small laugh.
And then she growled again and poured the last remaining Serenus into Aela’s empty glass.
Aila, who held it in her hand and stared at her in silence, opened her mouth.
“Aren’t you going to ask what I saw and what I got?”
“I guess I figured it out.”
Another fiefdom near the Whitlin fiefdom, the Barony of Dayrn.
Didn’t Aela, who believed that Zeon’s soldiers came from there, go to investigate with some Balkan members?
He said that since he returned after completing the investigation, he would be curious about whether or not he had any income, but he would not ask.
Aila, who looked into sharp light purple eyes and guessed the reason, spoke.
“You’re tired.”
“Yeah. A little.”
“It’s okay. It’s not news you should run out of immediately after hearing.”
“What?”
“The baron was dead, the baron’s vassals were dead, and all the servants of the castle had run away. There was an explosion in the dungeon, and when I went into the diary, there were only three prisoners who were all dying.”
“so.”
“I found some hidden documents and brought them back. I brought in a dead harpy corpse in a secret passage and the prisoners.”
“Was there a suspicious prisoner?”
“Yes. Two of them are people I know a little bit. One is someone the prince knows well.”
“who.”
“The one-armed swordsman I met at Latran Territory. He was dressed as a white eagle.”
“Norton Ramirez?”
“Yes. That person and his wife.”
“It was alive.”
“Yes. He’s alive.”
“Who is the other one?”
“It was a grandfather named Ortier Rosnan.”
Calian frowned.
It wasn’t a familiar name.
However, because the name was not entirely unfamiliar.
“……Maybe that person?”
“He was Prince Calian’s servant.”
Chamberlain Orte.
The person who, for some reason, I’ve been thinking about so much lately, raised Kalian until Jan came. As he got older and developed a chronic illness, he left the palace.
“I first asked you if the prince was okay. Do you remember?”
“Ah… yes. I remember.”
Kalian picked up the bandage on his arm that had been left undone for a moment.
His long hair became short enough not to cover his eyes, and instead of starlight, he captured the night sky. His height shrank and the scars on his hands disappeared one by one. Instead of the cloudy dawn-like light, my eyes caught the light of the sun shining on the sea.
“Do you want to meet me right away? I’m not that kind of person. I said I’m tired.”
A worried voice turned to Calian.
Calian was about to answer that he still had to meet him, but his red eyes fell on something black and round.
He looked down for a moment at the back of the pea, which was not dead, as he noticed it moving.
“I’m going to rest. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He immediately said something he wouldn’t have said until yesterday.
“Okay. Well thought out.”
“huh.”
“Rest. You worked hard.”
The last remaining half glass of Serenus, which Aela loved so much, was offered to Calian. Calian took it and smiled, putting the remaining drink in his mouth and swallowing it sweetly.
“Yes. Ayla.”
There should be times when people take a break.
No problem.
