Ed Rosstaylor Contest (4)
When all of this is over let’s go back to our hometown.
This is what commanders always say while walking around the battlefield.
When everyone comes to the front line and pulls the trigger for their own reasons what suddenly comes to mind is the scenery of their hometown.
Knowing that you have a place to return to sometimes gives you strength to endure the harsh reality. Whether it is your hometown or the embrace of your family. It may not be so strange to think about ending this hellish life and returning to my hometown.
As I drifted through the hazy world of unconsciousness those difficult times seeped into one of my memories.
Unfortunately there is no place in this world worth calling home.
*
“Senior Ed was seriously injured. “Princess Selaha.”
As Selaha appears the frozen atmosphere still shows no intention of thawing.
There is a strange chill between the people gathered around Ed Rosstaylor and Selaha. Many nobles who followed Selaha also held their breath as they sensed that the atmosphere was unusual.
“Of course I was also caught up in this massacre of the Ross Taylor family and I suffered quite a few injuries here and there. “The Holy City will not take this matter lightly.”
Saint Clarice mobilized as many justifications as possible to secure Ed’s recruits against Selaha.
“Senior Ed is a baptized member of the Telos Church but there are suspicions that he helped harm me a saint. “He is a lamb who must be brought to Seonghwangdo to undergo the Holy Law trial.”
“… ”
“The religious laws of the church are strict laws that even I a saint cannot break. “Senior Ed’s new recruits must be guided by our Seonghwangdo branch.”
“The religious laws of the religious order deserve to be respected but the laws of our imperial family also cannot easily overlook this matter.”
Selaha spoke quietly with his eyes down.
The religious laws of the church and the laws of the imperial family. Who had the upper hand between the two varied depending on the era.
The period of fierce conflict between the religious authority and the imperial power lasted hundreds of years. Sometimes castle laws and sometimes imperial laws took precedence.
Recently as Emperor Cloel’s prestige soared the imperial laws began to take on more weight. If the two started clashing the priests of Holy Emperor Capital would have no choice but to be more cautious.
“More than ten high-ranking nobles in our empire have died. There are many people seriously injured. “How can we sit still in the Imperial Palace of Cloel?”
Originally Princess Selaha did not want to be in conflict with the Holy Emperor’s side.
However the situation itself is completely bizarre.
The person named Ed Rosstaylor is like the key to the imperial power structure that will cause great upheaval in the future.
Anyone who wants to exert influence even if they are not Selaha will want to secure Ed and Tanya as new recruits.
Among them Selaha is the person who has the first access to the two recruits. Because he was there.
However aside from Ed the characters are all big names.
“… ”
After confronting him directly Selaha suddenly had no choice but to swallow dry saliva.
They are not just friends who worked together in the Sylvanian Academy but they are a desperate team that protects Ed with desperate determination.
Yenica and Lucy who were active in the battle to subdue the Crepins also appear to be glaring at Selaha with cold gazes.
The reason the two faced the disaster at Ross Taylor Mansion was not out of heroism to reduce the number of casualties but rather to protect Ed Ross Taylor.
I look up at Lucy Mayril who is standing blankly in front of the zelkova tree her white hair flowing.
Only then did Selaha realize. She is more of a disaster running wild than a hero.
He is not someone who is driven by political logic or self-interest. money power fame. There is no interest in the values that ordinary people hold highly.
I do what I think is right and don’t care about anything else… It is an existence outside the world.
Are you planning on turning even the imperial family into enemies if you feel like it? Even that feeling comes flooding back and I end up with an intuition.
If you touch that man carelessly you might get very angry.
However if you leave it like this you may end up in even greater trouble in the future.
Even though he looks like he’s in a bad state right now big names like him are already following Ed.
It seems certain that if even a small amount of power is acquired or a power begins to form it will threaten the imperial power.
Fenia Elias I realized why Cloel was so conscious of that man.
I don’t know what part of that man I saw but he has the power to bring big names together.
The shoots that will become the root of major troubles must be trampled down while they are still weak. However the methodology did not immediately come to mind for Selaha.
It seems that Saint Clarice is even thinking of mobilizing political influence and she cannot even compete with absolute force unless she mobilizes the core personnel of the imperial army.
If we don’t secure Ed Rosstaylor here there’s no telling when we’ll be able to get a reason to take him down again.
Selaha’s intuition cries out. This is your last chance.
If you cannot suppress him with authority you must first bring him to the imperial family either by compromising or deceiving him.
I have no idea what position he will be in when I next see him.
“Ed Rothtaylor deserves praise for his hard work.”
Selaha slowly closed and opened his eyes and spoke.
“First we must take him to the imperial palace treat him and report his hard work to Abamama so that he receives the compensation he deserves.”
When Selaha said that the atmosphere among everyone changed.
Selaha lowered her tail. There was a murmur among the nobles as they couldn’t believe that fact.
I couldn’t bring myself to raise a voice of dissatisfaction with Selaha and ask what that meant but I couldn’t help but look at each other in confusion at the unexpected reaction.
“Of course Tanya Rosstaylor too. “The reason I am trying to secure new recruits for those two is because I understand their positions best and can best represent them within the imperial castle.”
Seeing Selaha’s reaction Lortel smiled softly under his robe.
Saying that Selaha is trying to hand over Ed Rothtaylor’s recruits to the Elte Company rather than the imperial family.
Even if negotiations are successful Ed Rothtaylor will come under Lortel’s management anyway. In that case with the support of the Elte Company we will be able to recover her body regain her consciousness and think about a new solution to attack Selaha.
It’s a rumor.
Now that Sellaha has gotten caught up in this no matter what option he chooses he has no choice but to be dragged into a situation that is advantageous to Ed Rothtaylor.
Whichever way you choose the only path left is one that leads to a cliff.
This is why the merchants of Old Deck never turn Lortel into an enemy.
Naturally everyone could not help but look at Selaha with suspicious eyes.
It is suspicious that Selaha who was so tied to status and authority appears in such a cooperative manner.
But Selaha’s boasts are like the devil’s temptation.
If Selaha really sticks to Ed’s side he can gain an advantage in the future investigation of the truth at the imperial court.
Princess Fenia will also take Ed’s side… With the support of those two it might not be a punishment but a lottery.
“… ”
It goes without saying but once Ed’s new recruit is handed over to the Imperial Palace there is no going back.
Once Ed’s life is taken hostage the group becomes unable to move quickly. Therefore it is difficult to easily hand over Ed’s recruit to Selaha.
However I cannot become a body chased by the imperial castle like this. Ed Rosstaylor needs a break.
“Investigating the truth and hearing the circumstances do not necessarily have to be done by the imperial family.”
At that time Tanya raised her dusty body and spoke.
“I will remain on this mansion site.”
At those words not only Selaha but everyone’s eyes focused on Tanya.
“There may still be living occupants and restoration work needs to be done on the mansion site. Because I can’t leave it like this. We’ll have to collect your father’s body too. “All family members in the imperial family will also have to return.”
then… ”
“I will take responsibility for the remaining family forces.”
There is still life in young Tanya’s eyes.
Even though I have nothing in my hands anymore I don’t feel empty or empty. Rather a strong will remained.
“Whether I’m imprisoned or rewarded I want to finish what I have to do.”
Tanya took out a thousand shabby items from her arms. It was the torn cloak Arwen was wearing.
The cloak is already dusty and tattered here and there… The eagle symbol symbolizing the bravery of the Ross Taylor family was drawn in purple.
Tanya wrapped her cloak around her tied back her hair that was blowing in the wind and spoke.
“Like it or not I was the legitimate successor to the Ross Taylor family. therefore… “I am now the head of the Ross Taylor family.”
In front of the broken and burned Ross Taylor mansion Tanya confidently talks about what it was like.
“I will make decisions regarding the family. I also decide on my brother’s new recruits. “Because I will go.”
At those words everyone froze like ice. Only Lucy was looking at the scene with sleepy eyes.
Claiming to be the head of a family that is already in ruins is no different from declaring that I will burn to death.
The Rosstaylor family is a family that plotted treason against the imperial family massacred high-ranking nobles and even plotted to summon evil spirits.
However the exact fact-finding investigation has not yet been completed… Until proven guilty decision-making rights can be exercised according to family law.
“Whether Brother Ed is heading to Pulan to Oldek or to Chenghuangdu… Either that or heading to the imperial palace… “That is up to you to decide.”
“But right now Senior Ed is unconscious.”
no. I just came to my senses. “That’s why I woke up too.”
Lucy denied Clarice’s words. At the same time as those words were spoken an alien sound was heard.
– Percussion.
The sound of a dagger being stuck into a zelkova tree.
Although he was suffering from high fever and chills and had a hard time standing up Ed slowly stood up leaning on the dagger. Ed’s companions who were confronting Selaha were all startled and turned their gaze toward him.
“Ed!”
Yenika quickly ran out and supported Ed’s body. Just holding his shoulder made Jenica swallow his dry saliva as she felt the heat. Ed’s physical condition was more serious than expected.
“Ed we need to go somewhere quickly and get treatment…” ”
“Cluck clack clack..!”
Ed’s eyes were slowly revealed through his disheveled bangs. The faces of all his companions came into his sights.
“Ker hoo keer keke…” .”
“Brother Ed. now… ”
“Vaguely… What are you talking about… heard… ”
Ed held on to his fading mind and regained his body’s center of gravity.
Although his head wasn’t working well Ed gritted his teeth and opened his mouth.
I am… Huh… Phew… ”
There was tension among the group.
There is still a lot of vacation left in Sylvania.
Yenica Palover must return to Pulan as scheduled and Lortel Kecheln must return to Oldeck to conclude business.
Clarice is also in a position to return to the Holy Capital and Lucy seems to have a good face.
Princess Selaha also wants to take Ed to the imperial castle to finish this matter.
It is not difficult to choose who to follow. Lortel has already laid out all his tricks so whichever option is chosen the situation will ultimately be in Ed’s favor.
Therefore there is no such thing as a correct answer. Ed Rothtaylor is just… I just say whatever comes to mind.
“Huuuuuuuuuuuuuu… .”
So who will you ultimately follow?
The long and tedious fate of the Ross Taylor family at the site of the burning mansion has come to an end to some extent.
But there is still a lot of work left to be done. 〈The Failed Swordsman of Sylvania〉 still has its journey left.
But Ed Rosstaylor… First of all I wanted to rest for a while.
*The imperial central army invaded the mansion site.
The well-trained central army quickly took control of the scene and skillfully divided up the personnel and began to investigate the scene.
Princess Selaha wiped her face as she watched the scene. She then remembered the image of her man looking down at her group with a dying face.
“Ed Rosstaylor.”
While being attended to by Dest in front of the magnificent imperial carriage Princess Selaha looked up at the collapsed Rosstaylor Mansion.
“What value does he have? ?”
In Princess Selaha’s eyes that level of capability was not visible.
However the talents gathered around Ed Ross-Taylor are all people who cannot be easily approached.
My intuition now is that his presence will likely be a bigger variable than expected in the future competition for imperial power.
“If you think about it you can’t see Fenia.”
Fenia who came out of the tent with cold eyes never showed up.
“The imperial army reported that immediately after that he rode out on horseback toward the imperial castle.”
what? “You went back to the imperial family?”
“Something…” It seems like you’ve made up your mind… “It looks like he moved quickly to arrive at the imperial castle before Princess Selaha.”
Selaha frowned and pursed his lips. Even Fenia who was helpless seems to have gained some will.
It’s not difficult to find out what they’re planning but it still takes some effort.
They are busy worrying only about Persica but things get more complicated when Fenia also starts to set its sights on the emperor.
Anyway Ed Ross Taylor is like a landmine in many ways. If you try to tamper with it or dismantle it the consequences will be too great.
Selaha swallowed dry saliva.
Still we cannot ignore it. It seems necessary to leave it in a corner of memory.
As I sit next to the carriage I see many nobles finishing their investigation and returning to their territory.
A procession of gorgeous carriages speeds toward their respective territories. Among them you can see the carriage with Yenica Palover riding on it and the carriage at the top with Lortel riding on it. The same goes for the magnificently large carriage of the Holy Emperor.
In any case the imperial family needed a person involved in the case to properly testify about the mansion incident.
Ed Rosstaylor was the best candidate but in the end due to strong checks Selaha was unable to secure Ed.
Instead it was possible to compromise so that another party to the case would head to Hwangseong to testify as a substitute.
However the other person was someone who could neither be taken hostage nor move as Selaha intended. Among Ed’s group he was the one who was most uncontrollable.
Selaha who got into the carriage with Dest’s guidance sees a girl lying down on the seat across from her shaking her legs. She shows no signs of etiquette.
The sight of her disheveled white hair twisted and the witch’s hat on her head is impressive.
The girl lay down in the carriage and let out a shaky breath as if wondering what was going on with the princess in front of her.
Lucy Mayril.
The wizard who will attend the investigation of the imperial family as Ed Rosstaylor’s replacement is… It was a time bomb that Selaha could not control.
Still it doesn’t look like this wizard will show any cooperation so all Selaha can do is send him back after completing the investigation.
It was a compromise that completely failed.
*The completed villa in Lortel was not as big as I thought.
With that wealth it would have been possible to build the largest mansion on Aken Island but Belmaia tilted her head at the surprisingly modest scale.
Still after seeing the view of Ed’s camp I was convinced. If Lortel’s residence is too large a sense of discomfort will arise.
Lortel just wanted to live with Ed in need not to overwhelm him with extravagant wealth.
Therefore I understood that the villa was smaller than I expected.
“If you come back after vacation you can move in right away.”
The northern forest where the crescent moon shines brightly.
Belmaia who came to inspect the camp after work that day felt empty again.
The greatest reward I gained from working as a maid at Ofilis Hall was helping students who had difficulty adapting to an unfamiliar environment and maintaining their lives.
That’s why students feel empty during this vacation period when they leave Aken Island. Although I’m quite used to it now I still get a strange feeling when I walk around the empty Ofilis Hall and the bachelor’s hall.
But that doesn’t mean I’m too busy during the semester… There is no middle ground. Although she is a workaholic it is not a very bad environment for her.
After finishing closing the door at Lortel’s small villa Belle Maia stretched out to relieve her sore body.
The way she who is always cool and blunt stretches feels unnatural like a robot stretching.
I wonder if the tension has eased a bit since there is no one watching.
Belle Maia was clearly influenced by the free-spirited vacation atmosphere of this late summer.
The shadow of a grasshopper passed by the crescent moon. Only then did I become aware of the sound of insects in the grass on a summer night and the rustling sound tickled my ears.
Leaves swaying gently in the moonlight. The sound of them passing each other was faintly heard between the camp buildings.
Iidaji is so peaceful that it feels like I’m in another world.
With that in mind the moment I turned to go back to Ofilis Hall a boy appeared from among the grass.
“… !”
Even Belle Maia who usually maintains a blunt expression was a bit surprised this time.
Ed Rosstaylor who I believe has returned to his home… So I staggered through the grass and walked into the camp.
Even if I pretended my red face and limp legs were not normal conditions.
Taking advantage of Belle Maia’s panic he flopped down on a tree stump near the bonfire… He dropped the leather pouch he was carrying on his shoulder.
His luggage bounced and rolled on the floor a few times.
“Eh Master Ed? Aren’t you supposed to be returning to school around the end of vacation? The other party members… how… ?”
When Belle Maia asked in confusion Ed Rosstaylor took his dazed mind and swept his face.
“You were at camp Belle.”
“… yes? Ah yes… .”
“Light a fire. “It’s a bit difficult for me to use my magic power right now.”
When Bell said that in a dying voice he lightly drew on his magic power and lit a bonfire.
The camp fire softly illuminated the surroundings as if welcoming the owner who had returned after a long time.
Ed sat in front of him wiping his face and lowering his head resting his forearms on his knees.
Warm heat tickled my face.
The smell of grass along with the familiar sound of insects at night irritated the tip of my nose. Ed felt the strength in her shoulders relax and her stiff muscles slowly relax.
Bel Maia looked at that… She stood behind me for a moment unable to speak.
The shadow of the camp which had been stretched by the moonlight split into several branches and covered the camp as a new light source called the bonfire was created.
The heat of the crackling and fluttering flames seemed to massage my body.
“… Was the journey difficult?”
Belle who had been waiting for Ed for a while with her hands folded behind him slowly asked.
When Ed heard that question he was lost in thought for a moment.
Those who wandered around the battlefield would eventually wander around looking for a place to return to. Was he no different himself?
The traces of the hard work rolling and gritting one’s teeth when one first fell into this world remain intact in this camp.
The first wooden shelter I made the first fishing rod I made the first campfire cabin I made the window the hunting tool clasp the leather of wild animals the book for magic training the woodworking workbench the hammer the fishing net… .
Was this camp a place worth returning to in the end?
I feel more attached to this camp where we spent difficult and arduous times together than I thought… I wanted to come back even if it meant leading my body in complete disrepair.
Ed refused his companions’ offer to return with him and eventually returned to camp alone.
He even refused all dissuasion from Yenica who was trying to throw away her plan to return home and Clarice who was trying to coordinate the entire schedule of the Lortel Holy City to follow even at the cost of business losses. Tanya even encouraged him to recover first as she would be staying at the mansion to finish work.
I glanced up at the crescent moon floating in the sky… I ponder Bel Maia’s question.
Was the journey difficult?
Of course this journey during vacation was difficult.
He went back to the Ross Taylor mansion risked his life and somehow ended his bad relationship with the Ross Taylor family leaving him completely devastated. Her journey was a short one but it was so arduous and tiring that even Ed who never said anything couldn’t help but cry.
Plus there was still a lot of work left to do.
Although I somehow ended my bad relationship with Ross Taylor I felt like I had exerted unnecessary influence on the imperial power structure and I had to worry about what to do with the remaining power of the Ross Taylor family. I still can’t think of a clear way to catch Seong Chang-ryong’s Belbroke and I have a lot of school schedule left for next semester.
Of course if you look back at the path you have taken it has never been easy. From the time he was struggling to survive in this forest until now Ed has lived every moment trying his best.
So the place I wanted to return to after finishing work was… It was in front of this campfire.
“Of course it was difficult. “I almost died several times.”
Eventually Ed answered.
“So… I wanted to come back here quickly.”
“… ”
Belle gently folded her hands and glanced at Ed’s back. It looked like he needed nursing care right away but he seemed to want to be alone right now.
Still I was worried that I could leave it alone so I was thinking about it for a while… Suddenly I felt a sense of discomfort.
Come to think of it… “You finally spoke up.”
“Okay you won.”
“I’m glad you understand. “It’s just that there was a change in his mood…”
“Hey Bell.”
Ed lowered his head and quietly called Belle’s name.
Through this vacation journey I feel like I have finally gotten a taste of the life of Ed Rothtaylor.
〈 The Failed Sword Saint of Sylvania 〉 Act 1 Scene 1. This is the life of a third-rate villain who is the first to exit.
The moment when the whole journey began… I vaguely remembered the image of the senior maid who discovered the scene where Ed Ross Taylor was about to end his life and stopped him and spoke in a low voice.
“You’re a better guy than I thought.”
“… ”
“I am grateful in many ways.”
At his sudden words Belle tilted her head for a moment and then… Soon she lowered her head and spoke.
“That’s too much praise.”
Belle said that and quietly walked out of the camp leaving him in front of the campfire.
Suddenly he looks back and sees him resting in the dark forest with a soft bonfire in front of him.
I’ll have to check his condition starting tomorrow but I think I’ll have to leave him to enjoy the camp alone for just one night.
The maid at Ofilis Hall is always good at getting things done. Reading your employer’s intentions and letting them do whatever they want is also a necessary virtue.
So Ed Rosstaylor sat in one corner of the camp watching the campfire for a while.
There was a lot of work left to do but I also needed time to forget everything and relax for a while.
The quiet summer night deepens. The faint light of the crescent moon seeped through the forest.
The long summer vacation was slowly coming to an end.
