Chapter 204

Giving meaning (7)

“This is what happened to Baron Flanchel.”

Yenica Palerover, who was sitting across from the campfire, didn’t look very good. I didn’t know what to say, so I just looked at Belle’s face in tears.

Seeing this, Bell felt like he was talking for nothing.

Although he says he is nothing, Bell’s personal life was gloomy from anyone’s perspective.

If it wasn’t for Bell, who had a strong heart, it would not have been strange if he lost the will to live as it is.

Even though he was an illegitimate child, Baron Flanchel sacrificed himself to save his daughter who was born through my own blood.

In the end, he was able to avoid giving his daughter into the hands of a greedy nobleman... but he had to give up his life in return.

It was such a tragic and tragic story, so Yenica couldn’t help but feel embarrassed.

“I’m sorry, Bell. I didn’t know it was such a story... I asked him to hear it...”

“You don’t have to be so sorry. In fact, from the other person’s point of view, it’s just embarrassing to hear such a story, so I don’t usually do that. And... it’s not really a scar for me.”

“okay? But... if I were in Bell’s position, it would have been a big wound...”

“Well, I was shocked at the time. But... As I said, there are still some parts of this story that I haven’t done to Ed. It was deliberately omitted.”

Bell pushed a few more firewood into the campfire and ignited it to make the fire stronger. It was still in the middle of the night, so I had to keep the fire going longer.

“Did you deliberately leave it out...? Why? Did Ed have a story you didn’t want to tell?”

“Because the message of the story changes.”

To Yenica who tilted her head, Bell didn’t even bother to add a supplementary explanation.

The reason Bell dared to tell Ed about his past was because he wanted to warn him not to make such an extreme decision as suicide again.

Once you are alive, the day will surely come when you will see the light.

So survive. Even if it seems that there is no pleasure in this tedious world, only the trials and tribulations in front of you.

Hold on to your legs, clench your teeth, and somehow stand firm and survive.

“It’s important to survive and go on with your life. However, it does not apply to everyone in the world.”

“Bell... what do you want to say?”

“It’s not a very big story. Baron Flanchel had already been ill for a long time. Had he not taken his own life, he would have passed away soon after.”

At those words, Yenika was speechless.

That’s something Bell didn’t tell Ed.

After all, Baron Flanchel was sentenced to a limited life.

At the end of his life, he was a person who looked back on life and was ready to accept death.

“When a person faces death, whoever he is, he reflects on the life he has walked.”

“bell...”

“Baron Flanchel probably wanted to give some meaning to his life.”

By changing the premise of Baron Flanchel’s lifespan, the impression of the story of his death is completely reversed.

It was only then that Yenika realized why Bell had not told Ed this.

And I could understand why Bell was able to tell this tragedy without being sad and in a good state.

For Bell, the story of Baron Flanchel’s death was not a sad and tragic story.

It was a heroic story of a noble man who decided on his own place and went through his will.

Bell Maia’s room is still adorned with a dagger engraved with a wildcat.

It was the dagger of the Flanchel family that his father, Balmid Flanchel, gave as a keepsake in Bell’s hand with a kind smile the day he was about to leave.

After finishing the story, the sky I looked up at was full of stars like salt.

*”Abbey Austin... Suicide...?”

no ears to hear

Still, someone might accidentally hear it. If so, it is dangerous.

An impatience swelled in Persica’s heart. But Ed Roth-Taylor didn’t seem to care at all.

“How did you know that Abbot Austin was hiding an Ain child?”

Ed Roth Taylor, who was praying, put a fastball straight in. Princess Persica and Tune had no choice but to swallow their breath.

“What did that mean?”

But the response is smooth. He didn’t stutter, nor showed a sign of embarrassment.

“Do you have any contact with Cutter Gellan in any way? Unless it was him, no one would know the secrets hidden by the Kledric Monastery.”

“You’re talking about something you don’t know.”

“You can be honest and talk about it. We have already confirmed that no one is in the chapel.”

I’ve heard a lot of rumors about Ed Roth Taylor.

In any case, he knew very well that he was a mysterious, strangely sharp human being.

However, from the first meeting like this, I did not know that they would come in with my lungs... The Persica princess swallowed her breath.

“One thing is certain, you are falling into a trap. Princess of Persica.”

“...”

“Have you fallen into the trap set by Abbot Austin, and are you trying to escape somehow?”

The reason why Lucy Mayryl stayed still even when she was being accused of being a murderer.

This is because, even if she stands still, Persica is already in a corner. At first, I couldn’t understand what was going on, but when all my thoughts were put together, it was completely clear.

“Isn’t the reason I attended this prayer meeting in the first place to convince the Abbot of Austin with the pretext of hiding the Ain people? To demand that he formally support him at the upcoming imperial meeting.”

To Abbot Austin, all the nuns at Cledric Abbey are like my daughters.

It’s the same... even if it’s a child of the Ain people.

“If you keep all of this a secret and convince you to officially support yourself, even after you have seized the throne, you will close your eyes... Even the Abbot of Austin who fully supports Princess Fenia is bound to be shaken. ”

“You are telling an interesting story.”

The Princess of Persica dealt with it leisurely, but she was deeply perplexed inside.

First of all, there are no clues to infer any of these things from Ed Roth-Taylor’s point of view.

Where did the information leak from?

At least in this monastery, only Tune knew all this information. However, it is difficult to think that Tune would have betrayed him.

There was no advantage from treachery, and above all, it was because he was always escorting Persica’s side.

“It is definitely a reason to run a long way. If I can put that Austin Abbot on my side, the voices of those who support Princess Persica within the Telos Church will be quite loud.”

However, the situation did not go as the Persica princess intended.

When Abbot Austin, the target of conciliation, is found dead... All plans have failed.

It happened not long after the Princess of Persica visited the Cedric’s Monastery.

“Didn’t the conciliation plan work out like you thought?”

“If you try to blaspheme and insult me any longer, I will not stand still. Although this is not the Imperial Palace... you know that my authority is not comparable to that of the Duke of Roth Taylor.”

“I am not trying to undermine authority. I am here to negotiate.”

Ed Roth Taylor, who was praying, slowly opened his eyes.

He doesn’t look embarrassed, relaxed, or even mocking.

I’m just talking about reality, calmly and calmly.

The reality of Ed Roth Taylor, who had only heard of rumors, was very different from what Princess Persica had imagined.

He never gets upset. Even in the presence of the Princess of Persica, whose worldly authority pierces the sky.

“When all these circumstances are put together, it becomes possible to infer the circumstantial inference that Abbot Austin committed suicide in response to the threat of Princess Persica.”

“It’s a leap in logic.”

“I do not know. In the long run, Abbot Austin will have to continue to be swayed by the imperial family even after Princess Persica seizes power.”

The rebellion of the Ain people, which went right before assassination of the emperor, still remains as a scar in the hearts of the people of the empire.

As long as they keep the secret that they are protecting the Ein people, who are now enemies of the Empire, the Cledric Monastery must be swayed by her words until the day Princess Persica dies.

Accepting Zelan’s request. It happened only because of the abbot’s personal deviation.

It wasn’t Abbot Austin who was just watching it.

So... I chose it.

“Princess Persica must not have thought of such a possibility.”

“Tune!”

– Evil!

Tune drew a knife and placed it around Ed Roth-Taylor’s neck.

An atmosphere sharper than that sad blade lingered in the chapel. Tune’s blade was pointing at Ed Roth Taylor’s neck without even a slight wiggle, but Ed still didn’t move.

“Princess Persica. We don’t want the situation to turn into an armed conflict.”

Ed Roth Taylor always speaks the truth.

“I am many times stronger than your bodyguard.”

Looking up at the statue of the podium in a respectful manner without even making eye contact, Ed Roth Taylor spoke calmly.

Tune is a well-known person in the Imperial Knights Templar. He is a master of swordsmanship who has been walking the path of giftedness since childhood.

However, there is certainty in Ed Rothtailer’s allusive words. It’s not an expression of confidence or pride. It’s just stating facts as they are.

“Otherwise, why are you so obsessed with arresting Lucy Meirl?”

The tip of the Persica princess’s eyes trembled slightly.

“Other nuns may not know, but at least Princess Persica, who must have seen Lucy in the Rose Palace, don’t you know? Lucy Meryl isn’t the kind of person who deserves to be arrested that way. A wizard who can destroy the entire monastery with a single gesture.”

Nevertheless, the Princess of Persica proudly ordered the arrest of Lucy Meryl.

Even though I know how futile it is.

“Didn’t you know that Lucy Meryl wouldn’t resist?”

The figure of Lucy who is strangely not defending herself.

From Persica’s point of view, to what extent Lucy could have expected such a reaction... There was no hesitation in her actions.

“When Lucy pleads her innocence and reveals the truth, the Abbot’s plans will all go to waste.”

The abbot’s plan was simple.

By taking his own life, he stops Persica’s plan to wield the monastery by securing the children of the Ain tribe.

Moreover, it is even more dangerous if it has been left on the roof in this state for a long time.

No matter how much magic you are, you cannot put the blood that has already been shed into your body again.

Abbot Austin’s face, which was becoming pale, was embarrassing for Lucy.

However, the most embarrassing thing was Austin’s next words.

“I didn’t believe it when I said that Glockt’s youngster had brought in a disciple, but indeed... even pretending to be, he’s just as eccentric.”

Austin recognized Lucy.

Even if you are a human like a living history book, it will not be easy to recognize a girl named Lucy Meirl at a glance.

Recently, he has made a name for himself in the central part of the Empire, and he is also famous as the Chief of Sylvania, but... Recognizing Lucy in the fading consciousness was almost a miracle.

An acquaintance of Archmage Glockt Elderbane.

That alone made Lucy roll her eyes.

“That young man... he probably didn’t have the talent to teach magic... Boy, you must have gone through a lot.”

It also looked pretty sloppy.

Lucy tried to save Austin somehow by gathering magic power and tying up the wounds, but the 109-year-old man’s body had already suffered enough fatal blows.

“However, the disciple of the young man appeared like this at the end of my life, so it seems that Telos, who gave me, also heard my prayer.”

“...don’t talk too much. The blood... keeps coming out...”

“Hey. Even if you look at my old friendship with Glockt, can you grant just two last wishes of this old man...?”

He had already completely ruled out the possibility of surviving. Even in such a state, a calm and benevolent tone continues. Indeed, it is age.

“The child who inflicted this wound on me is still running around on the roof of the monastery. It’s somehow covered up with rumors of a ‘ghost’, but... it won’t last long. Can you catch him before then, and fix the kid?”

Lucy, who had always had a blank face, narrowed her brow as if anxious. It is rare that Lucy, who is blunt, shows such emotions, only seeing it once a year.

“...that’s easy.”

“Yes, thank you. And again... Finally, I want to sit back in my chair and close my eyes. Could you move me to your room...?”

“You have to go to the hospital, not your room.”

“It is a request. From now on, I have work to do in my room.”

“If you tell me, I’ll do it for you.”

“It’s sad, but it’s something this old man has to do himself.”

Even the time to argue like that was wasted. It was because Austin’s eyes were slowly losing their vitality.

Lucy clenched her teeth and expressed her magical powers, expressing her spatial magic and carrying Abbot Austin’s body to the room.

A shabby and frugal room. Abbot Austin’s body was placed in that side room, where there was nothing to be proud of except for the beautiful moonlight.

Lying down on the wooden chair he often sat on when praying, he curled up in the midst of it and tried to laugh out loud.

“Kukkuk, Kukkakkak.”

Abbot Austin, who was smiling as if the world was good, breathed out with difficulty.

The desk in the room was full of letters from Princess Persica. There was a story about the Ain people and a question about whether Abbot Austin would cooperate in the future imperial dispute.

Lucy skimmed through the contents, then looked back at Austin.

As if sitting in an armchair, Austin, who was drooping, spoke.

“Now... get out. There is nothing good about staying here long.”

“What are you going to do in the room...?”

At that, Austin smiled and added.

“I have to protect my daughters.”

Lucy knew what Austin was thinking at this point.

When a corpse with scars from the claws of a beast is discovered, what will happen to the monastery is obvious. There is no such thing as a wild beast in this monastery, which was artificially built on a rocky island, so it won’t take long for it to be determined that it was the work of the Ain people.

Above all, there is a separate confession room for the Ain in the basement of this monastery, and if the imperial army searches for it with determination, it will not be easy to find a group of nuns with animal ears.

So, it is most important not to make public debate itself. If you are going to come up with an alternative, it would be better if the Persica princess was restrained from exerting influence on the monastery.

The method... is clearly established.

Reaching out to the desk with difficulty, Austin burned all the letters the Persica princess had sent to the large candlestick next to it.

“Hey. go now I want to be alone.”

Lucy watched silently, then nodded, biting her lower lip. Austin doesn’t want to show Lucy what will happen after this.

That was the moment when Lucy was about to lean toward the window.

“You, too, must be having the same troubles as the young Glockt.”

Although the story was brought out slowly in a voice that was getting thirsty, Austin’s words were precisely piercing Lucy’s lungs.

“Are you afraid of the void that will eventually come into your life, and the repetition of a life that only continues without meaning? I’m afraid of the time when I’ve reached such a high level that life itself only leaves me with boredom.”

Lucy stared at Austin, who smiled with a smirk, with surprised eyes.

“That said, don’t try to artificially create meaning in life or wander around looking for it. ...the meaning of life is not to be found, it is to be given by you. Yes, you give it meaning.”

“...what...”

“If you came in on a carriage from Sylvania, then the duke must have followed the master...?”

Did he even notice to some extent that he was hiding in the wagon in the first place? Come to think of it, when we got to meet him on the shore, Austin didn’t get too far from Ed’s wagon.

He was monitoring the inside of the carriage. However, he only judged Ed’s personality and concluded that there would be no problem.

He is truly an amazingly deep-seated old man.

The blade of wisdom accumulated over the years was forged so sharply.

“If you’re that kind of man, that’s pretty good for the meaning of life.”

It was truly an Austin-like farewell to the way he smiled leisurely while bleeding from his lips.

So, the old woman let the girl go.

Closing the window with trembling hands, I managed to catch my blurry vision and opened the bottom drawer of the drawer.

Inside is a ceremonial dagger. He gripped the handle of the dagger with his wrinkled hands.

The target point is the injured lower abdomen.

Fortunately, since the perpetrator’s hand is small, the area of the wound is also small. It’s just that deep.

By putting a dagger on top of it, the ‘traces of being attacked by the beast’ disappears, leaving only the ‘scarring of the dagger’.

The suspect also broadens the category to any human who can hold a dagger.

Suddenly, the starlight outside the window catches my eye.

Abbot Austin raised an eyebrow, seeing the sight he always saw when he prayed while sitting alone in his room, which is even more special today.

When you look at the wrist that raised the dagger, it’s skinny and skinny. There was a time when I was as white as white jade, but I think that life is truly colorless.

Nevertheless, at the time of the finale, if I can proudly declare that I have protected my daughters.

It can be said that it was a truly meaningful life.

It’s been a while since all of the acquaintances who were close because of their longevity left for heaven first.

I’m a little late, but this is enough to make me laugh out loud and shout out to them that I’ve lived a good life.

It felt pretty good.

And Austin tightened his grip on the dagger.

*“I didn’t do anything.”

Lucy’s hair, who was holding her knees and looking down at the night sea, fluttered around her cheeks.

Lucy, who was dazed with her head on her lap, opened her mouth again.

“I say. I could blow up the whole monastery if I wanted to.”

“I will.”

“If you use all your magic power... you can move a long distance with a wagon at once, and you can handle dozens of high-ranking magic circles at once.”

“Yeah, that’s amazing.”

“But... I couldn’t do anything.”

Lucy Meryl did nothing. He had great magic and enormous power, but he could only sit still.

All Austin’s hard work, effort, and sacrifice will go in vain if he goes out and publicizes the matter. If the Abbey’s Ain were exposed to the world in any way, Austin’s death would be a dog’s death.

That is why, even at the moment of being pointed out as a suspect, Lucy kept her mouth shut.

Because you don’t know how your remarks will be interpreted and how it will change the situation. Because everything was uncharted territory.

Now that Austin was going the way he intended, there was nothing he could do but leave it as it is.

“It was the first acquaintance of Grandpa Glockt that I met... we didn’t talk much.”

“I’m sorry.”

“...I wanted to save him.”

“I didn’t even try, but I can’t help it.”

They were constantly joking around, and I sat next to Lucy and watched the sea at night.

It was time for low tide. The soldiers on the coastline were also preparing to move over to the monastery, clearing the campfire one or two at a time.

From a distance, the sight of the soldiers raising their torches one by one is magnificent. Seeing a group of torches riding along the sandy beach exposed above the surface of the water is just like a fire spreading over the sea.

We sat side by side for a long time, watching the scene.

“Uh-huh, uh-huh.”

– Dump, Dump.

Before long, tears like chicken dung flowed from Lucy’s eyes.

The tears that are flowing out are clumped together and flowed down. I didn’t show any signs of embarrassment when I saw it.

“There are so many things in the world... that cannot be done by force alone.”

In a world where politics are intertwined, ideologies and ideologies clash, and good and evil are swirling, there are too many things that cannot be done by force alone. This is because humans are complex, and the human mind is difficult.

For a girl who has just started traveling the world, the stories of the world in which such things are entangled are too difficult.

It is the process of a girl becoming an adult.

It’s a process everyone goes through, but that doesn’t mean it’s not sad.

I pressed and stroked Lucy’s hair, letting her tears run down.

She wrapped her arms around Lucy’s shoulders and looked at the sea at night together for a long time.

It is like the top of the spire of a magnificent monastery. The night scenery was also quite spectacular.

There were quite a few shooting stars in the sky, leaving quite long tails.