Chapter 225

Chapter 225

(TL Note: After careful consideration, Ive changed Van to Ban. Why? Ban sounds more feminine.)

Snap!

As Damien reached for the [Black Queen], Kureha seized his hand.

"Damien."

"..."

"The malevolence I sense from this gun is extraordinary. Are you sure about this?"

"Let go. Now."

"Even the Crown Prince warned you. This is..."

"Let go!"Finnd new chapters at novelhall.com

A rough voice, uncharacteristic of Damien, erupted from his mouth.

"I need to see Ban! Let go of me!"

"...Damien."

"If I have this gun, I can meet Ban again... Whats the problem? I meet Ban, you all get rid of that snake; its a win-win for everyone, isnt it?"

"..."

Slowly, Kureha released her grip on Damiens hand.

"Just remember this, Damien. There are people here who care about you, too."

Without even acknowledging her, Damien grasped the Black Queen tightly.

"...Never forget that."

Whoosh!

An aura, many times darker and more malicious than before, enveloped Damiens entire body.

"Welcome, Damien."

A voice echoed within him.

"Lets dream."

The voice sounded like it could belong to Orlop... or perhaps Ban.

"This time, Ill make sure you dream a dream so pleasant that youll never want to wake up."

Upon hearing that sweet voice, Damien lost consciousness.

***

When he came to, he was at the summit of a mountain.

Disoriented, Damien looked around.

It was the wee hours of the morning on a secluded small mountain. Before him stretched an endless land under a vast sky.

Damien soon realized his current situation.

It was the dawn of the day when he had escaped the orphanage and reached the summit of this mountain.

Something... I feel like Ive been through a lot...

Damien rubbed his throbbing forehead.

His head was cloudy. Thoughts werent connecting well.

But no matter how hard he tried, he couldnt remember anything besides escaping the orphanage and arriving here.

Was there something else?

"Damien, make a promise with me."

At that moment, a familiar voice came from beside him.

He turned in surprise; it was Ban.

Her tanned skin, short hair like a boys, and scarred cheeks.

The face of the girl Damien loved was right before him. Damien blinked slowly.

"Huh? A promise? What promise?"

"To explore this entire outside world."

Ban smiled brightly.

"Lets fill our eyes with the sight of this vast world."

For a moment, Damien blankly stared at Bans dazzling smile before shaking his head.

...No

"Lets not do that."

"Huh? What?"

"Dont become mercenaries for a get-rich-quick scheme, dont head south to see the end of the world."

"Damien? What are you talking about?"

Even Damien himself didnt know what he was saying. However, he was certain that they should not set out on any more adventures.

He approached Ban, who was blinking in confusion, and carefully took her chin in both hands.

Then, he kissed her.

"...?!"

Bans face flushed red in surprise. Damien slowly pulled away and gave her a faint smile.

"Im sorry for the suddenness. But you wouldve made the move if I hadnt, right?"

"You, you, youu...!"

If we head north from here, theres a big city. Well have plenty to do there. Lets start there.

Damien reached out and tightly held onto both of her hands.

The girls hands were warm.

Lets quit adventuring, quit the dangerous stuff like sword fighting and healing magic... Lets live quietly and peacefully, Ban.

Ban looked blankly at Damien for a moment, and then broke into a small smile.

If thats what you want, then thats what well do, Damien.

Time went on.

The child turned seven.

Both Damien and Ban, who hadnt received proper education in their youth, vowed to give their child the best education possible.

Their son, who loved reading from a young age, made his mark when he entered school.

Whenever their son brought home an award, Damien and Ban would proudly announce, "Our son is a genius," boasting to everyone in their neighborhood.

The family would go on picnics over the weekends. Packing lunch and a mat, they would head to parks or riversides for an outing.

Time went on.

At thirteen, their son enrolled in a boarding school. With a mature air, he assured his parents not to worry as he entered the dormitory, leaving Damien and Ban silently tearing up.

Time went on.

Damien climbed the ranks within the Merchant Guild. Having served nearly 20 years, his standing in the Guild was high.

Ban purchased a commercial building and opened her own store. Though they took on some debt, the store did well, allowing them to repay it quickly.

It was at this time they left their beloved basement apartment for a fine mansion on the outskirts of the city.

Time had passed.

Damiens son, having graduated from school, passed the exams to become an administrative officer in the city hall.

The day the results were announced, Damien and Ban hugged their son just as they had when he was a child, parading around the neighborhood, bragging about him.

The son covered his face, embarrassed yet pleased.

Time had passed.

The son got promoted and secured a place near the city hall, starting his own household.

The wrinkles on the faces of Damien and Ban had increased noticeably.

Still, the couple went on dates every weekend, holding hands. They went out to the central city theater and dined at fancy restaurants.

Time had passed.

Their son introduced them to a beautiful young woman; they were already engaged.

Damien and Ban, who never had a proper wedding, decided to host a grand wedding for their son.

Many people came to their sons wedding, showering the young couple with applause and flower petals as they celebrated their union.

Watching this, Damien and Ban held each others hands tightly.

"Shall we have another wedding too?"

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

Though Ban chided Damien for his suggestion, not long after, they indeed had a twilight wedding ceremony, quietly and without letting their son and daughter-in-law know.

"Wearing a wedding dress at this age...really."

In a quiet temple, bathed in dusty sunlight, Ban, even with her wrinkled face, was beautiful. She smiled brightly and said, "You must really love me, old man!"

Damien silently embraced Ban and kissed her lips.

Time had passed.

Time had passed.

...Time, had passed.

***

Lying in bed, Damien awaited death.

Ban sat next to him, tightly holding his hand.

"Were you happy, dear?"

"Of course, I was happy."

Barely able to see, Damien mumbled as he stared at the ceiling.

"What more happiness could I ask for..."

"..."

"Were you happy, dear?"

When Damien asked, Ban smiled faintly and replied, "Yes, I couldnt have been happier."

For a moment, they held hands in silence, not exchanging a word. A peaceful quiet filled their cozy bedroom.

Then, noise erupted outside their bedroom door. The sound of children laughing was heard.

"Ah, it looks like our son has arrived."

Ban quickly opened the door.

"Father!"

Their son, who had ascended to the position of the citys mayor despite being a commoner, entered the bedroom with his grandchildren. Damien spread his arms to greet him.

"Come here, my pride and joy."

And then, Damien spoke his sons name.

"...Ash..."

The moment that name left his lips.

"Huh?"

A faint moan escaped from the aged Damiens lips.

In his foggy mind,

A feeling as if clear ripples were spreading.

Step by step,

The son standing before him grinned.

With jet-black hair and similarly dark eyes, he was a young, handsome man.

Ash spoke,

- Damien.

- Are you really just going to sit here, waiting to die?