Chapter 601

Chapter 601

After the funeral procession concluded, I visited every newly made grave.

"Prince Ash."

In front of one of the graves, a man, silently stroking his fine beard, turned to look at me.

It was Valen, the leader of the Southern City-State Alliance.

"Lord Valen."

As I approached and called his name, he glanced briefly at the new grave in front of him. I looked at the grave as well.

It was the grave of the mercenary group, Insect Busters, who had joined us in the defense battle thanks to Valen's introduction.

Experts in pest extermination, yet during the first battle at the forward base, five mercenaries were unfortunately captured by the King of Flies.

Unable to retrieve their bodies, they were buried in empty coffins, and having no ties to this city, there were hardly any mourners.

Only Valen stood in vigil, as if he were the chief mourner.

After a moment of silence, Valen spoke up.

"The Insect Busters."

"Yes."

"Truth be told, I had no personal acquaintance with them."

"Yes."

"I had only heard of their reputation before I scouted them to come here."

Valen let out a long sigh.

"It feels strange."

"How so?"

"It feels like I've led them to their deaths. To a very lonely and isolated end."

"..."

"It's not just them. Of all the soldiers I've brought over time, not many have survived."

A hot wind blew by.

With my hair tousled by the late summer gust, I asked him.

"Do you regret it?"

"As the leader of the Southern City-State Alliance, I shouldn't. But on a personal level... Yes, I regret it."

Valen murmured bitterly, looking at me.

"Even just recruiting soldiers brings me such pain, I can only imagine how much more distressing it must be for you."

"No matter how much my heart may burn, can it compare to the grief of the bereaved? Can it compare to the agony those who died felt in their final moments?"

How could it compare?

No matter how much my heart may burn...

I briefly paid my respects in front of the Insect Busters' grave. After finishing my moment of silence and raising my head, Valen asked me.

"Your Highness, will there be many more deaths to come?"

"There will be."

"Honestly, it feels like my heart might break."

"..."

"The thought of that giant monster scares me, and the pain of losing the people I've brought... It's shameful. To feel this way and still be the leader of an organization."

"There's no need to feel ashamed. It's only natural for a human being."

"What should I do? Can people as weakened as I am continue to fight?"

I thought of Candler. How she, having once fled, miraculously returned and fought again.

Such miracles, such sacrifices... I can't demand them of everyone.

"There's about two months left until the next battle."

I changed the subject.

"Take that time to collect your thoughts, Lord Valen. To see if you can continue to fight, or..."

Or...

Even if you choose to leave, I can't hold you back.

Valen, and all those who have fought here so far. I know better than anyone that they have already done their best.

That they have fought hard enough.

That it's enough for their hearts to be broken. Because I know.

Hesitating for a moment, Valen replied with a bitter smile and bowed to me.

"I will do that, Your Highness."

***

When the southern wall collapsed.

Many were unable to evacuate in time or were swept away by the collapse. Half of the casualties in this battle occurred here.

Among those caught in the collapse were magicians.

"..."

Junior, with reddened eyes, looked at the grave in front of her. In front of the grave, two young magicians were lying face down, wrapped in bandages, crying.

They were the young magicians who had formed a party under Junior, learning magic from Junior and Dearmudin.

When the wall collapsed, these young magicians, not yet physically hardened, were caught in the disaster.

Eventually, two died and two were injured like this.

Junior quietly approached the crying young magicians and stroked their shoulders. The three of them cried together.

"..."

Standing behind them, Dearmudin stared blankly.

"The children die, and the elderly survive."

His hollow murmur dispersed into the summer wind.

"The children die, and the elderly survive..."

"..."

I stood quietly beside him, paying my respects.

There was nothing else I could do but mourn.

***

Skuld and Kellison.

The imperial-style funeral was not held for the Elf Queen and the Dwarf King. Instead, we held separate funerals, each adhering to the distinct customs of their respective races.

Skuld's wooden coffin was filled with white flowers, while Kellison's metal coffin was stacked high with gold coins.

Yet, no matter the form or the order of service.

The human heart is the same.

A faint smile passed over the tearful Bodybag's lips. Sid laughed heartily, pressing his palm against Bodybag's cheek.

"..."

Quietly smiling at this scene, Lilly suddenly turned her gaze towards the graves.

As if searching for a grave that wasn't there.

The nonexistent grave of Godhand, still officially missing but whom everyone had already accepted as dead.

***

The ceasefire period proposed to us by the Black Dragon Night Bringer lasts until the next great flood.

In other words, until right before the next boss stage - Stage 40.

Stages 36, 37, 38, 39... It meant skipping four defense battles without fighting.

Of course, taking the monster's words at face value isn't safe, but it seems like he's the type to keep his word faithfully. So, we've gained some respite, to an extent.

Roughly two months...

After the funeral, in the evening.

I visited Serenade.

The Silver Winter Merchant Guild's Crossroad branch was busy. They had been deployed at the forefront of the reconstruction efforts.

Continuously incoming supplies were being carried out again by the workers.

Passing through that busy scene.

"Serenade."

"Your Highness! If you had sent word, I would have come out to meet you..."

"How could I when you're so busy."

Entering Serenade's office, I immediately made a request.

"I have a request. Send a proclamation to every country, every city, every village in the world."

"A proclamation, you say?"

"Call it a notice or even an advertisement, but there's something we need to announce to the whole world on a grand scale. Can you do it?"

"Of course. It's not a difficult task. Leave it to me."

Pulling out fresh paper from her desk, and clutching a quill in her hand stained with ink from the day's hard work.

Serenade looked up at me, her silver eyes sparkling behind the lenses of her glasses she wore whenever she worked.

"How should I write it, Your Highness?"

"Heroes Wanted."

Behind Serenade, the window with wooden blinds half-drawn.

Turning my gaze towards the window leaking in the sunset, I recited as I had thought.

"Financial compensation, high. Honor and glory, exceedingly high."

Serenades quill, fluently catching my words with elegant strokes, paused at my next statement.

"Survival probability, low."

"..."

"Success probability, exceedingly low."

...Rustle. Rustle.

The momentarily halted writing resumed as if nothing had happened. I, without showing any sign, continued.

"Yet, those who wish to save the world. Those who have something they must protect. For everything they love, to stand against destruction, to fight the world's worst monsters."

I concluded.

"Without exception, all should come to the world's southern end, Crossroad."

"..."

"By the name of Ash Born Hater Everblack, commander of the World Guardian Front."

My speech ended, and the writing by Serenade eventually stopped as well.

Silence descended in the office.

Serenade looking down at the sentence, and me, watching the city through the window.

The smell of ink on Serenade's hands. The smell of paper. The scent of the bandages wrapped around me. The dry smell of blood.

The distant noise of construction, the faint shouts of workers, and the elegies softly drifting in from the graves...

"Serenade."

Cutting through the silence between us, I suddenly asked.

"If the world were to end tomorrow, what would you do today?"

"..."

Serenade slowly lifted her head, and I turned my gaze from the window to her.

Our eyes met through the sunset streaming through the window.

After a moment of thought, she spoke.

"I'd... hold a festival in this city."

"And?"

"I would dance with you. Until the moment the world ends."

Serenade smiled.

So, I smiled too.

"Then let's do that."

"Really?"

Stepping closer to the puzzled Serenade.

I took a new piece of paper from the table, took the quill from her hand, and wrote a second proclamation.

In about a month's time, on the upcoming new moon.

There would be an autumn festival in Crossroad.

"Even if the world really were to end..."

I smiled, handing the completed proclamation to Serenade, who blinked in astonishment.

"Would you still dance with me, partner?"

Heroes Wanted.

And the announcement of the Autumn Festival.

Holding the two proclamations, Serenade looked at me with reddened eyes for a long while... and then smiled brilliantly.

Late summer was ending, and early autumn was approaching.

The third year's Crossroad Autumn Festival was drawing near.

--TL Notes--

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