Chapter 243:

Chapter 243:

Chapter 243 This Is Enough.

“Wow─!”

Thunderous cheers and applause erupted. Of course, all of it was directed at the magicians. The knights, on the other hand, stood awkwardly, not knowing what to do.

The first to speak was Libra, the Memory Slayer.

“Let’s go.”

Libra adjusted her bamboo hat and spoke, but everyone hesitated, unsure of what to do next. However, Libra’s demeanor was quite resolute.

“Leaving is the right thing to do. We are no longer the protagonists here.”

“Yes.”

Responses came, but they were still unenthusiastic. Libra finally let out a deep sigh and spoke again.

“This scene must feel awkward to you.”

“...”

“But I know, having witnessed many memories. There were moments like this for the knights too, moments when they proved their worth and stood tall as the heroes of the continent...”

“Yes.”

“So.”

Libra continued, her eyes filled with sentiment.

“So that such moments can come again, we must train hard and wield our swords tirelessly. You’ve lived in an era that is too comfortable and radiant.”

“...”

“We mistakenly believed that the glory of our predecessors was our own. But it shouldn’t be like that.”

The knights, who had been standing with gloomy expressions, began to nod one by one. There was no flaw in Libra’s words.

“Let’s go back and grasp our swords. That’s what we must do.”

“We will.”

“Thank you, Lady Libra.”

“Yes.”

As everyone responded, Libra finally nodded. Her words had quite an effect, as even the hesitant knights began to move.

But why, Libra’s heart felt heavier.

Those impressed by Libra’s words were all her escort knights. They were lower in rank and skill than Libra, so they listened well...

“Hmm.”

Libra’s gaze turned towards the infirmary.

Viola and the Capital Knights. It was uncertain how they would view this situation. No, in fact, it was predictable. They would not change.

Not that Libra could change them. But still.

“Flan.”

She thought that perhaps he might be able to change things. At least as far as Libra knew, Flan had never shown that something was ‘impossible.’

So, this time too, it would be up to him to bring change.

Huff, Libra chuckled and began to walk away, feeling a strange sense of relief.

◈

“Hey, Flan!”

“Flan!”

“F-Fl-Flan!”

Right after descending from the arena amidst the thunderous cheers, I was met with the following reactions.

Everywhere I looked, eyes were wide with surprise, and no matter where I listened, all I could hear was my name being called.

Trixie quietly approached me and said,

“Impressive.”

“Yeah.”

Scarlet, the Knight of Flickering Flame, had arrived.

“....”

An awkward tension lingered in the space. The magicians instinctively shrank back, while the knights seemed worried about Scarlet, who was still able to walk.

The representatives, wrapped in mana, stood like a barrier in front of me, but I brushed them aside.

“It’s fine.”

As everyone cautiously stepped back, Scarlet walked up to me. Her gait was still a bit unsteady, likely due to her significant injuries.

◈

Scarlet’s appearance had changed considerably from before. One sleeve of her coat hung empty and she had a bandage wrapped around one eye.

Flan was the first to break the silence.

“Shouldn’t you be lying down and resting? You don’t look well.”

Scarlet smiled faintly at his words.

“They say you won, so I should at least show my face.”

“It’s not a big deal.”

“Not a big deal, huh....”

The smile on Scarlet’s lips widened slightly.

Achieving something extraordinary and treating it as an ordinary event—that was perhaps the most Judith-like thing to do, Scarlet thought.

Yes, the head of the family should naturally be someone who fits that role.

So.

Scarlet moved her lips, which were hard to move.

“Little brother.”

“...?”

Flan looked at Scarlet, as if hearing something unexpected.

Meeting Flan’s eyes, Scarlet continued to open and close her lips, as if trying to say something. There was a lot to say, but it required great courage, and meeting his eyes wasn’t easy.

But there was something she had to say.

“You’ve worked hard.”

That was all she could say.

As she sent off someone who had once been her fiancé, congratulating him, repenting for the way she had treated him, and acknowledging him as the head of the family, Scarlet felt a multitude of complex emotions but could only utter those words.

“....”

The surroundings fell silent, likely because no one expected Scarlet to say such a thing. Scarlet turned first.

“I’ll be going now. I can’t hold back the victor for long, and my health isn’t great either....”

“Scarlet.”

The one who stopped her was none other than Flan. At the sound of Flan’s low voice, Scarlet paused.

She slowly turned her head to look back. Her red eyes, more alike than anyone else’s despite the lack of blood relation, met his in mid-air.

“You’ve worked hard too.”

“....”

“This is all I can say.”

Scarlet let out a small laugh and lifted her head. The weather was perfect. She stared blankly at the drifting clouds for a while before speaking again.

“That’s all I needed to hear.”

With those words, Scarlet turned away.

The only difference was that she no longer needed the support of the escort knights. She suddenly seemed healthier, and her steps were lighter.

‘This is... enough.’

A subtle smile played on Scarlet’s lips as she made her solitary exit.

A brighter smile than ever appeared on her face.