Chapter 167

Chapter 28. It won’t be peaceful at all (5)

Winters in northern Kairis are harsh.

Hatsuara built a city in the north of that large continent for the snow-loving Sispanians. At this point, it could be seen that Sispanian was a vicious dragon who had taken a human man as his favor, but in reality, this was not the case.

Sispanian had only said once that the snow falling from the sky was beautiful, and it was Hatsuara who remembered it and made the cold region north of Kairis his capital. It must have been astounding that he was a great man who built such a huge palace after being told straight away that he would never marry you because the place where humans live was so cramped and stuffy.

anyway.

That cold place is Kairisis. So in the middle of winter, the Seneu River literally freezes over.

If you touch the Senegang with a tap, will it rupture?

If you step on a frozen rock, will it break?

Of course not. No matter how cold the temperature is, frozen rivers and rocks do not freeze rapidly and at extremely low temperatures enough to break into pieces.

“What the hell is this...”

Margrave Gray Briesen, who had unconsciously uttered words of shock as he looked at the shattered marble table, quickly shut his mouth. There would be no benefit to myself if I let out a surprised voice in the current situation.

“You destroyed it because you knew how much it was worth!”

So, I pretended to be natural like this. I thought it would be better to be a narrow-minded person who cares about things rather than a person who is afraid. And when I saw Arsene’s miserable eyes as he returned, I regretted it for a moment.

“Please answer me, Margrave.”

Arsene said this without even mentioning the price of the marble table and the unusually high-quality teacup, which could be seen at a glance as a craftsman’s hand.

When he was claiming to be Kalian’s subordinate, he sold Kalyan’s name and salary, but the current job was not something Kalyan could handle. Of course, it was impossible to deduct anything from the salary, which was reduced to 1 florin.

Gray, who knew from the time he exploded his carriage that he was not a normal bastard, but had no idea it would be to this extent, was drooling. Arsene, who had been silently waiting for Gray’s answer, opened his mouth again.

“As you know, this will be your last chance. It won’t be long before the First Prince turns 20.”

It won’t be long before the crown prince’s position is decided, but if things remain like this, there will be nothing for Gray to return no matter who becomes the crown prince. Even if Plantz ascends to the crown, it will only be good for Evan and has nothing to do with Gray. So, even now, you have to put a spoon somewhere to create a path to the capital.

“I’ll think about it first.”

Even when Silike or Randel called, Gray was worried for at least three days. He was stupid, but he didn’t live his life acting spontaneously. Even when he faced Kalian, wasn’t he quite patient in his own way?

“How much time can I give you?”

“It will take three days.”

Gray said he would give it three days, the same amount of time he had given it before. Arsene readily nodded his head and answered.

“Then I’ll come back tomorrow.”

I had no intention of complying with Gray’s request whatsoever. This is because Arsene himself had to take the initiative.

Well, it’s not like a day or two that wizards are impatient, so if Gray understands, there’s nothing we can do about it. It’s okay because if you have a wizard in front of you who can freeze Gray at any time instead of the table, you will gain a sense of understanding that you didn’t have before.

Of course, from Arsene’s point of view, it was okay, so Gray, who was not that okay, frowned and opened his mouth.

“You asked for three days, right?”

“Why waste time? I think the conclusion has been reached anyway.”

It was just as Arsene said. Anyway, Gray would never be able to refuse Arsene’s words. Gray would know better than ever that this was his last chance.

“Tomorrow. I will come back.”

After finishing what he had to say, Arsene stood up. Then he bowed slightly and went out. Since the conversation was over, I didn’t even ask for permission to leave.

* * *

As it becomes lighter, it becomes heavier.

That is the sword and that is what a sword should be.

The dark red sword caught between Kyrie and Planz was slightly twisted. It wasn’t a big movement, but Kyrie’s sword Calian slid in the intended direction and fell toward the floor.

Planz, who was standing behind Calian, sheathed his sword without saying a word. On the outside, there was no significant change in his expression, but in his mind, the events from just moments ago were repeating over and over again.

‘It was different.’

There was a clear change in Kirie’s eyes.

After that, the swords rushed in at a speed that Plantz couldn’t keep up with, and when he tried to block, Calian was already standing in front of Plantz.

He probably would have been stabbed in the heart if Calian hadn’t intervened, but he didn’t feel any great emotion about having almost died just moments ago. Anyway, since Kali An was there, I thought he would have taken care of it and kept it alive no matter what happened. In reality, he is not dead, so it may not be an exaggerated belief.

Anyway, Plantz didn’t know exactly what happened to Kyrie. However, something in Kyrie changed during the sparring and Kalian congratulated him, so he was thinking that he had definitely achieved a level of growth.

“......Kiri.”

However, the atmosphere was a little different from usual.

Kirie did not respond to Calian’s joking words. From the beginning, Kalian did not want an apology for feeling murderous towards Plantz to the point of intervening. Still, he was so quiet that he wasn’t a guy and didn’t respond to anything Calian said.

Moreover, even though the sparring was over, he did not sheath his sword. Above all, my desire to live did not subside.

– Sigh

As if to show that Planz’s thoughts were correct, Calian moved slightly further to the side. That means he moved a little more to the side and completely blocked Plantz’s path.

That would mean that Kirie was still in a dangerous state.

‘I guess I hated it quite a bit.’

Plantz chuckled at this thought. Calian, who did not see it, still looked in front of him and opened his mouth.

“Kiri.”

Calian, who called her name again, looked at Kyrie in silence for a moment. Then he sighed briefly and struck Kyrie’s sword with his own sword. The sound of blades clashing was briefly heard.

Kyrie, who was looking ahead with that sound but also seeing something else, turned her gaze towards Calian.

“Kiri.”

“yes.”

Only then does the answer come back.

Kalian opened his mouth. He smiled with the same face as before and said the same thing as before.

“I said congratulations. I gave it to you.”

“ah.......”

The answer didn’t come right away. An expression appeared on Kirie’s face, as if she had seen something difficult to believe, or as if she had something else on her mind.

“Thank you, prince.”

It was only after a while that a belated thank you came back. Kalian nodded his head briefly and then looked into Kyrie’s eyes and spoke.

“I know what I see.”

It was a phenomenon that Bern experienced before embarking on the path of the sword, but not everyone saw it. So, after listening to Bern’s explanation, Chase gave it the name ‘Garm’. I decided to call it that because it is the line that separates life and death that can definitely end one’s life.

In the past, Kirie had seen Garm just a few months before her death. So he is now facing it at a much earlier time than before. So of course Calian was overjoyed right now, but he couldn’t just celebrate.

Because I knew how important and dangerous this moment was.

“I want you to put the sword in first, Kirie.”

Calian said this while pointing at the sword still in his hand. To Kirie, who still can’t erase her life.

“...... sorry.”

Only then did Kirie briefly apologize and put the sword into its sheath. Calian’s eyes quietly watched the process. The sword finally disappeared from Calian’s hand when he saw that the sword was fully sheathed.

Plants didn’t know yet, but Kalian did. That life right now wasn’t just for Plants.

There was only Plantz in front of him, but after Calian blocked Plantz, the same energy reached Calian. So, a little while ago, Kirie was trying to inflict death without distinction of opponent.

“Give me the sword, Kirie.”

Kalian held out his hand towards Kyrie’s sword.

He asked me to return the sword he had taken down. Kirie did not know what it meant to take the sword away from the swordsman. It meant that he would not be able to hold the sword.

“yes.”

Even though he knew that, Kirie answered like this. And he handed Calian the sword in its scabbard. It was an action without any hesitation or question. Kalian asked him to return it, so he gave it back.

“Let’s go somewhere for a moment.”

Calian, holding the sword, said this and smiled softly.

* * *

Euria’s pretty forehead frowned slightly.

Four beers.

No, how can a person get drunk after drinking four glasses of beer?

I would understand if it were a large glass, but I let out an annoyed voice as I looked at the ice wizard who had become drunk after four glasses of beer that were barely bigger than a glass of water.

She said, “I should have looked when I looked for alcohol.”

I didn’t know that Arsene was weak at drinking. Nevertheless, when she came out from meeting Gray, he said that her mouth was rotten and that there was something on her tongue. In the end, it was Euria’s fault for not stopping her when she tried to drink.

Euria, still unharmed after emptying her bottle of premium Himolica, opened her mouth.

“Hey Kid.”

“Hey, president of the association.”

Her voice returned, her tongue half twisted at Euria’s call. And it started.

“I didn’t intend to do this, President. I did it because the prince told me to do it. I hated that guy so much, President. But in front of that guy, I asked to stand on the side of the vice commander, who is the prince’s older brother. President, I didn’t intend to do that. President of the Association. Still, I did it because you asked me to. I just hate it when you said that, Chairman of the Association.”

“Oh yeah.”

Arsene didn’t care about Euria’s insincere words.

Arsene placed the french fries he had ordered for her in her hand. Then, the French fries that touched his hand froze slightly and hardened.

Arsene, who saw this, said in amazement.

“Oh, it’s frozen.”

“You froze it.”

Euria held back.

She still had unfrozen french fries left.

“By the way, President of the Association.”

“Oh yeah.”

Her hand, trying to grab her unfrozen french fries, kept freezing new ones. As the deep wrinkles between Euria’s eyebrows increased, so did her frozen potatoes.

“When I think about it, I’m just annoyed that the vice commander, who is the prince’s older brother, is involved with people from that kind of family, president of the association. I know that the vice commander is not a bad guy, but our prince keeps taking care of the vice commander. Chairman of the association. That’s the vice commander. “I know it’s not my fault, but it’s still annoying and I hate it.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Oh, everything is frozen.”

“You froze it.”

Arsene poured the rest of his beer into her mouth and opened her mouth again. After he confirmed that there were no more french fries to eat.

“It’s all because of that damn family, Chairman. Our prince. What a good person you are, Chairman. Oh, I don’t know what I’m talking about, Chairman. I took you in a carriage, said you did a good job, destroyed a building, and then gave you a raise. Chairman.” .”

“I think the point where you think he’s a good person is a little strange.”

“No, I’m not sure. He’s just as good a person as you, Master.”

I listened to this point and just gave up.

Since she couldn’t listen to Arsene’s ramblings with the silence on, Euria just turned off the silence and put her to sleep.

– Slurp!

Only then did it become a little quiet.

It was on the day that the news of her departure came that she was pregnant with Neriad’s child. He came to me again and talked about spring. He talked about flowers blooming.

“Secritia. They named it that.”

Keeping a secret.

Secretia, a new country with this meaning.

She loved to tell me the story of how she founded a country with that name. Neriad, who died embracing her, was happy that she had created a truly beautiful country with the sea she longed to see.

“I liked that news because it felt like a butterfly. It felt like a flower blooming. Fortunately.”

She’s lucky she’s not dead. She’s lucky she’s alive. I am glad that we gathered people together, created a country, and rose again. That’s a flower.

That’s what he said.

“Cispanian. What do you like?”

“You’re going.”

“Something other than what I know.”

“You’re not coming.”

And it was still annoying.

Unlike Siegfried, who was arbitrarily loyal to Cytros, he did not listen to what he was told.

“Anyway. I think I’ll create a country with Cytros.”

And this is how the opening declaration was made.

* * *

He kept his word.

He said he would come forward and he really brought people together.

He said he would save the world, but he actually saved everyone.

He said he would build a country, and he actually created it.

Kairis.

Where spring comes.

He founded a country with a name that suited him perfectly. A new country was created, ruled by a new hero, on top of the collapsed old kingdom and ruined old territory.

“I like you, Sispanian. I’ve probably been for quite some time.”

And then he held me like this.

I was not an ancient dragon having fun. It was not like I was passing away a piece of an extremely long period of time, imitating human life.

I was staying with my very existence. He knew it too. Even though he knew, he was being selfish.

“I am not.”

I never once called his name or said the right thing to him. I was just serving as a support for humans on behalf of Serenti.

I was not human.

Just finding a way to bring back the sleeping Serenti, protecting my young kin from death, just understanding this world was enough for me.

“The place where humans live is so cramped and stuffy.”

It’s so cramped and stuffy. Plus, it’s loud, annoying, and rainy. I live in a cramped, stuffy, noisy, annoying, and rainy place. Humans live in such places.

Life is too short in a place like that.

“That’s why I will never marry you.”

I hated it.

I hated it so much that I wanted to immediately go back to my nest and sleep for a hundred years, even to the point where I wanted to prevent him from coming to visit me.

“Um, I understand.”

He, who always disobeyed me, somehow responded like this.

Then he began building a royal palace the size of a village.

The day I found out that fact.

I almost killed the hero who saved the world.

* * *

Most humans were narrow-minded, conceited, and weak.

He was not narrow-minded, not conceited, and strong. He was kind, thoughtful, laughed a lot, and spoke beautifully.

And it was selfish.

It was so terribly selfish.

“Eventually you will leave and eventually I will be left behind.”

I asked him why he kept holding on to me like that when he already knew it would end that way.

“Because life is everything to me. I want to be at least a part of your life. Even if it’s selfish, I want that to happen.”

He called me even though he knew I would never forget him. He called me to remember, not to remember.

“I don’t know about you, but when it snows later, one day, when it snows, you remember me bothering you, so you frown, and when you look at the sea, you remember me chasing you and being noisy, and I get annoyed. I remember me saying I liked it because it felt like flowers would bloom when I saw butterflies. Smiling. Not just remembering things, that kind of thing.”

Those are the memories, he said.

“I know it’s selfish, but I still want to do it. I can’t help it.”

The horror of it all grabbed me as I was about to leave.

“How much more can I give you...”

“i love you.”

He really is.

It was truly selfish to the point of extreme. I ended up acting selfishly.

I couldn’t shake off that hand.

Because at some point, probably for quite some time, I too have been like that.

* * *

“Sis.”

“no.”

“Fanny.”

“no.”

She became the queen of a new king in a newly created country. The humans were happy and he was happy.

And he had a child.

He was really, really bad at naming things. He acted as if he had done his job by naming the country and the capital.

“Bern.”

“no.”

An unforgettable hero.

It’s sad to not be forgotten. So I said I didn’t like it.

Human life is so short and short that I knew that he would eventually leave me. In the end, heroes are only forgotten and erased, so I knew that even after everyone else had forgotten, I would be the only one to remember. I didn’t want to give my child that name.

“Camilon.”

butterfly.

The name he said he liked came out of his mouth.

“good.”

“Ah, I’ve finally decided.”

he laughed.

He laughed and said that he decided on a name for his child even though he must have remembered that I still hadn’t called him by his name and that I hadn’t once told him that I loved him.

Time passed like that.

A child was born. I was amazed at how similar my black hair was to his green eyes, so I gave him a small blessing.

The child spoke and began to grow taller. Time passed like that. It flowed.

He was buried in that much time.

I was weak, unable to tie up time.

Time is time.

The human days given by Serenti were short.

That day was a day that I survived countless times.

It came too quickly.

* * *

Hatsuara. don’t go.

love you.

He laughed.

I cried.

* * *

The palace built for me was so big.

The tomb built for him was too small.

I visited that place every day.

I went to see you knowing that I would no longer be able to see you. I went to visit because I didn’t have time each day.

Will you come?

Maybe I should see it.

I turned into a butterfly and went to see him.

I want my child to leave and that child’s child to leave.

I became a black butterfly and went to his side.

A black butterfly circling around the dead king.

I don’t even know that people who forgot that it was me created new words.

With the hope that spring will come.

* * *

So I still reminisce about times gone by.

My recollections are still fond, still joyful, still happy.

And it’s still vague, still depressing, still sad.

It still hurts afterwards.

Because of the memory that does not know forgetting, because I now know that it is a memory.

Because I was left alone with longing.