◈ 150. [Side Story] Funeral (3)
three days later
The funeral was held at the graveyard west of Crossroads.
There were no deaths in stage 3 and stage 4, so the funeral took a long time.
‘It would have been nice if I hadn’t played forever… … .’
Looking at the procession of coffins being transported, I thought to myself.
Something like this… … It would have been nice if it hadn’t been open forever.
The coffins were placed in front of their respective burial places. The flag of the Everblack Empire was over all the coffins.
I glared at the flag with a little resentment.
In the center of the flag was a sword and rose pattern, symbols of the imperial family.
If only the imperial family had sent reinforcements.
If so… … .
Priests sprinkled holy water on each coffin and began offering prayers. Behind them, the choir sang a funeral song.
It took some time as the number of dead was quite high. I went to each new grave and bowed my head.
After all coffins are put in their respective places, and all the ceremony has passed.
Finally, it was my turn to speak.
There has never been a time when I didn’t want to stand in front of someone more than today. But this is my responsibility.
Without running away, I stepped onto the platform.
“… … .”
Citizens of Crossroads.
And all the heroic characters and soldiers under my command looked at me clearly.
After silently looking around at them, I slowly opened my mouth.
“The monsters I faced this time were blood relatives.”
Inside the castle walls, I calmly explained to ordinary citizens who had never seen the faces of the monsters.
“They are vampires and cannibals who crave our human blood and flesh. They eat the blood and flesh of others, steal the lives of others, and enjoy eternal life themselves.”
I gestured toward our soldiers.
“Our warriors fought bravely against these terrifying monsters. Not afraid of being ripped of blood and flesh, not backing down in the face of death. As a result, we were able to safely protect the city.”
clap clap clap… … !
Citizens applauded, no matter who said it first.
The soldiers were embarrassed, ashamed, or taken for granted and received the applause.
After waiting for the applause to die down, I continued.
“Unlike those monsters, we humans do not enjoy eternal life. We are short-lived. It blooms like a flower, but withers like a flower. I am sad about this.”
I glanced at Junior.
Standing next to Jupiter’s tomb, Junior was listening to me in a simple black dress.
“But even though I am sad about my short life, I am not envious of eternal life.”
I raised my voice.
“A human who fights against life by vomiting his own blood. It is far more beautiful than a monster that runs away from death by swallowing the blood of others. Because I believe so.”
sincerely.
because i believe so
“All the warriors who died this time fought back. Without averting his eyes from his life, he faced it squarely. And he did his duty.”
I closed my eyes for a moment.
I remembered the names of one hundred and fifty-five people who had passed away this time. They remembered the deaths they suffered without backing down.
“Everyone, fight.”
Opening my eyes, I spoke.
“Fight against life. Resist fiercely. Live with all your might, so as not to be ashamed of those buried first. Travel the world, find out what you have to do, and achieve it by all means.”
Looking around the crowd, I nodded heavily.
“That is what those who risked their lives to protect you will hope for.”
I slowly lowered my head.
“For those who fought fiercely with their lives, I will observe a moment of silence.”
Everyone at the funeral bowed their heads in unison.
After a brief moment of silence, I raised my head and spoke out again.
“And, I want to tell all the soldiers who went to the front this time.”
Heroes and soldiers looked at me in unison.
“I understand your pain at the loss of a colleague. I also spent the past few nights without being able to sleep properly.”
Every time I lay down in bed, the faces of my dead men shimmered, so I couldn’t sleep well for the past few days.
“Don’t feel guilty like, ‘My teammate died, but I survived’. Your co-workers won’t want you to think that way.”
Quite a few soldiers shook their shoulders at my words. It seems that it was a straight line.
It is said that this type of aftereffect is the most common among those who have survived the battle. I had a similar thought.
I smiled faintly.
“Since we survived, let’s find out together what we have to do.”
The prepared speech ended here.
“… … It was a tough battle, but thank you for surviving.”
I stammered to say something more, but I managed to spit it out with a shy smile.
“Thank you, everyone.”
I went down the podium, and Lucas waved his arm at the gunners.
pop! Boom!
A gunshot resounded in honor of the dead.
The funeral schedule was up to here. The clear gunfire gradually faded, and the crowd of citizens began to disperse one by one.
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***
I started looking for my party members in the graveyard.
God Hand, Body Bag, and Burnout were the first to see. The Shadow Troopers stood in front of the graves of Old Girl and Skull.
“Ah, Your Highness.”
“You are here, Your Highness.”
As I approached, the three quickly bowed. I waved my hand and told him to rest.
“Old Girl and Skull’s work… … I’m sorry.”
I saw the tombstone.
Even their tombstones had their code names written instead of their real names. That fact was sad, but also like a shadow unit.
“The members of the Aegis task force cannot be buried in a grave. In case of death, the corpse is to be destroyed in some way, leaving no trace in the world.”
God Hand spat out bitterly.
“But thanks to Your Highness’ consideration, I’m glad we were able to bury him in such a dignified grave.”
“… … .”
good luck, good luck
The three Shadow Troopers were completely expressionless, even though it was a funeral for a colleague. As if all the sorrows of the past three days had been shaken off.
It’s okay to be sad even more. It was as if the sadness was forcibly cut off, so it was a bit regrettable.
While talking about the Old Girl and the Skull, I talked about the purpose of visiting them.
“Come to my mansion this evening. There is a meeting about the progress of the defense battle in the future.”
The three Shadow Troopers bowed their heads at the same time.
“I understand, Your Highness. See you in the evening.”
“okay. See you later.”
After bowing at the tombstones of Old Girl and Skull for the last time, I left the place.
Looking back, I saw the backs of the Shadow Corps members standing in front of the two tombstones.
The appearance of two of the five party members who were moving as if they were united… … It was lonely.
a lot.
***
Lucas, Evangeline, and Lily were in front of the grave of the Dion mercenaries.
Lucas and Lily also had sad faces, but Evangeline’s face in particular was no joke. It was covered with tears and runny nose.
“Ueeeeeng.”
It’s even making a weird cry… … .
“Ueeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee”
“… … You look very sad Evangeline.”
Lucas answered my murmur.
“Didn’t Evangeline go to the dungeon with the Dion mercenaries? She must have been quite affectionate.”
It did. With Evangeline as a guide, I sent the Dion mercenaries on an autonomous expedition.
He hated Dion’s party at first because he was ringed out during sparring, but he seems to have grown fond of it before he knew it.
Evangeline, who was crying wildly, was comforted by Lily.
Looking back, Lucas asked me.
“By the way, Your Highness, what are you doing? Shall we resume our escort duties?”
Lucas had temporarily stopped escorting me.
I was very tired from the last battle, and I had been alone in my room for several days. I just told everyone to rest.
So, until today, I was going alone.
“No, escort duties will resume tomorrow… … For a meeting later tonight.”
I informed them that there will be a meeting to discuss the progress of the defense battle in the future this evening. Lucas nodded his head.
“All right. Then I’ll see you in the evening.”
Ooh eh eh-
“… … I will calm down Evangeline and take her away.”
“Draw it. please. Bring Lily too.”
I bowed one last time toward the graves of the Dion mercenaries, and after saying their names one more time in my mind, I left.
***
Damien and Marherita were cleaning up the funeral service as priests.
I approached the two of them as they were organizing supplies such as holy water and prayers.
“You are having a hard time, priests.”
Damian was delighted, and Marherita bowed respectfully.
“Ah, Prince!”
“Are you here? majesty.”
“You did well today. The reason I came is not different… … .”
I said the matter without delay. We have a meeting tonight, so come to the mansion.
“me too… … is it?”
asked Marherita hesitantly. I nodded heavily.
“Of course, saintess. You must come.”
It seems that this saintess still can’t get used to the fact that she’s part of my party.
No, once you join my party, you can’t escape from my command forever, right?
“Hey, Prince. Shall we take those three too?”
Damian pointed to the side. There, I saw three Old Hunters tankers in wheelchairs.
In front of the graves of Jupiter and Jennich, the three tankers were silently holding hands and praying.
I looked at their injuries and shook my head slowly.
“… … no. Let them rest in the temple.”
The three tankers survived with strong vitality, but became unable to fight again.
He was torn by the vampires’ swords and nails, and even received Celendion’s blood magic with his body.
Even so, they were strong people who endured until the end of the battle, but permanent injuries were left on their bodies.
In fact, it was a confirmed retirement.
Even with my own money, I would guarantee after retirement, but anyway, I couldn’t participate in defense battles from now on.
“All right. Then, I’ll see you in the evening.”
“See you later, Prince!”
Marherita and Damien saw me off, and I left the graveyard.
The last member to be summoned, Junior, was not in front of Jupiter’s tomb. I looked outside the graveyard.
‘Where will it be… … I can guess.’
***
Crossroads downtown.
Mercenary Guild.
“… … .”
Junior was in the room Jupiter had been using before he was alive.
It was to organize the belongings of the deceased. Junior sighed and cleaned the empty room.
“There’s nothing to do other than tidy up, but what… … .”
Jupiter’s burden was simple.
Three old imperial uniforms.
one coat. two pairs of boots. two pairs of gloves.
four bottles of alcohol. Five packs of cigarettes.
end.
“No matter how much he was a wandering mercenary~ How did he go this far empty-handed~”
Humming an odd hum, Junior removed Jupiter’s luggage.
Then it suddenly stopped.
“huh?”
In the corner of the room was a leather briefcase. A familiar piece of paper peeked out from the open slit of the bag.
“This… … .”
Junior carefully opened the bag and took out the contents.
“… … It’s a letter from me.”
When Jupiter sent living expenses, Junior would write a letter to reply.
After 10 years of gathering two of them, it filled a briefcase.
Junior carefully opened the letters he had sent, starting with the old ones.
Most of the contents were about the lack of living expenses, the increased debt due to the children’s treatment, and the story of how difficult it was with the money Jupiter sent.
But at the very end,
– I miss you. when are you coming come back quickly.
it was written
As the recent letter came, such phrases gradually disappeared, leaving only money reminders.
“… … .”
Unable to look any further, Junior covered the rest of the letter.
why… … Couldn’t I have conveyed my true feelings a little earlier? Why couldn’t I be honest?
If so, maybe things would have been different.
“huh?”
Then he saw a new envelope tucked into the corner of the briefcase.
It was always the envelope Jupiter used to send money home. But this time, instead of money, something else was wrapped.
“This… … .”
Upon opening it, it was carefully packaged with old-smelling herb roots. with a short note.
– It’s called Baeknyeonsam, but I got it from a dungeon. They say it’s good for the body. decoction and eat
“… … .”
Zone 2 free exploration. It was Baeknyeonsam that Jupiter had bought from an unknown person who appeared as a dungeon merchant.
I bought it to give to my granddaughter, but I couldn’t send it in a letter or hand it in person… …
The sender disappeared, and only the unsent letter remained.
“It’s a herb that the elderly eat for nourishment, this.”
Junior, who was examining the baeknyeonsam, murmured in amazement.
“Did you keep this for me? really… … .”
Something swelled up in me.
Junior bit his lower lip.
“really… … Like Grandma… … .”
Junior is barely holding back from crying and standing still,
smart.
A knock was heard outside. When Junior, who hurriedly stole his eyes, looked back, Ash, who had come inside, was frozen.
“uh… … sorry. Did I interrupt you?”
“No, no. You came at just the right timing.”
With his eyes flushed brightly, Junior smiled briskly.
“Because even my mother wouldn’t like to cry twice. Hi-Hi.”
“… … .”
Ash, who had been silent for a while, shook his head and changed his voice.
“I came with a message. There is a meeting about future defense battles in the evening, so come to the mansion.”
“All right. It’s a defense meeting. okay.”
Ash smiled at Junior who nodded.
“It’s okay to look forward to it. Something very interesting is going to happen at today’s meeting.”
“… … ?”
“It’s so dynamic and fun that it blows away the melancholy that hangs over our party.”
Junior frowned and asked cautiously.
“Ah ~ week dynamic and fun work… … What?”
