〈 Episode 264 〉 Reality and Ideals (1)
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Berta Gorge.
That place name is a familiar place to Raniel. Although he is a Laniel who does not stay in one battlefield for a long time, he has stayed at Bertha Canyon for several months.
Black Storm, Black Dragon Belial.
The canyon where the great disaster coiled.
Even though several years had passed, the moment he heard the name Bertha Canyon, the structure of the canyon was clearly pictured in Raniel’s mind.
cracked canyon.
The plateau where Belial’s nest was located.
And, the beginning of the canyon where the black dragon’s head was dropped.
“To briefly explain the outline of the operation…”
Even as Raniel recalled the past, Destel pointed to a map and explained the operation. The outline of the operation was simple.
“A wyvern’s nest is located in Bertha Canyon. Necromancers who create keel soldiers are encamped. “It means that there is a facility that continues to produce the Demon Lord’s army.”
Destel pointed to the map. There were several red dots centered around Berta Gorge.
“Hit that facility. Whether they are Dragon Bone Soldiers or Wyverns, they are difficult to deal with. “I’m going to take this opportunity to sort it all out.”
“Are you planning to destroy the necromancer’s tower?”
Galahal asked.
Destel nodded.
“We must burn down the wyvern’s nest and tear down the necromancer’s tower. “Galahal probably knows why this plan was set up… and you there.”
Destel pointed to Raniel.
“Have you ever dealt with a wyvern? What about the keel soldiers? “Of course not.”
Raniel’s eyebrows moved.
‘You can build a castle just by collecting the bones of the dragon soldiers I harpooned, you bastard.’
Swallowing the words welling up in his throat, Raniel nodded for now. Destel pointed out the situation at the front and explained the intention of the operation to Raniel.
“Wyverns are difficult to deal with. “It’s a hassle to hit the flying wyverns, and even if you do, the necromancers will pick them up and turn you into dragon bone soldiers.”
If it’s a war of attrition, this side will naturally lose.
Dealing with Wyvern troops that attack periodically is extremely annoying. Even more so for humans who cannot fly.
“Carina soldiers basically have high resistance. This means that magic or sacred arts don’t work well. “It’s twice as difficult to deal with as regular undead.”
This was information that Raniel also knew.
That’s why he favored hitting-type spells.
“So, I’m thinking of wiping it out.”
Destel said.
“If you leave it alone, it will only eat away at this side. “The reason we pushed the front line forward so forcefully recently was to hit Berta Gorge.”
The explanation continued for a while after that.
Destel, who said he would only give a brief overview, revealed the flow of the operation and all the details. Galahal asked a question about the explanation that seemed excessive.
“···Isn’t the explanation too detailed?”
“what.”
Destel shot back.
“Then will you explain briefly?”
He pointed to Chloe standing in the corner of the barracks.
“They said they came to learn. “You guys aren’t the ones to reveal the operation, so is there any need to hide the explanation?”
“You always hid it from me.”
“It’s because if you do something, you go save the people I will abandon. There just wasn’t a need for it this time. “Didn’t you tell me when we started?”
Destel tapped the table.
“You are out of power in this operation. It has nothing to do with the operation you guys were doing. So, listen and decide for yourself.”
where and what to do
What to choose and what to discard.
What a warrior should do on the battlefield.
“Didn’t you come to the battlefield to learn that?”
It’s not like Destel.
Galahal felt a little uncomfortable at that sight… but soon he realized the identity of the discomfort. While explaining the operation, Destel continued to look at Chloe.
‘···indeed.’
Galahal chuckled and laughed.
“Yes, I understand. Destel.”
“And if you can, don’t come near me. I feel uncomfortable. “The knights’ gazes are also annoying.”
“I’ll try my best.”
Even though the other person is blatantly uncomfortable with him, Galahal doesn’t care about that fact. It didn’t just happen for a day or two, and I had expected this to happen ever since I punched Destel in the face.
I just nod my head slightly and leave the barracks. Chloe followed Galahal out of the barracks.
“Are you not going out?”
Raniel did not go out.
She looked straight at Destel. The bluish eyes look straight at Destel. Destel felt an unknown eerieness in those eyes.
Eyes that seem to see right through you.
After a moment of silence, Raniel opened his mouth.
“Operation, looks okay.”
“···suddenly?”
“It’s a good operation.”
“It should be okay. “Because this is all I have to offer.”
Destel tapped the side of my head.
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“Because not everyone can be like your brother.”
Raniel flinched and trembled.
Destel shrugged his shoulders at Raniel’s gaze as if asking what he meant.
“I’m sorry I keep bringing up your brother.”
“If you’re sorry, don’t do it.”
“I really need to say this.”
Destel narrowed his eyes.
“I know you respect your brother, but I have to say something to express your anger…”
The gaze left Raniel and headed toward Chloe, who had left the barracks a little while ago.
“Don’t force that on that kid.”
“What do you mean?”
“Don’t force your ideals. Let him make his own choices. “Ideals imposed by others are bound to collapse soon.”
It’s bound to collapse.
Raniel narrowed his eyes at that sentence.
“···what?”
“You would know.”
Destel said, resting his chin.
“Your brother forced his ideals, and there was a guy who was completely ruined. “Don’t you know that too?”
Kyle Torben.
That was the moment when Destel muttered.
“hey.”
Suddenly, Destel felt his upper body lean forward. Destel realized too late that the girl who was right in front of her had grabbed her by the collar.
“Do it in moderation.”
It seemed overly emotional.
Raniel let go of the collar as if pushing him away and left the barracks without a word.
2.
After leaving the barracks, Rania and Galahal headed to different places. Chloe followed Galahal. Because it was a story promised in advance.
“There must be something to learn from Galahal.”
“Learn well.”
The place where Galahal stopped was a wide open meadow. There were rocks rolling around in the meadow, and Galahar opened his mouth as he walked towards the rocks.
“Chloe.”
“Yes, yes.”
Galahal smiled bitterly at Chloe’s hesitant appearance and stretched out his hand towards her back. What he held in his hand was a long spear that was like the symbol of Galahal.
A long window.
At the end of it is a platinum-colored spear blade.
“I heard that you haven’t passed the trial yet, so you haven’t been able to obtain the star weapon.”
“Yes, not yet…”
“But we are still dealing with starlight.”
A scene I saw in the spell training room the other day.
A warrior who has not yet passed the ordeal and is not even an apprentice handles starlight. Because I couldn’t handle it, I ended up manifesting spells using starlight.
‘When did I start dealing with stars?’
I didn’t even have a clue when I was an apprentice warrior.
It was only after going through many limbs on the battlefield that I was able to understand how to control stars.
I know it because it is such a galahal.
How nonsense the girl in front of me is, and how much potential she holds.
“What I will teach you is the special properties of stars that each hero possesses.”
Therefore, Galahal wants to teach.
What I have realized through years of experience.
“Special properties…?”
“Yes, the starlight that heroes keep has its own characteristics. What stands out the most is the star weapon.”
Galahal twirled the spear.
“In my case, it is a holy spear, in Destel’s case it is a holy robe (？？) although I don’t use it often, and in Kyle’s case it is a holy sword.”
A weapon symbolizing a warrior.
The representative form is the holy sword, but not everyone carries the holy sword. For some it is a spear, for others it is a shield.
“The nature of the star is revealed in the star’s armor.”
“Cow,” said Galahal, hitting the pole of the spear on the floor.
The starlight on the platinum-colored spear blade became slightly darker.
“Destel is imitation, Kyle is acceleration, and I…”
Galahal turned his head.
The direction of the gaze is the rock in front of you. Galahar swung his spear at the huge rock. The spear blade struck the rock violently.
Whoops!
The rock that touches the holy spear crumbles.
Each time the rock is cut and struck, the starlight on the spear blade becomes clearer. Galahal, who had crushed a rock, grasped the pole tightly.
“For me, it’s focus.”
The window blade shines pure white.
Chloe frowned at the blinding light, and Galahal threw the holy spear in which the light had gathered towards a rock far away.
The spear blade blinks for a moment.
The sacred spear, which had drawn a single line of seomseon, was stuck in the rock.
“Collect starlight and explode.”
Galahal clenched his free hand.
Quaaaaaaaaaaa!
With a loud noise, the rock where the spear blade was stuck exploded. The starlight poured out like an explosion and pulverized the huge rock without a trace.
“I operate Starlight that way. Even if there is not enough starlight, if you accumulate it, you can create a meaningful strike.”
A technique created through numerous battles.
It is a kind of trick to make up for the lack of starlight. Galahar smiled as he presented it in front of Chloe.
“Chloe, even though she didn’t receive the star armor, already knows how to use starlight. If it were you…”
He nodded.
“You will find it.”
Your specialty.
“Would you like to learn?”
Galahal asked.
Chloe nodded slowly.
3.
Raniel always has something to do.
The task is to inspect the operation area before carrying out the operation. It’s been a while since he retired from the battlefield, but that habit still remains.
Raniel headed to Bertha Canyon alone.
Even though I did it with Remia in the past, it’s not really a problem if I’m alone. Because several layers of silence spells have been cast, the steps are light and even quiet.
Sabak.
After walking across the wide plain, Raniel approached the vicinity of Berta Gorge. Because the Demon King’s army is hidden inside the canyon, there is no sign of presence on the plain where the entrance to the canyon is located.
If you walk a little further, you can enter the canyon.
However, it doesn’t go that far.
This is because there are always one or two guys with good sense who will notice if you walk into the deep end. There is no benefit in increasing your vigilance towards others.
‘I didn’t come here with the intention of replacing everything in the first place.’
I just came to see it for a moment.
Raniel, who was wandering around the plain aimlessly, suddenly let out a long sigh.
“Whoa…”
I did not come for the purpose of reconnaissance.
It was just because my mind was complicated.
I feel uncomfortable.
After encountering Destel, Raniel feels uncomfortable. It’s an uncomfortable feeling that can’t be resolved easily. An uneasy feeling that hasn’t been resolved keeps lingering in my mind.
What is the cause?
Because Destel is annoying?
Because he belittled me from the first time we met?
If not, is that last word lingering in your ears?
‘···no.’
It wasn’t everything.
The fact that Destel showed a cooperative attitude contrary to his expectations, and the fact that he did not appear as servile as expected, was not the reason.
What makes me feel uncomfortable is another reason.
“Because not everyone can be like your brother.”
Destel said these words as if he were mocking himself.
Destel’s face, which was laughing while spitting out those words, reminded Raniel of someone else.
“I can’t be like you, Raniel.”
“Unlike you, I am human. “Just a human being.”
These are the words Kyle blurted out with a laugh as he urged himself to stand up.
“The me he remembers and the me I am now are different.”
“People change. It will change.”
“Unlike him, I’m human.”
A sentence pronounced by Kyle as if he was chewing it when they reunited.
When I think of them, I remember the last sentence that Destel hurled at me.
“I’m talking about not forcing ideals.”
That is the concern that Raniel had.
It’s a concern I’ve had since before Destel spoke, before I taught Chloe, and even before that… when my relationship with Kyle soured.
‘more.’
Raniel raised his head and looked at the canyon.
A gaping canyon.
Huge claw marks are left messy between cliffs. Here, he tied up the rampaging black dragon, and Kyle finally took off the black dragon’s head.
It was the most brilliant time.
At that time, Kyle fulfilled his duties as a warrior and always aimed for higher places. He asked Kuntel, the master of the sword, for guidance, and did not stop his training.
‘If only it had gone on like that.’
If only Kyle had continued to become stronger, training after training, and constantly aiming for higher places. For the past few years, Raniel has been constantly picturing in his head the position he could reach if he did that.
Kyle has talent.
Kyle is strong. He is more than anyone else.
Even now that I have read the truth and hidden history of the four disasters, that thought has not changed. Raniel still thinks. If Kyle continued to look upward, it wouldn’t be impossible for him to kill the Demon King.
Walk the ideal path.
If we reach our ideal future.
An ideal ending is also possible.
It’s not just a delusion. Raniel was always calm when drawing the future, and through cold calculation, she saw potential in Kyle.
Because I saw it, I forced Kyle to stand up.
Everyone praises Kyle’s achievements and settles for the present, but someone had to force Kyle.
“stand up.”
“Stand up. “Raise your sword.”
“Listen, you bastard.”
Raniel willingly took on the responsibility that no one else was willing to take on.
“But please don’t force your ideals on me.”
Raniel muttered.
The mumbling voice was extremely dry.
“Stop f*cking with me.”
It only takes a moment for a fire to ignite in dry language.
Raniel said as if he was chewing.
“Who do you think you are doing because you want to say it?”
Words I had never told anyone.
The words that had been buried deep came out through my lips. Feeling his throat burning, Raniel ruffled his hair.
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fantasy,
