〈 274화 〉 성기사가 신을 안 믿음(4）
* * *
데스텔은 눈앞에 펼쳐진 지도를 바라봤다.
얼마전까지만 해도 새빨갛게 물들어 있던 베르타 협곡은 이제 푸른색으로 물들어 있다. 재탈환에 성공했다는 뜻이었다.
‘오래도 걸렸다.’
베르타 협곡은 전략적 요충지다.
인류가 아닌 마왕군에게 있어서 그렇다. 한때 베르타 협곡의 주인이었던 흑룡은 죽고 나서도 짙은 마기를 남겼다.
그리고, 마기는 사령술의 재료다.
재앙이 죽고 남긴 마기를 머금은 베르타 협곡은 사령술사들이 공방을 차리기에 더할 나위 없이 적합한 곳이다. 실제로 그렇게 됐다. 사령술사들은 베르타 협곡에 수십 채의 탑을 세웠으니까.
탑에서는 매일같이 용골병들이 찍혀 나온다.
이미 죽어 두려움도, 고통도 느끼지 않는 언데드 병사들이 양산된다. 쏟아지는 병사들을 상대로 동부전선은 소모전을 강요당해야 했다.
‘이제야 한숨 돌리겠군.’
하지만, 이젠 아니다.
베르타 협곡의 탑들은 무너트렸고, 밤낮으로 사제들이 정화 주문을 읊고 있으니··· 다시는 저곳을 공방으로 사용하지 못하게 되리라.
섬멸전을 성공한 덕분이다.
오랜기간 세운 작전이 완벽에 가까운 성공을 거둔 만큼, 데스텔은 조금의 달성 감을 느낀다.
“근데 말야.”
그렇게 달성 감에 미소 짓다 말고, 데스텔은 고개를 돌려 막사의 한구석에 앉아있는 소녀를 바라봤다.
“넌 왜 아직도 여기 있냐?”
“라니아 교수님이 데스텔 님께도 배움을 청하고 오라 하셨어요.”
차기 용사 후보, 클로에.
그녀가 빛나는 눈동자로 데스텔을 바라보고 있다. 데스텔은 그 시선이 몹시도 부담스러웠다. 배교자를 연상케 하는 외모 때문만은 아니었다.
“나한테 뭘 배우겠다고?”
“네.”
“배울 게 있나? 갈라할한테 충분히 배운 거 아니었어? 나보단 그놈한테 배울 게 더 많을걸.”
데스텔 스스로가 생각하기에, 자신에게서 배울 수 있는 건 그닥 많지가 않았다. 끽해봐야 잔머리를 굴리는 게 고작일까.
“너 참모라도 되려고?”
“아니요?”
“근데 왜?”
클로에가 눈을 깜빡이며 되물었다.
“데스텔 님은 가장 현실적인 용사님이시잖아요.”
움찔, 하고 데스텔이 몸을 굳혔다.
‘현실적인 용사.’
한때는 그렇게 불렸으나, 지금은 그 누구도 자신을 그렇게 부르지 않는다. 세간에서 데스텔은 비굴이란 멸칭으로 불릴 뿐이다.
그럴 수밖에 없다.
현실적인 ‘용사’는, 타협을 하면서도 이상을 추구해야 하는 존재이므로. 더는 이상을 추구하지 않게 된 자신에게 어울리는 칭호는 아니었다. 데스텔은 짧게 한숨을 내쉬며 입을 열었다.
“언제적 별명을···.”
“망루에서 이야기해주셨던 게 많은 도움이 됐는걸요. 생각을 해볼 계기가 됐어요.”
“···그게 도움이 됐다고?”
클로에가 고개를 끄덕였다.
“용사라는 건 마냥 동화 같지만은 않다는 거. 이상을 실현하기 위해선, 당연하게도 현실적인 부분도 고려해야 한다는 거.”
아직은 미숙한 소녀는 배시시 웃음을 흘렸다.
“갈라할 님과, 데스텔 님을 지켜보며 조금은 알게 됐어요. 그래서 좀 더 열심히 배워보려고요.”
클로에가 고개를 끄덕였다.
“바라는 제가 되기 위해서는, 그래야 할 테니까.”
그 시선에는 흔들림이 없다.
각오를 다지고, 저 스스로가 걸을 길을 선택한 이의 눈빛이다. 흔들림 없는 시선 앞에 데스텔은 잠시동안 침묵했다.
막사에 맴돌던 침묵이 깨진 것은 드르륵, 소리를 내며 데스텔이 의자를 밀고 일어선 순간이다.
“······.”
데스텔은 말없이 막사의 한구석으로 걸음을 옮겼다. 그곳에는 옷걸이가 하나 놓여있다. 오랫동안 사람의 손길을 타지 않은 옷 한 벌 또한. 그것을 향해 데스텔이 손을 뻗었다.
펄럭.
옷을 허공에 한번 털고, 데스텔은 외투를 닮은 옷을 어깨에 둘렀다.
“그래 뭐···.”
용사에게 지급되는 정복.
비굴이라 불리게 된 뒤로, 정복에는 손도 대지 않았던 데스텔이다. 그러나, 지금은 그것을 어깨에 두른 채 데스텔은 막사의 바깥을 가리켰다.
“알려줄 수 있는 게 많지는 않겠지만.”
그가 툭, 하고 클로에의 머리를 건드렸다.
“조언 정도는 해주마.”
2.
“근데 거기 아가씨도 강하나?”
갈라할과 대련을 위해 걸음을 옮기는 와중, 카리옷이 내게 질문을 던졌다.
“싸울 만큼 싸웁니다.”
“그래? 아, 그러고 보니 잿빛 마법사 그 녀석의 동생이라고 했었지?”
내가 고개를 끄덕였다.
카리옷은 소리 내 웃었다.
“그럼 잘 싸울 만도 하지. 그래서, 아가씨 오빠는 잘 지내던? 은퇴했다는 소문만 들었지, 뭐 하고 지내는지는 들은 게 없어서.”
잘 지내냐, 라.
나는 쓰게 웃으며 질문에 답했다.
——————
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“새로운 직업을 찾았다고, 그렇게 말하던데요.”
“새로운 직업이라. 뭐든지 할만한 녀석이긴 하지.”
“워낙에 유능하신 분이니까요.”
쿨럭, 하고 갈라할이 헛기침을 했다.
눈을 게슴츠레 뜬 채 나를 흘겨보는 갈라할을 무시하며, 나는 걸음을 옮겼다.
“젊은 놈이 애쓰긴 했지.”
카리옷이 고개를 끄덕이며 말했다.
“그래서 요즘은 재미 좀 보고 사나? 그녀석.”
“재미라뇨?”
“세상 재미없게 사는 놈이었으니까. 들린 소문으론 아랫도리 한번 못 놀려봤다면서.”
움찔, 하고 내가 몸을 짧게 떨었다.
카리옷이 쯧쯧, 혀를 찼다.
“뜨거운 밤을 보내본 적도 없는 놈이 현자라니. 말도 안 되는 처사라고 생각하지 않아? 재미 좀 보고 살라고 해. 세상에는 즐거운 일이 많으니까.”
“···그럴 여유가 없는 분이라 그래요.”
“여유가 없는 게 아니라, 못 한 거겠지.”
꽈아아아악.
움켜쥔 주먹에 힘이 들어갔다.
못 하는 게 아니라, 안 했던 거다. 나는 카일처럼 천박하게 놀 생각이 전혀 없었으니까.
“그럼 이제부터라도 즐기면서 살라 그래.”
“그런 게 아니라···!”
빽, 하고 소리를 지르던 나는 카리옷의 얼굴을 바라본 순간 입을 다물고 말았다. 내가 아닌 먼 곳을 바라보며 카리옷은 쓰게 웃고 있었다.
씁쓸한, 그리고 아릿한 웃음.
“새파랗게 젊은 놈이, 해본 것 만큼이나 안 해본 게 많은 놈이··· 세상 다 살아본 듯한 표정 짓고 다니는 건 썩 볼만한 게 아니거든.”
3.
쿵!
카리옷이 등에 짊어지고 있던 관을 내려놓자 땅이 얕게 울렸다. 십자 형태의 관을 카리옷이 발로 툭 건드렸다.
“내가 쓰는 무기가 좀 많아서.”
Kariot threw the weapon he had drawn into the air. The blades that floated in the air plummet to the floor with their blades pointed downward.
Deep.
The blade gently digs into the ground.
The depth varies, and although it looks chaotic at first glance… there are certain rules among the blades stuck on the floor. A rule that only Kariot can understand.
“Yes, Holy Lance Hero.”
Kariot pulled out a claymore.
On the day it is pulled out, a strong bloody smell wafts through the air. However, that is only for a moment. The moment Kariot raises the sword and covers his face, the blade shines platinum.
divinity(??).
The bloody smell no longer emanates from a blade imbued with divinity. Kariot’s face covered with a shining blade resembles that of a noble paladin. The scars that cover his upper body do not make even the slightest blemish on Kariot’s nobility.
“Please do me a favor.”
As if responding, Galahal held the holy spear with both hands. Wherever the spearhead is pointed, there is a kariot.
One exchange of glances.
One blink.
Regardless of who went first, the two kicked off the ground and rushed at each other. The holy spear and the sacred blade clash with each other, making a sound.
When it comes to physical ability, Galahal has the upper hand.
The speed of swinging the spear blade and the power contained in the weapon are also higher in Galahal. However, the moment the spear and blade clashed, Galahal had an intuition.
You have to step back.
It is an intuition developed over a long period of time on the battlefield. And, that intuition turned out to be right. Kariot’s blade follows a strange trajectory, passes over the spear, and heads toward Galahal.
Kaang!
Galahal swung the spear and struck the blade, then took a step back.
“Hey.”
Kariot admired while rubbing the wrist holding the sword.
“You are a warrior after all. Be different. “Sight-reading (??) is a technique that works at least once.”
Kariot finished his appetite and threw the claymore towards Galahal like a javelin. The platinum-colored blade draws a single line and flies toward Galahal.
Kang, of course, is shot down.
The moment Galahal lightly swung his spear and struck away the blade, Kariot had already lowered his stance and was rushing towards Galahal. Each of her hands holds a different cutlery.
Kakakang!
Sparks fly.
When Galahal, who had blocked even that, swung his spear, Kariot crossed the blades in both hands and blocked the spear.
Damn.
However, damage to the weapon cannot be prevented. The holy spear held by Galahal is famous for being heavy even among the star weapons. In order to properly wield the Holy Spear, Galahal had to train for nearly a year.
The results of that training do not betray Galahal.
Crispy!
The spear struck with force shatters the blade held by Kariot. The moment he was about to hit Kariot’s shoulder, Kariot let go of the broken weapon.
And then bingle.
Rotate halfway in place to avoid the spear. Kariot pressed his foot against the spear on the floor with a loud sound.
However, Kariot also lost his weapon.
The moment Galahal expected that there would be no counterattack, Kariot stretched out his hand toward his back. As if grabbing something far away.
Gooung.
A blade stuck on the floor floats in the air. The floating blades all fly towards Kariot.
Holy spells, attraction.
It is originally a magic used to lift light objects… but if it is used by Cariot, who has divinity comparable to that of the Pope, the results are also different.
These are not the only blades that come to mind.
With nearly fifteen blades flying toward Kariot, Kariot holds the blade that arrived first in both hands. What was held in that hand was a heavy greatsword.
The great sword is swung at very close range.
With the great sword attacking, Galahal does not choose to evade. He placed his spear stick at his side, kang, and pressed his palm against his spear stick.
Googoo googung!
The spear stuck in the floor bounces up.
Cariot’s posture, which was trampling on the spear pole with his foot, is disturbed. Taking advantage of that opportunity, Galahal immediately counterattacks.
Kariot puts down his great sword and counterattacks by catching the weapons flying towards him one by one. The sound of blades clashing together, like kang and kang, is heard over and over again.
As sparks fly, Galahal feels it.
‘Picky.’
Although they say they are not using Starlight, they are a difficult opponent.
I’ve met quite a few paladins on the battlefield, but I’ve never seen one use a variety of weapons like the opponent in front of me ‘this way’.
It’s irregular. It’s unpredictable.
At first glance, it looks like a trick, but the connection between weapons is smooth. The posture of holding the weapon is also well established. One blow is difficult.
It is not a technique with a certain angle, but a technique that has been honed in practice. Rather than a sword for fighting something, it is closer to a sword for survival.
Kaang!
Attack and attack go back and forth.
Raniel, who was watching this from a distance, smiled inadvertently.
“It’s going to be very tricky.”
She also had a history with Kariot.
I have watched the scene where Kyle and Kariot face off.
‘He was a difficult opponent. In particular, the sword of the cross… was really annoying.’
Cariot does not have the uprightness of the Holy Knights.
Kariot’s sword is free-spirited. Rather than handling a single weapon to its limit, he knows how to handle various types of weapons evenly… so it feels even more annoying.
There is no decisive blow.
However, there are many remaining talents.
“More than anything, it’s not just about using a sword.”
This is the moment when Raniel muttered that.
Kariot tightly grasped the cross he was wearing around his neck. At that moment, the blooming divinity surrounded Kariot’s sword, which was about to break.
Thus, Kariot’s sword withstands more blows.
After withstanding the blow and throwing away the broken sword, Kariot once again reaches for a new weapon. There are various types of blades flying towards him.
There are weapons from the Delohim Church, weapons from knights, and even weapons captured from the Demon King’s army.
Kariot does not choose any weapon.
As if being able to hold and swing a weapon is enough, Kariot continues the fight by switching weapons several times.
Kang, Kakang!
The fight continued for a while, and the floor was full of broken blades. Now, all that is left of Cariot is a greatsword shaped like a cross.
“Hwiyu, that’s nonsense. “I hit it a few times and there was no sign of shaking…”
Kariot smiled bitterly and wiped the beads of sweat from his forehead. The same goes for Galahal. While all of Kariot’s weapons were broken, Galahal was unable to make a final decision.
Galahal is surprised by that fact.
It was never about belittling the other person. However, I never imagined it would be to this extent. While Galahal was amazed, Khariot opened his mouth.
“Actually, I left one more.”
He pointed to the sword in his hand.
A cross-shaped sword. The blade, soaked in blood, has an ugly dark red color.
“This is my original weapon. “A weapon that my wife gave me with her blessings.”
“···Do you have a wife?”
“He was a high-ranking priest of the church. She was a wonderful woman. “She is dead now.”
While Galahal was speechless, Kariot adjusted his sword as if it was okay.
“It’s made of rare metal, so it won’t break, but I’m a bit reluctant to use it in a sparring match like this. “It seems like the decision has already been made.”
Kariot shrugged.
“Do you think I lost?”
You can do more, but it’s right to stop here.
Kariot thought so, and Raniel, who was watching the duel, also had similar thoughts.
Cariot described the sword of the cross as a ‘blessing’… but in Raniel’s opinion, it was very far from a blessing.
Rather, it is closer to a curse.
“Hwiyu. I thought about sharpening my sword, but… this is a bit harsh. “It will cost quite a bit of money.”
Kariot approached Galahal, tidying up the cutlery scattered on the floor with his foot.
“It was a good sparring.”
“I also learned something.”
After shaking hands lightly, Kariot opened his mouth.
“So, what do you want to ask me?”
After a moment of contemplation, Galahal asked a question.
Questions about why Kariot wants to become a superhuman and why Kariot stays on the battlefield.
“It’s the same question as Heinkel.”
Sighing and laughing, Kariot flopped down on the closed coffin.
“The reason we fight is simple. “In order to do the will of the God I believe in, I have to take the lead in fighting.”
“Do you mean God’s will?”
“haha. The face says I don’t know. Well, I must be strange in the eyes of the warriors who are called God’s apostles. But I’m also a paladin.”
A paladin who believes in God and borrows his power from God.
While mumbling that, Cariot lifted the cross that was hanging around his neck. The cross is dirty, but still shines.
“The God within me hates it when children fight. “You hate it even more when young children are buried in your hands, and you find it most horrifying when young children die.”
After exhaling briefly, Kariot stretched out his finger and pointed at Galahal.
“I feel ashamed when I see young people like you risking their lives fighting. always. That’s why I’m standing on the battlefield. “Don’t be ashamed of yourself.”
“···yes? “I’m not that young…”
“How old are you this year, hero?”
“I’m twenty-eight.”
“You’re still a kid.”
“···yes?”
Kariot smiled brightly.
“Everyone younger than me is a brat.”
It was violent logic.
* * *
fantasy,
