Rania chatted with Lark about various things for a while. How has she been for 3 years? I heard the news rarely. Same not very nutritious conversation.
“I heard you’re called the Guardian of the North? “Sometimes I see your name in the newspaper.”
In fact, it was closer to ‘every day’ rather than ‘sometimes’, but since she had no intention of letting her student know about her secret hobby, Rania kept quiet and pretended not to be interested in the world.
And, as he got older and became more discerning, he was able to see to some extent the flaws in his acting. He smiled bitterly and thought, ‘You’re still the same.’ Never say it out loud, just inside.
“······.”
After telling the story like that.
Rania exhaled briefly. She erased the light smile she was making, caught her breath, and opened her mouth.
“I heard about what happened in the North.”
The appearance of the King of Demonic Beasts.
That was the main point. Lark’s expression also hardened.
“I have something to say about that.”
Rania has already attended the funeral and expressed her condolences. She did not say much about the deaths of the warriors, which was out of consideration for her. Because Lark seemed reluctant to mention their deaths.
“sorry.”
Rania slowly lowered her head.
Towards Lakh, and towards the North.
“It was my mistake.”
The person who does not have to bow her head in front of anyone, even in front of the king of this country, is Rania Van Trias. She lowered her head in front of Lark.
I’m sorry, she said.
“I was the one who missed the Demon Beast King, the one who failed to track him down, and the one who misread the path. It’s my mistake. Because of my mistake, the King of Demonic Beasts arrived in the North…”
An accident occurred in the north.
Irreversible damage was caused.
“…Someone had to be sacrificed. “It probably shouldn’t have been done in the first place.”
It’s okay to resent it.
Lark just smiled bitterly at the sight of Rania saying that.
“Don’t do that, Professor.”
Lark said in a bitter voice.
“I don’t think it’s something the professor deserves to apologize for, and it’s not his responsibility. “Really.”
Rania raised her head and faced Lark.
The red eyes, which were as bright as always, were not blaming anyone or stained with anger.
“Rather, it is I who should be held accountable.”
Lark let out a long breath and said.
“···You said one day, the opportunity would come.”
Three years ago, the day Rania left Aplia.
She said this, planting a seed in Lark’s heart. That the opportunity will come someday. Even though she may not have wanted to greet the occasion ‘this way,’ for Lark, this incident was a clear opportunity.
A chance to reflect on yourself.
Motivation to strengthen your resolve.
After encountering the King of Demon Beasts and experiencing defeat, Lark realized. How complacent he had been.
“I found out through this opportunity. How much I depended on my professor. “How complacent I have been living.”
Rania was silent.
Lark continued speaking.
“I thought I was strong in my own way. “I was arbitrarily thinking that I had enough power to protect what I had, even if it wasn’t as strong as the professor’s and I couldn’t stand by his side.”
“You are strong. This incident…”
“no.”
Lark shook his head.
“That is the strength that comes from having you. “Because you are preventing disaster, because you look after me, and because you will help me whenever I want.”
All the trials that Lark thought he had overcome in his past life were only half of them. The one who made up for the remaining half was always the strong presence of Rania Van Trias.
“That is the strength that was established.”
Lark looked at his hands.
The hand that had lost hold of the sword.
A hand that could not hold anything, neither pride nor honor.
“I am weak. Absolutely.”
Because it was weak, it could not be protected. Because he was weak, he could not take revenge on the beast that had insulted his brothers. Lark did not want to blame others for problems arising from his own weakness.
Problems and answers must always be found within ourselves. That’s because I learned it from the warriors.
“So, I think we need to move on.”
People change from loss.
It was the same for Lark.
“I now have a reason to become stronger. You’ll have to challenge that beast again. “I have a duty to restore the pride of the insulted warriors.”
“···so?”
“Yes, definitely.”
Rania looked at Lark in silence.
As she headed north, she was worried.
Worried that the deaths of warriors might lead Lark to choose the wrong path. Rania has seen too many people broken by loss. She was worried because there was no way that Lark wouldn’t be like that too…
‘···It was a useless worry.’
The moment I looked into Lark’s eyes, I naturally knew.
They are not the eyes of a revenge demon, nor the eyes of a madman, much less the eyes of a human who has lost something. These are the eyes of humans trying to find their own path with a clear goal.
“You’ve grown a lot, really.”
Rania muttered that without thinking.
She relaxed her shoulders and smiled.
——————
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The boy sitting in front of her now was not a boy who needed her help like he had at the Academy. The boy became a young man and she chose her own path.
‘The schedule was earlier than expected, but…’
Rania opened her mouth.
“lakh.”
“Yes, Professor.”
“First of all, I plan to concentrate my troops in the north for the time being. “I may not be able to completely fill the vacancies of the northern warriors, but I will select a few capable knights under me and send them to the north.”
And, Rania said.
“Are you planning to go outside of the North?”
“···How did you know?”
“You can tell just by looking at their eyes.”
Because it had the same eyes as Kyle.
Bigger battlefield, bigger stage.
Those who decide to move forward do not remain stagnant in one place. However, I could sense hesitation in those eyes. Worrying about whether he can leave the North in this situation.
“lakh.”
Rania tried to solve that problem.
“You have reached the realm of superhumans, right?”
I have already seen and heard about it through Natida.
Lark, who had ascended to the realm of superhumans, wounded the King of Demon Beasts in a close fight. And, the king of demonic beasts has awakened.
‘···It did become a hassle, though.’
It was not a matter of holding Rak responsible.
What we need to pay attention to now is that Lark has become a superhuman. The point is that it has become a force that can be operated even at Rania’s level, creating a huge variable on the battlefield.
“If you want, I will give you the battlefield that Draka was in charge of. And, we will deploy Draka near the northern part to prepare for emergencies.”
Sword Demon, Draka.
Even though he became a doll and his sword became dull, he is also clearly a superhuman. Rania was saying that if you want, he will hand over the battlefield.
“If you are willing to do that…”
“I’ll do it.”
Lark answered immediately.
“I think I need to talk to my father… but I would like to, if possible.”
If I were to head to the same stage as you.
Because you will be able to encounter the beast again.
Because you can become stronger.
“It’s not an easy road.”
“I know.”
“You’ll see a lot of things you shouldn’t see.”
“I know that too.”
“Are you still going?”
“Still, I have a reason to go.”
It was the appearance of someone who had already made up his mind.
Rania let out a long sigh and smiled bitterly. She thought it would be like this. What Lark, who has set her own path, needs is not a guide to lead the way.
“If you say it that way…”
What you need is a companion to walk the road with.
There was one person whom I had chosen to be that colleague.
“I’ll give you a colleague.”
He’s a bit of a unique kid, though.
2.
Rania had a brief conversation with the Grand Duke of the North and then went straight back to her battlefield. A few days later, Lark received a call from the Archduke and headed somewhere.
Sigh.
When you open the door, you enter a weapons warehouse.
Erijl van Grace was sitting there, where all kinds of weapons were hanging. Grand Duke of the North and father of Lark. He slowly opened his mouth.
“lakh.”
“Yes, father.”
“I heard a story from a warrior who came to visit not long ago. He said he hoped to head to the battlefield.”
Lark nodded silently.
“You are my son, and the one who will become the master of the North in the future. “Do you know that?”
“I know.”
“Common sense tells us that no father would send his son to battle. Moreover, if there were a person in power who sent his only heir to the battlefield… he would be called a madman.”
It was all true.
It was true, but Erijl saw his son standing in front of him. A son who became a great warrior. There was no wavering in those eyes. He was the apple of the eye of someone who had already decided on the path to take.
“But, that’s common knowledge.”
Eryahl slowly stood up from his seat.
Although he is old and decrepit, Eryahl is still a warrior. Although he may not have become a superhuman, he is a warrior who is infinitely close to being a superhuman. The body trained on numerous battlefields was not worn down by the passage of time.
“The owner of the North must be more enterprising than anyone else and live a more intense life than anyone else. He must become an idol for warriors and must never settle for the present. “I’ve always told you that.”
Eryahl stretched out his hand.
“So, have a great life.”
A rough, clumsy hand grabbed the ax hanging on the wall. A pair of axes with two handles. It was an ax made of a rare metal found only in the North, and had a mysterious color like the night sky.
“Originally, I was going to give it to you the day you became the master of the North after me, but I think you need it now.”
Eryahl hung the ax directly on Rak’s waist. And then, he tapped Lark on the shoulder.
“He grew up well.”
The greeting was short. As always.
Eryahl passed by Rak and spoke briefly.
“Your mother was very worried. “Just see his face once before going out.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Looking at his father’s back as he walked away, Lark slightly lowered his head. And then Lark took his steps again.
* * *
Time passed and the day of the expedition arrived.
After being seen off by the warriors, Lark set off on his way to battle. Many people in the North blessed the path Lark was taking. He prayed to accomplish a feat.
widely.
As we came out of the castle gate with the warriors saluting, there was a carriage sitting there.
And, she too.
“Whoa…”
There was a woman leaning against a carriage and burning cigarettes. Her smoke, which she spit out for a long time, did not have the pungent, suffocating, strong scent typical of the beginning of the year. The tobacco she burned was like her tranquilizer and had an artificial scent that resembled a potion or drug.
“Are you here?”
Saint, Natida.
She stomped on the tobacco, smiled at Lark and held out her hand. She was the second person to shake hands. First, she introduced herself as ‘the warrior, assistant to Rania Van Trias.’
And, in the second.
“This is Natida.”
A name that is neither a saint nor an aide.
She spoke calmly, revealing her name.
“Please take care of me from now on, warrior.”
“I am not a warrior.”
“Wouldn’t something similar be true?”
A weakling saint and a warrior with a holy sword.
The two people boarded a carriage heading to the battlefield.
3.
“star.”
I muttered, resting my chin.
Since I had only one reason to call the star, the star immediately showed me what I wanted. It was a contract made by a great sage hundreds of years ago, and was now in my hands.
Placed with the contract were a map and a clock.
There were three shining dots on the vast map. And one point that has already been turned off as well. I knew the name given to the extinguished dot.
‘Berta Gorge.’
Black Storm, Black Dragon Belial’s Nest.
Where we defeated the black dragon.
I shifted my gaze and looked at the three remaining dots. A place that humans have never reached in the past hundreds of years. Therefore, it is a terrain that is not included in any history books.
However, I know the name given to that terrain.
I found out when I took over everything in the contract. I pointed to the dots one by one and pondered their names.
‘Where all the junk goes.’
Alkeia, a land for non-believers
‘Where the torn sky points.’
Gehete, the place where death is silent.
‘The end of the world.’
Temple of Shade, ■■■.
···Until not long ago, there were only these three dots. But now something new has emerged. A mole that appeared near Alkeia. I don’t know the name given to that point.
But I know what that might be.
Barta, the king of demonic beasts.
I briefly clicked my tongue at the birth of a new disaster.
fantasy,
