Episode 250. Belief and Inferiority
‘Haneke… It’s definitely Haneke.’
The moment he looked at the old man’s face as he landed on the ground with his beard fluttering, Lemonlive had no choice but to accept that he was none other than the former general.
It was a gut feeling. I thought I had to check it out in my head, but there was an intuition that preceded it. The scent and color of Brion Aura brought back memories. And above all, I felt its power.
It was a strength that was impossible to imitate. A strength that only a seven-star warrior could exude, a strength that only someone who had held a sword their entire life could exude.
At that moment, a series of old scenes unfolded in Lemonlie’s mind. He knew that it was something he should never let his guard down in an urgent situation. Especially when he saw the hostility emanating from Haneke.
But even Lemonlie couldn’t help it. Haneke was that much of a person to him.
‘I’ll sign your death certificate. You sign mine.’
The first scene that flashed through my mind was when I was just commissioned as an officer, back when I was still a freshman.
Perhaps it was because Haneke appeared in front of me and mentioned something about a ‘warrior’s notice’. I thought I had forgotten, but it seemed like he too remembered the promise from long ago.
When they were rookie officers, the two were assigned to the same unit. They soon became friends, thanks to their common military background.
According to the Imperial Army’s military etiquette at the time, the notice of a dead soldier was signed by his immediate superior and his closest comrade.
It was also the duty of a close colleague to visit the bereaved family with the notice of death.
Haneke and Lemonlieb had agreed to sign their own death certificates on the day they were first deployed to the monster subjugation operation.
As the decades passed, I thought I had completely forgotten that promise, but it turns out that both he and Haneke remembered it.
The two men spent their first days in the same unit. They have never worked together since.
In a way, it was natural. Both had grown into capable officers who were often mentioned in the military community. And the continent was too large to have two capable officers in one unit.
While Haneke was in the North, Lemonlie was in the South, and while Haneke was annihilating the orcs, Lemonlie was slaying the monsters.
The two advanced quickly.
The Brion family and the Kite family. Both were strong military families, but none of their ancestors had ever risen to the rank of general.
However, the evaluation spread that the two of them would make their respective families’ names shine brighter than ever. They were said to be the ones who would rise to the rank of general, if not general.
‘There are only bitter scenes.’
A sense of defeat that comes like a change of seasons. The scenes that were initially warm quickly turned gray.
Every time he returned to the system during the vacation period given to officers once every two or three years, Lemonlie could not help but confirm the gap between him and Haneke.
It was a gap that was not easily visible to others. To others, it must have seemed like we were all running on the same smooth road.
But when standing on the same path, it was so obvious. What Lemonlie saw was Haneke’s back, always ahead.
Haneke, who was always one step ahead of others in terms of military service, was also always given the upper hand at awards ceremonies organized by the imperial family.
Then one day.
‘Both Haneke and I were on the verge of being promoted to general.’
There was a time when Lemon Reeve’s unit was surrounded by monsters while on a mission in a monster-infested area. All of the existing superior units were annihilated, and only Lemon Reeve’s subordinate units survived.
‘That day… when my arm was cut off and death was right before my eyes.’
The one who appeared before him was Haneke. Just as he had just saved Imacalm. The rescue operation was a success.
Haneke killed the monster that was biting off his own arm right in front of him. However, Lemonlie’s sense of defeat was too strong to feel grateful.
Perhaps, his choice to go for a mechanical transplant, which had a low chance of success, was due to his inferiority complex toward Haneke. He risked his life in the hope of surpassing the author.
And the price was certain. He was reborn with the fame of ‘The Machine Master of the Silver Wall’.
Of course… even after that, I continued to grow old while only stepping on Haneke’s shadow… … .
“… … .”
Lemonlie, who had finished his recollection, looked at Haneke, who was standing silently. Next to him, Imacalm, who had barely managed to survive, was gasping for breath.
“Haa, haa… Haneke, I almost died. Did you really have to show up so close to home?”
“Both of them held their ground well against the silver wall’s machine.”
“You, can you beat that golem arm guy?”
Haneke shrugged his shoulders at those words. He motioned to Imaccarum and Blane to avoid getting caught up in the battle. He added a separate word to Blane.
“Even if I am in danger, don’t shoot Lemonlive.”
“but…….”
“The author is a soldier who has devoted his entire life to the empire. His loyalty cannot be tarnished.”
“Okay, Haneke.”
The next moment, Haneke and Lemonlieb’s eyes met in midair. Haneke spoke first.
“I know it’s a little embarrassing, Lemonlive.”
“… … .”
“Let me explain briefly-”
But Lemonlie cut Haneke off.
“There was no warrior notice for you, Haneke.”
“Oh, is it because of what I said earlier? I just remembered the promise we made when we were young… … .”
“First of all, you didn’t die in battle. You discovered your grandson’s treason, killed him, and then committed suicide.”
“… … .”
“You didn’t die in battle, but even if you did, I wouldn’t have signed that death warrant. I don’t want my name engraved in the traitor bloodline.”
Haneke didn’t react to the provocation, but let out a small grunt. He lowered the tip of his sword toward the ground for a moment.
“Have you seen my body?”
“I was the commander of the defense unit at that time. I was the first one to confirm your body.”
“I see, I don’t need to explain that I’m Haneke. Since you said that after seeing my dead body clearly.”
“Yes, you were clearly dead, but here you are, alive again. Was it black magic? Or some kind of taunt? Or… did you fake your death? To make your rebellion more successful?”
It wasn’t that he had faked his death, but it was true that he was aiming for a successful rebellion.
Not until he died, but now he really dreams of rebellion. So it was coincidental that he was of traitorous blood.
“I guess any explanation would be pointless, Lemonlive.”
“What?”
“You’re going to die soon, so explaining it to you would only harm my reputation.”
Wooooow.
Haneke’s sword added more layers of black lacquer. He activated his seven-star aura in one breath. Lemonliv also raised the machine beast in front of his chest.
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“It doesn’t matter if you’re revived by dark magic or under the control of a demon. I’m satisfied that I can fight you like this.”
“That’s fortunate.”
“Did you kill Grandbird?”
“That’s what it is.”
“Is that so? Then… what happened to the Northern 2nd Corps Commander Dump?”
Haneke recalled the match they had yesterday. The six-star dump held its own against Haneke.
But that’s it.
Haneke raised one hand, revealing a couple of small fan scars.
“This is the will he left behind.”
“… Dump was a general I cherished. He was a heavy smoker and was not destined to live long, but I don’t think he thought he would be killed by the previous general.”
However, Lemonlie was convinced that Haneke would have treated Dump like a soldier. That was the character he remembered of Haneke.
“The strategy of pitting the monsters and orcs against each other was very unique, Haneke. But it would be frustrating if I created a barrier with my magic cannon.”
The two turned their heads for a moment and looked at the solid barrier that had appeared between the orc and the monster.
“I don’t know how much you know about this operation, but I won’t let you do as you wish. Just based on what you’ve done so far, you deserve summary execution, so know that. I’ll even skip the process of referring you to a military court.”
Lemonlie turned back to Haneke and said, Haneke still looking towards the barrier.
“I am no longer an Imperial, Lemonlive. And-”
“… … ?”
“I guarantee that that barrier will be destroyed before you and I can even finish our fight.”
“what?”
“It’s a barrier made of magic bullets, so it should be pretty sturdy. But there are reliable allies on the other side, too.”
A satisfied smile. A cheeky look that went beyond leisure. Lemonlive immediately activated a three-pronged spear-shaped aura with his machine. A trustworthy ally… … .
“…What the hell are you doing with those damn bastards!”
“Revenge that only the dead can take.”
It wasn’t a wrong expression. Both he and Rubin had died at least once.
Haneke raised his sword and aimed it at the opponent in front of him. The explosive aura caused the air pressure around him to rise. It was the same for Lemonlieb.
“Unfortunately, you seem more rusty than I remember, Lemonlive.”
“Do you know that, Haneke? The me of the past that you fought against was only 90% of me.”
“Is that so? The image you remember of me is probably only 80% of me.”
“You take me for a fool. Don’t be so arrogant, Haneke. You gave it your all back then.”
“I gave it my all. But, some people grow even after they die.”
The next moment, Lemonlie rushed towards Haneke.
His machine output was already at 90 percent. After his first fight with Haneke, it was a figure he thought he would never have to open again.
Although it was an unstable and dangerous number at the same time, Lemonlee knew from the beginning that he had to be sincere.
The first moment the two veterans’ weapons clashed, the ripples spread out over a wide area. Even the monsters far away were momentarily trembling and suppressing their instincts.
Kwakwakwakwakwang!
‘It’s not an exaggeration.’
Lemonlive thought as he changed the form of his aura into a flame club.
Did the dump that confronted Haneke only cause two wounds? That must have been because Haneke was careless or deliberately allowed the attack.
The current Haneke has gone far beyond what Dump could do. As he said, it really seemed like he died and grew.
‘A strange movement that can be glimpsed here and there.’
It was different from Haneke’s previous style. The original black was alive, but something had been newly polished while it was not being seen.
Could it be that it had reached the 8th level? Naturally, such a question arose, but strictly speaking, it could not be said that the Aura itself had become more powerful. Rather, it was closer to the fact that the dynamism and explosiveness of the sword had increased.
Suddenly, Lemonlie’s mind recalled the movements of the sniper he had encountered earlier. There was definitely a part that overlapped with the strange movements he had occasionally glimpsed in Haneke.
‘You, who only insisted on Brion swordsmanship… What did you accept? For what reason?’
Haneke not only taught Rubin the Brion swordsmanship, he also adopted the Roynen swordsmanship, just as Rubin, who had the Roynen swordsmanship, had integrated it with the Brion swordsmanship.
The result was different from Rubin’s because the roots of the sword they each held were different.
Originally, Brion’s swordsmanship was the last one at the 12th form. However, Haneke’s swordsmanship, which is now pressuring Lemonlib, was the 13th form.
The name is ‘Shadow of the Wind’.
Phew.
Lemonlive’s ‘Fire Flame’ cracked as the ‘Shadow of the Wind’ poured down from all directions. Lemonlive stepped back and gathered his aura again.
And I had a gut feeling that I couldn’t compete with Haneke at 90 percent of my current output.
‘Can I… withstand the new realm of machine learning?’
Lemonlive wiped the blood off his cheek and thought. The body was shaking.
‘Output 92 percent… 93 percent.’
The machine’s output increased. After 90%, it could not be increased all at once, and only gradual opening was possible.
He wasn’t sure if he could hold out or not, because he was going to a level he had never attempted before.
‘… My consciousness is gradually fading.’
When I reached 90%, I started to forget myself, and as I went further, my consciousness became blurred. I felt like I was being swallowed up by something.
“Ugh… haak… … .”
“Lemon Leaves. Are you really going to do that?”
Steam rose from Haneke’s body. He also wiped away the blood he had gained from allowing the counterattack.
He knew that Lemonlive’s condition was heading towards danger. Brion Auror squirmed at the ever-approaching power.
“Do you remember, Haneke? The Imperial Army proverb, ‘A soldier is a prisoner of his convictions.’”
“Remember that. When you become a new officer, it’s something you have to memorize like a dream.”
“… Yes, every action of a soldier must be imbued with conviction. At that time, we had the conviction that the Empire would make the continent safe.”
“… … .”
“But as I became a general and had more time to reflect on the past, I realized that at some point I lost my faith. I was just a prisoner of my inferiority complex toward you.”
Veins were bulging out all over Lemonlive’s large body. Veins that twitched as if all the blood was rushing to the machine.
‘Output 94 percent… … .’
I knew that if I opened up 1 percent more here, my consciousness would disappear completely. That was why I left honest words to Haneke.
“But I don’t regret it, Haneke. Ugh… I feel like I’m going to lose consciousness. But for now… I just hope that when I wake up again and regain consciousness… you’ll be crushed under my feet.”
It doesn’t matter if he is a prisoner of his inferiority complex rather than a prisoner of his beliefs. His consciousness flickers. The time he spends in the darkness and then returns increases.
At the same time, an explosive power was felt around the machine. A realm that had never been reached before was beneath his feet.
at that time.
Kuuuung!
Kwakwakwakwang!
“… … ?”
This noise did not come from between Haneke and Lemonlieb. It was a noise that came from far away.
Lemonlib, who was wondering ‘what does this mean’ in his fading consciousness, immediately found the answer.
‘Ah, that’s the sound of a barrier breaking.’
There really is someone from Haneke’s camp over there, and it seems he is doing his part, just as Haneke boasted.
In the current situation, the barrier should never be broken, but… … .
‘… I guess it doesn’t matter anymore.’
Lemonlie just wanted to trample on his lifelong rival, Haneke.
It didn’t matter now whether the Orc army was destroyed or the operation failed. I knew that if I returned to the palace anyway, I would be discarded like a consumable.
The next moment-
Phew.
Lemonliv opened his eyes wide. There was a light in his eyes that overturned his pupils. Light also emanated from his mouth.
“In the end… you’re asking for your own death, Lemonlive.”
Haneke took a deep breath and raised his sword.
