Episode 422
For a brief moment, I thought about cutting down the old man in front of me, but I didn’t do it.
There are two reasons.
Firstly, because killing this man won’t change anything.
Secondly, because Zeno’s expression as he spoke was so calm.
The implication of that attitude was simple… … .
This means that it wasn’t said in the first place to provoke or stimulate Delak.
If so, then the Iron Blood Lord of the past may have really ‘produced’ children for the purpose that Zenon Anatos spoke of.
I don’t know what he himself thought, but at least those around him thought so, and Cheolhyeol-gong probably didn’t deny it either.
Delak felt a strange sense of dizziness and nausea at the same time at this sudden truth.
As I read the diary, the incomprehensible feelings I had been feeling began to swirl again.
‘What kind of being were you?’
I read the diary.
I read, read, read, and read again.
Even though I read it over and over again to the point where I could completely memorize all the content… … .
Delak did not find even a single grain of my emotion in that vast volume.
Even in history books that are supposed to be as objective as possible, the author’s emotions and subjectivity are sometimes revealed.
There was no trace of such a thing in all the letters written by the Iron Blood Worker as an Iron Blood Worker – essays that recorded in detail his daily life and work.
The series of letters written in a consistent handwriting was so plain that it felt more like a chronicle than a diary.
So, is what I felt true?
In all those moments, was your composure ever shaken?
Is the Iron-Blooded Knight you dream of always having to stay cool and think rationally?
So, if you are an iron-blooded person, should you remain indifferent even in the face of your child’s death?
At that moment, Zenon spoke again.
“Of course, I recommend revealing the death of Luan Badniker at a later date.”
“Is there a reason?”
“Isn’t there any reason to spread bad news and lower morale? The current state of the empire may not be good, but the atmosphere itself isn’t bad.”
“So are you saying we should hide it?”
“exactly.”
There was at least some validity to what he had said, but Delak did not believe it to be true.
His son died on the battlefield where the Iron Blood Knight was fighting… … . Even that person was the hero who was currently enjoying great fame, the Golden Fairy Luan Badniker.
It is a truth that is spread widely and has no good.
The image of the ‘Iron Man’ that they want to protect so badly will be damaged.
Delak ended up laughing silently.
I had been wondering whether I should continue writing the journal as an iron-blooded person, but then I came to a conclusion at an unexpected moment.
I don’t want to live like that.
A quiet spark bloomed in Delak’s eyes, or perhaps deep in his chest.
Zeno’s voice, who had not witnessed the flames, continued.
“First, you must go to your parents’ house.”
“… … .”
“Now that you’ve roughly finished up your work in the South, I think it’s a good time to leave.”
“Home.”
Delak nodded.
“Okay. I guess I should go.”
I was going to go even though Zenon didn’t say anything.
Because I have work to do at home.
* * *
Lucia Badnicker.
Luan Badnicker’s mother.
In other words, one of the wives of the Iron Blood Lord.
However, Delak has no memory of this woman now.
Even in the Iron Blood’s journal, there was little information about Lucia.
Rather, there was more information about the territory she belonged to – [Colland] – than about her personal story.
Is that why?
Delak had a hard time figuring out what expression to make or what attitude to show when facing a woman he had never met before.
However, what had to be said was clear.
“… … .”
Even after the news of his death was delivered, Delak did not leave, because he felt that his role still remained.
I was even prepared to get slapped.
In fact, I defeated all the people below for that and came here alone.
Lucia had the right to vent her feelings to Delak.
Delak had a responsibility to capture those feelings.
However, upon hearing the news of her only child’s death, Lucia stood there with a calm expression and then nodded.
“okay.”
Calm down.
I realized I was pretending only after I heard the voice.
Lucia bowed her head slowly, as was proper etiquette.
“I know this isn’t something you should be conveying directly, but I appreciate your consideration.”
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The sight of him lowering his head while maintaining his dignity felt uncomfortable.
I would have rather been slapped and cursed at.
“Your Majesty, if you don’t mind, I have something to ask you.”
“Speak.”
“Luan did this of his own volition?”
Delak nodded.
“exactly.”
“I see.”
Lucia smiled faintly.
“Thank goodness, the child got his wish at the last moment.”
“desire?”
“It was Luan’s dream to go to the battlefield with the Lord.”
The iron-blooded man was speechless.
“Someday, when I grow up, I will fight the Demon King together with you, my lord. I have said this out of habit ever since I was swinging my toy sword. So the child must have been happy. At the fact that he could stand on the same battlefield as you, my lord… and my father.”
“Aren’t you sad?”
“Why should I be sad? It was Luan’s own choice. As her mother, I should feel proud.”
Delak looked straight into Lucia’s smiling face.
Then, there comes a moment when I try to turn my head away, thinking that my gaze might be burdensome.
“but.”
Lucia’s head slowly dropped, and a weary voice came out from beneath her head.
“But, if I may express my personal desire, I would like that child to be a bit more.”
Lucia collapsed, unable to continue speaking. The sobs she had been suppressing leaked out.
Delak reached out his hand in confusion, but was unable to wrap his arms around Lucia’s shoulder as she sank to the ground.
What on earth gives you the right to do that?
He knew nothing about this woman, and he was the one who drove Luan to death.
Delak withdrew his hand from the sobbing Lucia and looked down at his palm.
‘… … .’
Still, there was something that could be done.
I felt a fire boiling in my chest.
When I spoke to Zeno, the small spark that had bloomed grew in size and seemed to envelop my entire body, forming a huge fireball.
Delak has no right to comfort Lucia.
I can’t wipe away your tears or put my arm around your shoulder.
But we can punish those who belittle, ridicule, and try to bury the child’s death.
The one who ruled the empire, was feared by the religious order, and was not even treated lightly by the royal family or Heros was the Iron Blood Duke… … .
Even the seemingly perfect Iron Blood Corps had its share of failures.
He never fully seized control of his family.
The Badnikers were not as powerful a family as they appeared on the outside.
Delak could tell now.
The elders who were supposed to assist the head of the household were pretending to give advice and instead forcing my actions.
So, now is the crossroads.
From now on, Delak will take a different path from the Iron Blooded.
It brings out the elders and those involved, and even those who may be hiding in the darkness of the family.
And it will be announced.
The truth about what happened at Rahild’s workhouse, the identity of the bravest hero, and the one who brought a brief moment of peace.
‘therefore.’
It is still too early to mourn.
Delak hoped.
That these thoughts are not simply a denial of reality.
I hope it’s not because I still can’t accept my son’s death.
* * *
The world that Black Fairy Lisera Digos has felt over the past few months has come across as having quite distinct colors.
Maybe it was because it was the most densely populated time in my life in hundreds of years.
No. When I was hanging out with Roanne, I think I was just as busy as I am now.
But that was hundreds of years ago, so my memories and feelings are faint.
Lise decided to consider this time as the most intense time in her life.
It was a life that continued like a corpse, with no expectations or hopes given up.
I actually thought I would spend my entire life in an underground library where not a single ray of sunlight would reach.
Without taking their own lives, they still harbor the vain hope that they will be forgiven someday.
I will quietly rot away like that and die alone in this underground library where no one visits.
No one will remember Lise.
However, even after death, he did not want his body to decompose horribly, so he devised a black magic to dispose of his body after death.
Even now, when Lise recalls that moment, her heart starts pounding.
I couldn’t take my eyes off the desert landscape, which I had no interest in or concern for, as if I had fallen in love with it.
The feeling of the blazing sun and hot wind could not have been more sweet.
Lise was really looking forward to tomorrow for the first time in a long time. She wished that time would pass quickly, no matter what.
For the first time, life became enjoyable.
however.
“…Why don’t you come back again?”
Making sweets with the provided pastry tools, and when beating the most difficult meringue.
Lise waited for the visit of the blonde-haired girl with a proud face.
This was to prove that the talents of this Liseradios were by no means limited to magic.
But when a month passed and there was no sign of him showing up, Lise became angry.
“You shameless bastard!”
I saved you from danger, and now you’re hitting me in the back of the head like this?
This time, I won’t let you off even if you bring just one bundle of snacks. But if you bring two bundles, I’ll think about it.
But as the months passed, anger turned to concern.
I wonder if something is going on?
To begin with, the young boy was running around here and there without any fear. If you just look at his actions, it’s a wonder he’s still alive.
At first, I didn’t really care whether I died or not, but now I feel uneasy for some reason.
“… right?”
This is the guy who survived so many encounters with the Demon King and still tenaciously survived.
He’s not the kind of guy who’ll die that easily.
Lise nodded, trying to convince herself.
Time continued to flow without stopping.
When three months had passed.
For the first time in a long time, Lise called out the name of a man she didn’t want to see.
The only being other than Luan who could interfere with this space was the one who called out the name of Archmage Asad.
“Answer me! Assad! What happened to Luan Badniker?”
“… … .”
But as expected, there was no response.
From that day on, Lee Se, who had been gnashing his teeth, began to collect information with the ‘eyes’ and ‘ears’ he had spread across the ground.
Of course, the scope of the servant horse’s actions is the outskirts of Butterfly Forest where the Badniker main house is located.
Leaving there was an action that even Lee Se had to take a huge risk.
Moreover, to obtain information, one had to go directly to the main house, which was dangerous enough to lead to ‘punishment’ if discovered.
An extreme measure that would never have been adopted in the past.
However, the current Lee Se has no hesitation in sneaking his servant horse into the main house.
Of course, progress in information gathering was very slow.
So, after another three months there, Lise found out the reason.
Luan Badnicker.
Died during the battle with the Demon King.
“… … .”
Lise looked at the surface of the water with an expressionless face.
Slap.
Every time my outstretched legs nervously kicked the stagnant water, water droplets splashed.
Some of it got stuck in his face, ran down his cheeks, and fell to the tip of his chin.
Lise instinctively rubbed her face, but then she felt so pitiful that she felt like she was wiping away tears, and ended up sneering.
The conversations I had with him came back to my mind.
I told him I would teach him Elf language, and he nodded and said we would meet again.
He said he would let me go out for a look around once a month.
In fact, that’s what a promise is.
The moment one side dies, it becomes a series of characters that have no meaning.
“…also.”
Lise laughed alone in the underground library.
“Badnickers are all liars.”