Chapter 239: Successor (1)
s1hA long time ago.Z1zkK
Y0QSKPPThe first period of the empire, which no one remembers anymore.gezEf
8EfqOIn those times, the eastern region of the Empire was nothing more than a desolate wasteland.v3hT0
6wpLTzmUnlike the fertile West, where the World Mother Tree was located, the barren, arid East, where not even a blade of grass could grow, was a land ignored even by the surrounding lords.lwxntXm
ZX3“…It seems the children have been very hungry.”ynMWUbZ
Bh0A dry and desolate land.8Cc
jUOThe man who was looking around smiled bitterly at the sight of the children’s eyes watching him.SKL
MLkAlthough they were strangers, the children’s eyes, which followed them, shone with anticipation for food.FNA1
JGO“Because there’s not much to eat.”ebRh4P
9HV“Not even the elves can make this land prosper?”0fnL
iFAbEvery time the man took a step, the village children drew closer to him.D0qRM
y2jyNHowever, the man felt a bit sad because the children who now clung to him did so not out of innocent curiosity.PRJfGx
CMY1v“…This is a land that cannot be saved, even by anyone other than our elves. Your Majesty.”OVjZgi
JcHGz8mThe young Geronimo looked at the man in the deep robe and called him “Your Majesty.”zaFOHeX
SZyiIt was a title that could only be given to the most powerful man on the continent, but the man Geronimo was looking at at that moment seemed too worn-out to receive the glorious title of Your Majesty.cW5PuW
rPv7y“What do you think now that you’ve seen it? Do you feel relieved?”Pds
T4KOThe sleeves covering his thin body were wide.RCDNzo
N6iBIn Geronimo’s eyes, which had become very dry after giving away his own food, it seemed that only bitter venom remained.Lr7w
NusxwZ“In the end, the king of humans only thought about humans. What the elder chief said was true.”n9EFE
gyd4M“…”9f3
6Q5VThere was once a knight who harbored a radiant intent like a star.zjah
m2l0iSHHe was also someone who gathered the potential of all the races of the world into a single sword to eliminate the most perfect dragon.eRoAD
iZv“I’m sorry.”n0c
EmuHowever, the man who was now removing his robe was not the knight who had shone so brightly back then.OIU8hn
L1sry5mThe old man, whose face was covered in wrinkles filled with regrets, was a liar who could not even fulfill the promises he said he would keep.9bK
gvHXgfK“To destroy the most perfect being, I borrowed too much. While returning them, I could not concern myself with you.”Q8yLZHr
z3hhw“Please return.”Dd9s
glHnGeronimo stopped walking and murmured quietly.RAnt3
zKt55However, his calm yet clear voice entered Frausen’s heart and sank heavily.UlpK
n6pRO“Come back and send us food if you can.”SpUUzR
BH3ieAt his feet, where he stopped, was a very small sapling.XaRhwKE
YZ3The sapling, which did not even reach the waist of an adult, seemed precarious as if it might wither and die at any moment, perhaps because it stood on dry land.YAL
4Oz0“May your compassion allow us to survive the winter.”YdKXj
glbv“Geronimo.”uIFoEZ
UzT6NbAn elf begging for food and a young World Tree that had not even properly rooted.2DmEIc
0sEFaced with their miserable appearance, Frausen deeply regretted coming here too late.hLT
LMtQMh“…Don’t do this, don’t beg. You have the right to stand with dignity.”xXzFH
oE0Elves who had to sacrifice their World Mother Tree to destroy the most perfect dragon.HO9vDZ
dqTlBut now, instead of past glory, their lives had been reduced to begging with outstretched hands to others.pdKW9xe
a0dClick-eY7d8
ZpbjGAN“Your Majesty?”SnZB8
iaeBTKXTheir misery was ultimately his fault.4pa
1Ev5wKEven though I fulfilled my duties as a knight, it was my fault for not being able to fulfill my duties as emperor.ugGWof
H0iSFq“I’m sorry it took so long to repay this debt.”vP4jrE
cWUXClang-!G5OD
wx0gnXSFrausen drew his sword and without hesitation drove it into the ground in front of the small sapling of the World Tree.pjs5J
IOFAlthough its owner had aged and worn down, the sword still shone with its silver brilliance.aEg0iNj
A3J“…Obtained from the Lady of the Lake, blessed by God, and ruled by a flame that never extinguishes.”l067XX
R15NY“What are you doing now?”Z4DbRPr
g1ZiThe young Geronimo was surprised by Frausen’s sudden action, but the old emperor’s face only filled with a relieved smile as he looked at him.nrPlU
l6jB“Do not remove this sword. Not until the children here stop starving.”IOwYgme
apjFrausen sheathed his sword, looked at the children who were staring at him with wide eyes, and laughed.BTikFhr
oz86Nz“And until this young World Tree takes deep root.”eHJhqBq
hxEAs the blue grass began to slowly grow around the silver sword, the children, who had never seen that color in the wasteland, opened their eyes wide.T7OrH7
NFpCnRumble, rumble-UvnA
BwTA man who left his position of glory to assume a duty he had not fulfilled.nkbhh
wc1As the silver sword wept at seeing its owner walk away, he simply patted it once and covered himself with his hood again.ky2zyc
YA6C“At least I’m glad I didn’t arrive too late, that brings me some comfort.”i9HEfx8
CyuCI5A wasteland with nothing, a land where children starved.LzPC4V
DP5c6And someday, the land from which the sword would be drawn.Zach
SdDdThe name they would give that place in the future would be the Forest of the Elves, Ausurin.FBE8rk
CeRW3f***4l590y
XZ30PThe tall wooden fence seemed majestic, but it couldn’t block the ominous air coming from outside the forest.dZyr0A8
OFSa5ZThe young elves of Ausurin simply widened their eyes as if anxious while watching the village become more and more unfamiliar as the adults moved busily.vSxwrv
HP60[There are the children gathered.]b5W99
K1BAyg“…”RoHk
YsuRSA4And the children of the Ruga tribe noticed it too.BAm3
2MvBVlad walked forward without saying a word, looking at the children who had different appearances but the same look in their eyes.iaktHjm
BtVn“The human army numbers around a thousand men.”Qdo
82zxJ9M“That sounds manageable.”JMs24M
FCBUAccording to Baradis, who was walking with him, the number of soldiers gathered by Count Vitskaya was about a thousand.JvvfwgD
3yHThere were around 700 Ausurin elves fighting against him, so it didn’t seem like there was any reason to be at a disadvantage if they fought behind a fence.CxW
eOZ“…The problem is the resurrected ones.”xv5vyS
sJWBut Count Vitskaya wasn’t alone.qR3w
MvTBehind him, there were many dark mages who answered Ramashthu’s call, and they were probably still burning with desire for Ausurin.Fgoc2rQ
Hro“Three days ago, their number was already about two thousand. Combined with the humans, they form an army of three thousand.”3TKECG
XtyYC“…”s2EXBq
Fiik“And it is likely to continue growing.”jYX
60RiZpxAt that moment, a sudden wind blew, and the smell of oil began to waft from the torch beside me.SNemF
BR1fUj3Suddenly, an unexpected wind brought the scent of oil from the nearby torches.gid
F3ff0“That’s why we need a barrier to reverse the current situation.”EKk
VmIFCThe barrier surrounding Ausurin was protected by the unbreakable promise of the Sword Master’s sword.K1M2xsi
lelWiHowever, ever since the revived Frausen took the sword, the barrier ceremony that the elves had built over hundreds of years was in a state of failure, like a safe that had lost its key.kbf2x
FFv7Jx“I beg you.”rthyF
B37MWith those words, Baradis stopped, indicating that his guidance ended there.oCPhW
y5qXhPWhen he stopped, there were elders waiting for Vlad in front of the young World Tree.GlGuAA
9pMYIYTheir eyes, which awaited the new Silver Knight, were as serious as the eyes of the children he had just seen.hwt
djhx3S“…Baradis.”8R3yog
xIr“Yes?”l1KcS
uWtcAs he followed those hopeful gazes, Vlad suddenly stopped, as if remembering something, and looked at Baradis.QI5Te
hZE“Thank you for back then.”GIh69b
6S6AXVlad turned around and was smiling.gNer
lYDSfqIt wasn’t a bright enough smile to laugh with, but his somewhat carefree smile eased Baradis’s heart a little.ZvYtMla
xE2ec2“I’ll try to settle the debt this time. For everything you did for me.”r7R8
zlT4bEFrom the devastated city of Deirmar to the forgotten island of the dwarves, Lemnos.p2o
9d6LLg6Vlad kept remembering the elf who had been with him all this time.1zJ7
CvW“Because knights only receive just compensation.”4dxFNY
sOMFor the elf who quietly stayed by my side when I needed it most.qhwh
hil6TLBaradis was speechless for a moment when he saw Vlad say that he would take this opportunity to repay the help he had received.o0S
etAQb“…Yes.”WZsI5
vPeYzjWith those words, Baradis remained there for a long time, watching Vlad’s back as he walked farther and farther away.jBwTJKT
gpGkHgGThough he walked to fulfill a great duty, Vlad showed not the slightest hesitation in his steps as he walked towards the young World Tree.N9tP
nf4***cyrLsK
pFgFBkB“Listen, my soldiers!”rsC6tp
exa1QYAThe troops were lined up along the edge of the dense forest.yozulh
QtDyThe soldiers, who were largely divided into two formations, had different appearances and also different positions according to their respective roles.n8y
rYeW“Remember how those damn elves suddenly betrayed us!”9eW2
FqhZ5reThe dead were silent, and the living held their breath to match them.5my3ok
LAybrsThough the formation was filled with a strange silence as if they were about to go into battle, only Count Vitskaya was shouting loudly to everyone.zcDXr
MJfwE“Remember the pain they caused us! Now, while your families starve at home, those evil elves are resting, eating, and enjoying themselves in that green forest!”E5o8rz
tK8WAs the Count said, the people in his territory were endlessly starving.hKy
8rmDThe county of Vitskaya, where trade with the elves had been cut off, was like a land without a waterway.lNSj
sKHEvCAt this moment, when even the support from the Dragon Blood Duke had been severed, the only way to save the territory suffering from scorching hunger was to steal from others.LyX9ztq
dEnoM“Look at that green forest! While your families starve, those damn elves are relaxing and enjoying themselves as if nothing is wrong!”rJHJW
eNdGojAccumulated resentment seeks a target, and repressed anger needs an outlet.cxS22
wsBRegardless of whether it was right or wrong, they just needed something to unleash upon, and for the residents of Vitskaya, the elves were simply excellent kindling.8B9kC
IdQ3LM“Yes! If it weren’t for them, we wouldn’t be in this situation!”4svUw
zbyVNd“It’s all the elves’ fault! They started everything!”5yR2Grq
hdzkVTo survive, sometimes one needs the courage to ignore the truth and an excuse to attack others.99n7
RvLHAngry shouts toward the elves began to erupt from Vitskaya’s army, which fulfilled all the conditions with a single speech.hqC8JMC
4Kl7A“In the end, they also seek to kill others to survive.”ntmkCy
OQcYrg6“…”8Opy
a4OfAnd there were those watching them from another camp.INGA1
vX3BsThey were among the dead and the ominous creatures that filled the army.YSNKgC
4sa“What do you think, Joseph? Is it right to trample others to survive?”gtx
My7PThe voice that spoke sounded as empty as death.hSVl5pZ
plT0n4RThe image of a woman dressed in black mourning clothes looked at him.3X517
gOrVThe woman, who rejected the world created by God and would not even set foot on the earth, looked at Joseph with a truly mysterious expression.wvMtb
OTC4“God is cruel, don’t you think? He is the one who created a world where to survive, we must kill someone to live.”FFQuig
HnMCz“…”hAZetP
nX8Seen up close, she seemed like a very compassionate woman.qoae
4E9The sight of her holding each dead child in her arms was similar to that of the Virgin Mary blessed by God. [1]oyrYu4c
vGwHowever, Joseph could glimpse the madness hidden behind her gentle smile.CEw
NZhc“That’s why we must destroy everything. So that no one else has to die.”GRJVImN
mKtSome had come this far driven by vile desires, others by unfulfilled dreams, and others by despair.LeJ
Fq7ooAlthough all the dark mages who had been drawn here by the darkness had their own circumstances, Joseph was sure that none of them were as mad as Ramashthu standing before him.z41tjdS
LXxK0“And then we will rebuild it.”yQH
HopwLBecause she was rejecting the world that God created with a passion purer than anyone else’s.JF3
ydyouJoseph could only remain frozen as her maniacal smile of “And then we will rebuild it” stared at him.XUlB6Y
OVAQtRumble-rumble-rumble-Fvg
VWGlSuddenly, the ground began to shake violently, causing great agitation among Vitskaya’s troops.yNF
5TozLCeThe vibration was so strong that even the undead, who were usually insensitive to disturbances, wavered.e7KbUc
eaNrw“An earthquake?”gx3
yBUU“No.”qZQZ
dwmthRamashthu slightly lifted her veil, pointing toward the center of the elves’ forest with her pale finger.ziPmjP3
X0NWSAt the end of her hand, a great tree rose toward the sky.hMvR
nnY“It seems the elves don’t want to die without a fight.”qciMlF
ChTThe young World Tree visible in the distance was glowing.PypXJ
yohpDrIt surpassed its original blue color and came in all sorts of bright colors.im7Azr
GAfAV“It’s a barrier ritual.”k7k0oA
OUvDiU8The bright lights were visible even from outside the forest, flickering incessantly like a beacon illuminating the elves’ forest.lLoOa7P
yeRfQiN1: The alternative translation could be: “Her image, holding the dead children in her arms, was reminiscent of a saint blessed by God.”pZjRGFM
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