Time flows.
Time is something you can’t hold in your hands, and once it starts moving, it rushes forward at an uncontrollable pace.
Just trying to keep up is exhausting, isn’t it?
Simply closing and opening your eyes brings the sun up and down. I could never get used to such changes.
The wind blows, and every day it gets hotter.
The sun, high in the sky, scorches my head, and the cursed light shines upon the world.
It’s an empire that worships the moon, yet ironically, without the sun, it can do nothing.
Some might call this coexistence.
But is that really correct? Perhaps Kaitel has realized that too much is already grotesquely twisted to be considered coexistence.
If someone wanted to be understood, they could have used other methods.
Anything but this. In the end, the reason I establish a plan and desperately grasp my sword is to kill Kaitel.
If possible, it’d be better to kill him before the dead dragon revives, but it’s wise to always assume the worst-case scenario.
The dead dragon… will definitely revive.
One of the empire’s gateways is named Eclipse, which may be mere coincidence.
Only the First Emperor knows whether it signifies blocking the moon or the sun.
But the unease is real.
It means it’s better to exclude it if possible, and I had no choice but to believe that what I was doing was not wrong.
Thus, I erased my hesitation. What I was doing was right, to save everyone.
Moreover, thinking that killing Kaitel to seal the dead dragon again was also right.
The reason I held the sword was to save Adele.
To save Adele, I had to be prepared to face all demons.
Without Adrian’s help, it would have been difficult.
I was so focused on holding the sword that I couldn’t pay attention to anything else.
If Adrian hadn’t been there to support me, my efficiency could have dropped by half.
What kept coming to mind was the clue I had when fighting the Minotaurus.
The reason I could use my true power even without having regained it.
What had I realized there that allowed me to elevate my skills?
“Will.”
The element that causes a person to use their power.
It may have been the will to protect someone that drew my magic.
So, I tried to nurture that feeling, but nothing really changed, and I gave up. Just the desire to save Adele wasn’t enough.
Naturally, that kind of intense heart had already been felt many times before.
I had died dozens of times to protect one person.
And thus, that blazing heart made me a swordsman.
Just a tiny will alone is far from enough to look beyond that height.
The realm above was a level no one had ever trodden upon.
With a sword in hand, I could become the wind, the rock, and sometimes even the sky.
If I wanted to cut, I could cut. Though it was a vague concept, the thought occurred to me that I could only reach the next level when I could cut what I couldn’t.
So what should I call that level?
I chuckled softly at my own ignorance.
From then on, I swung my sword with an empty mind.
I felt that even if I swung my sword thinking of the next move, nothing would change.
After meeting Miragen and returning, I encountered Adrian at the Moon Tower.
But I hadn’t contacted Adele. No matter how anxious she might be, it couldn’t be helped.
After all, I wanted her to believe I betrayed her. I wanted her to be furious when I returned.
It would be better if she raged at me and led all her troops to storm me.
That would create a slight hesitation. I didn’t think Kaitel would personally march to the North.
If he did, that would be great, but it was certain that Cain would come out.
I would kill Cain there.
I would seize the opportunity in his momentary hesitation to kill him and then deal with the demons that appear afterward. Afterward, I could reveal what Kaitel had done and immediately march to the Center.
Adele would probably have an inkling about Kaitel’s plan this time.
Knowing Adele’s character, she wouldn’t just sit back and take it; she would lead her troops to strike back, and she could reach the Center in less than a week.
That’s where it began. The plan to drive out Kaitel and face the Dead Dragon.
“Is it okay to ask Arwen for help?”
“Are you talking about the Alchemist Arwen?”
It was comfortable to speak freely with Adrian, who knew all about my reincarnation.
Adrian’s eyes slightly cooled as he quickly understood who she was, already being aware of Arwen’s real name.
No matter what, I had no intention of harboring feelings for Arwen.
There wasn’t even a part of that, and honestly, wasn’t it a bit too late for that?
Now that I had formed connections with three people, any excuses I made wouldn’t hold water.
As I awkwardly scratched my cheek, Adrian sighed and nodded as if to urge me to continue.
“If we open a gate there and pass through with the troops at once, we could gather all the soldiers in the capital in less than half a day.”
The success or failure of this plan hinged on how much Adele had prepared her army.
But I didn’t worry about it too much.
Knowing Adele, she would certainly have soldiers prepared, ready for anything.
Now all that remained was to grasp the light I had seen.
Grasping that light was something I had to do on my own.
After all, opportunities like this don’t just come around any day. I had a clue. I touched a wall that I could break through with my own hands to move forward.
I touched a wall that felt like it could be shattered.
“I don’t think I’ll be able to see you for a while.”
When I said this to Adrian, who had just brought me food one last time, he looked at me with a calm expression, despite having a lot he wanted to say.
Unlike before, his eyes remained open, and his transparent gaze landed on me.
I couldn’t exactly tell what emotion was behind that gaze.
But I could definitely feel his concern for me and a bit of resentment about the fact that I was thinking more about Adele, even with him beside me.
I know that not everyone can harbor the same feelings.
Miragen had her special qualities, and Adele had her own.
However, that also means that Adrian has something special to offer me as well.
It seemed like the timing was still off to express this, but there was surely enough time for me to gently place my hand on his head.
“I understand that you have a lot to say.”
“…It’s not like that.”
“Even if you say it’s not, I can see it all. I’m not that dense; I can tell what you want to express. I apologize for pretending not to notice, but someday we’ll have time to talk with each other.”
I can’t help but resent the fact that now isn’t that time.
Regardless of how my words are interpreted, I hope that Adrian can wait just a bit longer.
If everything goes well, surely we could discuss each other’s feelings.
After hearing my words, Adrian, who seemed to be twitching his lips for a moment, shook his head with a faint smile.
His expression looked a little relieved, but he still seemed unsatisfied.
“I didn’t mean to burden you. It’s just… I’m feeling a bit impatient.”
“…I understand. I know how you feel.”
If he were sitting next to me without thinking about anything at all, he would truly be a fool.
I had never voiced any complaints about stopping by the imperial palace to meet Miragen.
Feeling a bit sorry for stopping him from saying what he wanted to say, I remained silent, and Adrian, who smiled bitterly, set the food down and quietly spoke.
“So when can we meet again?”
“Well, I’m not sure.”
Now, there really isn’t much time left. To fully grasp the elusive hint that feels just within reach, staying up all night won’t be enough.
Then, even if my body suffers, I need to invest more time.
“I think it will be about a week before we can see each other again.”
#
When I finally felt the cold wind starting to blow, I knew the seasons were truly changing.
The green foliage was still vibrant.
The life force of the forest that had painted the world green showed no signs of fading, and the moss that had briefly covered the North was still present.
However, the red hues that began to slowly emerge from the western edge were undoubtedly the harbingers of autumn.
As always, Adele climbed to the highest mountain in the North and gazed into the sky. This had been a habit of hers since the end of spring.
It was a habit.
From here, the distant scenery of the center was faintly visible, and it served to calm the rage rising within.
“…I knew you would go crazy someday.”
I had never thought that way. I was just saying it out of frustration.
What? Thinking I wouldn’t be able to contact you for a while? I underestimated it to about a week.
No matter how long it took, I thought I’d hear from you in two or three months.
But it had already been five months without a word,
and my furrowed brow reflected Adele’s anger.
Isn’t it absurd? It’s not like you’ve gone astray, and I had heard rumors, but you hadn’t found a partner either.
Are you deliberately avoiding me? I thought that, but as time passed, it only annoyed me.
I wondered if I had been betrayed, but Lothos stopped me, saying he wasn’t that kind of person.
I had sensed the intent to kill me attached to the Crown Prince long ago.
But I trusted Robert. Even if that were true, he must have his reasons for acting this way.
I don’t know everything about Robert’s life, but I know that the feelings he has for me are genuine.
…And since my feelings couldn’t be called false either, I felt all the more strongly about it.
“When we meet this time, I will hold you properly. Should I tie you down so you can’t go anywhere?”
Adele wasn’t a fool. Therefore, the thought she had was that Robert must have some scheme in this matter.
Immediately after that, the command Adele issued was simple. If the Imperial Army reaches here to hunt her down, even if the leader is Robert, she must respond with all her might.
‘If it’s Robert, he won’t die.’
What if he dies from a blind arrow? For a moment, Adele pondered before subtly smiling and turning her head away.
At that time, they could die together.
What fun would there be in a world where Robert was dead? It would have no meaning, and she didn’t want to waste time on pointless regret.
Now she clearly realized how she felt about Robert, leading her to a possible thought.
Because she liked him. She liked him quite a bit, so this was how she was behaving.
Perhaps the one who was clinging was herself.
In this situation where she might die from betrayal, she couldn’t even genuinely be angry at the man.
Was this something to call pitiful, or should it be called foolish?
Adele, who had been tapping her forehead, shook her head and chuckled softly.
The wind blows.
It was the sound of autumn coming, and at the same time, it meant Kaitel was coming.
Seeing the dust cloud in the distance, Adele slowly grasped the sword at her waist.
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.
