Episode 191. The Moment of Welcome (2)
Mirona tilted her head at Gerard’s sudden request.
For some reason, Gerard’s attitude suddenly changed as soon as he saw Senior Lyman.
It would not be unusual for Gerard, the most powerful man in the empire, to be surprised as if he had seen something shocking.
I wonder if Senior Lyman had an accident in front of him.
It could be that he caused a major incident in his duchy and then disappeared.
Because it was such a large-scale accident, Gerard could recognize it just by looking at its outer appearance.
‘So that’s why you wanted to wear a mask?’
Of course, it is not something that can be assumed in such an ominous direction.
However, when a top authority like Gerard gets so excited about someone else, it usually means something bad.
Maybe that’s why Senior Lyman wore a mask.
“Can I just give you a moment?”
“Yes, it doesn’t matter even a little.”
After hearing that, Mirona looked up at Lyman, who was standing behind her.
Lyman sighed, as it seemed as if he had gotten the gist of it.
“Then we’ll talk for a bit.”
“Sir Gerard. He’s still a cadet, so don’t scold him too harshly.”
“Hahaha… That’s not it, so don’t worry.”
When the princess misunderstood something and said something, Gerard laughed and said that. Then he went out with Senior Lyman.
The place they headed to was the rooftop of the Academy’s imperial quarters.
We were able to have some alone time together, reassured that no one was following us as we passed by.
Lyman sighed, resting his arms on the railing.
And then he took off his mask, and Gerard laughed bitterly at the sight.
“You’re still alive, brother.”
“….”
“I’ve been looking for it for a long time.”
It’s been 30 years.
Even though it was the moment of reunion after such a long time, Lyman was still standing in front of the railing, looking only at the view of the Academy.
He didn’t even make eye contact with his colleague whom he had finally reunited with.
But Gerard was happy regardless.
I was so touched.
Tears came to my eyes.
I was just satisfied that my brother was alive.
The mistake he had made that day still lingered in Gerard’s mind.
If she hadn’t gone crazy that day and made a mistake, Saint Mary wouldn’t have passed away.
Gerard still thought everything was his fault.
The previous saint died, and the spirit king Shaikar became angry because of it.
And my brother left us, feeling a sense of loss.
“Nothing has changed since then.”
“….”
“Except for the hair color.”
Lyman’s appearance was exactly the same as 30 years ago.
At first, it seemed strange that she didn’t look any older, but Gerard quickly came to accept it.
In fact, even when we were colleagues, I already knew that my brother was someone who exceeded my expectations.
It was just a mystery what kind it was. In fact, even back then, my brother seemed to age later than them.
“I won’t bother asking what you’ve been up to. Maybe it was unexpected that you met me here.”
There is usually a reason why people leave.
In Lyman’s case, at first he seemed to have felt a sense of emptiness towards humans and then disappeared.
I was afraid that perhaps he would appear as an enemy out of revenge against the saint.
But far from becoming an enemy, no news of him could be found.
It could be that he disappeared for reasons other than ill feelings toward human society.
“As expected, you are an ageless being, hyung.”
“….”
“You’ve probably lived a long life. You’ve witnessed the birth and death of others, and the rise and fall of various groups. From your perspective, I’m just a speck of dust.”
First of all, I was prepared. I also had to consider the possibility that Gerard himself would be forgotten in that memory.
But Gerard didn’t miss Lyman for nothing.
“But! I wanted to tell you this.”
“….”
-sorry.
Gerard spoke with all the emotions he had accumulated over the past 30 years.
-I’m really sorry about that.
-There was nothing to see.
-I didn’t know the topic.
-Because of me, Saint Mary died.
-The butterfly effect caused a rift between different races.
Once a mistake is made, it can never be undone.
Because of that, I left an indelible emotional scar on my older brother, who was the object of my respect.
I can endure any punishment.
But before that, I wanted to tell the person involved.
“I’m so sorry, brother.”
It didn’t matter if I wasn’t forgiven.
Being able to say this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity given by heaven.
I wanted to somehow save this situation, even if both my legs collapsed.
“I don’t know if this will make you feel better about me… but I really hope you can trust me.”
“….”
Lyman still looked out at the scenery without saying anything.
What kind of expression would his brother have after hearing that just now? Gerard was worried to the point of almost going over a mountain, but he waited for an answer.
Because I could endure any reaction my brother showed.
However, even though he treated himself like that, he was still inwardly uneasy because he could still despise humans.
At the moment when I was half in doubt, I finally heard the answer.
“Don’t overdo it. You’ll only be making me suffer for no reason.”
“….”
“But you’ve really grown up a lot. You even have two daughters.”
Lyman has seen many cadets since entering school.
Among them, meeting my comrade’s daughter was touching in one way.
That foolish Gerard is now a duke and a father. Although I can’t congratulate him directly now, I can support him indirectly.
“So that strange friend that Jenny was dating was your older brother.”
I heard that someone taught Jenny swordsmanship, separate from the lectures and training.
Although her skills were clearly superior to Jenny’s, there was concern that Jenny’s pride would be hurt by being taught by the same cadet.
But Jenny said she felt grateful to her friend instead.
It was not a case of being subjected to malicious contempt, but of being taught by a true teacher.
Just like Gerard of the past.
“I wanted to say something too.”
“….”
“You have a good daughter.”
It was a compliment I hadn’t heard in a long time.
It seemed as if an emotion that had been dormant in Gerard’s heart for thirty years was blossoming.
It was funny to think that even though I’ve aged, this kind of thing still remains in me.
But at the end of those kind words a heavy sound was heard.
“But don’t trust me too much.”
Lyman’s one word that cut off the happy feelings. Gerard felt disappointed inside, but he felt that there was nothing he could do about it.
I don’t know how long my brother, who doesn’t age, has lived. If I keep chasing after him, I will grow old before I even reach him.
Besides, Gerard had heard many cases of people falling from grace after blindly trusting their teachers.
“I know that. In the past, Alighieri’s vice principal was fired after causing a major incident. Of course, I won’t be like that.”
“….”
Even though I made my determination clear, my brother still didn’t say anything. He also didn’t look at me.
“But since we’ve met again after 30 years, how about having a drink?”
Although it was a sincere offer, I was prepared for it to be rejected.
Gerard waited nervously for his answer.
“Gerard, can you bear to hear anything from now on?”
“yes?”
Lyman answered with another question rather than an answer.
I didn’t care what the answer was, but I wondered what it meant.
“What are you talking about…?”
And since a while ago, my brother’s appearance seemed a little strange.
He probably didn’t just turn his head toward the railing to take in the view. It seemed as if there was a reason he couldn’t meet his eyes.
That’s why it’s strange. It was Gerard himself who did something wrong in the past, so why is his brother turning his face away?
As if he were a faceless person.
“Now that I think about it, brother, where did the wolf that was walking next to you go? Didn’t Saint Mary definitely entrust it to you?”
The relationship between the previous saint and his older brother seemed quite special.
Those wolves were the ones the saint left behind before she died, so my older brother cherished them with great care.
But where has it disappeared to now?
Not only the hair color, but even the surroundings seemed to have changed, making me feel lonely.
It seemed like only the blue lake was left in the blank white world.
“He’s dead.”
I was hoping so.
I was quite shocked to find out that my ominous feeling had come true.
however…
“I killed him.”
“yes?”
An even more shocking sound was heard.
Why did he kill with his own hands the child who should have been regarded as an incarnation of the saint?
Gerard asked cautiously why.
And then came a sound that was unbearable.
“Because that guy killed your wife.”
Why are you suddenly joking?
Have people changed over the past 30 years to the point where they find pleasure in lying?
Gerard’s head was filled with thoughts of hope.
He continued to autopsy the body of the lycanthrope who had killed his wife.
With the help of the White Horse Tower ruled by former comrade Tailley, we were able to detect a unique magical power through investigation.
The unidentified demon that was said to have dismembered King Talema during the Gumiho incident last year. The results showed that it was identical to that monster.
But the problem is who that monster is and how can we find that unknown entity?
That problem was still bothering me. But I felt a chill from what my brother said just now.
An unidentified demon tribe.
Maybe the identity is someone you know.
Pfft!-
For a moment, a purple flash obscured the view ahead.
Where the light from the railing disappeared, a mysterious demon was standing.
The demon turned his gaze, which had been looking at the scenery until just now, to Gerard for the first time.
“We have a chance to tell the truth. You and I.”
Lyman explained everything to his former colleague for his comfort.
Starting from the moment of birth… and the purpose of what to do in the future.
And also about the identity of Saint Mary, which no one knew about.
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A cluster of stars floated around the crescent moon.
The stars and the moon were always illuminating the whole of Alighieri and the volcano Purgatori respectively.
Every time he sees that sparkling sight, someone’s smiling face comes to Lyman’s mind.
The stars were still twinkling, as if smiling would solve everything.
“Laughter, my ass.”
What does laughing solve?
Hahahoho, did you really think that a world without security guards or anything could be created just by talking?
Although he had been hearing such things since he was little, Lyman could no longer relate to them.
‘It was ridiculous just thinking about how I was born.’
Although she was called a great sage, she actually had a secret.
That you are not human.
Lyman, who was born from her womb, was also unable to become human.
Was that the case that things were resolved with a smile, just as my mother had hoped?
The more I thought about it, the more absurd it became.
‘Laughter is a drug.’
Lyman, who had just told Gerard the whole truth, stood alone at the bottom of the hill, looking out over the village.
The town was in a festive mood, but Gerard would not be.
How could I be okay when I found out that my beloved wife died because of the object of her admiration?
But the opportunity was now.
Because the time was slowly approaching.
The day when the fifth reincarnation, ‘her’, dies.
“Please, at least you survive.”
Even though she was a foolish mother, her last will was contained within her.
He only guards the fire so that it does not go out.
“What do you mean you’re the only one who has to survive?”
Then a radon crawler appeared between the trees.
I was a little surprised at how confidently he came to me. He had always shown signs of being afraid of me and avoiding me.
However, we can see that our hearts have been relieved now that we are no longer keeping secrets from each other.
“Are you coming out in public now?”
“Then what, should I just hide behind you for the rest of my life and call you crazy?”
“Do whatever you want. As long as you don’t get caught.”
That doesn’t mean Lyman isn’t scary.
Until a good ending is created, it’s safe to say that it’s a time bomb.
Radon called one more person to this place to prevent that.
“It’s been a while, you son of a bitch.”
As the wind blew, someone appeared from the shadow of the trees.
Shaikhar, the spirit king of life, spoke to Lyman as if he was selling him, looking at him for the first time in 30 years.
Surviving as an Academy Fraudster
