novelraw Chapter 185 : Chapter 185
Chapter 185 : Chapter 185
Chapter 185 - A Long Wandering
Even within the flash, Rain’s judgment remained clear.
If this technique were to clash and be neutralized, he had to find the next move to secure victory somehow.
However, it seemed that wouldn't be the case.
Kuddeuk-.
It was a very brief moment, but Rain could see it.
The gray light he wielded shattering the pure white slash unleashed by the executioner.
And.
Slice-!
He also saw the gray slash, which had continued onward, powerfully cutting through the executioner's torso.
When the flash finally subsided, only two men remained on the snowfield.
One of them, a boy with a gloomy and sickly impression, had several white cracks etched onto his exposed face and arms, and the condition under his clothes was likely not much different.
“Huu⋯⋯.”
Judging from the pain felt from those cracks and the stamina consumed so far⋯⋯ the boy was clearly at his limit.
However, the condition of the man with the disheveled hair was even more severe; the flesh, bones, and organs from the center of his body to his side were completely severed.
Yes. That injury was a clear indication that he could no longer continue the battle, and the disheveled man would meet his death soon.
Thud.
Nevertheless, the boy was not satisfied and slowly walked towards the disheveled executioner.
To completely end this grueling repetition.
As I dragged my feet towards Grændal, I looked down at the hand holding my sword.
‘⋯⋯White cracks.’
Yes, my hand had several cracks of white light, and from between them, something like particles of light was slowly seeping out.
‘If it were just that, I would have described it as ominous and left it at that.’
But the accompanying dizziness and the pain, as if my flesh was constantly being torn, were not at all welcome.
The influence of the accumulated fatigue and damage so far couldn't be ignored either, so even walking like this was taking a toll on my strength.
Well. In truth, this condition was nothing compared to the state Grændal was in right now.
“⋯⋯”
The man had nearly a third of his torso cut off and was barely breathing.
If I left him like that, he would die within minutes, but⋯⋯.
‘I have to finish it.’
I couldn't allow for even a single variable.
At this point, his death was almost certain, but no one knew how things in the world would unfold.
Therefore, I slowly made my way towards Grændal with staggering steps.
Thud.
Trampling on the pure white snow of the thickly piled snowfield.
Leaving a trail of blood with every step.
And so, I was able to reach Grændal.
“It's over now.”
I said, pointing my sword at Grændal, who was leaning against a tree that stood tall in the middle of the snowfield.
It was also to check his reaction.
“Ha⋯⋯.”
Grændal, who seemed to still be conscious, let out a small, dry laugh.
“⋯⋯Have I lost?”
“It seems so.”
“I was planning to willingly accept death after everything was over, but to think it would end like this.”
He continued to speak, gasping for breath.
I could tell that it wouldn't be long before his breath was cut off.
After all, I had seen countless people's breath being cut off, and my own breath being cut off.
I could distinguish that much, and I could be sure of it.
Yes. Variables or whatever, the man is certainly on the verge of death.
Though I had no intention of letting him end like this.
Sreung-.
I slowly raised the chipped sword.
It was to adorn his end with this sword.
And, following the sword, his gaze also slowly moved.
“You won't even allow me to die whole.”
With a mumble-like phrase.
I didn't answer, but Grændal continued to speak.
“Did you hate us that much?”
To be precise, it was more like he threw a question.
“You seem to know, but we are all those who have been rejected by the world. Either by birth, or artificially.”
“⋯⋯.”
“Were we more hateful to you than the world that abandoned us?”
Well.
If I had to say, I don't think it's entirely wrong.
Certainly, the higher-ups of this world are all rotten bastards, and it's not like those without power are good.
They would probably do the same thing nonchalantly if their positions were reversed.
That wasn't a story that only applied to this world.
The world I originally lived in wasn't much different.
It's not that I don't feel sympathy.
Those who act that way because they were born that way.
That was the identity that represented 『Ad Astra』 in
Those for whom no other path was set from birth, those whose paths were all blocked by the world except for the possibility of evil.
In a way, it wasn't impossible to feel sorry for them.
But I hid such thoughts and forced my unmoving lips to smile.
Full of ridicule.
“That’s none of my business.”
That was the truth.
No matter what form they were born in, what does it matter?
They brought me pain, and they brought pain to countless others.
Should I just understand that by saying they were just born that way?
Should the act of causing pain to countless people to destroy the world that made them that way be dismissed as simply pitiful?
I wonder.
To me, that was an impression closer to the perspective of a transcendent being.
“⋯⋯Kuhut.”
Seeing my smile, Grændal also let out a hearty laugh.
It wasn't that I did it hoping he would feel good.
“You've lived quite a turbulent life. Indeed⋯⋯ was it the wastrel young lord?”
“It's not a very pleasant title.”
“Yes. It must have been a painful life. You must have thought the world had abandoned you⋯⋯.”
Huh.
‘He knew information about me too. Well, with Claudio on Ad Astra's side, it's not surprising.’
I was thinking that, but.
“Yes. You may have thought the world had abandoned you, but that's a misunderstanding.
Since you resemble us, I say it with conviction.”
The next words that came out of Grændal's mouth were unexpectedly quite curse-like.
“The world has simply been indifferent to you until now. And when the time comes when the world truly abandons you⋯⋯.”
“⋯⋯.”
“You will fall to the same place as us.”
And, you will truly understand us.
At the end, I heard him mumble such follow-up words with a fading voice.
It was proof that the lamp of his life was gradually being extinguished.
To think that the last words he had to leave were nothing but a contextless curse.
I clicked my tongue softly and put strength into the raised sword.
“Even if that were true, you won't get to see me fall.”
“⋯⋯That's true too.”
He nodded his head slightly, then closed his eyes.
As if he had sensed that it was time for the end.
***
Suddenly, such a thought also crossed my mind.
Is it really okay to end it like this?
Is ending a story by killing someone, really the right path?
‘The main characters of
The protagonists of the story I loved and admired so much pursued the best ideals in any situation.
No matter how heinous the enemy, even if that mercy became a blade that would return to them, they never intentionally took someone's life.
Perhaps people like Serene, Elwin, Yuna, and Khan⋯⋯ would surely capture him somehow and put him on trial.
To pay a just price for his sins.
Then what am I doing?
Is my action closer to good or evil?
“⋯⋯.”
But I couldn't just let him live here, nor did I have any intention to.
‘What am I supposed to do if I capture him? Put him on trial?’
That would be an incredibly foolish act. With the Crown Prince's Faction lurking in politics, finance, and law, there would be no way for him to receive a proper punishment for his crimes.
They would probably handle it moderately and then smuggle him out, saying he escaped.
‘What am I supposed to do?’
Never kill under any circumstances.
If that is truly the right justice, what choice must I make to say that I have chosen the right path?
How can I not stray from the path?
When my thoughts reached that point, a certain phrase suddenly came to mind.
- Please, do not stray from the path.
Acaite.
A single phrase passed down by the masked knight, whom I could call my second master in this world.
‘But, isn't it too difficult?’
You didn't tell me that not straying from the path was such a difficult thing.
Surviving, not straying from the path.
What choice should I make when they conflict?
You didn't tell me I would be forced to make such an absurd choice.
I felt like complaining like that, but there was no one beside me.
Before my eyes, there was only the heinous criminal I had to cut down.
‘I'm tired.’
There wasn't much time to think.
It was just a momentary recollection, and my exhausted stamina no longer allowed my consciousness to be devoted to deep contemplation.
Yes.
For now, this is the best I can do.
Slice-!
The chilling sound of a blade cleanly cutting something filled the silence of the snowfield.
Thud.
What followed immediately after was the sound of an object of moderate weight falling.
In other words, the sound of a head falling.
“⋯⋯.”
I slowly picked up the head, dealt with the blood appropriately, and stored it in the subspace of my Knight Robe.
‘Should I go back?’
That was all that was left to do.
To go back.
It certainly sounded like a rather affectionate story, but⋯⋯ why was it?
The steps I took on the way back felt less like returning to where I should be, and more like the steps of someone leaving for somewhere.
Truly like the steps of one embarking on a long wandering.