novelraw Chapter 92 : Chapter 92
Chapter 92 : Chapter 92
Chapter 92. Return
At the Coast of the Dead, there was no boundary between day and night.
The passage of time was only perceptible through the cold tolling of the clock tower in the Citadel.
The monochrome sky never changed.
The Citadel, as usual, was no different.
But today would linger long in the memories of a few.
Ernst was spending a precious day with his daughter,
Lilith and the mages were holding parchment and quills, praised for new discoveries in the research society, and Gaiard sat on the ramparts, gazing at the endless sea.
Meanwhile, I, Evan, set out once again into the streets where the Empire’s people lived.
My eyes seemed to search for someone, but my gaze drifted hazily, avoiding the crowds.
Is he here…?
The blurred vision reflected the contradiction in my heart.
I was searching, yet hoping that the figure wouldn’t appear before me.
Like someone afraid of facing an unwanted truth, my steps hesitated, and my eyes kept circling the surroundings.
In the end, I stopped my aimless wandering through the streets.
Fine. He’s not here.
Yet, a strange sense of relief settled in a corner of my heart.
Perhaps, from the start, I had hoped not to find him.
Maybe I’ll go see Gaiard…
As I turned to leave, a familiar voice called out from behind.
“Ana! Ana! Where are you!”
A heavy, deep male voice shouted urgently, one not unfamiliar to me.
The moment it grazed my ears, my heart sank as if plunged into icy water.
My fingertips trembled, and I forced myself to steady my breath before slowly turning my head.
No way.
And finally, my eyes met the one I had longed to find yet dreaded to face.
Mark…
Mark Den, a comrade from the detachment led by Mikhail Reverk, my past life.
One of the many comrades who died alongside me in a desperate battle, a fragment of the past I had sought.
You’re still here.
The reason I wandered these streets
was to know how those who crossed the threshold of life and death with me were faring now.
Were they living peacefully, or were they trapped in the abyss of regret?
Of course, finding that truth wouldn’t have been difficult.
I could’ve asked the Scribe, or with Hel and Gaiard’s help, I’d have gotten answers instantly.
But I didn’t.
No, I couldn’t.
What I truly feared wasn’t finding them but confirming the truth.
If they regretted following me, I lacked the courage to face that reality.
“Ana!”
Whether it was fortunate or not, Mark’s face bore no shadow.
Instead, it carried peace and warmth.
But that fact didn’t lighten my heart.
Instead of relief, a heavy regret surged from deep within my chest.
I’m sorry…
The man before me was a comrade I failed to protect, a tragedy born of my incompetence.
I decided not to approach further.
Having seen his face, that was enough.
As long as you’re doing well here.
I tried to convince myself as I turned to leave.
But at that moment, “Daddy!”
With small footsteps, a young girl brushed past me.
Her clear voice cut through the air as she threw herself into Mark’s arms.
Mark smiled broadly, embracing her tightly.
“Ana!”
The sight shattered my heart.
The phrase “heartbreaking” wasn’t enough.
It felt as if my heart was quietly crumbling, the sound echoing in my ears.
Then, I recalled the words of a former member of Robern’s Knight Order who had defended the Emperor.
“Mikhail and his detachment were all killed, and those who sided with them were executed one by one under the charge of treason.”
“Treason must be eradicated, by the Emperor’s command…”
When I had only heard it, I could bear it as a harsh reality.
But the moment I faced the brutal truth behind those words in this scene, I felt a gut-wrenching pain, as if my insides were turning over.
The small child, smiling brightly in Mark’s arms.
Her clear eyes and innocent smile were exactly what the Emperor feared, what he ordered to “eradicate.”
Was this innocent child such a threat to you, Emperor?
My heart burned with seething rage.
The flames of anger surged to my throat, but I gritted my teeth and held it in.
I had long resolved not to cling to things I couldn’t change.
Fighting an irreversible past would change nothing, and I knew that better than anyone.
So, I suppressed the rage rising within me.
Swallowing my fury, I barely steadied my trembling heart.
And finally, I resolved to face the truth I had only wanted to avoid.
I would no longer turn away.
I would confront all this pain and cruelty.
“Um…”
I approached Mark.
“Yes?”
“Are you from the detachment of Commander Mikhail Reverk of the Empire?”
When a stranger suddenly asked about his origins, Mark’s face instantly showed wariness.
“How do you know that? Have we met before?”
I had seen him thousands of times.
We laughed together, fought together, and stood side by side at death’s door.
But now, Mark couldn’t recognize his changed leader,
and I had no intention of revealing my identity.
So, I put on a calm face and told a convenient lie.
“Yes. I remember you once saved our village. Commander Mikhail Reverk did.”
“Oh! So you’re a villager from a town our commander saved?”
The moment the word “commander” left his lips, Mark’s expression noticeably softened.
“There’s something I’d like to ask. I heard later that the detachment was falsely accused and all were killed.”
“…That’s right. So you know it was a false charge. But why bring it up?”
“I was wondering… if you ever resented the commander for it.”
At those words, Mark’s expression turned grim instantly.
“What kind of talk is that! Resent the commander? Not a single one of us resented him. Resent the man who saved us?”
His voice carried firm conviction.
“But you died because of him. If you had fled, you could’ve lived.”
“Be quiet. How could we have made such a choice? I was a beggar, but thanks to him, I built a loving family.”
His words sent a pang through my chest.
But I pressed further, as if punishing myself, throwing colder words.
“But your daughter is here too, isn’t she? All because she followed him.”
A fiery anger flickered in Mark’s eyes.
But that anger wasn’t directed at me.
“That’s because of the Emperor. What I regret… is my weakness, for not being a strength to him.”
Faced with Mark’s steadfast conviction, I asked one final question.
Perhaps the words I most wanted to hear.
“…Would you say the same if the commander were standing before you?”
“Of course. If I had one wish, it would be to meet the commander again, even once, and say this: ‘Don’t feel guilt or regret. It was an honor to stand with you.’ But he’s probably already passed through the Reincarnation Gate.”
Mark didn’t know.
His wish was being fulfilled so swiftly.
“I see… By the way, your daughter is really lovely.”
Had she grown up, she would surely have been a beautiful woman.
Her bright smile was so pure and dazzling that I could hardly bear to look at her.
“I’ve taken too much of your time. I’ll be going now.”
I bowed my head and spoke quietly.
Mark responded with a warm smile.
“No trouble at all. All we have here is time. Thanks to you, I got to reminisce about old times.”
Mark took his daughter’s small hand and walked away slowly.
Watching his back, I shouted, “Thank you!”
My voice came from deep within my heart.
And I bowed deeply.
“No need to thank me.”
His voice was warm and light,
as if saying everything was alright, as if I had already been forgiven.
No, truly, thank you. For believing in me and following me even in death.
I couldn’t move from that spot for a long time.
***
“Back? Where’ve you been wandering? You didn’t seem to have much to do.”
Gaiard, sitting on the ramparts, greeted me with an annoyed tone.
But his eyes held a subtle curiosity.
“If you’ve got so much to do, stay a few more days. I don’t care.”
“Nah, I’m done.”
My short reply carried a strange mix of relief and wistfulness.
Gaiard didn’t miss the expression on my face.
“Something to do with your story?”
“Yeah.”
After a brief reply, I asked Gaiard, “Gaiard, have you shaken off that rage you felt before?”
“You think so? I’m just holding it in. This rage will probably never fade in my lifetime. Every time it surfaces, it’ll burn my heart.”
“If the King were standing before you?”
“What’s with the question? I’d throw him into this sea or make him suffer worse. But that guy’s probably already sunk in the sea. No need to ask; it’s obvious.”
“Probably.”
Gaiard stared at me for a while before speaking slowly.
“Do it thoroughly if you’re going to do it. Half-hearted emotions will only eat away at you.”
“What?”
“Luckily, you might still have a target for your revenge. So why hesitate? If it were me, I wouldn’t hold back.”
I fell silent for a moment.
“I’d do the same. But…”
The desire for revenge still weighed heavily on my chest, but the problem was not knowing where it ended.
An unclear goal, a faintly visible enemy.
And if, in the end, no one remained, wouldn’t this life of mine still be bound to the name of the Emperor?
That thought held me back.
“…I don’t want that. I don’t want this life to be tied to him too.”
Gaiard shrugged and said, “That makes sense. If I were the target of your revenge and already gone, I might’ve laughed at you. ‘That guy’s wasting his life on pointless revenge,’ I’d say.”
“So I…”
As I tried to say something, Gaiard cut me off.
“Still, as someone who’s lived longer than you, let me give you one piece of advice. It’s better to do it and regret it than to leave regrets by not doing it.”
A short, solid statement.
But it pierced deep into my heart, as if someone had spoken the answer I’d been waiting for.
“Is that so…”
Gaiard gave a bitter smile, shook his head, and continued in a playful tone.
“Well, if you want, I could join you on your mysterious journey.”
“Huh? For me?”
“Did you expect me to settle down in the Kingdom? The Kingdom probably doesn’t want that either. Besides, I need to see you die with my own eyes.”
Perhaps because of our binding contract, it was clear Gaiard had already decided to walk with me.
That fact made me smile again.
A light smile, as if a heavy burden had been lifted slightly.
“Geez.”
“What? Don’t like it?”
“Like it? It’s an honor. The Red Count himself is coming along.”
“That damn count nonsense…”
“But there’s something I need to do first. It’s about my family.”
I had no intention of ending my life with revenge.
The life I truly wanted wasn’t a journey stained with blood,
but a peaceful, leisurely one, as the heir of a prosperous family.
“Unfortunately, there are many targeting my family, so it makes sense to deal with them first.”
“So you’re saying you’ll settle family matters before setting out.”
I nodded.
“So staying here for a day or so would be best.”
***
Exactly one day later,
Hel informed me and Gaiard that the time for farewell had come.
“How about it? Stay another day if you want. I’ll prepare an even grander feast than yesterday.”
When we returned after finishing our business, Hel had prepared a lavish banquet filled with delicacies.
Golden goblets of wine and rare dishes on gleaming plates.
It was as if he wanted to keep us here a bit longer.
Hel wasn’t just offering food;
he was ready to provide any pleasure we desired.
But we had no reason to stay longer.
There were things to do, and reasons to return.
“We’ve enjoyed more than enough. So we’ll head back to our place now.”
“Really? That’s a shame.”
Hel pouted and closed his eyes.
The surroundings turned into a dark void, and the scenery around the Giant Statue of Hel shifted to the landscape of the Underworld.
“All I can do is send you back to where you were.”
As he raised his hand, a golden barrier enveloped the Underworld.
“Of course, I can’t turn back time. That would be too much interference in that world.”
“That’s fine.”
Hel gave a light smile and said, “Then, take care. See you later.”
With those words, Hel clapped his hands slowly.
In an instant, a sharp sound tore through the space.
At the same time, our vision was engulfed by blinding light, and our consciousness slowly faded.
…
Crash!
The sound of waves brought us back to consciousness.
The salty scent of the sea filled our noses, and as we opened our eyes, warm sunlight greeted us.
“It’s warm…”
“Annoying.”
We rose from the ground with starkly different reactions.
This island, called the Underworld, was, contrary to its name, calm and peaceful.
It was no longer a hell.
It had become an island with no living creatures, just the two of us.
“But how do we get out?”
I looked around for a while before speaking calmly.
Then, with a smile, I turned to Gaiard.
“Oh, we can fly. You can do that, right?”
“Only using me when it’s convenient.”
Gaiard grumbled as if displeased.
“Then when else should I use you?”
I held out both hands, laughing.
Gaiard sighed, reluctantly taking my hand.
Grumbling and looking annoyed, he spread his wings.
“If you fall, I’m not responsible. Hold on tight.”
With a curt warning, we soared into the sky.
Cool sea breezes brushed our faces, and below, an endless blue sea stretched out.
“For now, head north from here. Until I say otherwise.”
It was the path to Lansed Academy.
During that journey, I began to slowly organize my thoughts.
So much time had passed, and I needed to fill in the gaps and adapt to the new reality.
They’re probably doing fine without me, right?
I thought of Jack and my friends at the Academy.
Then, I recalled the first thing I needed to do.
I’ve grown strong enough. I don’t need to stay at the Academy anymore. I was planning to stay for about three years…
At that moment, a single word flashed intensely through my mind.
Three years.
And the Time Barrier.
…
After some quick calculations, I got a rough sense of how much time had passed since arriving at the Academy.
And with that realization—
“Arghhh!!!”
“What the—!”
“Fly faster! Hurry!”
“Why all of a sudden?”
Counting the time I’d spent, it was nearing three years.
That meant the Time Barrier I’d placed in my family’s underground vault was about to vanish.
Being in another world, I completely forgot! My Fire Dragon Orb!
At this moment, the first thing I needed to do was stop by the Academy and return to my family as quickly as possible.
I wanted to skip the Academy altogether, but there was a sense of duty, and I couldn’t just show up after being presumed dead.
And I’d quit the Academy immediately.
The Dean would likely try to stop me, but it didn’t matter.
If necessary, I’d use force to leave.
No one can stop me. Anyone who tries to keep me from going home will be crushed!
But that worry was unfounded.
The forest where Lansed Academy stood looked as if it had been ravaged by fire,
reduced to black ashes.
The lush trees were all burned away, leaving only a scorched earth.
“W-What is this?”
Gaiard and I landed in front of the Academy’s main gate.
“Something definitely happened.”
The gate and walls were cracked and collapsed, as if an earthquake had struck.
The buildings were half-destroyed, with debris scattered like ruins.
What in the world happened?
All that remained in the ruins was an ominous silence and cold, lifeless bodies.
The bodies of the Academy’s people.