Chapter 184

“Yes?”

“… … ?”

Shion and Hanette look at Uter in shock at the same time.

Unlike him, Barhen only eavesdropped silently, tilting his teacup.

“His Majesty brought up the topic of marriage. We have no reason to waste time, so we just follow the king’s orders.”

“I know the engagement period is short, but… Are you getting married already?”

“Miss Harnett, it has been five months since we got engaged. Isn’t that short?”

“That… Yes.”

Harnette was momentarily mistaken.

Generally, after getting engaged, the wedding is held within 3 months, and no later than 6 months.

But, thinking only of himself and Shion, he decided that Juter’s wedding was premature.

“Miss Harnett has set the length of her engagement. Isn’t that why I feel short?”

“Yes, I think you are right.”

“Still, there is a reason why you are putting it off… If you think about that part, there is no lack of apologetics.”

“Oh, no. It’s something we decided on.”

There was nothing that could be said to be wrong.

She and Shion knew more than others, and possessed relatively superior military power.

No one would know about the situation, but it was something that had to be done, so he and Shion endured it.

“Since the two of you are working hard, we can have a wedding. I am grateful.”

“If you think of it that way, I would be grateful.”

If it was the king’s order, even Juter could not refuse it.

In addition, it was also the wedding ceremony for Shion’s older brother Barhen.

Since he is now a member of the Lihines Knights, he should have been happy to convey his congratulations.

“Does anyone know but us?”

“There must have been a letter from the Marquis Regard. My brother or some high-ranking official might know.”

“Have you decided on a date and place?”

“I know you are choosing. When things are sorted out later, His Majesty will choose them.”

“Ah, then there is still time until the wedding.”

“I don’t think there are many left. We are moving fast.”

“… You seem to be in a bit of a hurry, is there a reason?”

“That is difficult for me to say. I don’t know what His Majesty is thinking.”

Brandis, along with Enrite, knew about the existence of demons.

Nevertheless, is it necessary to suddenly proceed with the wedding of Juter and Varchen?

‘If you care about drinking, you can’t do anything. Is that why?’

It is good to be wary of the appearance of demons, but if the situation continues, no change will occur.

In the end, you get swept away by the atmosphere, mental fatigue accumulates, and you become somewhat sensitive.

It would become impoverished as time went by, so it could be that he was trying to organize it in advance.

‘It might be better to act like a king.’

It’s not always a good idea to just wait.

Most of all, he might feel frustrated because Hannett was tailor-made for him.

‘I understand my position, but… Maybe I was too stubborn?’

After constant hesitation, Hannette decided to accept her marriage.

I was worried about myself, but I also tried to convey the words that I love you.

Even so, she only hoped that Harnette would be considerate of her, and she still only thought of fighting the enemy.

‘Even if we prepare now, our schedules will overlap. It’s not polite.’

If you didn’t know that Juter and Barhen were getting married, you could end it by arranging them separately.

However, if you proceed knowingly, it will appear as if you are interfering with the wedding of the two people.

In addition, Juter was a direct royal family, and considering the fact that he had siblings involved, he would have to watch quietly.

‘I don’t think Hanette will like it.’

Shion secretly looks away and examines Hanette.

Outwardly, it was nothing like usual, but in the heart, it could have been complicated.

If you follow the overall flow, you and Hanette had to get married first.

‘I skipped it even then, but if it turns out like this… … .’

“Shion, take care of yourself. Even if you are young, your body can’t stand it if you overdo it. I’d like to tell you not to go into battle… You shouldn’t say that to Setinos Quasar.”

Barhen put down the teacup and broke the silence.

In the first place, no matter where we were talking, I passed the turn to Juter unconditionally.

Since he was a member of the direct royal family and his fiancé, he waited until he finished talking.

“Yes, I will do as you say.”

“I feel like I haven’t played the role of an older brother. I wish I could have done a little better… … .”

“no. My brother is still doing well.”

“I’m sorry, Miss Harnet. It looks like you haven’t been able to keep the promise you made earlier.”

“You’ve been fighting alongside us lately, right? For that alone, I am grateful.”

Hannett did not expect much from Barchen from the beginning.

As Shion’s older brother and a member of the Royal Knights, all he had to do was be there.

That way, Shion can be relieved and focus on his own work.

“I am thinking the same way as Barchen. I should have done something… I guess I was just watching.”

In the battle with the slime dragon, Juter used his magic sword and poured out his magical energy.

The slime dragon let out a breath without hesitation, and Brandis and Walter did their best to implement magic to defend it.

With the power of the presidents added to it, they were able to block all of the slime dragon’s attacks.

“My sister and I were able to come forward thanks to the help of the two of you. Without you two, we would not have been able to defeat the enemy.”

It doesn’t matter who made how many credits.

Together they went to the battlefield, risking their lives to fight against the enemy.

Of course, there were mishaps in the process, but in the end, they were able to overcome them and successfully subdue the slime dragon.

Since there were no casualties, shouldn’t it be considered luck?

“I will be grateful to hear your words. Still, I made an effort.”

“… … .”

Barhen swallowed the silence and looked at Shion and Hanette alternately.

Although it is speculation, the two must have had an accident.

At that time, Shion couldn’t move, soaked in sweat, and Harnette was dealing with a flame that changed color.

But I couldn’t just ask, so I just kept it in my heart.

‘Zion… I was crying.’

Even in the midst of that, Barhen looked into Shion’s feelings.

I should have wiped away the tears from the beginning, but I couldn’t erase the traces of sadness.

If Shion shed tears in that situation, it would have been for only one reason.

‘Miss Harnett must have been seriously injured or dead… It must have come back to life.’

I’m not sure, but I don’t think I’m wrong.

Because Harnett’s fire magic has been transformed, and even the atmosphere has changed.

Maybe it was because he had grown so strong that he had driven the slime dragon with his own power.

‘Shion, that’s why I’m sorry.’

When I had just awakened my sword skill, I promised to go to Shion and Hanette and help them.

When Shion became Setinos Quasar, he was asked to protect Harnet.

However, none of the promises were kept, and the battle was already over.

‘There is nothing I can do now.’

I had no choice but to promise later.

Now he was going to marry Juter, but he couldn’t covet power any longer.

It was only after Juter’s power grew that he would be able to give something to Shion and Hanette.

‘Juter said he would become the king. When you achieve what you want, to me… … .’

Of course, you shouldn’t be greedy or do anything that stands out.

You should only bring what you need, and you should have reasonable reasons and procedures in place.

Only then will it not interfere with Uter, and the Marquis of Regiard can be fully protected.

‘I will keep my promise.’

They were not bound by promises just because they were of the same lineage or siblings.

Because it was the words he had uttered, and because it was a request he had made as a knight, the result had to come out in some form.

If I couldn’t achieve even this, I couldn’t be proud of myself.

‘I won’t forget until then. Zion, Miss Harnet.’

* * *

Near the Eldran supply base, the slime dragon’s vanishing point.

Traces of the battle were still visible.

Once the tree was cut down, it slowly rotted away, and even weeds could not be found near the pit.

The animals left as carcasses were separated into pieces of flesh and bones, and flies and ants did not even come close.

How many years will it take for this land to regain its original appearance?

– … ruin

A grotesque and grotesque voice came from somewhere.

It was unmistakably the voice of a demon, but I wondered if the atmosphere was unique.

It felt as if I had just returned from becoming something grotesque.

– You don’t need anything. you have to destroy

A dark aura began to leak out as it rode on the ground.

It was similar to the demon’s magical power, but the basis was entangled.

White, gray, and green mix successively to create a new color.

– It will not lead to the creation of the world. Only destruction will repeat itself.

The demon has already lost its body.

The mind also disappeared, but the will remained, albeit weakly.

Following that will, mana was imbued, and a new demon was being born as a result.

– Only destruction… It is true. When you reach ruin, you won’t even feel pain.

The black color had suddenly turned to gray.

A gray air current spread slowly in all directions and touched various objects.

The trees rotted faster and faster, the bones of animals turned to dust, and the earth withered.

Although the form did not exist, it was leading everything around it to death.

– Destroy. It ends with that. You don’t have to go into the future. You don’t have to look back at the past. Living is… isn’t it painful

Because they have life, they feel emotions, and are constantly entangled and swayed by those emotions.

Some people are happy, but they themselves become unhappy.

Others enjoy pleasure, but they themselves cannot escape from agony.

Why are we so obsessed with life in such an irrational world?

– There is an answer in ruin. Regrets and regrets will be erased, and you will not have to feel fear and anxiety. After destruction, you can rest.

When you come into contact with ruin, that is, death, you don’t feel anything.

Life fades, the mind disperses, and the body decays as a corpse.

Of course, living things had no choice but to avoid death because they would lose everything they had.

But after experiencing death, I would not suffer anymore because I could let go of my emotions.

– This world is doomed. no one… It won’t change the ending.