Chapter 359

Chapter 359

“Mom. What’s this rock?”
Erin shook her head.
Ahead of her rose a single rock, high and bare as a castle wall.
The grayish-white glowing surface was filled with people’s names.
Adeshan looked up at his daughter on the horse.
“By the way, Erin hasn’t been here yet, has she? This is a memorial.”
“Memorial?”
“Yes. They honor the warriors who fought and died bravely. My grandmother and uncles’ names are on that memorial up north.”
Adeshan gently brushed away the memorial.
All those inscribed here fell in the final battle.
The monument at Baltois, Ronan’s estate, overlooks a lake that once connected to the general headquarters of Nebula Clagier.
“Ooh, so this is the Mirror Lake from the history books, the one that connects to that pale castle?”
Erin’s little feet twitched.
I’d come to Baltois’ villa once a month, and I had no idea.
The Pale Castle, where the final showdown with Nebula Clazier took place.
I knew it and the lake it connected to were somewhere in the Paradise Forest, but I had no idea it was on the family estate.
Adeshan smiles at his daughter’s reaction.
“Woohoo, it used to be connected.”
“Before or not now?”
“Yes. Headmistress Erin–So Kratyr has warped the passageway leading to the General Headquarters. Now you can’t just wander in there and catch a cold.”
“Yuck!
Where is that?”
Erin’s cheeks puffed up.
I thought I’d get some gossip, if not adventure.
She murmured, nuzzling her chin into Adeshan’s crown.
“Then why are you here? Is this your dad’s workplace?”
“Not really. My dad always stops by here before work.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know–why?”
On the day of the field trip, Ronan brought his entire family here.
Adeshan didn’t answer, instead shifting his gaze to Ronan.
In the past, a junior and a comrade-in-arms.
The man, now her husband, stood not far away, his hands in his pockets, looking up at the memorial.
“——.”
Beside him, Lance stood in an awkward position.
Like Erin, it was her first time here and she wasn’t sure what to expect.
Ronan, who had been silent, spoke up.
“Balzac.”
“What?”
“That’s the name of a mosquito I used to be friends with, remember Aunt Ophelia?”
“Oh, yeah. Of course.”
Lance grunted.
One of your parents’ classmates.
The vampire girl who always comes to your house once or twice a year.
His skin was as pale as a snowfield and his eyes were crimson, but he exuded a magic that could not be felt by humans.
“He had a crush on Ophelia, the Schlieffen of the mosquito world. He came from a good family, and he was good-looking. I think they could have made a good couple, if they could have cleared up their misunderstandings.”
“You mean there would have been—?”
“Yeah. It didn’t last. He died just before the last war. This loyal mosquito dragged his tattered, unrecognizable body back to give your mother the location of the General Headquarters.”
Ronan grinned bitterly.
At times like this, I wished I hadn’t quit smoking.
The younger brother of the Shadow Archduke.
The name of the vampire who died and became a hero was inscribed at the top of the memorial.
“Such a—.”
“Of course, Balzac isn’t the only tragic story. Wives and children are the norm, and there are countless cases of parents and children dying together, tragedies that could fill a textbook.”
I still remember it like it was yesterday.
In the moment of war, the value of a life is reduced to trash.
Every person who dies every time they close and open their eyes has a story to tell.
‘Fucking war.
Not a single life was not precious.
All Ronan could do was try to end the war as quickly as possible.
After a brief reminiscence, Ronan placed a hand on his son’s shoulder.
“Son, war is such a shitty thing.”
“It’s ——.”
“It’s just the way it is, so don’t get too depressed. If anyone saw you, they’d think you killed everyone on this list.”
“That, that—!”
“Just kidding, man. Let’s have a minute of silence, then.”
With those words, Ronan bowed his head.
It was the most serious I’d seen him in a long time.
Lance clasped his hands together and dropped his gaze.
Remembering those who have died to create a peaceful world.
Erin watched, then nodded slowly.
“Dad’s a good guy after all.”
“Hoo hoo, does Erin think so too?”
“Yeah. Although I don’t think I like to look like that.”
The mother and daughter laughed.
Ronan, who had just finished a moment of silence, looked at Balzac’s name again.
May you be drinking the finest blood in mosquito heaven.
“It’s almost time to go, by the way.”
“Huh? Who?”
“Didn’t I tell you, we’re not the only ones going—”
Ronan had been talking to the car.
Ouch!
A gust of wind suddenly blew in, casting shadows over the family’s heads.
Sensing an eerie aura, Lance looked up in alarm, but the shadow had vanished.
And.
“It’s been a while, and this lake.”
“What.”
An unfamiliar voice rang out from behind Lance.
It was a low, heavy voice I’d never heard before.
I turned around in surprise to see an elongated man standing there.
“Nu, who is it?”
Over the shoulders of a man taller than my mother, a long, unseasonably shabby coat was draped.
His hair down to his waist was also black, so it looked like he was standing in shadow.
Slowly, the man’s gaze traveled around the room and landed on Lance.
“Hmph—!”
At that moment, Lance’s body stiffened.
The pupils of its crimson-red eyes were slit vertically in a reptilian fashion.
I was able to intuit it without any explanation.
That this man is an absurd powerhouse.
Lance brings a trembling hand to the hilt of his sword.
“There’s a resemblance. Must be your child.”
The man blurted out.
Lance’s hand froze at the unintelligible words.
Ronan strode over and clapped the man on the shoulder.
“Okay. Looks pretty good, huh?”
“You look younger than you were back then.”
“You’re still the same old talking head. Isn’t it hot, by the way? Long coat in this heat?”
“It’s not hot. Get off me.”
“Just a little more. You’re definitely reptilian, so that’s cool.”
The man tried to shake off the arm around his neck, but Ronan didn’t budge.
He released his shoulder comrade only when an animalistic snarl escaped the man’s mouth.
Erin, who’d gotten closer by now, whispered against Lance’s back.
“Brother. Who is it?”
“—I don’t know.”
Lance swooped in.
Ronan was smiling, so it was clear he wasn’t an enemy.
But the ominous aura that rose over the man’s shoulders kept me on edge.
Adeshan smiles at the man.
“It’s been a while, Mr. Orsay.”
“Oh, Orsay?!”
Lance and Erin were stunned.
It was a name I’d heard over and over again growing up.
“It can’t be the fabled dragon, can it? Can it? Can it?
I must have misheard.
Black Dragon Orse.
A fearsome demonic dragon that once burned the continent to the ground, though he was instrumental in the battle against Nebula Clazier.
Why would the second most famous dragon in the world, after Navarorde, travel all the way to this place?
Orsay was greeted by two people who were in denial.
“Uhm. A field commander.”
“Hoo hoo, that’s a nostalgic name, and that was over a decade ago.”
“To me, it’s just a moment. I’ve seen more than I’ve ever seen.”
“Orsé is stronger, too. Kids, why don’t you say hello to your dad’s friend?”
“Chi, buddy?”
Adeshan patted his brother’s head.
Orse raised an eyebrow, but didn’t outright deny being Ronan’s friend.
Lance and Erin hesitated, then bowed.
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Orsay. I’m Erin de Baltois.”
“—I’m Lance.”
Orsay responded with a modest nod.
It didn’t seem to be a favorite of the kids.
“I heard you’re helping my husband this time, and I don’t know how to thank you enough for picking him up here.”
“Hmm. I just came for a breath of fresh air that doesn’t smell like blood. And you, child of the killing machine?”
“Alas, he said he’s coming separately, and he said he’s using spatial scrolling, so I’ll be right back—”
“Mr. Orsay!”
Adeshan was in the middle of speaking.
Suddenly, a shadow leapt out of the corner of his eye and caught the nape of Orse’s neck.
A girl with hair as red as a tulip, who looked very familiar.
Glancing at the girl, Orse clicked his tongue.
“Get away from me, and who do you think you are?”
“Ahaha, you’re always grumpy. Didn’t you miss me?”
“I didn’t want to see it.”
“You can be disingenuous, but that’s part of your charm.”
Sechika snarled.
Orse sighed in annoyance.
Like someone who’s been through this many times before and is resigned to it.
Erin, who had been peeking out from behind Lance, frowned.
“——Sechika?”
“Oh, there’s Erin, hi!”
Sechika waved back happily.
She was dressed not in her usual everyday clothes, but in exploration gear like the Lance brothers.
Erin asked, her voice filled with wariness.
“What is your sister doing here?”
“What? Didn’t Lance tell you? You were supposed to do a work experience project with your parents.”
Sechika explained the situation simply.
Ronan and Asel agreed to show them working together, and the location was the South.
Lance’s bewilderment at what he’s hearing is palpable.
“That’s a new one.”
No wonder Ronan forgot to tell his children.
Sechika hopped off Orse’s shoulder.
“Huh? Really?”
“Yes.”
“Whatever. We can all go together. I’ve been pretty much following Mom around on vacation, so I don’t really know what Dad’s up to.”
She strode over and threw her arms around Lance.
Her large, clear eyes were the color of jade, reminiscent of Marja’s.
Cechika asked.
“Or do you not want to come with me?”
“Ugh.”
Lance’s face flushed at the bold move.
As he got closer, Sechika’s body emitted a scent reminiscent of wild flowers.
“—That’s not it.”
“Hehe, that’s it.”
Sechika pulled his arm closer.
Ronan and Adeshan watched them with mischievous expressions on their faces.
Erin’s voice came from below my waist.
“Dad. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Huh? Do what?”
“Sechika’s coming with us.”
I looked down and saw Erin, fuming.
Her round, pretty eyes were as piercing as they had been when she was younger.
Ronan’s mouth twitched at the sight of his daughter’s unconventional cuteness.
“Oh, I forgot to tell you that’s what Daddy says. Do you want me to give you a long live my little girl?”
“No.”
“Hmm? Shh, no?”
“I don’t know. I hate my dad. Don’t come near me.”
Erin turned around.
His suddenly cold demeanor was reminiscent of a bitter north wind.
She stepped between Lance and Sechika, who were in the middle of a conversation, putting distance between them.
Ronan muttered, dumbfounded.
“—Honey. What did I do wrong?”
“Ahaha, because you’re still at a good age.”
Adeshan covered his mouth and laughed.
Having once lived with two brothers, she could relate to Erin.
Ronan scratched his head in confusion.
Out of nowhere, Orse’s voice came through.
[I think we’re all here now].
It was a voice that echoed through the forest, unlike his own.
For a moment, a shadow fell over everyone’s heads.
The atmosphere began to warp with the ugly mana spreading in all directions.
Lance reflexively pulled his sister into his arms.
“What the—!”
When I turned around, I saw Orse back to his original form.
The neck that reached for the sky was so long that it was hard to see the end of it.
The scales, which seemed to have been carved out of the darkest part of the night, remained dark even under the intense summer sun.
“Wow. I haven’t seen you transform since I was five.”
Sechika whistled in admiration.
Then the four wings attached to Orse’s body flapped open.
Sita-like.
But the incomparable black hole was like a curtain covering the sky.
Then Orse growled, bowing his head as large as a monument.
【Tara. There’s more trash to burn even as we speak.