“Ugh, I don’t feel so good.”
Xiao Hu clutched her stomach as she dismounted the Blood Horse. Though it had only taken a week to travel from the Duchy of Valestan to the vicinity of the capital of the Clark Republic, the journey was taxing for soone like Xiao Hu, who was unaccustod to traveling.
While the Duchy of Valestan was relatively small, the Clark Republic’s vast territory naturally made the journey more ti-consuming.
“We’re almost there.”
Patting Xiao Hu’s back, who was clearly distressed about riding the Blood Horse, I turned my gaze towards Clarkwork, the distant capital of the Republic.
“...”
The events I had experienced there were too dire and tragic to call them mories.
Yet, a small smile crept on my lips as I surveyed my surroundings.
When I first stepped foot on this land to save Findenai, the air had been filled with the cries and lants of countless souls.
The sky was blanketed with sorrow, and even the ground I stepped on was steeped in their tragic histories.
“It’s quiet.”
Everything was gone now, leaving only the sound of the wind to soothe my thoughts.
Reflecting on my past actions, I had never thought of myself as grand for creating the Land of Eternal Rest or saving the continent.
I’d just done it because soone had to, and I was the one most suited for the task.
Yet, seeing the Clark Republic so different from before, I felt a sense of pride.
The land seed to whisper that I had done the right thing.
“The Republic... this is quite a ridiculous place.”
With his arms crossed as he looked toward Clarkwork, Lanhardt approached with a look of regret.
“If I’d known that President Magan was a Demon Lord, I’d have claid his head before Deus Verdi could.”
“You’re treating beings like Demon Lords too frivolously.”
I could only describe his statent as reckless bravado. Having personally slain a few Demon Lords, there was no need to explain how nonsensical the statent Lanhardt had just made was.
However, it seed Lanhardt wasn’t just speaking whimsically.
“I know it’s difficult. But with a target like that, I’d have trained and strategized appropriately to ensure I could bring him down.”
“...”
“And if that still didn’t work, well, that’s just my limit as a human.”
The word ‘human’ stuck with .
Finally feeling better, Xiao Hu wiped her mouth with a handkerchief and watched the exchange between Lanhardt and .
Deciding the atmosphere wasn’t to her liking, she quietly slipped away to Yun Ye, who always treated her kindly, making her feel more at ease.
Watching her, Lanhardt folded his arms.
“Do you know why Yun Ye cares for her so much?”
“He must like kids.”
Paying no attention to my indifferent response Lanhardt continued.
“His daughter died from illness so ti ago. Perhaps that makes him more protective.”
“...”
“Was it not a pleasant thing to hear?”
Maybe, but—
“Who in this world is without a backstory?”
I said as I turned away and moved from the spot.
“Yeah, exactly.”
Not denying it, Lanhardt started gathering the hunters again.
The Norseweden mountain range was truly within reach now.
***“They’re on their way.”
Having recently quit smoking, Findenai shook her leg impatiently while uttering a casual remark.
Finding the manner in which she was shaking her leg annoying, Deia was about to snap at her but she suddenly froze.
Watching Deia’s reaction, Findenai elaborated a bit more.
“Just received word from the Scrapyard Nomads—they’re coming in hot on a black horse called Blood Horse. They were last spotted in Clarkwork, so at this pace, they’ll probably be here by tomorrow.”
“...Why are you only telling this now?”
Though they’d been prepared, the long wait had left the soldiers feeling sowhat relaxed.
Deia stood up quickly, clearly intending to relay the ssage to Darius.
“I just learned of it. That Blood Horse’s speed is absurdly fast—it’s unnatural.”
Shrugging, Findenai stood up along with Deia.
To protect the Mountain Lord, they had to be thorough this ti.
“Tell everyone to prepare the fire control equipnt. Have the soldiers stationed at the mountain range outposts gather and cross over to the Republic.”
“Are we really crossing the mountain range?”
“Yes, we’re crossing. This isn’t like last ti.”
It wasn’t like last ti.
No one knew just how much effort Deia had put into making that possible.
The Mountain Lord had warned them well in advance, but unlike the rushed raid conducted by Whalebelter, they had so ti before Lanhardt’s arrival.
So, Deia crafted a plan—a way to fight within legal bounds.
While Findenai and Darius were training for Lanhardt’s arrival, Deia was busy laying the groundwork for them to fight without restraint.
“We’ve secured a temporary approval to cross the border for fire control. So from now on, we’re going to put out a fire.”
Although a fire in the mountain range was yet to break out, they had exaggerated the previous one to create an adequate excuse.
Now, with so forces in a state of ergency, they had the right to cross the mountain range if necessary.
Given that the Griffin Kingdom shared a friendly relationship with the Clark Republic, the Republic agreed under a few conditions.
“Is it finally starting?”
Stretching out, Findenai felt glad that it was finally ti. She had been waiting for so long that it felt like a layer of dust had settled on her.
“Don’t get too excited. Keep a close watch on Whalebelter’s n. They might betray us, or we could even use them as bargaining chips.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
Before leaving the room, Deia grabbed a shotgun. Although had no plans to venture to the front line, she wanted to be prepared for ergencies.
“...”
Pausing just before she stepped outside, Deia took one last glance around the office.
Though she was using it as her own, this was actually Deus Verdi’s office.
Don’t worry.
It felt as if she were speaking to him.
Deia quietly steeled herself and walked out.
I’ll make sure the place you’ll return to is safe.
***“It’s high.”
Lanhardt let out a short exclamation of admiration as he gazed up at the Norseweden mountain range, towering as if piercing the sky—a natural barrier daring anyone to try and cross.
“Only a truly great being could call a place like that their domain.”
A white stream of breath escaped his mouth.
Even though it was sumr elsewhere, the Norseweden mountain range maintained their steady chill.
Greeted by the familiar cold, I felt my cheeks relax, yet a sense of discomfort lingered.
Why am I feeling this way?
I felt it last ti as well—a personal reluctance to return to Norseweden in this current form.
Although it was not like I had intended to wait for Deus’ body to stabilize, I couldn’t quite understand why I felt like this.
This is complicated.
It was a good sign that these faint emotions were gradually finding their place.
This showed that I had been growing as a person and was gradually overcoming my previously acquired tendencies.
However, that also made things all the more confusing as I was struggling to keep up with the rapid changes within myself.
At that mont, Yun Ye, who had gone ahead to scout, ca running to report.
“It’s true, Vice Leader Whalebelter has betrayed us. The Norseweden Margrave’s forces are camping in front of the mountain range.”
“Oh?”
“They’ve even set up a wooden barricade. To see them act so boldly even though this is the Republic’s territory...”
“They have played their card.”
It was I who replied to Yun Ye.
“The vice leader’s failure has beco the foundation they have established a foothold upon.”
“...”
“I’ve also heard that they have a rather competent administrator in Norseweden.”
Funnily enough, even as I was speaking, I couldn’t help but feel I sounded a bit like a doting fool.
Though I made it seem like I was rely explaining the situation, I was actually admiring Deia’s competence, subtly bragging without anyone noticing.
Impressive.
As expected, Deia—the lady of Norseweden.
She might have disliked being called that, but could there be a more fitting title for her?
“Well, does that even matter?”
Yet, even as he gazed at Deia’s efforts and the barrier Darius had set up, Lanhardt apathetically tightened his grip on the spear without much reaction.
“After all, we ca here to hunt the Mountain Lord. It’s not like the Margrave brought his entire army, and if we can’t even handle this much, the hunt for the Mountain Lord will just end up being empty bravado.”
Besides—
“If we wish to seize the souls held by Deus Verdi, conflict with them is inevitable. In fact, splitting their forces this way makes it perfect for us.”
Dark red mana surged from Lanhardt’s entire body, and a Blood Horse erged from his shadow, hoisting him effortlessly.
“Prepare to strike. The hunt begins now.”
***Inside a dark, silent room.
Once called a general store for antiques and rare items, now, only a lone man sat slumped against the wall, like a broken doll.
It might have seed like he was dead, but his heart still beat faintly.
Though there was nothing visible around him, yet it gave the uncanny impression that the space itself was sohow distorted.
The man who beca the Land of Eternal Rest, carrying millions of souls within him—he was Deus Verdi, the Soul Whisperer.
Sitting lifelessly like a doll with its strings cut, he awaited the return of his body’s owner.
However, a bit sooner than expected.
“Ah...”
A faint sound escaped his lips.
“...e...us.”
As if his throat were clogged with dust, he struggled to formulate the words.
His movents were very sluggish as he began to shift.
His body, stiffened over ti, needed a while to function again.
Like tuning an instrunt, he flexed his hands and feet, moving slowly.
The mont his eyes regained their focus—
“De... us.”
He called out a single na clearly.
“De...us.”
As he slowly rose from the wall, countless souls gathered around him.
Each one of them began to aid the person occupying Deus’ body.
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