Chapter 169 : Chaos (2)
Hope is dangerous.
In very many ways.
-Can we really go back????
-But how do we go up there? Do we have to launch a rocket or sothing?
-Where is a rocket in this era fck lol
-Then does that an there is another way?
Although it is visible to the eye, the thod to return is unknown.
However, once the existence was confird, people who try all sorts of thods were bound to appear.
-I tried to cross over using Space Magic, but the price makes no sense. It's just impossible.
-I tried too, but to cross over it was at the level of sacrificing the Empire almost.
Based on the testimonies of several Space Mages, one hypothesis was created.
-Then doesn't it an we can go if we sacrifice the entire Empire as a price?
-That's right lol
-Not bad? They are all NPCs anyway.
-Seems actually decent lol
If a price is needed to return, shouldn't we willingly pay it?
Of course, it is just talk rather than being serious, but the problem was that such voices were growing louder one by one.
Since the situation was like that, naturally, there were also not a few voices of self-reflection.
-? What is everyone saying? Are you saying you're going to commit human sacrifice or sothing?
-I'm really scared you might actually think that way lol Are you crazy?
-Isn't that sh*t happening in the Eastern Union also because of bastards like you? Co to think of it, that's really suspicious.
-;; Everyone wake up, you've gone mad.
Naturally, the public opinions split in two clashes.
-It's just talk, why get so serious... Do you have no friends?
-Fr lol
-Don't they also want to return ho anyway? Hypocrisy is just lol...
-Even if I want to return, I don't want to return by killing people?
-But why return? Isn't it good here? I don't want to go back? What's good about Earth lol
-Agreed, here is way better than Earth.
The users' stances were various.
Starting from those who simply wanted to return to Earth, to those who opposed it for moral reasons.
In addition to that, those who wanted to stay because life here was better than life on Earth.
Watching them, I felt with my skin that the mont of choice Great Sage Akiro and the Supre King spoke of was approaching.
Those who want to open the door.
Those who want to close the door.
Although they are just looking at the sky in front of them right now, before long, users will gradually realize that the Ascension Stone Fragnts are related to the core of this whole series of events.
And surrounding the Ascension Stone Fragnts, friction far greater than now will arise.
Choice will be unavoidable.
For as well.
“…….”
Then what choice should I make?
I couldn't know.
Not yet.
***
The journey returning from Arkendale to Winter Castle was truly long and far.
Naturally, I ca to see many sights while returning.
In Hanover, where countless troops were gathered ahead of the war with the Empire, pandemonium was occurring.
“……Even Hanover has beco like this. At this rate, it is safe to say the Eastern Union is truly finished.”
“Indeed. The Empire will be very pleased.”
“Maybe so.”
I tried to get news about Guar while returning, but sadly I could not hear anything.
Whether he was swept up by the magic of human sacrifice installed by the Supre King, or if sothing happened during the process of attacking Arkendale…….
‘I don't know.’
Although I was curious about Guar's whereabouts, I couldn't delay the journey, so I decided to look for news about Guar later and moved my steps.
It's ti to return to Winter Castle.
***
Returning to Winter Castle at the end of a long journey, I imdiately visited Edric's office.
Knock knock-
“Co in.”
As I opened the door to Edric's office and entered, I saw Edric's sowhat gaunt face.
“……You ca.”
“Yes.”
Edric, who would usually have a sleek face, seed to have been quite caught up in various matters.
It seed even that man of steel couldn't help but be affected by the events happening recently.
“I'm glad you returned safely. I'd like to hold a grand welco ceremony if I could, but as you know, the recent situation hasn't been very good.”
“A welco ceremony is fine. I don't particularly want one either.”
“Thank you for understanding. So, did the work in the Eastern Union go well?”
“To so extent.”
An unusual light appeared in Edric's eyes soaked in fatigue.
“To so extent……. That's an interesting phrase. Does that an you obtained results?”
“That also, to so extent.”
“Were you always the type to like vague answers like this?”
“To so extent.”
“……Oh my.”
Edric chuckled as if troubled.
“Let's not go around in circles and get to the main point. According to intelligence, they say the Eastern Union has disintegrated. No, beyond disintegration, they say it's almost at the level of annihilation?”
“Is that so?”
“It just so happens that this happened shortly after you headed to the Eastern Union, so it's quite a coincidence.”
“I see.”
“So I'm asking…… is this perhaps related to your trip to the Eastern Union?”
What happened in the Eastern Union wasn't a big secret even to the Empire.
Since the Empire had planted all sorts of spies throughout the Eastern Union in the first place, it would be stranger if they didn't know the news about this.
Soon, the answer I would give Edric was also already decided.
“Yes, that is correct.”
“Hmm. As expected. Then what happened to the Supre King?”
“He is dead.”
Edric's eyes widened.
“……That is a bit surprising. No, since the Supre King is dead, should we view it that this is happening because of that?”
“It is similar.”
“Haha…… the Supre King is dead, certainly not an ordinary matter. I did guess to so extent when the Eastern Union ended up in this state, but…….”
Edric looked at .
“Did you kill him?”
“Result-wise, yes.”
“Is that so……. Then do you also know about the phenonon happening in the Eastern Union right now?”
“Yes. The Magic of Self-Sacrifice left by the Supre King as he died was activated. The phenonon occurring throughout the Eastern Union right now is due to that.”
“……Such a thing happened?”
Edric revealed shock and surprise simultaneously.
“You always surprise . If that's true, does that an the Supre King had installed those human sacrifice magic circles we saw last ti in the cities of the Eastern Union?”
“It seems so.”
“……Truly a stark raving madman. Then the scenery revealed beyond that sky must also be the aftermath of that magic?”
“I couldn't figure out that far, but the correlation itself seems high for now.”
“Hmm, is that so?”
I deliberately didn't ntion the scenery of Earth revealed beyond the sky.
I might end up saying unnecessary things, and strictly speaking, Edric was also on the side of the natives of this world.
“More than that, wouldn't this much rit be enough now?”
The reason I told Edric about what happened in Arkendale without hiding anything except for the part about Earth was because only then could I speak about the rit I established this ti.
I am a prisoner dragged to Winter Castle.
Therefore, to escape this plight, I had to fulfill my service term or establish rit befitting it, and finally, this mont has co.
There was no way Edric wouldn't know what that ant.
“You, you haven't changed your mind yet. In this chaos, being in Winter Castle might actually be the better choice. Yet you still intend to discharge?”
“Yes. I have things to do.”
“……Hmm, it can't be helped then. Understood. First, I will report your rit to Margrave, and your discharge will be processed after that.”
Although Edric seed regretful, he didn't seem to have any intention of stopping my discharge.
Even though as the commander, Edric would have plenty of ways to stop my discharge if he wanted to.
“Thank you.”
“Rather, I am the one who is thankful. Thank you for doing a great deed for Winter Castle and the Empire.”
Edric bowed his head as if he genuinely thought so.
There was no way I wouldn't know what it ant for a man of Edric's stature to bow his head directly like that.
“I just did what I had to do.”
“But it wasn't an easy task. No, it would have been impossible for anyone.”
“It was indeed so in reality, but.”
“Haha, I really like that part of you.”
Edric rose from his seat.
“Then I should get going now, it seems quite a few matters to report have arisen.”
“Ah, yes.”
“Then let's see each other again when there is ti later. Since the situation is what it is, I don't think we can hold a separate grand discharge ceremony, though.”
“That is fine.”
“Thank you for understanding. Then let's continue the rest of the talk later.”
“Yes.”
With that conversation, Edric and I left the office.
My long, long service life was finally showing its end.
***
A few days later, my discharge was officially decided.
The background behind why the discharge could be processed relatively quickly is simple.
Because what happened in the Eastern Union couldn't be explained by anything other than the Supre King's death, and indeed, stories that the Supre King had disappeared were being heard from the spies as well.
Above all, it could be seen as because Edric, who could be considered the person in charge on the scene, trusted greatly.
“Congratulations. With this, you have beco a completely free man.”
“Thank you.”
“Honestly speaking, it is very regretful but…… I suppose I can't forcibly bend the will of a person of your caliber.”
When Edric's comndation ended, Conlan, who was next to him, grinned and said.
“You're going in the end.”
“I understand you guys also had your rits recognized this ti?”
“That is true. We can't discharge imdiately, and they told us to serve for about 3 more months. If they're going to discharge us, they should just do it imdiately, what is this?”
“That is certainly strange.”
There must be so intention of Edric and Winter Castle there, whether I know it or not.
“Are you going to return to Bernhardt after discharging in 3 months?”
“Yeah. Although I confird Bernhardt is okay for now, I'm still anxious. I have to return as soon as possible.”
“I see.”
I turned my gaze to Albino.
“What about you?”
Albino answered my question.
“I plan to remain in Winter Castle.”
“You? That's a bit unexpected.”
“Since I don't really have anywhere to go anyway. In a chaotic era like now, Winter Castle, which is well-defended, would be on the safer side.”
“That is true.”
Just as there is a saying that the safest place when war breaks out is paradoxically the army, in a situation where great chaos has arrived like now, Winter Castle, which was the front line, could actually be a safe choice.
And as my gaze naturally turned to Alicia, Alicia shook her head slightly.
“I…… don't really know.”
“Really? Well, since there is ti left anyway, you can think slowly during that ti. If it cos to it, you can remain in Winter Castle like Albino.”
“……I'll think about it.”
“Okay.”
Conlan said.
“Anyway Vell, what do you intend to do from now on? Do you have a separate place to go?”
“Well. I'll have to think about it from now on.”
“Hiding it tightly again. Whatever I say, you won't tell anyway, so forget it.”
Although I said that, in fact, there was sothing I had to do.
‘I will need to start collecting Ascension Stone Fragnts in earnest soon.’
In the end, going round and round, the Ascension Stone Fragnts hold the answer to this entire situation.
What choice to make is sothing to think about only after that.
‘There will be a lot to do.’
Yes, very much.
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