Chapter 112
After defeating a monster with my own hands for the first ti in my life.
I was following Barut and the rest of the group deeper into the Minotaur’s dungeon.
The narrow cave path of the dungeon was literally ‘piled up’ with monster corpses. The sll of blood and rot was overwhelming. It hadn’t been long since they died, so the bodies couldn’t have rotted yet… it was probably the monsters’ own body odor.
Gulp—.
Stepping on the corpse of an unknown monster, I felt a disgusting, squishy sensation. I tried my best to ignore the feeling and kept walking.
‘But that Orc from before… how did I beat it?’
It was sothing I had done myself, but it happened in such a flash that I couldn’t rember it well. It didn’t feel real either.
I had watched the opponent’s movents carefully and predicted its next attack, just as the King had taught . And seeing an opening, I had swung my sword as it led , through space.
I had done it myself, the very thing I had doubted I could do.
‘I was certain I wouldn’t die to the Orc. That’s why I swung the sword boldly. But… I didn’t know it would actually work.’
I thought while stroking the hilt of my sword at my waist, a pure white shortsword.
I saw the back of the King walking ahead of .
‘Father’s footsteps are incredibly light. He’s going to his death… and yet.’
The King had only said to earlier, “The ti has co,” and hadn’t said much else. He was just walking at the very front.
“Brother, brother! That was totally aweso back there! I didn’t know you were so good with a sword, you know? You were exactly like your father!”
Grondar stuck close to my side and said in a voice full of excitent and joy.
‘I was similar to the King?’
Just as I was about to ask what he ant.
“Grondar. Be quiet and co here.”
“Huh? Why?”
“I said co here!”
“Ah, ah! Ear, ear, ear!”
Barut grabbed Grondar’s ear and dragged him forward. As they went, he spoke in a voice that only Grondar could hear.
However, being a Giant, his voice was so loud that I heard it too.
“……Leonardo needs so ti alone right now.”
“Why?”
“That is……”
Barut glanced at , sighed, and then answered Grondar again.
“There are several events that turn a boy into a man. Leonardo is facing the most difficult of them. So… be quiet for him.”
***
After walking deep into the dungeon for a while, we ca to a huge iron door. It was an iron door that looked identical to the one we had seen before descending.
A giant iron door engraved with a bull-headed demon, the Minotaur, which seed to be glaring at .
Kuuung—.
This ti too, Barut opened the iron door. The King, Jereuth, Grondar, myself, and Barut entered the iron door in order.
‘This place is…….’
Inside the iron door was a vast cavern.
It was an empty cavern with nothing in it, but there was one thing: a well, placed squarely in the center of the cavern.
I don’t know why on earth there would be a well this deep undergr—.
It was then.
「……Offer one of the five precious comrades, who trust each other deep in their hearts, as a sacrifice. Then the Minotaur will be satisfied for the next 1,000 years and remain here.」
An echo-like voice that filled the vast cavern was heard.
It was a grand, frightening, and fear-inducing voice, as if it was resounding from a massive tunnel rising from hell to the surface. It was the sa voice I had heard when I first entered the temple.
The voice was coming from inside the well. The sound echoed so much that I couldn’t pinpoint the exact source of the voice, but for so reason, it felt that way.
‘Is the inside of that well… hell?’
While I was thinking blankly.
Thud—.
Sothing blunt touched my back.
At that feeling, I already knew that ‘that ti’ ntioned in the had co.
‘The King touched my back. And when I turn around, the King will remove the cloth covering his face. As he removes the cloth, the King will give his … and he will ask a question.’
The King, who had fought against the his entire life.
He would ask this.
“Leonardo, do you rember what kind of king I said I wanted to be rembered as?” —like that.
‘……And he would say. He wanted to be rembered not as a failed king, but as a king who strove, challenged, and persevered to the end. He wanted to be rembered as one who fixed things, not as one who broke them.’
I had seen this situation only once in the . Yet, I rembered it.
The reason I rembered this situation perfectly despite seeing it only once… was it because the King’s death held such great aning for ?
‘Let answer before Father asks. To the question he’s about to ask .’
The King had thought of as a son, cherished and loved , and I didn’t want even the final conversation with such a king to go according to the .
I was just going to speak my honest words now.
Thump—.
As I turned around, I spoke first before the King could say anything to .
“You said before, Father. That you wanted to be rembered not as a failed king, but as a king who strove, challenged, and persevered to the end— like that.”
“……You rember that.”
The King replied, slightly lowering the book that had a necklace on it. The King had already removed the cloth that covered his face, and his face looked truly shabby and gaunt.
It was the sa face as when I first saw the King.
Just a few weeks ago, he hadn't looked that old.
“Yes. I rember.”
“Do you think I will be rembered like that by you? My end?”
“No. I don’t think you will be rembered in that way by , Father.”
“If I won’t be rembered in that way… then you an I will be rembered as a failed king, not as a king who strove to the end.”
As the King spoke in a weak voice.
—What?!
—…….
Barut glared at fiercely and snapped. Jereuth bowed his head in sorrow.
—……Huh?
Grondar, seemingly unable to understand the situation, looked at Barut with a bewildered expression.
“No, that’s not it. I do not see you as a failed king, Father.”
When I spoke, the King looked at with slightly surprised eyes.
“……Then how do you see ?”
“As a successful king.”
“……?”
“Yes. Because—.”
I finished my words with a clear smile for the King.
“No matter what situation you were in, you ultimately reached the ending you wanted, didn’t you, Father?”
“…….”
“I know how difficult that is. Because I am a person just like you. I am still just searching for the ending I desire.”
At my words, the King stared at blankly.
Then, he slowly began to smile, and soon, with a bright smile, he handed the diary he had written and the necklace.
“No, I never had an ending like this. An ending where you would say such good things to .”
“…….”
“This is the ‘diary’ I wrote. The . When your head is cluttered, when you need my advice, or when there seems to be no answer, read it. It might be of help.”
“Yes.”
The King gave his diary and necklace. He passed by my side.
On the King’s face as he passed, there seed to be no trace of lingering attachnt, regret, or remorse.
Thump—.
The King sat on the edge of the well and pointed at .
“It’s unsightly, but I still want to leave a will. First, Jereuth, my precious friend and most faithful knight.”
“……Philip.”
“I entrust Leonardo to you. And now, think about retiring. How old are you to still be the knight commander? You need to get married soon to see a grandchild before you die. Or is it that your dick won’t stand up? How can you sharpen your sword so keenly but not be able to raise that? They say orc testicles are good for virility, you should try so.”
“You son of a bitch, even at the very end……!”
“Hehe. If you get worked up, it really won't get up.”
This ti, the King pointed at Barut.
“Barut. My precious friend and great Giant.”
“……Don’t act all serious. Just be lighthearted, like you were with Jereuth, true to your personality.”
“I can’t help it, as what I want to ask of you is a heavy matter.”
“A heavy matter?”
“Mm. I want to entrust Leonardo to you as well. Because of the many mistakes I’ve made, and because a ti of chaos will co, Leonardo will need many trustworthy allies.”
“…….”
“The help of you and the Giants scattered across the continent would be a great strength to Leonardo.”
“That is—.”
“You don’t have to answer right away. Watch Leonardo, and if he’s a fellow worth helping, then help him. Just as you beca my friend.”
“…….”
“Lastly, Grondar.”
“M-?”
Grondar stepped forward in a fluster. Judging by his expression, it seed Grondar still didn’t fully understand the situation.
“Please take good care of Leonardo. Like your father, I hope you too will promise such a friendship to Leonardo.”
“Of course, that’s—!”
“Even if it’s a matter of course, sotis—.”
“…….”
“Even for a Giant, sothing greater than friendship may co. Love, despair, sadness, joy—things like that. It’s okay to be shaken in that one mont. But in the end, I hope you do not forget friendship.”
“……Yes.”
Grondar bowed his head, as if he now fully understood the situation. After saying that much, the King pointed at .
“Leonardo, I won’t say much to you. You already know everything about what a king is and how one should live. You are the next king.”
“…….”
“And there’s just one more thing I want to tell you. Co closer.”
“Yes.”
I thought the King was going to give so final, serious advice, so I approached him and leaned in.
However, the King spoke with a quiet smile.
“Marry late. That way, you’ll be popular with won. Won may want what they can’t have, but still, a married man inevitably loses so popularity.”
“…….”
“Unless you plan on having many wives and concubines, it’s foolish to get married early with a face like yours. I hope you find a good woman like your mother.”
The King finished his words playfully.
No, I thought he had finished.
“When you leave here, return to your daily life quickly. I an, return to your routine of reading the . You must clench your teeth and be strong of heart. I say this again, you are the pillar of the kingdom. Tens, hundreds, even tens of millions, perhaps more people will be looking only to you.”
“……Yes.”
“And don’t worry too much. You will beco a being that surpasses a great king.”
And then—.
“I will be the sacrifice.”
After speaking, the King, who was sitting on the edge of the well, lightly kicked his feet and entered the well.
Tak…….
***
Outside the Temple of the Minotaur, on the mountain peak.
The slowly rising, large sun illuminates the mountain peak. Borrowing that light, Leonardo was reading a certain book. Sitting casually on the ground.
Whoosh—.
A cold winter wind swept across the mountaintop.
Jereuth, Barut, and Grondar did not ask Leonardo if he was okay. Nor did they suggest they go down the mountain.
They were simply giving Leonardo ti to overco the sorrow of losing his father on his own.
‘Is he reading Philip’s diary…….’
Jereuth, who was watching Leonardo’s back from a distance, thought silently.
‘It was truly hard for too when I lost my father. At first, it didn’t feel real, and I was confused. Then, at so point, I was sad. I wonder if His Highness is feeling the sa… Even so, I hope he gets back on his feet quickly. His Highness… is now the King.’
Even before the King’s death, Leonardo had already been reigning like a king. But holding power as the ‘Crown Prince’ and holding power as the ‘King’ had different anings.
On the surface, nothing might have changed, but many unseen things would change.
‘I should let His Highness have his ti alone. Let him use all the ti he needs to soothe his sorrow.’
Jereuth, who had been looking at Leonardo, turned his gaze to inspect Barut. Barut was sitting on the ground, staring blankly into the air.
‘It seems Barut also needs ti to compose himself.’
Giants looked rugged and rough on the outside, but they were a species with tender hearts that valued friendship above all else. As such, the sorrow Barut was feeling must be considerable.
‘……So, I can’t fall apart as well. At least not until His Highness returns to the royal castle.’
Jereuth swallowed his sorrow.
Because that was what Philip had secretly asked of him.
***
After coming out of the Minotaur’s dungeon.
I felt a great emptiness at the King’s death. The emptiness was greater than I had expected.
But I was able to forcefully ignore that emptiness.
It was thanks to the last words the King left.
‘The King told to quickly return to my daily life when I get out of the dungeon. To my routine of reading the , predicting and preparing for dangers.’
I tried to steel my heart like that, but it wasn’t as easy as it sounded.
My chest churned with emptiness and an unexplainable sadness. I didn’t exactly want to cry, but my chest felt heavy and hot.
‘……First, let’s check my ending. I’ve already seen the ending after sealing the Minotaur again, but it might have changed.’
The most important thing to was, of course, my ‘ending.’
So I tried to look at the ending.
But then.
Chwarararak—!
The mont I took out the from my backpack after a long ti and opened it, the diary opened to the front pages.
The future closest to the present.
It wasn’t common for the to show the ‘future closest to the present’ on its own.
‘……Why did the front pages suddenly open?’
What was going to happen in the near future?
I imdiately checked the contents.
…….
After my father passed away.
I couldn’t move for a while due to frustration, bitterness, emptiness, and a sense of loss.
I don’t know what this emotion is… but all things considered, this feeling might be ‘sadness.’
Chirp, chirp—.
The sound of birds chirping cos from sowhere on the mountain. The sun, starting to rise high, shines on warmly as if to lt my heavy heart.
But it has no effect. As the King said, I try to clench my teeth and be strong of heart, but it’s not as easy as it sounds.
Jereuth brought a al and Grondar even joked around to lift my spirits, but it wasn’t very helpful.
Like this, I spent ti blankly until the sun was at its highest point in the day.
I had spent quite a long ti here. Almost about six hours.
‘……I should probably get up now. I can’t stay on this mountain peak forever.’
I am the king now. This kingdom has nurous problems and crises will befall it; I should not waste any more ti in sorrow over losing my father.
Flap, flap, flap…….
Birds from far below the mountain flew up all at once. As if predicting a natural disaster and leaving their place, or as if fleeing from a dangerous presence.
“…….”
Birds suddenly flying up all at once was clearly not an ordinary event. However, I just stared at it blankly.
Flap, flap, flap, flap……!
Gradually, birds from locations closer to flew up. At first, it was from the distant mountains, but clearly, birds closer to were also fleeing from sothing.
As this strange phenonon continued, I too beca a little concerned. Because the location the birds were fleeing from, and the direction they were flying in, was towards .
It was as if the birds were warning that danger was approaching, to run away.
Flap, flap, flap, flap—!!
The birds near also suddenly took flight and began to flee.
It was then.
—HUMAAAAAANS!!!! How dare you! How dare you!!!! The Minotaur! To seal him!!!!!
From between the trees below the mountain, a monstrous roar that couldn’t contain its fury was heard.
From the place where the birds had fled the mountain.
‘……What is that?’
“Your Highness!!”
At that sound, Jereuth imdiately drew his sword. Barut and Grondar, who were poking at the campfire, also imdiately took a battle stance.
I also quickly drew my sword and went near Jereuth.
…….
This was all that was written on this page.
The content was ominous.
‘To call the Minotaur ‘him’ ans they are followers of the Minotaur. In that case, are they monsters……?’
Wondering, I decided to read the next page. Quickly.
Chwak—!
…….
Jereuth surveyed the area below the mountain and quickly said to .
“Your Highness, their numbers are great. I will block them first. Your Highness, please get on Barut’s back and descend the mountain quickly.”
“……Yes?”
“Barut!”
Without answering my question, Jereuth called for Barut.
“I will block them, so take His Highness Leonardo and go down the mountain.”
“What about you!”
“I will buy ti here—.”
“Don’t give that bullshit! I can’t lose two friends in one day!”
Barut cut Jereuth off. Then he threw towards Grondar.
“Grondar! You take care of your friend!!”
“……Yes?”
“If Jereuth and I don’t co down by sunset, consider us dead and go back to the village imdiately! Got it?!”
“D-dad, what are you talking—!”
“This is an order from the elder. Go quickly!”
“You have to tell us where you’ll co down to the bottom of the mountain!!”
“The path we first used to enter this mountain! Go that way! The place where I killed the goblins! You know where it is, right?!”
Kwang!
Barut roughly finished speaking and slamd his fists together. It was clearly the sound of fists colliding, but it sounded like steel clashing.
“I will never again lose a friend before my eyes! Never again!”
…….
Without even a mont to organize the contents in my head, I imdiately read the next page.
The situation was urgent. Didn’t this an such a thing would happen soon?
…….
I was led by Grondar and descended the mountain.
Leaving Jereuth and Barut on the mountain peak.
The sun set.
The moon rose. High, at that.
But Jereuth and Barut did not co down.
The moon set.
The sun rose. High, at that.
Still, Jereuth and Barut did not co down. Even though I waited much longer than the ti we were supposed to et.
Should I call it a relief? The monsters didn’t co down either.
This was the end of the newly written ‘future closest to the present.’
To summarize this content…….
‘Monsters will soon attack this place. And Jereuth and Barut will die while blocking them… is that it?’
Jereuth dying.
It wasn’t written so clearly, but that seed to be the gist of the ’s content.
‘……That can’t happen.’
I lost the King, no, my father today.
But I couldn’t lose Jereuth too.
‘……I have to go down the mountain right now.’
—As I thought that and was about to get up from my seat, then.
Sassasasak—.
The , the content closest to the present, was erased and began to be rewritten.
As if my judgnt was wrong.
As if I had to find another way.
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