“……”
Belkart couldn’t give any answer.
The boy doesn’t know who he is. Not even if it was himself who tried to destroy the forest just monts ago.
That would be the case.
The bad person who tried to destroy the forest was a demon in black armor but what’s here is a middle-aged man with half-white hair, on the verge of collapse, a man who can no longer do anything.
Belkart spoke with an expression that was a mix of sadness and joy, looking as if he was both laughing and crying.
“This mister…is soone who wants to help you.”
“Help ?”
“Yes. Tell anything.”
The child carefully asked.
“Then can you help find my friend?”
“Your friend, you say.”
“Yes. My friend, I really want to et her, but I can’t.”
“Do you know where she is?”
“It’s where many people gather. I’ve always watched. But that’s all I could do.”
The child said that they had been waiting for their friend here all this ti, hoping to et again soday.
“I see. It must have been hard.”
Belkart spoke with a gentle smile he rarely showed.
“This mister will help. I should be able to bring your friend.”
“Can I really see my friend?”
“Of course. Would you wait for a mont near that white wall? I’ll bring your friend right away.”
“Really?”
The child stared intently at his face and asked.
Belkart couldn’t dare et those clear, droplet-like eyes and avoided eye contact due to guilt and anguish as he spoke.
“This mister always keeps his promises.”
-Whoosh.
At those words, the child’s expression brightened.
The child ran quickly toward where the fog barrier was, as Belkart had said.
While running, he turned back and shouted toward Belkart.
“I’ll wait! Promise!”
“…Yes. Promise.”
Belkart waved his hand once to the child, then slowly walked toward the direction of the outpost.
“It won’t take long.”
The sensation in his moving body gradually diminished.
It was a signal, a warning that the end of life was approaching and a cry that there could be no turning back now.
‘It’s nice that walking is easier.’
But Belkart didn’t mind.
With the pain encompassing his whole body gone, there was no resistance in walking.
Belkart walked the silent forest path.
The sound of leaves scattering beneath his feet felt sohow familiar.
The forest of Kasar Basin was strange.
When first seen, it was a forest unlike any seen elsewhere on the continent, but the more you looked at it, the more it gave a sense of déjà vu, as if you’d seen it sowhere before.
It was the sa now.
Belkart was now walking through the forest where he used to play with his friends in childhood.
Was he walking in the present now?
Or was he walking through past mories?
Then is this an illusion created by his guilt?
Or is it the flashback they say you see before death?
Whatever it is, it doesn’t matter.
This life can be given up any ti but please, just give a little, just a tiny bit more ti, ti for my dear friends to be saved.
-Ahahahah!
-Let’s go together!
The apparitions of children passed by Belkart’s side.
Belkart watched their backs with nostalgic eyes.
All three children had familiar faces.
The bright blonde girl running in the lead was Isabella.
The brown-haired boy running behind her was Leslie.
And the child following behind them as if chasing was himself in his childhood.
-Belkart’s last again!
Isabella, running in the lead, shouted as she touched the trunk of a large tree with her hand.
-You guys are just too fast.
Belkart passed by the apparition under the tree.
The forest’s mystery offered Belkart a peculiar experience.
The apparition left behind lted away like watercolor touching water, and soon changed into a new apparition.
It was the year he turned 11.
It was the scene of the three of them learning magic together, and Isabella, who was sweating the most at first, managed to float a sphere of magical power above her hand.
The next to succeed was Leslie.
The two rejoiced together, then watched Belkart with anxious gazes.
Belkart, as if living up to their expectations, concentrated and raised his magical power.
Seeing Belkart finally succeed, Isabella and Leslie jumped up and down in joy.
-Wow! Success!
-Congratulations, Belkart! But you’re late again this ti too!
Young Belkart smiled shyly at Isabella’s smile.
The aged one passed by that scene, ignoring it.
The mories of the past that the forest offered were too vivid.
Even the finest details that would be hard to rember were all reproduced but Belkart didn’t find it mysterious at all.
He rembered every mont of this ti, after all. Even without the forest’s help.
To Belkart, Leslie and Isabella were precious friends.
No, at so point, it beca more than that.
Though the three spent ti together, Belkart secretly liked Isabella.
He thought that when he beca worthy of her soday, then he would confess.
The scenery changed.
In the backyard of a building, the adult Belkart was standing there with a thoroughly nervous face.
In his hand was clutched a letter from Isabella.
What could Isabella want to say after calling him out separately?
Belkart tried not to be conscious of it, but couldn’t erase the thought that maybe she too?
He worried about what to say first when they t.
Actually, I’ve liked you for a long ti too? No. That’s too cliché. Would it be better not to force showing it? What if she gets disappointed then?
-Leslie. Did you wait?
-Isabella.
And after Isabella arrived at the eting place, Belkart heard shocking news.
-You know. Leslie confessed to .
-……
Belkart kept his mouth shut.
That Leslie also had such feelings for Isabella, even he knew from watching closely but who would have thought that slow-witted fellow would confess first.
Even more shocking was Isabella’s reaction.
At her face that couldn’t hide a smile of joy, though seemingly embarrassed, Belkart felt as if his heart was being torn apart.
-Why…are you telling this…
-You know. We’re friends. But if Leslie and I beco that kind of relationship, I don’t think our relationship can continue like before.
Belkart felt his body becoming strangely cold.
It felt like everything inside him was sinking to the bottom like an anchor in the deep sea.
Why are you asking such things?
Why do you show such feelings to Leslie and not ?
I, I’ve been…for so long…
-How foolish. What are you saying?
At the sa ti, his mouth too easily spoke words contrary to his heart.
-That’s obviously sothing to celebrate.
-Really?
-Of course. Isabella, did you think sothing like that would crack our friendship? That would be too disappointing.
-He, hehe. Sorry. I just thought you…
-I don’t mind at all. Rather, it’s great. You two have always been really good together. Congratulations.
-Really?!
The pure Isabella took Belkart’s words as sincere.
-Thank you so much Belkart! You’re the best friend!
Even after Isabella left, Belkart could only stand still as if nailed to the spot.
That was young Belkart’s first and last heartbreak.
The middle-aged Belkart smiled self-mockingly at that sight.
“Yes. I was always late.”
It was always like that.
Without courage or will, I was just slow.
─Yet you waited for .
Waited.
Cheered on.
Took my hand and led .
I ended up owing a debt too big to ever repay.
“So, now it’s my turn to lead.”
-Rustle.
Belkart gazed ahead with blurry eyes.
There was a man there.
The man who, until just now, had been fighting him to the death.
“John Doe.”
Belkart smiled bitterly with a pale face.
“No. Rudger Chelici.”
“……”
“Congratulations on your victory. Seeing that you walked here alone, it seems you’ve co to finish off completely.”
Belkart gasped and contained the breath trying to escape.
“But I’m already a dying body. So there’s no need to go to the trouble.”
There was no use pretending to be strong here.
He was already in tatters, and had no strength left to use magic.
Rather, it was miraculous that he was still alive until now.
“So I ask you. Please step aside. I still have sothing I must do.”
“Is that for the greater cause, or is it for purely personal reasons?”
He didn’t ask back why that was being asked.
Belkart closed his eyes and answered.
“…A very personal and selfish matter.”
His attitude suggested he would accept it even if the other got angry and cursed at him for saying he was doing such crazy things for personal reasons.
“Is that so?”
But Rudger showed no particular reaction to those words.
He just nodded as if agreeing, and slightly moved his body aside.
Belkart wondered what this was about, but soon opened his eyes wide when he saw the child hiding behind Rudger’s back.
“Isa, bella.”
The small blonde girl.
The version of her from the tis they played together in the forest was right before his eyes.
Young Isabella looked up at Rudger with a wary gaze.
As if asking ‘Should I follow this mister?’
Rudger silently nodded to Isabella.
Isabella approached Belkart with careful steps, and opened her tiny lips.
“Mister. That oppa said that you could find my friend.”
Belkart spoke with a choked voice.
“Yes. Actually, this mister was on his way to find our little miss, having received a request from a friend.”
“Really? My friend is…”
“Leslie.”
Isabella’s eyes grew round when the answer ca without even asking the na.
“That child is waiting over there.”
Leslie painfully raised his hand to point at the forest path he had co from.
“Shall we go together?”
Isabella silently nodded.
Belkart carefully extended his hand toward Isabella.
A hand full of calluses, covered in scars.
The white, delicate hand of the child slowly covered it.
Belkart took Isabella’s hand and led her.
Belkart silently returned the way he had co, toward the curtain of fog visible not far away.
Actually, there was so much he wanted to say, that he was sorry and that he loved her.
He wanted to cry and confess everything but that must not be done.
The person Isabella and Leslie knew was gone.
What’s here is a senior mber of a secret society, a murderer who tried to kill many people, a criminal who deserves to be cursed.
And now, just before his life’s light goes out, a wretched villain.
So he kept his mouth shut, and just silently took Isabella to the destination.
Isabella occasionally looked up at Belkart and tried to say sothing but couldn’t.
The mont she saw Belkart’s resolute expression with his lips tightly sealed, she felt she couldn’t ask what she was curious about.
Eventually, the two arrived at their destination.
Young Leslie, sitting on a small tree stump, noticed them and broke into a bright smile.
“Isabella!”
“Leslie!”
Isabella let go of Belkart’s hand and ran toward Leslie.
The two children held each other’s hands and spun around in joy.
Beyond the children, the hole carved in the fog curtain could be seen slowly healing.
“Children. There isn’t much ti.”
Belkart approached his two dear friends and spoke.
“If you stay here, you’ll never be able to leave again. So now is the chance. You see that path over there? Hurry and go out through there right now.”
The two children stared blankly at Belkart and soon bowed their heads.
“Thank you.”
“……”
“Thanks to you, we finally got to et.”
“…Yes. That’s wonderful. Now hurry along. If you stay here, sothing terrible will happen.”
“Mister. Can I make one more request?”
“What request?”
“We have one more friend. Our friend’s na is Belkart, and we can’t leave without him.”
“……”
Belkart’s lips trembled at those words.
The children didn’t notice Belkart’s reaction and asked.
“Can you find him too?”
“…That friend isn’t here.”
“No. We can tell. Belkart is here.”
“Why do you think that?”
“Because we’re friends.”
Friends.
Belkart opened and closed his lips several tis.
Finally, he gathered himself and answered.
“That friend won’t look for you. Rather, he’d want you to leave, because that child is really bad.”
“No! Belkart is a good friend!”
Isabella burst out shouting at Belkart’s words.
It was like throwing a tantrum.
“He must be waiting for us too!”
“No. I can tell. That child has already forgotten you. Forgotten, I tell you.”
“Liar! How would you know that?!”
“Because…!”
Because the friend you’re looking for is right in front of you.
Because I am that child.
Belkart’s chest felt heavy. Moisture welled up in eyes he thought had dried up.
But it couldn’t be. It shouldn’t be done.
The Belkart those children are looking for and who he is now are completely different people.
“…There’s no ti for this argunt. Hurry and go out through there before the door closes.”
“No! We won’t go without taking our friend!”
“……”
Belkart bit his lip.
He spoke in what sounded like a sobbing voice.
“Please go…If you’re late, you’ll be trapped here again. Forever…”
“I still don’t want to!”
“I said go─!”
When Belkart burst out shouting, Isabella and Leslie’s shoulders flinched.
Tears welled up in both children’s eyes.
Belkart’s face contorted with guilt.
He imdiately took a deep breath, then put on a gentle smile as if trying to reassure the two children.
“I’m sorry for yelling.”
“Mister is an.”
“I’m sorry. This mister was too rushed. Then let’s do this. Let’s make a promise.”
“A promise?”
“Yes. A promise. I will definitely bring your friend. So, could you two go out there first and wait?”
“……”
Isabella and Leslie didn’t answer hastily to those words.
Belkart spoke calmly, without losing his smile.
“I promise.”
Yes. It’s a promise.
Wherever you go, no matter how far away that place is, I will definitely co to et you.
“Can you grant this mister’s last request?”
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