Chapter 197 : Chapter 197
Chapter 197 : My Friend (2)
Clomp, clomp.
Footsteps echoed. The stairs leading downward continued endlessly.
“I can feel your deep anguish, Luke.”
Deganelo laughed low.
Beneath his feet, a space of nothingness unfolded.
He was descending stairs that seemed to hang in midair, yet his steps did not stop for a moment.
Clomp, clomp.
In the gloomy space, white, long stairs flowed down like streaks of rain.
Every time he took a step, a staircase appeared as if newly born.
In the silence of the abyss where endless falling and rising unfolded repeatedly―
“Is this the realization left at the end of a life spanning barely over a hundred years?”
A faint madness flashed in Deganelo's eyes.
“It's bitter.”
This place was his ‘sword's mental world’ constructed by Luke to protect the Book of Eternity.
In other words, it was the essence of Chivalry that did not disappear even after death.
“Haa.”
Deganelo stopped walking.
The place where the end of the stairs met the end, a space empty like a margin.
“……An immortal will.”
He let out a low sigh. Soon, an inscrutable smile formed on his lips.
“Congratulations. You have finally entered eternal sleep in the Sword Graveyard.”
From some moment, his gaze stayed fixed on one spot.
He was staring into the empty darkness as if something was there.
“A mere human―”
Deganelo took out a single white rose from his bosom.
The white rose emitted a soft light even in the darkness like a magic tool.
“It is a wondrous thing.”
The white rose fell like a snowflake.
Deganelo, who stood looking down at it for a long time, slowly opened his mouth.
“I believe I kept my loyalty to you. Don't you think so?”
A turbid laugh leaked out from between Deganelo's bloodless lips.
“You, and I too…… we both did as much as we could. So don't feel regretful.”
Hwioooooo!
Suddenly, a wind that shouldn't exist in this quiet space blew in.
The wind, like an uninvited guest, stirred the silence and rushed toward Deganelo.
The air shimmered wherever the wind passed.
Formless black threads flowed through the void and tangled into one.
That thick substance, indistinguishable between wind and liquid, soon wrapped around Deganelo's body.
Crunch! Cruuunch―!
Black smoke boiled up like lava. Inside it, Deganelo's bones and flesh twisted.
Saaaaa―
In an instant, the smoke cleared.
Only Deganelo, who had obtained a new body, remained in the place where the storm passed.
Following that, pitch-black tears flowed down from his two eyes.
The remnants of the past body mixed with waste looked like sorrowful mourning.
“Rest in peace.”
The voice was no longer that of an old man.
A young and low voice rang out quietly.
“My old friend.”
***
“Eh.”
Tiaro, who was squatting, opened his mouth blankly.
Suddenly, a black oval smoke condensed in the perfectly fine empty air.
It was in front of that old building the old man had entered a little while ago.
“……Heu-e-e-ek!”
Tiaro, who was blinking his eyes, suddenly freaked out as if remembering something and collapsed onto his butt. Strength drained from his whole body.
The nightmare-like memory he experienced a few days ago suddenly came to mind.
The atmosphere was similar to then.
“N, n, n, no, right? S, surely again……”
His teeth clattered.
In the meantime, a human arm abruptly popped out from the black smoke.
Tiaro covered his eyes and shouted.
“Fuuuuck! Don't lieeeee!”
Tiaro shouted inwardly repeatedly.
Heavenly Demon Manifestation, Ten Thousand Demons Bow in Submission.
Heavenly Demon Manifestation, Ten Thousand Demons Bow in Submission. Heavenly Demon Manifestation, Ten Thousand Demons Bow in Submission, Heavenly Demon……!
“What, you were still here?”
“……Manifestation, Ten Thousand Demons― Eh……?”
What blew away the commotion at once was just the voice of an ordinary man.
It even had a cheerful corner.
Tiaro slowly spread the fingers covering his eyes.
Really, some man was standing there.
“Who…… are you?”
After asking that, Tiaro let out an exclamation without realizing it.
Even at a glance, he had an extraordinary appearance.
He was loosely wearing unfamiliar clothes on a solidly forged muscular body.
His right shoulder and arm, which were exposed, were packed with tattoos.
The tattoos looked like some letters, but perhaps because of the muscles, they looked like they were alive and wriggling.
“Well, maybe it's better this way.”
Deganelo blew on the tip of his little finger, which had been picking his ear.
Tiaro just blinked his eyes, not knowing the reason.
“A while ago, two noble girls must have come here. Do you happen to know?”
“Huk! How do you know th―”
Tiaro quickly covered his mouth with his hand.
He felt like it would be big trouble if he spoke.
It was intuition.
Deganelo giggled.
“As expected, you were a pure guy. No wonder I felt affection from the first time I saw you.”
“…….”
“Kids these days are all cunning, tsk. Anyway, I like you. What's your name?”
“Ti, it's Tiaro.”
“Right, Tiaro.”
Deganelo approached Tiaro, who had collapsed, and extended his hand.
The corners of his mouth were raised.
“Where are they? Those two.”
“…….”
Like the surface of boiling water becoming calm, Tiaro's surprised look also subsided abruptly at some point.
Tiaro held the hand Deganelo extended and stood up.
Deganelo snorted as if Tiaro's boldness was laughable.
Tiaro dusted off his butt and pointed behind Deganelo with his chin.
“What about the grandfather who went in there? Didn't you see him?”
“Hm?”
Deganelo looked back following Tiaro's gaze.
It was the entrance to Luke's mental world that he had destroyed with his own hands a moment ago.
“Why look for him?”
“He said he was Luke's friend.”
Deganelo tilted his head.
“You know Luke?”
“Of course. Wait, Mister, you know Luke too?”
Deganelo narrowed his brow.
He organized his thoughts for a moment.
Although he was someone who had no interest in ordinary matters, he couldn't easily pass by if it was related to Luke.
It was the last tie that made him attach his heart to this world even a little.
Furthermore―
The only human who made him recall his ‘mission’ to the end, to himself who was infinitely slothful.
“……What an absurd coincidence.”
“Yes?”
“Nothing. So, what is your relationship with Luke?”
Tiaro rolled his tongue inside his mouth.
He had a few criteria for detecting crises in his own way, but since his first appearance, he didn't really feel anything dangerous from the man.
Of course, it was certain that he wasn't someone on whom intimidation would work, so Tiaro decided to act obediently for now.
“Well, just. Rather than me, he is someone Ellen considers as a teacher and family.”
Deganelo listened attentively with his arms crossed as if he became interested.
His eyes sparkled.
“Ho-oh, really? Who is Ellen?”
“The Ruler of the Port. In other words, this here.”
Tiaro raised his thumb stiffly.
Deganelo's eyebrows went up along with it.
All sorts of thoughts crossed his mind.
Perhaps it was Luke's own grand plan to tame the lawless zone of Brakenport.
Since Luke was the model of a righteous and loyal knight, he was a figure who would do that and more.
Of course, miscellaneous thoughts disappeared quickly like bubbles bursting.
‘It must have been overwhelming just clinging to the mission he undertook…….’
Deganelo clicked his tongue lightly.
He felt relieved as if he had finished organizing his mind.
“Good, so? Do you have something to say to the one called Luke's friend?”
“Well, rather than something to say, it's been a while since I haven't seen Luke. That grandfather said so. That this is Luke's house. I was waiting just in case.”
“…….”
“Everyone is extremely worried. Especially Ellen.”
Suddenly, a gentle breeze brushed between Deganelo and Tiaro.
As if someone else besides the two people had come to the empty alley.
Deganelo raised his eyes.
For a very brief moment, his gaze subsided.
“There is no one inside.”
“I knew it would be like that. Birds of a feather flock together; that grandfather seemed a bit out of it like Luke too. What is it? Then did he drown inside?”
Deganelo giggled.
“Well, I guess so. Forget it, Tiaro. Guide me to Ellen. I will convey Luke's regards.”
“Uh, really?”
“Of course. Instead, before that, I must meet those two noble girls mentioned earlier first.”
Tiaro smiled confidently.
“Don't worry. Well, the geography of this neighborhood is all within the palm of my hand. It's obvious where they would be right now.”
“Oh, really?”
It felt like a gift left by Luke.
So Deganelo decided not to kill Tiaro.
***
“Wow, did such a thing really happen?”
“Just imagining it is terrible. An eyeball demonic beast.”
Masa and Roxy's eyes sparkled.
Each was holding a boiled crab leg in both hands.
“Demonic beast? Ha. If a demonic beast is this one leg―”
McRay picked up a crab shell. It was full of flesh inside.
“It's this.”
“Heu-eh―”
“Don't compare. I feel like my mood will get bad.”
McRay frowned for no reason and acted arrogantly. Masa and Roxy nodded their heads furiously.
While answering the question of what on earth ‘Heavenly Demon Manifestation, Ten Thousand Demons Bow in Submission’ was, he ended up explaining the events of that day.
McRay moistened his throat.
“So you guys too, make sure to lower your eyes sharply in front of the Cult Leader from now on. Understood? I'm saying don't offend him.”
Masa and Roxy shook their heads up and down simultaneously this time too.
“We'll be careful!”
“Here, being a noble or whatever, there's no interest in such things. It doesn't work. Just look at me. I'm actually a super smart person too, you know?”
McRay began to list his own boasting under the pretext of introduction.
There was a calculation underlying it to clearly inform them of the hierarchy in this field while he was at it.
Bluffing is a man's nature. Especially in front of cute-looking girls like Masa and Roxy, that nature was bound to grow several times larger.
“I'll keep it in mind, McRay!”
“Mmm, r, right.”
McRay's cheeks became flushed. It was right after meeting Masa's eyes.
Both were cute, but Masa, who had big breasts, was slightly closer to his type.
“Then what about Noser? Is he like the Cult Leader's subordinate?”
Roxy asked with a bright expression.
Suddenly meeting Masa's eyes, the two covered their mouths and started giggling.
Since Noser earnestly requested never to reveal his identity here, in any case, they were keeping the promise.
“As far as I know, yes. They called him the Left Messenger? They say he's the Cult Leader's left arm.”
“Oh-oh― really?”
Masa and Roxy held their bellies and laughed loudly.
Tears were even welling up.
McRay watched the two of them with satisfaction.
Was it only McRay……?
All the men in the restaurant had their gazes stolen by the two girls.
Some were already laughing along stupidly with their souls lost.
Even in their eyes, only the surroundings of Masa and Roxy seemed to have different colors in the world.
It was completely bright.
‘What is this? It feels like the scent of flowers comes out just from Masa and Roxy breathing.’
There were many things in the world that could not be explained by common sense.
The incident a few days ago was like that, but the existence of beauties was also like that.
‘Seeing these things happening one after another, maybe Brakenport is really changing.’
McRay's face suddenly stung.
The jealous gazes of the women inside the restaurant were piercing him.
McRay sharpened his eyes fiercely like a male protecting his family.
“If you're done eating, let's go out. I'll show you the seaside.”
“Good!”
The three walked slowly along the old port road.
The sound of waves breaking from afar was pleasant to hear.
‘…….’
McRay's face was on the verge of exploding.
Masa and Roxy were hugging each of his arms tightly one by one.
There was no way the chattering voices from both sides would enter his ears.
The soft sensation touching his forearms was paralyzing his senses.
‘P, please time, stop.’
Even doing this, there was no one picking a fight with McRay.
Since Ellen was now the Ruler of the Port, it was natural.
‘……I would have no regrets even if I died like this.’
McRay slowly opened his eyes.
He didn't even know when he had closed them.
“……!”
Suddenly, his vision flashed pure white.
The flash seen in that instant harbored a chill enough to freeze him to the bone.