Chapter 200 : Chapter 200
Chapter 200 : The Time of Crows
I didn't think much of it when I first read The Way of Medicine.
What on earth was Karim thinking when he left this book behind, and what was the reason he wrote it in the Imperial language……? It was just the right amount of eye candy inside a moving carriage.
Like that, I read it through once lightly.
From the second time, I went back to the beginning and read it intensively, repeating that process ten times.
From the eleventh time, I only looked for passages I wanted to study more and read avidly.
From the twelfth time, I extracted only the parts I couldn't understand at all and read them separately.
From the thirteenth time, transcription.
From the fourteenth time, finally, if I fell asleep while reading, I reached the point of debating with Karim in my dreams.
And from the fifteenth time, I even added footnotes myself to the Kingdom language version I had transcribed.
‘I don’t know.’
If one could know all the principles of the world just from a book, I would have already mastered the truth and then some.
I tried to soothe myself like that, but…….
Gulp.
I barely swallowed my anger.
I can't seem to calm down easily.
‘It pisses me off.’
Actually, wasn't Karim's skill terrible?
I decided to believe that instead.
“C, Cult Leader. Is Master alright?”
“Huu……, Brother. It’s frustrating, so please say something.”
Everyone looked alternately between me and Noser on the bed carefully with bated breath. Everyone was just waiting for me to speak.
The reason I had no choice but to remain silent all this time was…….
Because Noser was barely clinging to breath.
How deep his wounds are, whether there is any meaning in me laying hands on him, if there is room for any medicine to work, and if so, what that medicine is, whether there is a possibility of consciousness returning.
‘If there isn't even that, what should I tell these people.’
I don't know.
I wish someone would tell me.
I was to the point of wanting to bring Karim back to life.
“Although it’s faint, he is still maintaining a steady breath.”
Honestly, this was the best I could do.
It was the most objective comfort I could give to everyone, and to myself.
“……For now, we’ll have to watch over him.”
Everyone lowered their heads with miserable expressions. I did too.
Bolero let out a sigh filled with grief vigorously.
It seemed he felt frustrated at the reality that there was nothing he could do.
‘Did he say it was Divine Magic?’
It was one of Bolero's talents.
As befitting a Martial Priest in name, he knew how to wield Solari’s miracles.
The problem is that Noser has no mana.
Bolero's Divine Magic only works on mana possessors.
He said the principle was to forcefully induce interaction between mana to correct the broken mana flow.
‘…….’
He looks like the roughest and most radical man in the world on the outside, but Bolero is actually a man softer than anyone on the inside.
It seemed his affection for Noser had deepened during the journey of a few days, no, over a month.
……I am no different.
I issued an eviction order to those gathered in the bedroom.
Everyone turned around with sullen faces and left the bedroom one by one with powerless steps.
Soon, the bedroom became quiet.
“Did you not hear me tell you to get out?”
It was Roxy, who hadn't left and was sitting curled up in one corner.
She was hugging her raised knees and only her eyes were trembling quietly.
Her gaze, which had been hovering in the air, turned towards me.
“Check me too. Since I’m hurt.”
She extends her wrist.
It seems she remembers me checking her pulse last time.
‘Since the mental shock must have been great.’
I took her wrist without complaint.
It was just that I was distracted by Noser; in a way, the person I should have examined first was Roxy.
‘The pulse is beating.’
The child is safe.
I'm not sure if I can call that thing inside Roxy's belly a person yet, but anyway.
“That’s a relief. It’s fine. Still, just in case―”
“What about here?”
Roxy thrust out her chest.
I wondered what she was doing, but…….
My eyes sank in an instant.
“There is no way I can do anything about that.”
“…….”
“You have to overcome it yourself.”
I swallowed for no reason.
I almost blurted out that if she had just quietly left here back then, wouldn't this not have happened.
“I know, too. At least that much.”
Roxy sniffled once and rested her chin on her knees.
How should I put it, she didn't seem like a child who had fallen into truly great loss.
“You wouldn't have known, Cult Leader, but actually I am a noble.”
I felt like I shouldn't say I knew here, so I just stayed silent.
I don't know how my expression appeared, but Roxy looked up at me with her peculiar mischievous eyes as if the operation was a success.
“And I also know the fact that Sir Noser isn't an Imperial citizen but the head of the Sharon Faction respected by many knights of this land. Our Windermere family is quite a prestigious knight family, you see.”
“……So.”
“I know too. With what mindset a knight must live.”
A knight's mindset……. I suddenly wanted to hear it, so I just let her be.
“Knowing how to be solitary. Because they said the first virtue of a knight is not being shaken by the ties that leave my side.”
“…….”
“Whether it’s family, friends, or lovers.”
I glanced at Noser lying on the bed behind me.
“Who taught you such words?”
“My father, of course.”
If it’s her father, is he the head of Windermere?
I recalled the memories of my past life.
The knights of Windermere begged for their lives while falling to the swords of our Imperial Army.
I held back a snort.
Solitude?
Among the knights of Windermere, there wasn't a single person who knew how to keep solitude when death actually faced them.
“Spouting nonsense plausibly is a talent if you call it a talent.”
I quietly opened the bedroom door and came out.
A faint sound of laughter was heard from beyond the door.
I decided to just leave Roxy be.
Since she is a patient, anyway.
***
Three days passed.
Noser still couldn't wake up.
His breathing became calm, but that was all.
I checked his condition every day.
I checked his pulse to observe the progress and lowered his fever with a cooled wet towel.
“Have you calmed down a bit now?”
I called Roxy. Bolero was beside me.
“I don’t know. But whenever I recall Masa’s face, tears still come out. What should I do.”
“That is natural.”
“Eh? Really?”
“Of course.”
Bolero let out a deep breath through his nose while crossing his arms next to me.
He opened his mouth.
“Why did Deganelo target you and Masa?”
Roxy’s eyes became round.
It seemed she was flustered hearing that name abruptly.
She looked at me as if wishing for help, but there was no helping it now.
“I gave you enough time to sort out your feelings.”
“No, not that, but suddenly why Deganelo? Surely you aren't talking about that eccentric grandfather of the Imperial Capital Knight Order?”
I forgot.
It’s natural that Roxy doesn't know Deganelo underwent a metamorphosis.
I roughly made up an excuse that Deganelo himself confessed so inside the Ghost Manor.
“Why would Sir Deganelo take our lives…….”
Roxy muttered with a dazed face. It seemed she couldn't even hear our words.
“…….”
Bolero and I faced each other wordlessly.
It seemed today was too much.
The next day.
I called Roxy again.
“Deganelo, the Right Camp Leader of the Imperial Capital Knight Order, targeted me and Masa, the young ladies of Windermere and Springeus. Coming all the way to this lawless zone. And all alone at that.”
Even though I didn't order her to, as soon as she saw me, she recited the situation smoothly as if she had been waiting.
“Just why? I stayed up all night worrying about it yesterday, but I just don't know.”
Her expression was brave, but the edges of her eyes were damp.
It was the crust of tears that forms after crying one's fill.
It seemed she didn't spend the night just worrying.
Anyway…….
It seemed she had absolutely no clue.
It didn't seem like she was lying either.
“So I decided. I have to go ask him myself.”
The conclusion was somewhat radical.
It was far from the way of thinking of a precious daughter raised delicately.
“…….”
I felt complicated for no reason.
Should I call it a bit bitter.
Roxy seemed like a fellow where somewhere deep in her heart that processes emotions was sick to begin with, rather than trying to pretend nothing was wrong right now.
“I came to say goodbye. Bye, Cult Leader.”
What’s fortunate is that since I’ve met quite a lot of these types of people after returning, it doesn't weigh on my mind that much.
It’s funny to even think of this as fortunate, though.
“Let’s go together.”
Roxy, who had turned around to leave, paused.
She turned only her head slightly, and her eyes had grown large.
As expected, she was a fellow who couldn't lie.
“We are going to the Capital.”
I said while looking at Bolero.
Bolero also nodded silently.
“Before we go, I intend to exact Noser’s revenge.”
***
Let’s summarize the events in the South.
The Kingdom's South was virtually the Phantom Demon's hideout.
He put Deiron at the forefront to spread chaos and harm on the surface, while scattering all sorts of seeds of disaster from behind.
The problem is, the Kingdom's South wasn't like this in my past life.
Back then, let alone Deiron, there wasn't even a trace of Homunculi.
If the Imperial Army had known about existences like Automata, Chimeras, or Rosaria who became the Moon…… given the nature of Imperial citizens who go crazy for ancient relics, adding a little exaggeration, they might have even stopped the war of conquest.
Brakenport?
It was nothing more than a quiet and peaceful port.
‘A gloomy timeline where the Book of Eternity collapsed.’
In other words, my past life was a world where the Phantom Demon's plot was completely finished.
And now I know. The main one among the Phantom Demon's plots was―
Mass memory erasure that wipes the beliefs of the Kingdom knights, including the Sharon Faction and the Langster Faction, from their unconsciousness.
In other words, trampling the Kingdom people's will to resist from the root and solidifying a foundation advantageous for invasion in advance.
―Windermere and Springeus are prominent knight families counted on one hand throughout the entire Kingdom. They have produced many renowned knights for generations. Thus, the two families are also called the Two Great Peaks of the West.
Noser’s words came to mind. It was the day I first saw Masa and Roxy.
―There was a time when Springeus symbolized the Sharon Faction, and Windermere symbolized the Langster Faction.
The current situation where Deganelo, the head of the Langster Faction, assassinated Masa of the Springeus family, and knowing that such a Deganelo is a member of the Eight Demons…….
‘Now it has become clear.’
My enemies are above.
“Some grandfather claiming to be Luke’s friend, no, thinking about it now that was also a bit strange, anyway that grandfather disappeared and suddenly that son of a bitch appeared!”
“…….”
“And then he said he would deliver news of Luke to Ellen!”
“…….”
“I, I am fucking aggrieved, Cult Leader……! No, fuck, I really didn't know that bastard would suddenly do that!”
I learned a shocking new fact.
‘So Luke and Deganelo had a connection.’
I went to the place where Tiaro said he took Deganelo before the metamorphosis.
It was the place where the Book of Eternity used to be.
‘……Deganelo knew the full story.’
It’s similar to the time with the Poison Demon this time too.
Are they saying they don't invade each other's territories?
I don't know if there is such an unwritten rule between them.
The Blood Devil slaughtered the living as sacrifices,
The Poison Demon spread diseases to gnaw at life,
And the Phantom Demon twisted the unconscious to manipulate minds.
Although the methods were all different―
Squeezing the essence of the Kingdom and this land, and gnawing at blood and souls was no different.
‘If so, Deganelo…….’
Why did that guy enter the Book of Eternity.
And why did he kill Masa and take that corpse.
‘Even the meaningful words he said inside the Ghost Manor…….’
Thinking too much made my head hot.
In the place I turned my eyes to, McRay was sitting crouched.
His face was gaunt as if he had starved for a few days.
As I stared at the guy, Tiaro approached quickly and whispered.
“He liked Masa, that guy. He’s completely out of it because the shock he took was so big.”
Tiaro muttered.
Saying he was worried since the guy was already dim-witted.
‘…….’
I saw Ellen sitting side by side next to him.
That guy’s condition wasn't much different either.
It was a fact I only learned recently, but he said he was quite close with Luke.
My mouth tasted bitter.
I was so busy with public and private affairs that I had no moment to pay attention.
If I had known beforehand, I would have carefully explained the circumstances, but now opening my mouth would just be fanning a burning house.
“Why are you acting like this?”
I approached Ellen and tapped the tip of his foot with mine.
He looks up sharply with glaring eyes.
I could hit him once……. I was about to smack his head telling him to open his eyes nicely, but held back.
“This guy says he lost his first love, but. This isn't the time for you to be wallowing in misery. Wake up.”
Ellen scratched his head nervously.
He was taking his anger out on his own head, unable to overcome his temper.
In the meantime, my eyes met slightly with McRay.
His already small eyes were swollen and had become even smaller.
“Can’t I even suffer?”
Ellen jumped up and shouted.
Tiaro was startled and came over to stop the guy.
McRay also looked alternately between me and Ellen with his mouth open blankly, perhaps flustered.
“That guy called Deganelo killed Luke and even mocked me. But actually, let alone asking that guy the reason, I couldn't do anything! On top of that, even Master was done in like that!”
“…….”
“I, just wanted to protect my people with my own strength……. But why, why am I……! Ruler of the Port or whatever, if it’s going to be like this, I’m a useless human good for nothing!”
Ellen sobbed while clenching his teeth.
Tears flowed ceaselessly under the fists covering his two eyes.
I looked down quietly at such a guy.
How to comfort the weak?
There is no way I would know.
My theory is that the weak have neither the qualification nor the time to be sad.
However…….
Although he is a guy pathetic beyond measure, Ellen still has many things to do.
So he must come to his senses even a day sooner.
Unlike my past life, just by Ellen not dying, Brakenport will become much better.
That is certain.
Thwack!
I eventually smacked the guy’s head once.
Come to think of it, I had been holding back this whole time worrying I might miss while wanting to punch him once.
Maybe because of that, I couldn't control my strength well.
Ellen staggered, his focus loosened slightly, then barely returned.
Whish―
I threw the Kingdom language version of The Way of Medicine to such a guy.
I said while looking at the bewildered guy.
“Study until I return.”
“……What is, this?”
“Find out what it is yourself. Alkabang will teach you how to read.”
It was a fact I learned last time.
Alkabang knew how to read and write. It wasn't particularly hidden either.
He said there was just no occasion to use it here.
“I wrote down the medicine prescription for Noser to Alkabang. It’s hard to expect improvement, but at least he won't get worse.”
“……!”
“If you want to help your master, learn to read quickly. Since that is the best you can do. Ah, and this too―”
I threw another book.
This was also written by me personally in the Kingdom language.
“What is this again?”
“It’s a swordsmanship manual.”
“Yes? S, Swordsmanship……?”
“Right. In the Empire, swordsmanship is transmitted in this way. Simply put, it’s building the basic framework of swordsmanship in the body by reading the manual first.”
“……?”
Well, still, considering who the opponent is, it would be better to show it in person once.
It would also serve as a stimulus.
I picked up a long tree branch lying around nearby.
“Watch carefully.”
I passed my left hand behind my back and lightly extended my right hand holding the branch forward.
The tip of the branch was floating on a straight line.
I dare say―
It is a Destreza purer than during the battle with Deiron.
Shuk―
The right arm extended straight.
Suddenly, light sparked.
The trajectory left like an afterimage in the empty air was thin and sharp like a ray of light rushing towards the sun.
“…….”
All three guys were frozen with their eyes wide open.
Since they aren't completely illiterate, they must have felt something at least a little.
I opened my mouth in the silence.
“Let’s name it Sail.”
“……W, What does that mean?”
“It means to shoot the sun.”
I caught my breath and tidied my posture neatly.
All three guys were blinking stupidly.
McRay looked up above his head with his swollen eyes.
“How do you shoot the sun?”
“It’s possible.”
“T, That is, how does that…….”
“It just needs to reach the sky.”
I decided to replace the farewell for now with these words.
“Become a star, Ellen.”