Chapter 120 : Chapter 120
Chapter 120. A Poem for the Souls
A terrible roar that seemed to tear the eardrums.
A pitch-black shadow cast over Maxim.
And the golden energy emanating from Maxim.
“Behold.”
Maxim, staring at Tolino, raised Dawn high.
In his pupils, an old picture flashed by quickly.
The deaths of many.
The sorrows of many.
The pain of those who could not sleep.
「Oh, flower that withered in the early night.
I pray.
Find freedom and sleep in peace.」
A thin light flowed vertically, horizontally.
It flowed from Maxim at the center.
「A Poem for the Souls – Maximilian Leonhardt」
Thump.
The corpse golem’s foot fell on Maxim.
A thick smoke and dust covered the Akal Corridor.
“W-what happened?”
Perignon, who did not know the situation, expressed his frustration.
But no one could ease his mind.
“Captain Peri……”
Bethel, who had run to the battlefield with the academy students, saw the rising dust.
“Where’s Maxim?”
“Where is Maxim?”
“D-don’t tell me, o-over there?”
Adellian, Piontek, and Odekerkh could not hide their bewilderment.
Egbaldo gathered his armor and clothes and began to walk towards the dust.
“Stop.”
Perignon grabbed Egbaldo.
“Isn’t he in there?”
“He is. But stop.”
Egbaldo stood blankly and looked at Perignon.
“His Highness would not want it.”
“We don’t know that.”
“He refused our help too. He doesn’t want any more sacrifices.”
At Perignon’s words, Egbaldo swallowed and looked around.
It was filled with brutally broken corpses.
Both Uresra soldiers and Poinus soldiers…….
“Our casualties are……”
“Over 100.”
Hearing Perignon’s answer, Adellian bowed her head.
Piontek, Odekerkh, and Bartea also bowed their heads.
It was the first time they had seen so many deaths up close, so they didn't know how to react.
It was just shocking, scary, and painful.
Ping.
A small, sharp sound came from within the dust.
Everyone looked there.
Kureureureung.
A small vibration began.
Then a strong vibration, a stronger vibration, and an even stronger vibration followed.
The knights and soldiers had a hard time standing straight.
Flash!
A cross-shaped beam of light spread out grandly.
It crossed the land, the sky, and the fields.
“Keu-eo-eo-eo.”
A bizarre voice echoed.
The dust slowly disappeared, and the corpse golem facing Maxim was revealed.
It was making a sound that was neither human nor beast.
Maxim looked at the corpse golem with pitiful eyes.
“Go now. Go and rest. Peacefully.”
As if it understood Maxim’s words, the corpse golem knelt.
Its entire body split into a cross.
The bodies of the dead that were forcibly bound together crumbled like sand.
“……”
Tolino looked at Maxim, who stood beyond the disappearing corpse golem.
Maxim also looked at her.
“Your disgusting trick is over?”
Tolino bit her lip.
Blood trickled down from her chest.
At that sight, Maxim snorted.
“If you have another trick, try it. Whatever you do, I’ll break it all.”
“Insolent!”
She gripped the sword stuck in her chest with both hands.
But she couldn’t pull it out.
She just vomited blood and knelt.
“Those who sold their souls to Tenebris are all foolish.”
Maxim, standing before Tolino, raised Dawn.
A shadow covered Tolino’s face.
“…Kill me.”
Tolino glared at Maxim.
She couldn’t win even when her strength was intact.
So, wishing for a clean death was the best option.
“You dream big.”
But Maxim had no intention of doing as Tolino wished.
The most honorable death a knight could have.
To be killed by the sword of the victor.
“I do not acknowledge you as a knight.”
“Are you looking down on me because I’m a woman!”
“I don’t care about gender.”
Maxim met Tolino’s eye level.
“Those who mock death are not knights.”
Tolino’s pupils widened.
She gnashed her teeth and shot a glare at Maxim that said she wouldn’t let him be.
Maxim just snorted.
“Your Mana Circle is broken. You’ll either die or become a cripple. Try to endure it well.”
Maxim dusted himself off and stood up.
Tolino’s face contorted menacingly.
Of course, Maxim ignored this and was about to go to where his comrades were.
“How dare you, how dare you ignore me?”
Tolino pulled out her sword.
And she tried to stab Maxim.
“They’re all the same, I tell you.”
Maxim shook his head as if he had predicted it and twisted his body.
Tolino, having missed her target, flailed and fell flat on her face.
“Cough!”
She vomited blood.
The snow around her face, soaked in blood, slowly melted.
The blood from her chest also stained the surroundings red.
Maxim clicked his tongue as if to say, ‘Tsk,’ pathetically.
“When you go to the afterlife and meet Tenebris, tell him. That I will erase all traces of Tenebris left in the world.”
There was no reply.
She just trembled with a pale face.
Maxim raised his head and looked at the remaining Uresra soldiers.
About 30 of them.
“Now! Look here!”
At Maxim’s words, the remaining Uresra troops became tense.
“Find your comrades and bury them. Except for this one.”
Tolino stopped trembling.
Her pale skin turned black as if scorched by fire.
The mark of Tenebris, it had become a poison and burned her body.
“Move quickly! There’s no time!”
Maxim, who had confirmed Tolino’s death, urged the Uresra troops who were just watching.
“……”
It was the enemy’s shout.
The enemy troops formed a wall in front of them.
And Maxim was glaring at them.
The thought that they might die if they moved rashly, the thought that they might die if they moved carelessly, collided.
The conclusion was one.
If they were going to die anyway, they might as well move as Maxim said.
The Uresra soldiers, while watching the Poinus troops, while watching Maxim, took heavy steps.
“So slow.”
Maxim clicked his tongue and walked towards where Perignon was.
“Are you going to leave them like that?”
“We have to. Why? Should we kill them all?”
Perignon bit his lip.
He had to kill them.
So that there would be no trouble later.
But the words to kill them all did not come out of his mouth.
It wasn't just Perignon.
The Poinus soldiers, who had wanted to kill them, who had thought they absolutely had to be killed, also had to swallow their words at the sight of the enemy.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”
“This…… this, like this……”
“Where is the arm, where is the leg.”
The Uresra soldiers who had only been watching.
But when they saw their dead comrades, they cried out loud.
So sorrowful and pitiful, the sight of them gathering the bleeding corpses of their comrades was painful even for the onlookers to see…… they couldn't speak of murder.
“When we’ve collected them all, we have to do it too. We have to take them home and let them close their eyes in peace. Isn't that the duty of a human being?”
At Maxim’s words, everyone nodded.
Piiik!
While the soldiers were collecting the corpses of their comrades, an eagle flew over, staggering.
“Itz?”
As Bethel had said, it was Itz, the eagle that Saint-Sard cherished.
“H-he looks tired?”
At Odekerkh’s words, Perignon quickly extended his arm.
Itz, who had seen a place to land, came down roughly.
But he must have been very tired, as he couldn't land properly on Perignon’s foot.
Thud.
“Itz!”
Bethel wrapped Itz who had fallen on the ground.
Itz breathed heavily and extended its foot.
There was a note sent by Chris.
“……Y-Your Highness.”
Perignon, who had checked the contents, looked at Maxim with a surprised face.
“What?”
I asked for the reason, but no answer came back.
Maxim’s face crumpled.
He took the note from Perignon and checked the contents.
[Commander-in-Chief Chris isolated. Request for rescue.]
Maxim, who had swallowed his breath, looked at the Uresra soldiers with a forehead full of wrinkles.
“Don’t kill those guys. Hold a funeral here, and take them to where the prisoners are.”
“……What are you thinking, Your Highness?”
At Perignon’s question, Maxim slowly exhaled.
A thick white steam rose.
Everyone waited for Maxim’s next words.
“Give me some fire.”
Rodrigo came out and created a small flame.
I burned the note.
“Me, Bethel, and Rodrigo will move to the Billien River.”
Perignon furrowed his brow and asked why only the three of them were going.
He also added that shouldn't all the troops here go.
“Move those guys and then come over. Tell them to guard the barrier.”
The academy gang, feeling Maxim’s gaze, were greatly flustered.
“Why us?”
“We should go too. We can do it.”
“Y-yes. W-we have to go together.”
“That’s right.”
“Stop excluding us.”
Maxim scratched his forehead and looked at the academy gang indifferently.
“Your mana is depleted. If you go as you are, you won't be of any help. You'll only be a hindrance.”
“W-we can, can replenish our mana.”
“Odekerkh.”
Odekerkh pounded his chest, expressing his will that he could do it.
But Maxim did not accept it.
“It’s not courage, it’s greed. You seem to be thinking of the time at the Black Market. It’s different. You saw it just now too.”
“……”
“It won't end with just getting hurt. You’ll die.”
Odekerkh bit his lip.
The others were the same.
“Help Perignon and move. Since Chris is on the battlefield, Perignon at least has to be at the barrier. That way, the atmosphere will be set.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Although he answered, Perignon’s face was full of complex emotions.
He wanted to go with Maxim to save Chris.
But for now, it was right to move as Maxim intended.
“Good. Since we’ve decided, let’s move.”
Maxim took Bethel and Rodrigo and headed for the Billien River.
Adellian stared endlessly at the retreating Maxim.
“Shouldn’t we stop him? It’s right to go back together and then move.”
Perignon shook his head.
“Why? You know better than Maxim, Battalion Commander.”
“I don’t think so.”
Adellian blinked her eyes as if she couldn't understand.
They had just graduated from the academy.
Perignon was a recognized commander in the north.
He was a man who excelled in all aspects: his skill in leading troops, his experience in strategy and tactics, and his experience on the battlefield.
If he spoke, the soldiers would move without a word.
But, such a person said no without a moment's hesitation.
“You saw it too. His Highness possesses a genius-level ability. Strategy, tactics? It’s conceivable that the enemy would come through the Akal Corridor. But to use an avalanche is something that could not come out of my head. And his swordsmanship.”
Perignon let out a long breath as if asking if he really needed to explain.
Adellian also knew how great Maxim’s sword was, so she didn't add any other words.
“It’s a race against time. His Highness accurately read the situation and made a wise judgment. So we must follow.”
The knights and soldiers nodded at Perignon’s words.
Because the reason they could live without dying was because Maxim existed.
Perignon accepted Maxim’s will and ordered the collection of the dead soldiers' bodies.
While he himself moved too.
‘I’m far from it. I’m still so far from it.’
Perignon swallowed his bitterness.
When I saw the note, I was so flustered that I couldn't make any judgment.
I was disqualified as a commander.
But Maxim was precise and fast in everything.
To the point where it was hard to believe he was in his teens.
‘Did the heavens send him down for us?’
If it had been once, he would have considered it lucky.
But he had created miracles several times.
He thought it was a great fortune that Maxim had come instead of a clumsy reinforcement of 100 or 200 soldiers.
That’s why he had no choice but to believe in Maxim’s choice.
‘If it’s His Highness, he will manage it somehow. Somehow.’
He was saying that if it was Maxim, he would definitely save Chris.