C842
"Huff..."
Rimmer deflected the Space Sword that Sif had fired, exhaling a white breath. The mere act of blocking the sword made his arm ache as if it had been struck by iron, and a pain surged through him as if his insides were twisting upside down.
"Are you going to keep blocking that?"
Sif looked at Rimmer and clicked his tongue briefly.
"Wouldn't it be easier to dodge it?"
He shrugged as if to say, Why are you just standing there taking hits?
"Damn it, you're really a bastard."
Rimmer gritted his teeth while wiping the blood flowing from his mouth with his sleeve.
"Why? Even injured, someone of your caliber could easily dodge it."
Sif shook his head as if he didn't understand.
"Ah, could it be because of those useless lumps behind you?"
He pointed with his slender finger at Dorian and Alice behind Rimmer.
—Both of them are useless, aren't they? One is a completely useless pest, and my mother is giving me strength just by being here.
Sif waved his hand back and forth with his chin held high.
"Just abandon them. Let's make this easier."
He aimed again with his cursed black sword, as if to say, let's have a proper fight.
"You talk too much."
Rimmer scoffed as he spat out the blood that had accumulated in his mouth.
"In the meantime, we're firing Space Swords in this direction."
Sif was only launching attacks towards Alice and Dorian, not in the direction he was moving. Seeing him chatter like that after exposing a weakness made Rimmer want to slice his throat.
"Then keep blocking."
Sif slowly swung his cursed black sword, the corners of his mouth curving up. The sword moved slowly, but the cut it unleashed appeared right in front of Rimmer, revealing a chilling intent to kill. Rimmer turned his blade diagonally to deflect Sif's Space Sword towards the lower left.
The ground struck by Sif's cut was carved so deeply that it was unseeable, and the cavern shook as if it were about to collapse.
"This isn't easy."
By blocking Sif's spatial cuts with all his might, cracks had formed in the artificial arm connected to his right shoulder, preventing his hand from moving properly. His internal injuries had also worsened, meaning his artificial energy center wasn't functioning at full capacity. It was the worst possible situation.
"D-Vice Leader..."
Dorian's lips trembled, and his face was covered in tears.
"It's alright. I've been through much worse than this."
Rimmer smiled faintly and nodded slightly.
-That's right. I've been through much worse.
Despite his reputation as a genius, he had actually experienced many defeats.
'When was my first defeat...?'
Rimmer opened his clouded eyes as he watched another of Sif's Space Swords shooting towards him.
-Ah, yes. It was that man...
* * *
In a time when he wasn't very different from other elves, a human guest had visited Sepia after a long time.
"Among the humans who entered the sacred land today, there is a direct descendant of the Zieghart family. Glenn Zieghart. They say he is the son of the current Head of House."
Erian swallowed dryly as she said that the man's eyes were different from those of other humans.
"Different, you say..."
That Erian, who had no interest in other races, spoke like this piqued my curiosity, so I decided to see for myself. While waiting in front of the grandfather's house, it wasn't long before the wooden door opened, and a man with dazzling golden hair, like sunlight illuminating the forest, stepped out.
Despite his young age, he already exuded the complete aura of a martial artist. Just as I was thinking about how fierce he looked, as Erian had said, his gaze turned towards me.
Calm, deep red eyes. When I met those eyes that seemed unshakeable even in turbulent waters, a competitive spirit I didn't know I had surged within me. I felt curious. Normally, I would have ignored it and focused on my own matters, but I wanted to experience the presence emanating from that man through martial prowess.
In the quiet hours of the afternoon, when the forest was silent, I went to Glenn's house and knocked on the door.
"What is it?"
Despite his young age at that time, Glenn spoke like an elder. Looking back now, it's quite amusing.
"I am Rimmer, guardian of Sepia."
At that moment, as the grandson of the Guardian and Guardian of Sepia, I introduced myself as politely as possible.
"May I request a training match?"
"Very well."
Glenn nodded without hesitation. I had been told he had talent since childhood, and there were even rumors that he could succeed my grandfather as Guardian, so I was quite confident. However, before we had exchanged more than a few sword strikes, I was on my knees on the ground. It was a perfect defeat with no room for excuses.
"That was a good match."
Glenn returned to his quarters without breaking a sweat. I was left in shock. I felt like my entire understanding of swordsmanship had shattered. Even after returning home and lying in bed, eating, or standing guard outside, Glenn's overwhelming sword skill continued to flash in my mind. I wanted to see him again, to fight him again.
The following night, I went to see Glenn again and requested another training match.
"Very well."
Glenn accepted the match with such ease that it was almost ridiculous. But I lost again. And the day after that, and the next, time and time again. After agonizing for days with my head in my hands, the day Glenn was set to leave Sepia, I followed him without looking back.
'The Head of House's face was quite a sight to behold.'
These days, I often see Glenn’s surprised expression over Raon, but that was the first time I saw him surprised. Glenn must have been impressed by my determination and initiative because he immediately put me in charge of the vanguard. Of course, there were those who opposed it.
"The vanguard? What makes you trust someone you just met?"
Sheryl. That sharp-tongued and pretty-faced woman voiced her complaints from the moment she met me.
"He may seem like the right one, but he doesn't have the look of someone who can actually get things done."
She frowned with an expression not too different from how she looks now.
"...What a noisy human."
Those were the first words I said to Sheryl.
"What?"
-Instead of talking, why not show it with your sword?
Since I didn't like being dismissed, I immediately challenged Sheryl. And, damn it, I lost...
"From now on, crawl on the ground before me. Don't even think about taking charge of the vanguard."
Sheryl snorted and left the training ground. It was later that I realized that from that moment, Sheryl had treated me as an equal, not just as an elf. She was very considerate, but she had an unpleasant temper.
"You lack sparring experience."
Glenn smiled slightly and said it was a problem that could be resolved with time and effort.
"Train with Sheryl once a day."
As he said, I went to see Sheryl every day to request a match, and I lost every time.
But, as Glenn had said, my lack of combat experience seemed to be the problem, as I gradually began to recover. About six months later, I defeated Sheryl for the first time.
"You..."
Sheryl sobbed as if she were frustrated, then fled the training ground without even wiping away the tears that had formed in her eyes.
"I'll see you later. I definitely won't lose tomorrow!"
It was quite cute. I didn't know that the human who had been so critical could show that side.
"Now you're ready to lead the vanguard."
Glenn patted my shoulder as if to say I had done well. More than the sense of accomplishment for having gotten stronger, I felt a warmth in my chest. Although I still didn't quite understand humans, I felt as though I had gained a new family. The next day, Glenn sent the swordsmen who would be under my command.
"It’s a pleasure to meet you! I am Slan!"
A cheerful-looking man who made a good impression bowed his head.
"Anduser..."
A gaunt woman, with dark circles under her eyes, only said her name while slightly turning her head.
"I am Kureo Zieghart."
A young man who appeared to be in his twenties greeted me with excessive courtesy.
"I am Drevin. Leave all things related to money to me."
A middle-aged man, a bit more robust than most swordsmen, smiled and extended his hand. Unlike the elves, who all seemed the same no matter who you looked at, each of these humans brimmed with individuality. However, unlike Glenn and Sheryl, establishing relationships with them wasn't easy.
Superior and subordinate. We spent over 10 years in a relationship that was nothing more than giving and receiving instructions and orders.
Fortunately, we worked well together, as we had been together even after Glenn became the head of the house, and we never failed a single mission. As always, when we received a solo mission for the vanguard and were camping before reaching the site, Slan broke the silence.
"Leader, do you have any dreams?"
Slan tilted his head with curiosity as he looked at me.
"...I'm not sure."
At that moment, I had nothing I could call a dream. Achieving transcendence was more of a goal than a dream, and Glenn had become the head of the house by himself, without much help from me.
—Then, can I tell you about mine?
Slan smiled and leaned toward the campfire.
"I wish there were no more poor children. That's why I donate a small amount of money."
He said he donated his salary to orphanages and daycare centers, hoping there would be no children who had difficulties growing up like he had.
"A small amount? You're giving away everything you earn!"
Drevin snorted as he looked at Slan.
"That's better than just hoarding money like you do."
Slan frowned at Drevin.
"Why save money?"
Since I had never valued money, I was genuinely curious.
"Because money is power. Whoever has it doesn't understand. How hellish life is without money..."
Drevin said his dream was to become the richest man on the continent, waving his arms as he explained how poor he had been as a child.
"I want to bet as much as I want!"
Kureo, a direct descendant of the Zieghart family, licked his lips and rubbed his hands together.
"The thrill of cards is something that even battle cannot satisfy."
He said he was looking forward to visiting the gambling den when we got back, while licking his lips again.
"But you always lose."
"Winning or losing isn't important. It's the tension that feels good!"
Kureo laughed and said that the game itself made him feel alive.
"That's because you're rich. Playing is fun because you have money."
Drevin frowned as if he didn't like Kureo.
-Anduser, what about you?
Slan looked at Yuser, who had already started to fall asleep.
"I just want to sleep..."
Yuser shook her head slightly, barely lifting her eyelids.
"My dream is to be born as a rock and sleep forever..."
She murmured that she wanted to dream even while dreaming.
"Actually... I would also like to raise some children."
Slan smiled gently as she looked at the campfire.
"Are you talking about getting married and having kids?"
Kureo clicked his tongue and said that was normal.
"No, I want to become a teacher. Not just an instructor, but a true master."
Slan smiled slightly while looking at Rimmer.
"I want to raise my children to become excellent swordsmen, taking care of them in detail like you do with us, Leader."
"I see..."
Honestly, I didn't understand it. Donations, material desires, gambling, laziness. All of these were values that had nothing to do with me.
I felt that even after 10 years, I had not been able to close the distance with my subordinates.
"Leader, after this mission ends, would you like to come to the orphanage with me? The children love pretty people, so I'm sure you'll be welcomed."
"Forget about boring places like orphanages, come with me to the gambling den! I'll treat you to a full menu!"
Slan and Kureo waved their hands, inviting me to the orphanage and the gambling den.
"Instead, just give me your money. I'll double it in a year."
Drevin rubbed his hands, talking about money even in this situation.
"..."
Yuser had fallen asleep, softly snoring as if she had no interest in anything.
"If I get the chance."
Though I said that, it was a time when dozens of battles occurred every day, so it was difficult to find time away from missions. Several more years passed like this, and my subordinates and I went to war against the Holy Sword Alliance alongside Glenn. That day, I thought it would always be the same.
That day, while Slan looked at pictures of orphaned children, Yuser lazed in her sleeping bag, Kureo played with cards, and Drevin counted money as usual.
All my men died, and I suffered wounds that should have killed me, with my energy center shattered. When I regained consciousness, I was in Zieghart territory, and not even the bodies of my subordinates remained. For elves, the death of others is not something so sad. The dead become mana for this world, and we meet again.
But perhaps because my soul had merged with a human life, my insides felt stabbed, and my chest ached.
As I lived like a recluse, locked in my room, Sheryl broke down the door and forcefully entered.
"Ugh! Look at all this dust!"
Sheryl stared at me while waving her hand as if disgusted by the dirt.
"Hey! Get out of here so I can clean!"
Without saying anything else, she shoved me out and said she was going to clean. I stumbled out of my room with shaky legs. Wandering aimlessly, I found myself in the bustling district, where I saw an eye-catching sign. It was the gambling den that Kureo had often mentioned about visiting. I entered with the only gold coin I had left in my pocket.
I lost everything on the first bet. Kureo had said the thrill of cards was good, but I felt nothing. I didn’t understand why people did this. The next day, I went to the bank to check the money I had saved up until then. The gold coins piled up like mountains in my account. Drevin would have been delighted, but I felt nothing.
I took 100 gold coins and went to the orphanage that Slan had told me he regularly donated to.
Some children were on tiptoes, peering over the wall. Unaware of Slan's death, they seemed to still be waiting for him. When dawn arrived, I left the gold coins and a letter that seemed to be from Slan before returning. The children were happy, but my heart remained impassive.
Finally, I entered the room that Sheryl had cleaned and tried to sleep for days like Yuser.
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't fall asleep, and my eyes opened by themselves in the morning. Donations, laziness, money, gambling. None of that resonated with me. I remained on a parallel trajectory with those guys. Yet, I repeated those actions every day: looking at money, making donations, gambling, sleeping like a dead person.
When did it start? I began to feel good seeing the piles of money, my heart raced when the cards were dealt at the gambling table, I felt proud seeing the children’s faces when I donated, and the more I slept, the happier I felt. The day I transitioned from being an elf to a person. The day I could comfort my subordinates.
For the first time, tears welled up in my eyes as I remembered Slan's last words.
He said he wanted to become a true master, not just an instructor.
Slan had said he wanted to become a true master, as if he had realized something while looking at me. After a long time, I put on my formal attire and went to see Glenn, telling him I wanted to become an instructor.
"...It took you a long time too."
Glenn smiled bitterly, as if he had been waiting for a long time. That wasn't just for me.
"But an instructor? I can't give the position of Zieghart's instructor to someone unqualified. Take the exam yourself and earn the qualification."
He said he wouldn't make exceptions for an old comrade and asked me to take the test and come back. Unlike the time when I had fallen into darkness and was indifferent to everything, Glenn had fully emerged from his mental world.
"Hmm."
Sheryl snorted as if I were pathetic, but she couldn't hide the warm look in her eyes.
"Very well."
I barely passed the disgustingly difficult test Glenn had set for me and earned the title of instructor. And just like Glenn, who had visited Sepia, I met a boy with unusually bright red eyes. That was my new beginning and my greatest happiness.
* * *
Rimmer bit his lip as he felt a twisting sensation in his wrist.
"Ah..."
Had he fainted for a moment? The pain from his internal wounds seemed to have made him lose consciousness for an instant.
"Where are you looking? You have to keep blocking. Otherwise..."
Sif fired a Space Sword towards Dorian behind him, lifting his chin. Rimmer pulled back his legs that weren't moving properly and deflected the cut aimed at Dorian's neck.
"Tantrum..."
As Rimmer exhaled to prepare for the next attack, Sif emerged from a spatial rift and plunged his cursed black sword into Rimmer's chest.
"Ah!"
Rimmer coughed up blood and hunched over.
'Damn it...'
His reaction was too slow. He could feel the cursed black sword piercing his flesh and crushing the bone. A scream erupted from deep within him as he felt his soul being torn apart.
"See? This is what happens when you try to protect the pests."
Sif threw Rimmer a deep sneer of contempt.
"They'll die anyway once you're dead."
"No..."
Rimmer lifted his left hand to grasp the cursed black sword that was piercing his chest.
"As long as I live, my disciple will live. That's enough."
"...You still have that much strength?"
Sif let out a hollow laugh as he looked at his cursed black sword, unable to free himself from Rimmer's left hand.
"Vice Leader!"
Dorian shouted and lunged forward. He drew his sword and swung it at Sif's neck while carrying Alice on his back. Dorian's strike was sharper than his usual level, but it faded like mist without penetrating Sif's aura.
"You're trash!!"
Sif kicked Dorian with all his might, disgusted.
"Ugh!"
Dorian coughed up blood as he fell, but he tried to get up again and attack Sif.
'That kid too...'
Rimmer's lips trembled slightly as he watched Dorian, who had forgotten his fear.
"He has grown a lot."
The Dorian he knew would have hidden in a corner even in this situation, but thinking that he would attack a Transcendent Warrior gave him a bit of strength.
"I'll kill you first!"
Sif withdrew his cursed black sword and grasped it with his right hand as if to deliver a fatal blow.
"Where do you think you're going?"
But Rimmer refused to let go of the cursed black sword that had pierced his chest, as if he would never let go.
"Crazy bastard!"
While receiving Sif's blows with his bare body, Rimmer moved his right arm, which was creaking. Sepia's sacred artifact seemed to grant his last wish, raising a great wind that threatened to push back the darkness.
"What is this!"
Sif shouted in shock and lowered his left hand. It seemed he was trying to defend himself using Alice's aura.
"But I'll still keep going."
Strength flooded his entire body as if he had regained his lost freedom. He gripped his sword and aimed with his fingertips. Enveloping the Garunua wind he had created and the Gale Wind Style that Raon had passed on to him, he thrust his sword. The distorted aura wall shattered with a blue-green light, and a deep sword wound was carved into Sif's chest.
"Haha..."
But now he truly seemed to have exhausted all his strength, unable to hold his sword.
"You're a stubborn pest! Fine! I won't kill you so easily!"
Although Sif could kill him at that moment, he pressed his aura against the cursed black sword as if to inflict even greater pain. The agony of feeling bones and flesh being crushed brought Rimmer back to reality. There was nothing he could do.
Just as he exhaled a blood-tinged breath while awaiting death, space tore open, and a winged human burst forth, spitting blood.
Following closely behind, a familiar flame pierced through space, and Raon and the children of the Light Wind Division appeared.
"As expected of Raon Zieghart. But you're a little late."
At Sif's mocking words, Raon and the children turned around. The turbulent emotions in the children's eyes at seeing his state painfully pierced Rimmer's heart. There was no need for such expressions. The reason he had lived until now, the reason he had endured with false arms and a false energy center, was all for their sake.
You made me live as a person once more. Ah. He could feel the time they had been given was running out. What should he say? Should he ask them to brutally kill that unfilial bastard? Should he tell them to pass a message on to Glenn to finally be honest?
Should he ask Raon to become the best Head of House, even though he wouldn't be able to see it? His disciples could fulfill any request. But he didn't want to burden the children who were already in distress with such heavy words. Then the answer was clear.
"Always..."
Rimmer swallowed the blood rising in his throat and smiled. He didn't want his disciples to remember his last face distorted.
"Be happy."
With the brightest smile of his life, he bid his final farewell. My young king. No, my greatest disciples.
-
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