Chapter 230 – 230. When to Force Yourself (1)
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El asked for a conversation.
In response, Yushin accepted El’s request.
We walked through the sanctuary together. Leaving Liana behind for a while, Yushin and El walked around the world tree and talked about ‘rituals’.
“I heard the story directly from Ardena.”
“… Is that so.”
“After hearing the story, I realized that Sir El Cid is a very irresponsible person.”
“Am I irresponsible?”
Yushin nodded her head at El’s question.
“Aren’t you going to put all her burden and guilt on Ardena and then enjoy the peace of her death?”
“…….”
Longing for the dead.
Regret and guilt towards those who left first.
Elle has lived her whole life surrounded by her yearning, regret, and guilt for her older sister.
Like me who lost her sister early and wandered, Ardena will also wander aimlessly, missing me. While carrying the guilt for the rest of her life… I will swallow solitude and loneliness while staying awake at lonely nights.
“I cannot deny Mr. Gilead’s words. In the end, because of her selfish actions, Ardena will have painful memories of her for the rest of her life.”
When she thought of Ardena, who would go through painful memories all her life after leaving her teacher, her sadness and pity surged.
I am selfish.
Using her justice and justification as a weapon, she made her disciple make a painful choice.
It’s a decision for my fellow countrymen,
It was unavoidable to prevent new threats coming in the distant future,
Can I really say that proudly?
“All for Ardena and her compatriots.”
“Do you really think so?”
“… Yes it is.”
El’s cheeks trembled as he answered Yushin’s words.
Immature in lies
The shameless role didn’t suit him.
It must be something he knows.
El Cid knew that her self-consolation and self-satisfaction were contained in her words that she had made a decision that had no choice but to be made for the sake of Ardena and her compatriots.
That is why she trembles on her shoulders as she lies.
“Do you know what state Ardena is in now?”
“…….”
“She was in such a state of shock that her life or death was in jeopardy. Ardena, who never lost her honor and dignity under any circumstances, was ruined because of your selfish act.”
Yushin showed her anger as she glared at the elf in her light purple hair.
The one who drove Ardena down.
The culprit that destroyed her spirit and her ego.
It was only natural that Yushin, Ardena’s lover, would show hostility to El. If she hadn’t made that choice, she would still be spending happy days with her master, whom she reunited with after 300 years.
“Mister Gilead.”
L, whose expression was full of sorrowful remorse, opened her mouth.
“I have seen with my own eyes the deaths of countless compatriots. My eyes and ears are all over the Liberia Peninsula. And I went through hell for a long, long time.”
I have witnessed countless deaths.
It was a murder by the demon king’s army. Every time he witnessed a gruesome death, El Cid had to experience their screams, wails and fear.
I came to know through that terrible sight.
If I had stepped out,
If it hadn’t been for the intervention of the oath, it might have been possible to save all of the compatriots who were killed by the demon king’s army.
“Although it is said that Sabnak fell and the Demon King’s army gathered in the Liberia Peninsula was all disintegrated… There are still countless threats lurking everywhere. You never know when a dangerous disaster will happen to your compatriots again. That’s why I’m going to pass on all my powers and powers to Ardena. If it is Ardena, she will surely be able to become a great hero who is respected and respected by her compatriots instead of me.”
From El’s voice, you could get a glimpse of her infinite faith and trust in her disciple.
I believe in my disciple.
That’s why he tries to leave behind.
May Ardena become a hero much respected and respected by her compatriots,
He hoped to become a hero who moved forward while carrying out goodwill and justice.
“I hope that Ardena will become a hero praised by everyone. For his sake, he would accept a villain or whatever. For the rest of my life, it will be recorded as one of the memories I want to forget as the child’s trauma… I’m willing to risk everything if that alone can bring Ardena and his compatriots peace and happiness.”
“Is he saying it’s okay to be the villain himself? Even if he is hated by Ardena all his life?”
“Yes.”
Although El knew that her relationship with Ardena would never be undone, she would go from bad to worse, but she said that it would be enough if everyone except herself could head towards a hopeful future.
Have you decided to throw away your lingering feelings now?
L met Yushin’s gaze with her expression as if she had given up.
“If I declare that I will burn the World Tree, what will you do with me?”
Yushin raised his hand and pointed at the World Tree.
Pillars of life supporting the Liberia Peninsula.
Yushin dared to use the World Tree to threaten the elves’ allies.
At that threat, El opened her mouth with her eyes narrowed.
“Mr. Gilead, you are Ardena’s precious lover. If I say goodbye to this world, you must protect Ardena. For me, who will be saying goodbye to Ardena soon, Mr. Gilead is an important person. But beyond that… I’m asking you, but don’t cross the line you shouldn’t cross.”
The moment El released a part of his power,
Yushin felt the pain as if a strong hand was gripping his heart.
Kuck. She was out of breath
Cold sweat broke out as her face contorted.
Her legs gave out strength, and she felt like she was going to kneel at any moment, but she persevered.
‘As expected, I’m a pledger like Master, I can’t compete with someone like me. Obviously, it wouldn’t even be a first impression. I wouldn’t know if Master would come out himself, but I can’t help it.’
The power gap is absolute.
It was clear that if he tried to harm the World Tree, he would be immediately stopped by El Cid.
It is practically impossible to forcibly stop the ceremony by harming the World Tree. So Yushin tried to convince El Cid through conversation, but she only confirmed her firm determination.
“Mister Gilead.”
Elle opened her mouth.
Then, raising her head, she opened her mouth again while facing Yushin’s gaze.
“I want to ask for your cooperation. Help Ardena make her decision. She wants him to make a wise decision… , I need your strength.”
This is all for Ardena.
That’s why I want to ask you.
So that Ardena can come to the sanctuary on her own.
And sacrifice her master’s life so she can accept her new destiny.
“I will refuse. Even if you have to die, I came to stop the ritual.”
“… It means that you will end up pretending to be with me.”
“Yes. There will be no holding hands.”
In response to Yushin’s determination, L let out a deep sigh and nodded her head.
“I’m sorry.”
As soon as those words were finished, the World Tree, which was looking down at Yushin and El Cid, began to stir greatly.
A sudden change in the number of worlds.
The giant divine tree began to change as if time was running out.
Dark green energy erupted from the broad and majestic branches. Dark green vitality. The energy was preparing to grow, clinging to the branches like a flower in full bloom.
* * *
The walls of the building collapsed with a roar that sounded like an ember falling on a pile of gunpowder piled high.
The epicenter of the shock was Ardena’s bedroom,
The shock wave that started in the bedroom spread throughout the mansion and caused a huge explosion.
Falling building debris,
Dirt obscuring the view.
Valencia Castle was greatly shaken by the brutal behavior of the beast that attacked without mercy.
‘A monstrous year. Have I lost my reason!’
Ardena drew her sword as she glared at Allen, who charged like a beast driven by her instincts.
A holy sword adorned with blue jewels,
It was a sword that was bestowed by Master in the past.
After she learned the real reason for bestowing her holy sword from El Cid, Ardena threw her holy sword into the corner of the room as if treating her hideous object. This is because the Holy Sword, which she believed was proof of Master’s trust, was actually a weapon that existed to harm Master.
So, Ardena cursed herself for cherishing her holy sword and rejected her holy sword.
But ironically,
In a situation of crisis, the weapon in her hand was the Holy Sword bestowed by Master.
“Did he show his teeth after all, mad dog!!”
Ardena shouted.
She held up her blue jeweled holy sword,
I glared at the blue-haired female knight who was groaning.
Allen destroyed part of Valencia Castle with a single blow. Ardena had to feel the fear caused by her monstrous power.
If Allen had attacked with sincerity….
Valencia Castle, which boasts an innocent history, must have suffered a large-scale collapse.
“I don’t like your face. What is that stupid face? Aren’t you the same as a loser or a loser? It’s none of my business where you slit your wrists or hang yourself, but I look like an idiot whenever you look like that. I think I look like an idiot for thinking of a bitch like you as my nemesis, even for a moment!!”
I, who thought of you as my match for a moment,
I, who gave you my brother for a while,
If I had known she was such an insignificant bitch, I wouldn’t have thought of her as a rival in the first place, and I wouldn’t have given up the man I love even for a moment.
“Kuk!”
Allen ran in, reaching out to her.
In response, Ardena slashed Allen’s body with her sharp sword strikes.
However, all of the sharp swordsmanships that he swung as if they had hit a solid piece of metal were broken. Seeing that grotesque appearance, Ardena distanced herself from Allen while swallowing her drool.
“Did you stab it with a cleaver?”
Allen scratched her own skin with his fingers in a voice that contained her mockery.
She only cut her clothes with a sword strike.
Even though she was cut several times in a short moment, Allen was fine.
She became a monster plus a monster. Ardena was stunned at the appearance of Allen who was unscathed even though she wielded her sword technique, which increased her cutting power.
“A weak year. It’s still an asshole face.”
A face I still don’t like,
At the sight of Ardena, who still had her face full of sadness and loneliness, Allen distorted her face.
She quickly reached out her hand.
Ardena swung her sword as if to fight back, but Allen was unscathed.
“Cuck!”
Before long, her Allen’s hand caught Ardena’s neck.
A strong grip grabbed the high elf warrior’s neck and lifted it up.
And after she lifted it into the air,
As it was thrown onto the floor full of building debris, Ardena was left in a state of inability to recover. After walking over to Ardena, who had fallen to the ground, she even trampled her under the neck with one of her feet.
“Kuuuuu!!”
As she fell to the floor, she lost the hilt of her sword.
Ardena, who had become empty-handed, tried to kick her foot, which was trampling on her, with her two hands, but her Allen’s foot did not budge, as if a rock had stood on it.
“Look. Did the swordsman miss her hilt? How far have you become an idiot, you?”
“Shut up… La… !!”
Ardena responded with bloodshot eyes to Allen’s insulting words.
But the situation did not change.
Ardena was helplessly overpowered and Allen held her life.
If Allen added strength to her feet, the beautiful figure of the high elf warrior would never be seen again.
“If you’re shutting yourself in the corner of your room like that and weeping, who’s coming to help? Do you think all problems will be solved if you advertise that you are suffering or that you are sad? You’re welcome. Nothing gets better because you don’t do anything! It’s stupid to think all the problems will be solved when you’re just messing around in the corner of the room!!”
Ardena contorted her face as Allen groaned and began to press her feet further.
No,
It wasn’t because of the pain.
It was because she was in such a humiliating position that she listened to her advice from her woman, whom she regarded as a mere beast. And she was so disgusted with herself that she kept her mouth shut without even protesting at her messy words.
“Go tell me! If you don’t want to do it, don’t force it like a fuck! That’s how you say your true intentions, you stuffy bitch! Please don’t talk about that fucking justice thing and do what you want!!”
Ardena’s appearance reminded Allen of her own past.
A past I don’t want to remember again.
It was her own childhood, forced into the role of her ‘Little God’ by her father.
Her father’s fearful coercion, her brothers’ cold stares, and her family’s fear of seeing monsters weighed on her, and she remembered her past, when she locked herself in her room and cried.
For that reason… ,
She ended up acting like she didn’t like herself. Even to the nemesis I hate the most in this world.
‘I really don’t know what I’m doing. If this bitch leaves on her own, I can take over my brother.’
Allen lamented to himself that he had no idea what he was doing.
