Chapter 225 – 219 – Going Home Takes Four Steps
Sunstorm’s youngest daughter has appeared. Her baby, whom she thought was gone, has become a full-fledged adult.
Her name is Florica. She was once called Florica Waldenhardt, and these days she calls herself Florica Sunstorm. And now she is waiting for her family to call.
Some people were happy about the news. Some people felt fortunate to be alive. Everyone congratulated Mrs. Sunstorm as if it were natural.
However, only two people were definitely afraid of this.
“It took a long time just to hear her mother’s decision.”
Isilun sighed and said.
“It wasn’t that she didn’t want to see her daughter, it was that she was shocked and at a loss for words.”
“Oh my…”
“It took several months just to find the energy to lift a spoon. It took several more months to come out of my inner worries.”
It’s worth it. The situation was so complicated.
“Alive? The child in the upside-down crib? Then, how should I treat Adamantone, whom I have cherished in my heart until now? Is the daughter who could not even listen to her cries for a long time blaming her mother for not being there for her?”
Even though it is Lady Sunstorm’s fault for the years of hardship she spent under Adamantone, she cannot just think of anger.
I could unload a ton of burden, but her wife couldn’t. Isilun sighed.
“And when she regained her speech, she managed to say, ‘I miss you very much.'”
Since her wife was unwell and could not visit her, House Sunstorm sent for Florica.
Florica’s siblings. The family’s butlers and guards. Sometimes, there are even legendary professional adventurers who are old colleagues of Uncle Mansell and have formed their own parties and become independent.
And he failed to bring Florica with him. She didn’t even come back or give any news.
It was as if everyone had failed to persuade her, and she had gone into hiding for fear of disappointing Lady Sunstorm.
Uncle Mansell lamented and went out of his way to inquire about Florica’s whereabouts.
And then I found out why it was news to everyone. At least it wasn’t Florica’s fault.
If she really didn’t want to meet her mother, she at least had the audacity to say she didn’t want to.
While blindly blocking the swords of the assassins who came for Monica, Uncle Mansell asked everyone what the hell was going on.
It is said that the Gasols of Sunstorm who fought on Florica’s side smiled shyly.
At that time, Sister Monica… No. Sister Monica, as an apostle of Ishtar, was working to shake Mithra’s faith.
And Florica became the leader of the Holy Knights of Ishtar, fighting against the might of the Mithraic Church. Not only did he have the title of leader of the Holy Knights, but he became the leader of the actual knights.
What kind of knights are there in the Ishtar Church, which had nothing to do with it? Aren’t there some temple paladins who switched to Ishtar’s side, who helped us escape from Hwanhangok in the past?
The church’s holy knights who were looking for Monica, a witch who was spreading corruption, were stunned when they encountered over a thousand seniors, including the best of the church.
Of course, it was an impossible fight with those numbers alone. Even though the central figure, the Pope, arbitrarily resigned and disappeared, the power of the church spread throughout the world.
The assistance of the Sunstorm family, which appeared at the right time, was very welcome to the paladins.
Meanwhile, Florica felt comfortable in her body, but her mind became uneasy. This is because, as soon as she met her family, who couldn’t even go out for a picnic together, she felt like they were making her do something.
On the other hand, the Sunstorm family felt unwell, but their minds felt at ease.
It was thanks to this that Mrs. Sunstorm’s condition improved remarkably when news arrived that her daughter had not refused the meeting. The woman rose from her hospital bed, took control of the chaotic atmosphere of the family, and began to take care of her affairs.
Thanks to this, Uncle Mansell was able to focus on the fight instead of worrying about family business. Did you feel rejuvenated or something?
And in fact, the Sunstorm family and their friends had a grudge against the Church of Mithras. They were just trying to cover up what happened to Waldenhardt.
To help Florica, Uncle Mansell mobilized all the connections she could muster. She said she was quite surprised that she had such a wide network.
Perhaps jokingly, he may have established a dynasty by establishing a country in difficult times. It is said that it was from then on that the fight that seemed impossible became easier.
With no one in her family willing to back away from her sweet revenge, Florica finally stopped worrying about her. She thoroughly enjoyed the family activities she was experiencing for the first time.
The Sun Storm family was largely responsible for the fact that her older sister, Monica, was fine so far. Ishtar’s religious affiliation was able to expand day by day.
And now that the religious war was clearly on the line, the paladin applied for leave from the Ishtar Church. Monica Ishtarbon granted it in the name of the High Priestess of Desire. She said she was curious about when she was going to see him and told her to go quickly and come back slowly.
So Florica Sunstorm came back to her home…
“I’m scared.”
“I think Iteka is shaking a lot, Tan. Would you please hold her hand?”
No, Itheca Sunstorm has returned home.
It is said to be the original name. I haven’t decided which one will be my future name yet.
However, the youngest Sunstorm decided to be Itekai, at least for today. For someone who was waiting for Itheca.
I look back at Iteka and see that she is trembling like an aspen. She keeps fiddling with her beautiful black hair that resembles her mother, and tears well up in her golden eyes that resemble her father.
Her pounding pulse is transmitted to the palm she is holding, as if she is pushing my hand away with her heartbeat.
I held Iteka’s hand tightly. Isilun held the hand that was wandering on the other side. Teka, who was caught by two people and unable to move, pouted his mouth and then lowered his head as if in resignation.
And he lifted it up vigorously.
“···I’m not scared anymore. Let’s go.”
“Does your mind change that quickly?”
“You are here, and Sister Isilun is here. What’s there to be afraid of?”
Itheca smiled faintly. It is not a tired-looking laugh like before, but a laugh that shakes off everything and leaves only laughter.
Holding my and Isilun’s hands tightly, Itheka raised her arms.
And instead of using her big door knocker, she knocked on the door of her mansion with her clasped hands.
Yes, here we are.
What is there to be afraid of heading beyond the door?
—————-
Same time, distant hill.
The door opens. Sunstorm’s mistress appears. It looks like he was waiting at the entrance the whole time after hearing the news.
The deeply wrinkled wrinkles, as if they had been punished by the time spent alive, magically widen in an instant. It was as if she was reliving backwards the years that had been lost to her sadness.
Adamantone felt bitter at the sight seen through the telescope. He tried not to, but he couldn’t help it.
Adamantone had never seen his mother’s happy face, even shedding tears like a child.
[It’s probably not because I don’t love you or because you’re not good enough. Because you were not lost to him. So cheer up.]
“It may seem far-fetched, but it’s comforting. Anyway, I really should go to a psychiatrist. Why do I keep hearing hallucinations?”
[···As I said yesterday, the day before, and a week ago, I am Edin. The first Hero who became your guardian spirit and came to help you.]
“Damn.”
[···Just as Ishtar once sent Lilith to Thane, I accepted the role of your guardian spirit at the request of the gods of the pantheon. If you don’t believe me, go to the city of pantheons instead of a psychiatric hospital. The priests will confirm my identity.]
“Looking at the way you say this, it’s not an auditory hallucination, it’s a ghost.”
Adamantone said triumphantly. The Guardian Spirit signed in Adamantone’s mind.
“I already read it in the Party Alliance newsletter. The possessed spirit monster attached to my body is deceiving me by saying that it is my ancestor and that there is treasure buried in the ground. Is that right?”
[No.]
“Why don’t you say no? The gods even bothered to ask me to send the dead first hero to me? Not the blue-gold hero Te or Everlight, but me, a person with a mental head who desperately needs counseling from a mental health expert? Do you believe that?”
[···I might be that mental health expert.]
Edin began to worry about her future. But she was not discouraged. He was a human being who did not give up a ray of hope even when facing a demon god.
In fact, compared to his last address, the World Temple, even Adamantone’s jumbled mind was like paradise.
[Maybe the gods thought I was the only one who could endure you as a guardian spirit.]
“Possessed spirit bastard, you tell jokes like shit.”
[It must be a joke. It’s possessed by a spirit that claims to be Edin. To you, whose birth process and life as a hero were distorted by the fragments of Demon King Edin. You will feel that it is filthy.]
“That’s right. You bastard.”
[It’s all my fault. All the hardships you went through and the sadness your mother went through. If my soul hadn’t been shattered by the demon’s whispers, if the broken pieces hadn’t come out together when I ran away from the World Temple for a while, such a tragedy wouldn’t have happened.]
Adamantone snorted. The division of Edin was a major historical event.
If that hadn’t happened, not only Adamantone, but even the Sunstorm family members might not have been born at all. The premise of ‘if it had not been so’ is absurd.
However, we cannot simply tell those who survived to be thankful for their survival. At least the soul possessed by Adamantone thinks so.
Adamantone felt very uncomfortable with that. Because he vaguely shared his partner’s thoughts, he was annoyed because he kept thinking about things he hadn’t thought about.
And on the other hand, it was also because I slowly felt like he was really Edin.
Trying to apologize for something that cannot be apologized for is horribly moral and befits a man who does not know the impossible.
[A swarm of proliferating steel rats, with the sword splitting into pieces and sticking out. The flowering power of the lighthouse you carry on your back.]
“It must be a half-Uza lighthouse.”
[Listen until the end. Why do you keep interrupting people?]
Edin was moved to tears without realizing it. And he regained his composure, embarrassed by himself.
[Hmm. In a battle between warrior swords and hero swords, you may be able to hurt your opponent with that ability, but it will be difficult to protect yourself if the sword spirit disappears.]
“Are you going to fight?”
[However, there are some points where it is superior to other warrior swords. If the opponent is an army or a monster of a size that cannot be fought. For example, even if there are hundreds of fragments of the Demon King or a hideous fusion of hundreds of them… There is a huge chance of victory that cannot be expected with a single sword.]
Adamantone felt smug for some reason and twitched his mouth. Edin felt like squeezing him. Adamantone, who shared that feeling, became depressed again.
[The gods believe that the power to deal with non-humans will one day be put to good use. Perhaps Thena Everlight will not be the only hero who achieves the feat of saving the world in this era.]
“Well, there is no law that says there must be only one such great person in an era.”
Adamanthon shrugged his shoulders.
“That’s probably not me. Now I know how to understand the topic. Stop talking nonsense.”
And when it comes to world crises, it’s actually better if they don’t happen.
Adam Manton’s body trembled without even realizing it. It was terrifying to think that the same situation from a year ago would happen again.
He almost tried to become a monster, made extreme choices, and eventually participated in the subjugation of the Demon King.
···It wasn’t that bad because I accomplished something.
Edin found new hope at that point.
In Adamantone’s mind, which was disturbed by wrong choices and self-doubt, a sense of responsibility was shining brightly.
Adamantone does not know what his own essence is. What is he? How on earth did the Demon Lord save the baby and stuff him under the Sunstorm family’s blanket?
Did he kidnap from a random house? So, could he be a child from another Hero family? Could this be the child he created with the maid who allegedly committed suicide?
If none of them are true, could it be that he is a monster in human form? Could he have been a time bomb designed to be used as a weapon and discarded, designed to make people believe he was a dragon?
Does he deserve to breathe like a human, calling himself Sun Storm? Maybe not.
But when darkness like the past comes into his life, will he run away in fear? Maybe not.
While trembling like a mouse, he might take out Uza’s lighthouse and rush forward to attach the bell to the cat’s neck. At that moment his material is not important.
They are called warriors because they take action. The first hero remembers.
[···That will happen. I vow, Adamantone Sunstorm. I will make you a proud warrior and send you back to your mother. That will be Edin’s apology to the mistress of Sunstorm.]
Adamantone flinched. It was because he thought his true feelings were revealed.
The reason he didn’t return home for the past year was because he couldn’t face his mother with pride.
A part of the adult Adamantone felt ashamed. About himself, who has not been faithful as a warrior.
And the little child in Adamantone’s heart was feeling the fear that came from the worries of his origins. He compares himself to Itheka, who was originally their child, and thinks that someone might think he is not Sunstorm.
Edin thought such fear was familiar. The gloom that he may have already failed completely. The compulsion not to fail any further than this.
As the first warrior, he also felt it. Everyone lives in their own curse. Everyone fails.
A life in which failure is not allowed is also absurd. Because life is already a failure.
[Life begins when you stop worrying too much about such things. So don’t worry too much.]
“What are you talking about? Write a self-help book?”
Edin also failed to suppress his anger just now.
Adamantone was extremely embarrassed by the verbal abuse and swearing coming from someone who may have been his childhood idol. And he soon got into a fight and started a verbal duel.
Because of that pointless scuffle, the two failed to notice the approach from behind in time.
The audience, who were appreciating Adamantone’s profanity that seemed to be talking to himself, spoke with expressions of bewilderment that could not be concealed.
“What are you doing in the air? Have you finally tasted it? Well, the taste has been gone for a while.”
“Ah. You’re here.”
Adamantone looked back. I tried to calm down and smiled.
“Mindina, Moriba.”
Among Adamantone’s party members who were scattered due to the party leader’s temper, there were three who remained by his side in the end.
Tan, the porter who has been with us from the beginning. And the two people who were recruited later, the wizard Mindina. Healer Moriba.
Adamantone even kicked out the most useful bullet among them. It was partly due to jealousy, and there was also a feeling of despair.
Since the party was already ruined due to lack of ability, I tried to have a relaxing time with the two girls who were trying to cling to the Sunstorm family.
Now that I think about it, if I hadn’t made up my mind like that, there might have been a chance of rebuilding the party.
“I was a scumbag. I knew you both were desperate for connections, but I took advantage of that and acted like an asshole. I’m so sorry. Mindina and Moriba.”
“Call me Mindina ship mechanic or Moriba shipboard healer.”
That response was bizarre. It sounded like he was giving orders to his subordinates. It was a little different from the thought that he had a decent job.
But Adamanton, as always, did not notice that.
“That’s a bit long…”
“It’s okay even if it’s difficult to memorize. You will soon memorize it.”
“But why are you two here? You said you’d meet me at the restaurant in about two hours.”
There was nothing around. There were no places to sit and chat, like an adventurer’s inn or a proper store, and not even passers-by.
This is a mountain valley. Unless you followed in my footsteps, there was no way we would meet in a place like this. Adamantone curled his lips once.
“And, why do you feel the presence of someone behind you?”
“···I forgive you, Adamantone. In fact, we decided to let go of our resentment toward you a long time ago.”
“Well, about half of it. You were too young to resist the temptation of the opposite sex. Our intentions weren’t pure either.”
“I get goosebumps when I think about the dangers like naval battles and dragons that I faced thanks to you, but thanks to you, I was able to get a decent job.”
“Looking back, there were things we did wrong. For example, kicking out the porter and having a hard time at the last minute was because we thought it would be an obstacle when trying to tempt you, so we secretly encouraged it.”
“···Did you do that?”
Adamantone was perplexed.
If it were him in the past, he would have gotten angry just thinking about what happened to him. However, the current Adamantone was simply surprised. He drew a line for himself that he was not in a position to be angry.
It is because Adamantone understood his true nature. His essence is deficiency. In order to divert his attention from lack, Adamantone became a man’s anger toward others.
But lack was not going to remain lack anymore. Mindina and Moriba were quite surprised when they encountered a human who had become somewhat fulfilled.
“···It’s changed a lot.”
“What?”
“···It seems like my thoughts are firmly in the direction of forgiveness.”
“It seems like you keep changing the subject. What is this popularity behind your back?”
“… These are the people who never forgave you. They’re called the ‘press-gang,’ you know?”
“What is that? Is it a gang?”
“It is a word that refers to an action, not a group. It is a beautiful tradition of the maritime nation of Tobetan.”
As Adama Manton pondered where he had heard of To Betan, he felt a shiver run down his spine.
Mindina and Moriba surprisingly forgave Adamantone. But did Aleister Tomko forgive?
“From now on, your name will be ‘Ada.'”
“It feels like something has been reduced to be as unpleasant as possible.”
Adamantone drew his sword and aimed it, steeling his will. The body of the sword, beautifully restored after the fight with the devil, was revealed in the sunlight.
I didn’t want to hurt anyone, but I couldn’t let Captain Tomko capture me again. Even these days, I often have nightmares about his leg being cut off by a bullet.
Edin, the guardian spirit who shared the memory, stuttered to her shock and advised: Pulling out a sword and fighting at a moment like this is never something to be ashamed of as a warrior, and even if it is a little extreme, it can be recognized as an act of self-defense.
However, there is no need to put too much will into the hand holding the sword. Because…
Adamantone looked at his drawn sword. Before he knew it, Uja’s lighthouse had turned into a bunch of rats and was sinking beneath his feet.
Adamantone looked ahead. The identity of the assassin brought by Moriba and Mindina was a wizard with a staff with a skull on it. He was watching from afar as the body of the warrior’s sword, which would reflect any magic, disappeared.
“···Welcome aboard voluntarily, Sailor Ada.”
The helmsman and Magus-class wizard sent by Tomko shrugged his shoulders and cast lightning magic. Adamantone was paralyzed as he proposed to solve the problem through dialogue.
Moriba and Mindina, who were looking at the fallen and trembling Adamanton, placed the fresh new crew member they had just captured on a stretcher. And I walked following the helmsman’s lead.
“Forgiveness means… Well, there are no personal feelings.”
“I forgave Captain Tomko after hearing that he would find you again. Hearing that story made me feel sorry for him…”
[Wait a minute, things seem to be going strange. Is there anyone outside?]
Electricity affects the brain. Adamantone’s mind was shut down, and Edin, trapped inside its body, cried out earnestly.
Perhaps, the door will open again, and the guardian spirit will come out after a deck wipe, or a rowing oar is placed in Adamantone’s hand.
[Hey, the pantheon sent me! Evenna and her colleagues were waiting for me, and we were originally scheduled to go on a long journey together by now! They said this was important, so they put it off for a while!]
His fate was fixed by two events. In one, he attacked the pirate Tomco by loading the contractors who had dared to eat on the street into a boat. The other is the engagement of Morgan Tomko and Tan Bhan Thai.
Aleister Tomko needed someone to vent his anger on, as his daughter was taken over by Nome Top, who could not be touched because he was the Dragon Lord’s companion.
Perhaps Adamantone Sunstorm will become a legendary warrior who wields Uja’s lighthouse to face the great threat that will come to the world. Maybe he can go on a less dangerous adventure and become a better warrior than before.
Otherwise, you may be in a hurry and make a series of mistakes. It’s okay though. In the end, isn’t it human’s job to wake up and dream again? However, none of this is going to happen right away.
What will happen to him now is that he will serve as a junior member of Tobetan’s crew. Under Aleister Tomko, who will personally crush him with overflowing anger.
[What is a press-gang? What is a press-gang! Where are you kidnapping the child? Hey, you crazy bastards! Get me out of here! I’m going to Evenna-!]
