Chapter 103 – Regret
*
Same time.
Escalia was drowning in pain.
The white fire that burns the body, and the sword of light that rips through the intestines.
She didn’t kill her……
There is no way to give up your own life,
It was a great pain, enough to be her greatest misfortune.
‘Hurt. Hurt. Hurt. Hurt.’
Like walking barefoot on a thorny path.
Like falling endlessly into an abyss of darkness.
Her continuing pain was all she had left.
‘Hurt. Hurt. Hurt. Hurt.’
Even the whispers of pain are worn out and repeated over and over until they crumble…….
Her mind goes white,
By the time I thought I was already dead.
Escalia sees familiar visions.
“Escalia, here you are.”
Escalia in that fantasy is small.
It is so small and weak that it would tip over if hit by a human foot.
A thick, large hand that guides such an existence.
“Escalia, come here.”
The man’s voice, Escalia remembered.
‘Who are you…. Who are you?’
I felt only a deep longing.
When we are steeped in fantasy, we are freed from pain,
On the contrary, she wakes up in extreme pain, this piece of memory,
Where did you pick it up……
I just couldn’t think of that at all.
‘It doesn’t matter who. Because you brought me out of this pain for a while.’
When you have time to think,
The first thing that comes to mind is……
It’s not the enemy who defeated me, the hero Ethan Hillrail.
It wasn’t even the Demon Lord’s army full of loyalty that he could die for me.
Family.
One and only family.
‘Brother……. Sorry….’
Escalia was recalling her encounter with Chokkai.
When she first met her older sister, she was shy and didn’t know what to do with that guy who used a strange tone.
I caressed her thick body as if to compliment her, and the way she distorted was also cute.
Brother, brother
Escalia could feel her brother’s presence even from afar.
Many monsters are born under the influence of Premia,
She felt a deep connection only to her and, above all, to Chok-goe.
I don’t know why.
That specialness quickly became an attachment.
Escalia was fond of Chokkai.
‘My cute sister.’
Do you know how sad your sister was when you died?
Even if I killed all the humans, I wasn’t satisfied…….
Did it become strange because of the continuous pain?
Escalia recently
She learned from a distance that her brother had come to life.
‘Whoa, whoa, is this body that is called the Demon King going crazy when it goes crazy?’
To think that her cute little sister, who died 8 years ago, is back alive.
Even as Escalia cursed her own weakness.
‘…… I hope it helps.’
She struggled as she leaned on the slightest possibility.
She’s already been terribly defeated.
Even a body that is only alive in shame.
If you can help her brother,
Will howl of destruction.
I, Escalia, can go out into the world anytime.
‘It’s not about making something like the Demon King’s army and commanding the world….’
Escalia let out deep regret with her breath.
‘…… I should have been with you.’
*
The kingdom is ahead of an important event called the selection of warriors.
A vulgar monster that produces monsters by enslaving women….
The appearance of the 〈 Toucher 〉 made a lot of noise.
“Is Jonas… Dead…?”
As soon as Claire returned, she had to hear the sad news in a row.
The White Flower Knights were on the verge of destruction.
34 dead, 14 seriously injured, 11 pregnant.
Although the brigade members returned alive and well,
As if his soul had already been taken away, he was mesmerized and continued to sob.
The White Flower Knights had the atmosphere of a mourning house.
“Captain…”
“I’m sorry, Captain.”
“……What about Sir and Lire?”
Claire, who always brightened the atmosphere of the Knights,
She noticed that her pink-haired twins were nowhere to be seen.
“That is….”
“No way…….”
“…They say they are quitting the article.”
The Lilcire sisters were cute successors that Claire was also fond of.
Although it was burdensome to say that I would always become a knight like Claire…
It would be a lie if I said there was no joy in my heart.
It all happened while Claire was away.
When it became known that the White Flower Knights, who were called the strongest in the kingdom, were defeated in the capital, not anywhere else.
The existence of 〈 Choke 〉 also became famous.
“Did you hear that rumor?”
“They said they couldn’t capture him even after the knights were almost wiped out.”
“Isn’t it a big deal?”
“It’s really fucked up.”
“I heard that he emits a strange pheromone, so women can’t stand it.”
‘… It’s my mistake.’
On Claire’s desk was a mission report ghostwritten by Globa for one of her men.
〈 Choke 〉 is still alive.
‘If only I hadn’t been away.’
However, he is also himself who thinks that there is nothing he can do about it.
‘My mission was to defeat the Demon King. But….’
In the capital, monsters that were not demon lords rampaged, and the knights were annihilated.
Even the people close to him died.
‘This wasn’t what I was trying to do….’
If it’s to defeat the demon king,
Are you saying it’s okay for everyone else to die?
I didn’t think of it that way. However…….
When you leave this city
It was true that he left after thinking about his priorities like that.
Why?
Because if you kill the demon king, peace will come?
From a broader perspective, subjugation of the demon lord leads to peace.
However, the Demon King is not an existence that can be easily killed.
A person with a brilliant talent that can be counted on his hand, who has constantly worked hard and polished his skills,
The strongest skill from heaven, the strongest weapon….
Even if you wipe out countless opportunities and be with the best colleagues….
Sometimes, even if you have to endure immediate sacrifice, you have to devote everything to stabbing the demon king before you can barely reach it.
The one who has to do that is a warrior.
The knight of Rune Kingdom….
As I swore when I was knighted, I have to protect people.
So that people in front of you don’t get hurt.
So that the person next to me is not in danger.
‘That was my duty.’
The warrior knew.
Where I should be
“Where is the vice-captain now?”
“I’m resting at home.”
Claire immediately went to see Globa.
“Chokgae is alive. Captain.”
“Uncle Clova, what did you see?”
“I saw the evil omen I saw in the forest that day.
Globa told Claire everything that had happened that day.
The monster that has now appeared is not 〈 type 〉,
It’s 〈 Choker 〉 that occupied the monster’s forest 8 years ago…….
Right before he was defeated, a black substance came out and interfered with himself.
That’s what controlled the member’s brain and expressed the intention of “I want to live”.
Claire chewed on each one and nodded at him.
“Don’t worry, I’m here. I’ll definitely find and deal with the monster.”
Globa held Claire’s hand tightly.
“Uncle Clopas?”
“It’s… Dangerous… That guy… A woman…”
“I don’t think she loses because she’s a woman.”
“……Claire…”
“Rest, mister. It’ll all be over by the time you get up.”
Same time.
Liana, who returned to the capital, was laughing as if she was having fun after receiving her report.
There’s nothing quite as bizarre as a laugh when you’re not in a situation to laugh, so everyone was desperate to avoid eye contact with Liana and her leader.
“It’s interesting. Did they lure you in? Let them come once… How did they control that many people?”
Brainwashing? If you were brainwashed, how would you have been brainwashed?
Would Tia betray the same principle?
If so, is each person thinking and moving? Is a single will controlling them?
Liana let every conceivable number run through her brain, and she smiled blissfully.
It was madness.
“Ah, I want to know!”
The final conclusion is always the same.
“I want to explore. I want to dig. I want to taste it. The desirable fruit of wisdom awaits me.”
“Everything, Captain?”
“The Knights of the Holy Spirit are not functioning properly, so please call the intelligence department.”
“Ancient!!”
‘Turning…… ! I want you to have fun with me this time.’
Liana was a loyal female knight who contributed more to the kingdom than anyone else.
Another aspect is the monster of an inquisitive mind.
In a way, she doesn’t take things like human casualties seriously,
What truth she could reach was her most important character.
Her sense of smell was predicting.
Something very interesting will happen to the kingdom.
After some time after each knight commander finished grasping the situation,
Princess Aira called them.
“This is Claire, the leader of the Hundred Flowers Knights. Meet the princess.”
“I’m Riana, leader of the Knights of the Holy Spirit~. Meet the princess.”
The senators present immediately reprimanded them.
“International disgrace!”
“The mission failed, and the knights were destroyed!”
“This is the highest figure since the founding of the country.”
“How embarrassing!”
Princess Aira’s expression was also not good.
For an important event called the selection of warriors,
At this time when important people from all over the world are gathered…….
Isn’t there a hole in the middle of the capital with a ‘bang’?
Won’t the knights be destroyed?
It was a situation where the board was too messy to just treat it as a scandal and pass it on.
“…I will ask you without hesitation. Knight Commanders.”
“Yes!”
“Yes~.”
“I received a report that the Chokkai is the same Chokkai from 8 years ago. Is this true?”
“Yes. The vice-captain confirmed it himself.”
“Princess! You must punish the knight commander who abandoned his duties before that.”
Abandonment of duties…
It was an absurd quibble, but
The Senate was already in a very angry situation, and even a child seemed difficult to appease.
“There’s nothing special about white flowers!”
“It’s really pathetic. It’s pathetic.”
“Stop.”
Ira put a wedge in the atmosphere of legally pouring out abusive language.
“The future is more important than arguing about the past. If Chokgoe is alive, we must take care of it before something ugly happens again.”
“The princess is right.”
“But is it possible with the current weakened Knights?”
“In addition, according to rumors, touch monsters are very strong against women…”
“It’s a big deal. The knight commanders of the kingdom are all young girls…”
Impatiently, Claire opened her eyes.
“I will definitely take care of it! I stake the honor of the Hundred Flowers Knights!”
Everyone shut up.
It’s unprecedented for Claire to come out with such a strong attitude.
It is majestic as if a retired Sirocco has returned.
Since Claire had already proven her skills many times over, the noise disappeared in an instant.
Ira said quietly.
“Claire, Liana. Is that possible?”
“Let’s take a look.”
The elder, who had a temper until the end, shouted.
“You want to find out? You don’t have the spirit of a young leader! Captain Liana, can you make up for your failure that way?”
“It’s my job to find out. If Chokgae is lurking here, maybe the intelligence department can investigate you.”
“…Ugh…”
“Ooh, are you going to blackmail us?”
“In front of the princess… Rude…!”
Liana quietly continued her words without hesitation.
“Ah, but according to the information, Chokkai seems to hate men very much. If something like that is hiding in the city… It wouldn’t be strange if someone died.”
The elders suddenly became quiet, as if in a realization.
No one can intimidate Liana.
Her thoughts have already entered the realm where the perpetrator cannot interfere.
“I have one thing to ask of you, Princess.”
“What is it?”
“I would like you to release the behavior restrictions of the Church Intelligence Department.”
“……Are you telling me to declare an emergency?”
Archon Delia, who had been quiet, stepped out.
“Princess. If you declare an emergency, it will interfere with the selection of heroes.”
“But there is no doubt that this is an emergency. I will declare a state of emergency. Director Liana, the deadline is one week.”
“…Thank you.”
“I will give a big reward to the Knights who have done their job. Please step back.”
“Yes!”
After the audience, the two
We came out into the hallway and looked at each other.
“It’s time to compete, Claire.”
“……Please call me if you need my help, Captain Liana.”
“Oh my God. Don’t you have any desire to compete?”
“It doesn’t matter who catches it first. It has to be done before the damage spreads further.”
“Because 〈 Choker 〉 might be the second demon lord?”
“No.”
Claire said firmly.
“It’s because it’s a monster that threatens people’s safety.”
“It might be difficult to find the main body. 〈 Chokkoe 〉 is said to have created dozens of limbs in its nest eight years ago and used them freely.”
“Globa Ah… According to the vice-captain, it’s about the size of a human head and shaped like a starfish.”
“Then it could hide inside a human body.”
“…”
Liana’s idea struck Claire in an unexpected place.
She is so gross that it makes me frown just imagining it, but….
“…Captain Liana is creative.”
“What do you think?”
“Are you entering the body of a dead person? If you are a living person, you will not be able to stand up because of the pain.”
“Umm. I’d like to see it myself.”
Claire felt chills from Liana’s behavior.
“‘Jun’ is emergency. Captain Liana. You don’t intend to lay your hands on the kingdom’s subjects, do you?”
“No way. I’m a knight who follows orders well.”
“I… Plan to organize a search party as soon as I return, and patrol the city.”
“Like the guards?”
“…Because the enemy is inside.”
Liana smiled softly.
“Because there’s a corner where I can figure it out. If I find out something, I’ll tell you.”
“…Thank you.”
Nod
Claire bowed her head to Liana and strode over her.
‘…… It might be a little irritating to Claire, who is still young.’
At the news of the return of the knight commander,
The chaotic atmosphere of the street gradually stabilized.
By the time the story about the 〈 Choke 〉, which had been floating around like gossip, was fading…….
‘I’ll go see you now. Tia.’
Liana put her into action.
