Tale of the Fake Hero - Chapter 289



Only Noblemtl

Season 3: Episode 97

The ten days of waiting for Cheongseong to join were like a turning point in Laminea Alter Aradmantel’s life.

Consumption of life.

The limits of life.

Death was imminent. I could feel the signs of death in my body, which was slowly losing its strength.

“So I decided to try everything I wanted to do.”

What would it be like to kiss the man you love for the first time? To fall asleep together at night and wake up together in the morning?

“Lord Lamine, wait, no… …!”

Was it the emptiness of my ending life that turned into loneliness, or was it a desire to protest the cruel world by committing an act of flight?

Just one day of deviation.

It must have been just one violation of military discipline… … but after five days, I felt a dull urge in my lower abdomen.

‘lie.’

This was not the pain of approaching death.

The birth of life… … .

It was a shock to the order of creation, a human being being born from a human body. Because the body was a transformed payqueer, the process of conception and implantation seemed to be extremely fast.

‘How is this possible? Being infertile… … .’

Is this a gift from creation?

Is it to fulfill the dream that I prayed and prayed for every night, almost to the point of despair?

“Then, wouldn’t that absurd dream that you mentioned before come true? Biscuits… … I’ll always carry the most delicious ones with me. And I’ll practice smiling while looking in the mirror and putting my index finger in front of my lips.”

But isn’t it true that even the disciples say this?

Does Kami know this?

No, that can’t be true.

I don’t even know Aydin.

That night, Lamine cried quietly while simultaneously caressing the sword her disciple had given her and the new life born in her womb by the window where the wind was blowing through.

‘I want to live, even if it’s just for a year, I want to live more. So, so… … I want to enjoy that dream with Kami. Even for a day, I’ll be happy. Even for a day, I’ll be happy.’

The hero I saw and learned, the end of ‘Black Summer’ (2)

But there was no time to dream.

As soon as Cheongseong Mirngardia arrived in , a meeting of the highest commanders was called.

Still, everyone’s faces brightened for a moment.

“Your Majesty the King has summoned us?”

“Are you saying you came back first?”

“Uncle, Uncle!”

It didn’t take long for the smile of the teacher who headed to the conference room brighter and faster than anyone else to collapse miserably.

“Lamine, are you here… … .”

Cheongseong, it was Mirngardia.

But the voice that spoke more solemnly and nobly than anyone else’s was now filled with a terrible murmur.

It was the sound of blood gushing out, and even though he covered his mouth with his hand, the amount of bleeding was so much that blood leaked out through the gaps in his fingers and dripped onto the floor.

“… … What are you doing? Come and sit down.”

Cheongseong was always a being with a pure white presence. He didn’t have such a haggard and pale impression.

“Uncle, how on earth, why is your body like this… … .”

There was no need to explain, no need to hear an explanation, and Cheongseong could not explain.

It was because of the cough that started again.

Cheongseong stood alone against the and achieved the feat of temporarily sealing their power. It couldn’t have been without a price… … .

‘possible…….’

Cheongseong thought about calculations that he could not and should not say.

Exactly one year… … .

If I were given just a year or so, I could carve out and discard the part of my soul that has been eroded by the abyss.

‘The power will be greatly weakened, but it will be possible to block the erosion of the abyss and stand on the front lines again.’

But if that happens, what will the world be like in a year when I’m gone…

During that year… … .

There is no way my father would be happy about leaving these children in this world and taking care of my body for a year that seemed to have no end in sight… … .

“This is not the time to preside over a meeting, Uncle! Right now, right now, go to the Vatican or the World Tree and recuperate─!”

「─Sit down, this is an order… … . The day is ending and night is beginning, the time is urgent… … .」

Those summoned to the Supreme Commander’s Council were all equally shocked, though to varying degrees.

It was really a place where all the factors encompassing the three races came together.

As many as 16 executives attended, from the Fairy King Saoro El Battenberg to the Eun-ui’s secretary Balbray.

Ain was the smallest with only five people, including Admiral Halvaron of the Steel Fleet and his adjutant Gustav.

The largest number were humans, a whopping 53 people.

Aside from the two surviving generals and the seven Payqueriers, there were also many kings and commanders of fallen nations that had their roots in the continent of Adrion, as well as vassals of empires and commanders of kingdoms that had their bases in the continent of Acrad.

Representatives from the Ilseong Chilgeom, Paldaehakpa, Murim, and Witches’ Association also attended the conference, and the conference hall was on the verge of becoming abuzz.

“I will now explain the operation outline, so listen carefully… … .”

The next moment, the conference room became noisy. A decision was made that overturned what everyone had naturally expected.

“The Ranoa Bridge… … .”

“You’re not going to blow it up… …?”

“Your Majesty, is that what you just said… … ?”

The Ranoa Bridge is a bridge connecting Tashin Island and the continent of Adrion.

Without this vast bridge, the continent of Adrion and the island of Tashin would have been separated by a strait, forming a natural defensive line.

That’s why everyone expected that the island they were on would become the frontline breakwater to block the demons in the future.

It would take at least ten hours of full power to completely destroy this bridge. However, with the power of Cheongseong, it could be done in half that amount of time.

“The strait isn’t that wide, so the waves of evil will somehow find a way… … Also, this place is far from the Tershi Archipelago, so there will be problems with supplying supplies. It’s impossible to set this place as the front line… … .”

“… … !”

“Therefore, this place should not be a defensive line, as that would be a shortcut to disintegration… … Therefore, this place should be the site of the final battle.”

Everyone looked at each other with tense faces. It seemed like a defensive line would be set or a withdrawal would proceed, but this was the final battle?

“When I used my clone to access the ‘White Dream’, it was foretold that the first pillar of the Black Church would be the first to cross the Great Bridge… … .”

Cheongseong didn’t say anything.

The identity of the prophet.

Even after this decisive battle, a gag order was issued to everyone involved.

“For this purpose, we will form a punitive force. From the humans, there will be four: Mate, Zeroni, Floret, and Ashir… … From the fairies, we will choose Saoro and Evesran, and from the beastmen, we will choose Griffberen… … .”

“… … !”

“A single soldier is meaningless in the face of that power… … The person whose name is called should assign his unit to another location and follow alone.”

The conference room became noisy.

The Master asked where he was going, and the others asked how they would deal with the demons following the Prophet.

“Setsunen’s consciousness is gradually returning, so I will use that power to send the punitive force and the prophet to another dimension.”

The demons will somehow squeeze in through the gap that is created, so the fierce battle with the enemy’s main force will be left to those who remain.

“The Hongryeon, Piljung, and Cheolseong units are under Krauzan’s command, and Balbrey is to command the fairy soldiers to block the Ranoa Bridge… … .”

“… … !”

“When the Iron Fleet begins its punitive operation, concentrate your ship-borne bombardment on the Lanoa Bridge. It must be submerged within 9 hours, so do not be late… … .”

He added that the odds of winning the Prophet’s Suppression War were around 30%, and that the details were extremely important and would only be relayed to those involved.

The atmosphere in the conference room changed completely.

Since this was the final battle, it was beyond imagination that there was a 70% chance that everyone here would be annihilated. Everyone’s silence was understandable.

“Today, your death is the bread of life. From to Yong-Hyeon, their life and death have given you the bread of daily life.”

“… … !”

“Now is the time for you to become like that. Your death becomes flesh and blood to give life to the world. The world will eat your flesh and drink your blood, and live again.”

Cheongseong’s Mirngardia felt a contradiction in her own logic. The thread of her logic was unraveling.

that…….

The reason is… … .

What Yong-Hyeon gave him was truly the bread of life.

Never be hungry again… … .

Never thirsty again… … .

It was the bread and blood of love that proved the providence of creation.

now…….

It is not the bread of death that Mirngardia is trying to deceive and force-feed to these ignorant, weak, and delicate beings.

“… … Your Majesty, why can’t we retreat to the Tershi Islands and regroup?”

I wanted to be like you.

“It’s impossible. If the enemy bypasses the Tershi Archipelago, the same massacre will be committed on the continent of Akrad. There is no time to set up a defensive line yet.”

I wanted to be like you.

“… … Your Majesty, then are we just going to die here, fighting against a hundred men?”

so.

On the last day of life.

“… … I don’t want to die, I don’t want to die! I, I, have a hometown, a family!”

“… … I didn’t come here to die a dog’s death!”

“… … Let’s go back. Let us go back to the continent! We are not words! We are not words that can be thrown out carelessly!”

On the day I see you again, I wanted to show you and tell you the righteousness I have achieved.

Why… … .

The more you try to resemble someone, the more distant you feel… … .

“All those who do not wish to fight, board the ships and leave this place, the battlefield. I will not hold you accountable for the crimes of fleeing the enemy or disobeying orders.”

It took a very long time for the first footsteps to be heard, but as soon as someone stood up, a wave swept through everyone’s hearts.

One by one.

Famous swordsmen, including Ilseong Chilgeom, the Paldaehakpa, and various prestigious families are leaving.

One more, one more.

Among them was the Flame Dragon Sword Sect, and Olier opened his mouth blankly towards the departing Jang Moon-in.

“Huh? No, Mr. Jang! Are we going to continue like this?”

“Come in!”

“If you die here, who will assist your master and who will take up the sword?”

Olier looked between Camilla, Sharon, and Jang Moon-in with a blank look before being dragged away by his shoulder.

One like that.

One more, one more.

The conference room was suddenly empty due to the departure of the commanders. Less than half of those who remained were left.

“… … .”

40%, 30%, 20%… … .

Excluding the commanders and payqueriers, the only remaining human commanders were the royal families and commanders of the fallen nations of the continent of Adrion.

Those who lived on the continent of Acrad, a continent that summer had not yet conquered, have all left.

“Do you want to go too?”

When the chaos subsided, Cheongseong opened his mouth.

In life, there is a moment.

There is a moment, a moment that changes your life itself. There is a moment that you will think about until the day you die, a moment that completely changes your entire way of thinking.

“Your Majesty, our calling is here, so where shall we go?”

At that time, what the pioneers of courage, starting with Mate Alter Gierda, showed was that very moment for the disciples, including Camilla.

Sharon (later Alter Tasalfo).

Roberis (later Alter Surpin).

Gorgotia (later Alter Volvier).

Eltire (later Alter Fladimarte).

Aresia (later Alter Solang).

Is that why they all, in the distant future, all ended up carrying out their final mission in the same way and guarding their positions?

“If you run away because you’re scared of that bitch, you’ll be too embarrassed to even look at Senior Tars or Jacquardrin’s face.”

Hit the heart with your fist.

Straightening that fist and pointing it toward the heart, that is, the object of one’s calling, is a salute.

The first firewood of this world, the lineage of courage and loyalty that began from Eldia, the dignity of the Guardians of Light.

“Your Majesty, give orders to the Payqueriers. We will follow them in spirit and in truth.”

Cheongseong closed his eyes and suppressed his tears. He felt his pupils, which had closed off the world with their pure white eyelids, swell with moisture.

Oh, that’s amazing… … .

It’s new every time I see it…

The providence of creation that is revealed in the growth of man… … .

He made these people, who were just a seed, take root in this harsh land, sprout, bear fruit, and then grow into large trees that provide shade to others… … .

– Mir.

Perhaps, this was what he was thinking.

When I said I would be the last light, did you feel the same sadness and cry as I do now?

So, is this why people should become parents?

Take care of someone.

Also in the process of raising them.

As I gradually began to understand the heart of the person who had cared for and raised me… … .

– What do you want to achieve in this beautiful world?

Cheongseong thought of his childhood, the smile that Yong-hyeon always wore. If he went back in time to trace the history of that smile…

At the entrance leading to the end, there will be … … .

At the end of it will be the hearts of the mother of creation, Geldharia, and the father, Yurbel… … .

People are like that… … .

In the life that the providence of creation allows, we learn from and become like the holy ones… … .

“I will now explain the Eldia Myu (04) sealing operation. Everyone, listen carefully.”