In his heart, Dante wanted to cry until the end of his life in this place.
He wished to disappear into the gentle light, like the smile his grandfather used to show, like his embrace.
If there was nothing left for him.
The clan, the people who fought for him, the friends who came running after leaving everything behind, his people, the land he had to protect, and himself.
If all of that had truly disappeared, Dante probably wouldn’t have gotten back up.
But all of that remained.
And what remained was because his grandfather gave his life in exchange.
He truly gave his everything…
“Although I would like to sit down, I couldn’t.”
Dante wiped away his tears and looked back at Jin.
“I’ve kept you waiting for too long, I’m sorry.”
It had been a month since they reunited.
Dante needed time, and Jin had been unconscious for over two weeks receiving intensive healing.
Thanks to Ron’s protection during the escape, there were no additional injuries, but the acc.u.mulated shock was too much.
Today, Dante had finally made up his mind.
He wouldn’t bury himself in his pain anymore.
That’s why he came here.
To bid farewell to his grandfather with Jin.
As Ron said, not a farewell forever, but a farewell to move forward.
Now, Dante had to inherit the duty of protection that Ron had taken on.
However, Jin, in reality, couldn’t take a step forward like Dante.
The guilt still weighed on Jin’s chest like a piece of rusted iron.
“I know what you’re thinking.”
When Jin was about to speak, Dante spoke first.
During the war, in the last moment when Ron sent them both out of the path of light, Dante was able to receive Ron’s will, which Jin didn’t recognize.
“You haven’t done anything wrong, he said. This is what he told both you and me.”
Not only Jin suffered from guilt.
Dante also struggled to overcome the idea that he had lost his grandfather because he himself hadn’t saved anything.
How many people had died for him to stay alive, and how much had been destroyed?
“You’ve done quite well. Maybe it was beyond what I could have done.”
Like leaves catching fire, Jin’s eyes welled up.
This time, Dante turned his head not to see Jin’s tearful face.
“There’s only inevitable sadness. So, it’s better to forget everything that didn’t happen.”
Dante spoke as if he knew Jin’s regression.
It was because Ron acknowledged that fact just before becoming the light.
Dante had vaguely glimpsed the secret that Jin kept from Ron’s will.
He didn’t know it clearly, but he was aware that his friend’s guilt was somehow related to that secret.
And Ron knew everything at the moment of death and said it.
His grandson or Jin did nothing wrong.
Because they really didn’t.
“The secret you keep, tell it when the time comes. Like Beradin did.”
Another friend who isn’t here.
Jin and Dante were grateful to him.
Now they knew that Beradin had sacrificed himself for his friends.
It was thanks to the secretly sent letters by Sandra.
(“My dear Jin! h.e.l.lo, the reason I’m writing this letter today is to schedule our next date!
And I think I should tell you something.
Do you know that our Radin worked hard to keep the main force of my clan from attacking the Sword Emperor Castle?
I can’t tell you in detail, but he decided to risk his life to help his friends.
Isn’t that admirable?
Going so far to support this elder sister’s love!
I’m so proud.
Anyway, if it weren’t for Radin, this battle would have definitely been more difficult.
Congratulations on your victory.
The atmosphere in my clan is a bit tense, but hey, as long as you’re happy, that’s what matters.
Even though my little brother almost died, and I almost got beaten to death by Kadun while begging him to help you instead of suppressing Chaos, and I heard a sermon from Hedo for a few days, and my head was about to explode because of resource restoration.
Haha, don’t stress too much.
It’s just a matter of going on a date.
You understand?
I’ll be waiting for you.
~Your only love, Sandra Zipple)
Although the letter was a bit messy, there was no doubt that Beradin was helping them.
“…But Jin, are you really dating Sandra Zipple? Then the Hidden Palace Master.”
“A certain Sandra Zipple is enough to talk nonsense, Dante.”
The two burst into laughter.
“It would have been good if Beradin were here too. People think I hate him too because Zippel attacked our castle, but that’s not true. He will always be my friend, wherever he is.”
Even if Beradin lost his ident.i.ty one day due to mental manipulation and turned into a monster, even if he attacked himself, Dante was prepared not to hate him.
That was the trust he believed in, and that was righteousness. Even after going through so much pain and suffering, he didn’t turn into a vengeful demon or fall into madness like in the first battle.
The tough and bright heart of a human named Dante Hairan had not lost its original shape.
Just like his grandfather finally overcame demonization.
“Let’s create an opportunity to meet him soon.”
“You talk as if you’re going somewhere.”
“Yes, I’ll go for training.”
“When?”
“Not immediately, but after sorting out the situation and taking care of some things.”
Jin had already planned to go to Lafrarosa and achieve 10 stars, but the weakening of Zipple and Runcandel came especially handy for him.
There will definitely be a truce agreement, so the possibility of my comrades being threatened while I’m away has been greatly reduced.
Even if the truce were to be broken while he was training, the Vamel Alliance was now a force that even Runcandel couldn’t avoid protecting.
It couldn’t be said that they were fully part of Runcandel, but it was because they were Jin’s people.
With this incident, Jin has further solidified his position as the next patriarch, and by the time he becomes the patriarch, the Vamel Alliance will become Runcandel’s force.
Above all, people were more valuable than ever now that the power of the great clans had weakened.
There was no reason not to maintain friendly relations with the Vamel Alliance, which was emerging as the fifth force after Zipple, Runcandel, the Empire, and Kinzelo.
“How long do you think it will take?”
“Talaris-nim said it would be a short training, but I think I’ll know when I try.”
“You’ll become strong again.”
“Now I’m in a condition to follow you.”
Dante shook his head.
“Not to that extent. Although my grandfather gave me part of his true energy, it seems it will take a long time to fully become my strength.”
“More than that, what are you going to do?”
It was a question about the empire.
Currently, the imperial throne is vacant.
Although the Emperor did not officially abdicate the throne, it was impossible for him to rule the empire again.
When the complete story of the incident was revealed, public sentiment literally plummeted, Zipple did not receive what was promised, and Runcandel and the Hidden Palace were also severely affected by the Emperor’s and Zipple’s decision.
That’s why the main factions did not covet the empire, which turned communist, even though talented people became precious.
The strongest sword of the empire was killed as soon as it reached the Genesis Knight Realm, and most of the top figures of the Empire, including the second sword of the empire Jonsina Ferrell, died in this war.
Furthermore, occupying the empire now only added more problems.
Which lands had Chaos contaminated the most?
Whoever swallowed the empire had to deal with and purify the contaminated area intact.
“The Emperor cannot be forgiven. Apart from personal grudges and revenge, he has done irreparable damage to the Empire. And the throne will be mine for the time being. In the form of putting up a scarecrow and acting as regent.”
“Don’t you just consider ascending to the throne? If legitimacy is an issue…”
“Since the birth of the empire, the imperial family has never been more loved than Hairan by the people. Legitimacy and justification are not the problem.”
“Then why?”
Then Dante slowly drew Ras.h.i.+d.
“This sword is not for ruling. Ras.h.i.+d was forged to protect this land. I won’t forget my duty, as my grandfather and ancestors didn’t. Instead…”
Dante turned his head to Jin.
“When the empire returns to its course, do me a favor. The Vamel Alliance is Kas.h.i.+mir-nim, the King of the Free City Tikan. Let him ascend to the throne. At that time, I will resign as regent and return to being the lord of the Sword Emperor Castle. This is my conclusion.”
“The fact that Kashmir-nim takes over the empire you restored means that the empire will soon become my land, Dante.”
“All the people of the Empire know that you fought for us until the end. And, you don’t know very well, but the Empire will need your strength in the future anyway.”
Dante was sincere.
He thought he wouldn’t be able to continue defending the empire with his own strength.
“Amir Vermont is already a dead man, but there will still be other cards in the imperial family. I may negotiate again with Zipple, maybe even with Kinzelo or Runcandel. Even if not that, after the restoration of the contaminated area, the giant forces will aim again at the Empire. In such a situation, in whom should I trust?”
Although it was emotionally uncomfortable for Jin to take what Dante would build, Jin had nothing to refute.
“You are the only one. There’s also Beradin, but he’s always exposed to threats. So don’t be afraid, but take good care of me in the future.”
Jin grabbed Dante’s outstretched hand.
Dante took a bottle of wine from his chest and three cups.
The bottles were intact, but the gla.s.ses were all broken or cracked.
The gla.s.ses were Ron’s favorite ceramics.
From the broken cabin across the plains of the Sword Emperor Castle, Dante had come for a visit.
“Miraculously, there is still some ceramics in the ruins of the cabin where my grandfather used to play with me when I was a child. I picked the most intact ones, glued them together, and brought them. With the wine my grandfather liked to drink.”
Tang…
Dante uncorked the bottle and looked at the ground.
The black soil they were sitting on was gradually regaining its original color.
Ron’s light was purifying the contaminated territory of the Sword Emperor Castle.
Very slowly, and lazily, but…
Like taking steps, it would surely be completely purified someday.
One in front of Ron’s light, another in front of his own, and another in front of Jin’s.
Dante and Jin raised their gla.s.ses toward Ron’s light.
Jin was remembering what Ron had told him: “After the battle, let’s have a drink with my dear grandson.”
After slowly emptying their cups, the two stood up.
Before leaving, each drew their swords and engraved these words under Ron’s light.
Emperor Sword, Ron Hairan.
Here, it became the light of Hairan, or the light of the world.
‘Goodbye, Grandfather.’
Dante, as he left the place, smiled with a faint glow like light.
–
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