The Villain Carries the Holy Sword – Chapter 116

Chapter 116: Passing Through Memories (1)

「In ten years, they will praise us.

In a hundred years, we will be legends.

In five hundred years, we will be myths.

Then in a thousand years?

Who will remember us?

That there are four seasons in this world.

That the Demon King of the Four Seasons opened his eyes.

That the end of the world and eternity had a showdown.

━The song of an unknown sage.”」

🔹🔹🔹

“Excuse me?”

Cain, uncharacteristically, let out a dumbfounded question. Marquis McLoud clicked his tongue as if he had expected it.

“I never doubted it.”

“Well, that’s……”

The County was no fool. There was talk even when Philip of 〈Ross de Kaerot〉 brought Arna and Abel.

Edmund is not interested in women.

He thought it was strange that the man who had only looked at his sword after Chloe’s death suddenly got a second wife during the expedition.

However, there was a reason why the County had accepted Abel into the family.

━If a child named Abel comes from the north, accept him as my son.

Marquis McLoud’s eyes widened.

“Edmund left those words?”

“Yes. That’s why Cloyd accepted Abel and Lady Arna.”

“That’s strange.”

He frowned, stroking his chin. It was as if he had heard something that couldn’t happen.

“What’s so strange?”

“I probably know Edmund better than you do.”

Cain nodded.

Even considering his previous life, the only memories he had of seeing Edmund in person were few and far between when he was very young.

However, Marquis McLoud had seen Edmund since he was young, so he would know him better and be closer to him.

“That kid wouldn’t leave such kind words behind.”

“…….”

Cain was at a loss for words.

He didn’t know much about Edmund, but he was certain that the man was a failure in every way except for swordsmanship, based on the testimonies he had heard.

“It’s also strange that he met another woman besides Chloe. ‘Flash’ was famous for her beauty and skills during the last expedition.”

“That is true.”

“Do you think Edmund would be interested? Not at all. That guy only sees whether someone is strong or weak, regardless of whether they’re a man or a woman.”

“…….”

“It’s a bit much to say in front of his son, but honestly, that guy truly was a strange one.”

“I understand.”

Marquis McLoud looked to the side.

It was in the direction of Arna’s tent.

“Anyway, it’s strange. I can’t understand Edmund meeting another woman and having a child with her.”

Cain fell into thought.

It was strange to think about it this way, even though he had taken it for granted in his previous life.

“And that ‘Flash’ isn’t exactly a good person either. She’s a mercenary who won’t lift a finger unless it’s to her advantage.”

“I’m well aware of that.”

“That’s a relief.”

Marquis McLoud raised his head.

And then, with a worried look in his eyes as if he were a real grandfather, he asked.

“I saw him earlier, so I know how upright Abel is and how much he likes you, but can you trust him?”

His identity is suspicious.

Besides, he’s quarter-elf.

Marquis McLoud wondered if Arna might be a spy planted by Glumiêm.

If so, it would be difficult to trust the boy who calls himself her son.

“I trust him.”

Marquis McLoud’s suspicions were valid. Cain firmly affirmed.

“It’s certainly strange when I hear it. But Lady Arna and Abel have already proven themselves with their actions.”

One can prove oneself with words. And what is stronger than words are actions and time spent together.

Cain could trust them with his back.

Marquis McLoud looked into Cain’s deep purple eyes and rose from his seat.

“If you’re so sure, I have to believe you. Who am I to doubt my grandson-in-law?”

Cain burst out laughing.

“Are you still on about that?”

“My granddaughter likes you.”

“That’s for sure.”

He had gone all the way with Oleciren, and now they were fighting each other without any pretense or shame.

Moreover, Olivia had lost her support base after being caught in the ‘Barrier of the Great Forest’s’ enchantment.

Marquis McLoud smiled the smile of a seasoned politician.

“So she’ll be aiming for you.”

“……Ah.”

“Marriage is stronger than loyalty.”

This time, he was slower than Marquis McLoud in his political calculations.

As Cain opened his mouth, the Marquis shrugged and walked out of the tent. As soon as he left, Cain could feel the soundproofing barrier dispersing.

Thump━.

However, Marquis McLoud grabbed the tent and stuck his head inside to say,

“Thank you. And I’m sorry.”

As if embarrassed, Marquis McLoud left those words behind and turned away.

One of the pillars of Airian.

When Marquis Ross abandoned his duties and went to pursue his own greed, the one who acted lightly, but kept his place.

Marquis Jeremy McLoud.

Cain smiled as he looked at the door he had exited through.

“I understand.”

Just as the previous Marquis Ross, Worrall, had protected, the day was approaching when the dreams of the nobles living in Airian would come true.

🔹🔹🔹

The darkest night.

In the pitch-black darkness before dawn, when not even the faintest glimmer of light could be seen.

Cain got up when he saw a few twinkling bonfires and sentries between the temporary bases.

Next to him were Abel and Arna, who had finished all their preparations.

“Young Master.”

Arna opened her mouth.

When Cain looked back, she spoke with a calm face.

“Please come back alive.”

In the Great Wall, with an average survival time of 72 hours, people die left and right in the blink of an eye.

And there’s no time to figure out who they are, what their background is, or what they do.

In the end, it was a feeling.

A feeling to find someone trustworthy to be with.

That was the only virtue a warrior of the Great Wall needed to possess, and at least Cain was the best at it.

“I understand.”

No further words were needed.

In the previous world line, Arna died drinking the strong wine that Cain gave her, saying that it was not for her own benefit.

But things were different in this world line.

She was at least a comrade he could trust his back to.

Seeing Oleciren approaching in the distance, Arna stepped back.

She was on her way to rest for the battle that would begin at sunrise.

Cain and Abel, dressed in black clothes as dark as the night, moved towards the forest, and Oleciren walked beside them.

“I’m getting stronger.”

“……?”

Her eyes were not turning gray.

Whether it was because she had used the witch’s power properly and had done something irreversible, or whether it was the witch’s mark.

Her eyes were pitch black.

And those black eyes met Cain’s.

“I don’t know why, but I know. If I want to do something, something whispers to me how to do it.”

Was it the witch’s attribute, or was it something else unique to her?

Oleciren had changed every minute and second since she had come to the Northern Elf Forest.

Whether that direction was right or wrong, no one would dare say, but at least that direction was what she wanted.

“We won’t be a decoy. We’ll kill all the elves who pop out and advance to the World Tree to help you.”

Like Abel.

So does Oleciren.

She looked at Cain as her savior and the one who changed her life.

“Don’t overdo it.”

“You too.”

Thud━.

The three of them stopped walking.

They were in front of the whitish ‘Barrier of the Great Forest’. The wizard, who had come out beforehand, bowed his head.

“I’ll see you later.”

Cain nodded at Oleciren’s words.

Whoosh━.

The wizard performed a small-scale dispel technique, and the magical part of the barrier dispersed. Looking at the ‘miracle’ that appeared through the gap, Oleciren ordered.

Open.

Swoosh━.

Slowly, the whitish fog disperses. The sight of an ordinary dense forest can be seen on the other side.

Abel went inside first, and Cain followed him, then turned his head.

“I’ll see you later.”

He felt it was regrettable to leave it at just a nod, so he said those words.

This time, Oleciren responded with a smile.

She watched the backs of the two heading towards the elf land where humans had never set foot.

Saaaah━.

As soon as she and the wizard released their power, the barrier was restored as if it had never been breached.

Oleciren returned to the base.

Clank━.

All the knights are awake.

In front of them.

Ahead of Marquis McLoud and Olivia.

Flutter━!

Oleciren raised the half-torn expedition flag.

Hundreds of pairs of eyes looked at her, and Oleciren spoke briefly.

“Let the final expedition begin.”

Waaaaaaaaaaah━!

The pre-dawn light shines from afar. It looked like Oleciren’s halo.

🔹🔹🔹

“Your Majesty!”

Elder Esme, who was waiting in the forest, hurriedly ran to Glumiêm.

She wasn’t the only one.

All the elves living in this forest began to gather at the assembly hall in a hurry, holding their equipment.

“T, The barrier is being lifted!”

The assembly hall is open at the top.

And what is visible is not the blue sky, but the whitish gray ‘Barrier of the Great Forest’ that has always surrounded the forest.

The barrier that had protected the elves for hundreds of years was now slowly beginning to disperse.

The morning sunlight shines through it.

《So it is.》

In the middle of it all.

Glumiêm, who had been sitting on a throne made of intertwined branches, unclenched her jaw.

《I didn’t know the time would come when humans would use witch’s power.》

Her voice was bright.

She wasn’t bright because she was in a good mood. She was simply calmly accepting the situation that had become twisted.

Glumiêm’s heart pounded at the unforeseen future that had not been visible even in the slightest in the fate she had seen.

Annihilation or victory.

Thinking such thoughts, Glumiêm rose from her seat.

《It is time to end this protracted war with the humans.》

Crack━!

The sound of wood colliding with wood.

The elves responded by clashing the weapons they were holding.

《Let’s go. To kill the humans who covet our land!》

Clatter━!

Not applause, nor oaths of allegiance.

Singing the song of the trees, the elves began to march south. And the true form of Glumiêm, sitting beneath the World Tree, opened its eyes.

《Heatherward.》

In front of her were Heatherward Ross and Everwyn Ross. The two seemed to have become quite close, as if they had talked a lot during the night.

《The humans have broken through the barrier and are invading.》

He raised his head.

He, too, could see the barrier gradually dispersing.

“I see.”

《Can we defeat the humans?》

Words that could not be spoken to the elves.

Glumiêm, who was watching the situation more accurately than anyone else, asked the human marquis.

《We are mystical and strong. But humans are weak, yet they burn themselves like flames.》

Glumiêm had witnessed every expedition. Humans had always changed and evolved. They were a completely different race from the elves, who were always stagnant.

《That’s why I chose isolation. I thought that if we hid ourselves with an impenetrable barrier, humans would not be able to reach us.》

As the great barrier, created by the combined power of the witch and the queen, dispersed.

Glumiêm couldn’t help but think of the end of the elves, which had been avoided until now.

《If we cannot become an insurmountable despair, we will end up as a single line in human history books. What do you think it will be?》

Actions and words are light.

But at least her responsibility and thoughts were those of the queen of a race.

Heatherward responded to her anguish.

“I will protect this World Tree and make it their despair.”

His left hand was tightly clasped around Everwyn’s. At his words, Glumiêm chuckled.

《You mean you will protect Everwyn.》

Everwyn, who would die if the World Tree died.

Ross didn’t bother to deny it, and Glumiêm was satisfied with that much.

Kwaaaang━.

A faint roar can be heard from afar.

Elves and humans.

Despair and challenge.

And legend and reality clash.

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