216th Chapter
Jimy’s remaining buzz had completely worn off.
Jimy, who was still dealing with a headache, absentmindedly rubbed his temples and cautiously asked again.
“What did you just say?”
“My lifespan is likely to last about three years.”
“Ah… Why would you tell such a boring joke…”
Jimy let out a forced laugh.
Ray remained silent, and an uneasy silence followed.
Jimy wondered if Ray had ever been this serious before or if he himself was still slightly drunk. He muttered these thoughts to himself and chuckled nervously.
“Ray, you’re supposed to become the youngest Swordmaster in the history of the Empire. They say you’ll be greater than Harshia… Isn’t that right?”
“I’m sorry, Jimy. That was a lie.”
Jimy grew irritated.
“The aftertaste of the drink is fading, so can we please stop with these dull jokes…”
“Most things in this world come at a cost,” Ray said calmly as he met Jimy’s gaze.
“Everything has its price.”
Ray had overworked his body since he was younger than Lea.
Because mana was an energy source filled with infinite potential…
Knights could move faster and endure longer than any horse.
The exceptionally talented could break the sound barrier with their movements or slice through steel fortresses with a single strike.
And some gifted individuals could split the sky, obliterating entire regions with nothing but their bodies.
Thus, when other children were learning to walk, Ray was already pushing his body to the limits using mana, battling against adults.
And from that moment on…
Ray began borrowing time from his future.
“There’s always a price for miracles. This is my fate, the path I’ve chosen.”
“Ah, Ray, what do you mean by…”
Jimy, whose face had gone pale, could no longer contain his frustration.
“Are you feeling unwell lately? If that’s the case, why do you keep saying such unpleasant things? The nobles… If all else fails, ask His Majesty the Emperor. Surely, given your achievements, he wouldn’t refuse a simple request like healing you, right?”
How many renowned healers and clerics were there in the Empire?
How many priceless medicinal herbs were stored in the royal treasury?
Jimy laughed awkwardly while reprimanding Ray, thinking he was pulling his leg.
But Ray’s expression remained eerily calm.
That unnerved Jimy.
“Even after hundreds of prodigies from the Empire died trying to master Spatial Blade following Harshia’s death, I couldn’t overcome its side effects either.”
“Ray…! Don’t talk nonsense here. If you’re so worried, go see a healer!”
“The healers summoned by Duke Prizzran and the great clerics overseeing the Emperor’s health have all concluded that there’s no way to extend my lifespan.”
Just as divine power couldn’t reverse aging or chronic illness, it also couldn’t repair Ray’s body, which had been pushed to its limits from the inside.
From the genetic level itself, human bodies were designed to self-destruct once they surpassed a certain threshold of exhaustion.
Thus, Ray’s shortened lifespan was beyond even divine intervention.
It was only then that Jimy realized.
Ray had thoroughly investigated possible solutions to extend his life and concluded that prolonging it was impossible.
As Jimy finally grasped this fact, he looked at Ray again.
Despite confessing that his life was running out, Ray remained composed.
At that moment, Jimy understood something else: the strange distance Ray had always kept from others—it was Ray’s way of protecting himself, knowing his own fate.
Jimy finally comprehended.
“Ray…!!”
Jimy clenched his fists.
Ray was dismissing all those blind sacrifices and dedications as mere “fate,” belittling them.
Jimy gritted his teeth, feeling a sharp pain in his chest.
A dark lump of emotions churned inside him, making him feel nauseous.
“Does the Count know about this? What about Bella? Do the children know?”
“They don’t.”
Jimy finally snapped.
“Why didn’t you tell anyone until now!!”
“There was no need to spread the news. Parting hurts, but…”
Ray took a deep breath.
“As time passes, the pain fades. Occasionally, we’ll remember, but eventually, it will just become a memory.”
There was no need to announce his impending departure prematurely and prolong the sorrow.
As Ray continued spouting this reasoning, Jimy stood up abruptly and shouted.
“RAY!!!”
With a loud bang, Jimy slammed his fist on the table, trembling.
“What kind of ridiculous nonsense are you spouting…!!!!”
Time heals all wounds. It was true.
But Jimy felt Ray had never truly understood his place in others’ lives.
“How much love… how much affection you’ve received from so many people…!!”
“Jimy, regardless.”
Ray interrupted Jimy and asked,
“What do we gain by mourning our parting beforehand? It’s too wasteful.”
Hearing Ray’s words, Jimy burst into laughter.
“Haha, this is really funny nonsense!” Laughing loudly, Jimy slammed the table again.
“You shouldn’t die like this!!!”
Shouting with anger and frustration, Jimy yelled,
“You have responsibilities for the things you’ve done! People—so many people—rely on you, look up to you. Do you think there are only one or two?”
Jimy wanted to ask:
How could Ray speak so lightly of goodbye?
How could he dismiss the bonds he had built over the years so easily?
But when he looked into Ray’s eyes…
He saw the weight there wasn’t light at all.
So Jimy stopped yelling, letting out a stifled groan instead.
“You… What exactly are you thinking…?”
“Jimy.”
“…”
“Jimy has been the most remarkable adult I’ve ever met.”
“…”
“So… That’s why I’m telling you this. If this feels like a burden to you, I’m sorry.”
“Ray…!”
“I’m sorry for bringing this up on such a joyous day.”
Ray stood up.
Struggling to find the right words, Ray finally managed an awkward smile.
“I’ll try harder for the next three years. I’ll ensure everything goes smoothly so the ones left behind can live happily… Though it embarrasses me to say it, I entrust the rest to you, Jimy.”
To prevent everyone from being too lost when the time comes.
“Please take good care of things, Jimy.”
Ray knew it was an unreasonable request.
But Jimy also understood it was unavoidable.
For a long while, they stood silently under the oppressive stillness.
*
Under the dimming sky.
Ray sat atop a small hill in Phillip’s County, gazing at the star-filled night sky.
Had Ray studied astronomy in his past life, he might have had much to say about this night’s constellations.
How different they were from Earth’s, which stars shone brighter…
It would have been quite intriguing to research.
Unfortunately, Ray had no interest in astronomy.
The only thing Ray understood was that this planet had a moon, smaller than Earth’s.
Though smaller, the moon’s beauty was undiminished.
On nights like this, bathed in bright moonlight, translucent leaves shimmered faintly.
Viewing the forest from afar during such moonlit nights, it seemed like a sea of light rippling gently, captivating the gaze.
“…”
Ray hated this world.
He had taken up the sword solely for Bella, with little desire to live for himself.
The past Ray welcomed death willingly, thus casually sacrificing his lifespan by overworking his body.
Time passed.
As time went by, new connections formed, and bonds strengthened.
Ray had long denied every bond outside of Bella.
He whispered to himself that shallow, mechanical, and calculated ties could be severed anytime.
But despite denying them…
Now, Ray realized he had grown to cherish far too many people deeply.
Ray refused to voice it aloud.
The overwhelming emotion filling his chest was close to regret.
Ray avoided confronting it directly.
This was the end point of someone pretending to be an emotionless superhuman.
“…Lea.”
Ray forcibly shifted his thoughts.
Would Lea be safe after Ray was gone?
All the people around Ray were good-hearted.
However, given the immense danger Lea represented, could they protect her purely out of goodwill after Ray’s death?
That was too naive a hope.
At the very least, Luna and Alesya needed to form a contract seal concerning Lea if she were to stay in Phillip’s County.
But this presupposed complete trust in Luna.
Of course, Ray trusted Luna infinitely.
Still, this was… a complicated issue.
If Bella were to die tomorrow for some reason,
Would Ray still choose to continue protecting Lea?
“…”
Ray massaged his temples.
About three years remained.
It was clear to Ray that relying solely on goodwill wasn’t enough; some form of binding constraint was necessary.
The exact method would depend on further developments.
“Ray!”
A familiar voice called out.
Karen approached in casual outdoor attire.
Claiming she’d stumbled upon Ray during her stroll, Karen came closer.
Quickly composing his expression, Ray spoke.
“It’s dangerous to wander around at night.”
“I can protect myself, remember? You taught me.”
Impressed by Karen’s confident reply, Ray smiled faintly.
Subtly sliding next to Ray, Karen sat down beside him, sharing the view he was gazing at.
Smiling, Karen breathed in the nostalgic night air.
“I like it here.”
Karen loved Phillip’s County.
During her travels, she experienced many conveniences and wore expensive clothes, but…
She still preferred this place.
“Because this is… where Ray is. Home.”
Karen smiled shyly despite her slight embarrassment.
For quite some time, the two sat close together, gazing at the night sky.
The night air was slightly cold, but a gentle warmth enveloped them.
Then Ray sighed deeply and turned to Karen.
“Go back inside.”
“Eh?”
Caught off guard by Ray’s mood-breaking comment, Karen blinked.
Pointing toward the village, Ray repeated,
“Go back and sleep.”
“Isn’t it dangerous for me to wander alone at this hour…?”
It was an invitation for Ray to accompany her, but Ray shook his head with a smirk.
“I have prior commitments.”
“Ahh, okay, got it…!”
Karen awkwardly scratched the back of her neck.
After sending Karen off, Ray steadied his breathing.
The cool night air calmed the emotions that had stirred within him.
Turning around, Ray asked,
“Luna, how much longer until the circle recovers?”
Luna appeared after dispelling her concealment and replied,
“In about a month, I should be able to use most magic without overexertion… …without pushing myself.”
Although full recovery would take longer, in a month, she could cast regular spells without overloading the circle.
Understanding the situation, Ray requested,
“Could you join me in the Sigini Mountain Range around that time?”
“…Alright.”
As always,
Luna nodded.
Conspiracy (1)
