< 105. Farewell Procession >
*
Fernandez tidied up his luggage with familiar movements. It had been a while since he traveled alone, but he was someone who naturally felt more comfortable working by himself.
In fact, the journey of the past year had been a more unfamiliar experience for him. Gaining someone’s trust, becoming someone’s comrade, fighting and protecting for others.
His nature leaned more towards schemes, plots, destruction, and traps. Surprisingly, acting in such a manner no longer felt as enjoyable as it once did.
-Thud.
One of the cords tying his luggage snapped. Fernandez paused for a moment and grabbed the broken cord. Just like the gaps in his mind, his preparations had been insufficient. He needed to reflect.
Our opponents are not mere humans or insignificant demons. Fernandez closed his eyes and took a deep breath. They are gods. Or rather, the great sovereigns who even defeated those gods and ultimately brought down the Material World.
The great demons of Hell. Beings so powerful that they even attained divinity.
What must one do to obtain what mortals and spiritual beings call ‘divinity’? There are many theories, but Fernandez supported the ‘gravity of power’ hypothesis.
According to his theory, when the density of power concentrated in a being reaches its limit, the swirling force within collapses the structure, and divinity takes root in that crucible.
Thus, contrary to many people’s imaginations, divinity is not the antithesis of hellish magic. It is simply a very pure form of ‘power.’
-Click.
Fernandez deftly tied the knot and slung his luggage over his shoulder. The bulging luggage weighed heavily on his shoulders.
‘To defeat a being powerful enough to attain divinity, one must not become complacent.’
Comfort, ease, compassion, altruism, empathy, and pride—all such weak factors will be of no help in the final battle.
Fernandez exhaled briefly and steeled himself. It was a strange feeling. He lifted the tent flap and stepped out into the night sky, where stars seemed to pour down like a cascade.
It was a strange feeling.
In his entire life, he had never acted without resolve.
*
In front of the tent, Partak was waiting, holding a purple cloak. He glanced at Fernandez and let out a small sigh of admiration.
“To anyone who sees you, you look like a wanderer of the Great Wilderness, my lord.”
“What brings you here?”
“My lord is setting off on a long journey alone. As your servant, how could I not see you off?”
Partak chuckled and handed him the cloak. It was a rough cloak woven from thick wool. As Fernandez took it, Partak whispered.
“It’s a rare item that can evade the eyes of gods and demons. I think you need it more than I do now.”
“Thank you. I’ll return it.”
“Use it well, and when you no longer need it, discard it anywhere.”
Partak chuckled. Fernandez nodded briefly.
“Do you remember your role?”
“Division and counsel. I know.”
“I have high expectations of you. Do not betray me.”
“Haha, my lord. You speak of betrayal while holding the chains to my heart.”
Partak could still feel the binding spell on his heart. A single gesture from Fernandez could end his long life in an instant.
Yet, he found it enjoyable. It meant that Fernandez still needed him, and at the same time, it meant that Fernandez was not a divine apostle or hero, but rather, someone like him.
A powerful, charismatic being with limitless potential.
Partak privately judged that Fernandez might be a great demon or a demon lord of similar stature. If so, what Fernandez aimed to achieve would ultimately align with his own goals.
“Take care of Kirhas.”
“That foolish girl will just keep smiling, oblivious to everything.”
What Fernandez had instructed Partak to do was to sow division, conflict, and provide counsel. Kirhas still lacked capable advisors or a political foundation to support her.
But Partak could handle all of that. He was a grand shaman who had manipulated the hawkish elders with drugs and magical bindings, operating from the shadows, and had been one of the longest-active politicians in the Federation of Beastmen Nobles.
However, his weakness was that he had the worst support among the warriors. Fernandez had instructed him to use that to help Kirhas.
-Play the villain.
-Gladly.
The more Partak opposed Kirhas publicly, the more forces opposing him would rally to her side. And likewise, Kirhas’ opposing faction would also fall under Partak’s control.
If the Federation of Beastmen Nobles stabilized in this way, both Kirhas’ faction and the opposing faction would fall into Fernandez’s hands.
“Where do you plan to strike first?”
“We will subjugate the eastern dove tribes. Rumors say a rival chieftain has appeared. Haha, foolish creatures.”
“What about the Empire?”
“That young spear-wielder has left. The Empire will not oppose our tribal federation for the time being, my lord.”
“That’s excellent. If you’re targeting the east first, place the Apogatep Dynasty next in line.”
“It will be done as you wish.”
Partak bowed deeply and retreated. Fernandez wrapped himself in the cloak Partak had given him, hid in the shadows, and walked out into the wasteland beyond.
*
Slipping out of the camp unnoticed was a trivial matter for him. Fernandez had memorized every alley and corner of the camp over the past few days and could even organize every person’s movements and schedules.
However, he stopped when he saw a silhouette leaning against the side gate of the camp.
“Kirhas.”
“Your Excellency.”
In the darkness, turquoise eyes glimmered. Since obtaining Kadán’s golden mask, it was hard to describe exactly what had changed in her, but her inner self was becoming more beast-like.
With eyes as sharp and menacing as a predator before the hunt, Kirhas silently gazed at Fernandez.
“The night is deep. It’s late for a stroll.”
“You belong here, Kirhas. They need you. And…”
“You need them too.”
“No, Your Excellency.”
-Swish.
Kirhas stepped out from the entrance of the camp. Under the light of the torch, she appeared fully prepared for the long journey ahead.
Fernandez clicked his tongue briefly.
“Don’t follow me.”
“Why should I not?”
“What?”
“Do you remember that dawn, Your Excellency? For us, purpose is more important than reason. If you wish for me to stay here, give me a purpose to fulfill here, not just a reason to stay.”
“You’re not a child, Kirhas. It’s time for you to act on your own.”
“Huh.”
Kirhas shook her head. Her black hair scattered like silk, covering her face. A deep sigh, and at the end of it—
From between her hair, the eyes of a beast gleamed.
“I will act on my own, Your Excellency. I won’t let you go.”
“Will you stand against me?”
“If necessary.”
At Kirhas’s words, Fernandez flinched momentarily. A crack appeared on his mask-like expressionless face, as if a thread had been drawn across it.
“Impressive, Kirhas.”
He was smiling. Now, looking at the seed of a hero stepping out of his embrace. He felt a thrilling emotion.
Indeed, a hero should be like that. The shield of the Western Great Wilderness, the undefeated Kirhas, should not be confined under someone’s shadow.
“Draw your weapon. I need to see how much you’ve grown.”
“…I don’t want to let you go, Your Excellency.”
-Swish.
Kirhas’s hand moved slowly, and the sharp greatsword from the Dane Kingdom reflected the moonlight.
*
-Clang!
Kirhas’s sword scraped roughly through the air. As Fernandez deflected the blade and parried the attack, Kirhas’s eyes gleamed, and her wrists crossed swiftly.
-Screech!!
The greatsword, locked in a crossguard, flowed flexibly along the blade of the greatsword, exploiting the gap. A fast, precise counter. Fernandez quickly turned his head to avoid the blade.
-Screech!
Fernandez’s greatsword drew a large arc, parrying Kirhas’s attack. With a short grip on the hilt, he flicked it, drawing a massive circle forward!
-Clang!
Kirhas pulled back almost to the crossguard, deflecting Fernandez’s sword.
‘A counterattack?!’
Considering Kirhas’s usual attack patterns, this was an entirely unexpected move. Moreover, despite the difference in their weapons, she attempted a counterattack?
The force, mass, and the impact from the difference in weapons sent Kirhas three steps back, adjusting her stance. The residual energy visibly coursed through her body.
“Why?”
“Huh…”
Why did she attempt a contest of strength? Fernandez was about to ask, but he stopped when he saw Kirhas slowly sheathing her blade. It was a familiar swordsmanship.
Not the swordsmanship of humans, knights, or mercenaries. It was the posture of holding the sword low along the body’s centerline, exhaling half a breath, and tightly pulling the hilt after sheathing…
‘Elven swordsmanship…!’
It was the elven Iaido!
‘Indeed, a genius…’
She hadn’t systematically learned elven swordsmanship. She must have naturally absorbed it through battles with elves.
Until now, her growth had been slow, not reaching that level of swordsmanship, but now it was different. Kirhas’s movements, her wit, and reflexes had been honed to an unparalleled sharpness.
She perfectly followed the elven swordsmanship’s preparatory stance, quietly glaring at him.
Like a lion coiling its body before an attack. An immense pressure was felt.
‘Impressive, Kirhas. Now I can rest easy.’
Fernandez loosely held the hilt and slowly raised his sword.
“Come at me.”
He smiled, looking into Kirhas’s fiercely burning eyes.
*
Fernandez touched the shallow cut on his neck and laughed. Her hesitation had ultimately stopped her blade. Kirhas’s attack had reached Fernandez first, but it couldn’t go deeper at the end.
It was the same for Fernandez. He lightly struck Kirhas’s shoulder with the blade, disarming her, and then sheathed his sword.
-Swish.
Kirhas silently looked down at her fallen sword.
“In a real fight, I would have won, Your Excellency.”
“In a real fight, we wouldn’t have fought like this, Kirhas.”
“…That’s an excuse.”
“It’s the same for both of us.”
Fernandez smiled and placed his hand on her head. Kirhas’s ears drooped slightly, and she let out a small whimper.
“…Am I a burden?”
“No.”
“Then why are you leaving alone, Your Excellency? Don’t do this. I need you. Do I need them? I need…”
-Thud.
Kirhas raised her hand, grabbing Fernandez’s sleeve covering her head. Her hand trembled slightly.
“Give me a purpose, not a reason, Your Excellency. The purpose of my life, my being here, my reaching this point, was you.”
Fernandez looked down at her. Kirhas met his gaze. Fernandez’s eyes, looking at the tearful Kirhas, were warmly smiling.
“Your Excellency is wrong. I don’t belong to them. I belong to you. Not the Inquisition Office, nor the Temple of the Gods. To you.”
“Thank you.”
-Swish.
Fernandez stroked her head once, firmly, and then withdrew his arm. Feeling his arm slipping away from her grasp, Kirhas let out a short sigh.
“I want you to become their purpose, Kirhas. As I did for you. And don’t say that.”
He briefly touched his forehead to Kirhas’s and then pulled away. Looking into Kirhas’s teary turquoise eyes, he spoke briefly and firmly.
“It’s not like we’re parting forever.”
And then, without hesitation, he turned away. Kirhas watched his retreating back and sighed.
“I’m afraid it feels like we’re parting forever, Fernandez Sernerd.”
*
-How grandly you bid farewell, Fernandez.
‘If I don’t do it now, I’ll regret it.’
-Is the lingering attachment over now?
‘Almost.’
With a fragile heart, the events unfolding from now on wouldn’t be favorable to him. From here on, he had to move forward alone, cutting off as much of his heart as he could.
For that, there was still one more obstacle.
Outside the camp, the vast wilderness stretched out. Along a small path, ahead. Near a lonely watchtower overlooking the wasteland, by the campfire burning below.
Abel was gazing at the stars.
-One by one, they appear.
‘She probably arranged it. Abel is that kind of woman.’
A thoughtful woman who wouldn’t intrude on Kirhas and his farewell, and at the same time, vaguely aware of the picture he was drawing.
So, that wait wasn’t to hinder his journey. It was a wait to bless it.
Abel smiled as she watched Fernandez approaching.
“You’ve come.”
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