< 129. The Dream of a Butterfly (7) >
*
Once upon a time, there was a story like this. Every moment spent together was so happy that it felt like days I might not deserve. She whispered this while nestled in my arms.
What expressions did we have? She, and I. Fernandez pondered this as he stroked Aria’s hair while she slept. Neither of us likely had a pleasant expression.
Fernandez touched his loosening lips and gazed at Aria’s face. Moonlight streamed through the open window, illuminating her face.
“I feel the same way.”
The first emotions he felt for her were closer to attachment and possessiveness. Now, in the dim light, lost in the sense of time, the emotions he felt when looking at her were regret, apology, and repentance.
Do I deserve to be happy? Yes. At least she does. Every moment spent with her could be filled with the best days he could offer, and it still wouldn’t be enough.
But he…
“Preparation is complete, Brother.”
A hissing voice echoed behind him. Fernandez touched his face without turning his head. When he lowered his hand, only cold, sharp eyes and a twisted, icy smile remained.
“Bring it.”
“Yes, Brother…”
-Clink.
A small scroll was placed on the desk where Fernandez sat. The man handed over the scroll with a bony hand, bowed respectfully, and retreated.
“Get lost.”
“Then, I’ll see you at the main hall, Brother.”
As quietly as he appeared, the man vanished. Haramar. A high-ranking assassin from the demon-worshipping group, [Shadows of Enhari]. Now, bound by his curse, he was a puppet assassinating his former comrades under Fernandez’s orders.
Maledika was a place where such people gathered. Fernandez unfolded the scroll Haramar left with cold eyes.
*
[Special Operation: Web Cleanup]
Operation Area: Great Wilderness, outskirts of Mosat City, Checkpoint 11.
Operation Overview: Contact with Kirhas Hearttaker, Chieftain of the Federation of Beastmen. Secure church relics and investigate ancient ruins in the area.
Task Force: Maledika Faijashi Wildcast. Below [Redacted].
Voice Code: [Redacted].
We shall burn demons, heretics, and witches.
Final Approval: Marco Sunday, Abbot of St. Bartholomew Monastery.
[Time until document incineration: (15 seconds) remaining.]
*
Fernandez tossed the scroll into the air. It wasn’t an operation proposal he thought would receive final approval, but it was successful nonetheless.
-Whoosh.
The scroll burned in mid-air, leaving no ash behind. The ominous blue flame’s afterimage flickered in his vision.
‘To Karadskar’s northern advance, at most five years.’
In the Great Wilderness, where the Emperor and Sultan’s 70-year war raged, the only wildcard to resolve the situation was the Federation of Nobles, which had declared neutrality.
During this period, the Federation of Nobles was growing under the strong leadership of the Chieftain, who had successfully ended a long civil war.
Finally, the northern advance of the White Kingdom’s beastmen began, and wings had to be given to the one who would stop the massive conflagration sweeping from the southernmost tip of the continent to the northeast.
To end things more effectively and quickly. So that when the Material World finally approached its end, there would still be strength left to overcome it.
‘I will do my best to show you the best.’
Fernandez looked down at Aria, who was sleeping soundly. He would give her a life where she could study, eat, and rest as she pleased, without a care in the world.
A Material World free of war, demons, and heretics. The world didn’t need salvation. All that mattered was her happiness in a saved world.
So, I will show you only flower-filled meadows and hills with warm breezes. I will give you the perfect garden and the most peaceful sleep in the world.
I alone will bear the filth and manure of that world. This time, just this once, I won’t show you such a world.
‘That is my atonement to you, Aria.’
-Saruk.
Fernandez stroked Aria’s cheek as she slept, then turned and left the room.
*
The Great Wilderness had never achieved true peace at any point in history. As it approached modern civilization, the periods of conflict and chaos only intensified.
Now, in this era where the Emperor and Sultan played a long game of chess with the Great Wilderness as their backdrop, there was one neutral zone intentionally ignored by both sides.
“Chieftain!!”
A burly young nomad raised an old spear and shouted. He ran almost flying and prostrated himself on the ground.
-Clack.
Sharp shoes, slender ankles, and calves approached and stopped before him. The leader of the Federation of Beastmen Nobles, a force even the two great powers of the continent dared not bring onto their chessboard.
“Speak.”
A sharp, strong voice flowed above the young nomad’s head. The young man, sweating cold sweat, bowed his head even deeper.
“They’ve come!”
-Click.
A metallic sound and the smell of thick oil filled the air. The young man twitched his nose and slightly raised his head. At noon in the Great Wilderness, a woman stood in the shadow cast by the backlight, holding a thick cigarette.
-Flutter.
A strong wind blew, shaking a black cloak. The glossy fur cloak fluttered wildly in the wind. A servant standing beside her made a cautious gesture…
She lit a fire in his mouth.
“Hoo…”
The pungent smell of cigarette smoke stung the young man’s nose. Through the smoke that scattered from the woman’s lips, her turquoise eyes flashed with a sharp gleam. Overwhelmed by her presence, the young man immediately lowered his head to the ground.
“How far along are we?”
“We should be passing the entrance to the settlement now!”
“Bring them to me directly. Prepare to receive guests.”
“Should I prepare a feast or some refreshments?”
“Hmm, I wonder.”
-Hoo.
Cigarette smoke scattered once again. The woman smiled coldly and turned around. Her attendants and guards followed her movements.
This massive military encampment moved as one under her command. If all the tribes of the beastmen submitted to a single leader, what should that leader be called? The civilized nations referred to the Federation of Beastmen Nobles as a theocratic society.
Human civilization has many nations, each with its own leader. The northern barbarians are no different, nor are the jungle natives, and even the elves are divided around the three kings of the ancient kingdom.
But there is a race where all members submit to a single hand. The countless tribal chiefs of the Federation of Nobles have elected one supreme chieftain. The Undefeated, the Incarnation of War, the Shield of the Western Great Wilderness…
Kirhas of the Kalani Clan. Kirhas Hearttaker.
The great hero who ended the long civil war between tribes by killing all who opposed her. From a childhood spent as a slave to demon worshippers, to her youth where she slaughtered those demon worshippers and escaped, she now stood at the pinnacle of her life.
“Well, let’s prepare the drinks first.”
“Yes!”
Kirhas slowly walked towards her tent.
*
What is the most ideal form of the Federation of Beastmen Nobles? Fernandez pondered this as he underwent the seventh inspection. The Federation he had met during his time as ‘Saint’ Fernandez was truly nothing but chaff.
“You might fool others, but not me, old man.”
A muscular beastman youth sneered as he pulled a dagger from Fernandez’s sleeve. He roughly patted down Fernandez’s body, checking for weapons.
“I’m not that old yet, young man.”
“Your old skin reeks. Next!”
That stung a little. Fernandez glared at the rude beastman and then chuckled. What could he possibly discuss with these brash youngsters? He shook his head and moved forward.
As they passed through the settlement of the Federation and headed towards the center, the inspections and surveillance became stricter. This was only natural, as they were now entering the area where the tribal chiefs, prophets, and elders had their tents.
‘It’s strange to think that anyone could come and meet the Supreme Chieftain in the past.’
When you think about it, the Supreme Chieftain is the leader of the entire race. A being akin to a living god, so it was strange that anyone could have an audience with such a being.
Fernandez smiled as he observed the vastly changed villages of the Federation compared to what he remembered. Yes, this level of discipline is enough to trust.
‘With this level of military discipline, it’s no wonder they held off Karadskar.’
At every corner, hulking soldiers armed with menacing weapons glared at Fernandez and his party. Beside Fernandez, Haramar whispered softly.
“Brother, you must endure.”
“…What do you take me for?”
“…”
Haramar stepped back without a word, looking at Fernandez with an expression that said, “Don’t you know?”
“No, I only kill those who need to be killed.”
“The brother I saw was always killing someone outside the monastery.”
“That’s because there are too many people in the world who need killing.”
The Supreme Chieftain’s tent was now in sight. A long carpet was laid out between rows of elite soldiers, creating a path. As Fernandez stepped on the carpet and slowly moved forward, the soldiers threateningly struck their spears on the ground.
Childish tactics. As Fernandez sneered at this, Haramar approached and whispered in a low voice.
“What if the Supreme Chieftain refuses?”
“Then we still can’t kill her.”
-Swish!
“Enter. Show respect!!”
A hulking beastman at the entrance of the tent shouted, crossing his spear. Soon, the tent’s curtain was drawn back, revealing a vast interior adorned with purple silk and gleaming spoils of war.
“Hoo…”
At the end of the purple carpeted path was a massive throne decorated with animal hides and gold. Sitting there with her legs stretched out, fanned by attendants, was her.
Her outfit accentuated her long, white calves and toned body, with a glossy black cloak draped from her shoulders down.
“Supreme Chieftain, it is an honor to meet you.”
“Indeed. You should consider it an honor.”
Her arrogant turquoise eyes gleamed fiercely. Hoo—, cigarette smoke drifted through her lips.
‘The Undefeated, Kirhas Hearttaker.’
A completely different person from the ‘vassal’ Kirhas, yet with the same face. The pinnacle of martial prowess holds magic, and a body tempered by magic is relatively free from the flow of time and aging.
The Kirhas he remembered was from almost 30 years ago, but the 30 years Fernandez and Kirhas experienced were entirely different. In that long time, she had become more seasoned, more fierce, and more resilient. Yet, she still wore the face he knew.
-Clink.
She reached out and dismissed the attendant’s fan. The attendant soon brought a porcelain ashtray before her. Kirhas extinguished her thick cigarette in the ashtray and looked down at Fernandez.
“The priests from the east made an arrogant proposal.”
“They just want what’s theirs returned.”
“Yours? Hmm, since when was it yours?”
“It is a relic of our god. It has nothing to do with the beastmen, does it?”
“As far as I know, your god was Vaitas. I pulled this from the heart of the god of the hunt. Why do you say it’s yours?”
As Kirhas gestured, an attendant brought a greatsword wrapped in red cloth and prostrated himself. Kirhas gripped the hilt of the greatsword, slowly drew it, and pointed the blade at Fernandez.
“Prove it.”
The sacred relic of Vaitas, the Keyblade. A mythical artifact later used as a sacrifice to summon four archangels. Fernandez smiled as he gazed at the silver-white blade flickering in the candlelight.
![[TS] Obsessed Gamer: The Ultimate Return](https://i3.wp.com/novelhitam.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/TS-Obsessed-Gamer-The-Ultimate-Return2.png?resize=85,105 "[TS] Obsessed Gamer: The Ultimate Return")
