Chapter 247 – DIVINE SPIRIT’S WHISTLE (6)
Terms used in this episode:
Buster Call – a reference to the manga, One Piece. It is used by the Marines to summon/call their entire fleet in order to destroy a dangerous criminal or organization.
The battle with the Kraken was literally short and ma.s.sive.
The actual fight itself only took around twenty minutes.
But during that short period of time, the damage suffered by the sirens was ma.s.sive.
Nearly half of the troops were injured due to the various wide-area attacks of the Kraken.
“It’s fortunate that the death toll is small.”
More than 30 sirens were killed out of the hundreds who were injured, and the group that received the most damage was the cavalry who was in direct contact with the Kraken.
Some were directly hit by the Kraken’s legs or tentacles, while others were strongly affected by the Kraken’s mental attacks because of their close distance to it.
“We’ve been too complacent.”
Iliana, the queen of the sirens, felt responsible.
Stop the Kraken’s movements and then concentrate their attacks to kill it.
The operation itself was simple and seemed possible to do, but the reality was completely different.
They did stop it, but could not completely confine it to the seal, and the firepower the sirens prepared was not enough to kill it.
‘Is this the reason why they had no choice but to seal it…’
The reason why the elves of the ancient kingdom of Perigeo only sealed the Kraken.
It was impossible to kill it with just a fair amount of firepower.
‘Perhaps it’s impossible to completely defeat it even if we used the Sea G.o.d’s Trident.’
Because it was so powerful.
If it weren’t for Jude and Cordelia, the Kraken might not have been sealed again.
Many sirens would have been killed by the Kraken who would have eventually destroyed the Sealing Sword of Light, and begin to move freely.
“It’s not Your Majesty’s fault.”
There was no way for the sirens to fully know the Kraken’s power.
They didn’t know how powerful the Kraken was until they fought it themselves.
“We were able to seal it again because it was crouching inside the seal. If we had neglected it, our country would have been devastated without us being able to do anything against it.”
Malthias spoke as if to comfort her, but Iliana shook her head.
“Indeed, that would have been the result. Still… as the leader of a country, I should have investigated the Kraken a little more, and prepared even a little more firepower.”
That was the responsibility of a leader.
At Iliana’s words, Malthias felt both frustration and joy.
Her frustration came from the fact that despite their victory, Iliana was distressed because of her strong sense of responsibility. Her joy was due to the feeling of serving an intelligent and benevolent monarch.
“My queen, we still won, right? The injured will also recover in no time. If we guard the seal well, the Kraken will no longer be a problem.”
Malthias said with a smile, and Iliana also a smiled a little. She did it for Malthias’ sake.
“Yes, we’ll have to thoroughly guard the seal this time to prevent something like this from happening again.”
In fact, the sirens had barely paid attention to the Kraken’s seal until now.
For hundreds of years, no one had thought that someone would break the Kraken’s seal.
‘We also need to find the culprit who broke the seal.’
As Malthias had said, guarding the seal was necessary, but finding the culprit who broke the seal in the first place had to be prioritized.
Iliana made up her mind on what to do in the future, and shifted the topic to a more pleasant one rather than troubling Malthias with depressing stories.
“So Malthias, where are our heroes now?”
It was obvious that she was referring to Jude and Cordelia, who made the biggest contribution in sealing the Kraken, so Malthias replied with a broad smile.
“They’re resting in the house of the Gallas’ family. Both of them are tired, but they’re not injured, so they’ll be attending the victory celebration tonight.”
“That’s good then. We’re indebted to the two, so we’ll have to properly compensate them.”
“But… Your Majesty. I think they’ve already taken a lot.”
Because the two had already taken a lot of things in the name of summoning the Spirit King.
‘Wait, now that I think of it, they didn’t even summon the Spirit King in the end.’
Were we deceived?
Did they not plan on summoning the Spirit King in the first place?
If Cordelia had heard Malthias’ thoughts, her conscience would have been p.r.i.c.ked and she would be at a loss on what to do. But if it was Jude, he would have calmly said, ‘No, you’re wrong. We tried to summon it, okay? But the situation was just different from what we expected, okay?’
But it was at that moment when Malthias recalled his shamelessness.
“We can’t do that, Malthias. And most of the items they took were used to activate the seal, right?”
“They did, but…”
There were many items that they took but didn’t use like the lightning trident.
But even Malthias had a conscience so she decided to not question such things like that.
She was a bit upset since she was in charge of the country’s financial affairs, but it was true that Jude and Cordelia helped them overcome a huge crisis.
“But you have a point. It’s also true that we’ve already given a lot, so we don’t have enough to compensate them now.”
The battle was short, but the expenditure was big. A huge amount of money would also be spent on the recovery and rehabilitation of the injured.
“Then…”
“But we can’t just thank them in words. So I think…”
Iliana stopped speaking for a moment, but smiled and spoke of the item that she had thought of as a reward for Jude and Cordelia, and Malthias’ expression turned strange.
They would be able to save on their immediate expenses if Iliana handed over what she thought to Jude and Cordelia, but in the long run, something much bigger might happen.
“Malthias, I’ve already made a decision. Please follow it.”
“I understand.”
Because the queen was quite stubborn in this regard.
‘And… it’s true that we’re indebted to them.’
Their country would have been devastated if not for the two.
Malthias thought of them nicely as she turned her gaze towards the direction of the Gallas’ mansion.
***
At the same time.
In the Gallas’ mansion.
Jude and Cordelia, the key players in today’s victory, was sitting down together and busy giving compliments.
“We would have been in big trouble if it wasn’t for Melissa.”
“Melissa is the best.”
“As expected of a genius! An expert of the ancient elven kingdoms! An amazing being who could understand and use the sealing system that the sirens instantly gave up on!”
“That’s right, that’s right! You’re pretty, nice, cool, and reliable!”
Jude’s praises were specific, and Cordelia’s compliments were simple but sincere.
And Melissa responded to their barrage of compliments with a standard response.
[Hmph, I’m not a child. I’m not so simple as to fall for those words.]
But despite saying that, her voice sounded strangely excited.
The gem part of Moonlight seemed to be glowing red, perhaps because of her mood.
Therefore, Jude and Cordelia exchanged glances and began to fuss about it.
“No, what are you saying? We’re not flattering you. We’re just listing the facts. Right, Cordelia?”
“He’s right, he’s right. It’s all true. Our Melissa is good, pretty, nice, and reliable – aren’t all those facts?”
“Without Melissa, we wouldn’t have been able to implement Plan B.”
“That’s right, too. Melissa completely saved us. We wouldn’t have lived without Melissa.”
[Ahem, ahem.]
It worked. If she was a person, she wouldn’t have been able to stop her chest from puffing up, and her smile from appearing.
“Melissa, thank you very much.”
“Yes, thank you. Not only the two of us, but also the entire country of the sirens are indebted to you.”
[A-a bit more.]
Melissa eventually revealed her true feelings after continuously being baptized with praise.
She had always been hungry for interest and affection, perhaps because she had lived alone waiting for her masters that never returned for more than a thousand years, or perhaps it was her natural personality.
Jude and Cordelia nodded and continued to praise her again.
“Melissa is good.”
“Melissa is pretty.”
“Melissa is reliable.”
“Melissa is smart.”
[Aheeem, ahem.]
At the sound of Melissa trying to suppress her cough, Cordelia giggled and looked at Jude.
‘Good, good. She heard you too. Melissa is feeling really good now.’
‘With this, she’ll be relieved for a while.’
‘Huh? What do you mean by for a while?’
‘Won’t Lady Cordelia from the Chase family forget her again?’
‘No, I won’t? I’m going to talk to her really often, okay? We’re going to chat every day, okay? We’ll be having girls talk, okay?”
‘Okay, if you insist, then so be it.’
‘Argh, seriously.’
Anyway, Jude and Cordelia succeeded in placating Melissa, and the two smiled again afterwards.
The fact that they were able to argue with each other like this was also because of the victory in this battle.
“Huaaa… it was tough.”
Cordelia mumbled and hugged Moonlight as she sneakily leaned on Jude’s arms as if she had collapsed, and Jude hugged her shoulders, touching his lips on her head.
“I’ll sleep for a bit.”
“Sleep soundly. I’ll wake you up later.”
“Okay.”
She was exhausted from pouring her mana into the seal.
Unlike Jude whose stamina was constantly being replenished because of the Sphere of Life, Cordelia needed to rest in order to regain the mana she discharged.
[Sleep well.]
“Yes, Melissa too.”
Cordelia closed her eyes, and Jude adjusted his posture so that Cordelia could sleep comfortably. He closed his eyes and tried to restore the power of the black sun that he had used up in the battle.
***
The scale of the sirens’ victory banquet in the central square was truly huge.
Except for those who were injured to the extent that they couldn’t attend the banquet, almost everyone attended, as even the men of each family who did not appear in meetings or battles also appeared.
Most of them had been captured, but surprisingly, everyone had a good expression, whether they liked the life here or perhaps the sirens only brought out those who had adapted well.
‘Isn’t the cost of this banquet more than the cost of the entire battle?’
But it was also necessary.
Because man was not a machine.
People expressed their emotions by crying when they were sad, or smiling when they were happy.
As Jude walked through the banquet hall thinking that way, Cordelia was thinking of something completely different.
‘Yes, good. My Jude is the coolest.’
The men of each family were all dressed up, but none of them could compare to Jude.
Cordelia was in a good mood and hugged Jude’s arm a little tighter as she raised her chin, and Kajsa who was watching them from behind then clicked her tongue. Because she could tell what Cordelia was thinking inside.
‘They’re seriously made for each other.’
I’m sure they’ll love each other like that even when they grow old.
They clearly must have been flirting ever since they were born.
In the first place, they were engaged ever since they were in their mothers’ wombs.
“They must have been flirting even in their past lives.”
“That’s possible.”
Kajsa unexpectedly agreed with Bentham who didn’t see through the true nature of the two, before she turned to the men of each family.
She was wondering if there was a face she might know.
And half an hour pa.s.sed like that.
After the banquet pa.s.sed by to some extent, Iliana climbed onto a high platform in the center of the square and called Jude and Cordelia.
Her move was aimed at celebrating the achievements of the two in front of everyone, and giving them their reward.
‘It somehow reminds me of the king.’
‘Because the situation now is similar to that time.’
Cordelia smiled as she recalled the time when they were bestowed the count rank and a new fief in front of countless people after stopping the tragedy in the royal capital. Jude looked away a little as he turned to Iliana.
Unlike Cordelia who was pleased with the event itself, Jude’s attention was more focused on the reward prepared by Iliana.
‘What will they give us?’
As Malthias had already grumbled to Iliana, the two had already received almost everything they deserved.
‘Surely, it’s not more money.’
Although money was good, and that the more money, the merrier, Jude and Cordelia were already financially well off.
‘Because we don’t even have time to spend our money.’
When he looked back, they were always busy wandering around to prevent the destruction in the future ever since they recalled their past life memories.
He couldn’t even remember buying luxurious things except for the time when he bought things for the ball in the royal capital.
“This way please.”
When Jude and Cordelia climbed onto the platform, Iliana informed everyone of their contributions and added words of praise, just like what King Henry II of the Sälen Kingdom did in the royal capital.
Cordelia truly enjoyed this moment.
Because when they received recognition, she felt that they were doing the right thing, even when they were in the wild lands or the royal capital.
We did well.
We did a good job.
We just have to continue doing this from now on.
In fact, for Cordelia, everything that had happened since she recalled her past life had been very difficult.
Because she had to fight with her life on the line over and over again.
She had suffered many injuries in the process, and there were times she suffered extreme pain whether physically or mentally.
The destruction that awaited them in the future.
Just knowing it made her heart feel heavy.
‘If Jude wasn’t here.’
If she was alone.
Then she would have to endure alone everything she had been through so far.
Cordelia was scared from just imagining it, and quickly shook her head.
And a question arose in her mind at the same time.
What about Jude?
Will it be difficult for Jude if he was alone too?
Is Jude also mentally dependent on me, just like me to him?
I hope he is.
Cordelia looked up at Jude, and at that moment, she was brought back to reality upon hearing the enthusiastic applause that rang out, and looked straight ahead.
“We are grateful for your hard work and contribution, and present you this.”
Iliana presented a flute – no, a whistle, that was made from a horn.
‘What is this?’
She had never seen something like this in Legend of Heroes 2.
And it was true. In the world of Legend of Heroes 2 where the siren monarchy was destroyed by Malekith, the whistle in front of them did not mean much.
But it was different now that the siren monarchy was still intact.
As Jude accepted the flute that was as white as a conch or seash.e.l.l, Queen Iliana said in a low voice.
“It’s the Divine Spirit’s Whistle. No matter where you are, blow it three times and we’ll be able to hear it. Then our entire country will rise and help you.”
At Iliana’s explanation, Jude’s eyes widened in surprise while Cordelia blinked her eyes. Because something else came to her mind.
‘Buster Call!’
Obviously, it was quite different from the one in the manga, but it was also similar.
Anyway, what the queen meant was that if they blew the whistle three times, the siren army would appear to help them.
“Thank you very much.”
“You are the benefactors of this country, so it is right for the entire country to return the favor. But you two, don’t use it too hastily. You should use our whistle when you really need the power of us sirens. Do you understand?”
“We understand.”
Jude answered Iliana, but he was feeling a bit strange.
‘Because we have to blow it sooner or later.’
The ancient dragon Malekith.
By itself, he was already powerful enough to fight a Demon Prince, but he also had Dragonflights under his command.
To fight such a Malekith, the two also needed a powerful force.
‘Anyway, this is good. This is much better than receiving any other items.’
Jude felt better and took the whistle, once again smiling as if he was having his picture taken, and Iliana – or to be exact, Malthias who was standing behind the queen, shuddered in nervousness for some unknown reason.
“Now, let’s cheer for our two heroes again!”
“Uoooooooo!”
The sirens reacted to Iliana’s words, and Jude and Cordelia smiled at the applause that began again.
And that night.
Jude and Cordelia wrote a love letter to quickly escape like always.
Because there was Iliana, and the people of the Gallas family such as Electra and Chloe who seemed to be unwilling to let go of Jude and Cordelia yet.
“W-with my beloved Lord Jude…”
Cordelia was writing down what Jude was saying, and blushed as she glared at Jude.
“Hey, isn’t this a little expressive?”
And now that I think of it, why am I the one writing it?
But Jude slyly smiled, shrugging his shoulders as he said.
“Would you like me to write it down then? That would be fine with me. I’ll beautify the contents of the letter.”
“N-no. I’ll just write it down. Yes, it’s better for me to write it myself.”
She was scared on what nonsense he would write if she pa.s.sed it to him.
As Cordelia turned to the stationery again, Jude had a faint smile as he eagerly thought of sentences that would embarra.s.s Cordelia.
And they continued to write the letter in that way.
The red-faced Cordelia who was writing the letter in a neat and beautiful handwriting suddenly raised her head.
“Cordelia?”
“Huh? Uh… well, umm… I suddenly thought of something.”
“Eh?”
“I can’t say what it is, but I think I’m forgetting something.”
[Me?]
Melissa spoke with good timing, but it was not her this time.
“No, not you.”
Something else than Melissa.
No, someone else.
Who is it?
Who am I forgetting?
“Well, it must not be that important, right?”
So you forgot about it.
“You’re right.”
Cordelia nodded as always to Jude’s reasonable words, and erased that forgotten person in her mind.
She then continued to write the love letter as she struggled in her embarra.s.sment.
And at the same time, in a completely different place.
Someone – the person who had been completely forgotten by Cordelia, was sitting on the roof of a famous n.o.ble family’s mansion as she pouted her cheeks.
“Ah, seriously! When are those two coming!”
You said we’d meet in the south!
You said we’d compete in the south!
It was Scarlet, a descendant of the Rogue Master, and Pink Bomb’s rival.
The red-haired woman looked towards the north with resentful eyes.