Chapter 297 – HODL ELVES (1)
Terms used in this episode:
Rejuvenation – a martial arts skill that lets the pract.i.tioner return to their younger body through a process such as metamorphosis after they had achieved a higher level of realization. Rather than having their wrinkles disappear or their facial appearance turn younger, the body itself become young as their bones and muscles return to what it was in their youthful days.
Jude and his group traveled under the cover of night and by dawn, they arrived at a place where they could take a rest.
“We won’t get caught if we’re here.”
Most of the group nodded at Leon’s words.
A cabin stood on the rugged mountain with a forest that people rarely pa.s.sed through.
It was quite large, but since the place was rarely pa.s.sed through, they didn’t need to worry about being caught as Leon had said.
“Villagers can see those who are coming and going in this cabin in the mountains, but this place should be fine.”
One of the Royal Knights explained to the emperor whom he was carrying on his back, and the emperor nodded with a tired face.
The emperor didn’t care whatever it was as long as he could go in and rest.
[Jude, this is Sarah’s hometown, right?]
[It is.]
The birthplace of the playable character Sarah.
Cordelia glanced at Sarah who was at the front with Leon, so she could only see Sarah’s back.
‘Is she okay?’
Because in the game’s storyline, this cabin was a place that Sarah missed but didn’t want to return to.
A place that was filled with memories of her father.
But a place she wanted to erase from her memories because her father was murdered here.
Cordelia was slightly nervous as she looked at Sarah again.
But fortunately, her worries were unfounded as Sarah calmly moved forward as if she had already overcome the pain of the past.
[Ah, wait. Wait. Did she just hold hands with Leon now?]
It was only for a short time, but she did hold his hand, right?
And Leon seemed to have held her hand tightly as if to comfort her.
They did, right?
You saw that too, right?
As Cordelia’s face brightened up, Jude unconsciously had a bitter smile.
Because he thought that Cordelia was really interested in other people’s relationships.
“Don’t do that. Let’s focus on ours.”
“Eh? Huh?”
W-what do you mean?
At the time when Cordelia blushed and developed strange expectations.
[Let’s go in. Let’s move too.]
Melissa coldly and indifferently said, and Jude smiled before he held Cordelia’s hand.
Naturally, Cordelia shyly smiled as her fingers wiggled before she interlocked it with Jude.
[Seriously…]
Melissa quietly sighed and everyone in the group entered the cabin.
***
“It’s a little late, but let me give you my thanks. Heroes from a foreign country, the two people of destiny. The Imperial Family will never forget your help.”
The Empress Dowager sat in front of the fireplace and looked to be very tired. Her clothes appeared to be worn out from their escape, but she still had the dignity as the ruler of the empire.
If the First Queen of the Sälen Kingdom, Justina F. Sälen, had the unique dignity and robustness of a trained warrior, the Empress Dowager had the striking sharpness and ferociousness of a sword.
She had a fragile body that had never received combat training before, but the power in her eyes seemed to exceed that of the First Queen.
‘As expected of a regent.’
She should be around 30 now.
Even though she was young when compared to the former rulers of the empire, she had ruled the empire as a true regent for four years and was not just a puppet.
“I also commend you for your service.”
The young emperor, who was sitting next to the Empress Dowager, stiffened his neck and said. He seemed to be trying to show a dignified figure, but he was still too young and weak for that.
He seemed to be only eleven now.
“The emperor’s favor is immeasurable.”
Jude and Cordelia politely bowed their heads and replied, and smiles spread across the faces of the Empress Dowager and the emperor.
The Empress Dowager had a relieved smile while the emperor had a bright smile.
“As expected of the two people of destiny that the heavenly voice had foreseen. May I look forward to your future performance?”
When the Empress Dowager asked again, Jude slowly raised his head and answered.
“Me and my fiancée, Cordelia, came to the empire as members of the Guardians of the Holy Cross. We promise to cooperate with the Imperial Family until we defeat the Chancellor who had sided with the demon followers and eradicate them that had spread like a disease throughout the empire.”
“I promise too.”
Cordelia said the last words and promptly bowed, and the Empress Dowager sighed in relief again.
She seemed to be very relieved as she did not hide her expression this time.
She had not seen it in person, but she had heard in detail of the two’s performance from the Royal Knights.
It was unrealistic for a young man to be on the level of a Grand Sword Master and a girl to be on the level of an Archwizard, but in any case, what mattered was their abilities and not their age.
‘We can do it.’
With the power of a Grand Sword Master and an Archwizard, it became possible to make the impossible possible.
The Grand Sword Master was such an existence.
‘Furthermore…’
There was one more Grand Sword Master in the Royal Knights that they could absolutely trust.
If they could rescue him – Absolute Knight Galahad, their power would double at once.
A glimmer of hope shone on the Empress Dowager’s face.
But it was only for a moment, and the Empress Dowager soon had a stern face and said again.
“It is truly deplorable that the Chancellor and his subordinates are actually demon followers.”
She thought that they were just a group of rebels, but she now understood that they were monsters who gave up their humanity.
“As members of the Guardians of the Holy Cross, we will surely destroy them.”
“We will annihilate them.”
As Jude and Cordelia spoke again, the Empress Dowager smiled once more.
And it was then.
“Your Imperial Majesty the Empress Dowager, may we ask you a question?”
Jude inquired and the Empress Dowager gently nodded.
“Is there something that you do not know the answer of? You may ask me.”
With the Empress Dowager’s permission, Jude swallowed hard and carefully opened his mouth.
“We would like to know about the heavenly voice.”
The mysterious being who pointed to Jude and Cordelia, calling them the two people of destiny.
Who was that being and how did they communicate with the Empress Dowager? Why did that being called Jude and Cordelia the two people of destiny?
At Jude’s question, the Empress Dowager glanced at Leon for a moment before nodding again.
“The heavenly voice… is a voice from a higher place that has given me advice since childhood. Perhaps they are the heavenly G.o.ds… that is what I think.”
To be more specific, she would sometimes hear a holy voice and receive an oracle.
The Empress Dowager explained that it was a one-way communication and she could not talk back to them, but they had greatly helped her many times in her life.
‘Are their true ident.i.ties angels?’
Half of the G.o.ds in Pleiades were originally angels who descended from Heaven.
Even Solari was one of the seven archangels in Heaven.
‘Angels.’
Four archangels are still alive.
If one of them is the heavenly voice and that archangel is helping the humans on earth…
‘It makes sense.’
I don’t know about the other archangels, but it’s possible if it’s Raguel.
As the Archangel of Justice, she has cherished and loved humans very much in Legend of Heroes 3.
But Legend of Heroes have three episodes.
She originally did not exert much influence in Pleiades before the Great Summons in the second episode.
But she’s now involved in earthly affairs? And even through the Empress Dowager who rules the empire?
‘It’s not just the empire.’
Given the circ.u.mstances, if the heavenly voice is truly an archangel from Heaven, then the Sälen Kingdom must be also under the influence of Heaven.
Crown Princess Daphne who is now an adult and has begun to actively intervene in the political affairs of the royal family must have also heard the heavenly voice.
[It’s fine since they’re on our side, right?]
Jude nodded at Cordelia’s message, but couldn’t help feeling uncomfortable.
Are you saying that the b.u.t.terfly effect that Cordelia and I had caused has even reached Heaven?
It’s possible, but honestly, I think it’s a bit too far-fetched.
There should be another cause.
Another reason.
A reason why the archangels have become interested in earth much earlier than the original.
“Count August Bayer?”
Jude came to his senses at the Empress Dowager’s call, and he bowed his head and stepped back instead of continuing to ask more questions.
Because what he found out from the Empress Dowager seemed to be enough for now.
“Then I would like to discuss about our future plans.”
When everyone’s attention focused on the Empress Dowager, the emperor who was watching then gently pulled the Empress Dowager’s sleeve.
“Your Imperial Majesty the Empress Dowager.”
And his small voice followed.
The Empress Dowager replied as she narrowed her brows.
“Your Majesty, I, too, would like to rescue Sir Galahad. But I think that it’s not only reckless but also not a good time to go and save him now.”
Although the emperor’s mother was the regent, the supreme ruler of the empire was officially the young emperor.
Therefore, the Empress Dowager continued her words with a friendly voice.
“First of all, we should unite the forces who are loyal to His Imperial Majesty the Emperor. And in order to do that… we have to cooperate with the elves first.”
Her last words were directed to the people in this place rather than the emperor.
The elves of the empire.
Their first priority was to contact the so-called ‘HODL elves’ and ask for help.
After all, the elves of the empire were descendants of Magellan, the magic kingdom, so they hated demons and demon followers.
If they learned that the Chancellor had become a demon follower, they would support the Imperial Family with all their power.
‘Because the head of the HODL elves is a person from that era.’
The elf capitalist, Vincenzo Lombardi.
A high elf royalty who was still alive and led the elves of the empire despite his age of over a thousand years.
Having lost his parents, siblings, and many friends to the demons, the hatred and vengeance he harbored had not disappeared even after more than a thousand years had pa.s.sed.
“We fully accept the Empress Dowager’s will.”
The group meeting ended with the Royal Knights respectfully accepting the Empress Dowager’s instructions.
And that night.
Cordelia sneaked up next to Jude who was sitting outside the cabin and keeping watch.
“You’re not in the night watch, right?”
Because wizards were highly valued.
They had no need for her as they had enough people to stand as the night watch.
At Jude’s words, Cordelia smiled and hugged Jude’s arm as she said.
“Just.”
I just want to do this.
Because of Kirara these days, I’ve been lacking in my Jude vitamins.
Jude had a faint smile at Cordelia’s a.n.a.logy.
“Am I an essential nutrient?”
“Yes, that’s right. An essential nutrient.”
Cordelia smirked and turned her head a bit in order to press her lips on Jude’s chin.
Their difference in height was so great that it was hard for her to kiss him in the lips unless she straightened her neck while sitting like this.
“Hehe.”
This is really nice.
Jude smiled and kissed Cordelia’s cheek and clavicle, though Cordelia flinched and said.
“Leave a mark.”
Specifically in her clavicle.
But Jude tilted his head and said.
“You want me to leave one?”
[Ugh, please. No.]
Melissa’s protest were somehow heard, but Jude and Cordelia ignored her because they had been focused on each other for quite some time.
A short kiss.
It didn’t last long because he was in the middle of the night watch.
So Cordelia leaned on Jude’s chest and brought up another topic.
“But it’s a bit disappointing.”
“What is?”
“I mean, if we go to the HODL elves, we won’t be able to go to the Imperial Capital Academy.”
That had been their original plan.
Using the doc.u.ments that Kaplan had prepared, they would enter the Imperial Capital Academy and become students.
They obviously weren’t going to the academy to have a fun time, but Cordelia still regretted it.
“I wanted to wear a school uniform.”
Because the Imperial Capital Academy’s uniforms were famous for being pretty and stylish.
At Cordelia’s words, Jude lightly bit her ear and spoke.
“I wanted to see it.”
“Huh?”
“The uniform.”
Cordelia in a school uniform.
“You want to see it?”
“Yes, I want to see it. Very much.”
Cordelia’s face reddened at Jude’s words. She briefly hesitated before speaking in a low voice.
“M-me too.”
Jude in a school uniform.
I’m sure he’d look cool.
Cordelia momentarily imagined it as she wiggled her fingers. Afterwards, she turned to Jude and said with a big smile.
“Jude, Jude. Shall we go to the academy and try it on later after our work in the empire is over?”
After they had defeated all the demon followers and stopped the Great Summons.
Jude smiled a bit at Cordelia’s suggestion and said.
“I’d like to, but isn’t this a flag?”
“It’s fine if we’re the main characters.”
[What’s with the flow of this conversation?]
Jude nodded when Melissa interrupted. He hugged Cordelia’s pet.i.te body again and promised that they would go to the Imperial Capital Academy.
“When everything is over.”
“Yes, when we get a happy ending.”
It was bit vague, but they still wanted to accomplish it.
Jude and Cordelia lightly kissed on the lips.
***
At the same time in a distant place.
The one called the Sword G.o.d raised his head.
He had a wrinkled face and white hair, but he was not weak.
Half of it was due to Rejuvenation, and the other was his old age.
After walking the path of the sword for a long time that ordinary humans never got to walk, he was able to come to this point.
And because of that, he no longer took the name Sword G.o.d seriously.
“You’re back.”
The Sword G.o.d was the continent’s strongest swordsman.
But he didn’t work for the empire.
He was only someone who sought and walked the path of the sword.
“Have you reached the sword of the heavens?”
It was an absurd question.
It had been a decade or so since the Sword G.o.d himself had reached the sword of the heavens.
A state that he had reached after more than a hundred years of training.
But the Sword G.o.d still asked.
Because it would have been possible if it was the child in front of him.
He had never had a disciple in his life.
He was busy walking the path of the sword alone, so he had no time to take care of others.
He thought that he would never had disciples until he died.
But he changed his mind when he met the child in front of him for the first time.
If it’s this child.
Will it be possible to go to what is beyond reason?
Will it be possible to achieve a truly complete swordsmanship?
So he accepted the child.
He tried to teach him everything.
But one day, the child, his only disciple, left his side and went out into the world.
He had received a divine revelation.
So he followed the voice from a higher place.
In response to the Sword G.o.d’s question, Maximilian, the continent’s best – no, the best sword genius of all time, raised his head and looked at his master.
Instead of answering with his mouth, he drew his sword.
Ultimate Two – Divine Sword Balisarda.
An item that originally should not have been in his possession.
Sword G.o.d smiled happily. He welcomed his disciple’s challenge by pulling out Ultimate Six – Final Sword Valcazard.
“Let’s have a match.”
To test his skills just like how they had always done.
Sword G.o.d smiled and so did Maximilian.
The swords and distance of the two narrowed down.