Chapter 291 |
The R■■d L■■ding to the Stage (2)
Kirchhoff, the Sword Master of the Forgotten Kingdom.
Let’s talk about his homeland, Londinel.
Londinel fell about three hundred years ago. By now, very few records of it remained. All that was left were brief notes saying it had stood near the border of the Outland, and that the Outland had since swallowed it.
But Kirchhoff said:
“I feel a bit awkward saying this as someone from Londinel, but Londinel once had national power on par with the Empire.”
Londinel had never been a weak country.
It had been a great power that rivaled the Empire.
Najin did not find that strange. Kirchhoff was standing right in front of him, and Azure Spear, whom he had met in the desert, had also been a Transcendent from Londinel.
‘That makes at least three. Add Kirchhoff, and that makes four.’
In an era where Transcendents were national power, Londinel truly deserved to be called a great nation equal to the Empire.
“If the Empire became humanity’s center on the continent and calmed the chaos, Londinel played the role of a border marquis.”
If the continent were one giant country, Londinel was the marquis on the frontier. It watched humanity’s border at the edge of the Outland and intercepted enemies. It was humanity’s shield.
“And that kind of nation vanished overnight without a trace. All it left behind was one fact: three Constellations were involved in its destruction.”
Kirchhoff gave a bitter smile.
“My memory isn’t complete either. For a long time, only fragments drifted around in my head. Until very recently.”
He pointed at Najin.
“But when I saw you, and the Empire raising an army, some memories came back, even if only faintly. Maybe the Carnival King’s influence weakened. Or maybe that damned demon can’t hide anymore and got dragged out into the open.”
Whatever the reason, Kirchhoff nodded.
“On the day three Constellations descended on Londinel, Londinel knew it was doomed. We realized there was no way to avoid destruction.”
The Carnival King, the Star of Forgetting, and Lancelot.
Back then, Constellations with 8 stars, unknown, and 11 stars had entered the battlefield.
“Do you despair before destruction, or do you leave something behind before you fall? Our last monarch was the kind of person who would spit at the enemy one more time and raise one more middle finger even while dying.”
“They were a magnificent person.”
Kirchhoff murmured that and smiled.
“Just like what you are doing now...”
After looking around at the Imperial soldiers outside the tent, Kirchhoff let out a sigh.
“Londinel also tried to forge the will of all its people into a single sword, and wound the Transcendents.”
“...”
“And, well, you already know the rest.”
He shrugged.
“We failed. Miserably. I don’t know exactly what happened. That part seems erased from memory too. I only know...”
“Only know what?”
“The moment the plan failed, our monarch and Azure Spear made a choice. They decided to pass the ‘concept’ of the nation called Londinel to one human.”
Kirchhoff opened his palm.
Only one star shone above it. It was his only star, and yet it shone like many stars gathered together.
“Want to take a closer look?”
Kirchhoff held out his hand to Najin. The moment Najin looked at the star up close, he understood.
“So it wasn’t one.”
It was not a single star. It resembled the Azure Hydrangea, Londinel’s national flower. Just as tiny blossoms gather to form one flower, Kirchhoff’s star was a composite that bound hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of starlights together.
“What is this star called?”
“Grand Culmination.”
The name of his own star, a name he had never told anyone. Even Kirchhoff himself had forgotten that Constellation name until recently.
“It is one star created by gathering all of Londinel’s will into Grand Culmination.”
Knights and Transcendents who held stars gladly offered their stars to Kirchhoff. The citizens looked at the rising star and kept praying until the moment they turned to ash. It was a star made in exchange for the lives of tens of millions.
“Why is this memory coming back now?”
Looking at his own star, Kirchhoff asked himself. He was not asking anyone else for an answer.
“Because now is the moment I must step forward.”
He had asked and answered himself. As he gave his own answer, Kirchhoff clenched the star tightly in his hand.
“It is time to let them know Londinel still stands.”
2.
Tracing the memories he recovered, Kirchhoff provided a few more pieces of information. Based on that information, Najin and the Empire’s commanders revised the operation.
“Ah, what are you going to do about the Star of Forgetting and Lancelot? It looks like your plan has no counter for those two.”
Those two Constellations were likely deeply linked to the Carnival King.
When Kirchhoff brought them up, the people gathered in the tent, including the commanders, naturally turned their eyes to Najin. More precisely, to Merlin seated beside him.
“No need to worry about that.”
Kirchhoff blinked, and Merlin spoke.
“Lancelot cannot move. Absolutely cannot.”
If anyone else had said that, people would have asked how they could be so sure. But the speaker was Merlin, the great mage of the Round Table and the one who knew those who belonged to it best. Words from someone like her needed no extra proof.
“If the great mage of the Round Table says so... then what about the Star of Forgetting?”
“It has no reason to move,” Merlin said briefly.
“The reason the Star of Forgetting moves is simple. When someone tries to approach its True Body, or gets close to its identity. At least from what I can see, none of you fall into that category.”
Kirchhoff’s face hardened, but he asked nothing more. His expression said he would postpone that question.
“Whether it is Lancelot or the Star of Forgetting, neither will move unless we approach them first.”
That meant they only needed to focus on the Carnival King in front of them for now. Around the time the long meeting ended, Najin stepped outside the tent to catch his breath.
He sat on a slightly higher spot and looked down.
Countless knights moved between tents. Najin watched mages and the Empire’s main forces move busily, then stayed silent.
‘Londinel failed.’
Of course, he could not say the situation then and now was identical. The number of Transcendents on the battlefield was different, and not only did Najin hold Excalibur, he could also borrow Merlin’s knowledge.
Everything was going smoothly. Truly smoothly.
But for some reason, Najin could not shake the sense of dread. It felt like he was missing something. He narrowed his eyes and looked up at the sky.
The star of merriment shone in many colors.
What was he missing? What had he overlooked? Najin steadied his breathing and checked himself. There was no harm in being careful.
‘Wait.’
Najin’s eyes narrowed. Come to think of it, he had failed to question something obvious, something that should naturally have raised suspicion. Lighthouse, City of the Abyss, Artman, deal. The words fit together, and Najin...
You do not doubt anything.
Najin...
The obvious is simply happening. The plan is smooth. Everything is proceeding exactly as you intended.
Blink.
There is nothing strange. Maybe your suspicion is excessive. You are the owner of Excalibur, and the great mage Merlin is by your side. Who could possibly prepare for someone like you?
Something...
The plan is perfect. Trying to polish perfection further is admirable, but too much suspicion only slows your steps.
A wrongness, something strange, a sense of dissonance...
There is nothing wrong. Nothing strange. No room for dissonance anywhere.
......
Blink. Najin closed and opened his eyes. As he slowly tilted his head, Merlin spoke to him.
“Why? Is something wrong?”
Najin shook his head.
“No. Hesitating too long here would not be good either. We should press while the Carnival King is flustered.”
There was nothing strange.
Too much suspicion was not good either.
Yes, that is right. Now what will you do?
Head for the Carnival King’s domain. Kill the Carnival King. It was a long way, so moving as quickly as possible was the right choice.
Indeed, an excellent choice.
3.
You march toward the Carnival King’s domain.
Reliable comrades stand beside you. Imperial knights, mages of the Magic Tower, famous mercenary groups and knight orders. All of them are veteran warriors gathered under your banner, men and women willing to throw away their lives for you.
And is that all?
Even the Empire’s pillars march with you. First Horn of the Empire Gerd Isabalt, Eternal Radiance Cipria Gachevskaya, master of the Platinum Tower, and Pure Horn Loren Aresche. A force enough to destroy one or two nations.
And even the Sect’s Constellations are with you.
Isn't it splendid?
No matter who your opponent is, they must be trembling in fear. They must be panicking. Your plan fits perfectly. With this many troops in a surprise strike, victory is practically guaranteed.
“...”
You look around.
It is quiet.
Yes, quiet. In this dead silence, do you feel suspicion?
Najin felt suspicion in this environment.
You do not feel suspicion.
Najin blinked. There was nothing strange.
You march on. As you move, you recall everything that has happened so far. Come to think of it, ever since entering the Outland, you have been tied to her.
Carnival King.
That damned demon cannot coexist with you. If your story is a play, the one waiting at its finale must be her. She is your archenemy. Your so-called nemesis.
Your life...
is moving in a straight line toward her.
“Ack, AAAAAAAAGH!”
“My arm, my arm!”
“I can’t hear anything!”
“Wh, where are we? I can’t see anything! I, I can’t see ahead!”
Your eyes are fixed on her.
Your ears hear only her voice.
“P, please spare me. I can’t move...”
“Laughter!”
“Laughter, laughter, u-uhahahahahah!”
“Kya, kya hahaha!”
Ah, laughter too. Adventures with laughter are delightful. Stories people can laugh and chatter about are important.
Banter, yes. Banter.
That is one of your stars.
“Kya hahaha!”
“Ahak, hahahahahahahaha!”
Still, laughter like that does not seem to fit such a serious journey. You think so.
“...”
“...”
“...”
Before long, the sounds vanished and you calmed down.
Najin looked behind him.
When you look back, the number seems a little smaller. But of course, that is not strange either. The plan was to divide and advance. Everything is going as planned.
Nothing is strange.
Nothing is strange.
Everything is smooth.
You move toward the place where the Carnival King’s domain lies.