18-9 Part 2
For Whom the Bell Tolls
Translator : PolterGlast
Opening my eyes, a
brilliantly blue sky and largely developed summer clouds floated above. This is
that paradise. The otherworldly, separate realm where that Zirant
resides.
「Nn,
she's not here...」
I searched for Zirant's
figure towards the usual lake, but only found the red round table there. A
paradise without Zirant, huh. Thinking that strange things do happen, I
sat down on the shore and gazed at this beautiful world.
This place slightly
resembles the sanctuary of the Horned race. Has Zirant been living in
this place all alone, all this time? A life where she can only look at the
outside world in solitude from here must be very lonely.
「Ashley...」
As I was gazing at
the shining water surface, a man's voice, which was not Zirant's,
echoed. I had thought this was a sanctuary just for Zirant and me. For a
moment, I harbored an unpleasant emotion, but when I turned around, such a
thing vanished.
「Why
are you here... Father.」
There stood the
Emperor, who should have been unable to rise from his sickbed. He walked over
here and wrapped his hands around both my shoulders... I didn't understand what
was going on, but my body just trembled.
「Why...
Why are you here...」
「Zirant
showed me mercy. She understood my lingering regrets and created this final
opportunity for me.」
This confirms it. Zirant
was connected to Father. The land of Erin. My right of succession. Zirant
had been pulling the strings behind everything. Only a sigh escapes me.
「Ashley,
raise your head.」
Told so, I realized
I was looking at my feet. Zirant did not show herself. I timidly turned
my eyes to my biological father. He was smiling gently. It was a gentle smile,
making it seem like a lie that there was a time he looked at me painfully and
shunned me.
「I am a
fortunate man. To be able to say words of farewell to you like this.」
「What
do you mean... Farewell, you say...」
「I have
heard everything from Zirant and Gideon. The secret organization, Shadows of Bergelmir,
is it... Let me bless the birth of a new hope. If you all will protect the
future, my heart is at peace.」
It seems that when
people face a reality that is hard to accept, they become unable to see
anything. My head isn't spinning. Each and every one of Father's words thrust
reality at me, but I myself refused the answer.
「Ashley,
please take care of the Empire.」
「Well... I can't look after it
until the very end, but while discerning the right time to pull out, I will at
least try to make a futile struggle...」
「Then,
may I ask you one more thing?」
「What
is it...」
「Deliver
my memento to the grave of your mother, Yulia. We cannot sleep in the
same grave, but I want you to deliver at least a keepsake to her...」
「Understood...」
Are you going to
die...? Is that what you mean by 'final opportunity'...? Because it is his
final moments, Zirant let Father pass through here...?
「Ashley,
do not grieve my death. I am satisfied with my life. I am not unhappy. And with
my death as the trigger, everything will begin to move. You do not have the
time to grieve.」
「That
is a very Father-like thing to say... Understood, even if you die, I will not
grieve. I will prioritize what needs to be done, and cry after everything is
over.」
Even if I screamed
like a child for him not to die, Father's death would not become peaceful. The
more he is missed, the more he will suffer. Therefore, I endured.
「I see,
you have grown into a strong child... I am glad I entrusted you to Gideon.
Please take good care of that guy Gideon...」
「Yeah,
even if you don't say it, I'll have the old man live a long life. I won't let
him go to your place so easily.」
Until a while ago, I
even hated Father, yet now it is so painful. When Father dies, my brothers will
make their move. The worst dark clouds will envelop the Empire. But right now,
my head is full of thoughts about Father and myself.
「It was
not a bad life... Ah, with this, I can finally meet you...」
I endured to not
shed tears. However, it seems that was impossible. So instead, I smiled. I am
not grieving his death or anything.
「I did
my best in my own way, praise me in heaven, Yulia...」
Father vanished from
the paradise. In his place, Zirant appeared, and embraced me from behind
as I slumped down.
「You
endured well. Just for now, I shall allow you to cry on Wagahai's chest.」
「There's
no need. Let's think about the future instead. That is the wish of the man who
dedicated his life to order.」
That night, the
Emperor of the A-Zir Empire
passed away. The news raced throughout the Empire, and the unceasing bells
awakened us from our night's sleep.
For whom the bell
tolls. An era ended, and an era of chaos with an unseen future began. The bells
rang out endlessly, forever, announcing to us the death of the man who had continued
to protect the Empire's order in solitude.
The Emperor died.
There is no turning back anymore. From today, a new world begins.
☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆
【Book
of the Evil Dragon】
- Adventure -
【Get
promoted to the Adventurer Rank: Calcite】
·
Reward: EXP 1200
- Adventure -
【Take
a job at the Adventurer's Guild. However, the mission location must be outside
the Empire.】
·
Reward: Excavation LV +1, EXP 500
- Exploration -
【Walk
2,500 km around the Empire】 947 → 959 / 2500 km Completed
·
Reward: Movement Speed LV 3 (All movement
speeds +50%)
- Exploration -
【Reach
the gateway to the Coastal Provinces, Salzland】
·
Reward: EXP 10
- Exploration -
【Reach
the farthest end of the Coastal Provinces, Port Ake】
·
Reward: None
·
『The promise to go to the Coastal
Provinces is canceled, huh... Do not be so depressed, Carral will understand too.』
- Pioneer - 【Freely
Develop Erin】
·
Development Points: 23770 → 24800 / 50000
·
Reward: EXP 1000 / Strongest Artificial
Weapon
·
『Leave the construction of the foundation
to your comrades, and you should do what only you can do.』
- Business - 【Turn
the Hez Company into a grand merchant fleet possessing 10 large ships】
7 → 9 / 10 Ships Completed
·
Reward: Fleet's sailing speed +50%
·
『I would like to buy one more ship, but
depending on the political situation, distribution will also stagnate. There is
no need to rush.』
- Purge - 【Bury
7 Villains】 3 Remaining
·
Reward: EXP 1100 / Shovel LV +1
- Purge - 【Steal
1,000,000 Crowns of Dirty Money】 986,000 / 1,000,000
·
Reward: Spatial Detection LV +1
- Investment -
【Spend
a total of 10,000 Crowns】 8895 → 9940 / 10000
·
Reward: EXP 1000 / Premonition of an
Encounter
·
『Just a little more, waste more!』
- Table of
Contents –
【Name】
Ashley
【Lv】
48
【Exp】
10735 → 10770
【STR】
118
【VIT】
302
【DEX】
273
【AGI】
260
【Skill】 Shovel LV 5 Scoop LV 1 Imperial Bond LV 2 Direction Sense LV 1 Movement Speed LV 2 Digging 30x (Active)
『You are a man possessing a spirit of steel inherited from your father. Those who tremble in fear of the new era will surely harbor hope in the figures of you and Georg. Therefore, leak your complaints only to Wagahai. Do not show weakness to people. Wagahai will catch and accept it all.』
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