Chapter 188 : Chapter 188

Chapter 188 : Phantom Demon, Morosra

The duel for the position of Ruler of the Port was set for five days later.

Naturally, fierce backlash poured out.

Ellen's Gang's past actions had already grated on the nerves of the Alkabang Gang's executives far beyond the limit.

There were more than enough excuses to not just kick them out but to completely annihilate them.

However, a formal duel was scheduled.

Moreover, Alkabang proposed it first.

It wasn't at the level of showing mercy.

It was as if Alkabang had conversely given Ellen a chance.

‘Even so, in my eyes, the two are neck and neck.’

Noser scratched his head.

He watched Ellen from afar.

Ellen was swinging his sword at a clumsily carved wooden doll.

It was his own way of training.

‘Still, since we somehow bought time, we should consider it fortunate.’

It was the best result in its own way.

Thinking so, he was about to approach Ellen, but suddenly Tiaro stretched out his arm and blocked his way.

“Why?”

Tiaro spoke without even looking at Noser.

He was only looking at Ellen while extending his arm.

Noser asked back as if he was absurd.

“Why?”

“What, are you going to give advice or something? Stop it. This is our sacred…….”

Ppak―!

Noser smacked the back of Tiaro's head and then passed by leisurely.

“Trial by combat, you say. For thugs, you sure imitate all sorts of things.”

The sword raised above the head stopped abruptly. Ellen turned his head and glared at Noser.

“Thugs?”

“Am I wrong?”

Noser calmly took a seat and sat down, then crossed his arms.

He was overflowing with composure.

Ellen shook his head as if he didn't even want to deal with him and raised his sword again.

“So, do you have confidence to win?”

“……Whether I have it or not, does anything change?”

“Of course.”

Ellen's gaze, which was staring at the wooden doll, moved to Noser unconsciously.

At the honest reaction, Noser couldn't help but burst into laughter.

“If you were going to be that nervous, you should have just laid low instead of acting up from the start.”

“I am not in the mood for jokes, so would you please get lost? Don't chatter when you don't know anything.”

“Is there something I need to know about that too?”

Ellen tried to ignore him and turned around again.

Noser snooped around Ellen like that.

“Why, try telling me. Wouldn't I need to know something to help you?”

“…….”

“If you behave obediently, I will specially pass down the secret technique of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult to you.”

“What secret technique?”

“Don't ignore it. Right now, what you desperately need more than anything―”

“Promise.”

“Hm?”

“There is something I promised. With Alkabang.”

Suddenly, Ellen's eyes sank. He was still showing only his profile to Noser.

“To let us leave here after 2 years.”

“Let you leave? Alkabang letting you?”

Ellen nodded powerlessly.

Noser was at a loss for words for a moment.

All sorts of questions brushed by, but the most incomprehensible one got stuck in his throat.

“Why 2 years later of all times?”

“Because the Imperial Capital Knight Order entrance exam opens every 2 years.”

Noser blinked. He was speechless.

“……Was Alkabang the culprit who put false hope into you that you would become the Kingdom's best knight?”

“No.”

Ellen let out a deep sigh and added.

“Well, anyway, this fight…… we could have not done it.”

“…….”

“It is annoying. How did it end up like this.”

Ellen's Gang has less than twenty members.

Even running an organization of just this size was not easy.

To not let the members starve, they had to do anything.

If they did that, fighting was inevitable.

“My leaving is also important but…….”

Ellen looked back.

Far away, Tiaro and McRay were grabbing each other by the collar and scuffling before he knew it.

“……There is nothing more sorrowful than having your teeth smashed while chewing on stone bread.”

Noser's eyes, which moved following Ellen's gaze, gradually sank.

“You already lost, Ellen.”

Ellen raised his eyes fiercely.

“What did you say?”

“It wasn't the time to argue about confidence. Do you know what your biggest problem is right now?”

Ellen adjusted his posture as if he would listen.

“It is that you are dilly-dallying.”

“……What?”

“Until now, you must have lived as you pleased. Even if you acted somewhat willfully, no one would have said anything. Because in this place, that petty power of yours would have been the law.”

“What are you saying right now―”

“Problems arise because you want more than that.”

Ellen opened his eyes wide.

Noser continued speaking as if it was nothing.

“The more a person becomes the master of their own life, the more painful it becomes. Do you know why?”

“Why is that?”

“Because responsibility arises.”

“…….”

“It is comfortable to live as others tell you. Because even if you are wrong, blaming others is enough. However, from the moment you choose for yourself and lead yourself, the world becomes different. Responsibility follows from then on.”

Noser pointed at the tip of Ellen's nose with his finger.

“Right now, you are hesitating in front of the weight of responsibility. Not being able to let go of the gang, not being able to give up the dream either, so you have no choice but to dilly-dally. Shouldering responsibility means being willing to accept pain. If you dislike that, you must crouch quietly inside your shell.”

Ellen bit his molar.

It wasn't wrong, but anger surged up.

His pride being scratched by this middle-aged man was happening frequently these days.

“……Fucking acting all high and mighty. If you were in my position, do you think you could be any different?”

“Why do you ask me that? It is your life, your choice, and your responsibility.”

“This fu―”

“If it is painful, why don't you quit early. Keep in mind. That responsibility is never given to just anyone.”

Ellen's fingertips trembled.

Noser saw that and curled the corners of his mouth.

“In my view, Alkabang is already shouldering that weight. You are not resolved to do so yet. That is exactly defeat.”

Noser turned around.

It seemed today's lesson was impossible anyway.

The next day.

Tukak―! Tukak―!

An alleyway where bluish dawn light spread.

A dull noise echoed regularly in the silent stillness.

“Huk, huk!”

Rough breaths burst out every time Ellen swung the sword.

Already, his whole body was drenched in sweat.

“Heuaam―”

On the stone stairs a little distance away, McRay and Tiaro were crouching side by side.

Yawns and drowsiness came alternately, but no one left their spot.

Even if they didn't exactly help with something, keeping the spot together.

This was their own way of cheering.

Jeobeok, jeobeok.

At the sound heard from behind, Tiaro, who was dozing off, opened his eyes wide.

“Ah shit, you startled me.”

“Good morning.”

“It is not morning but dawn, you know? Anyway, they say there is no sleep when you get old, that saying is―”

Ttaak!

Noser knocked on the crown of Tiaro's head with the pommel of his sword and then passed by leisurely.

“Did you sort out your mind, Ellen?”

“…….”

Ellen tried to ignore Noser.

The more he mixed words, the more anger piled up, so it was a loss.

“If you want, I can willingly be your sparring partner.”

“Huk― huk―”

“Mm, you don't do that like that…….”

Ellen looked back nervously.

Noser smiled awkwardly.

“……It seems your friends left, but aren't you going, Mister?”

“I haven't left yet.”

Noser muttered. Probably.

Bihen and Bolero are prisoners by name.

At this point, I was confused whether I caught prisoners or if I was following them around.

“Tsk, well anyway. I am thinking of helping you a bit in the meantime.”

“Why would you, Mister?”

“Isn't our responsibility big for things becoming this state right now? I can't just pretend not to know and watch.”

Ellen scoffed.

The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's rampage was merely a small excuse.

In reality, from a long time ago, the executives of the Alkabang Gang had been doing all sorts of things to create an excuse to drive out Ellen's group.

They went as far as picking fights with tourists Ellen brought and sometimes even killing them.

However, this time the opponent was just a bit special.

Even when afternoon came, Ellen did not stop training.

To the extent of skipping meals.

“Just doing that won't suddenly create skills that didn't exist, Ellen.”

Noser watched that appearance from behind.

He crunched on a potato without even peeling the skin.

“It is a foolish act. Have you perhaps heard of muscle loss?”

Ellen didn't even look back.

Noser took another bite of the potato and shrugged his shoulders.

‘He pretends not to be, but he must be quite nervous.’

Noser narrowed his eyes and observed Ellen's movements closely.

Certainly, his innate physical senses stood out.

‘Something like that is a part that cannot be helped with effort.’

Thanks to innate physical conditions, the form is bound to be different even if doing the same movement.

People commonly mistake this for talent.

‘Since he is like that, it is plausible that some ignorant fool would blabber nonsense about him being material to become the best knight or whatever.’

Talent is not revealed by ranking.

True talent is revealed not when one is first out of ten, but when lining them up becomes meaningless altogether.

‘…….’

Noser had seen countless swordsmen as the Left Camp Leader of the Imperial Capital Knight Order.

If you ask if the aptitude Ellen has can be called talent―

‘Well.’

Noser flinched in surprise.

Before he knew it, Ellen had come close.

Ellen panted and stared at Noser intently.

“Do you have something to say?”

“……I shall lead the world with light.”

“……?”

“How did you know?”

While swinging the sword without rest, his body became exhausted, but conversely, his mind became clearer gradually.

Thoughts were organized like muddy water clearing up.

What remained were two scenes.

The atmosphere of the moment Noser said those words while locking the tavern door, and Luke's tranquil face muttering those words.

Those two scenes overlapped exactly.

Strangely, there was no sense of incongruity at all.

“Mister, you are not an Imperial citizen, right?”

“…….”

“Perhaps―”

Ellen paused for a moment.

He didn't know what he was saying right now either.

He felt like he was bewitched by something.

“Are you a real knight?”

“If so?”

“……Yes?”

“If I am a knight of the Kingdom―”

Kiing―!

Noser drew his sword.

He turned his left foot half a circle to plant it behind him, and placed his left hand naturally on his back.

Ellen's eyes grew wide as if they would pop out.

Because clearly, someday, to his young self…… it was not different even by an inch from the posture Luke showed as a demonstration.

“What will you do, boy.”

Even the tone of voice he used to say playfully that it was court pronunciation was exactly the same.

Luke of that time was a dignified and brilliant old man, and―

To the boy Ellen, he was the most shining existence.

***

“Young Master?”

When I lifted my eyelids slightly, Kuhn was looking down at me intently.

“What.”

“It has been a day since you were doing that.”

“……What was I doing.”

“You were sitting in the center of the altar with your eyes closed.”

I exhaled shortly through my nose.

To get angry for no reason would make me look like a narrow-minded person.

“I am a bit displeased. I don't see any sign of being sorry on your face at all.”

“……?”

“For disturbing meditation, that is.”

“Were you meditating?”

“Then what did it look like I was doing?”

“As I said, I thought you were just dozing off with your eyes closed.”

“…….”

“If you were meditating, you wouldn't have woken up easily.”

……It is hard to refute. Correct. Actually, I was resting with my eyes closed. Sharp fellow.

Anyway, to think a day has passed already. It seems I was also quite tired.

“Following the Blood Devil and the Poison Demon, this time it is the Phantom Demon.”

I looked at Kuhn who was saying that.

Kuhn was tending to a bonsai she got from somewhere again.

Her skill in pruning small branches was proficient.

“Do you have a plan to call out the Phantom Demon?”

As expected, Kuhn was smart.

She knew the order well.

To deal with an evil spirit without substance, calling it out is the first step.

“Well, roughly.”

“I will cheer for you, Young Master.”

Kuhn said indifferently while looking at the bonsai here and there.

Well, it seems she has become much more comfortable now.

“Kuhn.”

“Yes, please speak.”

“Do you like it here?”

It was funny even after asking.

There is no way one would like the inside of another person's unconscious.

“Yes.”

It was a firm answer as if it wasn't worth thinking about.

What should I say, I felt thankful that she didn't say no.

A corner of my chest felt stinging for no reason.

I raised my body slowly.

My gaze headed toward the brazier.

Flames symbolizing the achievement of each swordsmanship were swaying fiercely.

Dark gray, purple, bluish-white, earth color, red, green.

Before I knew it, they had become huge enough to draw admiration.

“…….”

Between them, a small black flame entered my eyes.

It was a spark Kuhn had sprouted.

I looked into it for a long time and then said.

“Still, you should get some fresh air occasionally.”

“Yes?”

·

·

·

I opened the eyes of my physical body.

The spot where Kuhn's face with roundly widened eyes was―

The face of ‘Rosaria who became the Moon’ was occupying.

Right, I operated the Benkou Vision in front of the altar.

Hwiooooo―

Below the cliff, biting wind and waves raged.

I got up quietly and stood facing Rosaria.

Cold metallic skin, inorganic pupils.

Inside them, the lingering scent of a human flickered faintly.

‘The last bastion of humans.’

I recalled the words Luke left.

After all, the Book of Eternity and the Ultimate Dal are not different.

Of course―

Rosaria is not the Ultimate Dal, but at this current point where Panika has been annihilated, the moon closest to the Ultimate Dal is exactly this Rosaria.

I lifted the Heavenly Demon.

“……Come.”

The Heavenly Demon pierced Rosaria's chest.