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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: A Slightly Serious Conversation (2)
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Adeshan de Acalusia.
The Empire's Grand General who commanded a million-strong army, and the Duke of Acalusia.
The hero who saved countless lives with her swift response during the giants' descent.
Right now, she was dying before Ronan's eyes, torn apart like a toy mauled by a dog.
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"Grand General Adeshan."
Ronan furrowed his brow. Adeshan's condition was too horrific to witness.
Her blood-soaked uniform was torn and ruptured, no longer serving its purpose as clothing. Blood still poured from her raggedly severed arm.
"Ronan... Private, is it?"
Adeshan struggled to prop herself up against the wall. Her ash-gray eyes, reminiscent of cinders, fixed on Ronan.
"How did this—"
"Wait. Let me ask first."
Adeshan took several deep breaths before speaking.
"Ahayute?"
"I killed him."
"Are you certain?"
"His body's not far from here."
"...I see."
Adeshan twisted her lips. A single tear traced down her dirt-streaked cheek. She gazed at the ceiling, blinking several times, then murmured in a hoarse voice.
"He's dead."
Adeshan rose unsteadily on trembling legs. Ronan rushed over to support her.
"Thank you."
"It was the right thing to do."
"I have no regrets now... You are a hero. A hero who saved the world."
"Damn it, forget hero talk. Let's stop the bleeding first. That wound's deep."
Ronan glanced at her arm and cursed under his breath. White bone protruded from the tattered flesh. He gently gripped her shoulders and helped her lean back against the wall.
"I'm fine. It's hopeless for me."
"What? You called me with telepathy. Asking for help."
"I only wanted to know if that monster was dead. As I said, I have no regrets."
"Still, we should try our best."
Ronan shrugged off his jacket. His beast-like, well-honed body was covered in scars. He began tearing the garment into long strips to use as bandages.
"You're quite stubborn yourself, Private."
"Fair warning: this is gonna hurt like hell. You might piss yourself or pass out."
"Doesn't matter. If you're doing it, get on with it."
"Here goes."
Ronan tightly bound the areas needing pressure with the cloth. Each cinch forced pooled blood to burst from the wounds.
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"Definitely... better. Not as dizzy as before."
"Good to hear."
The two sat side by side against the rock. Adeshan's complexion, wrapped tightly in cloth, had visibly improved compared to earlier.
"Didn't expect you not to scream once."
"I didn't become Grand General on looks alone."
"...You've got a better sense of humor than you look."
Ronan shook his head in exasperation. Was it because she had awakened her aura? Her recovery speed was unnaturally fast.
"Anyway... the one who needed treatment was you, not me."
Ronan was clad only in pants, practically naked from the waist up. Unlike Adeshan, his face grew paler as time passed. Seeing him spit blood like saliva, she clicked her tongue.
"Tch. At this rate, I'll just have more companions on the road to the afterlife."
"You might survive, Grand General. If the rescue team arrives on time."
"Same goes for you."
"No, I won't."
"What makes you so sure?"
"Just a feeling. When I heard your telepathy and got up. I'm going to die."
Ronan smiled as he said it. Adeshan asked, puzzled.
"Then why are you smiling? You say you're about to die."
"Well... I was originally going to go out pointlessly, pathetically..."
Ronan glanced down at his waist. The sword he never parted with since leaving home was gone. It must have fallen out sheath-first while running. It felt empty, but no deeper emotions stirred.
"At least now I can die meaningfully? Enough that losing my sword doesn't sting."
"You're a strange one, Private."
The two conversed about this and that. Adeshan proved far more flexible-minded than he expected. Ronan was shocked to learn she was a commoner like him.
"If you survive and make it back, anything you want to do?"
"I'm dying."
"I said if."
"Wanna go to the sea with the White Rose Knights. All naked."
"Not a bad dream. Anything else?"
"Hmm... Visit an academy sometime."
"Knight academy?"
"Anywhere. Wanna learn aura, try magic..."
"So the rumor about not awakening aura was true. How'd you take down Ahayute?"
"He was a pain to grapple with, but once I cut the wings, nothing special. Dodged or blocked attacks, stabbed openings."
"Sword Saint would foam at the mouth and faint. You owe every hard worker an apology."
"By the way, General."
Ronan met Adeshan's eyes and continued.
"Hm?"
"Our guys... they were trashy, but decent in their own way."
"What's this out of nowhere?"
"By your authority as Grand General, please handle their bodies. Normally, Penal Legion corpses get left or burned per regs, but we couldn't have won without them this time."
"Private."
"Please. A memorial stone would be even better."
Ronan's eyes gleamed sunset-like crimson. After staring into them for a long while, Adeshan finally nodded.
"Thank you, Grand General."
"Hm, making that promise means I have to survive somehow."
"Then live... for the dying... cough!"
Suddenly, blood erupted from Ronan's mouth. Far from normal. Bewilderment crossed Adeshan's face for the first time.
"Hey, stay with me."
"Rescue team's... coming tomorrow... just hold till then..."
"Private, get up."
No response even after nudging his leg.
"You have to join the triumph in the capital."
She gazed at his profile. His half-open mouth chattered teeth. Long, dark lashes trembled like a candle in the wind.
"...Damn it."
Adeshan turned away. Blood trickled from her bitten lip. She lacked the resolve to watch him die. Three lifetimes had dulled her, or so she thought—yet human emotions lingered.
"General..."
Then a delirious murmur escaped Ronan's lips. Adeshan brightened.
"Private, you're alive."
"Rain's... stopped..."
"Hm?"
Adeshan fell silent and listened. As he said, the relentless drumming on the ceiling had ceased. Crimson light seeped through rock fissures.
"Yes, the rain's stopped."
"Something's... off."
"Off how?"
Boom!
A deafening roar shook heaven and earth. Blinding light poured over their heads.
"What?"
Adeshan looked up hastily. The ceiling rock was gone, replaced by a sunset sky.
Her expression twisted upon seeing the heavens. An unbelievable sight unfolded.
"Damn it."
Countless giants descended through the burning sky. Their wingbeats cleared clouds and halted rain, whipping gales that flipped the ground and set her hair ablaze like flames.
"Three wasn't the end."
She stared vacantly at the descending giants. Some had six wings, even eight. Clearly stronger than Ahayute.
"Did I fail again this time...?"
A giant overhead swung its arm. A spear of light hurtled straight at Adeshan. She closed her eyes in resignation. No dodging, nor desire to.
Then a shadow flashed before her.
Slash!
The light spear cleaved in two amid a sharp whoosh.
Adeshan opened her eyes. Ronan stood blocking her, clutching her sword in trembling hands.
"Private."
"Telekinesis or wind magic... know any? Anything to... levitate..."
"Telekinesis?"
"Damn! Sword won't reach here!"
Foul blood-scent wafted with each ragged breath from Ronan. He was far beyond limits. Yet he eyed the giants, sword raised.
Sword won't reach here. That snapped Adeshan back. She kicked off the ground, tackling Ronan. A steep slope lay behind.
"Guh!"
They tumbled entangled down the incline. Reaching flat ground, Adeshan ended atop his chest. Ronan panicked.
"What the hell! Get off... mmpf!"
Ronan's eyes bulged. Adeshan's lips covered his. Stray hair tickled his nose and eyes.
He felt a cold bead-like orb slide in with saliva. Unfamiliar blood-tang was fishy. Adeshan pushed it with her tongue and pulled away.
"Swallow."
Ronan did so reflexively. He felt it slide down his throat. Dozens of giants overhead formed a circle, spears poised. Foreheads touching, Adeshan said.
"What you swallowed rewinds time. A tailor's daughter like me became Grand General thanks to it. I've lived three lives with it."
"What bullshit is this!"
"I know, sounds crazy. I thought so too. It rewinds four times total. I've used three. Reason obvious?"
Adeshan tilted her chin skyward. Ambient light gathered in giants' hands, shaping spears.
"I'm betting on you. Your freakish talent baffles even me after countless lives. I think it's the key to averting the end."
"Fuck off!"
"If you go back and meet me, tell her to quit the nonsense and stick to tailoring?"
"Adeshan!"
White engulfed everything. Their eyes met. Her final expression was neither smile nor tear—an odd one.
"Tried damn near everything. Nothing worked."
The spears pierced them both.
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"Gasp!"
Ronan bolted upright. He frantically checked his chest—no hole.
"Wh-where...?"
Catching his breath, he scanned around. The hellish battlefield vanished; grassy hills enveloped him. Beside lay a long shepherd's crook.
A small village nestled below the hill. Kids rafted on the river curving through it.
Memories flooded quick. Ronan murmured his hometown's name like calling the dead.
"Nimberton."
Felt like a long dream. Ronan touched his lips. The sudden kiss's sensation lingered vividly. Adeshan's words about a time-rewinding treasure resurfaced.
"Did I... really go back?"
He prodded his body. A boy's unhardened frame. Fifteen at most? Pinching thighs, even flipping in air, convinced him it wasn't a dream.
"Ha, I really came back."
Memories flooded like a deluge, dizzying. Foods eaten, songs loved, star-filled skies on wanderings, lost people. And...
"Sis."
One face surfaced. Returning to the past meant she lived. His sole family. Gentle sister who never met her runaway brother, slain by giants.
"Sister Iril."
Murmuring, Ronan grabbed the crook. His steps quickened to a sprint. Soon, his home entered view.
But nearing hill's base, grating noise halted him.
"Pay up! On time! Or else!"
"Sorry! I'm sorry!"
On a nearby hill under a massive oak, boys Ronan's age encircled and stomped a child no older than ten. Familiar faces laughed among them.
"Hm? That guy's..."
One stood out especially. Red-haired boy, shortest, most eye-catching. Asel, was it? Ronan stroked his chin, recalling.
"...A mage, right?"
Pondering, Ronan turned. Even without Asel, he hated kids beating a kid. Swinging the crook experimentally rang crisp.