*
Reality and Ideal (2)
*
The operation was just a day away.
Amidst the bustling knights preparing to march towards Berta Canyon, Rania found herself in a field, far from the barracks. A vast expanse of land.
Scattered stone piles were strewn across the field, and Rania sat atop one of them, resting her chin on her hand as the wind blew against her.
Rania van Trias.
The hidden Wise One was not just uneasy but fully gloomy now. Rania’s gaze, looking out over the field, held a certain emptiness.
“······.”
If someone who knew the real her were to see Rania in such silence, they would surely widen their eyes in surprise.
“Here you are.”
Someone spoke to her.
At the sound echoing in her ears, Rania turned her head. There stood Galahal, having crossed the field. When their eyes met, Galahal momentarily gulped.
“···Is something wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong.”
It was as if she were saying, “Don’t ask further.”
Galahal opened his mouth to say something but then closed it again. After a brief silence, he brought up another topic.
“I’ve been teaching Chloe for the past few days.”
Rania nodded.
That was already a topic they had discussed.
‘Awakening the nature of the star.’
The nature of the star can only be awakened after receiving the star’s artifact and becoming sufficiently familiar with it… but for Chloe, it seemed possible.
Having handled starlight even before the trial and already possessing a form of the star’s artifact as ‘Seongyu’ (???).
“What were the results?”
“She didn’t awaken it. But it seems she got a rough idea.”
Galahal stated.
“It’s simple but effective. Unlike Destel or me, who have conditions attached… she’s like Kyle.”
Destel is mimicking.
Galahal is focusing.
‘They come with conditions and stages.’
Unlike Kyle, who can crush everything with overwhelming output, the starlight used by Destel and Galahal has somewhat tricky conditions attached.
“She resembles Kyle’s abilities?”
That was good news.
Rania asked, and Galahal stroked his chin, trailing off.
“Yes. My guess is… it’s amplification.”
“···Amplification?”
“The output is overwhelming compared to the starlight she possesses. I had heard of her unique constitution, but honestly, it surprised me.”
Galahal gave a bitter smile.
“When it comes to output, it far surpasses me. She might even be comparable to Kyle.”
The total amount of stars is fixed.
For Rania, who knows that the four heroes share it, this was astounding.
‘I’d thought the output was strange, but…’
She never expected it to be to that extent.
Regardless, it was good news, and Rania offered a faint smile. However, that smile felt awkward even to Galahal. It was a different expression than usual.
“Rania.”
In the end, Galahal asked her.
“What did you hear from Destel?”
“I heard.”
Rania replied, resting her chin again.
“That idiot was mumbling something incoherent…”
Her tone was harsh.
Her voice was sharp, but the heat within faded quickly.
“I can’t say he was wrong, so I’m frustrated.”
Rania turned to look at Galahal.
In her bluish eyes lay a mix of complex emotions.
“What do you think of Destel?”
“Are you talking about Destel?”
Galahal pondered, crossing his arms.
“Well, I don’t think badly of him.”
“···Destel hates you a lot.”
“Haha. Our relationship has become somewhat uncomfortable. It’s inevitable, you know? After what he did in front of everyone.”
In front of all the knights, Galahal had punched Destel in the face. Yelling while grabbing the defenseless Destel’s collar.
「Cancel that.」
「Those words—meaningless, hollow—insult the knights who died here today. I told you to cancel that, Destel.」
He couldn’t bear seeing the shadows cast on his comrades’ faces by such disrespect.
However, that’s that, and this is this.
“Again, I’m not saying I think badly of Destel. Sure, he misspoke back then… but I can understand why.”
Galahal exhaled briefly.
“Being afraid, thinking it’s all meaningless—those feelings are natural. But one should be cautious when voicing them.”
Rania, who had been silent, spoke.
“Since then, Destel has changed.”
Rania knew.
“He takes sacrifices lightly, no longer dreaming of great heights like before. He tries to settle for the present, stops progressing. Even though he can, he doesn’t.”
It’s not just Destel she’s talking about.
He can, yet he doesn’t.
He should be doing something, yet he makes no effort.
Crunch, Rania ground her teeth.
“He just stopped. I—”
“Rania.”
Galahal softly called her name.
“I’m not saying Destel is right. What I’m saying is that it’s not incomprehensible, irrespective of right or wrong. As long as he doesn’t give up.”
“That…”
“People have their own ways of dealing with things, don’t they?”
There are different ways for everyone.
Rania bit her lip, understanding that Galahal wasn’t just talking about Destel.
“Though he talks about retirement as if it’s a habit, and seems to take sacrifices lightly, Destel is also troubled. He’s searching for answers. Knowing that, I can’t dislike Destel.”
“···Searching for answers?”
“Why do you think he remains on the battlefield? The Knights Order Leader keeps him there because he knows this fact too, treating him emotionally.”
This was the first time Rania was hearing this.
“I can’t say it’s right.”
But.
“I can’t criticize him completely either.”
When viewed objectively, Destel is not someone worthy of being called a hero.
At times, he demands sacrifices, hides like a coward, fears death, and doesn’t take the lead. Yet, sometimes he preaches to others as if he understands.
He is a contradictory figure.
Contradictory, but.
“Isn’t that what being human is?”
So, he is human.
“Not everyone can always run straight ahead. Sometimes they stop, sometimes they may stray… and perhaps they might even fall back in despair.”
Because they are not perfect.
“Because they are weak, because they know weakness, because they know fear.”
Weak and fleeing, afraid.
“Yet still, trying to overcome.”
Yet still moving forward.
“Isn’t that what makes them human?”
They are human.
With those words, Galahal smiled.
“It’s a phrase I like. A sentence left by the hero Ganyr, the Savior.”
Embarrassingly, Galahal scratched the back of his neck.
“Though they may wander and hesitate… they eventually strive to move on one day, as long as they wish for it.”
“···It’s an idealistic view.”
“Yes, that’s true. I know reality isn’t that kind, and there are plenty who end up stagnating completely.”
Still, Galahal continued.
“I believe one day all that torment will see the light.”
That is the belief that Galahal holds.
A belief unwavering in the face of reality.
His eyes, holding onto his belief, shone. His platinum-starred eyes reflected a hero’s determination.
“The day will come when light shines, R.”
As Rania mulled over those words, she couldn’t help but give a small chuckle.
“That’s a nice sentiment.”
Rania let out a long breath.
Her concerns were still unresolved, and her mind remained complicated. But she couldn’t keep feeling gloomy forever.
“Thank you, Galahal.”
Rania said as she stepped off the rock.
“Thanks to you, I’ve felt a bit relieved.”
“I’m glad to have helped.”
Rania dusted off her clothes.
She brushed away her falling hair, closed her eyes, and then opened them. Her gaze sparkled with a green hue.
“······.”
As she observed him,
“Rania.”
Galahal opened his mouth.
“Once this operation is over…”
Rania looked at Galahal.
In him, she saw another person.
“I think I might meet Raniel.”
“Oh, you seem to have organized your thoughts.”
“Yes, conversing with you lightened my mind amusingly. And above all…”
Galahal wore a bitter smile.
“Raniel looks like he could use some counseling as well.”
…He needs counseling? Me?
The moment Rania blinked in surprise, Galahal, unable to hold back his laughter, said,
“With that face of yours, who wouldn’t say you need counseling?”
“···What?”
“Well then, I’ll take that as a given.”
“Hey, wait a minute. What did you just—”
“Let’s talk about it next time.”
Galahal said with a mischievous grin.
“Raniel.”
Rania narrowed her eyes.
Right after she could say anything, Galahal waved and left. After staring at his disappearing figure for a while, Rania muttered blankly.
“···What’s this?”
He knew all along.
Now realizing that fact, the first thing Rania did was reflect on the things she had said in front of Galahal. Just to ensure nothing nasty happened like during the last incident with Kelharlem.
Fortunately, she held no record of her face being gilded.
Relieved by that fact, Rania pressed her forehead repeatedly.
“This is strange, why do I keep getting caught…”
No matter how much she tried to hide it, why was that?
Everyone knew the answer.
Only she did not.
2.
The Berta Canyon Annihilation Operation.
The place where Belial, the Black Dragon, had reigned as a calamity for hundreds of years, finally fell to humanity. It is regarded as a symbol of victory.
Although it is now the demon lord’s land after the front has retreated, it was once a location where humanity’s hope sprouted.
Countless knights gathered there.
Following orders, they maintained formation while making their way to the canyon. Some were advancing directly across the plains, while others prepared to descend with ropes from both sides of the canyon.
Surprise attack, and annihilation.
These words are the key to this operation.
In preparation for the operation, Destel had been diligently laying bait for months. Now it was time to reap what he had sown.
“Commence.”
With Destel’s signal, the operation begins.
An onslaught against the demon lord’s army crashes down in an instant. Those gathered here are knights seasoned enough to have endured in the Eastern front. They know too well how to deal with the Draconic Knights, and how to combat necromancers.
Countless knights move as one.
『Maintain formation!』
『Stay calm, but swift!』
『Make sure to smash their heads! Those damned necromancers won’t come back if we pop their heads!』
The operation proceeds smoothly.
Despite the signals of success erupting here and there, Destel remains expressionless, observing the flow of battle. Everything was going as anticipated.
Destel had planned this operation long ago.
He had repeatedly scouted, calculating again and again what he might have missed. The answers that came from such calculations were what Destel trusted. He didn’t recklessly extend the frontline at the cost of the knights’ strength.
‘This is it.’
Because of that, it must be executed perfectly.
Destel’s eyes darted rapidly. Draped across his shoulders was a platinum cloak.
A ceremonial robe, perhaps.
Starlight swirls around Destel’s body, gathering in his sight. Destel’s pupils dilated.
Mimicking the legendary archer known as Epta. It is said that Epta can pierce through the sky a thousand miles away, and now that talent has embedded itself in Destel’s body.
In an instant, his vision expanded, overlooking the battlefield.
As Destel furrowed his brows while confirming the situation with his narrowed eyes, something obvious entered his sight. Suddenly, a flurry of sounds filled Destel’s ears.
『————, Encounter!』
『———’s, ———!』
The chaotic voices conveyed a singular meaning: a variable had arisen. Destel tightened his frown.
No matter how meticulously a plan is laid.
Even with an operation nearing perfection.
This place is the Phantom Territory.
A place where countless unpredictable variables run rampant.
Knowing that fact, Destel does not panic. He would have arranged for a backup plan for when variables emerged. A plan for such a situation was also prepared.
“Proceed.”
Destel raised his hand.
In a situation where an unexpected variable arose, one that could potentially derail the entire operation; his choice, as always, was singular.
The signal echoed loudly.
*
