Chapter 332: 174. Encounters and Farewells (Part Two)
Translated by A Passing Wanderer
Edited by RED
Just as he seriously began mulling this option, his gaze landed on the items the dwarves had brought along with them.
They were anvils and hammers, crafted with so much care and stained with not even a speck of dust.
‘…Hmph, better than measly livestock, I guess.’
Avaldi’s mood gradually thawed after seeing those things. He didn’t care about other things, but even he had to admit that the products of the dwarves’ blacksmithing skills were works of art in themselves.
“So, how about it? Are you feeling better after getting some sleep? Why don’t you share some booze with us!” Belrog pushed a mug of booze in Avaldi’s way, then while sheepishly grinning away, said something else. “After we finish our shots, why don’t we dive straight to our work? Yes, let’s create the greatest armament the world has ever seen, together!”
Belrog, his face now in the shade of healthy pink, pointed at the weapons carefully tucked in luxurious fabric resting in another corner of the hut.
Those things were the ‘legendary’ weapons: the treasured tool of the Imperial Family, plus Amon’s relics.
The treasure of the Imperial Family was apparently crafted by a distant ancestor of the dwarves, while Amon’s relics were Avaldi’s own creations.
That meant that Avaldi had been defeated by Belrog’s ancestor. While thinking about useless things like that, he stared at Amon’s relics and the muscles around his eyes began twitching.
‘…How bloody absurd.’
The armaments he had created possessed abilities to amplify the wielder’s demonic energy. But quite weirdly, the aura of divinity was now wafting out of them.
It seemed that their nature had been transformed simply by being in the Holy King’s hands for a long time.
…Just like the warhammer Kelt Olfolse used to swing around.
Even if he handed all those things over to the Vampire King, the latter wouldn’t be able to use them. No, wait. There wouldn’t be a need for the King of Vampires to even use Avaldi’s weapons, anyway.
If the Seal binding the Jötnar came undone for good, then the vampires would have no need to use his items, after all. The only one with the qualifications to wield Avaldi’s weapon, the Vampire King, had lost his pride and strength, choosing to throw his lot in with the giants, instead.
That meant that the King of all vampires had lost his right to use Avaldi’s armaments.
He stared at Amon’s relics and fell into deep contemplation.
Should he destroy them? Avaldi muttered to himself, “There’s no reason for an unusable item to exist, after all.”
“Sorry?” Belrog tilted his head in confusion.
Avaldi ignored that and continued to ponder, his fingers interlocked and his head leaning forward.
In all honesty, was there really a need to destroy them in the first place? Those things were his own masterpieces. Although they were now defiled by divinity, their powers still remained absolute.
Nothing would be more foolish than willingly destroying one’s own creations after they had been crafted through so much care and dedication. Besides, a blacksmith was a creator of things, not a destroyer.
Belrog spoke up again, “So? How about it, eh? Master, let’s do it together. We’ll assist you. It might be too much for you alone, but if we combine our strengths together, it’ll be possible!”
Avaldi shot a glare in Belrog’s direction.
What a cheap provocation that was.
The vampire blacksmith spat out a soft little groan, and muttered his reply, “I have no plans of doing anything.”
“Eheeiii, would you listen to this narrow-minded old man? An old friend of yours is asking so nicely for a favour here, so how can you act like this? Ehng? Aikoo~~, yes, yes. You’re indeed a very important genius. Yes.” Belrog sounded utterly wasted, judging from how slurred his speech was. He sauntered over to his fellow dwarves and clanged his mug with theirs. Then he sneaked a glance in Avaldi’s direction. “I won’t give up, though. We’ll sit tight right here and wait until you decide to make your move.”
“…”
Avaldi kept his silence.
He just felt hollow inside. All he wanted to do for now was to silently wait until the day someone started using his weapons again.
**
In the labyrinth of Titalos…
Kelt found himself standing on a wide and empty plain, looking up dazedly at the ‘sky’ above. The entire ceiling was covered in rippling water, and rivers were flowing into it as if they were ignoring the effects of gravity.
A dark silhouette of a huge lifeform swam around in the water before disappearing from his view. As he watched the water’s rippling surface, his eyes slowly lost focus.
His eyes were no longer filled with the sights of the labyrinth of Titalos, but another world.
He could see a sky. A pure-white sky. A place filled with gentle light.
That was the world only purified souls could reach, known only to those who studied theology.
The Heavenly World, the world of the gods…
The sound of a gentle breeze seemed to ring in his ears. The fresh scent of grass tickled his nose. Would all these things also exist in the Heavenly World, too?
‘It’s time, isn’t it.’
This was an unavoidable fate. Soon he’d depart from this world.
Just as he extended his hand up towards the sky…
Someone gently held his hand back.
Kelt flinched a little and turned his head to look.
“Were you thinking of leaving?”
Queen Rox had walked up to his side and was making a lonely smile. She held his hand tightly, as if she was trying to prevent him from leaving.
Kelt gently clasped the hand holding onto his own. Their wrinkled skin brushed against each other. “My time has come. According to the rules, I must answer the call of the gods.”
“And you will leave my side once more.”
Kelt and Queen Rox shared a short but truly deep connection. They had once met each other inside the forest of demonic beasts and set off on many adventures together.
They competed against one another, they smiled with each other, and they spent a joyous time together. During their journeys together, they had formed a deep bond.
Time passed, and they had to drift apart. They each had places to be, and as a result, they had to part ways.
This state had lasted for decades.
Eventually, Kelt came to realise that his lifespan was almost over. That was why he had decided to enjoy what was left of it.
He went on adventures and travelled around, and just like that, met with his old acquaintance once more.
He didn’t regret anything about his life, and he spent his last days in happiness, as well.
Kelt pressed his forehead against Rox’s and gently smiled back at her. “I’m merely going away, just like before. This encounter and farewell was for that purpose, after all. We can’t go against our fate.”
Queen Rox quietly closed her eyes. Drops of tears formed on the edges of her eyes, eventually trickling down her cheeks.
Kelt’s own eyes opened wider ever so slightly. His vision was dyed in bright whiteness.
Rox’s sorrowful face disappeared from his view, leaving behind only the pure white light. All he could hear at the moment was her soft breathing, and feel her warmth throughout his body.
He whispered, “It’s… wonderful.”
Using nothing but his sense of touch, he tightly held Rox’s body close.
She felt so thin and frail.
She might have gotten old and wrinkly, but to Kelt, Rox remained the most beautiful woman in the whole wide world.
“Whenever… I’m in your warm, gentle embrace, I start thinking about this.” Kelt’s eyelids gradually closed as strength began seeping out from his arms. “I wonder if I’m already in heaven or not. I…I feel rather sleepy now. If I fall asleep within your arms, then I…”
Kelt’s body slowly went limp. Rox supported his crumbling body.
“… I… may really… go to heaven…”
His words came to an end. At the same time, even his soft breathing stopped.
Queen Rox’s eyes opened very wide. As her irises trembled, teardrops began falling.
“What a terrible person you are.” She brought Kelt even closer and held him tightly. “You are a truly terrible person.” She reached up and carefully caressed Kelt’s face as a sad grin spread on her lips. “If it’s really fated…”
Rox carefully laid Kelt on the grassland.
As she caressed his face again, Mana began leaking out from her body.
“…Then, we’ll just have to be together. I won’t let you be lonely anymore. I too, will be by your side, Kelt…” She buried her face on his chest. “With you, always…”
Her eyes quietly closed.
Cardinal Raphael looked up at the sky. Another night had come to the labyrinth of Titalos.
After Kelt asked for some alone time with Rox, he agreed to let them be for a while. However, too much time had passed now.
Raphael was the trusted adviser to the Holy Emperor, so he naturally grew worried. He walked through the forest and eventually reached an open field of grass. He froze in place and stared at the scene before him.
At the top of this verdant field, two lovers lay on their backs, their hands held together. With content smiles on their faces and their foreheads pressed against one another.
They were in eternal slumber, together.
**
Allen was finishing up some documents in the office. He suddenly flinched in surprise and raised his head.
This weirdly hollow feeling suddenly began washing over him.
“Your Majesty?” Charlotte asked in a puzzled voice from her place next to him and Allen silently turned to look at her. “What’s the matter, sire?” she asked again, tilting her head in worry.
For a long time there, Allen remained dazed, unable to answer. “I… uh, it’s just…”
He rose from his chair and headed to the balcony connected to the executive office. He looked up at the night sky far above.
He stared at the wane moonlight for a long while, only for his brows to abruptly shoot up. He almost reflexively retrieved Queen Rox’s letter from the item window, the one he’d been safekeeping until now.
The wax seal on the letter was disintegrating in gentle flames, unsealing the document. It could only mean that Queen Rox’s magic had come undone.
Which also meant that…
“…Charlotte.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Allen opened the letter and confirmed its contents.
And now, it was time to…
“Go and find Crown Imperial Prince White Olfolse.”
…fulfill the request Queen Rox had entrusted to him.
< 174. Encounters and Farewells (Part One and Two) > Fin.
