Translator: yun

As soon as he spoke the end of his sentence, I started shaking my head in a fit. But at the same time, I knew that throwing a fit would be useless.

Ill take care of the barrier.

No, you cant,

The last emperor of this Empire, is fated to end up just like me.

This was too cruel. You lot were too cruel Kaltanias, was that what she wanted to tell me?

I cant believe I have to lose something to make my wish come true.

With my face covered, I burst into laughter. A hollow empty laugh. I could understand why her smile had been so relaxed in her final moments.

Seriously, all these gods are such bastards.

I agreed. Huh, seriously. He was just another one of their victims. Wasnt he?

It was strange. As the victims of their actions gathered, another perpetrator was created and so was another victim. I wondered why.

Alright. Amor, you can take charge of the barrier.

Why was fate pushing me towards the end of the cliff? Who knew living would be this tiring, as I clung for dear life so that I wouldnt have to die? I tugged at his clothes before holding his cheek.

But I dont permit you to die. You will live. You will live and so will I and well live happily ever after.

..

No matter what happens, you cannot die. YouYoure just falling asleep.

Right.

I will definitely come to wake you up after everything is over.

A soft smile curled his eyes.

Alright, Ros.

Amor brought my hand to his lips before kissing its palm.

I shall heed your command.

The templars returned to their positions and once again, the sigil was activated. The only differences now were the person standing in the middle of the circle and the colour the sigil glowed in.

Instead of a reddish-purple, the sigil was now coloured a bright green. The Crown of the Emperor, the Ring of the Lord and the diary that were amplifying his powers were also coloured green.

Amor.

Our eyes met as I stood outside the sigil.

Sleep well.

I will.

Perhaps this would be our last time together.

When you wake up, I wont be letting you sleep again.

He smirked.

Im looking forward to it.

The sigil was activated. As soon as the intangible energy seeped into the crystal, he shuddered vigorously. And at that moment, the ceiling cracked open.

I love you. Ill be waiting.

Even with the explosive sounds swallowing all in its soundscape, I knew instinctively. That my words would be relayed to him.

The moment you bloomed in my winter.

I smiled broadly. With tears streaming down my cheek.

You shall bring me my spring.

Amor opened his mouth but unfortunately, the explosions only got louder and I could no longer hear him.

Our separation was not disappointing. We were just going to be apart for a while. Werent we?

Under the clear sky, the crystal shot a beam of green light upwards. The beam thickened till it looked like a tree. A tree that had anchored itself to the crystal and was extending across the country.

Right, I knew it would be a tree.

My tree, my flower.

I love you.

It will just be for a little while.

Until we meet again.

Bye.

***

Ephesus

The battle was a difficult one. The wounds left behind by this fierce struggle were devastating. There was blood, bodies scattered all over the place, those who would never be able to close their eyes and those who managed to sputter the last tremor their body could muster.

Ray kicked off the ground and flew into the air. As he sliced and sliced, blood shot through the air. Then, a sword flew towards him.

Based on its length, its a longsword.

It was a longsword that was rarely seen in Kaltanias. Ray squeezed the sword he had been holding.

My sword is short in length.

The gladius he was wielding would be disadvantageous in a distant fight.

Clang!

As soon as Ray stepped out, the sword his opponent was wielding struck his blade. However, the opponent soon let out a groan as if something he had not expected had occurred.

I missed.

After slightly relaxing his posture, Ray aimed for the opponents helmet. Silver hair fluttered in front of his eyes, as the iron helmet clattered on the ground.

Prince Cjezarnian?

Youre the princess knight?

The men who recognised each other soon frowned. He did hear that the 2nd Prince of the Kingdom of Walter had led the reinforcements but he never imagined that he would see him on the frontlines.

Why are you here? What about the princess? Dont tell me shes here too?

But Cjezarnian could not continue.

Watch your tongue. She is now the emperor of this Empire.

Within the empty space, their hair flew into the air.

Ah Alright. I see.

She Cjezarnian, who had been muttering incoherently for a while now, raised his head with a start.

Knight whose name I do not know, Id like to ask you for a favour.

A favour?

Ray was dumbfounded. Was that something one would say to their enemy in the middle of such a fierce battlefield?

It had already been a long time since their formation had been disrupted and it was clear Cjezarnian, the main commander, did not have any men to support him around at all.

Do you know what situation were currently in?

Im saying this because of the situation were in.

Cjezarnian spoke seriously.

I want to end this war.

At this moment, the Kingdom of Walter should be seeking stability rather than war and conquest. At least it was supposed to.

This war is too strange.

Raising an army during their busy harvest season was something his older brother would never have done.

In the original story Ashley believed to be a novel, Cjezarian had been one of the many men who had fallen in love with the woman known as RUsbella.

As he had been head over heels in love, the Cjezarnian of that time did not notice. But the man who no longer loved Rusbella now realised something.

Why did this war start?

The future which Ashley changed, the small cogwheel she had inserted was working its magic in places she never expected.

This war is strange. We have no need to fight. My country is rich and we have no incentive to invade your country.

Thats not what an invader is supposed to say.

Yes. I know it doesnt make sense. But I am planning on stopping my brother.

Cjezarnian wiped the blood off his chin. Suddenly, he recalled the small girl who had handed him a handkerchief. The girl who looked indifferently empty and yet so lovely at the same time. It was his first love.

But this is not the time for this.

The sudden war had brought the immature prince to his senses.

The first thing we need to do is to drive that person off the battlefield.

Cjerzarnian looked off into a specific spot as if it was only natural. Ray followed his gaze.

Can you do it?

The battlefield upon which the reinforcements from both sides clashed was, to put it simply, a pandemonium. Fragments of ice were falling from the sky, the ground had frozen over, lightning was randomly striking the ground and fires were spreading across the field.

The combat ability of their army of peace-loving non-templars was mediocre.

But the templars were different. They managed to achieve maximum efficiency even with their small numbers. The Kingdom of Walter was able to hold out because of their overwhelming number of soldiers and the fact that they were going up against the weakest templars.

The previous Crown Prince, Castor.

He had struck a balance in the war and was the one who was controlling its scales.

Pant Pant

Castor scanned his surroundings nonchalantly. Wherever he looked, he could see everything in a distance as if it was right in front of him. But the sights to see were the exact same so he had no need to run anywhere to get a closer look.

Are you still alive?

Towards the spot that had more bodies scattered on the ground than any other place on the field, Castor asked affectionately. And in the middle of it all, there was a man who could not help but to stand out.

Hernan.

Drip drop. Hernan who was dripping in blood looked up.

Oh dear. Are you dying, dear friend?

He was barely supporting himself upright with his sword but his eyes remained cold and alive. Like a beast.

Is the person behind you still alive?

Behind Hernan was a woman who had collapsed on her knees with her sword pierced into the ground. Her fine red hair could be seen strewn across a pool of blood.

It looks like shes going to die soon.

Hernan raised his sword as if to protect the woman behind him.

Doesnt that woman have nothing to do with you?

Yes. But If she dies, shed be sad.

Drip drop.

Youve changed, Hernan.

No. Ive always been like this.

The blood dripping from his chin drenched his clothes.

There was no one around Castor. His sword that had only targeted templars had already sliced down numerous men.

Eventually, while Marissa and Hernan tried their best to stop him, the rest of their forces dealt with Walter.

In fact, it was a ridiculous battle to begin with. An army made out of non-templars that was accustomed to peace. Even the templars that had been gathered to help was not enough. Furthermore, they were currently in an era where their gods were losing strength.

Hernan wondered if that really meant that their end was coming. However, even if it did, his goal to prevent it remained the same. And his reason for it was simple.

Because his master did not want it. He would stop it even if he had to go against the entire world.

Hes coming again.

He gripped his sword tighter.

Clang!

Hernan, who had blocked Castors condensed divinity, spat out blood.

Its strange.

Through the smoke, Castor frowned for the first time. The silver blades rushed towards each other. Clang, the two faced each other with the swords against each other.

Why arent you dying?

..

Ive just realised. With those injuries of yours, you shouldnt be alive.

Castors powers which he had built and gathered for thousands of years was beyond what an individual could go up against.

How many times had he cut him down now? As he protected Marissa, Hernan was struck again and again. No matter how strong the last remaining Templar of the Beasts was, this vitality of his was ridiculous.

Puft. A clear stab into flesh rang in his ears. Blood dripped from Castors blade.

I had sworn.

HIs white hair was tinged in red. And even his white clothes were no longer white.

Even if I die, I swore to die in front of her.

The sword that had pierced his stomach precisely . Despite his fatal injury, he was still alive.

Did you? How foolish of you. Why would you extend your life that way? You know what would end up happening.

..

This means youd die the moment you see her.

An oath sworn on the River Styx was absolute and the stronger the templar, the more powerful the oath. In other words, the oath he made to only die in front of Ashley made it so that he could never die unless he stood in front of her.

I already know that.

Hernans pale pristine face drew a dazzling smile.

Castor, Ive already mentioned this before. But youre going to lose.

..

Do you know why?

Hernan spat out blood. But he did not spit out that much. Perhaps because he no longer had any more blood to throw up.

Because youre alone.

If the path Ashley wanted him to traverse led him to the end of the cliff, he would run towards it without hesitation. Ashley, that girl was his life and his temple.

As soon as Hernan stepped back, Castor swung his blade down. With a sword piercing through the others stomach, Hernan struck his sword into the ground.

The ground quaked. With the cracking ground, even Castor had no choice but to lose his balance.

Even for a moment itd be alright if just for one moment.

But as if betraying all expectations, Castor quickly turned back around and he reached his hand out bone-chillingly.

The sword moved so fast, he couldnt get up on time even with divinity. So, he stopped the approaching blade with his hand and it pierced through his palm. Rays expression fell into one of dismay.

That had been the perfect opportunity!

Clenching his teeth, Ray did not let go of his blade but just then, his navy eyes widened.

Using yourself as bait, not a bad idea.

Ray grabbed his shoulders before falling into the ground. Now holding Rays sword, Castor turned back around slowly. No, at least he tried to turn around.

Damn it. Did I just get played?

If it had not been for the blade that pierced through his chest.

I knew you were not in a good physical condition too.

How?

Thats why you lost, Castor.

Hernan smirked.

Fortunately, your blood is red too.

It was then. Both Hernan and him quickly looked up to the sky. A great amount of energy spread through the earth and into the sky. The energy that had spread like a net sank upon them. Hernan recognised this energy.

That light flowed through them like rain. The light fell like snow in a country where snow would never occur. Someone started crying. With admiration, grief and love, they captured the light in their gazes.

The barrier had been reestablished.

The walls around the ancient empire had been rebuilt.

Look. We won.

Hernan muttered before his vision began shifting. No, he couldnt. Not yet. He tried his best to hold out.

You know

..

You should think about living your own life at least once.

Hernan wondered how a man who had his heart pierced was not dead yet. But he thought he might have missed the organ. Did he not manage to finish him off?

How could I not notice the condition of the man I used to stand next to all my life?

Boom. His body collapsed for a moment.

All he could see now was the barrier spreading across the sky and Castor.

Sorry but I dont die even when I get stabbed in the heart. Thats how strong I am.

His close friend and guardian who had died for him in his previous life had stabbed him before collapsing in this life. This has never happened in the thousands of lives he lived.

The changing future. The future.

Something was lurking at the end of this. A feeling he had never felt before in the thousands of his regressions. Castor could feel the end approaching.