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EPISODE 343 – THE LULL BEFORE THE STORM (2)
Once the plan was set, everyone began to move.
Elune’s aide did not attempt to summarize the surprising facts. She conveyed exactly what she heard from Jude to the leader of the elves, Vincenzo Lombardi, who doubted if Elune’s aide had gone crazy, but soon accepted the story.
“Anyway, the countdown has begun.”
They only had around 21 days left.
After that time, the demon followers’ attempt to descend an archangel, which sounded more absurd than the repeated destruction or copy and paste method, would become a reality.
Vincenzo glanced at the message sent by the empress dowager and the report sent by Elune’s aide before covering his wrinkled face with his hands.
He unconsciously spoke in a feeble voice.
“I’ve lived too long.”
Elves with wrinkles on their faces were rare.
The treason of Elio Lombardi.
The absurd reason why he tried to commit treason.
And even the events that followed.
‘Is this it?’
Vincenzo inadvertently felt that way.
A great battle for the fate of the world would begin, but Vincenzo himself could do very little about it.
And that fact made the old him, who had been leading the elves for a long time, feel the passage of time again.
‘But I have to do what I have to do.’
The usual Vincenzo would have chosen to take a step back from here.
Because he had to prepare in case Jude Bayer’s plans failed.
It was Vincenzo’s task to stock up on supplies and power as much as possible in preparation for that time.
But Vincenzo did not do that.
Instead of stepping back and conserving his power, he generously brought out the various treasures of the Shadow Forest’s elves.
He did not know if it was the vague memories of his past lives that he could not properly remember or if it was his unique investment sense that allowed the elves to have their massive wealth.
He was also unsure if both were the reason.
“Is this the end of the world?”
With a dejected smile, Vincenzo called his subordinates.
Instead of preparing for the aftermath, he delivered several orders to prevent the destruction itself.
***
Kirara asked with wide open eyes.
“Are you two going alone?”
The big eyes that looked up were cute and pitiful enough, but Cordelia nodded with an apologetic face.
“I’m sorry. We have to hurry since we don’t have time. Instead, I’ll come back as soon as possible.”
When Cordelia gently replied, Kirara nodded with a gloomy expression. The way her tail drooped seriously looked pitiful, but it could not be helped.
‘I’m sorry! I’m really sorry!’
In fact, there was no such thing as a lack of time, but this was her last chance to travel with Jude.
But as it had been said initially, they definitely did not have time.
They had no time to do anything else while traveling.
But she just wanted to be alone with Jude this time.
If they could not stop Auriel’s descent or the Great Summons, all that was left was their destined destruction.
“Master, take care and come back safely.”
Kirara sadly spoke and suddenly hugged Cordelia’s waist, and Cordelia patted Kirara’s back and head that had buried itself in her chest.
“Yes, yes, I’ll be back. Take care too, Kirara.”
Their trip would only take a few days at most, but Cordelia spoke as kindly as possible.
It was her original personality, but the fact that Kirara had also remembered the memories of her previous live also bothered Cordelia.
‘You’re going to be abandoned again this time. So betray them.’
Kirara frowned at the voice in her mind, but she did not reply back.
Because she now knew the identity of the voice in her mind.
It was her memories from her past lives.
Kirara’s own memories of betraying over and over again.
The one talking to her was not someone with an ego.
It was Kirara’s own thoughts.
Because Kirara herself had always been a traitor who had been abandoned, suspected, and hated in her repeated past lives.
‘But it’s different this time.’
Because I met my masters.
Because my master gave me faith before I lost it.
Kirara knew herself well.
She recalled quite a few memories of her past lives, but it would not be of much help in raiding the imperial capital.
It was highly likely that she would not be able to join the final expedition.
‘But still…’
There must be something that I can do.
What I can do for Jude and Cordelia, my beloved masters.
“Master, I really, really like you.”
“I really like you too.”
Cordelia’s answer was sweet, soft, and warm.
It was not much, but her sincerity made the Kirara who recalled the memories of her previous lives burst into tears without realizing it.
But instead of continuously crying, she let Cordelia go.
“This Kirara will do her best.”
“Yes, let’s do our best together.”
At Cordelia’s bright smile, Kirara did not cry anymore. She showed a bright smile.
***
Red Wind frowned as she watched Kirara who kept sticking to Cordelia.
Why does that thieving cat b*tch keep sticking to unnie?
It had only been a few hours since she had met Kirara, but the situation was different when she included her past lives.
She and Kirara had killed each other several times.
Most of the memories of her past lives that appeared one after another were blurry as if it were beyond the fog, but there were also some clear ones among those memories.
The Kirara who approached her, saying that she was from the wild lands too, but ended up betraying her.
The Kirara who stabbed her in the back.
Those definitely happened in their past lives.
It did not happen in the present.
But as Jude had said, what happened to Pleiades was not a regression.
Everything in the past was something that really happened.
“This time, it’s really…”
Red Wind softly whispered.
Instead of looking at that accursed Kirara, she turned to Cordelia and Jude, feeling deeply grateful.
The wild lands always collapsed in the past that had been repeated many times.
Not only did they collapse but were also deprived of freedom and will when they became slaves to the demons.
This was the first time that the wild lands had been saved.
And it was Jude and Cordelia who brought that salvation.
“I can’t help but admit it. They are both the saviors and guardians of the wild lands.”
At the words of Violent Avalanche, Red Wind unconsciously smiled.
“Didn’t you admit it before then?”
Violent Avalanche grumbled in response to the words of Red Wind, replying with a snort.
“A-anyway!”
“Anyway, you admitted it before, right?”
“Argh, okay! I admitted it! And I admit it again!”
Red Wind smiled again at the words of the bear cub as it stood up, and Violent Avalanche grumbled and continued.
“Moving on, it’s a surprising story, and our wild lands cannot just stand still. I will tell the story to Golden Dragon King and think about if there is any other way we can help.”
Around a thousand years ago.
The wild gods could not join the fight when Pleiades suffered from the overlords of Hell.
Because there was no proper wild god at that time.
But it was different this time.
The wild gods wanted to join the effort in protecting the world as inhabitants of Pleiades.
“There must be something we can do.”
Violent Avalanche with his baby bear face spoke with a bitter smile and looked west where the wild lands was.
***
Lucas felt troubled while everyone was trying to stop the impending doom.
Scarlet and Kajsa.
His past lovers.
He recalled his memories quite clearly now.
Except for Jude and Cordelia, Lucas was probably the one who recovered the most memories.
‘Next are Scarlet and Kajsa.’
So there was a problem.
The memories of his past lives were so vivid.
Scarlet was his lover, and Kajsa was also his lover.
The memories and feelings of loving both of the two came to his mind at the same time and coexisted.
And it was the same with Scarlet and Kajsa.
The only difference was the fact that Lucas was their only lover in their previous lives.
Scarlet and Kajsa stared at each other.
Sometimes they were enemies, sometimes they were friends, so the two exchanged seriously complex gazes. They ultimately looked at Lucas.
“So who is it in the end?”
The first person to eventually speak was Kajsa who had the rashest personality.
The meaning of her question was clear.
Me or Scarlet.
Who is your lover?
Kajsa stared at Lucas with a mixture of longing, anger, and eagerness.
And at that gaze, Lucas recalled the memories of his past lives when he passionately loved Kajsa.
She was outspoken and cheerful, but actually had a very soft heart.
“Lucas?”
Scarlet also gazed at Lucas.
There was a bit of fierceness and sadness in her eyes.
Lucas remembered his memories with Scarlet again.
An elegant rose.
She covered herself with sharp thorns, but was not harsh. She was a woman with a heart that was kinder and warmer than anyone else.
The nights he spent with them.
The times they spent together.
‘Eueueueugh…’
I can’t exactly say who it is.
I love them both equally.
No, is it even possible to measure the degree of love in the first place?
It sounds like a trashy idea, but I want to be lovers with both of them again.
‘Eueugh… I’m trash.’
So he could not put those words into his mouth.
It was obviously impossible for him to choose one of the two.
He could not choose none, but also could not choose one above the other.
When Lucas only groaned and could not give a proper answer, Kajsa and Scarlet’s expressions both turned worse.
However, the two understood Lucas’ situation to some extent.
Because they also had memories of being an enemy when they met Lucas.
Scarlet knew how much Lucas and Kajsa loved each other.
Kajsa also knew that Lucas was willing to sacrifice his life for Scarlet.
Therefore, an extremely complicated whirlpool of emotions was created.
‘Ueueue…’
Lucas was genuinely distressed.
He tried hard to remember Biltwein’s quotes, but nothing helped him.
Because Biltwein was an exemplary hero who only loved for his whole life one woman he was destined with.
‘Still… is it a relief?’
One comforting fact was that both Scarlet and Kajsa prioritized their memories of being his lovers over their memories of being enemies.
It was quite natural if one thought about it a bit.
Becoming an enemy in their previous lives was neither his own will nor the wills of Scarlet and Kajsa.
They only became an enemy when they were captured and forcibly turned into demonic humans, or was controlled by a magic sword and lost their self, so it was natural for them now to prioritize their memories as lovers.
“That… Uh… Ah!”
Lucas who had been thinking hard suddenly raised his head and clapped his hands.
“First of all! Why don’t we focus on securing Claíomh Solais first?”
It was important to stop Auriel’s descent before all else.
To put it bluntly, it was an indecisive opinion to postpone making a final decision, but Scarlet nodded her head.
“Yeah, we have to prevent the destruction first.”
She knew now that she had recovered the memories of her past lives.
Except for Jude and Cordelia, the strongest among their current group was Lucas.
It was clear that he would also participate in the imperial capital raid that would take place soon, so they had to strengthen Lucas’ power with Claíomh Solais.
Lucas breathed in relief when Scarlet agreed, and Kajsa also nodded upon seeing that, although she had a disagreeing expression.
“Okay, because it cannot be helped.”
Because they had to stop the destruction first.
Lucas sighed in relief again. He had a small but happy smile.
But that was only for a moment.
“Still, you can’t delay it too much. So let’s think about it while we go to the royal capital. And make a decision after that.”
“Kajsa?”
Kajsa bit her lips at Lucas’ call, but she said again as her face turned red.
“Because we might fail.”
“Excuse me?”
“We don’t know if we will die this time too!”
Their situation was the best this time, as Count Bayer had said.
It was obvious that Jude and Cordelia, as well as everyone on Pleiades, would do their best to prevent the destruction.
But they still did not know.
If they could not stop it this time, if the destruction came.
“Two days… no, even just a day…”
I want to make love.
I don’t want to leave any regrets.
Because it’s fate for us to meet again.
Because it’s hard to know if there is a next time.
“I agree.”
Scarlet said.
She understood Kajsa’s feelings. In fact, Scarlet felt the same way.
“I feel like I’m being controlled by the memories of my past lives… but it’s still mine. Because this heart is definitely mine.”
Scarlet spoke to herself and had a faint smile.
“Let’s go to the royal capital first. Let’s talk as we go… let the three of us think well of it. If it’s the Lucas I know, even if you do not give a proper answer… but at least you’ll give an honest answer.”
At Scarlet’s words full of faith, Lucas nodded with a resolute expression instead of an awkward one.
It was funny to have a resolute determination for something like this, but it was also really Lucas-like.
Lucas always did his best.
He was a pure and sincere man.
Scarlet and Kajsa both knew it.
If he were someone else, he would clearly be broken by Jude.
He would become rotten because he could not overcome his feelings of inferiority and envy.
But Lucas never did that.
Instead of being crushed by his feelings of inferiority and envy, he always moved forward one step at a time.
Something that not anyone could do.
It was only possible because he was Lucas.
“Okay, then let’s go. It’s meaningless to stay here longer, so let’s head straight to the royal capital.”
As Kajsa cheerfully spoke, Scarlet also nodded. She sneakily held Lucas’ hand and said.
“Let’s go, Lucas.”
“Yes, Scarlet.”
Lucas seriously answered and had a firm smile on his face instead of blushing. Scarlet and Kajsa glanced at each other. They shared the same complex gaze and smile at each other, though it had a slightly different meaning than before.
***
The five heroes led by Landius began their journey towards Erotika.
The Guardians of the Holy Cross that had been gathered by the five heroes also began to head south to join the kingdom’s army.
Jude and Cordelia spread the map.
They decided on a destination based on the information they had collected so far, and prepared to depart.
The chancellor’s army also began to move.
Archbishop Manuela met the agent of the archangel who came from the north.
The demonic humans moved too.
The leader of the Devil’s Hand spread the command of Asmodeus to the demonic humans and established a certain plan.
It was necessary to protect the imperial capital where the ritual was being held.
When everyone was busy moving like that.
There was someone who stood up in the north.
He barely recovered his memories of his previous lives.
But he realized that something was wrong, that his beloved disciple had lost his will and was being controlled by someone.
His injuries were severe.
His life was saved, whether it was by luck or the remaining will of his disciple despite being controlled, but he was not in a condition where he could properly move.
Nonetheless, he stood up.
He instinctively moved towards the south.
His disciple had definitely gotten stronger.
But it was not because he went a little further towards the horizon.
It was because of the various divine and new items all over his body that strengthened his body and mind.
“Maximilian…”
The man called the Sword God took a step.
And another day passed.
Twenty days were left before the descent of the archangel.