To Lingering Attachment (2)

The Sword King, Calips de Ares, was once again sitting alone in a tavern in a deserted village, just as he had in previous villages, drinking from his cup.

It had become a habit of sorts.

Watching the fate of the empire’s greedy people who remained behind after refugees had fled.

And contemplating as he watched them.

This was how Calips de Ares judged how to intervene in the war between the empire and the devil.

“It seems I’ve come this far. The journey wasn’t particularly enjoyable, but I believe I’ve learned a bit about the kind of person you are.”

“……”

“Then, King Calips de Ares, I pray that the day comes when the scars in your heart heal.”

He thought about the elderly man, Judas Sicarii, who had left without even asking him for help.

What a stubborn man.

Since he had saved Calips’s life, just once—just one time—it wouldn’t have been too much to ask.

“Khuhu, or perhaps that’s exactly why? Damn fraud. He was waiting for my decision.”

He would have granted the request if Judas had asked.

It might have allowed Calips to set aside his inner conflict for a moment.

He could have excluded all his worries because he’d be repaying a life debt.

And through that, he might have found a clue to the answer he’d been searching for. Calips had unconsciously been thinking this way.

What a cowardly man he was.

And how resolute Judas Sicarii had been.

He had wanted Calips to find the answer on his own. That’s why, even in this situation, he hadn’t asked.

Because he wanted that judgment to come solely from Calips himself.

Even on his deathbed, there was something about being a priest that was righteous yet infuriating.

“Huhuhuhu.”

Calips laughed at his situation, now truly alone.

Perhaps it was because this was already a rain-soaked city, but the silence felt particularly pronounced.

But just then—

Boom!

A middle-aged, plump man entered the tavern.

He seemed terrified, conspicuously scanning his surroundings.

“Have you come for a drink?”

“Aaaagh?! Huk, huk……”

The man screamed like a madman when Calips addressed him.

He was clearly a timid person.

It was puzzling that someone so fearful would remain in a place where war was imminent, but Calips merely sighed disdainfully after reading the desire in the man’s eyes.

Many fearless people try to secure their own interests even in dangerous places where others die.

But there are also many who value their lives yet make poor judgments, blinded by greed.

Calips thought this man was simply one of that kind.

“Y-you’re human. Ahem! Everyone else has fled, so why are you still in a place like this?”

“Ah, I’m going. Of course I’ll go. Just after I finish this drink.”

“I see……”

The middle-aged man, Viscount Leze who had not yet left Rubia, gave a strange smile as if in understanding, and sat down across from Calips.

“You’re afraid.”

“……”

“I understand. I’m the same. That’s why you’ve come here seeking courage from alcohol.”

Calips blinked at the viscount, as if fascinated by this new type of madman.

“Of course, I know the cause of that fear too. It must be those incompetent nobles leading the refugees.”

Viscount Leze, one of the most incompetent nobles, nodded repeatedly while claiming to know everything.

The way he took Calips’s bottle without permission, poured it into his own glass, and gulped it down seemed far from noble behavior.

“But we must believe, mustn’t we? They’re struggling to survive while leading refugees, so what good will it do to seek courage from alcohol because you don’t have the courage to trust them?”

“Huh……”

“Let me help you, since you said you’d leave after this drink. However tough life gets, one must live on.”

After saying this, Viscount Leze gulped down more alcohol.

Despite his seemingly brave words, the viscount appeared to be soothing his anxiety with alcohol.

“And what about you?”

“Hm?”

Normally Calips would have ignored him, but the viscount’s absurd behavior made it impossible not to ask.

How dare he lecture Calips, unaware of who he was?

Though Calips hadn’t revealed his identity, surely there were clues in his demeanor?

‘He can’t even sense my killing intent or see the sword at my waist.’

The epitome of ignorance and insensitivity.

Conversely, this made him rather interesting.

“Me? Well… I came to save people like you! Ahem!”

“That’s an unbelievable lie, so just tell me your true intentions.”

“Hmm, hmm hmm……”

Viscount Leze cleared his throat awkwardly, then, as if drunk and making a confession, planted his face on the table.

“I’m scared.”

“I see. It seems your earlier words when entering the tavern were directed at yourself. But if you’re so afraid, why stay behind and suffer instead of fleeing with the others?”

“You might not see it, but I’m actually quite greedy.”

“No, I think that would be obvious to anyone with eyes.”

“Is it that obvious?”

“Extremely.”

“I see……”

Viscount Leze chuckled while keeping his face planted on the table.

Calips made a puzzled expression at the sudden familiarity of their conversation.

Perhaps it was because Viscount Leze was such an honest person.

A man whose true feelings were revealed in his expressions and actions despite his words.

Such people are rare. There are things that can be seen without being spoken, which sometimes reveal more than words ever could.

“I’m too greedy to watch my domain’s people get hurt. They’re all my property. Do you know how much tax a person pays in their lifetime?”

“Hmm.”

“So I’m worried about my assets being damaged, and that’s why I can’t leave the village hastily.”

“You seem both greedy and compassionate, my friend.”

“That’s my strength.”

“It shows.”

Calips readily agreed.

Being greedy means being honest with oneself.

And being compassionate means being honest with others.

If so, then the Viscount Leze before him could be the most honest person in the world.

Though the conclusion seemed a bit strange, Calips somehow thought this man was indeed such a person.

“I sent them to their deaths. I knew, and still I sent them.”

“Those who stayed behind probably know too. How could they not?”

“No! That’s not the issue. I left them behind to die, yet I still believe they’ll return alive!”

“How hopeful.”

“No, it’s foolish. That’s why I’m sitting here, afraid they might return wounded, barely alive.”

“Huh……”

Calips was impressed.

And surprised at himself.

Wasn’t he Calips, who had been unable to forgive the empire’s people all this time?

Of course, he knew that not all imperial citizens were villains.

He wasn’t so blinded as to not understand such an obvious fact.

But his standard had been based on himself as king—the position of kingdoms and empires, not person to person.

And the king of the fallen Ares Kingdom shouldn’t forgive the empire.

How many innocent people had died because of their indiscriminate declaration of war?

So he couldn’t forgive them. He shouldn’t forgive them. He shouldn’t sympathize, empathize, laugh or cry for them.

“I misjudged you. Now I see you’re quite courageous.”

But this time was different.

The lord of a small domain. The way such a person cherished his domain’s people while considering them his property was truly surprising.

The man before him was greedy.

He was a man who calculated profits even while thinking about human lives.

But he was compassionate.

He had stayed behind, risking his life, in case there was any possibility of saving lives.

Risking one’s life.

It’s not an easy thing to say. But anyone can utter those words.

And many probably put them into practice.

‘But how many people could stay behind while being this terrified?’

The man before him had neither adequate preparation nor resolve.

Yet he had come this far solely with the hope that things might work out.

If that’s not courage, then what is?

“Those who remain have little chance of survival, and in that case, you’ll leave your bones here too.”

“Eek!”

Calips conveyed the realistic future to Viscount Leze.

Sure enough, Viscount Leze trembled and wept.

But even so, he didn’t leave.

Even though he could still join the refugee procession if he wanted.

His legs weren’t immobile—he was forcibly restraining his thighs with both arms to keep from running away.

“Are they that precious to you?”

“They’re all my assets….. All my gold and silver…… I’m so incompetent and stupid that the only thing I can boast about is my treasures… if even those are taken from me, I……”

Viscount Leze was objective.

He knew he was an inadequate person. That’s why he was so concerned with others’ opinions.

This was why his false good deeds were becoming genuine.

A coward who excused even those good deeds as greed.

“You’re quite an excellent ruler.”

But he was a leader.

He was someone who led others.

And Calips thought that Viscount Leze was a far superior ruler than himself.

Calips was strong. Strong enough to support an entire kingdom on his own.

It was natural and simple for him to protect his kingdom.

But what about the man before him?

The man was incompetent. He couldn’t do anything alone. He was in his position solely because of his good bloodline.

He was so ordinary that he couldn’t achieve anything on his own.

Yet even such a person had stayed behind to protect his domain’s people.

Despite the certainty of death, he had placed his hope in the slimmest possibility.

“I’m ashamed of myself.”

Yes, this was a man who was trying to see hope even in the most desperate of situations.

Then what about himself?

What had he done besides harboring resentment after his kingdom fell?

Had he even tried to find any kingdom citizens who might still be alive?

No, he had done nothing. He had simply sat there.

“I was the coward.”

Unable to even decide who to hate.

Despite having mountains of things he could have done, he did nothing.

Just a fool drowning in alcohol.

The Sword King, Calips, had failed not just as a ruler but as a human being.

“Would you like them to return?”

“Isn’t that obvious?”

“What will you do if no one returns?”

“Then… I’ll die too. But if I somehow survive, I must live on for the sake of those who remain.”

“What if you alone survive and lose everything?”

“What are you trying to say? My everything isn’t lost until my life is.”

“I see.”

“Phew. Still, thank you. Talking has helped me somewhat… Kugh?!”

Calips knocked Viscount Leze unconscious and rose from his seat.

The bottle he had been drinking from still had some alcohol left.

“Didn’t I say I’d leave for refuge after finishing this drink?”

Thud.

Calips placed the bottle in front of the unconscious Viscount Leze and left the tavern.

Splash. Splash.

A ghost from the past walked through the rain-soaked, silent streets.

During this time of reminiscence, the ghost muttered, recalling his past.

“I love you.”

The moment he fell in love. His wife, the queen of the kingdom.

Those were the words meant for her.

“I love you.”

His children who watched him swing his sword with admiring eyes.

Those were the words meant for them.

“I love you.”

The kingdom’s citizens who smiled and waved at him as he walked the streets.

Those were the words meant for them.

“To all who loved me. For that, I must apologize.”

What he was about to do might be a betrayal of his kingdom.

Those he was trying to save might be the villains who once wielded swords and spears against his citizens.

But he had to move.

“May your incompetent king become a mere commoner, just for this moment.”

Shing!

The Sword King, Calips’s rusted blade finally revealed itself.

“If you hate me for this, please do not forgive me.”

Tsszzik!

The raindrops no longer touched Calips’s body.

The water droplets that evaporated before they could touch him created a thick fog.

The sword domain he created spread out, enveloping all of Rubia.

Yes, enough to blow away all the dark clouds in this city of eternal rain.

“But if you forgive me, please support me.”

The Sword King, Calips de Ares.

“Bless me, for I have drawn my sword once more for the sake of the world.”

Responsibility as a king.

The responsibility to hate them.

Yes, this was the moment when a man who had chosen to close his heart, deny morality, and hate people for the sake of the dead, bid farewell to all his lingering attachments.

“As much as I loved you all, please allow me to love others in this world as well.”