Chapter 328: The Living and the Dead
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 328: The Living and the Dead
“Ragia.”
She smiled at the sound of my voice. No, to be precise, it only looked like she was smiling. Her pale skin, the grotesque bones peeking through her flesh, and the lifeless gaze in her eyes were all proof that she had, indeed, died once.
“.....................”
I didn’t know what to say. As Ragia slowly approached, I found myself swallowing dryly.
“It feels like there are gaps… but my memory of you is clear.”
“.............................”
“I can’t control my body.”
It seemed she had been turned into a state where she retained her memories but was controlled by a sorcerer, forced to attack the living indiscriminately. The others had been the same, but seeing Ragia confirmed it. She was still beautiful. The dazzling light in her eyes and the expressions she sometimes showed were gone, but she was definitely still beautiful. For some reason, I couldn’t look her straight in the eye, so I turned my head slightly and spoke.
“Is there anything else different?”
“I’m not sure, but it seems the others don’t remember everything either. The fact that you still remain in my memory must mean I had some powerful lingering attachments.”
I truly never imagined we would meet again like this.
“You’ve become bigger and more magnificent than when I last saw you. Is everyone doing well?”
“They are.”
“I’m glad.”
“I have a child now… with Mev and Jung Hayeon.”
“I’m… envious...................................”
“The child’s name is Laveua. I named her after you, who died for the clan. I feel both sorry and grateful toward you.”
“It’s an honor…”
“You sacrificed much for the clan, and even at the very end, you gave me something great before you left.”
“Oh my, I didn’t expect such high praise. I did it not for the clan, but for you. I did those things because I wanted to be your woman. I never imagined we would meet again like this… It may sound funny, but I feel like I want to thank the one who placed this curse on me.”
Ragia slowly moved her body, and I poured out my magic to restrain her.
“Words I couldn’t say kept coming to mind. Was I of any help to you, even a little?”
“It’s just as I said. Your name is one of the names that still supports me. Without you, I would not be who I am today.”
“Sweet words…”
“.........................”
I slowly raised Levatain. There was so much I wanted to say. I felt I could talk with her for three days and nights straight. I wanted to tell her everything: how much the clan had grown because of her sacrifice, how much stronger I had become, how the continent had changed, how large the Brother’s Land had become, and that I had even become the representative Green Skin of the East. But we did not have much time.
Even now, the allied forces in the North were fighting a defensive battle against the undead. It was just a wave of sheer numbers for now, but no one knew when the enemy mages would recover their magic and launch a full-scale offensive. The time spent cleaning up the Brother's Land had to be minimized.
As I looked at Ragia with a complicated expression, she spoke again.
“I can tell everything just by looking at you. How much stronger you’ve become, how much your clan has grown, and what kind of life you’ve lived while I was gone.”
She had always been incredibly perceptive. It was one of the reasons I brought her into the clan, so reading the complex expression on my face would have been no trouble for her.
“I would have been so happy if I could have seen the same things as you… You always seemed so far away. Even as I closed my eyes for the last time, I remember reaching out to you, thinking to myself, ‘Wait for me.’ I wanted to stand by your side no matter what, but the saddest thing was that I couldn’t. I kept shouting silently in my heart.”
“................................”
“‘Please wait. Please wait. Please wait.’ That’s what I said. I thought you were so far away back then… but you’re even farther away now. You’re still in a place I can’t reach.”
With my head bowed, I slowly approached Ragia. Unable to move, she somehow looked as if she were smiling.
“We’re a little closer now.”
She spoke so calmly. She must have sensed her end was near. It was impossible to let Ragia continue to exist like this. Though she had her past memories, she was being controlled, and she was one of the dead.
Seeing that her memories were intact meant her mind wasn't being controlled. The caster held control over her body. I didn't know if memories could naturally be revived like this, or if they had been intentionally restored.
But because of the emotions surging within me, I had a strong feeling that they had deliberately implanted these memories.
I raised Levatain. There was no need to plunge the sword into her body.
As I poured my magic into it, an explosive burst of flame erupted from me, and soon, that flame began to swallow Ragia.
“I’m glad I met you.”
“............................”
“Thank you for teaching me so many things. I was a selfish woman. Thanks to you, I was able to realize so much.”
“........................”
“I was always watching your back, but the truth is, I wanted to stand beside you. Like the little fairy, or the plant.”
“...................”
“The time I spent with you was so joyful.”
“................”
“A lot of time has passed, but I think I know what this feeling I have is. Seeing you once more, I think I can be a little more certain. I’m sorry I couldn’t be with you until the end. I always wanted to watch over you…”
No tears fell from Ragia’s eyes. But seeing her unable to finish her words, as if choked with emotion, I slowly began to approach her. Her body, already starting to crumble, was breaking down, consumed by the relentless, unquenchable flames.
There was nothing I could do. No, I couldn’t say there was nothing at all. I slowly reached out and pulled her into my arms. The heat and flames extending from Levatain were not supposed to harm me.
“Ahhh… one small wish… has been granted.”
But it was hot and painful.
It was so hot and painful that I bit my lip without realizing it.
“Forgive me.”
“No. This is how it should be.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry. It doesn’t suit you. You are always a proud, magnificent, and righteous Green Skin.”
“For letting you die…”
“It was my choice. But since you said… you would continue to remember me… it wasn’t a bad trade…”
“Is it painful?”
“No…”
“..........”
“It’s… very… warm.”
There were no more replies. I held Ragia tightly until she had completely burned away to nothing.
“.....................................”
A heavy silence descended.
I raised my sword again and spoke to my clansmen.
“These are warriors whose names brought glory to our clan. Grant them rest as quickly as possible…”
My voice kept trembling.
It wasn't because my body was shaking or I was choked up. Rather, what came was a rage like an active volcano. I could feel a heavy magic settling around me. Without realizing it, I was emitting all the killing intent I could muster. I could see the weeds I was standing on withering.
The elite Orc swordsmen who had protected the clan were also silent. But they too were unleashing their emotions through their actions.
I forcibly suppressed my surging emotions.
If I assumed the enemy I was about to face possessed a ‘Seat,’ then the emotions I was feeling right now could become its nourishment. But if this was the price, it wasn't a bad trade. Just as when she first died, various emotions were flowing into my body. I couldn't reconstruct my body, but it was possible to elevate my status like last time.
I channeled all the emotions from the Seat into my new eyes.
Looking around, various scenes entered my vision at once. Hark clashing with an executive of the Goff Clan; Nicole, for some reason, weeping at her father's grave; the spearmen of the Black Spear Clan burning a resurrected warrior; the reanimated fighting against the elite Orc swordsmen; even my children in the shelter—everything entered my sight and was seared into my mind.
‘I’ll devour you.’
I will crush them all under my feet and kill them as cruelly as possible. I’ll show them just how tenacious a petty man can be when he holds a grudge.
Screams continued to echo from all around.
I plunged Levatain into the ground, and in an instant, a sea of fire spread out and swallowed the Brother’s Land. I felt a huge chunk of my magic drain away, but the Mistilteinn in my hand continuously supplied me with new magic.
The great sea of fire did not swallow our allies. I had already confirmed the enemies' locations with my eyes and was still watching them. Those who had been high-level in their past lives resisted the flames, but my warriors, realizing the fire was of my making, relentlessly attacked them, finally granting them rest.
“Glory…”
“For… Blood Dagger.”
If what Ragia said was true, what they remembered were their lingering attachments. The mouths of those who were once warriors of our clan were continuously crying out my name.
The flames began to rage even more fiercely, and after a considerable amount of time had passed, I quietly pulled Levatain from the ground.
“Hark.”
“For Blood Dagger.”
“Form a party of elite Orc swordsmen, elite Ogres, and elite spearmen, and reinforce the eastern tribes.”
“Understood.”
“Hakajin.”
“Yes.”
“After you’ve dealt with the dead, gather warriors from the Goff Clan and the Black Spear Clan and head to Garia. After contacting the Witch of the East, prepare to head to the eastern front. The young Green Skins will also move to Garia. Their safety is the highest priority. Once you arrive, be ready to report on the damage sustained by each clan and city.”
“I understand.”
Just as I was about to slowly move again, I saw Nicole returning. I didn’t blame her for her actions. If I had been in her situation, I probably would have done the same.
I glanced at Nicole, and upon seeing my body covered in Ragia’s ashes, she slowly began to reach out her hand.
[The effect of the clan tattoo made from Ragia's ashes has permanently increased all of your stats.]
She had only drawn the clan's crest on my body. But for some reason, I felt like I could understand Ragia's last words.
“It’s warm. Thank you.”
The small goblin before me held back her tears and nodded, and I rose to my feet once more.