Chapter 540
Chapter Title: Those Who Lived in That Era
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540.
That day, Berkia was heading back to Luna's house after having dinner at Kyle's.
Whoooosh-
The moment Berkia, who had closed her eyes against a sudden gust of wind, opened them.
“...?”
Berkia's jaw dropped at the sight of the beautiful woman standing before her.
“Lady Lisinas?”
“Hello, Berkia.”
Lisinas approached Berkia with a gentle smile.
Seeing her, Berkia was at a loss, unsure how to act.
Lisinas, the King of Wisdom.
The great dragon known as the hope of this world.
Although Berkia had become a disciple to her companions—Kyle, Luna, and Ar-on—Lisinas's presence was still overwhelming.
Looking at Berkia, Lisinas spoke.
“Are you on your way from Kyle’s house?”
“Yes. But how did you know I was at Master Kyle’s house?”
“I heard you’ve been visiting Kyle’s house often lately.”
Berkia blinked her large eyes several times, looking up at Lisinas.
“Berkia, what is Kyle’s house to you?”
The question sent Berkia into deep thought.
Lisinas was slightly surprised to see Berkia contemplating so seriously.
She sensed a gravity unusual for a child.
‘I suppose she’s so thoughtful because she was born in the Age of Calamity and has endured so much.’
Lisinas felt a pang of bitterness.
A generation born into misfortune from the very beginning.
The knowledge left a bitter taste in her mouth.
After a moment, Berkia spoke with her characteristically expressionless face.
“A restaurant.”
“...”
“Or no. A great place to eat?”
“I see.”
‘…I suppose that’s to be expected from a disciple of Luna and Kyle.’
Lisinas gave a warm smile at the unexpectedly quirky answer.
Of course, she was Ar-on’s disciple as well.
But Lisinas didn't want to lump Ar-on in with those two.
‘Ar-on is kind and pure. Besides, he’s perfectly normal.’
The sole normal person among a foul-tempered guy, an oddball, and a pervert.
He was a bit timid and cowardly, but what fault was there in that?
If he knew she was thinking this, Ar-on was the kind of beastman who would wave his hands in denial and defend his comrades.
The others?
‘What’s that swindler lizard saying.’
‘A dragon with a pitch-black heart!’
‘There's no end to the things my friend, as sinister as she is beautiful, will say.’
Just thinking of her friends hurling jeers at her made her head throb.
Sighing inwardly, Lisinas bent her knees slightly to meet Berkia’s eyes.
“Berkia.”
“Yes.”
“How long are you going to keep eating at Kyle’s house?”
“Forever.”
“Even if Luna’s cooking improves?”
“Hmm.”
At that, Berkia tilted her head and asked.
“By how much?”
“Enough to be delicious.”
“That seems impossible.”
A hint of disbelief flickered in Berkia’s eyes.
“Master Kyle said that your cooking and Lady Luna’s are on a cursed level.”
‘That bastard!’
Lisinas, the corner of her eye twitching, said.
“But what if Luna’s cooking becomes as good as Kyle’s?”
“I’ll eat with Lady Luna.”
Berkia answered without hesitation.
Luna always takes care of Berkia.
For Berkia, choosing Luna was the only natural choice.
“And it’s not like Master Kyle would be disappointed anyway.”
Berkia grumbled in a slightly sulky voice.
Currently, Kyle treated Berkia, who came and went from his house every day, like a freeloader.
“I can imagine what that damn brat would do.”
Lisinas let out a small sigh.
“Even if Luna’s cooking becomes as delicious as Kyle’s, would you continue to eat at his house?”
“Why?”
“...Because then, Kyle might be a little less lonely.”
“He doesn’t seem lonely at all.”
Berkia tilted her head.
Looking at her, Lisinas gave a bitter smile.
“You’re right, Kyle probably isn’t lonely. People with no lingering attachments are like that.”
Lisinas straightened up and looked toward Kyle’s house.
“Still, I think it’s better for him to have you around than to be alone.”
Berkia thought for a moment before speaking.
“In that case, wouldn’t it be better if he got married?”
“What?”
“Then he’d probably be less lonely.”
Lisinas looked a little flustered at that, then gave an awkward smile.
“That would be nice. But that’s for after everything is over...”
“It would be perfect if Master Luna and Master Kyle got married.”
“What are you talking about.”
Lisinas’s expression hardened.
But Berkia, not noticing the change, said with innocent eyes.
“I don’t like it, but they suit each other.”
“...”
This child, for some reason, is dangerous.
Thinking this, Lisinas said.
“But isn’t Luna too good for him?”
“You’re right. As expected of the King of Wisdom.”
Berkia said in admiration, then fell into serious thought.
Watching her, Lisinas smiled gently.
‘Did I just do something I shouldn’t have?’
Regret always comes too late.
***
Even after that day, Berkia continued to visit Kyle’s house.
Luna worked tirelessly to improve her cooking skills.
Being an eccentric was one thing, but Luna was good at most things she put her mind to, so the moment she started trying, her cooking skills skyrocketed.
Lisinas practiced alongside her, but as if cursed, her own cooking showed no signs of improvement.
But even as Luna’s cooking improved, Berkia continued to visit Kyle’s house.
Luna was disappointed to see this.
But Berkia, heeding Lisinas's request, did not stop eating at Kyle's house.
Several more months passed like that.
Around the time half a year had passed since Berkia became Kyle’s disciple.
The Great Heroes once again departed for the battlefields of Tartaros.
***
“I wonder when Master Luna and Master Ar-on will be back?”
Berkia hummed a little tune.
After the Great Heroes left on their expedition.
Berkia was finally able to perfectly complete the task Kyle had given her.
Now she could learn magic and swordsmanship from Luna and Ar-on again.
The thought made Berkia happy.
‘I guess I won’t have to learn from Master Kyle for a while.’
It had been grueling training.
She never wanted to go through that kind of training again.
And yet, for some reason, Berkia felt a sense of disappointment.
Thinking of Kyle, Berkia shook her head vigorously.
Even so, the joy of being able to learn from Luna and Ar-on again was greater.
‘I want to get strong quickly so I can stand on the battlefield with my masters.’
Berkia knew.
To stand on the battlefield meant to risk one’s life.
And so, she felt fear.
But more than that, she wanted to be of help to her masters.
To Berkia, they were her saviors before they were her masters.
‘Although Master Luna and Master Ar-on don’t like it when I talk about this.’
Berkia pouted.
Clutching the grimoire Luna had left for her, she walked down the corridor of Gardsrone’s central castle.
‘I hope they come back soon.’
Just then, the castle corridor began to grow noisy.
‘They’re back!’
Berkia hurriedly ran toward the sound.
As Berkia ran down the corridor where the warp gate was located, she could hear loud voices from around the corner.
“Masters! You’re ba—!”
The moment she rounded the corner with a bright smile.
“Healer! Get a healer, quick!”
“Lord Dweno is badly injured!”
“Forget me! Treat Ar-on and the other critical injuries first!”
“Yes, sir!”
“Luna! Kyle’s injuries are severe! Quick, a healing spell...!”
“Wait! Lisinas! This one’s the most urgent! Ar-on, stay with me!”
“Lisinas, I’m fine, so treat Ar-on first.”
“But...”
“Go to that stupid bastard! I can get to the infirmary on my own!”
“A-Alright. Don’t push yourself!”
“You fool! That’s not courage, it’s recklessness!”
People with pale faces devoted themselves to treating the heroes returning from the expedition.
Countless healers swarmed around those with severe injuries.
Ar-on’s wounds, in particular, were gruesome.
Berkia’s face turned white as a sheet.
Clutching the grimoire tightly, Berkia hid herself around the corner of the corridor.
Healers came running frantically down the corridor.
“Lord Kyle! Let us treat you...!”
“I’m fine, so go see to the others. I’ll get myself treated at the infirmary.”
Kyle said calmly as he stepped out of the warp gate.
His wounds certainly weren’t life-threatening.
Kyle had only stepped in to save Ar-on, who had suddenly rushed to the front lines to seize an opportunity.
Compared to Ar-on and the other heroes, his condition was relatively stable.
Squelch— Squelch—
The sound of blood-soaked footsteps echoed.
Thud-!
“Ugh-! Dammit.”
Kyle collapsed to his knees, spitting out a curse.
But his injuries were by no means light.
Kyle’s hands trembled.
Then, feeling a gaze on him, he looked up.
“M-Master Kyle...”
“Berkia...”
Kyle looked with a bitter expression at the large grimoire Berkia was clutching.
And he smiled.
“Did you finish your assignment?”
“Yes...”
“...That was fast. Good job.”
Berkia’s eyes widened.
It was a simple compliment, but it was the first time Kyle had ever praised her.
Kyle tried to get up, but immediately staggered.
“M-Master! I’ll help you!”
Berkia threw aside the grimoire and supported Kyle.
Kyle didn’t refuse.
His condition was just that bad.
“H-Healer! Get a healer over here, quickly! Master Kyle’s condition is...!”
“Berkia.”
Kyle called out softly to Berkia, who was looking for a healer with a pale face.
Berkia looked up and met Kyle’s gray eyes.
Those eyes were different from their usual bleakness.
They held a hint of pity, looked sad, and...
“Get stronger. Get stronger... and stand with me on the battlefield.”
He understood Berkia, who wanted to stand on the battlefield and lessen her masters’ burden.
...and they held disgust.
Disgust for himself, for asking his young disciple to stand on the battlefield.
Luna and Ar-on.
And Kyle was different.
Luna and Ar-on wanted their disciple to live in a peaceful world, no matter what.
They taught Berkia so she could have the strength to protect herself, not because they wanted a comrade to fight alongside them on the battlefield.
But Kyle was different.
In this era… Berkia would inevitably have to stand on the battlefield.
The fate of a disciple born in an unpeaceful era was sad and pitiful.
At the same time, he understood her desire to follow in her masters’ footsteps and stand on the battlefield.
Because it was that kind of era.
If that was the case...
‘She can’t afford the weakness of relying on others.’
That was why Kyle had been so harsh with Berkia.
Because they didn't know when they might die.
So that if they were gone, their disciple, who would have no choice but to live a life of struggle, could stand on her own two feet sooner.
Now she understood.
The strictness of Kyle, who never indulged her childishness in the slightest.
Berkia looked at Kyle with frightened eyes.
She was suddenly terrified that Kyle might disappear at any moment.
“Help me to the infirmary.”
Looking at Kyle, whose eyes had returned to their emotionless state, Berkia clenched her teeth.
“...Yes.”
Berkia silently supported Kyle and headed for the infirmary.
Even while severely injured and needing support, Kyle exuded strength.
A strength that made her want to lean on him.
But Berkia pushed that feeling aside.
‘...Is this what it would feel like to have a father?’
With that thought, Berkia walked on.
***
Gwoooooo-!
Leo looked at Berkia, whose head was bowed low.
The young girl from those days was gone.
Now, only his disciple remained—one who had overcome countless battlefields.
Who had saved the world. Led it... and then become disillusioned.
Swish-
Berkia stood up straight.
In her movements, only the instinct of the dead remained, burning with hatred for the living.
‘Back then, living in that era, I could only teach you how to endure on your own.’
Thump— Thump—
Leo walked toward Berkia.
But the times have changed.
There is no need to shoulder everything and endure.
‘We put an end to that era. So you don’t have to live the way we did.’
I should have taught you another way to live, but I couldn't.
So.
“Now, I will teach you how to rely on others.”
And...
Leo stopped walking and looked back.
“Watch and learn.”
Having spoken softly, Leo stared straight ahead.
“This...”
Leo bent his knees.
“Is the battle of those who had to live in that era.”
Kwaang-!
Leo kicked off the ground and charged toward Berkia.