Chapter 577: The Light of Hairan, or (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 577: The Light of Hairan, or (2)
He must have cried for at least an hour.
If he followed his heart, Dante wanted to stay here and weep until his life gave out. He wanted to vanish, embraced by the light that felt like his grandfather’s smile, like his very arms.
That would have been his wish, if he truly had nothing left.
If his clan, the people who fought for it, the friend who had cast everything aside to rush to his side, his people, the land he had to protect, and even he himself—if all of that had truly disappeared, Dante likely would not have stood up again.
But those things remained.
And the only reason they remained was because of the price his grandfather had paid with his life. He had given everything.
"I cannot collapse, even if I wanted to."
Dante wiped his eyes and turned to look at Jin.
"I believe I have kept you waiting too long. My apologies."
It had been a month since the two had last seen each other. Dante had needed time, and Jin had spent over fifteen days unconscious, receiving intensive treatment.
Though he hadn't sustained further injuries during the escape thanks to Ron’s protection, the accumulated toll on his body had been too great.
Today, Dante had finally hardened his resolve. He would no longer allow himself to be buried in sorrow. That was why he had come here.
He had come to say goodbye to his grandfather alongside Jin. Not an eternal farewell, but a parting that would allow them to move forward.
Now, Dante had to inherit the mantle of protector that Ron had carried for so long.
However, Jin was the one who was truly struggling to take a step forward. A heavy, rusted weight of guilt still pressed down on his chest.
"I know what you are thinking."
Just as Jin was about to speak, Dante spoke first.
In the final moments of the war, as Ron pushed them out of the path of light, Dante had received his grandfather's will—a message Jin hadn't perceived.
"He told me that you are not at fault. Those words were for both of us."
Jin wasn't the only one suffering from guilt. Dante, too, had struggled with the thought that he had protected nothing on his own and had therefore lost his grandfather.
How many people had died, and how much had been broken, just to save him?
"We did well. Perhaps so well that it would have been impossible to do any better."
Like dry leaves catching fire, Jin’s eyes grew moist. This time, Dante turned his head away, giving Jin a moment of privacy for his tears.
"Some sorrows are simply unavoidable. So, it's best to forget what never came to pass."
Dante spoke as if he knew of Jin’s regression.
It was because Ron had recognized that fact just before becoming light. Through Ron's will, Dante had caught a faint glimpse of Jin’s secret.
Though he didn't understand it clearly, he knew that his friend’s guilt was tied to that secret.
And Ron had conveyed that message at the moment of his death, knowing everything. He insisted that neither his grandson nor Jin was at fault. Because it was the truth.
"As for the secret you hold, tell me when the time is right. Just as Lord Veradin did."
It was a nod to another friend who was not present.
Jin and Dante both felt a sense of gratitude toward him. They were now aware that Veradin had sacrificed himself for their sake.
It was thanks to a letter Sandra had sent in secret.
[My beloved Jin! Hello? I'm writing to set up our next date! And also because I figured you should know something.
You have no idea how much effort our Radin put in to keep the main Zipple force from striking the Sword Emperor's Castle, do you?
I can't give you the details, but he decided to risk his life to help his friend. Isn't he precious? Going that far just to support his big sister's love! I could just die from how cute he is.
Anyway, if it weren't for Radin, this fight would have definitely been much harder.
Congratulations on your victory. Our clan is like a funeral home right now, but as long as you’re happy, that’s what matters most to me.
Even though my brother almost died, and I was nearly beaten to death by Kadun for nagging everyone to help Sir Jin instead of suppressing the Chaos, and I had to endure Hedo's lectures for days, and my head is about to explode from dealing with resource recovery...
Haha, don't feel too burdened. It’s nothing a single date can’t fix. You know what I mean, right? I’ll be waiting. — Your one and only love, Sandra Zipple.]
The letter was chaotic, but it was more than enough to turn their suspicion that Veradin had been helping them into a certainty.
"…By the way, are you truly dating Sandra Zipple? Then what about the Young Lady of the Secret Palace?"
"One Sandra Zipple is more than enough nonsense for me, Dante."
The two let out a small chuckle.
"It would have been nice if Lord Veradin were here as well. People think I would resent him just because Zipple attacked the Sword Emperor’s Castle, but that is not the case at all. He is my friend, no matter when or where."
Even if Veradin were to one day lose his sense of self to mind control and become a monster that attacked him, Dante was prepared not to hate him.
That was the depth of his trust. Even after experiencing such immense sorrow and pain, he did not become a vengeful wraith or fall into madness as he had during the first war.
The sturdy, shining heart of the man named Dante Hairan remained unwarped, just as his grandfather had ultimately overcome demonization.
"Let's find a chance to meet him soon."
"You speak as if you're about to go somewhere."
"Yes. I'm leaving to train."
"When?"
"Not immediately. After I settle the situation and handle a few matters."
Going to Laprarosa to achieve 10-star status was already a planned move, but the weakening of Zipple and Runcandel worked particularly in Jin’s favor.
There will surely be a ceasefire agreement, so the possibility of my comrades being threatened while I’m away has drastically decreased.
Even if the ceasefire were broken while he was training, the Barmul Alliance was now a power that even Runcandel had no choice but to protect. While they weren't entirely a Runcandel faction, they were Jin’s people.
Through this incident, Jin had further solidified his position as the next Patriarch. The moment he became the head of the family, the Barmul Alliance would become Runcandel’s strength.
Above all, now that the Great Families were weakened, talented individuals were more precious than ever. There was no reason for Runcandel not to maintain a friendly relationship with the Barmul Alliance, which was now emerging as a fifth great power alongside Zipple, Runcandel, the Empire, and Kinzelo.
"How long do you think you'll be gone?"
"Lady Talaris said it wouldn't be a very long training session, but I’ll have to see for myself."
"You'll only become stronger."
"Now, I’m the one who has to catch up to you."
Dante shook his head.
"Not quite. Although my grandfather passed his True Energy to me, I believe it will take a long time before it becomes entirely my own."
"More importantly, what will you do now?"
It was a question about the Empire.
Currently, the Imperial throne was vacant. Although the Emperor had not officially abdicated, it was impossible for him to rule the Empire again. As the full truth of the incident came to light, public sentiment had plummeted. Zipple hadn't received what they were promised, and Runcandel and the Secret Palace had also suffered significant blows due to his and Zipple’s decisions.
Consequently, even though the Great Powers were desperate for talent, they didn't particularly covet the now-hollow Empire. The Empire’s strongest sword had fallen the moment he reached the Realm of Creation, and most of the Empire’s top figures, including the Imperial Second Sword Johnsina Perel, had died in this war.
Furthermore, taking over the Empire now would only bring headaches. After all, the Empire's lands were the most contaminated by Gliek's Chaos. Whoever swallowed the Empire would have to take full responsibility for those contaminated areas and purify them.
"The Emperor cannot be left alive. Setting aside personal grudges and revenge, he has caused irreparable damage to the Empire. For the time being, I will take control of the throne. Not as Emperor, but as regent, with a puppet ruler installed."
"Have you not considered simply ascending the throne yourself? If legitimacy is the issue..."
"Since the birth of the Empire, the Imperial family has never received more love from the people than Hairan. Legitimacy and justification are more than sufficient."
"Then why?"
Dante slowly drew Rashid.
"This sword does not exist for the sake of ruling. The reason Rashid was forged was to protect this land. Like my grandfather and my ancestors before me, I will not forget my duty. Instead…"
Dante turned his head toward Jin.
"Once the Empire is back on track, I have a favor to ask of you. Ask Lord Casimir, the King of the Tikan Free State and the Barmul Alliance, to ascend the throne. When that time comes, I will step down from the regency and become the Lord of the Sword Emperor’s Castle once more. This is the conclusion I have reached."
"Casimir taking over the Empire you restored is essentially the same as the Empire becoming my land, Dante."
"The citizens of the Empire all know that you fought for us until the very end. And you know well that the Empire will continue to need your strength in the future."
Dante was sincere. He believed that he could not continue to protect the Empire on his own.
"Amir Viment is as good as dead, but there are still other cards left in the Imperial family. They might negotiate with Zipple again, or perhaps with Kinzelo or Runcandel. Even if not, once the restoration of the contaminated areas is finished, the Great Powers will target the Empire again. In such a situation, whom can I trust?"
While it felt emotionally uncomfortable to take what belonged to Dante, Jin had no rebuttal.
"Only you. There is also Lord Veradin, but he is always exposed to threats. So, though it is shameless of me, I ask for your continued support."
Jin grasped the hand Dante extended.
Dante then pulled a bottle of liquor and three cups from his robe. The bottle was intact, but the cups were all cracked or chipped.
Those cups were ceramics that Ron had cherished.
Dante had personally retrieved them from the ruins of the small hut that had stood far across the plains of the Sword Emperor’s Castle.
"In the ruins of the hut where my grandfather used to play with me as a child, a few ceramics miraculously remained. I chose the most intact ones and glued them back together. Along with the medicinal liquor my grandfather enjoyed."
Pop…
Dante uncorked the bottle and looked down at the ground.
He could see the black earth they were sitting on gradually regaining its original color. Ron’s light was purifying the contaminated territory of the Sword Emperor’s Castle.
It was a very slow and gradual process.
But like any righteous path, it was certain to be perfectly purified one day.
He placed one cup before Ron’s light, then handed one to Jin and kept one for himself.
Dante and Jin raised their glasses toward Ron’s light.
When the fight is over, let us share a drink with my lovely grandson. Jin recalled the words Ron had spoken.
After slowly emptying their glasses, the two stood up. Before they left, they drew their respective swords and carved these words beneath Ron’s light:
Sword Emperor Ron Hairan.
Here, he became the Light of Hairan, or perhaps, the Light of the World.
'Goodbye, Grandfather.'
As he left the territory, Dante wore a smile as gentle as that light.