Chapter 106
Chapter 106
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 106
Chapter Title: A Vial of Chaos
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"Why did you make such an offer?"
The high priest, who had been in a private audience with her, revealed his face from beneath the silk veil and probed her intentions.
The Elf Queen chewed on a grape fed to her by a slave and replied.
"What offer do you mean?"
The elixir made from the World Tree's fruit was a priceless treasure that wouldn't be traded even for its weight in gold.
If the negotiating partner had been an individual, she would have fought tooth and nail to make the deal happen.
But when the opponent ruled over countless subjects, the story changed.
A king, after all, had to prioritize the kingdom over personal glory.
"The Knight King I saw was not one to compromise. Would he make such a foolish choice just to save a single human?"
If an alliance formed between the two nations, the North and the East would be dragged into this war, whether they liked it or not.
It meant forcing sacrifices for this meaningless conflict without cause or justification.
Would the Knight King, who had lived pursuing only justice, choose injustice with his own hands?
The priest believed this diplomacy was the most foolish of all possible options.
"Indeed."
Yet the Elf Queen showed no displeasure at such a bold question.
On the contrary, her eyes sparkled with interest as she addressed the high priest.
"In the end, he's just a mere human."
Born after ten hard months, dying all too easily. Prone to illness, with a fleeting lifespan.
A lowly creature that wouldn't even live a century. Humans were a race destined for extinction.
Even this arrogant and presumptuous Elf Queen couldn't deny one fact.
The existence of that great star born among such an inferior race.
"The Sword Saint is different."
If the Knight King who unified the North had drawn the grand blueprint of a golden age, it was the Sword Saint who filled in every detail.
Though always undervalued for lacking aura, he had been the backbone and pillar behind it all.
Look even now—who had enthroned a new Knight King and rallied the heroes?
For someone dismissed as a mere human, his journey supported both the North and the East.
"...Then shouldn't we refuse him the elixir all the more?"
If the Elf Queen herself said as much, then the Sword Saint needed to vanish quickly.
But instead, she took out the jar of elixir and murmured softly.
"No, what I want is chaos."
This small vial of elixir would bring chaos.
If he drank it, chaos from the humans' sense of betrayal. If he didn't and died of old age, chaos in his wake.
Between Snow-Covered, who must save her master, and Snow-Covered, who must save her people, which one's resolve would break first?
The Elf Queen, whose goal had never been the alliance from the start, carefully set down the elixir.
With ecstatic eyes, she sealed the entrance and handed the jar to the high priest.
"Present this to His Majesty the Immortal King."
Of course, no matter their choice, there would be no authentic product left for them.
Thoroughly fed up with her cunning, the high priest could only bow his head meekly.
"Is that true?"
"I'll explain everything."
"...Then why did you lie to me?"
"Calm down."
"Why did you say it was fine? That it didn't hurt at all! You told me you'd fully recovered, no pain anywhere! But why?!"
I sensed I could no longer hide the truth from Snow-Covered as she burst into tears before me.
Any more lies would only hurt her confused heart.
"Did you think pretending it was nothing would make me less sad? I hate you! I hate you, Master! To me! To me!"
Snow-Covered grabbed my collar for the first time.
And with words of regret, she struck my chest—the place she always clung to—with her fist.
But I knew it wasn't sincere.
The restrained force, fearing she might hurt me, only made my heart ache more.
"Please."
Was realizing I couldn't control time such a powerless, miserable feeling?
I took the full blows to my chest without a word.
Thud.
Unable to overcome her emotions and struggles, Snow-Covered collapsed to the floor.
Startled, I reached out quickly, but for the first time, the child slapped my hand away.
Smack!
Sitting on the floor, Snow-Covered looked up at me with tear-filled eyes.
And with trembling lips, she slowly uttered words that should never have escaped.
"I'll form an alliance with the elves."
"Snow-Covered!"
To barely obtain the elixir, allying with the elves—practically mortal enemies. Shocked, I raised my voice.
"They're cunning. They won't hand over the elixir just like that. Why can't you see it's a trap meant for you?!"
It was the serpent's whisper tempting toward the fruit of good and evil.
The elves wouldn't keep their promises; they'd offer a poisoned chalice to lure us.
"There's no other way but the elixir!"
But Snow-Covered, tears streaming, plugged her ears with both hands, refusing to listen.
Her desperate scream, laced with sobs, began to crack my steadfast resolve.
Yes, there was no helping it now.
The heavy duties and responsibilities I'd shouldered after the name Broken Sword had given me came crashing back.
"Think of those who follow you, Knight King."
"- - - - - - -!!"
As if by magic, the trembling stopped.
Her innate royal blood and timber briefly restored her as the Knight King.
She must never waver.
I gripped both her slumped shoulders firmly and persuaded her to the end.
"You've done well so far. You've steadfastly accomplished what I and the previous king couldn't."
I saw a grand dream in the child.
It was a lofty ideal I could never aspire to, and at the same time, a great sun capable of melting the frozen wastelands.
"Don't waver—forge ahead. Open a new world atop the barren North."
"That world..."
Snow-Covered, her face a mess of tears, finally lifted her head again.
And to me, on the brink of twilight, she whispered words I'd never forget.
"Won't have you in it, Master."
Whoosh, slash!
Swish, whoosh! Hwing!
I swung my sword to clear my thoughts.
But no matter how much I moved or swung, my mind wouldn't clear.
Huff, heave.
When had I ever gotten this winded?
Feeling hollow, I looked down at my right hand gripping the sword.
"- - - - - - -."
My hand was trembling uncontrollably.
Even this much movement overwhelmed it, creaking with pain.
Ah, only now that I look back do I see it.
The fair time given to all had come for me, the outsider, without mercy.
'Broken Sword has grown old and ill.'
I knew it all too well in my head.
But my heart, weakened by happy dreams, had forgotten reality.
How long did I think it would last?
The moment I accepted everything, I let go of the lingering attachment in my hand.
Clang!
That attachment was my sword.
As the blade that had always been with me vanished, a brutally cold solitude descended.
Step, step, step, step.
But the silence didn't last. Someone emerged from the thick underbrush where not even an inch ahead was visible.
It was Remembering Bird, the prime minister, bringing fresh clothes and water for me to change into.
"Sword Saint, it's me."
"...The talks."
"They ended safely."
The Elf Queen had crossed the sea back to her homeland after proposing the alliance.
Since the private audience had been her goal from the start, there was no reason to continue the talks.
'These damn pointy-eared bastards!'
Naturally, without the Elf Queen, the talks had no reason to proceed, and the Third Prince stormed out in rage.
War was all that remained for them now.
The two foolish princes, with fires at their feet, hurriedly led their forces to the front lines clashing with the Elf Kingdom.
We had no regrets.
We'd gained all we could and unintentionally secured peace.
But the next afternoon, after confirming all armies had departed, Snow-Covered—who had secluded herself in her quarters all day—dropped a bombshell.
'I'll form an alliance with the elves.'
'Your Majesty!'
The leadership was thrown into chaos, of course.
Not only the sudden declaration from both kings to ally with the elves, but also learning my remaining lifespan was short.
Could the elixir fully cure the Sword Saint? What were the odds the elves' medicine was genuine? If allying, what was the deadline!
The meeting, packed with key officials, overflowed with agendas, and debates raged without end.
Of course, not a single official opposed it.
With both kings demanding it and the Sword Saint's life on the line, who would stand in the way?
The two-day meeting seemed headed toward an alliance with the elves.
But the final documents never bore the red royal seal.
'Impossible.'
'Impossible.'
'Impossible.'
Broken Sword, Remembering Bird, Gray Wolf.
The pillars of the Northern Kingdom and founding heroes cast their opposing votes, scuttling everything.
For the first time, the prime minister, field marshal, and knight commander—who had always loyally followed Snow-Covered—defied the king's will and began persuasion.
'...Everyone, please leave.'
But contrary to fears, no direct confrontations erupted.
In the end, utterly exhausted in body and mind, Snow-Covered quietly issued an order to dismiss the guests and secluded herself.
How torn up inside must she have been?
Remembering Bird sighed and said.
"I never knew being hated could hurt this much. My heart aches."
"I have no face to show."
It was I who had drawn in her and Gray Wolf.
Since they were longtime comrades who had seen much death, persuasion came easier.
They hadn't opposed without resistance, but knowing the earnest dream I'd cherished my whole life, they lent their strength.
Thanks to them, the immediate fire was extinguished.
Only then did I quench my thirst with water and change out of my sweat- and dirt-caked clothes.
"...Are you really leaving?"
"Just for a short while."
If I stayed in the kingdom, talks of the alliance would persist.
To prevent that in advance, I had no choice but to leave temporarily.
"Her Majesty will be heartbroken."
"She'll overcome it. She's my disciple, after all."
Death cannot be stopped.
I, who had lived through an era, would one day perish like the ancestors and heroes on this land.
But if time permitted, I wanted to soar one last time into the skies I hadn't reached.
To cut what I hadn't severed, Broken Sword's final training journey had arrived.
"Couldn't you at least tell me your destination?"
"I'll visit the previous king's tomb."
The high mountain where the outsider first opened his eyes, the sacred white peak where the prior Knight King lay buried.
My final destination would hold the beginning and end of my journey.
"...Before you go, see your old friends. They asked me to let them know."
"Thank you."
Remembering Bird bowed politely.
"Please find your answers and return."
Even migratory birds have nests,
But where is the outsider's rest?
I looked up at the sky.