140: There Is No Escape
It had been about thirty minutes since Grenade and I started our conversation.
“It’s cold, isn’t it? Must be January.”
“That’s right.”
I hadn’t seen him in a while and initially thought we’d have plenty to talk about, but after exchanging a few pleasantries, there really wasn’t much else to say. I chuckled to myself. That’s how conversations between guys usually go, right?
With small talk out of the way, I decided to inquire about his current situation.
“So, how’d you end up as a special envoy for the Dragon Empire? You’ve really made it, haven’t you?”
I said that in a teasing tone.
Grenade scratched the long area around his jaw—a gesture uncharacteristic for someone of his stature. He seemed embarrassed.
“I don’t know myself. I just kept bouncing from one mercenary unit to another trying to make ends meet. Then I tangled with some folks from the Resurrection Sect, wiped them all out, and next thing I know, the Dragon Emperor offered me a position. Now they’ve summoned me to meetings.”
“Wow.”
“The Dragon Empire doesn’t seem to take these state meetings very seriously. They might trust the Cocsco Dragon Knights so much that they don’t feel the need. There seemed to be some sort of internal unrest though.”
“…Cocsco Dragon Knights.”
I let out a low whistle and glanced behind Grenade.
A short distance away stood two women watching us.
On their temples were thick horns, and above their hips swayed reptilian tails. They were the Dragon Empire’s half-dragons who participated in the high-level state negotiations. Dragon Knights of the Cocsco Dragon Knights.
I recalled the information Adrang had given me about the Dragon Empire.
—The land of the witches’ betrayal and the side-switching demon clan, a country of half-dragons.
—Formed a non-aggression pact over 100 years ago but is still shunned by many because of their half-dragon inhabitants.
A small country in the eastern part of the continent. Its ruling figure is the Dragon Emperor, a descendant of the ancient dragon Seseona.
Like Mittelrand with its seven martial elders, Markeuteuriezeu with its cavaliers, and Unterland with the Leviathan, the Dragon Empire’s main fighting force is the Dragon Knights of the Cocsco Order.
“…Other than that, all their troops consist of mercenaries.”
The Dragon Knights are incredibly powerful, rivaling the asymmetric forces of other nations, but their limited numbers mean the Dragon Empire relies on mercenaries—brave warriors—to fight the Demon King.
“…Dragon mercenaries receive the Dragon Emperor’s salary, becoming part of his standing army while combating the Demon King. It comes with a lot of restrictions, though.”
“They call it the land of opportunity for broke adventurers.”
I remembered studying this world’s history with Adrang in my previous life.
I guessed Grenade, like many others, had just been drifting aimlessly as a mercenary until he accidentally tangled with the Resurrection Sect, which brought him to the attention of the upper echelons.
I mulled that over for a moment before turning back to Grenade.
“Grenade, do you know what the Resurrection Sect was actually up to?”
“No idea. I just killed them all because they were interfering with my prey.”
“…”
“So, I’ve been attending these meetings since yesterday, but I have no clue what the heck they’re all going on about. I’m about ready to doze off.”
Of course. In my past life, I had noticed the Dragon Empire didn’t seem to care for such meetings at all. They were merely marking their attendance for show. Grenade had been sacrificed at the altar of such political posturing.
And it seemed Unterland’s situation might not be too different. How amusing. Without thinking, I clicked my tongue.
“But, for someone who just wiped out the Resurrection Sect, you’ve sure caught the upper brass’s eye. What’s your secret?”
“No clue about that either. The Dragon Emperor took one look at my mug and declared me the Apostle of the Ancient Dragon. He liked me a lot.”
“…”
“He said I look like the Ancient Dragon Seseona. Though I don’t know what that guy even looks like.”
Seems like his dragon-shaped face impressed the Emperor—pure chance.
It felt a little absurd, but when I thought about it, Grenade did have an almost draconic visage.
“Anyhow, you’ll be here for the duration of the meetings?”
“That’s right.”
“And where are you staying?”
“They gave me a vacant mansion at the Shrine of No Gods.”
Of course. It’s being used as a guest residence for dignitaries.
I nodded and continued questioning.
“Will you return to the Dragon Empire once the conference is over?”
“Guess so. When you’re a man living paycheck to paycheck, you gotta earn your keep, right?”
“That’s true.”
And that was the end of our question-and-short-answer session. It left a momentary silence between us.
Surprisingly, there wasn’t much more to inquire about. I’d caught up on what had been happening recently, and there wasn’t much else to ask.
If there was anything else to discuss, it would be along the lines of “Will you join me?!” But every time I considered it, I found myself frozen.
Memories flashed: bodies strewn amidst roaring flames. Then vague dreams appeared too, with people, including Grenade, jumping joyfully into coffins, the images swirling incessantly in my mind.
“…Damn…”
I didn’t understand why it didn’t bother me much when I dreamt it, but now reflecting upon it, a tidal wave of incomprehensible discomfort surged through me.
A sticky, crawling sensation like a chill crawling up my spine.
“No… not this…”
I couldn’t bring myself to invite someone who’d already secured their livelihood into my chaos and suffering.
To be honest, I didn’t even want to. And I was honestly relieved for him.
If it weren’t for those bastards like the Cassas and the Resurrection Sect, I might’ve found myself living a peaceful life in a remote little corner, enjoying an alternative world lifestyle with a home and serenity.
Ever since I left the military, I’ve bounced from one low-paid job to another, feeling like a transient wanderer. And you know what? I envied Grenade’s stable life. There was no point in disrupting someone who had a firm foundation.
And then…
“…Involving others in my misfortune… it’s exhausting.”
I involuntarily recalled Seop Baek’s face. I sighed deeply, banishing my thoughts.
During the conference, I’d apparently stay here, resolve matters with Cassas, and we’d have one last meal before parting ways. That was the only impression I carried.
“Feels nostalgic having you here, reminds me of when we were on the field alone. Remember those times in the Exam Mist?”
Grenade remarked while watching the commercial district’s lights slowly dim. I nodded, reminiscing as well.
“Yeah… After Skaro and Aldcon disappeared without a word.”
“Remember that, right, Beesili? We ran around looking for those guys everywhere, only to eventually find them sound asleep near our barrels. I gave them a good smack on the back of their heads. Kel Kel.”
“Hahaha! Yes, I remember. I thought they might’ve been crushed in the gate crowd. Turned out they’d fallen asleep so soundly we didn’t notice.”
We continued reminiscing and cracking jokes from our time in the Exam Mist, laughing at our old stories.
Then, a sudden thought struck me like a flash.
“… Haha. It seemed like they died and were… gone.”
I mumbled that sentence absentmindedly, a strange chill creeping up my spine. A very real and unsettling supposition entered my mind.
Caught off guard, I glanced back and forth between Grenade and the market. Without realizing it, my steps had reversed direction.
“Uh… I, um… just remembered something I need to do. I’ll see you later, Grenade.”
I wobbled like a lunatic at first, but soon began to speed up. Before long, I was sprinting at full force.
People’s gazes felt irrelevant now. I jumped onto rooftops, reducing my travel distance, and even activated my Black Wings.
Pffuuuuaack! Dark wings stretched out, lifting me into the air.
“Hahaha, seems like you’re all over the place! Next time, all right, Beesili!”
Grenade waved at me. That reaction… it’s typically him. Even more so, it reveals his usual lack of attention to surroundings, more than even Seseona.
“Hey, you! You’re not allowed to walk on the rooftops!”
“Come down immediately!”
Guards shouted from behind, but I didn’t respond. Instead, I flapped my wings faster, evading their pursuit.
My destination was the place I’d visited earlier, Gena and Zenon’s residence: “The Footprints of Giants.”
“Welcome back… Huh?”
The same elder greeted me, but quickly noticed and sounded surprised to see me again.
However, I didn’t have time to respond to him. I hurriedly ascended the staircase, ignoring the elder’s frantic calling.
“…”
I reached the door. Twisted the doorknob. It didn’t budge. My heart was pounding.
KWOOOOM! I delivered a powerful kick to the door, splintering it violently and sending it crashing inward. The chaotic scene inside immediately filled my vision.
Thud.
My racing heart suddenly stilled.
“Ah, no! Youth, we should at least have exchanged words before coming up…”
Catching his breath, the elder who had rushed after me grabbed my sleeve in frustration.
Following my gaze, which was like a statue of mourning, he shifted his eyes to the damaged room.
“Uh… What… Aaaaah!”
The elder collapsed in shock, desperately moving his limbs in a futile attempt to distance himself from the scene. Eventually, foaming at the mouth, he fainted.
Clutching my lips tightly, I carefully entered the room.
The room was drenched in blood. Intoxicating, thick blood scent invaded my nose. The mutilated remains of someone were grotesquely attached to the wall like an anatomical diagram.
I quietly verbalized the name of the victim.
“…Gena.”
Gena’s severed head was calmly placed on the table.
Just as when I was narrating my military stories to her, her eyes were peacefully closed.
[There’s no escape anywhere.]
Then, beneath it, there was a large inscription scrawled in blood.
“Escape… Is futile… anywhere.”
Whether addressed to Gena, Zenon, or me, I repeated the message in a stunned voice.
And then, thump. I collapsed, endlessly staring at the bloodstained floor.
—Isn’t it said that life’s too easy being resolved smoothly can get boring?
Right then, a voice whispered.
I turned my head slowly, like a broken robot.
The face of Gena, still placed on the table, twisted into a sinister grin, mocking me.
—Such statements are nothing but deception from those who’ve lived easy lives. You’ve never tasted genuine anguish or the despair rooted in your bones. You’ve never experienced the abyss with no escape. No.
The Apostle of Cassas.
That son of a bitch… and what was worse, speaking now through none other than Gena’s mouth, addressed me with a chillingly warped voice.
—What do you feel now, about falling into the abyss, Mr. Holy Warrior Park Jeong-yong?
