Chapter 101

According to each person’s thoughts, let’s do what needs to be done; a week has passed by so easily.

The state funeral for Silv was held grandly.

Originally, according to the schedule, a victory ceremony for Priegoss’s southern expedition should have taken place, but due to the many casualties in the war, Pohelrn was currently under a lot of strain, both in terms of human loss and economically.

In such a state, there was no capacity to proceed with two events at once.

Therefore, Alia held a memorial service for the soldiers who died in this war alongside Silv’s state funeral.

Silv’s body lay in a massive coffin, and Golb led the procession carrying the coffin along the road encircling the outskirts of Pohelrn.

The citizens of Pohelrn, having lost their strong shield, were solemn while also displaying signs of worry as they walked around the city throughout the day of the funeral.

For nearly ten years, Pohelrn had been flourishing and growing even before declaring itself a nation; now, it faced its first halt.

The invincible army had suffered nearly a thousand casualties, and more than ten villages that belonged to Pohelrn had been destroyed as their scale expanded.

And Silv, who had been a solid strength, moving large stones to build the great city wall of Pohelrn, and had bravely fought off dangerous beasts and monsters, had died.

Moreover, he fell to the hands of giants, akin to brothers.

Among the citizens of Pohelrn, there was no one who did not know of the imposing stature of the giant brothers, and rumors about the giants, who could be hostile towards humans, were enough to cause concern.

Thus, Silv’s coffin, receiving the mourning of the citizens, was returned to the Grand Temple and placed in the prepared burial site.

The place where Silv was laid to rest was reserved for the saints canonized among the followers of the New Faith.

In short, Silv had played a significant role in building the city wall of Pohelrn and had become a saint as a guardian who protected thousands of humans against his own reckless kind.

As long as the New Faith does not lose the faith of the people, Silv will be remembered as the first martyr and will be revered forever among humans.

Perhaps, according to the religious worldview of the New Faith, just as the original 72 Loas transformed into the demons serving Ul Kanadiel, he too could be revered as a lesser deity.

The bureaucrat once called the Lord of Flame was also someone who, while alive, looked down upon the common folk, and after death, was called the Grand Lord of the Coffin, becoming an object of faith among the people and even worshipped by merchants as a god of wealth.

“…Foolish one. The meaning lies in living and enjoying.”

Do you know, Silv?

Out there, those who mourn your death have gathered.

I took one last look at Silv’s face before the coffin was closed and covered with earth.

Both Golb and I.

We were ready to fully send Silv off.

Golb’s hand trembled as he closed the coffin.

As the earth piled upon the coffin and time passed, a massive mound was formed.

Skilled artisans from the stonecutter’s guild would decorate that mound appropriately with a monument and embellishments.

“Are you leaving?”

After Silv’s burial was complete, Priegoss approached me as I prepared to leave with Gal for the forest.

“I wish I could stay during Silv’s memorial service, but the situation isn’t favorable.”

It had been nearly ten days since giants invaded the human territory and wreaked havoc.

The other side consists of giants, the Titans, who possess enormous strides befitting their huge size.

Should they choose to move, they could advance at a threatening speed.

Silv’s death was distressing, and although I wanted to console his spirit and remain with him, I could not afford to misplace my priorities.

If I fell into sorrow and failed to prepare, causing great damage, then I would be unable to prevent the sacrifices that could be avoided.

If I cannot take revenge for Silv.

What could be more foolish than that?

I strapped the weapon Bulrak to my waist.

“Priegoss.”

“Yes, master.”

“If anything dangerous occurs, rely on my brothers.”

I met Priegoss’s gaze.

“Of course, Alia and the sisters are by your side, and even if you have a poor relationship with Duberv, they are there too. But as you know, this task is still too much for you and the other humans.”

“…”

“I know what you desire. Your beliefs are undoubtedly equal to Silv’s. That is why you feel uneasy, worried about losing another precious disciple.”

At those words, Priegoss slowly closed his eyes.

He seemed to be reflecting on my words and quietly smiled.

“…So now you truly consider me a disciple.”

“…What?”

Upon hearing that, I scrunched my face, and Priegoss chuckled.

“I remember the first time I met you.”

“…Hmm…”

“Although you taught martial arts to me and the humans, for some reason, you kept your distance.”

That remark pierced through my heart for a moment.

“Moreover, I might have been mistaken, but it felt like you were wary of me or something you viewed through me.”

That was reasonable, as I knew the potential of humanity.

I had stayed by Priegoss’s side to observe and control the growth of humans.

“Both Alia and you have somehow held me, or perhaps humans, in high regard. Although I learned martial arts from you, I still haven’t reached the level you defined as top-notch after several years.”

The martial arts I created for Priegoss would not be out of place if called a profound technique.

Its meaning is a great and complex martial art that is difficult to understand properly.

Priegoss did not lack talent, but he engaged with martial arts in his mid-20s and had received no help from elixirs.

Moreover, Priegoss is a king.

He had far more important tasks than honing personal strength.

He couldn’t even afford enough personal training time to dedicate himself to martial arts.

“But even so, this is also my, our, humanity’s task. If we pass the burden of our obligations and sacrifices onto another race simply because we fear death, how can we call it our strength, even if we repel that threat, and how can we speak of it proudly?”

Priegoss smiled brightly.

“Recently, I learned a painful lesson about excessive arrogance, so I will not overestimate myself. Therefore, I will not act with the recklessness of thinking I can solve everything by myself. I will gladly accept the help you mentioned. However, I will not shirk my duties simply because I value my life.”

“…You stubborn fool. It hasn’t been long since I sent a disciple away, and now you openly say you’ll do dangerous things in front of me.”

“Hahaha.”

Priegoss laughed as if he were pleased.

What a splendid fellow.

Silv, Golb, and Priegoss.

They were all undeserving disciples.

‘…Duberv too, right?’

I thought of the unruly disciple and gave a wry smile.

Still, despite shunning wealth and glory, he gathers the marginalized in society, while keeping that fact hidden.

Even if his attitude isn’t perfectly tidy, he isn’t twisted at heart.

I looked into Priegoss’s eyes.

Just like the first time I saw him, he seemed handsome but had a somewhat nervous expression.

However, now his eyes were those of a determined man, lacking any trace of youthful illusions.

It would be an insult to this man to excessively interfere or worry just because his strength is perceived as weak.

‘…But will things be okay?’

After a long time apart, I recalled the peculiar gaze of his sister directed at Priegoss.

Anart often appeared kind and innocent, but she had a penchant for erratic behavior like a rhinoceros.

Once she fixated on something, she charged at it like a bull after a red cloth.

‘…He’s got many sins, doesn’t he?’

I shook my head.

There was already an unparalleled beauty named Alia.

Yet, while tales of heroes and vices exist, it isn’t uncommon for nobles in Pohelrn to have multiple spouses… so perhaps it would be alright?

“Araya.”

Gal, who had been observing my preparations from the side, looked at me as if something was off.

“Hurry up. I can’t predict how Terato will move. I advise you to act quickly if possible.”

Then, he turned his gaze to Priegoss.

There was a certain wariness in his eyes.

“…Hmm. Then I will do so.”

It had indeed been more than eight days since we stayed for Silv’s funeral.

I didn’t know where Terato was lurking, but it was enough time to realize that the “warning” had failed.

Considering the actions of the giants, they might have already taken some measures.

If giants called Gigas moved, there was no need for me to take action, but my current journey toward the forest was a preparation for when Terato decided to make his move.

And since I couldn’t know how long that preparation would take, it was wise to move quickly.

Nodding, I smiled, stood on my toes to pat Priegoss on the shoulder, and was about to set off when—

“Lady Goddess! Your Majesty!”

A panicked voice intercepted my step.

“The giants…! More than thirty giants have appeared outside the city walls! They seem to be searching for a representative of the humans.”

Hearing the words brought in by the priest, I felt my smile freeze slightly, and I halted my steps.