Chapter 163-2 Red Light and Black Dream
To become the greatest knight in this country, I am still halfway there.
But, I have made it this far.
To confirm it, to announce it, I raised my sword high.
"────May light shine upon the Holy Western Country!"
"""""May light shine upon the Holy Western Country!"""""
* * *
After the award ceremony, I was once again chided by the Chancellor about being aware of my role as king.
Ask Garland lay on his bed in his room.
"...I want to be a hero, huh."
Lying on my back, I stared at the canopy, tracing the words with my lips.
I don't know why I asked such a thing.
Even Ask himself does not understand.
But seeing the documents handed to me for the award approval made me curious.
I have no special talent, nor am I of special birth.
Though I have some outstanding aspects, it is not enough to be a prodigy that creates legends.
My appearance is also not that of a knight drawn from a picture.
Yet, a man named Hiiro Merifar had a passion that was not found in the royal palace.
"He was dazzling."
Ask's blue eyes slightly trembled.
Facing Hiiro, who responded, Ask felt envious.
To say more, he even felt jealous.
That freedom of spirit.
That strong will that does not bend to difficulties.
That heart that believes in itself.
For a king of Asgardam, who has none of these, that young knight was dazzling.
To the point of feeling dark jealousy.
"..."
But at the same time, it was also true that it felt nice.
When was the last time I faced such a gaze, free from disappointment or mockery?
Every time Hiiro's words sounded genuine, Ask's heart leaped.
In that moment.
Not as knight and king, but perhaps just as people.
It was a pleasant enough time to dream such a gentle fantasy.
"Is it okay... to be like this?"
[How sad, O King]
"!"
But as the daydreams faded into night,
a crow perched in the corner of the room, looking down at the king, brought cold water to the feverish heat.
[The troubles of the people can only be solved by the people. The troubles of the king can only be understood by the king. This will never change, no matter the time. A king is only a king, and a people are only a people.]
"......I can't change anything?"
[You saw your knight could be a new friend, a person who understands you. But, being honest is the same as having a small view. Your knight doesn't think you are special. He doesn't care about you. He only cares about himself. So, for your knight, a king, a knight, or a commoner are the same. It's not the easy feeling you want, I think.]
"......"
[If you make your knight your friend. Will his honesty forgive your "truth"? Is his friendship lighter than his sword?]
"Ugh......ah, ah, ah......"
The crow's words cut down the hope.
Ask hugged his knees on the bed, thinking about why he was sad in the past and now.
He was like he was in the cold place of blue. The king of this country was shaking.
[King, you don't need to worry. I am here. I understand your heart, I know your sadness, I know your pain......Was it a lie when you called me a friend?]
"!! ......No, it's not a lie. It's, not a lie."
So, the king jumped into the heat of hope the crow brought.
Like a moth to a light.
He forgot that the crow was his enemy.
"Yes, that's right. That's right......I only have you. You are the only one who understands me."
[Oh. That's right. You don't need to doubt. Now, King. Call my name like always.]
"......Yes. That's right──[Gymnif]. With the first king Sigmund, your words who heard the first cry of Asgardam......can't be wrong."
[That's right. My name, my existence, history, is the best proof. So, King. You shouldn't listen to the "bugs" who don't know your heart. You should listen to my words, my heart, who knows the king. You don't need to worry. Leave everything to me.]
Sweet words are like medicine, making the king's worries "Paralysis".
A mouth only for the king.
Words only for the king.
Familiarity only for the king.
Four wings spread only for the king.
The King can't doubt that now.
He can't.
After the former king died.
Only this one crow has been with Ask Garland in his loneliness.
[You are the king, but you are not alone. I am the only one who understands you.]
"Oh, thank you, Gymnif."
[You must be tired from the ceremony. You should sleep a little now.]
"......Okay."
Like a child being put to bed by his parent, Ask's consciousness drifts off to sleep.
Hearing his peaceful breathing, the crow closed his black eyes quietly and smirked.
[──Fools who don't know things are drawn to even a small fire. Oh, yes. I even understand such foolishness. Foolish King.]
Gymnif certainly understood the fragility of the king's heart.
He also wants the light to fill his loneliness.
And he's suffering from the 'truth' he can't reveal.
But the king didn't understand Gymnif.
The dark flame burning in his eyes.
The schemes he plots.
The ending he wants.
[But the time when the small fire goes out is not far away. There is no need to be confused by something that will eventually disappear. And until My Twilight covers the world. It's fine if you just keep swaying in the decaying cradle in peace. Right, "False King"?]
In a corner full of lies, the crow despised everything.
Coldly, coldly, he sneered.
But, in a corner of his mind.
While leaving only a strange snag.
[──But, I felt a strange 'Shadow' from the bug... Hmm. No, it's a trivial matter. In any case, I'll have those bugs become a big firewood. They will follow the same fate as their host and go to sleep once.]
[If you resent, resent the fact that you were possessed by the bugs────My, Twilight's 'comrade'.]
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