Side Story 51. Anemone Smiled Brightly (27)
Side Story 51. Anemone Smiled Brightly (27)
It had already been nearly three years since Doomstone and I stayed at the villa of Duke Arthemius in the capital. I turned 21 and Doomstone 20.
Three years ago, the legendary great madosa, Elder Mirpa-nim, came here to treat my curse and had been staying in the capital ever since. She did not specialize in curse magic and it would be a disaster if she tried to treat the curse in Olympus Forest so she chose to stay back instead.
After turning 21, I drank tea and had refreshments with Elder Mirpa-nim on the plains a little away from the capital.
"Oho, I'm surprised that the little kid has gotten so strong," Elder Mirpa-nim commented as she admired Doomstone. In the distance, the Crow was immersed in a spar.
"Really? To me, it doesn’t seem that different from when I first saw him," I said.
She smiled lightly and remarked, "It's hard to know unless you develop an eye for martial arts."
"Is that so? Oh, I heard that Doomstone hid his skills."
"Even if that brat uses his head, he still has a rock for a head. He hid his skills because he didn't want to be the chief, but he can't fool the eyes of the chief and I. Three years ago, he was stronger than the elders, but he was not equal to that monster."
Elder Mirpa pointed to Guardian Knight Marsen of the Fairy Tribe, Doomstone's opponent.
Amongst the party that defeated the Demon King, Marsen was considered the fated rival of the warrior, Galak Blade, and also a noble hero who possessed the same level of skills as the warrior. That is, if the fairy tale I read was correct.
The Current King was described as reticent and wise in the fairy tales, but was actually a chatterbox. According to Doomstone, the warrior was a selfish person who teased his grandchildren and ate tasty food alone, challenging them to snatch it away (with their strength) if they could. According to Elder Mirpa, the Wise Man Arpen was wiser than them all, nothing like his reputation, and was a dirty materialist who only cared about his children.
"But I think the Guardian Knight-nim is similar to the fairy tale."
"Fairy tale? Oh, that fairy tale," I said.
Elder Mirpa looked at me as if she had heard nonsense.
"It's not okay. Marsen’s nickname was Barbarian."
Barbarian...?
"Someone who stuffed himself with a four-meter-long wild boar is noble? That’s bullsh*t. Moreover, that fairy tale was created by Wayne unni and that slacker, Marco, to steal money from the nobles. It's all a lie because it was made for sheer publicity."
I wish I hadn't heard that. Bye, bye, my only childhood innocence.
"And most of all, the subjugation of the Demon King was not all that full of hope. Those who were desperate and lost everything... No, it's ridiculous to tell a story of something that’s already in the past.”
In the eyes of Elder Mirpa-nim, there was an incomprehensible complexity.
"I guess it's about to end."
As soon as Elder Mirpa finished her words, a huge explosion sounded from a clash of mana.
Boom-!
The explosion devastated the area around Doomstone and Marsen, and debris flew all the way to us too. Elder Mirpa-nim simply flicked her finger, created a protective shield, and blocked the fragments.
"Brutes!" she cried and clicked her tongue. Shortly after, Doomstone and Marsen came this way with exhausted faces.
"Iya, I’d heard from my grandfather, but he's really strong," Doomstone said cheerily. Marsen laughed. "Ahahaha! That's what I should say. Although we didn't fight with all our might, it’s amazing you’re be able to tie with me at the age of 20, even your grandfather wasn't that strong when dealing with the Demon King, let alone at that age!"
Certainly, the period of the advent of the Demon King was 100 years ago. The fact that Marsen's skills had accumulated for a century since the Demon King meant that Doomstone's talent was enormous.
At Marsen's words, I looked at the place where the two had fought. There were several huge pits, and the ridge of the mountain in the distance had collapsed.
You didn't use all your power even after fighting like that?
It was a strength that transcended my imagination by a lot. Since such a superman was the Guardian Knight of the Fairy Tribe, I should head in the direction of establishing a friendly relation with him.
"Galak deserves to brag about his grandson like that.”
"Grandfather?” asked Doomstone.
Marsen nodded. "I had to go into Olympus about three years ago and happened to meet Galak after a long time. You don’t know how much he boasted that the youngest chief potential was born. I thought he was just bragging, but it seems he wasn’t."
Three years ago — it seemed it was right after Doomstone ran away from home. During the advent of the Demon King, the warrior from 100 years ago was already the chief. However, it meant that Doomstone was by no means lacking to take up position of the chief and that too immediately.
At least, that was the case in terms of his strength.
"No, I’m still lacking compared to my father or grandfather." It was a rare show of humility on Doomstone’s part.
Marsen slapped his back. "Ahahaha! That’s for sure! You’re only 20. It'll probably take you 30 years to catch up with your father, the chief. Ah! Never mind. If it's your talent, half of that is probably enough? Your grandfather... He’s way beyond the norm, so I don't know."
I looked again at the place where the two had fought. My God! How strong must he be if the person who created such a scene said he was so strong that he was way beyond the norm?
When I stuck out my tongue, Marsen looked at me and smiled like a mischievous boy.
"All right, I'm done with my business in the Empire, so I'm going to go now. Thank you for the cookie, Miss. Good luck."
Marsen waved his hand, referring to our chance meeting in the morning.
This morning, I had been to buy some snacks I wanted to eat with Doomstone. While there, some gangsters tried to mess with me, and Marsen stopped them. In fact, it was not a dangerous situation because I would have handled it with Elder Mirpa-nim's magic tool even if he had not blocked them. Still, I invited him over as a gesture of gratitude, but who could have thought it was Marsen, the Guardian Knight of the Fairy Tribe.
"Okay, I’ll be heading out. Visit my country sometime. I'll treat you all." With that, Marsen dashed away without waiting for any answers.
"Look at that! He just said what he wanted to and left. Noble, that’s bullsh*t." Elder Mirpa-nim snorted.
"Let's go home now," I said.
It was because of the duo’s spar that we had come to the outskirts.
Doomstone smiled as if he was at a loss. "Sorry, this is my limit."
As soon as those words fell, Doomstone collapsed, falling backwards, asleep, and snoring.
"Can I bother you to take care of Doomstone?"
At my request, Elder Mirpa-nim magically lifted Doomstone with a look of annoyance.
"Phew, such a foolish bear-like guy."
I grinned at Elder Mirpa's grumbling. That's what's cute about him.
-o-
A lot had happened over the past three years.
After meeting the crown prince and telling him the future direction, I went on a picnic with Doomstone.
After telling Glont ahjussi how the Imperial State's military and troops operated and giving him a military map, I toured the tastiest restaurants with Doomstone.
I secretly gathered and subjugated the nobles who followed my father, and then played with Doomstone at the casino.
I sold the North Continent’s Cry at an old bookstore and wandered around market streets with Doomstone.
I enjoyed the New Year's festival with Doomstone after figuring out the timing to start the war.
And soon, there would be a war with the Imperial State. My work was almost done now. If there was anything lacking, it was that I had not chosen the head of the Big Mama Information Agency to lead it. I had tried but failed to persuade Sister Armand, who came to the capital. I could have forced her to take the seat, but I didn't want to do that.
"I have done everything I could, so let's leave," I said.
Doomstone looked at me. "Are you sure? There's everything you've accomplished in the Empire. If you follow me to Olympus, you may never be able to come out again."
"It's okay. I’m officially a dead person. Thanks to Elder Mirpa, they even gave my dummy a funeral.”
I was officially a person executed by the Blood Emperor. I felt sorry for Glont ahjussi who cried hugging my dummy; but the fewer people who knew that I didn't die, the better. If I were to let him know, it would be after I succeeded in the rebellion, so I would probably be already dead by then.
Over the past three years, the planned work was not good enough, so it was overhauled and modified to the extent that it was close to perfection. I had to be absolutely perfect.
"But the end of your life is just around the corner...”
Doomstone looked at me with anxious eyes.
Yeah, I didn’t have much time left to live. In fact, it would have only taken a few days to resolve the curse, but in order to restore my life as much as possible, we had no choice but to take three years. My life span was extended by only 5 years at most. But I was satisfied. It was a life that could have already ended anyway.
The three years after meeting Doomstone were more valuable, precious, and enjoyable than the eighteen years of life I had previously lived. It was such a precious blessing to be able to spend as many as five more years like that.
"Don't say silly things. It’s because the end of my life is just around the corner that I want to be with you.”
Doomstone blushed. He could not hide his joy.
But that was also a very scary thing. I was dying.
What will Doomstone do after I die?
"But, yeah. As you said, it might be better for me to stay here. If you think about the parting in the future, it would be better to break up now," I said.
It may be sad, but it's only five years. It would be good for Doomstone if he cut it off before he became more attached. It's only five years for me, but Doomstone’s end was unknown.
Doomstone hugged me. "That! That's not what I'm saying! I'll stay here with you if you want. I'll be with you!"
"But you said you promised. You said you would succeed without saying a word in exchange for my treatment. If so, then you should go back."
"That's my business. I made the promise, and I can honor it 10 or 20 years later."
Doomstone's embrace was so warm. It's so warm that I couldn’t help but be selfish.
"You're an idiot.”
"Yeah. I'm an idiot. That's why I need you.”
For the first time, I was afraid of death.
-o-
"What are you thinking about looking out the window?" asked Doomstone as he hugged me and held my hand.
At that, I escaped from the thought. "Just... I was thinking about the old days. The first time I met you, and the days we’ve spent together."
Outside the window, a short spring ended and green vegetation grew thick. In the yard, white windflowers bloomed.
Doomstone looked like he was about to cry. I stroked his cheek.
"I may have a short life, but meeting you was the luckiest thing that’s ever happened to me.”
"Don't say things like that. We'll continue to be together."
"Huhuhu, thanks. I won't apologize then," I said.
Doomstone held my hand and brought it to his cheek.
"If there’s anything I’m worried about, it's Hestia and Den. I thought the curse was completely lifted."
The curse that would have killed me was lifted, but it didn't seem to prevent the inheriting of the curse. Still, I didn’t regret it even though I was worried. Doomstone or Elder Mirpa will certainly be able to lift the curse.
The pitiful one was my youngest son. I couldn't even feed him properly.
"I'll do something about Hestia. She’ll become healthy.”
"Of course. Whose daughter is she?"
She was my child with Doomstone. It was clear that she would grow up healthy and wise. She would be a beautiful woman who would captivate many men.
"I'll take responsibility for Den and raise him stronger than anyone else.”
No, I'm more worried about that.
I giggled at Doomstone's ranting.
"Huhu… Huhuhu. Cough!"
"Anemone!"
Doomstone called my name urgently.
Yeah. I'm here.
I smiled looking at him — he wanted to cry but was forcing himself to smile. His distorted expression was funny.
"You can cry. You can cry as if the world is ending. And when you cry and cry and can cry no more, think of me and smile."
I won't worry. He is stronger than anyone else. He’s my man. So he'll get through it. So please don't let him feel lonely. My children.
I kissed Doomstone goodbye.
A pleasant wind came through the window, and scattered the windflowers it brought along. They fell from above and landed on Doomstone’s hands.
"Goodbye. My love."
The windflower smiled brightly and left only happiness.