CH 549

Four days had passed since the occupation of Serandia.

The alliance's base was an odd mix of elation and celebration for victory, as well as despair and sorrow for the dead.

Praises for the victorious and mourning for the fallen resounded simultaneously from every corner.

The alliance had no choice but to halt not only to endure the winter but also to deal with the aftermath of the battle.

The recovered bodies had to be identified, sent to their respective armies, and given proper funerals.

However, Delphin Izzard's body was not among them.

From the outset, it had been a battle where far more bodies couldn't be found than those that could.

-Dagak

After securing the safety of Serandia's surroundings without properly resting, Ellen, Saviolin Turner, and Heinrich, along with the alliance's elite, finally returned.

"Rest, Heinrich. The alliance will spend the winter in Serandia," said Louise von Schwarz.

Having reached the Master Class, it was natural for Louise to deal with the monsters and return only now.

"Sister... Can I go see my friends for a while...?" asked Heinrich.

Louise looked at Heinrich silently.

Friends.

He wanted to confirm his friends' safety in this war.

It would be difficult to handle even if someone's death was confirmed.

"Sometimes it's better not to know..."

But Louise stopped herself from saying more.

She didn't want to treat him like a child.

Whatever had happened, he would find out eventually.

What good would it do to learn about it later?

"Alright, you need to see for yourself. There's plenty of time, so you can stay there for a few days."

"…Thank you."

Death was everywhere, and even at the Kernstadt military command, they had to face it.

"But, Sister... Won't you rest?"

At Heinrich's hesitant question, Louise shook her head.

"As a commander, I have duties to fulfill."

Despite being directly involved in the battle, Louise had many responsibilities and people to take care of.

Now that she had killed her two brothers with her own hands, there was even more to do.

Louise gazed at the corpses scattered throughout Serandia and its surroundings, even noticing a strange, massive crater.

Everyone knew something was off, but no one dared to question the high command.

What were those traces?

Who had caused the massive destruction that was already present when the alliance arrived?

"…"

Louise returned to the Kernstadt army base with her knights.

------

There were those whose deaths had been confirmed by sight.

A second-year student, Delphin Izzard, had died.

A first-year student, Cardina Ein, A-10, had died.

However, even if someone's death wasn't confirmed by sight, if they didn't return for a long time, they were assumed dead.

That was the case for Ard de Gritis, a third-year student.

Ard, who had dueled with Reinhardt, now the Demon King, hadn't returned even days after the battle's end.

The third-year students, including Adriana and Redina, waiting for their long-absent classmate, couldn't help but cry when they learned of Ard's death.

“He'll come back! He could be at another base! Why do you think he's dead! He might not be!”

“Redina... Please…”

As Redina shed tears of hatred for the world, Adriana also sobbed, holding Redina and choking back her cries.

Adriana, who could not accept Ard's heart, had once left the temple.

However, though she couldn't accept his heart, Adriana valued Ard as both a dear friend and comrade.

His death was unbearably painful.

The Royal Class was small in number, and most of them were skilled fighters, so there were no further casualties or missing persons.

It was inevitable that there would be casualties among the lower grades.

Three first-year students had already died in this war, and with the death of Cardina Ein in this battle, their number was now the lowest among all grades.

Due to the small number of the Royal Class, the death of someone felt even more devastating.

Under the guidance of teachers and priests, the funeral was held.

Except for Cardina Ein, the bodies of Delphin Izzard and Ard de Gritis, could not be found.

Ludwig knew from the moment he saw her die that he would not be able to find Delphin's body.

Finding Delphin's torn body would be an even more horrifying task.

Delphin, who had awakened the rare power of spirit magic – a unique power in the world – had met an absurdly tragic death.

As such, no one was safe on this battlefield.

Some wept at the death of someone, feeling the strange fate that they, too, might someday face death.

Ludwig, with a bandage where his right arm used to be, stared blankly at the funeral.

Scarlett, too, sat down and cried as she watched the funeral without a body.

Hiccup! Ugh! Hiccup!

Christina and Louis Ancton tried to comfort Scarlett, who was gasping for breath and panting.

Scarlett was as miserable as Ludwig.

Although the process began with Scarlett saving Ludwig, he lost his arm while trying to save her when she was unconscious, and eventually, Delphin lost her life.

It was inevitable that Scarlett would blame herself for everything.

Scarlett, overcome with guilt, even attempted to strangle herself in her dormitory, but Ellen rushed in to stop her just in time.

And so.

There were those who could no longer fight because they had died.

There were those who could no longer fight because of irreversible injuries.

Ludwig belonged to the latter group.

With his arm lost, Ludwig stared blankly at the hollow funeral.

Delphin Izzard.

She was one of the first friends Ludwig had made, along with Ranian Sesor.

Ranian Sesor stared at the funeral, where not even a body was present, with empty eyes.

Everyone was precious, but some people were particularly cherished.

Ludwig spent the most time with Delphin and Ranian.

They had traveled together, and though they had their disagreements, they were ultimately the most precious people to him.

He had lost one of them.

Because he was weak.

He lost her because he was weak.

Ludwig and Scarlett would have died in that battle if it weren't for Delphin.

In trying to save each other, someone had to die in the end.

Ludwig stared blankly at the faces of the people watching the funeral.

Heinrich von Schwarz, who had been transferred to the Kernstadt army, also attended the funeral, looking solemnly at the funeral scene.

If it had been Heinrich, he could have saved Scarlett in an instant by destroying the giant monster's waist with an explosion the moment it appeared. If Scarlett had fallen in the middle of the monsters, he could have obliterated the area and brought Scarlett out with him.

No, from the beginning, the monster that oppressed the mind could have been annihilated with a single gesture.

It didn't need to be a supernatural.

Even an outstanding mage could do it.

This situation only arose because the mages' support from the rear had ceased.

It wasn't the mages' fault. They must have been saving people elsewhere since they couldn't support there.

It didn't even have to be magic.

If it were Ellen, she would have swiftly cleaved the monsters with her divine sword.

It didn't need to be a hero with a divine sword.

If only he had reached the Master Class.

If he could have just imbued his sword with aura or resisted a little longer.

It wasn't the fault of those who didn't help.

Someone died and another was injured trying to save him, so it was all his fault.

Because he was weak.

Being weak is a sin.

Not wielding violence in a battlefield where violence prevails means that the scale of violence he could exert was far too weak to protect anything.

Thus, it is a sin.

Everything is my fault.

Ludwig looks at his empty right arm.

Being weak is a sin.

Now, even weaker.

"..."

Without a right arm, Ludwig can still use his Magic Body Strengthening, but he can't do everything he's learned and experienced as well as before.

He lost because he was weak, and now weaker, he will lose even more.

No, now it may even be impossible to participate in battle.

Is this the end?

He had endured the misery of running away and turning a blind eye to his friend's death to save his friend.

Must he become even more miserable?

He tried, but it couldn't be helped.

This is my limit.

It's over because I lost my arm.

Now it's the end.

No.

Is that really true?

Suddenly.

Ludwig recalls a phrase he heard long ago.

"Doing your best is like preparing an excuse for defeat. Even though I worked hard. I'll do better next time. Isn't it creating a way to escape for the defeated self?"

The root cause of this whole situation.

The days when he thought that guy was just a hard worker.

Perhaps, those days when he could even say he admired him.

On the day he asked for guidance, fearing a disadvantage in the tournament, the Demon King had said that.

Ludwig didn't know whether the Demon King was hiding his power or not.

Revenge for all this was not his to take. It's the world where there are many more outstanding people than himself.

Killing monsters was the only thing allowed, and the only thing he could do, but he couldn't even do that and lost Delphin and his right arm.

The Demon King is a hateful existence, and if he could, he would wish for a chance to take revenge on himself, but he doesn't hope for that.

He hates the Demon King.

But those words back then.

The truth was not to make excuses prepared for defeat.

It's over because I lost my arm.

I am limited.

I can't do any more.

Nothing will improve with those words.

Believe, even if you don't get the results, he said.

Fight with the determination to win, even if you lose, he said.

Only then will a slightly better result come out, he said.

Those words, no matter who the Demon King is, cannot be wrong.

So what if the right arm is gone?

There's still the left arm.

He lost Delphin, but if he gives up now, someone else will be lost and he'll have to wallow in another sense of helplessness.

Ludwig takes his eyes off the funeral and stands up.

Then, he headed for the armory, grasping the sword in his left hand.

It was an unfamiliar sensation.

Without his right arm, his body's balance was off.

He wasn't sure if he could fight with just his left arm.

'Well then...'

There was no need for words of effort.

'Reinhardt.'

Ludwig, who awkwardly held the cold and sharp sword, aimed it at the empty air.

At some point, he had returned to that mindset.

To think that someone like me.

Someone of my level.

All I can do is.

Merely this much.

He had reverted to the mindset of a loser who lived with the mentality of defeat.

As his mindset weakened, he had truly become weak.

In the face of great despair and terrifying beings, Ludwig had regressed to the mindset of his past, when he sought only small satisfactions.

That's why he was weak.

He knew he couldn't become strong just by the size of his mindset, but with a small mindset, he could only gain a small amount of power.

In that case, he should think bigger.

Different from before.

Even if the outcome was predetermined, he should aim for something more grandiose.

He may not be able to do everything, but he must think he can do anything.

The root cause of all this.

All this sorrow and hatred, as well as the symbol of despair.

He would discard even the thoughts he had given up on, thinking they were Ellen's role.

Having lost his right arm and left only with the left, Ludwig made up his mind.

He might not be able to face the Demon King.

He might not be able to reach the one who had become a being above the heavens.

Following the words from that time, urging him to make a vow for victory, not excuses for defeat, such excuses were impossible.

No, it wasn't even defeat.

It was an excuse for running away, as he didn't even think he could fight.

He would discard such excuses, such cowardice, and resignation.

'I will...'

While recalling the Demon King's words.

'No.'

While recalling the Demon King's teachings.

'I will.'

Ludwig vowed.

'I will kill you.'

------

As Ludwig, avoiding the funeral, grasped the sword in his left hand and vowed not to give up, Ellen sat blankly in the barracks.

She couldn't help but learn about the deaths of her classmates and juniors last. She couldn't help but return the latest, as it was Ellen.

The headquarters had declared this battle a great victory.

A tremendous victory.

Not only did they suffer less damage than expected, but the completion of the Titan had also led to fewer casualties in the conquest of Serandia.

If future battles went like this, they might even see the end of the Gate Incident.

However, when confronted with the tragic events hidden behind the victory, Ellen couldn't understand what victory was.

"..."

Someone would die, and such funerals would happen every time they fought.

It was fortunate that fewer had died, an undeniable fact.

But someone would die, and it was inevitable that Ellen's acquaintances would be included.

Unable to face the funeral directly, Ellen had retreated to the barracks.

It wasn't just because she was afraid of facing the deaths of her classmates and juniors.

"If only..."

With both hands covering her face, Ellen muttered quietly.

Having witnessed countless deaths and protected many, Ellen couldn't help but crumble upon facing the news of the deaths of her acquaintances.

"If only I hadn't been there... If I hadn't been... It would have been enough..."

She should have died.

She should have been killed by Lydia Schmitt in the snowstorm at Fortress Epiax.

Due to an extraordinary talent, she achieved the Master Class on the spot.

And so, she survived.

And so, this happened.

If she had been killed there, she wouldn't have pursued Reinhardt's truth, and after exposing him as the true demon king, the situation would have become tangled and the Gate Incident would have exploded.

If she had died in the fortress of Epiax, the truth would never have been revealed, and there would have been no misunderstandings.

Not being able to trust Reinhardt was a sin.

And thus, not dying where she was supposed to die was also a sin.

If she had died in Epiax.

If she hadn't gone to the temple in the first place.

If she hadn't loved Reinhardt.

If she had been indifferent from the beginning and never paid any attention.

Or, if she had only said a word to trust Reinhardt.

There were others who believed in him, despite the seemingly unbelievable situation.

The son of the demon king who died fighting her brother.

It was difficult to trust such a person, but if she had believed in him anyway.

This wouldn't have happened.

All this sorrow and tragedy stemmed from her, and people didn't even know that she was the cause.

Scarlett tried to strangle herself, thinking that all of Delphin's deaths and Ludwig's injuries were her fault, and Ellen stopped her.

She prevented her from ending her life in self-reproach.

But Ellen, witnessing this, realized that she was experiencing an even greater self-reproachful impulse than Scarlett.

Due to an overwhelming sense of guilt, Ellen eventually came to such thoughts.

It would have been better if someone like me hadn't been born.

If I hadn't been born, none of this would have happened, so perhaps my very existence is a mistake.

"If only... If only I didn't exist... I shouldn't have existed..."

Despite stopping Scarlett's self-reproach, Ellen cried out in her own unending self-reproach, alone in the barracks.

The demon king, the hero, the emperor, the princess.

Everyone believed that they were the ones who turned the hourglass of destruction.

As the war intensified, self-reproach could only deepen.

------

It felt as if I had been hit in the head with a hammer.

"It doesn't make sense."

I couldn't help but be dumbfounded by Sarkegaar's report.

"Could it be a mistake?"

"Your Majesty, I cannot pass on such information carelessly."

The situation of the Royal Class that I heard through Sarkegaar.

Ard, who I had a quarrel with at the beginning of the semester, went missing.

To go missing was to be dead.

And first-year student Cardina Ein had died.

Delphin Izzard had died.

Ludwig lost his right arm.

I was afraid to hear news of the Royal Class, but I couldn't avoid checking.

Delphin should have survived to the end.

Ludwig was supposed to die at the end, but not with an injury that cost him his arm.

I was dumbfounded as I listened to the report.

Someone's death.

And a fatal, irreversible injury.

I knew that the variables made it impossible to know who would live or die.

But to actually feel that through someone's death and a fatal injury was a different matter.

Could something like this happen to Ludwig?

Delphin had died.

Does that mean Ludwig could also die in battle at any moment?

Or has Ludwig now lost his role entirely?

Is it okay for that to happen?

Is it because I possess Alsbringer that Ludwig has gone through this ordeal?

I didn't steal it.

But ultimately, Alsbringer chose me.

And because of that, Ludwig lost his arm.

The one who was supposed to be the protagonist eventually remained in the background of the story and finally became unable to fight any longer.

Have I taken too much away from him?