Wanna Come With Us? (2)
Torvalt fell into confusion.
He would continue to maintain a steady relationship with the Yulian Mercenary Corps after this incident.
Though they were now walking different paths, that alone was enough. He still had work to do here.
‘Then why?’
Why did he suddenly feel this emptiness?
It was as if... he had made the wrong choice.
It felt like the place he once held in the Yulian Mercenary Corps no longer existed. Like he had become nothing more than a passing acquaintance.
No, in truth, that was exactly the case. Their first meeting hadn’t been pleasant, and he hadn’t particularly shared any deep connection with them.
So, the certainty he had felt was nothing more than an absurd delusion. He simply wanted so badly to stay with the Yulian Mercenary Corps that his heart had leaned in that direction.
That was the truth. That was how it should be.
How could he have been so confident that he’d become comrades with them when they hadn’t even known each other that long?
And yet………
The tangled feeling and unfamiliar emotion didn’t go away, leaving him flustered.
‘N-no… I… I……’
What exactly had gone wrong?
Nothing had gone wrong. Nothing had, and yet, feeling this way made him question himself.
Torvalt tried to trace the origin of this emotion. He wondered how he could express what he was feeling.
If he had to describe it……
‘…Off-course?’
It felt like his choice had altered the destiny that should have unfolded.
The more he thought about it, the more that seemed like the closest explanation.
‘Over something like this?’
Torvalt seriously wondered if he was losing his mind.
Why would he feel this way about people he wasn’t even that close to?
‘Did I really make the wrong choice?’
He hadn’t originally planned to stay in Valskrum.
If he hadn’t lost Gramdir, he wouldn’t have even come back here.
His plan had been to earn some travel funds and then head to another region altogether.
Then, the Salvation Church’s invasion had come, and he’d witnessed the Yulian Mercenary Corps in battle.
At the same time, he’d seen his father fight.
If it hadn’t been for the Yulian Mercenary Corps… his father would have died.
But thanks to them, he’d seen his father fight, and it had changed his mind.
Torvalt looked blankly at Ghislain.
‘So, basically…’
He could say it was the man in front of him who had changed his decision.
And because of that, he was now feeling this strange emotion.
Seeing Torvalt’s dazed expression, Ghislain asked,
“What? What’s wrong? What are you thinking so hard about?”
“Ah, no. It’s nothing.”
Torvalt quickly shook his head.
All these feelings and emotions were just delusions.
How could he explain something he’d imagined all by himself?
Thinking he’d made the wrong choice was an exaggeration. It might just be a sense of loss from the future turning out different than what he’d originally hoped for.
Yes, that must be it.
There was no reason to get this emotional over people he’d only just met.
So, Torvalt smiled and shrugged.
“I was just thinking about how I should train from now on.”
Grondal answered that with a loud laugh.
“Puhahahah! Don’t worry about that! I’ll make you do everything you haven’t done up to now, all at once!”
There was no way someone like Grondal would guide him half-heartedly. In other words, he meant he’d push him hard—almost to death.
Torvalt shook his head. He had said he’d do it himself, but knowing his father’s personality, he was already worried about what lay ahead.
He might die before becoming a real warrior.
Grondal chuckled and nudged Ghislain in the side.
“Ever since the Yulian Mercenary Corps came, it feels like nothing but good things have been happening.”
“Ha… haha, is that so?”
“Of course! They stopped the Salvation Church’s invasion, saved countless dwarves, and even made my son come to his senses! All thanks to the Yulian Mercenary Corps!”
Ghislain gave a small smile and shook his head.
As brash and simple as he was, Grondal’s mood lifted easily. That part of him was likeable.
Soon Grondal spoke with a look of generosity.
“Alright, I’ll give Gramdir to you as a gift!”
“……Thank you. I’ll accept it with gratitude.”
“It’s a treasure of our royal family, so always ask yourself whether you’re using it for a just cause before you draw that sword.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
The two men smiled as they looked at each other. Having faced a powerful enemy together, there was a strong bond between them.
Of course, their inner thoughts weren’t quite as friendly.
‘Hah, I really want a proper match with this bastard. I think his technique’s better than mine. But I’ve got him beat in strength and stamina.’
‘Tch, if I had my original body, I would’ve won. If it’s a one-on-one fight, I’d win every time.’
The two kept smiling at each other. Both wanted a rematch.
But now wasn’t the time. If they were going to fight again, it would have to wait until their bodies recovered and the situation was stable.
Whenever that might be.
Then, Grondal shouted like he was making a declaration to everyone present.
“Prepare the finest weapons and gear for the Yulian Mercenary Corps! We’ll repay those who helped us!”
The dwarves nodded, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Hearing of the sudden gift, the mercenaries’ faces lit up with joy.
And rightly so—gear made by dwarves was incredibly valuable.
What’s more, it was the dwarf king himself who had promised to give it. These wouldn’t be your average “dwarf-made” goods that you find on the market—they would be true masterpieces.
“First, check the damage! Once all the recovery is complete, we’ll hold a celebration to share the joy of victory! We’ll properly honor the warriors who defended this land with their blood!”
In dwarven society, a victory feast was a sacred tradition honoring warriors. No matter what, it had to be held.
All the dwarves worked tirelessly to clean up the battlefield and recover from the damage.
The Yulian Mercenary Corps were no exception. Though small in number, they were incredibly capable and proved a great help.
Once the post-battle efforts were complete, the Yulian Mercenary Corps received a grand reward.
They were gifted masterpieces forged with the dwarves’ utmost skill, as well as precious gemstones that could be used for travel expenses.
In line with Ghislain’s philosophy, most of the equipment emphasized mobility—armor and weapons optimized for movement—but there were also many practical items, like leather gear and cloaks.
And at the victory feast, both Yulian and Deneb—now awake—finally made their appearance.
All the dwarves erupted in cheers when they saw Deneb.
“It’s the Saintess!”
“She’s the goddess’s blessing to us dwarves!”
“Now that the Saintess has been born, this great war will end in our victory!”
None could hide their joy as they shouted with excitement.
Of course, Deneb was completely flustered by the overwhelming reception—it was her first time receiving such praise in her life.
Watching her, Yulian smiled quietly.
‘……Deneb.’
She had really become a Saintess. She really wielded the power of the goddess.
It felt unreal, and yet, he was proud of her.
Now, the words of Ghislain and Astion no longer sounded like empty dreams—they felt like a truly attainable future.
Having awakened, Deneb could now spread her ideals throughout the world.
She had always wanted to use holy power to help others. For her, the Saintess’s power was truly a blessing.
But deep in Yulian’s heart, a seed of concern had begun to grow.
‘……Sacrifice.’
Ghislain had said the Saintess sacrificed herself to seal the Demon Realm. And knowing Deneb’s personality, she might really choose such a fate.
He couldn’t allow that to happen. Which meant he had to become even stronger.
‘I’ll protect you.’
Yulian reaffirmed his resolve.
He would never lose Deneb.
***
To Erenes, this victory feast was a completely unfamiliar and wondrous experience.
It was the first festival she had ever attended, but that unfamiliarity soon turned into joy.
Though dwarves were said to be on poor terms with elves, they did not treat Erenes with disrespect.
After all, they had risked their lives together and defended Valskrum as comrades.
So, Erenes was treated as a warrior here.
She quietly observed the people from a short distance away.
‘…This is fun.’
It was a feeling she had never experienced in the dry and emotionless world of the elves, a scene she had never seen before.
The journey from the elven forest to this place had given her so much.
And the journey ahead would be the same.
Erenes closed her eyes and smiled.
She was truly enjoying this adventure with the Yulian Mercenary Corps.
Compared to the lifespan of an elf, a human life was but a fleeting moment. But that was why it felt all the more precious.
She wished her adventure with the Yulian Mercenary Corps would continue for a long time.
That this fleeting moment……would last like eternity.
***
Crack!
“Guhhhk…”
A man in a tattered black robe collapsed.
Standing before the fallen man was the elven Grand Chieftain, Erenes, her eyes cold.
“Disgusting scum.”
The one she had just killed was a priest of the Salvation Church.
He was one of the remnants who, after losing the war, had scattered and gone into hiding across the continent.
She was hunting down the remnants of the Salvation Church with elves who followed her.
Erenes looked around.
Dozens of corpses lay scattered. All of them had died by her hand.
There were far more remnants of the cult left than expected.
Though they had lost to Duke Fenris, they had operated across the continent. They had sunk their roots into nearly every kingdom—of course their numbers wouldn’t be small.
Now everyone understood just how dangerous the Salvation Church really was.
The kingdoms, one after another, had begun relentless pursuits and purges. But like cockroaches, there were too many hiding in the shadows.
Erenes muttered with a tired expression.
“Not a single one can be left alive.”
She had thought everything was over once the Demon Realm had been sealed.
Even if the Arch-Enemy returned, she believed she could stop him alone.
But things hadn’t gone as she expected.
The Salvation Church had clung to life and eventually stirred another war.
Even without the Demon Realm, they had reopened rifts and summoned monsters trapped in dimensional tears.
At this rate, the effort to seal the Demon Realm would have been for nothing.
True, it was better than it had been a thousand years ago, but if they let down their guard, humanity would suffer again.
‘That must not happen.’
It had been a war won through immense sacrifice and hardship. She couldn’t allow that tragedy to repeat.
At least one fortunate thing was the appearance of a remarkable figure—Duke Fenris—who had utterly destroyed the cult’s main forces.
He was strong enough to be compared to the heroes of a thousand years ago.
Not just in strength, but in boldness, decisiveness, merciless resolve, and unmatched strategic and tactical prowess.
It was truly fortunate that such a person existed in this era. Even a thousand years ago, such talent was rare.
Still, she found it slightly uncomfortable how he kept trying to learn something from her.
‘It’s meaningless, Duke Fenris.’
What use was there in knowing about the past?
What had happened had happened, and what was done was done.
They had won the war a thousand years ago. Because of that, the Demon Realm had been sealed, and humanity had regained peace.
That alone was what mattered.
The same was true for this era.
As long as every last remnant is exterminated…
Then, and only then, would it truly be over.
The Salvation Church would never rise again, and humanity would live in peace forever.
‘Elves and dwarves will also be freed.’
Thanks to Duke Fenris, the most powerful man on the continent, even that matter was being handled, step by step.
Everything was going smoothly, just as it should. As long as Duke Fenris didn’t get distracted by unnecessary thoughts.
There was already an answer sheet—no need to rack his brain thinking of anything else.
The eradication of the Salvation Church.
That was the best way—and the only way—to save the world.
Fwoosh.
Erenes pulled her hood up to conceal her face.
She scattered spirits in all directions as she continued the hunt for the cult’s remnants.
Wandering was not difficult. She had roamed the continent in the past with her friends.
‘Yes, that’s right.’
The Yulian Mercenary Corps.
That was where she had met her friends. She too had joined the mercenary group and traveled with them.
They had been nothing but fledglings, yet they had overcome countless hardships and stood at the very center of the Great War.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that the war a thousand years ago had been won thanks to the Yulian Mercenary Corps.
Erenes was deeply proud of having once been a part of them.
She walked with her eyes closed.
The faces of her departed friends passed through her mind.
Faces she missed, faces she longed to see.
For the first time in a long while, she recalled them one by one.
Then suddenly, Erenes stopped walking.
‘Astion…’
The great 9th-circle mage.
A genius who had led the Yulian Mercenary Corps and made their growth possible.
With his rather cute face, he had been popular with women, though he himself hadn’t seemed particularly interested in them.
Understandably so. Astion had far too much to do.
There were even rumors that his mind was not entirely intact because of the Possessed Ones.
Erenes still didn’t know whether that was true, but Astion had always been exhausted, sensitive, and irritable.
He was so often described by the dark circles under his eyes, they had become his most defining feature.
Because of that, he had attracted a certain fanbase for his “decadent charm,” oddly enough.
In any case, thinking about Astion, Erenes sensed something strange.
‘Why?’
She had recalled the faces of her friends countless times over the years. So why was her attention suddenly fixated on Astion?
Frowning, Erenes furrowed her brow.
‘Again…’
She pressed her fingers to her temples. The same headache from last time was returning.
It made no sense for someone who had reached a state beyond human limits to be suffering from headaches. It was still an unexplainable phenomenon.
She had to find the cause. Since this happened when she thought of Astion, it had to be related.
‘Astion… Astion…’
Erenes tried to recall past events.
But again, something was off. The memories that used to surface so vividly now felt a bit blurry.
Still, she didn’t give up and kept searching her memory.
‘Astion…’
Was there something she had forgotten? Or was there another reason?
She endured the pain and kept trying to recall her time with Astion.
Then, a sudden question rose to her mind.
‘Astion… was that really his name?’
Astion was Astion. That was what she had always called him.
Erenes suddenly felt a sense of discomfort.
‘How… did I call him?’
Did he have another name? Did she call him by a nickname?
Why… why suddenly…
Why did his name feel so unfamiliar now?
Even though it was the name of a friend she had spent countless years with.
‘Astion…!’
Thud.
In that moment, she felt something snap and fall away inside her mind.
Erenes’s eyes flew open.
Then, in a voice trembling with disbelief, she whispered,
“…Ghislain.”
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