Chapter 341

Life is a series of regrets.

At least it was for Lucas.

Betraying Ash.

Killing Dustia.

The beautiful young days that shattered like fragile flowers due to his own mistakes.

Night after night, he ruminated on irreversible decisions and irremediable wrongdoings, spending them steeped in regret.

'If only I hadn't done it then.'

'If only I hadn't done it then.'

'If only I hadn't done it then...'

Lucas' life was riddled with regrets.

He was always a man looking back at the shadows of his past.

***

Chaeng! Chaeng! Tsukaang-!

Lucas' sword, forged of light, left a vivid trail as it executed a series of slashes.

"Kuk!"

Mason gritted his teeth and groaned as he counterattacked with his greatsword.

With his new sword, Lucas' combat abilities had increased dramatically. His strikes had become lighter, and their potency had amplified.

Every time the blades clashed, Mason's greatsword showed signs of wear and reduced durability, while Lucas' sword of light seemed unfazed.

Thwack-!

No... that's not it.

It wasn't just unfazed; it was actually growing stronger.

The light and heat emanating from Lucas' sword intensified. Mason, who had barely managed to block Lucas' horizontal slash, found himself pushed back.

'How did he get so strong? Just by switching swords?'

Or is it something else?

Had he really attained some sort of enlightenment?

Grimacing, Mason pulled a vial of Beast Transformation Serum from his pocket.

He knew well the warning that using it twice a day was suicidal, but he had no other choice now.

"You should stop."

As Mason aimed the syringe at his neck, Lucas quietly advised.

"I've used Beast Transformation quite a bit myself. And I've been right on the brink of the 'line' too."

"..."

"I guarantee, if you cross that 'line,' it won't be pretty."

"Heh. Are you concerned about me now?"

With a scoff, Mason jabbed the syringe into his neck.

"After all, it's a do-or-die situation, whether I die this way or that-!"

The serum seeped into Mason's neck.

Thump, thump...!

Mason's already large frame swelled even more.

His eyes turned red, his nails grew longer, and his canine teeth sharpened like those of a carnivore. His bones and muscles inflated.

"Haaaaa...!"

Mason's appearance had devolved far from human. He now resembled an abominable beast.

"...So this is what happens. I can see why the Lord warned against it."

Standing calmly in front of the transformed Mason, Lucas muttered softly.

"You look like a rabid stray, Mason."

"I like it, though?"

Fully transformed, Mason lunged at Lucas at a terrifying speed.

"Because this is our true nature-!"

Thwack!

Mason's greatsword drove Lucas back. Despite being cornered, Lucas replied composedly.

"I'd appreciate it if you stopped saying 'we.' I'm no longer a mad dog."

"Nonsense! We were born as dogs, raised as dogs, and we're destined to die as dogs!"

Bang! Crash! Kwaang!

Mason roared, swinging his massive greatsword as if it were a leaf.

"Slaughtering someone just because a higher-up commands it—that's what being a knight is all about!"

"I'm done with that."

"What?"

"I won't just follow orders without thinking anymore."

Clang!

Lucas' light blade easily knocked Mason's greatsword back.

Gazing into the shocked face of Mason, Lucas slowly reiterated.

"I'll think for myself, make my own judgments, and decide for myself—to follow that person."

Lucas was recalling the moment just before, when he had saved a boy in a back alley.

Killing monsters, saving people—

Yeah.

'I think I understand the weight of it now, at least a bit.'

"I'm not a dog, I'm a person. So, I will wield my sword by my own will."

"Heh, sure."

Mason, who had smirked, tightened his grip on his greatsword and swung it down again.

"Quite the inappropriate things to say for a would-be knight, our young master!"

The swordfight continued.

Lucas, now armed with a new sword, and Mason, who had received a second dose of the beast transformation serum, were evenly matched.

But the seemingly endless fight came to an abrupt end.

In the same continuous motion he had practiced, Lucas thrust his sword into Mason.

"Hahaha! Haven't learned a thing from the past, have you, young master?"

Mason, widening his eyes as if he had been waiting for this, deflected Lucas's thrust with laughter.

"Going for a thrust again!"

Mason's greatsword had one serrated side, like a saw.

He deflected Lucas's thrust with that side, caught Lucas's blade in the serrations, and—with a surge of magic power—spun the greatsword in a spiral.

Mason's ultimate weapon-destroying technique,

[Weapon Break]!

The technique landed perfectly.

Lucas's sword of light, caught between the serrated teeth, made an ominous sound before—

It shattered into pieces.

The once radiant blade that emitted heat and light had been reduced to worthless shards.

Mason sneered at Lucas, who was still holding the hilt of the shattered sword.

"Hahaha! Making the same mistake again! How foolish! And to think you—"

"It's okay."

"What?"

"I said, it's okay."

For some reason, Lucas was smiling.

"Even if I fail, make mistakes, mess things up... it's okay."

"...?"

"Wherever I wander, as long as I come back, it's okay. My lord taught me that."

'Time and time again, as my lord believed in me, I will forge a new blade from the broken one.'

Slowly, the shards of the shattered sword of light rose from the ground.

In the empty space above the hilt, a new blade of light formed, joining with the particles of light scattered on the ground to produce an even more powerful blaze.

"What is...?"

Staring at the sword of light, restored in a moment, Mason was dumbfounded.

Smiling wryly as he looked at his own flickering blade, Lucas spoke.

"Why did I only realize this simple answer now?"

If it breaks, put it back together.

Even if things can never be the same as before.

Even if some things might be irreparable forever.

Still, if you try, struggle, and flail—

Even if you're a failure, you can rise again.

'Why did I give up on everything, and merely watch the shattered scenes from a distance?'

"...No, regrets are for later."

Gripping the sword of light with both hands, Lucas began to walk forward.

"I will move past you, my past named Mason."

Life is a succession of regrets.

"I'll forge my sword anew, however many times it breaks, and wherever I wander in this world, I'll return under the banner of this front line."

And life is also about overcoming those regrets.

"Because I've decided to do so."

For the first time, Lucas's blue gaze completely detached from the shadows of his past.

Mason realized it. The eyes that were glaring at him were not actually looking at him.

They were looking beyond him—looking at what was behind him.

"What are you looking at...?"

Gritting his teeth, Mason crouched low.

"I'm not your damned past..."

With a terrifying force, Mason lunged, plummeting toward Lucas.

"I am your future! I am your doom!"

Then Lucas grinned and said,

"Would that really happen?"

He swung his blade of light upward in a flawless counter, a fusion of stubborn resolve and unyielding will.

Zzzing-!

Mason's greatsword, unable to withstand the explosive burst of light, shattered into two pieces.

And Mason's beastly, massive form was likewise cleaved in two, vertically.

***

I unexpectedly regained my senses quickly.

I thought I would go into a magic-depleted state after using my ultimate skill, but nothing of the sort happened. 

My veins felt warm as if they were laid upon an electric heating pad, presumably because they were supplied with magic power.

'Is this the power of the Dragon Heart...?'

It must be the effect of the Dragon Heart that Nameless had given me.

I imagined the Dragon Heart's energy, now presumably coursing through my body, as something akin to an electric heating pad. Warm and comforting.

As I got up, the situation was already being managed. Thankfully, there were no casualties on our side, and from the Aegis Special Forces were either dead or captured.

"You're awake, Your Highness. I'll give you an update," Godhand came to me, looking pallid as he briefed me.

The guy had been hit with swords and arrows all day; he must've been through a lot too.

"Of the 10 Aegis Special Forces agents who infiltrated this base camp, we killed seven and captured three. Including the casualties at Crossroad, we've killed sixteen out of a total of 20 agents and captured four."

"Everyone worked hard."

"We are currently interrogating the captured agents to see if there are more spies. We should have results soon."

Godhand showed a slight smile.

"Your Highness, your use of that magical barrier was extraordinary. We could neutralize them in one fell swoop."

"I'm sorry for forcing you all into this risky operation. It was dangerous because of me."

"Not at all. Everything turned out fine in the end, didn't it? Captain Lucas is also safe."

Just as Godhand was finishing his report, the base camp's gate flashed, and Lilly, in her wheelchair, appeared.

Lilly had been dispatched to the forward base for this defense battle, due to her responsibilities with artifacts. Given the snowstorm, the artifacts could malfunction.

But seeing her back now meant that the forward base's defensive battle was likely over.

"Godhand!"

Lilly, almost shrieking, urgently wheeled herself over to Godhand. As she assessed his injuries, she trembled and yelled,

"Who did this to you?! Who would dare!"

"Ah, well, you see..."

"I'll burn whoever laid a finger on you! Understand? Tell me, who tormented you!"

...Her tone resembled that of an older sibling scolding someone who'd bullied their younger sibling.

Seeing Godhand squirming in discomfort, I took the opportunity to sneak away.

As the commander who pushed these kids into this, I felt a sense of responsibility. Time to make my quick escape...

I went around thanking everyone who had helped with the operation.

Bodybag and Burnout were totally wiped out.

Especially Burnout, who must've singed his mouth and esophagus spewing fire. You worked hard; go rest.

Verdandi and the Holy Grail Seekers party. They'd readily joined the battle when I'd asked for help on short notice. I promised to shower them with sunflower seeds.

Margarita and the reserve party. I'd hurriedly called them up, but they did their part.

Margarita was still busy healing the injured. I'll make a generous donation to your temple later.

Then there was Elize.

"Hmm, this weapon will do, and this one too..."

"..."

As befits her reputation as a Sword Coffin, she was examining the weapons of the dead special forces agents. I suppose I can turn a blind eye if she's taking one or two as spoils...

And finally, Lucas.

I was wondering where he was, so I looked around and spotted Kellibey waving at me from a distance.

"Hey, Young Prince. Over here."

Our master blacksmith had completed the weapon just in time. As I walked over to Kellibey with a bright smile, he pointed to a corner of the base camp.

"I'd like to hear your thoughts on my masterpiece. Would you mind checking it out?"

When I looked in that direction, Lucas was standing there alone.

In front of Mason's fallen body in the sea of blood. Silently.