148 Four hundred and seventy-seven words, 'Your name and the fool.'




 With a slight creaking sound, the door of the high-class tavern opens. The pathway to the outside world, which had been tightly closed by Vestalinu's hand, finally revealed itself.

 A light shines into the dimly lit tavern.

"Thank you for your help. There's no need to worry. I will return to ...... the lord's house right now.

 Vestalinu slowly calls out to the soldier who has been doing his best to speak into the tavern to announce the words of Mordor-Gorn, Lord of Belle Fain.

 The soldier probably didn't expect Vestalinu to show up with a reply in his hand. You can see him take a step back at the sight of the steel princess in front of him, his eyes widening slightly.

 As for me, I could only exhale heavily from my lungs and blink my eyes while chewing tobacco a few steps behind her. It's been a long time since I've felt that smell. I knew that without this feeling, my body would not be able to calm down. It had become something of a habit for me since the days of my travels.

 So, what should I do now?

 Apparently, the Steel Princess has already decided where she's going. She will probably go to the lord's mansion and confront the one she used to call father, Mordor-Gorn, with her words. How dutiful of him.

 In some cases, the battle axe might even shed blood. Of course, it is quite possible that Vestalines will have his head snatched by Mordor. In fact, the odds are much higher in that case. If there are ten possibilities, Vestalines will lose his life in nine of them. I'm well aware of that.

 That's great. That's exactly how I pictured it. My teeth chattered.

 Fathers and daughters, once fathers and daughters, crack each other's trust so they can hate each other and turn on each other. Oh, my God.

 Instantly, I felt as if my heart had turned to stone. My teeth involuntarily sank into my chewing tobacco, and my eyes narrowed reflexively. I felt my eyebrows rise naturally. There was a distorted, inexplicable feeling in my throat.

 It's funny. The process is a whirlwind, but the result is wonderfully just as I want it to be. Vestaline, with her breasts pierced and pierced by Bruder, can no longer function as Bellefane's double, no matter how hard she tries. And after losing Vestalines, Mordor-Gorn won't be able to hold off Bel Fane's mercenaries alone.

 The footing of the giants has collapsed. Now this city of Belle Fain is condemned to slow stagnation and decline. I don't care. I won't even have to do anything about it. The rest of the city will be swallowed up in the conflict between the two organizations, Monstrance and Belle Fane. Belfain, which had brought together a group of mercenaries, swallowed chaos, and existed as the sword and fangs of a group of city-states, would be lost.

 So, there's nothing to worry about anymore. There's no need to even think about what to do. From now on, I'll just go back to Garou Amalia and take a nap, and everything will be over. So there's only one thing to think about. At best, I'll only think about the people I call friends.

...... So, Bruder, do you have something to tell me?

 I squint my eyelids, catching the first rays of sunlight in what seems like forever. I'm not sure what to say, but I'm going to say it.

 Bruder, with his hat back on and his long hair tucked back in again, looked like the man he used to be. He looked like the Bruder I knew so well. Maybe that's why I already knew how he would answer. Still, I had to ask.

 Hopefully, he'll tell me that he's going to take Vesterine with him to a place where no one will ever know.

 Bruder's cheeks crumpled as he flashed his white teeth and said.

"I'm sorry, my employer, ......, but this is the end of the deal. I'll pay you back the money up front. I don't need it anymore.

 Yeah, that's what I was expecting, and what I got.

 I knew it. I wondered what Bruder would say, what he would do. And then, at the end of the day, what choice does he have in his hands? I knew exactly what I was doing.

"There's a little family I've been neglecting. I don't think I can turn a blind eye to that now.

 Bruder's eyes looked straight at me. I'm not sure what to make of it, but I think it's a good idea. I'm not sure what to make of it, but I think it's a good idea.

 After all this time, the depths of my gut sobbed as if an old wound had been gouged out. I had thought I understood. I felt as if I had understood everything. But still, I thought. I shouldn't have dragged Bruder into this mess. It must have been a fatal mistake.

 This is ridiculous. What the hell was I thinking, let alone embarrassing myself. It's not something you can just mock as foolish to say after all this time. Yes, but I have to say it.

 What a stupid thing I've done. My face is about to lose its blood. If I could, I'd snap my neck with my own hands.

 This would certainly prevent Bruder from having his skull crushed by his sister Vestaline, as he once did. The murky waters of his life will not be dammed up, and through his reconciliation with his sister, he may say that in a sense, he has been saved.



 But that's why Bruder can't stop. No, he will not allow his will to be stopped. Until the last moment of his life, he will not abandon Vestalinu. In the end, he will throw away his life together with Vestalines and his beloved family.

 He knows very well that he is a contradiction in terms. Relying on Bruder to bring down Vestalines and shake Belfain itself. You have achieved your goal. It's an honor. Yes, it is. Even if the result is that your former best friend loses his life once more. I have no right to regret it.

 If it weren't for Bruder, things wouldn't have worked out the way they did. It's because of Bruder that Vestalinu has a stake in his chest and is about to turn on Mordor.

 Yes, it's all a result of Bruder's actions.

 After all, I didn't do anything on my own. I was just a courier. I tied the strings of opportunity together. I accomplished such a trivial task.

 I feel like I'm gonna puke. There's something in my throat that looks like mud.

 Yeah, I know. And sending two families to their deaths after so long of reconciliation is the end result I wanted. That's all I'm saying.

 --Yeah, that's what I'm talking about. I paid for the life of my former best friend to reach for my glory. And yet you act as if you're mourning the death of your best friend and you're comforting yourself.

 Behind me, Vestalinu's mercenaries came out of the tavern with the sound of footsteps. Their footsteps are puzzled, but they are still following Vestalinu's back.

Listen to me. I will now, according to my will, ...... come to ask the word of my lord Mordor.

 Even though this place is secluded, it must be the unmistakable road to Belle Fain. On the spot, the Steel Princess Vestaline says. You are free to follow or disobey me. There is no longer any need to be tied to yourself, or even any meaning. After all, she said, we all have to make our own decisions in the end.

 Vestalynn opened her lips slowly, and continued her words in a high-pitched voice.

"If you will follow the Iron and Steel Princess, turn your back on her now. If you're with me, do as you please. I will command you no more.

 There was a spitting sound from around them, announcing the embarrassment of the mercenaries themselves.

 First of all, it was difficult to understand what Vestalines was saying. First, some of them paled when Vestalines said he was going to break up with his lord. Others understand his intentions, but refuse to leave Vestalines.

 The mercenaries showed a wide variety of expressions, but even so, many of them seemed to have chosen to follow Vestalinu's back.

 Yes, they too are heading for the dead. I wondered who had created this place of death. Mordor, or Vestalinu, or maybe me.

 Vestalinu no longer rides his iron-clad horse as he once did. On foot, she and Bruder walk down the street, shoulder to shoulder. Bruder looked at him for a moment, and muttered.

"So long, employer. Surprisingly, not bad. In fact, it's good--if we ever meet again, that is.

 Let's have some venison to celebrate. That's all he said. Bruder let himself be buried in a wave of mercenaries.

 As if he knew for sure that I wouldn't be following him. He didn't look back at me anymore.