Chapter 698

Anna and Louis had arrived at a place that could not be found.

Their connection had ended when the Gardias Empire disappeared.

Although former Emperor Bertus was wanted, Anna and Louis were different.

All information about individuals related to the Immortals had been buried beneath the surface. Hence, Anna and Louis were not wanted.

However, it seemed as if they too had vanished from the world.

Anna’s promise to Bertus had been to kill Christina.

They had not spoken of anything beyond that.

Bertus had wanted to die but could not.

After Anna and Louis disappeared, time passed before they finally found Bertus and Turner hiding in the wilderness.

But their reunion could not be simply joyous.

Just as a long time had changed Bertus and Turner, they could not know how Anna and Louis had been changed.

And they didn't know how they had found their way to such a remote place.

Thus, both Turner and Bertus kept their distance, tensely.

Neither Anna nor Louis approached carelessly, as if they knew of the other's wariness.

However, Anna's expression was calm.

No anger, hatred, or sadness was visible.

Her intentions were completely unknown.

"I won't talk for long. I've been gathering the scattered Shanafel and the royal mages of the Gardias Empire."

Shanafel and the royal mages.

The Emperor had disbanded them just before the empire disappeared.

Their fate after the final battle in Diane was left to them.

None of them had joined the new Demon King's Empire.

They couldn't have joined in the first place. As the responsibility of the royal family was also theirs, the Demon King could not take them in.

The maximum power of the Gardias royal family was, of course, a group that should have been completely liquidated along with their empire.

So, the Shanafel and the royal mages scattered after the battle in Diane.

Some would have found their own paths, while others would have hidden their past and lived somewhere.

Like Bertus and Turner, living as fugitives.

Some of them, after a long time, had even entrusted themselves to the new empire.

And some had entrusted themselves to the human autonomous region, which was anti-Demon King.

The scattered remnants of the past went their separate ways.

However, most of the Shanafel and the royal mages had gone into hiding.

Anna said she was now uniting the scattered royal mages and Shanafel.

"Why are you doing that?"

Anna silently looked at Bertus in response to his cautious question.

"I'm creating an organization."

"What...?"

"Like the Black Order or Cantus Magna. I'm trying to create something like that. No... It's already been created."

Bertus could not help but widen his eyes.

After the empire disappeared, Anna had gathered the scattered Shanafel and royal mages.

She had gathered the group disbanded by the Emperor.

And it had already become an organization that could be called a union.

"Why are you creating that? What do you want to do?"

"Well,"

Anna looked at the snowy wilderness on a snowy night.

"The people who couldn't join the new empire are scattered."

"People who have too much to do to just live in hiding, they're just holding their breath scattered. That, in itself, is a loss to humanity... No, to people."

"Among those people, some were waiting for death in the hopeless, futureless autonomous region, which was a meaningless act."

"Rather than achieving things individually, there would be more to accomplish together."

"For now, we've gathered."

"There must be plenty to do."

"We may be able to eliminate monsters lurking in places untouched by human hands."

"Just like the Black Order did, we might be able to achieve things the new empire cannot from the shadows."

"However, in most situations, we will become bystanders if the task isn't necessary for everyone."

"In our generation, there's a high probability that we will only form this alliance and pass our work onto the next generation."

"It would be best if we don't end up doing anything."

"But just in case, somewhere, at some moment."

"We might be needed, so we've gathered people."

"That's all there is to it."

"I don't want to hear whether this is right or not."

"This was the best I could do."

"Just like you did your best, that's all we can do."

Powerful individuals were stronger together than apart.

That's why, although there was no specific purpose for their power, it was a waste for them to live scattered and separate.

Anna gathered them.

The Black Order was gone.

But a new Black Order was created.

The knights and mages of the vanished empire became a secret alliance for the new empire.

Right or wrong, that was irrelevant.

Just as Bertus had fled.

Anna had done something.

Bertus might have been bewildered, but he wasn't angry.

The emperor's authority over the Shanafel and the royal wizard corps disappeared when the empire vanished.

Their decision to gather around Anna was their choice.

Now, Bertus was just curious.

"So, why did you come looking for me?"

What reason did they have for seeking the deposed emperor who chose the life of a fugitive?

What did they want from someone who had given up everything?

Bertus couldn't read Anna's expression, but he had an idea of what she would say.

"We lack legitimacy."

"…Legitimacy?"

"Yes, legitimacy."

Anna said calmly.

"Most of the scattered people still follow you. They believe that living quietly under the new empire in accordance with your will is an act of loyalty to a non-existent country."

"Some of them have decided to join us, but many more have rejected the idea of forming a group, believing it goes against your will."

"We know where they are, but there's a significant number who don't want to join us."

It was as he expected.

"If I join you, you'll be able to rally them all, right?"

"Yes, and Lady Turner is here as well."

A new alliance was formed.

But Anna de Gerna lacked legitimacy and qualifications.

There were those who shared their cause, but more refused to join, believing Bertus's final command was silence.

The vanished emperor of the empire.

And the emperor's knights.

If the two joined, they could absorb all those hesitating in joining the alliance in one swoop.

If the Shanafel and the royal mage corps were reassembled, it would be an immense force.

They must already possess a level of power worthy of being called an alliance, but if Bertus joined, someone with both legitimacy and qualifications would be in the alliance, making it easy to gather the scattered individuals.

Gathering the loyalists of a ruined nation was the task of a mere magician of the fallen nation, but the emperor of the fallen nation was on an entirely different level.

"And, I don't think I'm suited for this kind of thing. Neither is Louis."

Anna had created a new power.

But she didn't consider it her own.

"It's not just cooperation I want. It's not that I need you just for appearances."

"..."

"Take on all of this, please."

At those words, Bertus stared at Anna with a stern expression.

"You want me to become... the leader of this sworn group?"

"Yes. We trust your judgment."

"..."

"A lot has gone wrong, but I think you've done your best in your own way. And the fact that it wasn't the worst choice is proven by the world as it is now."

"..."

"Lead us."

Anna hadn't set out to create a sworn group just to wield it herself.

She had created the group to offer it to the emperor of the fallen nation.

For it might be needed someday.

She had gathered people who were too valuable to be buried alive and found someone who could do more than just survive.

Anna's intended role ended there.

Gathering the scattered people.

She had come to entrust the rest of the matter to Bertus.

And she intended to remain as one of the members of the sworn group.

Bertus, quietly and unknowingly, gazed at Turner's face.

Whether it was due to the cold or fear, her complexion was pale.

"..."

In her uneasy expression, Turner cautiously and gently gripped Bertus's fingertips.

No conversation was exchanged.

It was just that the trembling in her fingertips said a lot.

Her desperate expression also said a lot.

Seeing Turner's expression, Bertus smiled faintly.

"Anna... I have no intention of blaming you. I don't have the right to do so."

"..."

"You granted my last request. I'm grateful to you for that."

In the last moment.

Kill a friend.

Bertus had made a cruel request, and Anna had granted it.

It was not a trade.

Bertus had nothing to offer.

"But the thing is, just running away is already cowardly and despicable enough."

Turner had thrown herself into it with her one and only request.

That request was to live.

Seeking personal honor in death is a cowardly act.

But why couldn't he make the truly cowardly and despicable choice?

A fugitive's life began because he couldn't shake off those words.

But that choice was not forced.

In the end, Bertus had chosen it himself.

He had become a coward on his own.

"I abandoned everything and fled, so I can't wear the other crown you've created."

"Leaving aside cowardice and despicableness..."

"It's just petty."

"From the moment I abandoned all responsibility and ran away, I have no right to anything."

"No matter who in the world comes to give me any rights or power, I don't intend to accept it, and I can't accept it."

"The moment I left everything behind, it was already over."

He had discarded his responsibility.

And he had chosen the life of a fugitive.

So, in his life, there can be no rights anymore.

That's fair.

That was Bertus's conclusion for choosing to run away.

"So I have no responsibility, no rights, and no intention of seeking any honor from now on."

"Just surviving."

"Other than that, I have no intention of doing anything."

Bertus tightly gripped Turner's hand, which she was holding gently.

Turner, startled by Bertus's strong grip, flinched.

"I'm sorry, Anna."

"I don't intend to judge whether it's right or wrong, and I don't want any rights or responsibilities related to it."

"It's irrelevant to my will; you created it."

"So, its rightful owner should be you, not me."

It was unclear whether it was criticism that one shouldn't pass something made with their own hands onto someone else or that even the deed she did should be her own achievement, and therefore, the glory and responsibility should be hers.

Simply, Bertus had no intention of wearing the crown offered to him.

Since she made the nonexistent crown, she should wear it.

At that remark, both Anna and Louis fell silent.

"I thought you'd say that."

Neither criticizing nor attacking, Anna seemed to have known the outcome of this conversation beforehand, and she simply nodded her head.

"But are you satisfied with this?"

Anna pointed to the quiet, snow-covered village, asking if this was his sanctuary.

"It's more than enough."

Bertus replied briefly.

"Let's go back, Louis."

"…Yeah."

Louis Ancton bowed his head towards Bertus and Turner.

Anna turned away without a word.

That was the end of the reunion.

Anna De Gerna became the leader of the new organization.

It might have been Anna's plan to create the organization and entrust its leadership to Bertus.

But Bertus didn't accept it.

Anna would have realized that it was pointless to force it upon an unwilling Bertus.

So, she left quietly.

From then on, Anna had to consider what to do with the new organization.

How to lead them and in what manner.

Somehow managing and resolving internal disagreements and conflicts.

She had to lead them in one way or another.

The guests who visited the village with no reason to receive visitors had quietly left.

Although there was no commotion, Bertus and Turner's expressions were hardened.

Anna and Louis had left.

But someone had already discovered their whereabouts.

So, it was inevitable that others would find out too. It was unknown what the other members would say to Anna and Louis, who returned with this result.

The two had quietly left for now, but they might return later.

And there was no guarantee that they would try to persuade with words like they did now.

"We should leave."

"…Yes, probably."

At Bertus's words, Turner nodded sadly.

They had to leave in order not to harm the village.

There's no place where fugitives can stay forever.

They could only stay for a while, not settle down.

In the end, this remote place was also within someone's reach.

So, they had to leave again for a distant place, not knowing where they were heading.

The only saving grace was that the visitors who came today were not hostile.

For the sake of the kindness this village had shown them so far, the only way to repay it was to disappear as quickly and quietly as possible, ensuring no harm came to them.

On their way back from the outskirts of the village.

In the snow-covered distance, a massive shadow was waiting for Turner and Bertus.

"...Chief."

The village chief, who had promised to help them as much as he could, was waiting for them.

"So, who was the visitor?"

As always, the chief asked with a sly smile.

"An old friend...," Bertus replied.

"A friend, huh? Nice."

The chief laughed heartily.

The sound of the chief's hearty laughter echoed faintly throughout the snow-covered village, and the noise of the bustling crowd at the ongoing feast in a distant hall could be heard.

Leaning back, the chief spoke quietly from a place overlooking the village.

"Do you have a story?"

Bertus was at a loss for words at the chief's sudden question.

During the considerable time they had spent together, neither the chief nor anyone else in the village had ever asked such a question.

"…I can't say there isn't one."

"Yes, I suppose so."

How could someone who had to travel beyond this civilization not have a story?

And yet, even after coming this far, there was a visitor looking for him. How could there not be a story?

The chief put his hand on Bertus's shoulder.

The thick arm of the chief rested on his shoulder, while Turner watched the scene with a slightly anxious expression.

"So."

"…?"

"Does this village not have a story, too?"

For those who had fled beyond civilization, there must have inevitably been a story.

There was no way a village in the far reaches of the world, at the edge of the earth, would be without a story.

"Just as you didn't ask, neither did we."

Bertus and Turner knew the village was strange, but they never asked.

The villagers didn't ask them either.

"We don't know who you are."

"…"

"But you see."

While holding Bertus's shoulder, the chief pointed at the village.

"It's not necessary to know exactly who someone is to be their neighbor."

Bertus and Turner didn't know what the village was about.

But to repay the kindness and goodwill of the villagers, they were planning to leave the village so as not to cause any harm.

It was because they considered them their neighbors.

Even though they didn't know each other, they had become neighbors.

There was a story.

It wasn't necessary to know and understand each other's stories to accept them.

From the moment Turner had carried a faint Bertus across the snow-covered mountains and arrived here.

The villagers had accepted Turner and Bertus as their neighbors without wondering why.

They understood Turner's desperation, her urgency.

"The reason this village can exist is that we know that the colder it gets, the closer we have to stick together to survive."

In the cold, people had to live close to each other to survive.

This was such a community.

"No matter how small this village is, how scarce the food, how harsh the weather..."

The chief smiled.

"We can't turn away a handsome young man and a beautiful old woman whose eyes are suspiciously pretty."

"…!"

-Hahahahaha!

The chief laughed uproariously, and not just Bertus, but Turner's face turned pale as well.

Where on earth was this place?

Who were these people?

Who on earth was the chief?

Although they knew nothing.

In the end.

Just as the chief had never asked anything so far, Bertus never asked anything either.

The chief spoke.

"So, you don't have to leave."

Bertus and Turner felt as if those words were like a promise of divine protection.

"…Yes, Chief."

And so, they could only answer like that.

Turner and Bertus returned home.

Anna and Louis had come to visit.

And they came to realize that the place they had been staying in was an unknown village.

"What is this place?"

Although they had both been curious so far, now the space began to feel mysterious, like some enigma.

"I don't know."

The village chief hadn't told them not to leave.

He said they didn't have to leave.

Somehow, the chief's words without any guarantee reassured both Bertus and Turner that everything would be fine no matter what happened.

The chief promised to continue sheltering them, just as he had done so far.

An opportunity had come, and Bertus had refused it.

Whether that was right or wrong would never be known.

They had chosen the life of a fugitive and had been promised protection by someone.

So, in some unnamed village of this vast snowy expanse,

Life here would be what remained for Bertus and Turner.

"Did he... know who I am?"

"I'm... not sure."

The village chief had long known that Turner was much older than she appeared.

Did the other villagers know as well?

If the villagers had been playing along knowing this whole time, that would have been a really terrible joke.

Turner clenched his teeth, feeling both flustered and wronged.

They decided to stay in this village.

Honestly, they couldn't say that they hadn't been swayed.

Was there another chance?

An unexpected opportunity.

Just by imagining sitting in a place created by someone, they could plan for decades' worth of things they could do.

Since they could think of anything as long as they still had things to do.

But.

All those imaginings crumbled in an instant.

Turner's trembling fingertips, filled with anxiety.

The moment she barely touched his own hand, everything disappeared.

Some desperate will, asking not to do so, was conveyed through that single tremble.

It was no longer his place.

It could no longer be his.

All the fantasies about it vanished cleanly.

He had abandoned everything and left.

But, there were still things that remained.

There was some sanctuary in the place he had arrived at after running away.

And he hadn't arrived there alone.

There was no reason to fantasize or dream about something new.

He had chosen the life of a fugitive, and someone had always been with him along the way.

So, rather than putting on a new crown, he should cherish what remains.

Spending time with the remaining people and the remaining time was enough.

As he had told Anna.

Hadn't he answered that it was more than enough when she asked if he was satisfied with this?

More than enough.

An emperor who had lost everything.

The person who stayed by the side of the emperor who had become nothing.

Together with an overly generous person.

In an overly generous place.

Under the protection of some overly generous being.

How could he not feel a sense of excess that went beyond satisfaction?

Feeling guilty for being permitted such excess.

There was no need to hurt the world any further by dreaming of something more.

"Turner."

"...Yes?"

As Bertus approached, Turner's eyes filled with confusion.

Because it was a look he had never seen before.

"We..."

"..."

From that hesitant approach alone, she understood everything.

What he was trying to do.

What he wanted.

It felt like they knew.

"Ah, it's not possible... How, how could I dare..."

"...Why not?"

"Well... you, compared to someone like me... are much younger... and with such a person..."

As Turner's face turned pale and she stuttered, Bertus furrowed his brow.

"...Does that make sense?"

"...Excuse me?"

"If we're planning to live here for the rest of our lives, we have to pretend to be a married couple anyway."

"Ah."

It wasn't a situation where she could argue that wasn't the case.

"In this small village, are you suggesting we should have affairs?"

"No, not that... I mean..."

Bertus quietly sat down in front of Turner.

"We were asked to live, weren't we?"

"...Yes."

They had accepted that request.

And so, they had come this far.

"Then, can I ask you just one more favor?"

"Y-yes...?"

"I'm tired of hearing you say such things."

When would they do it?

When would it happen?

The message was clear enough just by asking those questions.

"...It's not impossible, you know."

They had spent years together.

Bertus, of course, knew that Turner was in many ways healthy.

"B-but! That's... that's... n-not... impossible, b-but... I've seen you since you were a baby! How could I...?"

"I don't care about that anymore."

"U-uh... You can't... you can't do this... please..."

Turner was on the verge of tears.

She couldn't push him away, nor could she not push him away.

She just started to choke up with a pale face.

If she pushed him away.

Since they wouldn't leave the village, they would have to pretend to be a fake married couple for the rest of their lives, and she couldn't force him to live celibate.

They said they loved each other.

Their love was so strong that those words were unnecessary for both of them.

There was no reason not to do it.

They had only pretended until now because Turner wanted to keep some sort of conscience intact, and Bertus respected that.

But now, Bertus didn't want to respect Turner anymore.

So in truth, it was the end of the story.

"I don't know, just stay still for now."

"B-but... that's... that's...!"

After that, like what she had just shouted with a red face at the banquet hall.

Every day.

In large quantities.

It was a huge mess.