Knight and Wand

Chapter 337: The End of Sword and Poetry
The prepared words sank into Leon's heart.

"I thought such a serious injury would at least prevent you from stepping into the battlefield for a long time, but next time, no matter whether you are prepared or not, I will show no mercy." Having said this, Olivia turned and left.

"Where's Lina?" Leon raised his voice: "Hawke, Aunt Milia, those who should have survived in Selva, and Uncle Brian, don't you want to restore their fate without suffering a disaster?"

He really doesn't have any more cards to choose from.

Seeing Olivia pause when she heard this, Leon could only hope that this bargaining chip would make her reconsider.

"I want them to survive more than anyone else." Olivia turned around and said, "But I saw the undead disaster in my dream.
Thousands of miles of fertile land turned into a dead zone. The dark clouds covering the sky made the southeastern land almost extinct. Countless innocent people died tragically in that disaster.

Restoring the fate you know means that nearly ten million people who are still alive in Vosleriya, Sobonitz, Shannan, Roslava, Vilan Valley, and Lumanthor will die.
Leon, is it fair to sacrifice the lives of millions or even tens of millions of people in order to keep those close to me alive?"

The girl's gaze and questioning left Leon speechless.

I recalled Olivia's decision on the meaning of revenge. Unexpectedly, the belief of putting justice above likes and dislikes has now become a gap between them.

It was only at this moment that Leon was certain that no matter how much the girl's personality had changed, her essence was still herself.

Olivia looked toward the sky where the sun was rising.

"In this world today, there is no so-called cursed land as in the dream, nor are there those terrifying 'spiritual demons', nor is there the kingdom of the dead entrenched in the south.

The path that can end the cycle of strife on earth is right in front of me. I have been through so much over the years. Now, I must continue to the end of this destiny. As you who once made the legendary oath of chivalry, you should know what is the right choice. "

Under the dazzling sunlight, the girl's blue eyes drooped. The vague dream did make her linger, but when the sun rose, she would eventually wake up from the dream.

"Not true!"

Olivia was stunned when she heard the other party's direct and harsh denial, and she couldn't help but look up.

Leon met that scrutinizing gaze, and his sincere black eyes gradually revealed a sigh: "Deciding right and wrong based on numbers is not right, it's just helpless."

As if he remembered the faith that the northern hero had spoken of, Leon felt a little nostalgic for his years of career as a ranger.

"Knights-errant don't make such calculations. As Sir Greenthorne said, in his eyes, there is no difference in the importance of one life, one thousand, ten thousand, one million, or even more lives.

Even if letting a person who shouldn't die die can save millions of people, the Knight-Errant should never do it. What we need to do is not to choose the lesser of two evils, but to prevent the two evils from happening in the first place and solve the real dilemma and problem.

Of course, now that I have broken my Ranger Oath, I am no longer qualified to discuss their beliefs, but—"

Leon, who realized the impact of his decision last night, had little hesitation about it.

“Olivia, we are not yet qualified to be the Holy King who judges all living beings, nor are we the gods who can protect all things!
No matter which fate I choose, I will choose to prioritize protecting the people around me whom I want to protect the most.

I cannot care for all existence in the world as impartially and selflessly as the sun.

Be it millions or tens of millions!
If I can help Lina, Uncle Brian and the others avoid this tragic end, even if all those who have been saved from death now have to return to the Dead Sea, I will choose to save my relatives and friends.

If we want to save the people around us, it means we have to kill millions of people with our own hands? Then, saving millions of people is equivalent to killing those who are still alive around us with our own hands, right? "

The deafening and earnest words pierced Olivia's reason and logic like a sharp sword. She frowned slightly, and a barely perceptible fluctuation flashed in her eyes, shaking her determination at the moment for the first time.

“But it has already happened.”

"That's just for you! In my opinion, why should we change the horrific consequences of the 'Great Evil' that have already killed tens of millions of people by having our surviving relatives and friends die as sacrifices?
Let the people we are supposed to protect become the price on the other side of the scale for the sins committed by those who led the disaster? Isn't this absurd! ! "

Leon said this angrily, almost in a scolding tone, and then he let out a long breath, without any confusion in his eyes.

After the other party mentioned the spiritual field and the demons that were causing trouble, Leon once again began to have deep doubts about Goliath's statement.

Everything related to the destruction of the Lorelit civilization did not exist. If the ancient civilization did not perish in the fall, how could it have become a tomb of ruins excavated by the Atias Empire? What kind of irreversible disaster did the Lorelit people encounter? Or did they flee this world like the dragons, the Heraen dwarves, and the Isulan elves?
There must be a reason why a wizard civilization as powerful as a god disappeared like smoke within thousands of years, and no matter what the reason was, it would not be less severe than the disaster brought about by the spirit-like fields and the ascending demons.

Moreover, a great magician as powerful as Lady Aphrodite, in order to fully summon the souls of the dead from the Dead Sea, has to make a contract with the Dragon of the Dead Sea and bear a huge price that he is not aware of to use the Neti Card to achieve it.

Can the magic in the palace reverse and reconstruct the fate of life and death of all creatures on this earth throughout the ages?

If there was a way to achieve this, why did Lady Aphrodite create the Neti card?

After all, I am a spellcaster who has difficulty even evaluating my position, but I can still activate this magic by brute force. Would it be more difficult for a great magician who is powerful enough to work miracles?
".If it's the way you weigh it, Olivia.

If the fate of a few people in Selva village were to change, the price would be the death of tens of millions of people again.

So what is the price the entire world has to pay to change the fate of everyone on earth?
What's on the other side of the scale at this moment?
What sacrifice was made in the original destiny in exchange for a future without demonic disasters?

I wonder if you can remember the warning in the magic book.

But the Dragon of the Dead Sea could not tolerate tens of millions of dead people trampling on the laws of life and death and returning to the world at no cost.

There is no magic in the world that can do this. My Neti cards can only call back their souls after death.

This is an ending that even the miracles of Lady Aphrodite cannot change.

If you firmly believe at this moment, now is the changed destiny.

Then you should know that this may have cost us mortals nothing to imagine.

At least, let's try to find out the truth instead of just going down the wrong path!"

Leon's voice echoed in the flying sand of the earth.

He had never believed everything Goliath said.

Now it seems that regardless of whether the poet has completely good intentions, even the purest altruistic good intentions are essentially selfish, whether it is for the purpose of gaining spiritual achievement and satisfaction or other more practical purposes.

If the mysterious poet knew the whole truth, then what was the purpose that supported his actions?

Since Goliath doesn't care so much about the change in his fate now, was last night's hint just sympathy for his current situation?

"You shouldn't face this burden alone. Whether it's the guilt of letting millions of lives fall asleep again or the vision of clearing up the chaos, we can face it together." Leon said solemnly, and slowly smiled in his memories. He took a step forward, and his sharp eyes softened: "Do you remember you once asked me about my vision?

All my friends and I no longer have to endure the disasters and misfortunes of the past, and no tragedy will happen around us. You said you would stand by me and help me achieve such a future.

You promised that you would stay with me no matter in the hot summer or the cold winter, no matter in the face of happiness or suffering, until the stars and the moon stop rotating.

Olivia, even if this is just a dream to you, it is still the reality and truth that I feel with my soul, and I will never give up on bringing you back to my side."

He walked straight towards the other person.

A dream that flashed like a colorful rainbow flashed through Olivia's mind. Her body stiffened slightly, and a conflicted look appeared on her face.

An inexplicable fear made her subconsciously take a step back and raise her right arm with her five fingers spread out.

Horrifying arcs of light burst out from her hands, and the vast magical power that was continuously drawn out stirred up a strong wind.

"——Back off! I told you I won't hold back this time!"

She warned without saying a word, and silently clenched her left hand into a fist. Her iron fingers creaked, and the uncontrolled force almost crushed the steel glove forged with moonfall mithril.

"Then do it. If you think it can still be measured in this way, my life is just that of one person. Compared with the survival of tens of millions of people, it is not worth mentioning." Leon came in front of Olivia with the wind of magic. He did not dodge or evade, but raised his hand to hold Olivia's wrist guard.

“It wasn’t a dream for me, I remember every word I said.

Olivia, you are my life, if you remember
I beg you to let me have you and your sword again."

As if something deeply touched the girl, her eyes trembled, and her right hand, which was summoning the holy sword, unconsciously paused for a few seconds.

The important and beautiful moment came to her heart, and the girl lowered her head, avoiding the surging love she had never experienced in this life.
It was as if the huge rock that I had been carrying for years was slowly crumbling, and the hesitation in my heart reached its peak at this moment.

After a long struggle, Olivia slowly raised her head.

The determination in his eyes has mostly faded, replaced by a sense of helplessness and grievance over the years.
Eyes red.——Angry?
“Back to you?

Then why do you leave me again and again? You bastard!!!"

He clenched his right hand and the light disappeared.

The next moment, at the end of Leon's consciousness, he only saw an iron fist that was getting bigger and bigger.

——Bang!

A meteor-like left hook hit Leon's face hard.

The man's handsome face slowly sank and distorted as his fist hit him.

Breaking through the air, Leon, who was caught off guard and lost consciousness, flew out like a spiral, kicking up a cloud of dust.
The top of the tower of the main fortress of Kalantar Fortress.

Goliad whistled.

Sitting sideways on the parapet, he gradually stopped plucking the strings of the guitar, and the melodious music gradually faded away in the wind.

He clicked his tongue in regret.

"Why didn't they fight? It would be exciting if the stomachs were ripped open and a river of blood flowed.
Forget it, I can’t taste the bitter wine, but the sour and sweet fruit wine is okay.”

Goliath looked up at the figure on the parapet: "It seems that after dragging on for so long, it is time for us to say goodbye."

High on the battlements.

A Goliad figure identical to the one was sitting on the outside with his legs dangling in the air, gently shaking his calves.

That "Gauliad" lowered his head, and looked at him with melancholy eyes full of attachment.

"Hiss, don't look at me like this. It makes me feel like I have some special hobby." Goliath took off his feather hat, his brows drooped, and his beard trembled.

"Um"

With a soft and long response, the figures who looked like twin brothers of a bard, the cynical and playful expressions on their faces gradually calmed down.

The body seemed to melt like snow, and the illusion that obscured the past slowly faded away.

Silver hair flutters in the autumn wind.

The tips of the two elegant little dragon horns reflect rainbow-like halos in the sunlight.

A pair of red vertical pupils looked at the figure buried in the years before them, as if they wanted to engrave the poet's appearance in their memory forever.

The silver-haired woman with dragon horns on her head finally spoke softly: "Then this time, it really is a farewell forever, Goliad."

"Don't say it so sadly, Celentia."

Goliath smiled his everlasting smile and plucked the strings of his harp once more.

"As long as you sing for me among the stars, my poems will always be with you."

I do not know how long it has been.

Leon opened his eyes.

Strange.
ceiling.
Well, and my right cheek is burning and painful.

It felt like someone had hit me hard with a war hammer, and my head was still buzzing.

The outline of Olivia's iron fist gradually emerged in my mind.

Leon slowly straightened up, feeling a little scared as if he had a psychological trauma.

If it weren’t for my current physical condition, an ordinary person’s head would definitely explode like a watermelon if hit by this.

However, the big lion held back in the end, otherwise the bones on his face would not be as intact as they are now.

"Fool, you rode out on your own with high spirits, but ended up being carried back with a pig's head on your head.
This is the first time I see you look so embarrassed. "

Little Ines, who was sitting beside the bed, poked Leon's face, which was swollen like a loaf of bread.

The girl's poking made Leon gasp for cold skin.

Queen Ines on the other side frowned slightly and slapped Princess Ines's hand away.

Leon glanced sideways and saw Little Ines glaring at Big Ines. He opened his mouth and was about to say something, but suddenly stopped.

A corner of the recuperation room.

There is a luster flowing there that cannot be ignored by anyone.

At the end of the long handle that can be held with both hands, a carving of a scorching sun is embellished in the center of the golden cross sword guard.

The cold and indestructible elegant sword blade glows dimly even in the shadows.

The Holy Sword of the Sun was leaning quietly against the wall like an ordinary decoration.

Following Leon's gaze, Queen Ines sighed.

"When I found you, the holy sword was thrown at you. You succeeded."

"."

Leon nodded silently. Olivia had made her attitude clear, and the tension in his heart finally eased.

Regardless of what Goliad said.

I finally got the key to restore everything.

(End of this chapter)