◈ Episode 412. A Rosy Future (2)
Seric Rose offered his praise.
“Flame Emperor of William. You were not lacking as my first opponent. You, who have wholly mastered hellfire, could also be called a monarch praised by flame, could you not?”
Bensh had fought valiantly.
Even against Seric Rose, who had completely dominated Antonium, he had not been pushed back.
But what decided victory and defeat was not an advantage of attributes.
A rose blossom on a thorny vine.
Before anyone knew it, pollen had begun to drift from the blossom. The pollen targeted an opening in Bensh, who was focused on his battle with Seric Rose, and seeped into Bensh’s body with his breath.
And it drenched Bensh in rose.
“……!”
What Bensh saw in that rosy dream was his late mother.
“How was your day, Bensh?”
Her cheeks were not swollen.
There were no blue bruises on her neck or hands.
His mother, whole and unharmed, was seated at the table.
Beside her was his father.
“You worked hard.”
His pupils were not like glossy flames.
It was his father, looking at him with affectionate eyes.
Bensh realized at once that something was wrong. ‘……
This isn’t reality.’ He had to spring up from his seat immediately.
He had to finish the duel that had yet to be decided.
But a small hand caught the hem of Bensh’s clothes.
“Brother, where are you going?”
When he turned his head.
“……!”
A young Nash was looking up at him with tearful eyes.
Bensh recalled an emotion he had forgotten.
In order to survive.
Because he could no longer endure.
In the past, when he had gone to the Magic Tower.
He had left the main family under the pretext of cutting off the family’s corrupt practices.
Leaving Nash, who had only ever trusted and followed him, all alone. ‘Nash…….’ Not a single day had passed when he had not worried about his younger brother.
Because he could not know what humiliation Nash might be suffering in the family.
He had sincerely regretted his choice.
And yet, perhaps…… ‘Have I returned?’
To a past where he could correct that regret?
Damn it, his mind was unbearably confused.
But perhaps it did not matter.
“Then let’s eat.”
Bensh thought.
Even if this was false happiness.
For now, he did not want to wake.
Because he could feel such warmth....
“B-Brother!! Brother Bensh!!”
Around then, Bensh became a perfect rose blossom.
The hellfire went out in an instant.
The thorny vines began to writhe once more.
“Oh no.”
Following Nash.
Matisse and Bellier also realized the gravity of the situation.
They were seniors of the Magic Tower.
They had already been wary of the pollen drifting through the air.
Bellier bit her lip as she examined the collapsed Leonie. ‘It’s a status abnormality I’ve never seen before.’ Bellier could be called the pinnacle of healing magic on the current Arcana Continent without exaggeration. And yet, Bellier could not even guess what kind of status abnormality had caused Leonie, who had inhaled the pollen, to collapse.
[Status abnormality, ‘Eternal Sleep,’ occurs.]
“Miss Leonie…….” Even the high-level healing magic, 『Blessing of Reversal』, which could make one forget even [Fear], showed no effect. Bellier gently laid Leonie down and came to a conclusion. ‘Could Senior Bensh have inhaled this pollen as well……?’ Under normal circumstances, he would have detected the pollen.
But Bensh had poured all his strength into facing Seric Rose before him. Because of that, he had not realized that the pollen was coiling around him.
Though she did not know the details, Bellier made her decision. ‘We have to settle this here.’ Everyone except her had been knocked unconscious by the pollen.
Even so, if it was Senior Bensh, who had awakened as the Flame Emperor.
He must have dealt no small amount of damage to their opponent.
“I believe in you, Senior Bensh.”
Bellier immediately manifested a portal.
“I will provide support at once.”
Matisse came to the same judgment as she did and manifested a portal.
He faced Bellier.
Soon, they saw a man kneeling on the dirt.
“Brother…….”
It was Nash.
His ability was at about the level of a skilled mage.
His state made it clear that he was forcing himself to hold on. His barely open eyes were fixed on a rose blossom hanging alone in midair. Matisse did not delay.
“Rule.”
He spoke his activation word.
“You may run wild.”
Ssssss.
Then, from the black formal robes he wore.
The past and background that Matisse had sealed began to flow out.
From the days when he had wandered the Arcana Continent to establish black magic.
The suitable mana he had accepted came pouring forth.
Seric Rose noticed Matisse’s aura.
“The Flame Emperor, and next a gloomy mage.”
Seric Rose seemed to have much to say, but he did not continue.
Matisse manifested suitable mana.
Dark Spear (暗槍).
He fired it toward Seric Rose.
Spears of darkness.
Each one contained the cruel past of the continent. The instant they touched skin, they should be able to collapse the target’s mind. Seric Rose looked at the dark spears rushing toward him and said,
“What a tragic tale.”
Pupupupuk— Then he received the dark spears with his own body.
“!”
Matisse’s pupils trembled.
Crack.
The body of Seric Rose, pierced by the dark spears, was hard to call human.
For rather than blood gushing forth, only the sound of something embedding itself into wood rang out.
But it did not matter.
The founder of black magic.
Even he could not be free of that influence. It was suitable mana he had suppressed by even manifesting sealing magic. After being pierced by dark spears imbued with such brutal history, no one could maintain a sound mind……
“But grieve no longer.”
Crack— ‘……
What?’
Unlike Matisse’s expectations, the dark spears shattered to pieces.
What that meant was simple.
It meant Seric Rose’s mind had overcome the suitable mana.
Seric Rose looked at Matisse and continued.
“Nameless gloomy mage. In my stead, you gathered up the sorrow and dreadful past spread across the Arcana Continent. Like the Flame Emperor, I shall give you the opportunity to choose.”
The choice was the same as it had been for Bensh.
“Is what you desire eternal happiness, or a hollow truth?”
Matisse did not answer.
The only thought in his head was how he should manifest the remaining suitable mana. The most powerful was, as expected, the high-level black magic, 『Blackout』.
It was similar to the effect of 『Black Coffin』, which stole the target’s senses.
But Blackout stole everything, including the target’s senses.
However. ‘Manifesting Blackout requires time.’ Had she perceived Matisse’s thoughts?
Step— Bellier took one step forward.
“Eternal happiness? Can you give such a thing?”
Senior Bensh, who had awakened as the Flame Emperor.
Senior Matisse, who had released his sealing magic.
Both were struggling against the unidentified being wearing a crown of thorns. ‘Needless to say, I am no exception.’ A healing mage.
The combat magic she could manifest was only at the level of a skilled mage. Bellier coolly finished grasping the situation. More specifically, she put into practice what she had to do.
“Before that, who are you?”
Even if he deemed her insolent and took her life.
Bellier dared to ask the question.
For Matisse.
And for Hoyeol, who had said he would return in four days.
Seric Rose answered.
“Seric Rose. As you can see, the emperor of the Empire.”
“Seric Rose? The emperor I know is not you.”
“You know the emperor? Regrettably, the emperor you know no longer exists in the Empire. Unable to bear its weight, he laid down the emperor’s crown of his own accord. Yet no one could condemn him as weak.”
The Library of the Former Emperors; he divulged its truth himself.
“For all seven emperors, including him, could not endure the weight of the crown. In a way, is it not only natural and pitiable? Humans are imperfect, weak beings.”
“……!”
Wait, did that mean there was not only one emperor sacrificed to him?
Because she had not looked into the Library of the Former Emperors.
Bellier, unable to know the truth, asked again.
“You say they couldn’t endure it, but didn’t you just steal it with some pathetic trick?”
It was a kind of provocation.
By provoking him.
She wanted to draw out his true form, his shame.
Not the attitude of looking down on them from beginning to end.
But the Lord of Roses did not waver in the slightest.
“It is understandable that you would misunderstand. However, remember this. I merely answered the requests of weak emperors. Can you imagine the anguish borne by the emperors of the Empire? I know it. For I bestowed wisdom upon them in the Library of the Former Emperors.”
“……
The Library of the Former Emperors?”
At those words, Nash gritted his teeth.
“You were…… lurking in the Library of the Former Emperors……?”
Seric Rose stroked his chin.
“Lurking, you say. I do not find the expression satisfactory. Surely there is a better way to put it, imperial palace mage? I merely observed and offered it. To the seven emperors, I offered the wisdom to govern the Arcana Continent and the Empire in peace. And yet…….”
He added firmly toward Nash.
“Despite my mercy, did the Empire not, in the end, reach its limit? Yes. I could no longer bear to watch the people of the Empire suffer. Rather than abandon my people on the Arcana Continent where demons roam, I shall bestow upon them an unwaking eternal dream, a rosy future.”
“……!!!”
They realized why the people of the Empire had collapsed as if falling into a deep sleep.
With such peaceful expressions.
They were dreaming an endless, happy dream.
All who had turned into rose blossoms.
At that moment, Nash’s pupils shook. ‘Then Brother Bensh too…….’ Was he enjoying the happiness he had never even dreamed of?
Then did he have the right to wake his brother from his sweet sleep?
His brother, who had suffered trials both in the family and in the Magic Tower—how could he dare……
“Imperial Palace Mage Nash William.”
At Matisse’s call, Nash flinched.
“……
Yes, I’m listening.”
“How much mana do you have remaining?”
“I am ashamed to say almost none.”
“Can you manifest Teleport?”
“If it is a short distance and for one person, then……”
“Then I ask this of you.”
High-level black magic.
Matisse, having completed the interference for Blackout, looked at Seric Rose.
Even if he had to borrow Nash’s imperfect strength.
Even if he had to conserve the mana that would be wasted on manifesting Teleport.
He had to drive it in all at once.
He had to pour it into that creature’s mind.
“Do not waver.”
Matisse added.
“Eternal happiness does not exist, Nash William.”
Because that creature seemed to possess an extremely dangerous ideology.
Soon, Matisse’s body was wrapped in Nash’s mana.
Teleport manifested.
Swish.
In an instant.
Matisse teleported behind Seric Rose and raised his hand.
Aiming at the back of Seric Rose’s head, he manifested Blackout.
Flash.
Suitable mana covered Seric Rose as though spewing ink.
As stated, the target should have been deprived of everything.
Yet Seric Rose calmly opened his mouth.
“Did I not tell you, gloomy mage? I can bestow eternal happiness. Thus, no matter what cruel past and background suitable mana may possess, it has no meaning before me.”
Black magic manifested through suitable mana cannot be defended against with ordinary magic. Healing it is one thing, but completely repelling it should be impossible. But if Seric Rose’s words were true. ‘Did he offset it with this thing called eternal happiness……?’ As if to prove those words.
“……!”
Matisse’s ring, which had been stained black, gradually began to lose its light.
It was an observation-type magic tool capable of detecting suitable mana in the area.
Seric Rose spread both arms and spoke.
“Look. It is no petty trick.”
Matisse’s gaze turned toward the rose blossoms.
“Look. Is everyone not dreaming of happiness?”
Matisse could not reply.
Those covered in petals.
Did they truly have no lingering attachments or regrets?
Not a single speck of suitable mana could be detected from the blossoms. ‘……
What on earth?’
The Lord of Eternal Roses.
“I merely wish for the happiness of the people. Even if it is a dream, what is wrong with that? What do you expect of the pitiable people on this wretched continent?”
Seric Rose asked Matisse and Bellier, whose gazes had lost focus.
“Even if it is a dream.”
And then Nash, who had collapsed.
“What is wrong with my mercy, mages?”*
“It is wrong in every conceivable way.”
So that was how it had happened.
After receiving a rough account of the situation, I murmured.
With utmost seriousness.
“My flower garden.”
I delivered my assessment.
“Is filled with flowers that cannot be exchanged for mere roses.”...
The Flame Emperor of the William family.
The rose blossom that had held Bensh twitched.
More precisely.
It began to blaze with fire.
Burning the rose petals that had covered him.
Without leaving a trace.
“Flame Emperor.”
With fire (火),
he made a flower (花)
bloom.
“What suits that name is heat, is it not?”
To a degree that could not be compared with mere roses.
“Not some lukewarm warmth.”
Fiercely.
Fwoosh—!