- [STAGE 3] The Road (2)
Evangeline has collapsed and fainted.
No wonder. She’s injured all over, and she’s still fighting, so it’s a wonder she didn’t faint.
I took off my cloak and draped it over Evangeline’s body. It’s getting cold. We should start a bonfire.
“Where’s the firewood and… my torch?”
I saw the blue flame torch on the ground over there. It’s not going out, it’s still burning.
I picked it up and made a few big circles overhead.
It was a sign that we were safe. Damien would recognize it.
A moment later,
Blink!
A light flashed from the castle. That means they’ve received our signal.
And then the next signal came in,
Twinkle. Twinkle. Twinkle.
Three flashes.
It was a sign of a successful defense. Apparently, they’d done well too.
“Whoa…….”
I felt a little relieved.
I was so relieved that my entire body was drained of energy. I stood up on wobbly legs.
This was finally coming to an end.
‘You really scraped the bottom of the barrel…….’
I had two last-minute insurance policies.
One was Damien’s support fire.
From here to Crossroads is about 12 kilometers along the road. In a straight line, it’s about 10 kilometers.
Given that the longest sniper shot on Earth is 3.5 kilometers, a 10-kilometer call for backup is insane.
There’s no way a bullet could physically arrive before you can see it.
But Damien can shoot and hit if he sees it. The [clairvoyant] calibration is so far beyond common sense.
‘I can’t ask him to do this so many times.
It must have taken a lot out of Damien just to fire this one shot. But I asked, because it was urgent.
One shot.
To make it easier for Damien, I decided to signal him with a blue torch after dark.
The result. Brilliant. I’ll give him a lot of credit when I get back.
‘And the final insurance policy is…….’
As I gathered firewood and lit the torch, I glanced to the side.
There, passed out, was Evangeline, asleep, making color-coded sounds.
This is my last insurance policy.
Or, to be more precise, Evangeline’s dedicated set equipment buried here was my insurance.
I carefully removed the spear and shield from Evangeline’s unconscious hands. Options flashed before me.
[Cross Family Spear (SR) Lv.30].
– Classification: Cavalry Spear
– Attack: 25-30
– Durability: 3/30 <Needs repair!>
– A weapon exclusive to the character Evangeline Cross.
– Upgrade to unlock true abilities.
[Cross Family Shield (SR) Lv.30]
– Category : Shield
– Defense: 25-30
– Durability: 2/30 <Needs repair!>
– Armor specific to the character Evangeline Cross.
– Upgrade to unlock true abilities.
> Set Effect: Heir to House Cross (2/2)
– Exclusive set effect for the character ‘Evangeline Cross’.
– If this character wears both items at the same time, they gain the exclusive Talent “Crossroads”.
All SSR-tier characters have their own Exclusive Gear.
This is usually a piece of equipment that has a narrative connection to the character and has an exclusive talent or exclusive effect attached to it.
It’s meant to maximize the character’s strengths or, conversely, cover their weaknesses.
“This is why SSR guys are so good.”
While there are plenty of heroes in the SR tier that are excellent in terms of character performance, it’s the presence or absence of exclusive gear that makes SSR characters stronger.
So, Evangeline’s exclusive trait – this [Crossroads], which is exactly the same as the city’s name – is an object.
[Crossroads] <Exclusive to ‘Evangeline Cross’>
– A talent that blossoms from the accumulated karma of the Cross family, who have killed monsters and protected people.
– Allows you to identify the best course of action in any combat environment and move with it.
– Continuously consumes MP when activated.
The path of the Cross family.
The accumulated experience of all Cross family members before you. It was crystallized in Evangeline’s generation.
No matter what the combat environment, she can always put her best foot forward.
“Evangeline said she could see the way.”
It’s complicated, but it’s a self-buff. It’s a self-buff that doubles your combat effectiveness.
It doesn’t last long, though, as Evangeline isn’t a character with a huge mana pool.
“In the game, it was a set equipment that you could get by just getting Evangeline and being loyal.”
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I didn’t think I’d be burying them in her father’s grave this time around, and I was horrified when I first saw it.
‘It allowed us to finish the battle.’
I glanced at Cross’s grave, where the side of the tombstone was dented. Still, I did it to save your daughter, so you won’t be mad at me, will you?
“Oh, my God, my back.”
Fatigue washed over my body. A dull ache radiated through my shattered left arm.
If I treat it properly later, it’ll really hurt.
“I hope the city is unharmed.”
In the distance, I could see flames rising from the city walls.
It was a good sign, but the battle wasn’t over yet. They’re probably still dealing with the last of the golems.
‘……Well done.’
Looking at it objectively and dispassionately, the city’s forces are more than adequate.
Lucas has Jupiter, Lily, and Damien.
We’ve got a bunch of water-based equipment and artifacts that we’ve been sweating over for the last two weeks. The walls are fully repaired.
You’ll do fine without me.
I have to believe that.
I have to trust my party.
Let’s get some rest…
Reaching for the campfire, I begin to doze off.
Fatigue washed over me in waves….
***
I dream.
In my dream, I see a child lying in a hospital bed.
He’s wearing an oxygen mask, his hair is shaved, his eyes are closed, and he’s asleep.
Beep-beep-beep.
A regular mechanical sound rings in my ears.
I stand beside the bed and stare down at the child.
Beep-beep-beep.
Only the sound of the machine, repeatedly pounding my ears.
Beep-beep-beep.
beep-beep-beep-…….
***]
Boom!
I wake up with a yelp.
It’s still dark out. Judging by the stars, it’s been a while.
“Ugh.”
I felt warm and turned around to find a cloak draped over my shoulders. Didn’t I give this to Evangeline?
“You’re awake.”
I heard a gruff voice in front of me.
I turned to see it was Evangeline. She’s walking with a limp, gathering firewood from around her. When did she wake up?
“Are you feeling better?”
“I got some sleep, and I’m feeling better. It’s not like I’m going to die….. What about you?”
“Not bad for someone who killed 50 golems.”
I chuckled through the stinging pain in my left arm. Evangeline snorted.
“You don’t have to pretend to be strong.”
“What do you mean?”
“Hmph…….”
Evangeline tossed the firewood she was carrying into the bonfire. The flames quickly grew stronger, spreading warmth in all directions.
Stuffing her hands deep into the pockets of her mangled jacket, Evangeline blew out her breath. Haaaaah…..
“Do you think we’ll have to stay here tonight?”
“Probably. We can’t go back until the situation in the city is over.”
“I hope those guys will be okay…….”
“They’ll be better than us, don’t worry.”
That was it. Evangeline’s stomach made a thunderous gurgling sound.
Almost simultaneously, my stomach made a soft gurgling sound.
“…….”
“…….”
Evangeline glared at me. What. What, asshole.
“I’m hungry.”
“So am I.”
“You’re such a good cook.”
“You’re a graduate of the Academy, too, so I’m sure you’ve learned how to make a campfire meal, right?”
Then Evangeline flicked her hand up.
“Scissors.”
“Uh, no, really, that’s what you’re going to settle on?”
“Rock.”
“Wait, wait, wait, I don’t know the rules around here, but does rock beat scissors, scissors beat rock, rock beat scissors, rock beat scissors?!”
“Bo!”
I held out the rock, and Evangeline held out paper.
“Hehe.”
Evangeline shrugged triumphantly.
For a moment, I thought too much, wondering if the rules of rock-paper-scissors were different on Earth. They’re the same!
Trudging back to the cottage, I rummaged through the kitchen cupboards, grabbed a few things, and returned to the campfire.
“It’s old.”
What I brought back was a glass and a bottle of whiskey.
And a bag of dried fruit. Evangeline didn’t hide her disappointment.
“That’s all you got?”
“Be thankful there’s anything left in this mess.”
“The liquor is mine, the fruit bag is yours.”
Accepting the bag of dried fruit, Evangeline coldly pulled one out, popped it into her mouth, and spat it out in disgust.
“Yuck, tut tut, it tastes awful, what is that!”
“It’s fruit from your father’s harvest.”
At my words, Evangeline stiffened in her spitting position.
“He had been chewing on it every day.”
“……Seriously, being foolish is so damn stupid, old man.”
Evangeline hesitated before pulling out another piece of dried pulp and shoving it into her mouth.
“……!”
Her face flushed red and she crumpled and unfurled it repeatedly, but she finally managed to swallow it without spitting it out.
“Ew…… yuck…….”
Huffing and puffing with her short tongue out, Evangeline gestured toward the glass in my hand.
“Give me a drink too, I have a bad taste in my mouth and need something to drink.”
“This is alcohol, you’re underage.”
“Who cares, I lived and died.”
Evangeline looks defeated.
“You told me earlier to try everything, everything I’ve never tried. Don’t waste your life with regrets.”
“…….”
“I get it now, there are things I want to do and it’s stupid to hold back, I’m not going to hold back anymore, I’m going to do everything.”
Evangeline waved her hand toward her drink.
“Oh, never mind, give it to me already~!”
“The blood on your forehead hasn’t even dried up…….”
I clicked my tongue and poured a small amount of alcohol into the glass.
“Just one sip.”
Taking the glass, Evangeline closed her eyes tightly and downed it in one gulp. Oh, good~.
“Fuha~!”
She spits out her breath, making a strange sound. This liquor is strong, are you okay?
“It really…… tastes like shit!”
“Well, it is.”
“No fruit, no booze, horrible flavor.”
Handing the glass back to me, Evangeline put her hand to her forehead.
She was already getting drunk from her first drink, and she blushed.
“Did my dad eat and drink something like this every day?”
“…….”
“And he stayed in this city for three more years like that?”
“Chewing the dirt, drinking the dust, doing his job every day without looking back, without running away, even if he wanted to.”
I smirked, pouring myself a drink in the returned glass.
“Because that’s being an adult.”
“I don’t want to be an adult.”
“Haha. You sound cute.”
But Neverland doesn’t exist, and every Peter Pan has to let Tinker Bell go.
Everyone grows up.
I didn’t have to tell her that brutal truth. The girl in front of me needed to realize it for herself.
Cradling her flushed cheeks in her hands, Evangeline began to babble in a broken voice.
“……Yes, actually. I knew.”
“About what?”
“I knew…… that Dad was sneaking out of the house every night, spending the night here in front of Mom’s grave.”
Evangeline turned her head slowly. She could see the tombstones of Mr. and Mrs. Cross standing side by side.
“Even if he was going on a forward base inspection instead of a funeral, even if he wasn’t crying out loud, he was crying inside. That’s the kind of man my dad was. I knew it.”
Evangeline’s small hands slowly covered her tiny face.
“I still hate you, so I wish you were alive and in front of me, so I could hate you to my heart’s content. I wish you’d give me the chance to be a bad daughter, and I wish you’d be mad at me for being one.”
“…….”
“I don’t want to do it anymore. I don’t want to resent myself, I don’t want to miss myself. I, just…….”
The monologue turned into a child’s wail.
“I miss you…….”
“…….”
“I miss mommy, I miss daddy…… I miss…….”
Evangeline started sobbing under her breath.
I didn’t try to comfort her. I left her to cry alone.
In this cold world, in this harsh world.
To chew the dirt and breathe the dust and endure.
Because it is Evangeline herself…… who will have to grow up and live alone.
“I miss you, Daddy…….”
Sobbing, Evangeline fell into a drunken sleep. Squatting down, she buried her head in her lap.
After wrapping my cloak back around the child’s back, I grabbed my flask and glass and stood up.
Walking over to the tombstones, I opened the flask and splashed the liquor over the tombstone.
“…….”
I poured the rest of the liquor into my glass and swallowed it down. Feeling my stomach grow hot, I slowly turned to the east.
In the distance, the eastern sky was opening up white. It was dawn.
Dag-dag, dag-dag…….
Under that brightening sky, I could see my soldiers running down the road in the distance.
I grinned and waved wildly. I could see the relief on the face of Lucas on the lead horse.
Another stage was coming to an end.
[Translated by Mashine. Proofread by: WebTrashTranslation]
