Chapter 74
I couldn’t raise my head, overwhelmed by emotions.
To say such words at this moment—
Wouldn’t people accuse me of saying this just to ease my own conscience?
I wasn’t expecting praise or kind words.
If that had been my goal, I would have simply shared lighthearted talks with my companions.
No matter what criticism came my way, I was prepared.
I was always ready to take the blame.
That’s the responsibility of being the commander of the faction.
While I was standing with my head bowed for a long time…
Clap. Clap. Clap.
The sound of applause filled my ears.
“Raise your head, Captain!”
“We should be thanking you! We survived at the Wind’s Stronghold because of you!”
“Thanks for leading us so well!”
Words of encouragement poured out toward me.
“Wendy! Wendy! Wendy!”
Voices chanting my name filled the air.
Tears welled up in my eyes before I could stop them.
I suddenly recalled what Xenon had said after we seized the Wind’s Stronghold.
The people I’ve gathered.
The people walking beside me.
Wendy Porcelain, fated to be a villainess, was no longer alone.
‘I used to hate melodrama like this.’
I hadn’t intended to create such a sentimental scene.
Wiping my tears with my sleeve, I slowly raised my head.
“Thank you so much.”
It might have seemed unnecessarily emotional.
But what could I do? This, too, was who I am.
“And now, as the commander you trusted and followed, I’d like to ask one favor.”
Even in their exhaustion, they looked at me with complete trust.
After glancing at them briefly, I sighed and continued.
“For our comrades who couldn’t be with us here today, I’d like to send them off properly.”
Those who had followed me to their final moments—
I had a duty to bid them a final farewell.
***
During the final battle, 17 comrades lost their lives.
Including Sienna, who died at the Wind’s Stronghold.
An altar was quickly prepared for the 18 fallen comrades.
Everyone busily gathered branches and usable materials to help.
The construction of the altar was led by Sylvester, who had access to the Junk Workshop,
And a few others with crafting skills.
Fortunately, thanks to the abundant supply of Magstone obtained at Fire’s Stronghold,
The altars were completed without much difficulty.
Eighteen altars, lined up in a row, each bore a wooden plaque inscribed with the name of the deceased.
“Uncle Karl…”
Among them was Karl’s name.
He was the man who, during the first stage, Forest of Spirits, abandoned Sylvester and Celestine and attacked us, manipulated by his constellation.
When the Black and White War began, he joined our faction.
During the final battle, he lost his life trying to save Celestine, who was under attack.
In his last moments, he handed Celestine a pendant containing a photo of his daughter,
And apologized.
‘Karl.’
A name belonging to an ordinary, unfortunate man swept away by this cruel world.
The other names inscribed on the plaques were likely no different.
Ordinary people leading ordinary lives, swept into calamity.
The weight of their names pressed heavily on my heart.
“Lyria, please.”
As I was offering my prayers, I turned to Lyria and asked for her help.
Lyria silently stepped forward, clasping her hands together,
And gentle flames engulfed the altars.
“Sniff… sob.”
As someone’s sobbing began, those gathered in the camp,
The survivors who must now bear the weight of these names,
Each offered their farewell in their own way.
“Phew…”
Standing before the altar, Chrissy breathed out,
And colorful phantom butterflies fluttered toward the sky.
“May your paths ahead be beautiful and peaceful.”
Eighteen blossoms, conjured by Yeriel’s fingertips, scattered gently into the flames.
‘Under the white moonlight, on the day we meet again, I will tell you: I missed you. I wanted to see you. I will tell you…’
Someone softly recited a widely known elegy.
‘May you rest in peace.’
I bowed my head slowly before their lives.
[The constellation, The Hearth of the Cosmos, adds her hearth flame to the altar.]
[The constellation, The Benevolent Father of Flames, adds his fire to the altar.]
[The constellation, The Abandoned Child, blesses their souls.]
[The constellation, The Guide of Reincarnation, blesses their souls.]
[The constellation, The Sage of Death, …]
[The constellation, The Versatile Youngest, …]
[The constellation, …]
While our comrades and the constellations who watched over them each paid their respects,
The warm flames honoring them burned for a long time, the color of the setting sun.
Just like the sunset I had first seen upon arriving here.
***
Crackle, crackle…
The flames on the altar quickly subsided.
And before long, darkness settled over the base camp.
The companions sat in silence, their faces heavy with sorrow.
Among them, one man looked at the scene with some dissatisfaction.
“What the hell is this?”
Darwin, who had somehow brought a massive oak barrel, bellowed in his booming voice.
“Do you think they gave their lives for this gloomy mess?”
Darwin, who had fought the most dangerous and daring battles at the frontlines,
Was now standing before them, covered in bandages from head to toe, his sturdy body battered.
“Do you think the ones who left us would want to see this?”
His rough words stirred the melancholy atmosphere in the base camp.
“Those who survived have the duty to remember the fallen. But you also have the duty to live happily for them!”
One by one, those who had been slumped over began to lift their heads.
Darwin slammed the oak barrel down with a loud thud,
And gradually, life returned to their faces.
“So let’s celebrate! We survived, and that’s worth celebrating.”
Though his words were crude and blunt, Darwin wasn’t wrong.
Honoring the fallen was important,
But lifting the spirits of the living was just as critical.
“Everyone, get up! There’s no time to waste lying around!”
Darwin tore off the barrel’s lid, and the rich aroma of alcohol spread through the air.
Those who had been slouching began to raise their heads.
“Darwin’s right.”
I, who had been leaning against a tree stump to rest, chimed in at that moment.
“We’re all survivors. Let’s celebrate properly.”
***
The once somber base camp quickly turned into a lively campfire, filled with the scent of alcohol.
“Ahhh.”
Darwin, who was the first to start drinking,
Sat on the ground and downed three cups in a row.
‘That stuff looks pretty strong.’
Though I hadn’t had a sip,
The sharp smell of the alcohol and the reactions of the others made it clear.
“Woo-hoo, I’m getting drunk!”
“Hold on, why do you have four arms now?”
Even those who had only had a couple of drinks were already staggering,
Proving just how potent this drink was.
“One more round~!”
Darwin kept pouring himself another cup,
And I watched, half in shock, until someone’s unexpected arrival made me tilt my head.
“Ah, someone here knows how to enjoy a drink.”
It was none other than Winfred.
Winfred plopped down beside Darwin, who was sprawled on the ground, chugging drink after drink.
Gulp, gulp.
Without hesitation, Winfred snatched Darwin’s cup and downed it in one go.
“Wait a second…”
Darwin, clearly not expecting his cup to be taken,
Looked genuinely flustered.
“Heh heh, drinks taste best when someone else pours them. What do you think? Care for another?”
Winfred filled a cup to the brim from the oak barrel,
Handing it to Darwin, who was still staring in disbelief.
After a moment of hesitation, Darwin took the cup,
And drank it all in one go.
Winfred, watching with satisfaction, looked at Darwin with an expectant smile.
“Well? Isn’t it better than drinking alone?”
“It definitely is…”
Darwin licked his lips as if savoring the taste,
And then raised his cup high.
“It’s better than drinking alone.”
“See? Told you so.”
The two of them, now sharing a camaraderie, put their arms around each other’s shoulders as they drank.
“Let’s drink!”
“Chug, chug, chug!”
Watching the two of them dancing with their drinks, I couldn’t help but feel both amused and exasperated.
“Big sister! Come here for a moment!”
Hearing Lyria call me, I turned to her with a smile.
—
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