Chapter 405

Words : 2601 Updated : Oct 13th, 2025

Isabella and Leslie agreed to Belkart’s sincere persuasion. The two children held hands and slowly walked beyond the breached barrier. Belkart watched their retreating figures endlessly. While the children smiled at each other as if delighted, they occasionally looked back to check on Belkart as if something was bothering them. “It’s alright.” Belkart waved his hand at the children, telling them not to worry. The children seemed to trust this gesture and eventually quickened their pace, running beyond the foggy barrier. -Pitter-patter. Even their tiny footsteps faded away beyond reach. Though the distance wasn’t far, the disappearance of sound created an indescribable sense of remoteness. In the sight of his two departing friends, Belkart saw an old scene overlapped. The two children had transformed into adults in an instant. The two looked happy. Holding hands with their loved ones, walking toward that light was the salvation he had so desperately wanted. When his friends had completely disappeared, Belkart finally let out the cough he had been holding back. Blood flowed from his mouth as he coughed roughly. It meant even his internal organs were completely damaged. Though it signified an irreversible death, a smile never left Belkart’s lips. “Finally, I wasn’t too late.” Wiping away blood while muttering, Belkart leaned against a large tree trunk with staggering steps. His body, having reached its limit, now struggled even to stand still. As he closed his eyes and steadied his breathing, Belkart faintly opened his eyes at the presence he felt beside him. “Rudger, is it you?” Rudger stood silently beside Belkart without answering. The two were quiet for a while. A wind blew across the forest, scattering leaves. Along with the sound tickling their ears, mana gradually began to fill the atmosphere. The pure white fog barrier in front of them was completely restored. “It was a life full of regrets. There wasn’t a single day I didn’t regret my choices.” Though it was an abrupt statement, Rudger listened to those words silently. “Originally, Isabella shouldn’t have died. Because I was the one who should have gone to the Kasar Basin that day. But I got busy with a magic thesis, and Isabella went instead. If I had gone that day, she wouldn’t have been caught up in all this.” That was Belkart’s first regret. He thought Isabella’s death was his fault. “Then Leslie came to me while I was in despair. While I was drowning in despair for a year, Leslie was diligently researching the Kasar Basin, holding onto hope that Isabella might still be alive.” “......” “Leslie told me that we might be able to find Isabella. That we might be able to see Isabella’s soul through the mysterious phenomena of the Kasar Basin. So asked me to go with him. Saying that if I helped, there could be a chance to prove their hypothesis. But I didn’t help.” Belkart’s second regret was related to Leslie. Leslie asked Belkart to overcome his grief and search for Isabella, but Belkart couldn’t do it. “Leslie is strong and much more steadfast than someone like me. I respected Leslie, but at the same time, I was jealous, because he had things I didn’t possess.” So he rejected Leslie’s proposal. But Leslie didn’t give up. He persistently tried to persuade Belkart and insisted that his hypothesis was quite possible. “I was vaguely tempted by that claim too but I couldn’t stake everything on an unfinished hypothesis, so I gave up but Leslie didn’t give up and headed to the Kasar Basin.” Leslie went missing. At that moment, Belkart realized his mistake. He had let his last remaining friend leave too. It wasn’t just letting them leave. His two friends were trapped in the prison called Kasar Basin, not even allowed to rest in peace. “My jealousy, selfishness, and stupidity drove my friends to death.” Born from self-loathing and regret, Belkart inherited Leslie’s research materials about the Kasar Basin. He explored the Kasar Basin while searching for ways to save his dead friends’ souls but the wall of cruel reality was high. His mind wore down and broke as he suffered and blamed himself countless times. The only thing that allowed him to endure it was his single-minded determination to save his friends. That was all. “Then I met that person. The one who guided my path and showed me direction.” “Zero Order.” “Yes. He taught me what I needed to do. In return, I worked as his agent, waiting for today.” Belkart met Zero Order and became a First Order. Taking the codename [Leslie] was after the friend he was most jealous of, yet also acknowledged. Belkart had made thorough preparations over many years to save Isabella and Leslie. For himself, who had only received help from the two, to help them for the first time. “Then one day, Elder Limrei came to find me. He said he knew about me, about what I was trying to do and asked to be included in it.” Belkart smiled as if still remembering that day. -I’ll take care of things at the mansion. -Given your skills, there’s no need for you to take such risks, Elder. I’ll do it. Limrei shook his head at Belkart’s words. -Our goals are the same. The salvation of my daughter, Isabella. But I have an ill fate that needs to be resolved. While you’ve lived only for salvation, I have another reason: revenge. -You could die if something goes wrong. There’s no revenge or anything if you die. -When people live long enough, they come to know when their end will be. And where they’ll meet it too. It’s like an unavoidable fate. So one must willingly endure it. That place suits me. -But... -Choosing where to die is an old person’s final privilege. Don’t interfere with even that. Belkart couldn’t say anything in response. In the end, Limrei successfully completed his role. Now only he remained. The journey until now and the long days of suffering would end today. “Was it simply because they wanted to be liberated?” Rudger muttered those words while looking at the fog dome covering the entire Kasar Basin. Belkart weakly nodded. “Yes. The worst thing I’ve done, for just two people. Saying I would save two souls who were already dead, I tried to kill thousands of people who participated here. No, if the Kasar Basin collapsed, even more people would have died.” Belkart wasn’t ignorant of what he was trying to do. He initiated everything while facing that truth, knowing it better than anyone, simply wishing for his two friends to be liberated. “The death of those two wasn’t your fault. It was just an accident.” After hearing Belkart’s story, Rudger calmly murmured. The deaths of Isabella and Leslie were certainly tragic but it was purely an accident. At least while the Truth Faction was involved in Isabella’s death, Belkart had no need to take responsibility for it at all. “Yet you still took action. Even knowing it was the wrong path, you walked a thorny path while blaming yourself. Even though there would be no salvation for you at its end.” Belkart would die alone here and naturally the souls of those who die in the Kasar Basin remain trapped here forever. Isabella and Leslie were saved by Belkart but who will save Belkart’s soul? “Why do you choose such foolishness yourself?” “Then let me ask you. Why didn’t you kill me earlier when you could have, and instead stepped aside?” Instead of answering, Belkart turned the question back to Rudger. “Even though I’m dying, from your position of having fought me like that, you must have wanted to kill me more than anyone, yet you didn’t. Moreover, you even brought Isabella to me.” “......” “You didn’t need to let me save my two friends. You could have killed me and liberated their souls yourself instead. Yet you gave me the chance.” As he continued speaking, Belkart smiled wryly. “In the end, you’re the same as me.” Even though there was no salvation at its end. Even though he knew he could lose his life. He resolved to walk this path. “To help precious people, to choose foolishness, does one need a reason?” That’s how humans are. For one precious person, they can sacrifice others endlessly, while not forgetting that the arrow could turn back on themselves, even if the beneficiary doesn’t want it. They push forward with terribly selfish actions. “That’s what love is.” Rudger didn’t answer. There was neither agreement nor denial but even without words, Belkart could tell that his answer was sufficient for Rudger’s question. “Though you’re not a real First Order, since you go by that name, Zero Order must have approved it. So even someone like me will cheer you on.” Fight. And don’t stop. Belkart’s voice, muttering as if deflated, thundered loudly in Rudger’s mind. *cough* A handful of blood poured from Belkart’s mouth. “...I’m tired. I should rest now.” “Yes. I’ve talked too much to someone who’s hurting.” “Consider it a good experience before death.” Belkart’s head gradually lowered. His face was pale from lack of blood. “Go. This is an eternal prison. A living person shouldn’t be in a place where sinners like me should stay.” Footsteps grew distant at those words. Belkart smiled self-mockingly as he listened to the sound of Rudger leaving. -I made a promise, but. Humans are truly selfish. He, who liberated his two friends’ souls from this prison, and finally let them meet, was satisfied with that. He thought he was satisfied. But now that he’s about to die, why does he want to see those two again? At that moment, Belkart’s body shook violently. In a world now blurry and full of darkness, Belkart became terribly frightened. The delayed side effects of Victor’s medicine had finally erupted. “Where...is this?” He couldn’t remember anything. Why was he here? Why did his body hurt so much, and why couldn’t he see anything? Belkart’s mind had now returned to when he was 7 years old. No, it was even more serious. Belkart had forgotten even his own name. The only thing his broken brain remembered was that he had friends. “Kids. Where are you?” Belkart cried out like a child. “Leslie! Isabella! Don’t leave me behind!” Belkart flailed his hands. In the darkness where nothing could be seen, 7-year-old Belkart was alone. “Please. Don’t leave me behind...” As Belkart’s sobbing body tilted heavily to the side. At that moment, there were hands supporting his falling body. “W-who are you? Are you my friend?” “No.” “I can’t see anything. W-where is this? Where are my friends? Please help me. I, I want to meet my friends. I...!” Belkart begged the man who helped him with both hands but his voice gradually diminished toward the end. His remaining life force had been completely depleted. “Please...” Belkart muttered like someone whose soul had left them. Rudger, who had been silently watching this, opened his mouth. “You committed a great wrong. A wrong that’s hard to forgive. What’s happening now is the price for that deed.” “I, I don’t know. I don’t know anything!” “Even if you don’t remember, that’s the truth. What you did doesn’t disappear. And you will probably be punished for a long time.” “Why, why only me...” “But.” The wind blew. “Even so, punishment eventually ends.” “......” “Everything is like that. Even current pain and suffering disappear with time. Farewells too. If you endure and wait, surely someday there will be a day to meet again.” Because nothing in this world is eternal. This eternal prison is the same. “Child. The world won’t forgive you. But not everyone will point fingers at you. At least your friends will wait for you, forgive you, and accept you.” “...Really? Will my friends wait for me?” “Yes. You were always late anyway. Your friends will understand. So close your eyes peacefully.” At those words, Belkart slowly closed his eyes. His breathing became steady before faintly stopping. “This moment’s nightmare will be nothing once you wake up. So wait.” Rudger carefully laid Belkart down on the fallen leaves. Belkart’s expression was serene like someone at peace. In his final moment, Belkart was able to die as Belkart. The wind stopped as if he had never existed in that place from the beginning and even Belkart’s corpse had vanished as if already pushed away. * * * Rudger walked toward the forest’s edge. With the mysterious phenomenon gradually strengthening now, he would get caught up in it if he didn’t return to the forward base. But Rudger had to stop in his tracks. A massive beast was blocking his path, revealing its presence before him. Such towering height that one had to raise their head quite high to meet its eyes. The giant deer with a mane mixed of white and sky blue colors stood still in place, looking down at Rudger. “Are you trying to express gratitude or something?” Though Rudger asked assuming it wouldn’t understand his words, surprisingly, the Spirit Beast nodded its head in affirmation to Rudger’s words. As its head moved, the resonance flowing from its golden antlers scattered in the air like a heat haze. “...You understand words?” The Spirit Beast gave him a look as if asking if that was really the issue. Rudger thought he had asked something unnecessary. After all, it wouldn’t be strange for a Spirit Beast that had lived so long to possess intelligence beyond humans. -Woong. The Spirit Beast released mana from its body and imbued it with will. That was how the Spirit Beast conveyed its thoughts to humans. Though Rudger didn’t hear the Spirit Beast’s words, he could understand their meaning. It was expressing gratitude to him now. “I didn’t do it thinking to receive such thanks. I did it all to survive.” -Woong. “So you’re saying you still received help. But from what I can see, you don’t seem able to do anything for me right now.” -Woong. “You’ll grant one wish as payment for saving the forest? That’s too excessive. How do you know what I want?” Though he said that, Rudger had no intention of asking for something big. Rudger looked straight into the Spirit King’s eyes and spoke. “Could I perhaps take a bit of the antler on your head?” The Spirit King was a mystical being that had transcended animals through the accumulation of vast mana. And by Rudger’s judgment, that Spirit King’s main magical power came from the golden antlers on its head. If he could obtain part of those antlers, it would be no less valuable than any elixir in the world. Of course, thinking it might be too much to ask, he was prepared to change it to something else. -Woong. “...You’ll give it?” But when the Spirit King agreed to his request, Rudger was rather taken aback. Since the Spirit King wouldn’t lie, that must be sincere. To think he’d really get something like this. While thinking he had struck it lucky, Rudger asked the Spirit King. “Could I perhaps get a tooth fragment too?” “.......” This time the Spirit Kingstared at Rudger with a look of incomprehension.

Chapter 405

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