Isaac stared at what was left of his friend.
His mouth opened and closed several times, but no words came out.
Finally, a single word escaped his lips.
"Why?"
’Why did you die?’
’Why did you not run away?’
’Why did you sacrifice yourself for children you knew for just a few months?’
Isaac tried to think about the situation rationally.
Merlin was a God’s reincarnation.
He must have a goal if he gave up his godly powers, and reincarnated as a human.
Yet, he had scarified himself for dozens of children.
What about his goal?
Did a few people he knew for months matter more than his goal, something he could only achieve by staying alive?
’Yes.’
Isaac recalled the words Merlin used to say.
’For you, every bond was equally important.’
’Protecting those bonds mattered more than some goal or power to you.’
Merlin had repeatedly begged Isaac to make bonds again.
Isaac always dismissed him. He thought Merlin was pushing his own shallow beliefs without thinking.
Now, Merlin had died protecting those beliefs. He fought for what he believed in until the end.
His bonds—his beliefs—were not empty.
He had proved that to Isaac.
"Idiot."
Weapon Element covered Isaac’s hand.
"What do you mean bonds matter? How can they matter enough for you to give up your life?"
He swung his hand, and cut down the tree.
"If you were stronger, you could’ve survived this fight. If you were selfish, you could’ve run away."
He moved with superhuman precision and cut the spear of Death that pinned Merlin. Then he jumped forward and caught Merlin’s body before it fell.
"Idiot."
Isaac carried the body to a quiet clearing filled with trees.
Flowers grew all around, and the birds sang unbothered by the troubles of life.
He dug two graves. He placed Merlin in one, covered it, and built a simple memorial.
[To the Hero who loved all.]
Isaac stood there for an entire day.
The next morning, faint sunlight broke through the canopy. The morning hours carried faint chill, as if the world was burning with cold wrath.
Isaac’s thoughts had become terrifyingly calm after a day.
He opened the dairy he found on Merlin.
The diary held a large amount of information.
A lot of it could not be read, likely because Merlin had placed some sort of restriction to protect his secrets.
[We just need to hold 10 years to win the war. My magic formations...]
[Who killed Duke Wright? Upon further investigation, I believe it might not be Knight of...]
[What’s the goal of Human King? Why is he killing so many...]
[Why is the Royal Dragon not appearing to protect the citizens? The Dragon....]
[Poison Element...]
Isaac stopped at the Poison Element page.
He could read this one.
It described many types of poison. Isaac focused on one entry.
[Organ Melting Poison]
Isaac stared at the name for several minutes. He knew for who the protagonist had planned this gift for.
He lifted his gaze, and looked at the second grave, still empty.
’The people who died in this life will never come back.’
’So...’
"Just like how you took Merlin’s life, I will take yours."
Isaac closed to diary and stored it.
He turned and walked toward the kingdom’s final defense.
...
Hidden Base, Greenwitch Forest, Baiha County
The nobles around the table argued loudly.
"We should move most of our forces to the western shore! Those people can be—"
"No! We need to set out for Belikas’ state! The Human King would know about the western shore! That’s why—"
"Where is the Mage of Miracles!? Did he run away—"
"Gather the remaining Ten Stars! We..."
A woman with fiery golden-red hair sat at the head of the table.
She was the last remaining royal family member.
Her gaze moved around the tent, watching the nobles squabble.
These nobles were trying to bring the remaining allied forces to their escape route to protect themselves.
None of them cared about the citizens.
She glanced at the empty chairs beside her.
Duke Falcon had been captured by Human King’s forces and his fate was unknown.
Duke Tigris was dead.
Duchess Amanda Wright was at the table, but her combat strength was far from sufficient.
With the current forces they had left, it was impossible to evacuate the citizens.
At that moment, the tent flap opened.
"Sires, someone wants to join the meeting!"
The nobles stopped bickering.
They looked at each other. The nobles who were still alive were in the tent already.
"Who is it?" Baron Jilks asked.
"It’s—"
"Move."
A cold voice cut him off.
The guard froze and turned, seeing Isaac had entered the tent already.
As for the guards who were supposed to be holding him outside, he could hear groans from their direction.
’They were defeated so quickly?’ the guard was shocked.
Isaac was famous. There was no one in the kingdom who did not know him.
However, his combat prowess was said to be at the bottom tier among the mages and knights. It was rumored he used the Mage of Miracles’ strength to build and defend his merchant company.
The nobles became livid upon seeing Isaac.
"It’s this bastard! We are losing because of him! If he hadn’t sold the Communication Technology to the traitors..."
"How dare you show your face here!? We heard about your meeting with the Knight of Death! You must have started collaborating with them back then..."
Isaac’s gaze swept through the ranks of the nobles.
They flinched upon meeting his eyes, feeling as if something was wrong with him, but instead of backing down, they roared.
Their fear had disappeared now that they were already close to death due to the forces of Human King.
"Silence!" Zara Falcon, Isaac’s ex-fiancé, shouted.
She stood beside the princess, the last royal, as her guard.
A wave of mana erupted from her. It pressed down on the nobles, and shut them up.
Zara looked at Isaac as silence fell.
Her gaze carried countless emotions.
Guilt. Fear. Sorrow.
Isaac met her gaze.
Her eyes began to quiver, as though reminded of a past she would rather not recall, and she lowered her gaze.
Seeing her reaction, he shifted his gaze, and looked at Amanda Wright, his sister.
Her eyes were wide, as if she was staring at a ghost.
She opened her mouth and closed it, as if trying to say something but too afraid of saying it.
Finally, Isaac met the gaze of the princess who sat at the head of the table.
"Commoner Isaac, owner of merchant company InstantSpeak, greets Your Royal Highness," he said.
"Where is Merlin?" Vera asked without beating around the bush.
Zera’s fist clenched tighter. She stared at Isaac, hoping he would bring good news.
She and the princess knew Merlin had gone to Isaac.
They had tried to stop him, but he had refused, saying he needed to save the orphanage children.
"The Mage of Miracles fell to the Knight of Death."
The words struck the room like a hammer.
Zera’s lips trembled. Even though she was supposed to remain composed as princess’ guard, tears began to fall from her eyes.
Princess Vera sighed.
The nobles were shocked for a brief moment, then they erupted.
"You must have betrayed Sir Merlin! I knew it! We should’ve have executed a scum like you..."
"Do not lie! There is no way the Mage of Miracles would fall at the hands of..."
"How did you come here!? He must have led the Human King forces to our face! Guards..."
Isaac ignored them.
He ignored Zera, and his sister.
He only looked at the princess.
He could’ve gone to fight the Knight of Death alone.
But it wasn’t just revenge that he wanted.
The protagonist died while trying to help Isaac and his people.
It was a debt of life.
Isaac would repay him by completing the task Merlin had tried to do, and would fail at—Helping the citizens evacuate.
Isaac lowered his gaze to the map of Kingdom Halran on the table.
The Mourning Frost Mountains stood in the west. Crossing them was impossible for even Ten Stars.
The Forest of Journey’s End covered north and east. The White Parasitic Trees there would eat everyone alive.
The only escape route remained the Sea of Brilliance to the south.
Currently, the remaining citizens were gathered in two groups.
Majority were at the port near the south-west. The ships sailing from there led to the Lands Between.
However, the Human King knew this too. His majority of forces were currently moving towards the south-west port.
The royal princess wanted to board as many people as they could, and escape before the Human King’s army arrived.
The remaining citizens were gathered at the newly made port at south-east. This port sent ships to the newly discovered continent.
However, since the continent was newly discovered, the path to it was not yet mapped properly.
Of every ten-ship sent there, only three would reach the destination.
Currently, the nobles and the royal princess’ goal was to divide their forces between two ports, and protect the citizens until they evacuated.
’In my last life, they distributed forces 70:30.’
’Seventy for south-west port, and thirty for south-east post.’
’The south-west port has a guaranteed path, so it has higher chances to protect the citizens, and give them a new life.’
’The south-east port cannot guarantee a safe path. There is a high chance the citizens might die during voyage. So, only a few forces were sent to defend them.’
The distribution didn’t matter in the end in his last life.
All of them were annihilated before the citizens could evacuate. Human King’s forces were too strong.
If the nobles had brought their entire force to one port, they could’ve brought enough time for the escape.
But they had distributed their forces, and citizens at both ports had been eliminated.
"What are you looking at?" Princess Vera asked, ignoring the warnings of the nobles that Isaac could be collaborating with Knight of Death.
"Take all of your forces to the south-west post," Isaac said, lifting his gaze.
The nobles shouted once again.
The ones who would escape through south-east post became livid, saying Isaac planned to sacrifice them.
"Why?" Princess Vera asked.
"Majority of Human King’s forces would come to the South-West port since they know most citizens are gathered there. To stand a chance against them, you will need your entire force," Isaac said.
"What about the South-East Post? They are our citizens too. We can’t let them die," Princess Vera said.
Isaac didn’t say things like [You should save those who you can, instead of trying to save everyone and fail.]
He could tell Princess Vera was like Merlin.
She would gladly die for her people, unlike the nobles in this room.
’If I want to convince her...’
A heavy hum erupted from Isaac.
His mana blanketed the room.
The nobles froze. Shock, and disbelief bloomed in their gaze.
"T-This... Intermediate Magic Core... How is this possible... for him..."
Instead of responding to them, Isaac covered his fingers in Weapon Element, and swiped them.
His actions were too fast for anyone to react to.
A beat later, all cups on the table were sliced into two.
Tea and water spilled.
No one had any mental space to react to little things like getting their clothes soiled by the drinks.
They stared at Isaac with shocked gazes, filled with awe and fear.
It was no news that he had Weapon Element.
But to launch a long-range attack....
"First Layer (Intermediate). You have already reached the level of Ten Stars," the princess said.
Even she found those words hard to believe.
The scum of noble society, the exiled heir, the trash of Wright.
The man whom everyone had once laughed at.
The man who hid himself in shame even after he became the richest merchant.
He had returned today, his strength reaching a realm that only a few humans ever touched.
With his current strength, he would have been awarded the rank of [Duke] or [Marquess] if the King was still alive.
The nobles no longer shouted at Isaac.
If he was an enemy, he would have killed them with a flick of finger already.
"I will protect the south-east port," he said. ’Because that’s where Knight of Death will come.’
It had happened in his last life.
Additionally, the Knight of Death killed Merlin near the entrance of Forest of Journey’s End in the east in this life.
He must still be in the area, and would launch an attack after gathering his forces.
The princess immediately didn’t trust Isaac.
She stared at his eyes, as if trying to see the truth in them.
"N-No... please no.." a soft voice whispered.
Isaac shifted his gaze, and saw his sister, staring at him with pleading gaze. She wanted to stop him.
Isaac ignored her and looked back at the princess.
He knew the princess would agree. He was too valuable of a war piece to not be used.
She must know if they didn’t follow his words, and distributed their forces, annihilation was guaranteed.
"No!" Amanda shouted, finally gathering her courage. "Your strength isn’t enough! Father was killed by the Human King’s forces! He was Awakened (Advanced) in Magic Core and still lost! How can you fight them alone!?"
"I have a plan."
"You—"
"Enough," Princess Vera cut off Amanda.
She turned to Amanda. Her gaze made the Duchess fall silent.
Amanda bit her lip and sat down.
"I’m sorry for speaking out of turn," Amanda said.
The princess nodded and looked at Isaac.
"Come here," she said, standing herself. She pulled out the ceremonial royal sword on the wall of the tent.
The nobles’ eyes widened upon seeing her actions.
Everyone understood what choice Princess Vera had made.
Isaac stepped forward and knelt.
She placed the sword on his shoulder.
"Commoner Isaac! For your contribution to the kingdom, you will be granted the Noble rank of Baron in accordance to the Royal Law! From today, you will be called Isaac Hargraves!"
Isaac kept his gaze forward.
Princess Vera looked at him in the eye.
Her eyes carried a hint of apology, and sorrow.
She wanted to apologize for what she was doing.
Yet she stood firm.
"Isaac Hargraves, as a noble, you have enjoyed privileges born from the sweat and blood of the citizens! Today, you must pay them back! I, Vera von Halran, the last bearer of the royal bloodline, orders you to defend the Port Bella. What is your answer?"
It was not an order.
It was a request.
To go and kill himself.
For the sake of citizens.
For people with whom he had no connection with.
He had never enjoyed privileges born from their sweat and blood.
"I accept the orders, Your Royal Highness."
Yet, Isaac accepted it the same.
All for the sake of one bond that stubbornly clung to him, even when he cut away every bond in this life.