#070

The method of sending off the undead varies by region in the Empire. Once, Larkan unified the lands that were once separate countries, and many customs were mixed, but funeral procedures and food often retain their ancient colors.

Dadin burns people according to the customs of the west. Those who sleep mixed with the sand protect Dadin, and they wish to be mixed with the wind and return here someday.

On the night the sun hid beyond the sea, people holding torches gathered in the square. The round square, where stalls once lined, was filled with people. Hundreds of desert trees were gathered, and the belongings of the deceased were placed on top. Instead of solemn instruments, human voices began to hum low.

Cullen stood among the people, half-immersed in darkness. Kiyen was beside Lasano and Arne. Although they had walked together, he was merely within Cullen’s sight, not clinging to his side as before.

Although he said he had no intention of acting differently, Kiyen seemed to need time to think. Cullen, too, had never experienced such a situation, so it was better this way for now. While Cullen didn’t want Kiyen to act differently, he also had to decide his own stance going forward.

However, when he tried to recall something, nothing came to mind.

As he stood blankly looking ahead, the ritual began. Residents holding candles approached one by one and began to light small fires on the high pile of wood. The thin branches flickered with sparks, eventually merging into one large flame.

A small shoe, a flowing robe, a sword hilt, objects that once held the scent of someone who had been alive, burned on top.

Songs bidding farewell to those who had gone to the goddess’s side echoed high and low. The voices of dozens of people merged into one, surging. The moment the intense heat touched his skin, Cullen felt a faint dizziness. It reminded him of the heat he felt when Gale enveloped him.

There was something he had thought about the moment he realized Magic didn’t work on him. If the self-destruction of the Demonic Beasts was done by Magic… could Roach and Gale have survived if he had enveloped them?

If so, they had been sacrificed all the more in vain. To protect him, who wouldn’t die, to protect him, who was not worth living for.

A terrible feeling, which he hadn’t felt for a while after meeting Kiyen, overwhelmed him along with the heat. Unconsciously, he clenched his hand. Recalling Kiyen, who used to hold his hand whenever he faltered over Gale’s incident.

But there was no warm hand to grasp. Instead of soft, slippery fingers, only empty air was caught in his fist. Cullen turned his head for a moment. Kiyen was watching the fire. Without even looking at him.

Only then did he feel a little regret.

He had no intention of hiding it, and Kiyen hated lies, so there was no choice but the truth. However, if he hadn’t confessed, Kiyen might have been by his side. The thought that suddenly came to mind led to a chain of regrets.

If he had said something else, pretending not to feel that way, he might be holding Kiyen’s hand now. Not standing so far apart.

But even if he went back to the day before, Cullen’s answer would have been the same.

“Where is Gale buried?”

It was Gael who woke his endlessly sinking mind. Looking beside him, the tired man’s profile came into view. After briefly examining his jaw, which was densely covered with faint, dark scars, Cullen spoke.

“It’s in the northernmost part of Mount Tesnia.”

“The place that brought you here… He would have liked that. He always said he wanted to go to a cold place because it’s always so hot here, so he definitely would have.”

He seemed to have guessed it during their brief conversation in the cave. It was natural, coming from Gael of all people.

“I don’t know.”

Cullen said, recalling the countless wrong choices he had made.

“Gale-nim and his companions died because of me. I couldn’t even properly bury their bodies. To save someone like me, who is not worth it, Gale-nim…”

“Parents will do anything for their children, Cullen.”

At the word ‘parents,’ a hot lump of blood welled up. If so, Cullen had lost his parents twice.

“The fault lies with those who killed people, like Tahhan. Aren’t you like Gale’s child? Gale would have been happy, I assure you. He was my closest friend.”

But isn’t it all meaningless if you die?

Cullen swallowed those words. Musing silently on Gael’s words, he watched the flames soar towards the sky. Silence embraced the people. As if everyone knew that sometimes, silence shared in sorrow was more comforting than words.

“And the word ‘worthless’ is wrong. Cullen, many people here, including myself, were saved by you.”

Gael’s thick hand rested on Cullen’s shoulder. Their eyes met. Beyond the eyes comforting Cullen, he saw a hint of guilt. He almost returned the words Gael had spoken, but judged that it was not his place to do so. Instead, he said something else.

“I will resolve the matters concerning Dadin here somehow. This is also a territory belonging to Duke Refellon, so the master shouldn’t just stand by while you handle everything, should he?”

Even though it was a statement that would sound arrogant for an ordinary person, Gael nodded without questioning. The hand that gripped him tightened.

“Whatever you are doing… think of it as being for Gale. I have a feeling. A premonition that the world is changing.”

Cullen lowered his eyes to look at his hand. The blunt fingertips, similar to Gale’s, and the scarred hand offered a small comfort. However, it did not bring the same sense of ease as Kiyen’s hand.

Gael, observing Cullen’s silence, removed his hand. Then, looking at Kiyen and the others standing a short distance away, he said.

“Still, it seems you’ve met good companions, so I’m somewhat relieved.”

Cullen’s gaze followed. Arne, whose eyes met his, smiled brightly and waved. Ulli also called them companions, looking at them. Cullen mulled over the word for a long time, then denied it.

“To be precise, we are not companions. We are merely a group traveling together.”

The meanings are clearly different. Lasano is merely fulfilling the role of High Priest, Arne was rescued to guide them to a place where they could settle, and Kiyen is a transaction. Companions, as Cullen understood them, were not formed for such reasons.

“Well, to me, they look like companions.”

“You are mistaken. I have no intention of making companions. We are just a group entangled because each of us wants something.”

He admitted it. Over the past time, Cullen had become accustomed to their presence. The change Kiyen brought had softened him slightly, and he was entangled in more things than he had intended.

He had unnecessarily helped people he should have ignored. At the end of it all was his feeling for Kiyen. Falling in love with someone he wouldn’t lose and could rely on had made him soft.

However, Cullen did not want to consider anyone other than Kiyen as a companion. He had already lost his home and family twice.

Time was of no use for the second experience. The wound etched anew on the scar was so deep that it could not heal, showing no signs of recovery even with the passage of time. As people grow older and become adults, they become weaker instead of stronger. They merely hide their wounds beneath a hard exterior, without healing them.

They merely endure instead of overcoming.

Cullen no longer needed to lose anything. Therefore, he didn’t need companions. He held Kiyen in his heart because he was an immortal being.

“Is that so?”

Gael said no more. He gazed for a long time with deep, appraising eyes, then offered a faint smile and patted Cullen’s shoulder. He changed the subject.

“Are you leaving now, Cullen?”

“Yes.”

“I won’t say goodbye. We will meet again alive.”

This is how mercenaries say goodbye. Because they always have death by their side, their farewells assume the opposite: life. Even if they never meet again, they hope the other person is alive somewhere.

Cullen also nodded. Gazing at the trees, which were gradually fading and turning into ashes, he said softly.

“Until we meet again.”

Saying words he wasn’t sure he could keep, Cullen stood by Gael’s side, watching the gray smoke extinguish, his expression calm.

Perhaps because he slept for so long the day before, Cullen couldn’t fall asleep. His mind was complicated. The stray thoughts that disappeared when he exerted himself physically would consume him the moment he had a little leisure.

Cullen, who stayed up all night with his eyes open, prepared his luggage as soon as the sun began to appear in the sky. After finishing his preparations and going down to the first floor, he found a guest there.

“You woke up early?”

It was Ulli. She was wearing a light brown robe, just like when they first met, with a greatsword strapped to her back. Her cheerful voice strangely brought a sense of relief.

“You seem to be feeling better.”

“Yeah, but how long are you going to talk so stiffly? You’re a distinguished person, so it’s strange that only I’m acting this way.”

“I always talk like this, so please don’t mind.”

As Cullen sat at the table, Ulli also sat down next to him. It was a new realization, but Ulli was unreserved.

“You spoke informally when we fought for our lives.”

“That was then, and this is now.”

“I don’t like it. I don’t want to be addressed formally by someone who seems older than me.”

Ulli, her energy restored, was talkative. Cullen looked at her face, now full of life, and ordered food.

“So, who is the target of your revenge?”

“Hmm…”

Ulli paused for a moment, then said only one thing.

“A noble. You are of royal blood, so you must know.”

“With your power, wouldn’t you easily kill nobles or elite soldiers?”

“What I want isn’t death.”

Ulli rested her chin on her hand and laughed.

“Killing is the easiest revenge. I have no intention of giving that person such an easy release. I want them to experience twice the pain my mother and I suffered.”

Saying so in a soft voice, Ulli also ordered food.

“Who is it?”

“Promise me before you speak. That you will never betray me.”

Ulli wiped away her smile and extended her pinky finger to Cullen. Staring at her, who was asking for a promise in a way one would in childhood, Cullen slowly linked fingers with her.

“You first.”

“I’m someone who detests betrayal, so don’t worry. Those things are what ruined my life.”

Though it was a way she had never tried before, Cullen slowly intertwined her pinky finger with Ulli’s.

“I swear in the name of the goddess. If you help me with my revenge, I’ll tell you everything.”

“I swear in the name of the goddess.”

“Good. It’s a promise!”

Ulli tightened her grip on their linked fingers and took a deep breath. Hatred flickered in her earnest eyes, and then she uttered an unexpected name.

“Count Linden. Do you know him?”