Episode 129. Last Encounter
Count Flans was, in fact, confident.
Hientri's forces were now divided.
Half were under Count Flans' control, while the rest were scattered, in Hiloshine and in the Imperial City.
Hiloshine had expanded its ranks by accepting mercenaries, retired soldiers, and new recruits. Adding the heretic Yi tribes to the mix, Count Flans retreated.
However, Count Flans was no different now.
The surrounding forces had allied with Count Flans, and the Imperial City did nothing to replenish its forces.
Furthermore, Shamdir's forces had fled the Empire, and the Yi tribes remained stationary in Hiloshine, so Count Flans assumed the upper hand.
However, this was a grave miscalculation.
With his back to the sunlight, Kassius pressed threateningly against Count Flans.
The greatsword in Kassius's hand was aimed firmly at Count Flans's Adam's apple.
"...Duke Kassius... trying to cover the sky with the palm of your hand..."
"No."
Kassius moved his sword.
Blood flowed from the skin where the sword had cut, which had come a little closer.
Count Flans gasped involuntarily.
The fear of possibly dying gripped him. Count Flans trembled.
"You are the one trying to cover the sky with the palm of your hand, aren't you?"
Kassius replied nonchalantly.
"Is the child Lady Leline is carrying really the Emperor's child?"
Count Flans's trembling lips lifted.
"Yes, yes! It is definitely His Majesty Emperor Laxus's..."
Count Flans's hand dug into the floor.
Did he know something?
The eerie smell of blood vibrated.
Most of the knights who had held Count Flans's hand fled, and those who survived were taken prisoner.
Those who had directly encountered the legend of the red snake could not overcome their fear.
The war Count Flans had prepared for months was over in less than three hours.
'Can I survive here?'
Cold sweat dripped down his back.
Kassius moved his sword. Count Flans squeezed his eyes shut.
Thud!
There was the sound of a greatsword being driven into place.
Count Flans slowly opened his eyes.
The sword was lodged between his legs.
Count Flans felt his neck. It was still intact and attached to his body.
Kassius, watching the ungainly sight, slowly bent down.
Count Flans took a deep breath.
His sharp golden eyes burned.
If he made even the slightest mistake, Kassius would devour him in one bite.
"...The deposed Emperor was barren."
“Hmph! Don’t tarnish my daughter’s name, my honor! She was clearly the Emperor’s child!”
“...It doesn’t matter, after all. No one would follow the child of a deposed Emperor. Look. Who remains by your side?”
“Duke Kassius...! Think again. The history of Hientri has been intertwined with Hientri’s bloodline. The current Emperor...!”
“Where is your daughter?”
The only reason Count Flans had survived until now was to find Leline Flans.
He searched the entire castle, but he couldn’t find her.
“Heaven will not forgive you!!!”
Kassius sighed.
He didn’t know how long this conversation would continue.
Kassius stood up.
He drew his sword and turned his back.
“Kill him. And search for Leline Flans. If she’s on this land, she’ll show up someday.”
“Yes!”
Kane said with a bright face.
Kassius patted Kane on the shoulder.
“Where’s Laxus?”
"He's well hidden."
Kassius nodded. He raised his voice.
"Send the criminals to the capital!! Count Flans, the leader of the traitors, will be executed here and now as an example! Arrest every single one!"
"Yes!! Commander-in-Chief!!"
Kassius sheathed his sword.
A box was placed in front of Laxus.
It was a familiar box, one he had seen in the past, at some point.
Laxus blinked.
"What is this?"
“Emperor Renisha sent this. Open it,”
Helena said softly.
Laxus, who had been wrapped in a blanket, tilted his head up.
His gaunt body seemed too weak to open the box.
“Open it,”
Laxus said coldly. He touched the box with his palms, which were shaking from the effects of intoxication.
“You don’t know how to do anything.”
Helena chuckled and opened the box.
A salty and fishy smell filled the room.
Laxus stepped back.
“What is this?”
“I told you it was a gift from Empress Renisha.”
Helena shrugged.
She pointed to each item in the salt box.
“This is Count Flans’s neck, this... Ah, this is Canary’s neck, and this... Henry’s neck.”
The rotten, decayed heads were placed in the box like trophies.
Laxus covered his mouth at the sight of the gruesome sight.
“Get out of here!!”
Laxus thrashed.
It was a terrible nightmare.
The ghosts lined up behind the box were pointing at Laxus.
Helena looked at Laxus, who was crawling helplessly on the floor.
“I don’t know why.”
Then, a languid voice was heard.
Laxus raised his head.
“Your Majesty, the Emperor.”
Helena bowed her head and stepped back.
Renisha entered the room.
Behind her were Kassius, Luna, Lindy, Turiel, and others.
The ghosts disappeared, leaving only Laxus’s enemies.
Laxus stared at her with faded purple eyes.
“Renisha... to get me... You came to see me.”
Laxus hurriedly got up, but stumbled.
Renisha stared motionlessly as he fell awkwardly.
Renisha slowly bent down and touched the open lid of the box.
"Laxus, you gave me that gift. So I prepared the same thing."
Renisha smiled.
Her eyes, like spring flowers, were awash with frost.
They burned with intense hostility and anger toward someone.
They were empty.
Renisha's quest for revenge was nearing its end, but those she had lost never returned.
The feeling of loss still filled Renisha's heart.
That's why she couldn't kill Renisha until now.
After Renisha's death, there was truly nothing left... What should she do with the emptiness that followed?
Renisha muttered in a cold voice.
"Smile, Laxus."
He looked at her with a waxy expression.
She was the one he had longed to see.
Everything about Renisha, his world, and his wife, he had never been able to grasp!
Renisha gritted his teeth.
"I gave you a gift, so why aren't you smiling?"
Renisha tilted her head.
In front of her parents' corpses, Renisha had to dance and laugh like a clown.
The memory of that day was still vivid.
"Renisha..."
Laxus reached out.
"Don't do this... Don't do this to me."
His eyes didn't even register what was in the box.
"My beloved wife."
Laxus's voice was wet.
"Everything about me."
Laxus sighed.
Editing the world like that was Laxus' specialty.
Judging only by what he wanted.
Renisha clicked her tongue.
"I never loved you, Laxus,"
Renisha whispered softly, making sure every word, every single word, was pierced through Laxus's mind.
"I never saw you."
"Don't lie!!"
"It was pity, it was compassion. I saved you out of pity, but who would have thought it would ruin my life?"
"T-That can't be true!! It was love! You liked me!!!"
"Then... I hated you. I hated even touching you with a finger. It was so horrible."
Renisha smiled more beautifully than ever.
"This is the man I loved."
Renisha pulled Kassius out.
She hugged his waist and rested her head on his.
“Did you hear that? That I’m pregnant. I’m so happy.”
Laxus struggled.
The knights held him back as he tried to charge.
Kassius embraced Renisha.
She insisted on coming today, so he accompanied her, but all he could see was this horrible sight.
Kassius covered Renisha’s eyes.
Renisha burst out laughing, making it seem as if everyone was happy.
“Laxus, we’ll never meet again, right? I wanted to say goodbye. Let’s not see each other again, not in death, not in rebirth.”
Laxus slumped limply.
The knights stood up, leaving Laxus flattened like a dead frog.
“Helena, let’s go now.”
“But, Your Majesty...”
Helena looked back at Laxus with discontented eyes, as if she was still resentful of not being able to take his life.
Renisha shook her head.
“That would be more miserable. I swore I would make sure he died the most miserable death.”
“...Yes.”
Helena bowed her head.
Helena stood behind Renisha.
Renisha’s revenge was over.
Laxus became more miserable and pathetic than an earthworm crawling on the floor.
Whatever choice he makes next is his.
Renisha left the room with Kassius.
“No!!! Don’t go, Renisha!! Don’t leave me!!!”
A desperate scream was heard.
But Renisha didn’t stop for a moment. She winked at the knights.
“Watch over him and tell me when he dies.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
She left without a moment’s hesitation.
It was truly funny.
Laxus truly loved Renisha.
That cursed thing was love.
Renisha gave a hollow laugh.
Burying her head in Kassius’s arms, Renisha gasped for breath.
“Are you sad?”
“No. I still regret it. The day I let that man into my mansion.”
Kassius hugged Renisha tightly.
“Hold me tighter, tighter... I feel so cold.”
He held Renisha tightly, curled up like a baby.
Kassius breathed warm breath onto Renisha’s lips.
He felt like he could understand her feelings.
Those who had lost much to Laxus must have felt the same way.
Laxus, who had seemed like an impenetrable fortress, had crumbled, and the fear he had cast over the empire had vanished.
Now, only a gentle breeze like Renisha’s and the occasional spring chill surrounded the empire.
Even so, even though Laxus was gone, the scars he left behind still lingered.
Deep in the hearts of the people.
“I will stay by your side for the rest of my life,”
Kassius whispered.
“I will not let you be cold.”
Renisha nodded.
That was enough. That seemed bearable.
A deep sense of loss and emptiness.
These, too, would fade with time.
Renisha slowly closed her eyes.
Count Flans was, in fact, confident.
Hientri's forces were now divided.
Half were under Count Flans' control, while the rest were scattered, in Hiloshine and in the Imperial City.
Hiloshine had expanded its ranks by accepting mercenaries, retired soldiers, and new recruits. Adding the heretic Yi tribes to the mix, Count Flans retreated.
However, Count Flans was no different now.
The surrounding forces had allied with Count Flans, and the Imperial City did nothing to replenish its forces.
Furthermore, Shamdir's forces had fled the Empire, and the Yi tribes remained stationary in Hiloshine, so Count Flans assumed the upper hand.
However, this was a grave miscalculation.
With his back to the sunlight, Kassius pressed threateningly against Count Flans.
The greatsword in Kassius's hand was aimed firmly at Count Flans's Adam's apple.
"...Duke Kassius... trying to cover the sky with the palm of your hand..."
"No."
Kassius moved his sword.
Blood flowed from the skin where the sword had cut, which had come a little closer.
Count Flans gasped involuntarily.
The fear of possibly dying gripped him. Count Flans trembled.
"You are the one trying to cover the sky with the palm of your hand, aren't you?"
Kassius replied nonchalantly.
"Is the child Lady Leline is carrying really the Emperor's child?"
Count Flans's trembling lips lifted.
"Yes, yes! It is definitely His Majesty Emperor Laxus's..."
Count Flans's hand dug into the floor.
Did he know something?
The eerie smell of blood vibrated.
Most of the knights who had held Count Flans's hand fled, and those who survived were taken prisoner.
Those who had directly encountered the legend of the red snake could not overcome their fear.
The war Count Flans had prepared for months was over in less than three hours.
'Can I survive here?'
Cold sweat dripped down his back.
Kassius moved his sword. Count Flans squeezed his eyes shut.
Thud!
There was the sound of a greatsword being driven into place.
Count Flans slowly opened his eyes.
The sword was lodged between his legs.
Count Flans felt his neck. It was still intact and attached to his body.
Kassius, watching the ungainly sight, slowly bent down.
Count Flans took a deep breath.
His sharp golden eyes burned.
If he made even the slightest mistake, Kassius would devour him in one bite.
"...The deposed Emperor was barren."
“Hmph! Don’t tarnish my daughter’s name, my honor! She was clearly the Emperor’s child!”
“...It doesn’t matter, after all. No one would follow the child of a deposed Emperor. Look. Who remains by your side?”
“Duke Kassius...! Think again. The history of Hientri has been intertwined with Hientri’s bloodline. The current Emperor...!”
“Where is your daughter?”
The only reason Count Flans had survived until now was to find Leline Flans.
He searched the entire castle, but he couldn’t find her.
“Heaven will not forgive you!!!”
Kassius sighed.
He didn’t know how long this conversation would continue.
Kassius stood up.
He drew his sword and turned his back.
“Kill him. And search for Leline Flans. If she’s on this land, she’ll show up someday.”
“Yes!”
Kane said with a bright face.
Kassius patted Kane on the shoulder.
“Where’s Laxus?”
"He's well hidden."
Kassius nodded. He raised his voice.
"Send the criminals to the capital!! Count Flans, the leader of the traitors, will be executed here and now as an example! Arrest every single one!"
"Yes!! Commander-in-Chief!!"
Kassius sheathed his sword.
***
A box was placed in front of Laxus.
It was a familiar box, one he had seen in the past, at some point.
Laxus blinked.
"What is this?"
“Emperor Renisha sent this. Open it,”
Helena said softly.
Laxus, who had been wrapped in a blanket, tilted his head up.
His gaunt body seemed too weak to open the box.
“Open it,”
Laxus said coldly. He touched the box with his palms, which were shaking from the effects of intoxication.
“You don’t know how to do anything.”
Helena chuckled and opened the box.
A salty and fishy smell filled the room.
Laxus stepped back.
“What is this?”
“I told you it was a gift from Empress Renisha.”
Helena shrugged.
She pointed to each item in the salt box.
“This is Count Flans’s neck, this... Ah, this is Canary’s neck, and this... Henry’s neck.”
The rotten, decayed heads were placed in the box like trophies.
Laxus covered his mouth at the sight of the gruesome sight.
“Get out of here!!”
Laxus thrashed.
It was a terrible nightmare.
The ghosts lined up behind the box were pointing at Laxus.
Helena looked at Laxus, who was crawling helplessly on the floor.
“I don’t know why.”
Then, a languid voice was heard.
Laxus raised his head.
“Your Majesty, the Emperor.”
Helena bowed her head and stepped back.
Renisha entered the room.
Behind her were Kassius, Luna, Lindy, Turiel, and others.
The ghosts disappeared, leaving only Laxus’s enemies.
Laxus stared at her with faded purple eyes.
“Renisha... to get me... You came to see me.”
Laxus hurriedly got up, but stumbled.
Renisha stared motionlessly as he fell awkwardly.
Renisha slowly bent down and touched the open lid of the box.
"Laxus, you gave me that gift. So I prepared the same thing."
Renisha smiled.
Her eyes, like spring flowers, were awash with frost.
They burned with intense hostility and anger toward someone.
They were empty.
Renisha's quest for revenge was nearing its end, but those she had lost never returned.
The feeling of loss still filled Renisha's heart.
That's why she couldn't kill Renisha until now.
After Renisha's death, there was truly nothing left... What should she do with the emptiness that followed?
Renisha muttered in a cold voice.
"Smile, Laxus."
He looked at her with a waxy expression.
She was the one he had longed to see.
Everything about Renisha, his world, and his wife, he had never been able to grasp!
Renisha gritted his teeth.
"I gave you a gift, so why aren't you smiling?"
Renisha tilted her head.
In front of her parents' corpses, Renisha had to dance and laugh like a clown.
The memory of that day was still vivid.
"Renisha..."
Laxus reached out.
"Don't do this... Don't do this to me."
His eyes didn't even register what was in the box.
"My beloved wife."
Laxus's voice was wet.
"Everything about me."
Laxus sighed.
Editing the world like that was Laxus' specialty.
Judging only by what he wanted.
Renisha clicked her tongue.
"I never loved you, Laxus,"
Renisha whispered softly, making sure every word, every single word, was pierced through Laxus's mind.
"I never saw you."
"Don't lie!!"
"It was pity, it was compassion. I saved you out of pity, but who would have thought it would ruin my life?"
"T-That can't be true!! It was love! You liked me!!!"
"Then... I hated you. I hated even touching you with a finger. It was so horrible."
Renisha smiled more beautifully than ever.
"This is the man I loved."
Renisha pulled Kassius out.
She hugged his waist and rested her head on his.
“Did you hear that? That I’m pregnant. I’m so happy.”
Laxus struggled.
The knights held him back as he tried to charge.
Kassius embraced Renisha.
She insisted on coming today, so he accompanied her, but all he could see was this horrible sight.
Kassius covered Renisha’s eyes.
Renisha burst out laughing, making it seem as if everyone was happy.
“Laxus, we’ll never meet again, right? I wanted to say goodbye. Let’s not see each other again, not in death, not in rebirth.”
Laxus slumped limply.
The knights stood up, leaving Laxus flattened like a dead frog.
“Helena, let’s go now.”
“But, Your Majesty...”
Helena looked back at Laxus with discontented eyes, as if she was still resentful of not being able to take his life.
Renisha shook her head.
“That would be more miserable. I swore I would make sure he died the most miserable death.”
“...Yes.”
Helena bowed her head.
Helena stood behind Renisha.
Renisha’s revenge was over.
Laxus became more miserable and pathetic than an earthworm crawling on the floor.
Whatever choice he makes next is his.
Renisha left the room with Kassius.
“No!!! Don’t go, Renisha!! Don’t leave me!!!”
A desperate scream was heard.
But Renisha didn’t stop for a moment. She winked at the knights.
“Watch over him and tell me when he dies.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
She left without a moment’s hesitation.
It was truly funny.
Laxus truly loved Renisha.
That cursed thing was love.
Renisha gave a hollow laugh.
Burying her head in Kassius’s arms, Renisha gasped for breath.
“Are you sad?”
“No. I still regret it. The day I let that man into my mansion.”
Kassius hugged Renisha tightly.
“Hold me tighter, tighter... I feel so cold.”
He held Renisha tightly, curled up like a baby.
Kassius breathed warm breath onto Renisha’s lips.
He felt like he could understand her feelings.
Those who had lost much to Laxus must have felt the same way.
Laxus, who had seemed like an impenetrable fortress, had crumbled, and the fear he had cast over the empire had vanished.
Now, only a gentle breeze like Renisha’s and the occasional spring chill surrounded the empire.
Even so, even though Laxus was gone, the scars he left behind still lingered.
Deep in the hearts of the people.
“I will stay by your side for the rest of my life,”
Kassius whispered.
“I will not let you be cold.”
Renisha nodded.
That was enough. That seemed bearable.
A deep sense of loss and emptiness.
These, too, would fade with time.
Renisha slowly closed her eyes.
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