Chapter 319
The noisy square had become quiet again, as if cold water had been poured over it.
The only sound that resonated through the square was from the massive bonfire burning fiercely at its center.
“Now, you’re saying we have to fight against the gods?”
“More importantly, Rayon was a traitor? Why? Wasn’t he one of the Explorers?”
“Georn, you say. He’s trying to kill us?”
Despair. Distrust. Frustration.
All sorts of negative emotions spread thickly across the square.
Despair was contagious. And contagions spread easily.
“Ha, haha. Lean, you’re joking, right?”
A fat middle-aged man with a long beard asked Lean, sweating profusely.
“You’re joking, right? This is just a special day, so you’re trying to surprise us…”
“…”
“Lean, please tell us this is a joke. Just a misunderstanding. There’s no traitor, and no god trying to kill us.”
“…”
The man’s face gradually contorted.
“Please, say something, Lean!”
“What should I say?”
“…!”
Everyone’s eyes widened at Lean’s irresponsible remark.
“What do you mean…!”
“What more do you expect me to do here? I dealt with the traitor and found the real cause of the curse in this world. And I told you all. Yes, I told you everything. I didn’t hide anything and shared all the truths.”
Lean, who said this, looked tormented beyond what he could bear.
“What more do you want me to do here? Should I take up a sword right now and go behead Georn? Should I bring Rayon’s corpse here and humiliate him in front of you?”
“Well…”
“None of that has any meaning.”
At those negative words, Yu-hyun tried to approach Lean to stop him.
At that moment, a rough hand grabbed Yu-hyun’s shoulder.
“…Frechen. Let go.”
“Calm down and stay put. This isn’t something for us to interfere in.”
“No matter what…”
“Besides, that bastard Lean isn’t done talking yet.”
Frechen was right.
Lean, still amplifying his voice, quietly asked,
“What are you going to do now?”
“Pardon?”
“I asked, what are you going to do now?”
“Well, if you ask suddenly like that…”
“I’ve told you the truth. And we have a path. Are we going to sit here and wait for death in hell, or will we risk everything to fight against Georn?”
“If we just stay here…”
“You idiots.”
Gondulbor glared at the people with icy eyes.
“Do you think this magic circle will last forever?! You fools! Nothing lasts forever! The lifespan of this magic circle is at most 60 more years!”
“B-but 60 years is still a long time…”
“Then what about after that? After 60 years, when the magic circle disappears, we won’t be able to get food, and the cold will consume this place. What will you do then?! Or is it that it doesn’t matter to you because it’s not your problem right now?”
At Gondulbor’s words, some people flinched.
Gondulbor did not hide his disdain at the sight.
“Ha! I’m angry at myself for continuously maintaining and repairing this magic circle to save such wretches!”
“H-how can you say that…”
“So what! Are you arguing with me right now?!”
“N-no, that’s not it…”
“Clean out your ears and listen well! This magic circle will end in 60 years. But you heard that and are thinking of just sitting around for those 60 years! Do you have no pride?! Aren’t you ashamed for the descendants who may be born someday?!”
Where did such energy come from in his wrinkled and skinny body?
Gondulbor’s voice, without using any sound amplification magic, boomed in people’s ears.
“Even so, are you great Gardians?! Are you going to tremble in fear before the enemy in front of you, bowing down as your way?! Although I’m not a warrior and just an old man who stays in my workshop, I must say this! No matter who the enemy is, if you are a Gardian, fight bravely!”
“…”
“…”
No one could refute Gondulbor’s words.
Some hung their heads in shame.
Gondulbor, still seething, soon left the spot.
“I’ve left the sound amplification rune magic on. If anyone has something to say, go ahead.”
“Gondulbor, what about you?”
“I’m going back to my workshop. If I stay here, I’ll die of rage. The rest is up to you.”
“…Understood. Thank you for your help.”
Gondulbor left.
Lean spoke, watching the situation.
“As Gondulbor said, in 60 years, Gard will perish. The last city of humanity will eventually collapse. Some might say that at least we can hold out for 60 years. But let me ask you this: if we rot away here for 60 years, can that be called living?”
Doing nothing and just postponing and delaying death while staying here.
Can that be called living?
Those who lost their will and hope were just pieces of meat merely breathing.
“I will fight.”
“…!”
“I will take up my sword and fight against Georn. Whether I die this way or that way, I will fight to the end. As a great Gardian.”
A great Gardian.
How long has it been since the world ended, and now they talk of fighting.
People thought about running away rather than fighting. That might be better.
At that moment, a voice burst out from behind.
“Yeah. Let’s fight!”
The first to say this was surprisingly one of Frechen’s followers.
Citizens widened their eyes, not expecting such words from someone who had acted freely in Gard until now.
Another Explorer shouted in agreement.
“Yeah! Whether we die this way or that way, it’s the same!”
“Right! And for my comrades who have been killed by the Frost Giants! I can’t die peacefully without avenging them!”
“For the great Gard”
Like a wave, the cheers spread across the square, then ebbed back inward.
In the frozen hearts of the people, a small spark began to ignite.
In the eyes of the citizens, a little hope began to form. Maybe, just maybe, it could work if they did this.
“Let’s fight.”
“Yes, we should fight. Since we’re going to die anyway.”
“If we have to die, let’s die fighting.”
“I’m tired of living like this.”
One by one, voices began to gain strength.
Of course, not everyone felt this way.
“S-shut up, don’t be ridiculous!”
Someone shouted as if having a seizure.
It was Hender, a childhood friend of Ringug, someone Yu-hyun knew.
“Fight?! Are you out of your mind?! It’s Georn! The god of the great warriors!”
“Coward!”
Someone shouted at Hender, but his spirit was not broken.
“I don’t care if you call me a coward! As long as I can survive! How are you sure you can win?! Why go when you know you’ll die!”
“Hender!”
Ringug, unable to bear it, called out Hender’s name.
“Do you realize what you’re saying…”
“Shut up! I know! Ringug, don’t speak as if you know everything!”
“Hender…! Don’t act like a coward!”
“Damn it! Yes, I am a coward!”
Hender screamed in fury.
“While you were out fighting in the exploration team, I stayed in the city because I was scared! Because I didn’t want to die! Great Gardian? Glory land if we die? What’s the point of that! If we die, it’s all meaningless! We’ll all die!”
His hands trembled. Not just his hands. His lips, twisted in anger, seemed about to pour out his pent-up resentment.
“Why is everyone acting like this! Why are you so eager to die! The exploration team, what’s so glorious about it!”
“Hender! Don’t insult the exploration team! They sacrificed nobly…”
“Nobly! Damn nobility and honor!”
Hender’s voice was raised with veins bulging in his neck.
No, it was almost close to wailing.
“My parents died working for the exploration team!”
Tears streamed down his cheeks.
“They died honorably?! Nobly?! Without even a body, beyond the frozen land, they died to those monstrous Frost Giants? Then, then, damn it! What about me! After my parents died and left me alone, what am I supposed to do!”
“Hender, you…”
“Answer me!”
Anger turned to frustration.
Frustration turned to sorrow.
Hender, with tears streaming down his face, knelt and collapsed on the spot.
“What great Gardian. What great warriors. I just wanted to be with my family.”
“…”
“…”
Those who were about to criticize Hender, those who tried to stop him, all remained silent.
Hender wasn’t the only one. There were others who had lost precious family members.
Their pain, the sorrow of those left behind.
The departed are honored, but what becomes of those left behind?
Who would console this cruel reality hidden behind ideals?
“Hender…”
Ringug, who always smiled brightly, looked down at the sobbing Hender with a sorrowful expression.
Ringug had thought Hender was a coward. And he thought that, unlike Hender, he was envious because he joined the exploration team and roamed outside.
He thought Hender looked down on the exploration team, disliked them, all to boost his self-esteem as a coward.
He even pitied why Hender, whose parents were part of the excellent exploration team, was like that.
Now, Ringug realized it was all his arrogance.
Hender had never looked down on the exploration team.
He just hated and disliked them.
It was Ringug himself who truly looked down on him.
“I’m sorry.”
“Stop with your pity!”
Hender got up and pushed away Ringug’s outstretched hand.
“If you want to go and die, go ahead! I will survive to the end!”
Hender shouted, glaring at Lean with bloodshot eyes.
There was a time when he admired Lean. He saw him as a hero who built this city, gathered survivors, and fought against the dangers outside.
But now, he saw him only as a disgusting hypocrite pushing everyone into the abyss of battle.
“Forget honor and glory! I’m going to survive even if it’s disgraceful!”
Hender ran away from the square as if fleeing.
No one could stop Hender. Some people even left the square, looking nervous about his actions.
Yu-hyun approached the stunned Ringug.
“Ringug, are you okay?”
“…It’s my fault.”
Ringug lowered his head with a gloomy expression.
“If I had cared a bit more about Hender, this wouldn’t have happened.”
“It’s not your fault. It’s just that there are people like that.”
“…Maybe. But I definitely need to apologize to Hender. I judged him on my own and looked down on him.”
“But Hender won’t meet you.”
“I know. But I still need to apologize. Even if not now, I must do it later. After this war is over.”
There was no guarantee that they would survive until then, but Yu-hyun didn’t point that out.
Instead, he comforted Ringug, assuring him that there would definitely be a chance to apologize later.
“So, is there anyone else who doesn’t want to fight? Speak up honestly. This isn’t mandatory.”
Everyone glanced around at Lean’s words.
Until just now, they were full of the will to fight, but hearing Hender’s outburst had filled them with anxiety.
When they were stuck in this limbo, Frechen stepped forward.
“Aah! I can’t take this anymore! If I knew there were so many cowards, I would have turned things upside down earlier!”
“…Frechen.”
“What? Did I say something wrong? That young man just now, fine, but the rest of you. This is laughable. You’re worried about what others think about whether to fight or not. Who cares about other people’s opinions on your decision?”
Frechen mocked those people.
“Maybe kneeling and begging before Georn might give you a chance to survive.”
“Frechen, watch your mouth.”
The people in the square frowned.
Even if they didn’t do the work of the exploration team, they were still Gardians.
Gardians traditionally valued combat and honor. Although this tradition had been diluted during the 32 years they had been in Gard, they weren’t yet at the point of laughing off being called cowards to their faces.
“Who said they wouldn’t fight? It’s just as well.”
Everyone widened their eyes as Bella stepped forward.
“Bella?”
“Are you really…?”
In fact, no one in this place carried more wounds than Bella.
She had lost her beloved husband.
“Anyway, we’ll die the same either way, right? Then at least I’ll smash the skull of one of those Frost Giants who took my husband. Isn’t that right?”
“Haha! Lady, you sure know how to say cool things!”
“Shut up! If you call me ‘lady’ one more time, emperor or not, I’ll spank your butt!”
Bella threatened, and Frechen shrugged, looking at the others.
“So, what’s it going to be? Leave a lady to fight alone? If you’re going to cower behind her skirts, I won’t stop you.”
“Who do you think you’re talking to?”
“That’s it! There’s no future without fighting!”
Voices spread quickly.
Even those who were terrified moments ago were now burning with determination.
Their forgotten instincts.
The genes of Gardians, etched in their blood, awakened from a long sleep.
“Let’s fight!”
“To the end! With all we have!”
The square filled with cheers.
Everyone’s gaze turned to Lean.
Their leader, their last hope.
Lean nodded at the warriors burning their last flames.
“Let’s go. To the final battle.”