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As Bernard entered Febria Fortress, he anticipated some resistance. This message was classified, and thus couldn’t be conveyed through the usual official channels, namely the port. The visit itself could certainly be considered somewhat secretive.

Particularly, Walter mentioned Jeongjae, the most important person to deceive. Normally, Bernard would have headed south and entered Febria Bay through the port, but instead, he cut straight across the Demon King’s Territory, successfully sneaking over the castle walls after navigating through hundreds of thousands of the Demon King’s Army surrounding the castle.

However, there was one person he could not fool. Jenis Harker, who had been watching the entire scene with the Great Sage’s red staff, had been waiting for Bernard’s visit for quite some time.

“I thought you’d arrive around this time.”

Said the Great Sage, looking down at Bernard as he struggled to climb up the castle wall. She extended the tip of her staff so Bernard could grab it and then pulled him up with all her might.

“Did the Hero summon me?”

“That’s correct. He specifically requested you not to inform the Grand Mage and to sneak in to meet him.”

“Where is he?”

“Not far from here.”

Jenis raised an eyebrow. This was unexpected. She had assumed Walter was lodging at the Northern Expeditionary Force’s fortress and had sent Bernard.

“Is he within the Demon King’s Territory?”

“I tried to dissuade him. At first, he was definitely planning to send just me, but midway through, he insisted on infiltrating the Demon King’s Territory himself. He made some excuse to Princess Rose and tagged along, claiming he would split off deeper inside the Demon King’s Territory.”

“Where is he? I’ll go meet him now.”

“He’s quite far to the west. That means you’ll have to break through the gargoyle’s encirclement.”

“That’s not difficult. This encirclement is quite loosely woven. I’ll move right away. Lead the way.”

Jenis’s confidence was real. Jenis Harker had perfectly understood the enemy’s troop deployment and composition through her reconnaissance. She had been staring at her staff all day, so it was a natural outcome.

Not long after, using her invisibility magic, Jenis stealthily slipped through the encirclement and, guided by Bernard, was able to find the small hut where the Hero was hiding. Walter was waiting for her inside a building that was little more than ruins of the former imperial territory, trampled by the Demon King’s army.

As Jenis entered the building, she bowed her head in front of Walter.

“Hero, I heard you were looking for me.”

“Sit down. I have something to discuss.”

Walter gestured for Bernard to step outside for a moment. Bernard complied with the Hero’s instructions. Jenis looked around and asked.

“Should I lay down soundproofing and concealment magic circles?”

“I’ve already taken care of that. The magic that the Holy Sword can summon is more varied and powerful than you might think.”

“That seems to be the case.”

“Jenis Harker. Don’t you have something you’re curious about?”

Walter took off his glasses and placed them on the worn table. Jenis tensed up at Walter’s question and gulped. The Great Sage tilted her head lightly, indicating that she was itching to know. Walter, smiling gently, said,

“It’s fine, go ahead and ask.”

“The magic that interferes with the future is so subtle that if two people use the magic at the same time, they will inevitably interfere with each other’s power. The Hero must already know this.”

“The power of the orb is stronger than my glasses. I felt your magic suppressing me.”

“I have rummaged through many futures. Mainly, I attempted to spy on the future you see. What thoughts are you having, what future are you viewing? I wasn’t very successful, Hero. But something felt strange. There was nothing. No matter how much I looked, there was nothing.”

“What do you mean, there was nothing?”

“You, Hero.”

Jenis spoke in a trembling voice.

“I have seen countless futures, and in searching for the future you seek, I couldn’t find your figure in any conclusion. So, I want to ask. Is what I see different from what you see? If it’s different, what exactly are you seeing?”

“I see exactly, Jenis Harker.”

Walter’s voice carried the weight of fatigue. It was an anguish born from resignation, frustration, and pain.

“I don’t exist at the end of this path. My fate is decided, and I have failed. I… I…”

Walter quickly wiped away the tears that were welling in his eyes. The Hero struggled to maintain a resolute expression as he finished his words.

“I won’t see the end of this war alive, no matter what happens.”

“There must be a way. There is nothing as imperfect in the world as the magic of prophecy. Changing the direction of a destined future is easier than swatting a child’s hand.”

“Actually, yes. Would you like me to tell you a very simple method you could do, Jenis?”

“Please do. If there’s a price I must pay, I will do my utmost to save you.”

“Offer his life in exchange for mine.”

In that instant, Jenis’s face went pale. She immediately understood who ‘he’ referred to in this context. Without waiting for Jenis to reply, Walter continued speaking.

“From the moment the Manhattan scroll was written, it became the key to either solving everything or messing it up. Let him solve this problem with that magic. Or let me solve it. You can choose either future. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

Jenis trembled and clenched her fists. When Jenis suddenly stood up, Walter thought she would be angry with him. But instead, Jenis knelt in front of him and began to cry heavily.

“Please, Hero, I beg you. Don’t make me make this decision. I… I don’t have the strength to make this decision. I’m not someone who can make such choices. Please don’t make me act. Don’t make me decide, Hero!”

“No!”

The Hero shouted angrily, pushing his glasses towards Jenis and raising his voice.

“You wanted power. And I allowed you to grow that power. Then, now you must repay that debt to me. Take responsibility. This is your choice, and the burden you must bear. I’ve made decisions even among hundreds of commoners who couldn’t escape, and among millions of people in the Empire who must be protected. There have been countless moments when I didn’t want to bear a decision! You aimed to replace my position and become the protagonist of this war. Were you truly unprepared for a difficult decision like this?”

“B-but this isn’t right. You can’t just cast this onto me!”

Tears wouldn’t stop pouring from Jenis’s eyes. Her quick-witted brain had already comprehended a significant part of Walter’s plan. The horrifying truth was that Jenis herself could come up with no better alternatives than Walter.

“Hey, it might not be a binary choice. There might be a better way. If I can find something, if only I had a little more time!”

“If I had a little time, would I have hastily marched north? If I had even a little more time, I would have comfortably sat in my camp and waited for you to come from the south. We don’t even have that little bit of time you wish for. No matter which way you choose, the one not chosen will remain as dust by morning. Make your decision.”

“I refuse. How can I face you and…”

Slowly, Jenis raised her head while still on her knees. The tears didn’t stop, but the determination was already shining in her sky-blue eyes. With quivering lips, Jenis slowly voiced her decision.

“Can I ask you to let me die in place of the person I love, Hero?”

“I knew the choice you would make before I even heard it. Now, take the necessary actions. You understand why I chose you.”

“I will never reconcile with Princess Rose again. Not even until the moment I die.”

“That is the curse I place upon you. Bear it and live.”

“If she truly attempts to kill me now, I have no excuses left. What I must do is indeed that deed.”

“Survive. If you truly wish to live, Rose will not have the power to kill you.”

“Someone who has endured for such a long time just for humanity’s survival—why can’t they take part in that final fruit?”

“Even now, there are soldiers dying. And they are warriors who have fought, enduring the same time as me. I have no intention of calling it unfair. They are all in the same predicament as I am.”

“Really? You truly feel no unfairness at all?”

“Don’t ask me, please don’t ask. I made my decision long before you did, and I tried countless times to overturn that decision. But any alternative I could think of, any decision I made, someone had to die. And in most cases, it was that guy. Yes. The one I absolutely cannot sacrifice for you.”

“While this choice is made by me…”

As Jenis stood up, she dusted off her knees.

“It’s already been made by you. You needed someone who wouldn’t save you instead of that person.”

“And I needed someone who wouldn’t crumble under the guilt of that decision forever. But most importantly, it was that you are a very talented magician.”

“So it’s for practical reasons. Let’s prepare the illusion magic. Acceleration magic, defensive magic circles, and awareness-hindering magic…”

Jenis began creating magic circles, attempting to appear as calm as possible. However, in a moment, the composed Jenis crumpled to the floor and sobbed aloud.

“I was arrogant. I defied your authority. Is this how you take your revenge on me? Are you punishing me in a way I can’t endure the most?”

“You know it well.”

The Hero chuckled softly.

“When Rose furiously claimed she would punish you, I scoffed. She wouldn’t dare try that tactic. The punishment that could deal you the deepest blow and make you suffer the most is prepared by this Walter Hellhound. It’s the position of the number one military commander you desired. Now, I’ll hand it over to you, so bear that heavy burden.”

“It’s already so heavy even before I’ve received it that I feel like I’m suffocating.”

“Ouch.”

Walter said.

“Attach that life string of his. And hold on to these glasses for a moment, then pass them to the one you think would suit them the most. Never use them yourself. Using two artifacts that see the future will not end well for you, no matter how good you are.”

“I will remember, brother.”

With trembling hands, Jenis took Walter’s glasses and placed them in her bosom. Her hands, wracked with tremors like a Parkinson’s patient, were accurate and delicate with the spell’s content.

After finishing all preparations, Jenis knelt before the Hero and offered her final respect for a hero of an era.

“To Mr. Silverpoint outside…”

“Don’t say it. He doesn’t know. If he did, he’d try to stop me. Just… send him far away. Rather, take him to Febria Bay. Tell him it was my order.”

“Understood.”

Before opening the door and exiting, Jenis took one last look at Walter. His expression was still filled with uncertainty. He was too delicate a human to accept the fate that approached him without any doubt.

Jenis thought she had to leave him a final word. But what should she say? There were no appropriate farewells. Nothing came to mind no matter how hard she thought. Eventually, after a brief moment of contemplation, Jenis said to Walter,

“I will surely win. No matter what happens, we will win this war.”

Hearing this, a slight sense of peace passed over Walter’s expression.

“I will trust you, Great Sage.”

Then, Jenis left the hut.

 

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