Chapter 136.5, [Side Story] Kyrie

 

“Did I not mention it?”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“The meaning of your name. Here, it has quite the plausible meaning.”

 

* * *

 

*Step, step.*

 

Dark spots appeared one by one on the moderately dry soil under the midday sun.

 

The water droplets that fell and touched the tip of his nose and forehead soon became rain. The pleasantly earthy smell from the moderately dry soil wafted up and soon dispersed.

 

Though he had known from early on that it was starting to rain, he deliberately turned his palm upward and looked at the sky. Sure enough, a water droplet fell and settled obediently on his palm.

 

“It was so clear this morning. Strange.”

 

“I told you already. I said it looked like it would rain.”

 

Bern, who spoke with a mix of scolding and teasing, grinned. Then, he held out his palm toward Chase. It meant to give him the money they had wagered since he had lost the bet.

 

Seeing that triumphant smile, Chase smiled back and said:

 

“I don’t have any on me right now, so I’ll give it to you when we go inside.”

 

“You’re going to say you forgot again.”

 

“When have I ever forgotten such a thing?”

 

“Many, many times.”

 

There soon came another bickering match.

 

Kyrie, who was watching these brothers from behind, quietly smiled.

 

This current situation started with a sudden remark from Bern.

 

‘Older brother. Will it rain today?’

 

When Bern asked this upon meeting Chase in the morning, Chase casually answered that ‘it probably won’t rain.’ Bern then immediately suggested they make a bet.

 

Since Chase had never declined any bet Bern proposed, he nodded this time too. Bern, who smiled meaningfully at that response, turned around and said:

 

‘Kyrie, watch carefully. Older brother definitely said it wouldn’t rain.’

 

‘Yes. I understand.’

 

Kyrie, the only Knight who had pledged loyalty to Prince Bern rather than Knight Bern, had answered like this.

 

It was always like this.

 

Bern would propose a bet first, Chase would accept, and Kyrie would become the witness. Once the bet started like this, it would always end with bickering like this.

 

“I don’t remember ever forgetting the money I owe you.”

 

“You’ve said that several times already without knowing it.”

 

The Nobles probably could not imagine even in their dreams that Prince Bern was grumbling at King Chase over a mere silver coin.

 

Seeing these two brothers like this, an almost imperceptible smile was drawn on Kyrie’s lips. One was a King and one was a Prince, but they were simply brothers. That was just precious.

 

It did not matter if they were King and Prince.

 

Yes. On the day Kyrie first met them, their appearance was not that different from now.

 

Especially Bern, he was exactly the same as now. His speech was a bit rougher and his eyes a bit fiercer compared to now, but he was the same.

 

At least that was how it seemed to Kyrie.

 

* * *

 

When he first met Bern.

 

There had been a great flood in Tansyll. It was a disaster that occurred just as spring was arriving.

 

Wheat was abundant and salt was scarce.

 

Wheat for Nobles was originally expensive. Salt was even more expensive.

 

The bodies of the poor who could not obtain either began to rot.

 

Those who could not endure it crossed the border.

 

It was better to hide in Secritia than in Cyries, which was overflowing with troops. At least Secritia did not unconditionally execute the refugees.

 

Of course, that was the refugees’ situation.

 

Secritia could not unconditionally accept all those crossing the border. They could bring infectious diseases, crime, and above all, it was difficult to support all of their settlement.

 

“So what does father say we should do?”

 

When there were no Nobles or Debeullan in front of him, Bern always called Debeullan ‘father.’

 

It was not out of affection.

 

If he did not call him that, he could not guarantee himself that he would not betray human ethics somehow. He hated Debeullan that much.

 

Even knowing Bern was like this, Chase did not say anything about it. It was partly because Chase was on good terms with Debeullan either, contrary to appearances, and also because he knew Bern’s temperament well.

 

“Let’s observe and decide.”

 

“Did father delegate the refugee problem to you, older brother?”

 

“Yes. He said so. So, I’m thinking of seeing the situation for myself first before deciding.”

 

Debeullan had handed over the power of life and death over hundreds or possibly more refugees to the Crown Prince, who had just turned nineteen. This was in a state where any problems between Tansyll and Secritia might arise as a result.

 

“Then, I’ll just observe as an escort.”

 

Saying this, Bern smiled slightly.

 

It meant he would not interfere with the first test Debeullan had given to the Crown Prince. Chase, who had intended to solve the problem together with Bern by saying ‘let’s observe and decide,’ just nodded without saying anything else.

 

So the Crown Prince and Prince set foot into the place where those caught crossing the border were gathered.

 

The number of refugees gathered in the wide open space without even a single tent was exactly as many as they had expected.

 

While looking around at them, without even dismounting from his horse, Bern’s eyes stopped at one place. His sharp violet eyes precisely picked out one person mixed among the many refugees.

 

“…That.”

 

When faced with a problem posed by Chase.

 

When encountering a difficult opponent.

 

When finding forces that needed to be killed.

 

Whatever it was, the expression Bern used to make when faced with something interesting appeared on his face.

 

“Is not a refugee.”

 

Looking at the boy with water-colored hair, Bern’s lips drew a long arc.

 

* * *

 

He was one year younger than Chase.

 

So, he was one year older than Bern.

 

Of course, since they were Royalty, the age difference did not change the hierarchy.

 

“He says he’s eighteen.”

 

Deep curiosity turned in Bern’s violet eyes.

 

[Why was he mixed in with the people of Tansyll? Why did he try to come to Secritia? Why did he leave Cyries? He is only eighteen, so why does he give off such a thick scent of blood? As much as me.]

 

“That’s right.”

 

Two different colored eyes were looking straight at Bern. Seeing those eyes, Bern smiled again.

 

“This bastard has crazy eyes.”

 

[Just like me.]

 

That was Bern’s first impression of Kyrie.

 

That was why he liked him, or so drunk Bern would say so later.

 

Because his eyes were crazy.

 

“Do you use a sword? Or fists?”

 

“I use everything.”

 

“Right.”

 

At the same time as those words came out, a long silver sword was drawn from its sheath and was thrown in front of Kyrie. It was Bern’s sword. As he stared at it, Bern’s mouth opened.

 

“Try it.”

 

The surrounding Knights showed momentarily tense looks.

 

They were not worried about Bern.

 

Their eyes wondered if he intended to cut down a young boy in front of so many refugees. Bern, who swept over such Knights, grinned and said:

 

“Don’t worry. This bastard isn’t the type to die in a place like this.”

 

*Slash!*

 

As if waiting for those words.

 

The moment Bern’s words ended, Kyrie’s body moved like lightning. He picked up the sword that had fallen to the ground and thrust it straight at Bern.

 

Bern twisted his body while standing in place.

 

The sword learned haphazardly through sidelong glances could not even graze Bern’s collar. And Bern stuck out his foot and kicked Kyrie as he was.

 

*Crash!*

 

Then,

 

“See?”

 

He grinned at Kyrie, who had fallen far away.

 

* * *

 

“Name.”

 

“Kyrie.”

 

Hearing this, Bern chuckled.

 

“What a grand name.”

 

Kyrie was sitting in the chair across from Bern. It was because of Bern’s order not to make him kneel anymore.

 

Despite trying to attack a Prince, he was not arrested. Bern gave Kyrie water to wash with, new clothes, and fed him. And now, they were sitting face to face, starting the conversation once again.

 

He certainly looked like he had washed and come out.

 

Nevertheless, the bloody smell wafting from him simply would not fade. It was faint enough that the Knights would not notice, but that was not the case for Bern.

 

Nevertheless, Bern did not ask about it. He did not ask why he had fled Cyries either. Instead, he brought up something else.

 

“Kyrie. Do you want to become a Knight?”

 

Two different colored eyes.

 

Kyrie’s two eyes found life for the first time.

 

What might be called longing.

 

“Be my sword.”

 

A sword.

 

Bern’s eyes sharpened keenly.

 

Kyrie did not avoid those eyes. Facing the murderous eyes that even Debeullan was reluctant to meet, Kyrie opened his mouth again.

 

“I will become your sword.”

 

He did not ask the tedious question of whether that sword would be one that cuts people or one that protects them.

 

“Good.”

 

With words saying ‘try it,’ Bern grinned.

 

“I’ll make you into one.”

 

* * *

 

“Aren’t you curious? What your name means?”

 

“I’m curious.”

 

“The name is short but the meaning is quite long.”

 

“What meaning could be so long?”

 

“I’m not going to tell you, ever.”

 

“…Why won’t you tell me?”

 

“I said it was plausible, is that not good enough?”

 

“It is.”

 

“What? Then, aren’t you curious what’s not good about it?”

 

“None of that stuff would fit me anyway.”

 

“Is that so.”

 

[Then, would my name not fit either?]

 

Silavin: Okay, from what I know, plausible, as in the name is neither good nor bad. Or, so it seems. Does not fit him, because he does not think the name defines him, and that it does not matter. So, for Bern, does his name also not define him? This is such a contextual thing, hard to grasp within these few lines.

 

* * *

 

“Did you make another bet?”

 

“Ah. I did.”

 

“Didn’t you just recently bet on whether it would rain or not?”

 

Toward Kyrie, who spoke in a slightly scolding tone, Bern nodded.

 

“This one is a long-term bet. I think we made it about three years ago.”

 

Since it was a somewhat long-term bet, the wager seemed to have been large too. With a proud face, Bern bounced the gold coin he had won from Chase and smiled.

 

“I got some free money now. Let’s go drink.”

 

Bern only used his Princely way of speaking from the past with Kyrie alone.

 

And, he could not resist alcohol.

 

Yet he always made excuses to Kyrie, saying ‘You like alcohol more than I do.’

 

They rarely went to taverns.

 

When Bern opened a tavern door and entered, the tavern’s atmosphere would freeze stiff. He had chosen such a role for himself, so what could be done? However, drunk Bern did not appreciate such an atmosphere.

 

Drunk Bern was not such a harsh person.

 

Only Kyrie, who had gotten drunk with him, knew that was Bern’s true nature.

 

After taking out all sorts of alcohol from the Royal Palace’s liquor storage, and placing one gold coin in the empty spot, Bern grinned.

 

“If I only take out this much, older brother won’t scold me.”

 

Then, he climbed to the very top of the palace spire.

 

Secreta, the Capital of Secritia.

 

That was the only place where all of Secreta could be seen. It was Bern’s favorite spot.

 

After climbing to such a place, he drank alcohol until he was drunk.

 

He did not discriminate between types of alcohol. There were no snacks or anything. It was not because of any particular incident that he drank. He just drank when he felt good and drank when he felt bad.

 

Though he could dispel his drunkenness, he deliberately chose not to. Getting drunk to the very top of his head like that, he always came down from the spire carried on Kyrie’s back.

 

“Aren’t you curious what bet I made?”

 

Carried on Kyrie’s back, Bern asked with slurred pronunciation.

 

“I’m curious.”

 

“Then you should ask.”

 

Kyrie was generally like this. He rarely asked first. Bern always found this both frustrating and pitiful. Of course, he did not show it.

 

“What bet did you make?”

 

“How tall you would grow. Whether you would grow tall enough to have to duck your head when passing through the training room door or not. But when I saw you this morning, you were ducking your head as you entered. So, I won.”

 

At these muttered words, Kyrie made a small sound and laughed.

 

This country’s King and Prince,

 

Wagering one silver coin on whether it would rain or not,

 

Wagering one gold coin on how tall a subordinate would grow,

 

Making such bets and ultimately bickering.

 

Secritia was such a place.

 

It should have been…

 

…Such a place forever.

 

But it could not be.

 

* * *

 

The last day.

 

On the spire that Bern had loved so much.

 

“…Kyrie.”

 

The words Chase let slip were someone’s name.

 

But not only someone’s name.

 

Kyrie, that was…

 

The final verse of a prayer to Serenty, requesting the mercy of the sleeping Goddess.

 

* * *

 

An unforgettable hero.

 

This last hero of Secritia. A hero who gave up everything for Chase. A hero who gave life to Kyrie, who had given up everything.

 

Bern.

 

Bern, who should guard the King’s side, left the castle gates.

 

He knew it was already too late. Everyone including Bern knew. Knowing this, they still gripped their swords. Because they knew, they gripped their swords.

 

They were all the King’s swords.

 

Plants Rue Lune Cyries demanded Arcus Tempus but Secritia refused.

 

Faced with a sudden war, Secritia was both strong and weak. Before the hands of the Mages they brought forth, those White Demons, they burned their very lives to the end. With bodies ablaze, they embraced Mages and died.

 

Hell.

 

Yes. If there was a Hell, it would be right here.

 

Plants’ Valkan turned Secritia into Hell. He turned Secritia, where the King and Prince used to bet over a single silver coin, into Hell.

 

“Pull yourself together.”

 

[They said Taillan had died.]

 

Bern did not cry.

 

“Don’t… stop.”

 

Pushing away Chase, who was crying and blocking his way, he stood before the castle gates.

 

“Repaying the debt…”

 

Forty-eight Knights died before him.

 

“…This is all I can do, but…”

 

When Kyrie’s words, full of blood, stopped.

 

Bern finally wailed.

 

He cried looking at Kyrie, who had blocked his path and died pierced by arrows. He cried remembering that smile of someone just about to enter the path of the sword. He cried because the face that would scold him to stop betting was funny. He cried remembering the last drink always left behind to carry the drunk Bern down. He cried because those eyes that wanted to see his younger sister were always pitiful.

 

[To leave like this. To leave like this!]

 

He cried because that life offered in the name of loyalty was oh so precious.

 

He cried because that life had been so sorrowful.

 

He cried knowing this was everyone’s end.

 

* * *

 

[Oh Serenty,]

 

[Please bestow mercy.]

 

[I will pay.]

 

[With all my life.]

 

[Kyrie.]