## Side Story 3: The Azure Knight and the Ashen Witch
### Chapter 13
I frowned, and Lopetrefer’s eyes narrowed.
“I told you we were going to play a game, didn’t I?”
“…Yes, you did.”
“I realized something. That Emperor Lawrence would never pardon me just because I eliminated the monsters in the trash dump. And even if the rebellion succeeds and Shina becomes the next emperor, he won’t either… Shina will never forgive me.”
*So she knew about the rebellion.*
But I couldn’t speak, I just watched as Lopetrefer, struggling to breathe, clutched her chest and leaned against the wall.
“…After realizing that, I decided to give up on everything and start over.”
She continued, her voice weak.
“But then, I remembered something. The words that Shina, who had always visited me in the dungeon, who had said he could never forgive me, always said at the end… Ha… Shina… he said, ‘Call me whenever you want to talk. No matter where you are, I’ll come to you and listen…’ Yes, and the letter you gave me… That letter said the same thing… Haha… It’s so frustrating. It’s over…”
*It’s over.*
Was it regret, or anger? It didn’t sound like the “I don’t care” she had been repeating.
I stood up to help her, seeing her trembling arm. But Lopetrefer pushed me away, gritted her teeth, and stood up, her hand on her chest. She then declared,
“Raines, I’m going to be king.”
“…King? That’s absurd…”
I couldn’t finish my sentence. Because I saw beads of sweat forming on her face and neck.
Lopetrefer was trembling, as if she had a chill. But she was still smiling.
“Shina, Lawrence… I don’t need them anymore, and it’s not fun. So I’m going to be king. I’m going to start from here. That’s why I got rid of all the toxins. This is practically the capital now. And… that’s why I came to make you an offer.”
Lopetrefer looked at me and said,
“Be my knight, Raines Noel.”
“…I refuse.”
I answered without hesitation. Because I had already made my choice, while listening to Enzhe Lopetrefer’s story, no, the moment she had stepped into this small room.
“I’m going back to the Imperial Palace.”
“…Why?”
“Lopetrefer, you’re going to die soon.”
I said, my voice calm and low.
“It’s because you absorbed the toxins from the trash dump, right?”
“….”
She didn’t answer, just stared at me intently, as if I had hit the nail on the head.
“Why did you do that? Knowing you would die…”
“Hehe… Huhahahaha!”
Lopetrefer suddenly burst out laughing. She laughed for a long time. Her earsplitting laughter finally subsided as the faint light of dawn appeared.
Her laughter stopped, and her breathing gradually calmed down. The trembling stopped, and the cold sweat that had been covering her body dried up.
“Raines, wasn’t this what you wanted?”
Lopetrefer asked, her face devoid of any emotion. But I couldn’t nod, nor could I shake my head.
*Had I wanted this? Had I not?*
While I was hesitating, Lopetrefer placed her hand on her chest and declared,
“I’m not going to die.”
“….”
“Do you think I’m going to die? Enzhe Lopetrefer?”
It was an empty boast, but for some reason, it made me think that she might actually be right.
“Okay, then let’s play another game.”
Lopetrefer smiled arrogantly, bathed in the blue light of dawn. And I answered,
“Okay.”
I accepted her offer before I could even hear the rules of the game.
Because no matter what game Enzhe Lopetrefer proposed, the outcome would be the same.
“Whether I’ll die or not.”
The ashen witch said, her face filled with amusement.
“Whether I’ll become king or not.”
The azure knight slowly repeated her words. As if it was a real bet, he repeated her words in his mind, over and over again.
And then, the azure knight smiled faintly.
He said,
“You won’t die, but you won’t become king. Because I’m going to stop you, and in the end, I’m going to defeat you.”
***
It was a clear, sunny day.
I was standing at the bridge leading back to the barrier, being seen off by the residents.
I had told Senior Lionel that I was going back to the Imperial Palace, but I had asked him to get me a horse. I was planning to ride back to the capital, instead of taking a carriage or a train.
There was no grand reason. I just wanted to experience a journey.
“Sob… You’re abandoning me here and going back alone!?”
Ariel clung to my pants, crying, as I was holding the reins. She was acting like a wife saying goodbye to her husband forever. And the funny thing was that some people actually thought that was the case.
“I’m sorry, Ariel. I’ll try to get you back soon.”
“You promise? If you break your promise, I’ll come find you and kill you!”
“Yes… I promise…”
I managed to soothe her with empty promises. Honestly, I didn’t know how long it would take for Ariel to return to the capital.
I said goodbye to the people who had come to see me off, but Lopetrefer wasn’t among them.
“Seriously, that woman is so heartless.”
Ariel sniffled, but I had expected it.
A month had passed since the night of the festival, and I was about to leave the trash dump.
There had been no change in my relationship with Lopetrefer. She had diligently eliminated monsters for the past month, and I had continued to observe her every move.
And because of that, because there had been no change, she probably didn’t feel the need to see me off.
“…Then I’ll be going.”
I smiled faintly and mounted my horse. The scent of flowers wafted in the distance. Was it from outside the barrier, or inside?
I had no choice but to move forward, to find out. I had to choose a path.
I wanted to see my mother. I wanted to see the Commander Yuna. I wanted to see Senior Lionel and my fellow knights. I wanted to see Soran Halo. I wanted to see Fritz. I wanted to see Jean Emilia, and I wanted to see Sue. And until the day I would meet Enzhe Lopetrefer again, as an enemy.
I cracked the whip, urging my horse forward. The horse, as if understanding my heart, galloped towards the capital, leaving the trash dump behind.
The trash dump, where the sun was shining brightly, and a single, white cosmos was blooming in the middle of the ruins.
And then, I pulled on the reins. My steps, heading towards my homeland, were lighter than ever.
*Fin.*