Chapter 560

Ludwig did not get angry or upset at the insult that Cliffman is a retard. He was faithful to the duel. It was painful to watch. Cliffman really faced Ludwig without any magical enhancement. Ludwig wrapped his body with blue magic, but he couldn't even touch Cliffman properly. His lack of one arm was an obstacle to his superhuman agility and strength. He couldn't even rush properly. Cliffman overturned or hit him using Ludwig's power, even without a weapon, and knocked him down by walking on his legs. Cliffman attacked only the weakness. Even without magical enhancement, Cliffman literally played with Ludwig. Ludwig's left-handed sword couldn't touch anywhere of Cliffman. Using Ludwig's sword trajectory as a penalty, Cliffman caught or hit the sword and subdued Ludwig. Using a weapon was actually a weakness. "You were strong to begin with... You seem to have become stronger, Cliffman." Ludwig got up with his left arm on the ground and awkwardly smiled. Cliffman neither smiled nor got angry. "You know that's not true." "...." "You've become weaker. To the point of being pathetic." Ludwig couldn't even respond to Cliffman's miserable remark. If Ludwig had been in his original state, Cliffman couldn't have overwhelmed him like this without magical enhancement. "There are people who practice weapons with only one hand, either left or right. It's not impossible. There were no one-armed swordsmen, and there may have been such people among the master classes." Cliffman said. "But you only have two months at best, three months at most. It's impossible for you to reach that level in that time. It's an impossible task." He has to adapt to his changed body and changed fighting style. If 20 years pass like this, Ludwig may become a master class who slaughters monsters with one hand. But time is running out. It's a delusional fantasy of an overly optimistic fool to think that he can fight like this in two months. "We have to do something. We can't give up like this. Even if I die, if someone doesn't die because of me...." "Didn't you say that if you weren't there, Delphin wouldn't have died?" "...." Ludwig opened his eyes wide at Cliffman's insult. When did Cliffman, who didn't know how to deal with people, become such a tough guy who could say such harsh words? Too many deaths have changed everyone. Cliffman was no exception. "It's not rude to say that you pushed yourself to save Scarlet, and that's why Delphin died trying to save you, is it?" "It's not rude. It's the truth." Ludwig nodded calmly at Cliffman's insult. The person Cliffman is most likely thinking about in his words is Ludwig himself. That's why he was being harsh. Ludwig didn't get angry at Cliffman's words and just hung his head. "That's right. I killed Delphin. It's all my fault. My weakness..." "If you know it's your fault, then don't make it worse." "Yeah. That's why I'm trying to find something I can do even with this body..." "That's even worse." Cliffman shakes his head. "If you die trying to do something like this, do you think other people will feel good about it, knowing what the people left behind feel?" "Ludwig. It looks like you're planning to beat up a scarecrow until the end of this winter, but don't." "Your best bet is to go back to the Yellow Road." "Don't act like you're going to die right away. Go back to a place where there's no fighting." Cliffman's words to Ludwig are understandable. Doing nothing doesn't help. If he dies like this, it will only make things worse for other people. "You're good at considering others. You're kind and can't say anything mean to anyone. That's why." As if understanding Ludwig's feelings, Cliffman approaches him and puts his hand on his shoulder, looking him straight in the eye. Consideration. Kindness. "Right now, you need to consider us." "...." "You're having a very negative impact on the entire Royal Class base right now." Obsession with fighting that borders on madness. Even though he falls and stumbles as a one-armed man, he tries to get up and do something. People don't see the greatness of humanity in that sight. They only see a one-armed person struggling in despair. People despair as they watch Ludwig now. "Killing one more monster like this isn't considering us, and it's not for the sake of others. Going back to the Yellow Road is what you need to do to consider us. It will give us hope to preserve our lives, even if it's just our lives. You can think you're safe, that you're in a safe place. Go back." Real consideration. Ludwig probably didn't even think that he was being a burden to others. He didn't know how much he was making things difficult for people by ruining the atmosphere and begging like he was going to die soon. Ludwig doesn't give up easily. But Ludwig is fundamentally kind and considerate of others. It's better for you not to be here. That's consideration. So give up. "...." Ludwig couldn't deny Cliffman's words. * * * Cliffman hurled insults at Ludwig and left. In the dark training ground, Ludwig was alone. In his words and actions, there was a deep shadow of death. Ludwig's desperate appearance made everyone think that he was going to die soon, and it was harmful to everyone. Ludwig would have been stubborn if his actions only affected himself, but he realized through Cliffman's words that his stubbornness was also harming others. After watching Ludwig for a while, the narrator continued to explore the Royal Class base. Adriana was sad about Ard de Grities' death, and the narrator noticed the accumulating sadness on her face. The narrator also searched for information on the Empire's revival of corpses and the status of the bodies of fallen soldiers. Translation:

Summary of previous part of chapter only for context: In this chapter, Ludwig's deteriorating health is causing concern among those around him. Despite his stubbornness, he realizes that his actions are not only affecting himself but also harming others. Meanwhile, the narrator explores the Royal Class base and notices Adriana's sadness over the death of Ard de Grities. The narrator also investigates the Empire's revival of corpses and the status of fallen soldiers' bodies. Overall, the chapter highlights the interconnectedness of individuals and the impact of one's actions on others.

As for the development of the Titan that Adelia and the Duke were working on, information had already been obtained beforehand. Although the detailed technology and methods were unknown, the fact that they were producing a giant weapon was not a secret. In fact, many soldiers who witnessed the power of the Titan felt hope in this war as they saw it crushing their enemies. However, reviving corpses must remain a secret. That's why Sarkergar and even I had no information about it. The scary fact is that even the deceased Royal Class members may not be exempt from becoming Death Knights. In the case of Ard and Delphin, their bodies were not found. As for the first-year student, Cardina Ein, her body was found, but it is unknown how the funeral procedure was carried out. If a dead friend becomes a Death Knight, what will happen? And there is one more frightening speculation. Making someone undead is likely to be associated with black magic unless Kier's power is used. B-6, Anna de Gerna. She is a person with talent in black magic and actually raises monsters that have died on the battlefield to fight. I saw that her tent was empty. It was night, and even though it was late at night, she did not return.

* * *

It is still uncertain whether Anna is involved in that work or not. However, it is useless to question whether such an important and confidential work is being carried out by people who are only twenty years old, including magicians who have not yet grown up. The Magic Research Society that created Power Cartridges and Moonshine. Anna's ability has already been confirmed as she helped Christina make Moonshine. And in the first place, even if Adelia had the knowledge of the Duke and the Holy War Kingdom, she did not play a decisive role in making the Titan. Therefore, the Temple's second-year students are special even within the Royal Class. Although there is one third-year student, the internal club composed of second-year students has already made two artifacts that will remain in history during their student years. They even made the Titan. There are even demons and heroes involved. Royal Class second-year students can only be treated as very special species in the long history of the Temple. Therefore, it is likely that Anna de Gerna, who has a talent in black magic, is related to the secret project that the Empire is currently conducting... I had to cooperate with Kono Lindt to make Death Knights with the excuse that there was no other way. The Empire cannot even suggest such a proposal to Anna. It may even be possible to ask Anna to resurrect the bodies of the deceased warriors because there is a black magic curriculum and black magicians in the Temple, and Anna is not the only available black magician. I look at Anna's empty tent. Where did she go? Will she come back? Translation: Anna's tent was open, so I went in and looked around, but there was nothing useful to gather. I accidentally smelled the strong scent of a herb in the tent and was stunned for about 30 minutes.

* * *

Contagious disease. Anna's tent was like a minefield to me in a different sense. I have a talent for resisting poison, so why doesn't it work against this herb? I barely escaped from the herb and left Anna's tent. Seeing that Anna didn't come back even though it was late at night, I wondered if she was in some kind of laboratory or something.

Staggering, I left Anna's tent and heard the sound of armor clanking in the distance. "Good job, warrior." "......Yes." Ellen was returning to the Royal Class base from somewhere, and it seemed like she had been on a mission until tonight.

"Meow." I heard a crying sound in the distance, and Ellen's footsteps quickened a bit. Ellen's expression changed as she faced me in front of Anna's tent. She must have been too busy, and since the area near Serendia was quiet, she must have had nothing to worry or think about.

Approaching me in armor, Ellen crouched down and was about to touch me, but hesitated. She looked at her gloves, which had dried blood stains on them. Did she fight monsters and come back?

She cautiously took off her gloves and lightly tickled my nose. She was worried that it might affect me even though it didn't matter if she didn't take them off. Ellen's thin and white hands were revealed when she took off her gloves. The guy touched my nose a few times with her hand. "Take care...." Ellen stopped herself from speaking.

Perhaps she thought that the words "take care" didn't fit with the reality of this place. I could feel that Ellen was mentally suffering to the point where she had to choose her words even when talking to animals. "You've grown a lot." "Meow." Ellen stroked me a few times and looked towards her tent. "It's cold. Let's go inside."

White breath came out of Ellen's mouth. It was definitely a cold day. Ellen led the way, and I followed her. There was no point in trying to gather information about Anna today, like everyone else, there was an indelible shadow on Ellen's face.

What's happening with the spirits? Ellen would become more mentally exhausted as things piled up. However, since there won't be any big fights this winter, someone's death will be relatively less. Ellen went into the tent and headed to the bathroom after taking off her armor. No, she turned towards me. "Wash...." "Meow!" "...You still hate it." Ellen went to the bathroom alone, as if she wouldn't force me to come with her, according to the double accident, I'm a cat, not Reinhardt! "It's not nothing! Ellen's gloves and armor were covered in blood stains, not just from catching one monster but from fighting a whole group of them. Even during the ceasefire, Ellen and people like Sabiolin Tana had no time to rest. I waited for Ellen to finish washing up while sitting on a makeshift bed. But every time something like this happens, I can't help but think... Even if everything is resolved in the end, it's still a complicated situation. If Ellen finds out that I'm this cat, it's like I'm committing suicide. Honestly, it's just a weird and perverted thing to do. But even with all these complicated thoughts, I'm just a cat yawning. Ellen soon returns, wearing comfortable clothes and slippers. This is the only moment Ellen can relax, as she usually wears that flashy armor that must be uncomfortable. Ellen sits on the makeshift bed and puts me on her lap, scratching and petting me. It smells good, maybe because I'm a cat... It feels strange, but good. If I get caught, I'll probably be executed... Even in her casual clothes, Ellen still wears an unknown charm around her neck. Does the charm protect Ellen, or is it just because Ellen is strong and can endure? I don't know, but Ellen is still here. Ellen looks down at me on her lap and says, 'I forgot.' Maybe she forgot that she had a cat in the tent to pet. She didn't forget, but she didn't have time to think about it. She had too much to worry about, and even after this battle, Ellen had a lot to do. So when she saw me as a cat just now, Ellen's expression seemed to realize something she had forgotten for a long time. Ellen puts me on her lap again and looks into my eyes. She tilts her head and asks, 'Should I apologize to you?' I meow in response. Ellen says, 'I feel strange. I shouldn't be relieved that you're safe when so many others died in battle, even in the Royal Class.' " "I wonder how much pressure and responsibility Ellen feels. There seem to be people in this world who should not have been born. It's a relief that there are people who are better off not being born. We consider all of this to be our own responsibility, so we end up wishing we never existed. Ellen and I both end up thinking the same thing. If only I were as small as you... it would have been better. Even though it has a terribly negative impact, we still have to make up for it. Ellen seemed to envy insignificance. If she were a trivial existence, she could only have had a trivial impact, and she might have thought that there would be no such thing as what happened because of her. "It would have been better if I were nothing...". Ellen's words sounded so sad."