Chapter 643

June.

"It's getting hot, it feels like winter was just yesterday."

"That's right."

Ludwig and Scarlet walked along the walking path near the Royal Class dormitory.

Unfortunately, the heavy snow that fell seemed like it was just yesterday, and now summer had arrived, and the time to worry about the heat was approaching.

Could the war end before autumn arrives?

The Allied forces had reached a point where they could discuss the true end.

Still, it wasn't the season for excessive heat to start, so the weather was the best.

And beyond the temple area, the devastation and hunger of the desert could not be felt here.

The well-organized streets, neat shrubs, and beautiful and dignified buildings still looked down the hill.

The temple is still beautiful and spacious.

What's missing are the students.

There are only a few remaining students, and even the teachers who should educate them are mostly on the battlefield.

Still beautiful, but a space without what should be there is a dead space.

Since the temple still has strict access control, only a limited number of people can see this place.

Scarlet walks quietly next to Ludwig, holding a black cat.

And Scarlet sees Ludwig's right arm wrapped in a bandage.

Ludwig said there was a test procedure that could restore his arm, and it worked well and was not uncomfortable, but he couldn't fight, so he did something in the rear area.

But in the end, everyone was busy with what was in front of them.

So Scarlet just vaguely thought it was fortunate for Ludwig to say that.

But.

If Ludwig is in the rear support unit, which unit is it, and what is he doing there?

Scarlet didn't know what Ludwig was doing, and she didn't even ask.

In the first place, Ludwig only visited the Royal Class base to say hello after returning to the Allied forces in the spring, and he hardly showed up.

He was so busy with the rear support unit that he didn't have time to see his friends.

But now that I think about it, it's strange.

After the spring expedition, the Allied forces fought only once in Wolrun.

The first destination, Gsonocea, was in a state of destruction by the advance unit.

Rather, the main force has nothing to do except move, but why is Ludwig, who was in the rear unit, busier?

Since I don't know what the rear support unit is doing, there may actually be more work than the main force, but Scarlet didn't know the reason.

Ludwig said he had recovered his arm, but he was unsuitable for combat.

Can such a person use a very important warp spot to return to the desert like this?

Using a warp spot requires procedures and permits. Like Scarlet. "Ludwig is no longer an important person. However, he casually returns to the temple to find Scarlet while the Allied Forces are advancing and there is nothing else to focus on due to the upcoming fight. Scarlet senses that she has become the core of inexplicable events, such as Ludwig's strange arm, Anna's warning, the sudden appearance of the Demon King, and his own powerlessness. Ludwig explains that he is in the rear support unit and cannot fight, but Scarlet questions why he is so busy. They discuss the possibility of returning to the temple after the war, but Ludwig reminds her that there are still monsters to deal with. They also notice that the black kitten in Scarlet's arms has not grown much and wonder if it is a different breed." Scarlet let out a sigh of relief inwardly. With Ludwig slightly ahead of her, she glared at the black cat in her arms. "You're suspicious because you transform without thinking!" Her gaze was so intense that even the cat yawned in lethargy. "Scarlet." Suddenly, Ludwig's voice sank. "Yes, Ludwig." She could instinctively feel that he was finally going to tell her why he had come to find her. Ludwig turned to face Scarlet. "Do you want to live outside the temple?" "....What?" Scarlet was taken aback by the unexpected question. It was as if he had an attitude that it was natural for him to provide a safe place for her. "The temple is not as safe as you think." "It's not safe...?" "Yes." Ludwig looked at Scarlet quietly. "It would be better to live in a safer place than the temple. That's why I'm suggesting it." Scarlet looked at Ludwig silently. "Ludwig. You know this situation is strange...right?" The temple is dangerous, so find another safe place to live. It was definitely strange for Ludwig to come back to the temple and say that. But Scarlet didn't ask anything, and Ludwig didn't explain anything. In response to Scarlet's comment, Ludwig slowly nodded his head. "Yes, it might feel strange. I can come back to the Huangdo as I please, and I can provide you with a safe place. The bandaged right arm is also suspicious." "...." Ludwig didn't seem to be anyone other than someone who was plotting something. "Still, can't you trust me?" Scarlet bit her lip at Ludwig's words. "I trust you. Ludwig. Of course. Ludwig is my precious person. I definitely...think a lot of Ludwig and I can even die for Ludwig." Ludwig didn't save her life, but to Scarlet, all her friends and comrades were precious and important. Even Erich de Raphaerma, who had tormented her. The moments they crossed the front lines together piled up, and she was even willing to risk her life for him. And the opposite was true, she was convinced that Erich would risk his life for her. That's what comrades were. It was a request to trust Ludwig, one of those precious people. Of course, she trusts him. "But, Ludwig. I don't know anything. What's going on? If you don't tell me anything... If I suddenly hear something like this, it's too frustrating and scary." Anna's warning. The demon king's question. And Ludwig's suggestion. Something is happening, but Scarlet doesn't know anything for sure. "What's going on?" It was a question to Ludwig and a question to the demon king in her arms. What am I that you suddenly come looking for me? What can my abilities do? Ludwig's expression becomes eerie at Scarlet's question. "Ah..." As if realizing something, Ludwig starts to laugh strangely. "Ha, ha... Ha... Ha ha..." Laughing half-heartedly with an expression that cannot be determined whether it is out of breath or disappointment. "Ludwig...?" Scarlet calls out to Ludwig, feeling chills all over her body as he suddenly starts laughing. "Ah... This... This... Ha, ha... This is it... This is it... Ha ha... I'm no different... Ha ha..." Like that. Ludwig, who had been laughing breathlessly for a long time, suddenly stopped laughing. "Sorry, Scarlet." "..." "It's better not to know." In the end, he became the one who said such words to his friend. It's better not to know. But Ludwig, who would laugh at himself, had no intention of stopping what he had to do. Isn't it better? To become a monster to be a monster's friend. Those who want to kill monsters must become monsters. Isn't that proof that he has become a monster? Then he really gained the power and authority to kill monsters. It's not just anyone, but you, who are nothing, won't listen to words like you're not worth dealing with. Even if you fall and die, you won't be miserable. In front of Ludwig's words that it's better not to know, Scarlet looks at Ludwig with a firm expression. "You can't explain anything, but are you saying it's safer for me to live outside the temple?" "Yeah. If you know something, it'll only get more dangerous." So he asked her to trust him. Scarlet doesn't doubt Ludwig's intentions at all. Only... "I don't know..." "You don't know?" "At some point... I feel like I don't know the Ludwig I know." The appearance of Ludwig, who returned with a new arm, was not the only thing that had changed. Scarlet couldn't pay much attention, but she couldn't help feeling like Ludwig had become a completely different person. Ludwig believes that to defeat monsters, one must become a monster themselves. He is willing to do whatever it takes to gain the power and authority to kill monsters. Scarlet is left feeling uncertain about what is happening and who Ludwig really is. Ludwig warns Scarlet that there are people who want to use her, and that there are those within the alliance who are in league with the demon king. Ludwig knows that a significant portion of the alliance has already fallen to the demon king, and that the demon king is aware of Scarlet's strength and increased abilities. As Ludwig said, the demon king already knows. Scarlet couldn't help but realize this when she heard it from Ludwig's mouth. Does he just know? The demon king was faster than Ludwig. "The demon king will... try to use my abilities... my power, right?" "That's right." She doesn't know how her power will be used. However, the demon king cannot say anything right now. The demon king came first, but Ludwig can explain it first. Scarlet couldn't help but be scared when she saw Ludwig's serious expression. "It's strange... Ludwig saying something like that..." Ludwig is Ludwig. "It sounds like I have to... face the demon king as Ludwig... as if I can face him..." The demon king is a name that is too big and heavy. It's just a small cat now, but the demon king is not an ordinary existence. On the other hand, Ludwig is an ordinary existence. Not Ellen, not the emperor, not Savioline Tana. But now, Ludwig was talking as if he had to face the demon king himself, as if it were possible. He speaks as if he is a person who can do that or belongs to a group that can do that. The Ludwig Scarlet knows is not that kind of person at all. "I don't know if I can do it or not. The important thing is that someone has to do it." Without knowing whether it is possible or not, they do it because it is something that must be done. That person is not Ludwig, but Ellen. Scarlet swallows the words that have risen to her lips. The demon king is not the kind of person you think he is. He is not that kind of existence. He just wanted peace but couldn't do anything. He wanted to save the world, but instead made it like this. He is just a pitiful and pathetic existence. I heard that miserable confession myself. So I wanted to say that both the hero and the demon king are ultimately pitiful people. So when Ludwig occasionally expressed hatred towards the demon king or said such things to Ellen, Scarlet stopped him. Don't torment Ellen. I hope you don't make the already difficult hero suffer more. The best Scarlet could do was to stop those who criticized the demon king and those who spoke such words by Ellen's side. She wanted to argue for the demon king while holding the demon king in her arms, but she couldn't. Scarlet can feel from Ludwig's expression that nothing she says will persuade the changed Ludwig. The changed Ludwig just speaks. Ludwig, who always asked for someone's opinion and listened to their story, is gone. "Scarlet, someone will try to use you. They will make you dangerous. So live somewhere else. Somewhere no one can find you. Safely until everything is settled. You can live like that." Hide from the world before someone tries to use you, before you become dangerous. "Then isn't Ludwig using me instead?" If someone tries to use her, couldn't the opposite be true as well? Ludwig may try to use Scarlet. Although it may hurt Ludwig's feelings, he assures Scarlet that he won't put her in danger. Scarlet doesn't know why Ludwig is speaking so seriously about her power and why the demon king is interested in her. She trusts both the demon king and Ludwig, but she is forced to choose between them. Ludwig doesn't give her much time to think and seems to be considering forcing her to come with him if she refuses.