Chapter 74

Hoping it was a misunderstanding, Worm asked his bowed brother.

"Hey, Haze, answer me. Are you still a soldier of Liberio?"

"...Yeah, I'm still a soldier of Liberio."

To escape the Great Rampage, a considerable number of Hyselc people scattered to various foreign countries. This remains unchanged even now, as the reconstruction of their homeland is about to be achieved. They overcame discrimination and prejudice, took root in foreign lands, and resolved to lay their bones there. It must have taken great effort and patience. Compared to himself, who had wasted away in the archipelago, they were forward-thinking and productive people. However, Worm could not accept the country where his brother had ended up.

"Are you out of your mind? That's Liberio we're talking about."

The cause of the Great Rampage was mainly attributed to King Ferris's self-destructive behavior. However, it was also said to be a plot by an allied country, led by Liberio, though the truth remains unclear. At least, as the leader of a squad, Worm had no way of knowing. Still, there were clear facts. Liberio was one of the four countries in the alliance that led to the nation's downfall and still wishes for Hyselc's submission.

"Yeah, I'm perfectly sane... Worm, I was looking for you to bring you to Liberio. Unlike before, I can support a brother. If you want, I can introduce you to work other than dangerous jobs. You don't have to serve in the military anymore."

If it were a stranger from Liberio saying this, it might have provoked a Hyselc soldier. But the brother in front of him was speaking with the opposite of malice—pure kindness. It made it even worse. A helpless, aimless anger swelled within him.

"I know what happened to Dad and Mom. ...I went back to the village and killed my undead parents with my own hands. Not just family, but neighbors too. I still remember it. I can't forget it. So why are you, the one who caused all this, still a soldier?"

"...You buried them. You were made to do a terrible thing. I'm really, really sorry."

His brother was truly regretful. His tightly clenched fists creaked, and his nails dug into his skin. In response to Worm's emotional outburst, Haze, breathing heavily, began to explain with regret and apology.

"I became a soldier in Liberio because I thought the country was gone. The army in the west had collapsed and could not resist the onslaught of monsters. There was no doubt. At the time, the only place to flee for dear life was Liberio. There was no place to return to, no family. The options for those expelled from the country were limited. There was no other choice. If I had hesitated or been confused, I would have died."

Worm, who knew the dire situation from the retreat from Dandueg to the capital, had no way to deny it. Worm realized one fact. The Jayf Cavalry Regiment had diverted part of the Great Rampage to the Liberio Commercial Federation. They had used Liberio's military to supplement their insufficient front-line forces. Militarily, it was a wise decision. The delay given to Hyselc allowed them to evacuate human resources to the south and east, laying the foundation for future reconstruction. It was a necessary strategy. However, the state of the west and north, including his homeland, which had become the diversion route for the Great Rampage, was all too clear. Now, only dark thoughts came to mind.

"Haze, let's go back to Hyselc. We can still start over."

Suppressing the swirling emotions, Worm tried to reason with his brother.

"I really want to. But it's too late. It would have been possible a year and a half ago. Now, it's impossible—because I have a family. A Liberio wife. I have two children. I can't go back. I can't go back. I'm a Liberio citizen now."

Haze said this with a bitter expression. The marriage and the existence of his nephews and nieces, which should have been a cause for joy, only complicated the situation. Worm finally understood that his brother was suffering and struggling between his Liberio and Hyselc families.

"They might be the ones who caused the Great Rampage. I feel sick thinking about them. But the soldiers of Liberio saved me when I was supposed to be dead. They accepted me, a foreigner, and even an enemy. As I worked to reduce the demon territory, I found comrades I could trust. I don't want to fight with my brother. If Liberio is not an option, another country will do. Please, leave Hyselc."

"It's impossible, Haze. I can't do that."

Worm, clenching his lips, refused. His brother continued to persuade him.

"Consider the difference in national power. This is not like the Sarajevo fortress battle. Unlike a long expedition with stretched supply lines, Liberio can focus all its efforts on Hyselc. The remaining border defense forces will also be deployed. How many soldiers can Hyselc muster now? With the inclusion of some Ferris and Hyselc people who have become wanderers, Liberio can field over 40,000 troops."

Despite this, Worm, who remained silent and unresponsive, was pressed further by his brother.

"The gap in military strength is widening, and the difference in training, gained from the Great Rampage and the Four Nations Alliance War, is closing. Are you prepared to die for your country? You've done enough. Liberio has its flaws, but it's not completely merciless. They have accepted me and other former Hyselc people."

Worm, who had remained silent, finally spoke his true thoughts.

"Indeed, if we go to war with Liberio, our chances of winning are slim. I might die. I don't want to die, either."

"Then—"

"But I can't abandon the community of my country. More importantly, I can't leave my comrades and the people who still believe in the country. I may be a knight in name only, but I am still a knight. Besides, in Sarajevo and Dandueg, why did they die? What was their sacrifice for? I don't want their deaths to be in vain. Hyselc is not a perfect country. It is poor, the land is barren, the food is tasteless and scarce. There is conscription. There was organized looting by the enemy. We have made many terrible mistakes. But learning from past failures and moving forward is what humans do. I don't want to give up without doing anything."

On the day the country fell, Worm had wished this from a hill overlooking the capital. He conveyed his thoughts to his brother without averting his eyes. Haze, realizing they were on parallel lines that would never meet, slumped his shoulders and let out a trembling voice.

"Why did it come to this?"

Worm shared the same sentiment as his brother. If it were possible, he wanted to laugh carelessly with his brother and family as they did in their childhood.

"Why, really? I don't know. I don't know if today is the last time we'll meet. We might meet again, but not as enemies."

As Worm stood up to leave, Haze called out to him.

"Wait, the conversation isn't over yet!!"

Worm frowned, looking troubled, as Haze shouted. His face even trembled with emotion.

"What's the point of waiting? The environment, the situation, we can't meet each other halfway. It will only make us more miserable. Just being able to meet again and be alive is enough for me. I'm not running away. I just need to cool my head—"

Worm didn't want to argue with his brother. He intended to leave the scene to calm down. A cool head might bring a good idea. Before he could finish his words, Haze, who had been looking elsewhere, interrupted with an uncharacteristic shout.

"Not like that—stop!! Worm, get outside!"

With bloodshot eyes and a desperate voice, Haze's cry was like being in the midst of a battlefield. Worm, sensing something was wrong, frowned and finally realized the truth. His brother wasn't calling to him. It was unreasonable to say he had let his guard down. His emotions had been so stirred, and his attention was so focused on his brother. The murderous intent and magic power had been carefully concealed. A group of Liberio soldiers, who should not have been there, surrounded them.

"What—"

The attack of the Liberio soldiers, who had discarded their disguise, was terrifyingly fast. His brother ran out and reached out to his younger brother, but as if this was the trigger, a blinding barrage of attack magic descended. The torrent of magic power turned into unbearable pain, mercilessly swallowing Worm.