Alice in the Land of Steam

Chapter 911 Will the belated knight finally triumph?

Dusk had already arrived, but the gray sky kept it out. The wilderness was still filled with a heavy atmosphere. A sharp wind blew across the battlefield, and the withered weeds that were lucky enough not to be affected by the battle fell in the same direction, wailing like a tide. Looking across the Bolin Manor and the large vineyards in the fields, the shadow of the town of Regrum could be vaguely seen. Several fires were burning tenaciously. From time to time, a light would go out, but soon someone would light it up again to prove that someone in the distant hometown was watching, waiting for the knight's return.

It is said that in the distant Kingdom era, a head of the Gustaf family once followed the king's order to lead 700 family knights to the border to resist the invasion from the enemy country. After 20 years, only seven of the 700 knights survived. They returned to Grindelwald Field, but felt at a loss in this world that had turned upside down, as if their hometown had become another appearance. It was not until they stood outside the town of Ragram and saw those familiar lights in the distance that the head of the family, who had been tense and silent, breathed a sigh of relief and turned back to say to his knights: "Now, we are back home."

From then on, no matter how dark the night was, the lights in the town of Regrum never went out.

For some people, hometown is the light watching from afar. Travelers always snuggle up to the fireplace to keep warm after a long journey, and their souls long for a candlelight as comfort.

Xino retracted his gaze and focused on the huge monster in front of him. It was like those weeds blown down by the wind, lying helplessly on the devastated land, like a stranded whale waiting to die on the beach after the tide receded. The hideous body that once became a nightmare was now covered with scars, and dark red filthy liquid flowed out of each deep scar. It was not blood, but the product of the materialization of the polluted earth vein magic power. As the energy source supporting this synthetic monster, it was gradually disintegrating as the beast's vitality disappeared, returning to the land that gave birth to them, but it might take a long time to restore the previous pure state.

There was no more violent and ferocious instinct in the beast's eyes, only a gradually fading numbness. It gave up resistance because it had a premonition of its own death but could not stop it. Although the remaining breath was weak, considering the beast's size, it was actually no different from a roar. It echoed in circles, startling the silent battlefield, like the wail of a whale before its death.

Xino rode his horse forward and came to the head of the black goat. He looked up and examined its appearance with a calm gaze, examining this enemy that had cost the Gustaf family seven hundred years and countless lives. He found that it was in even more miserable shape than he had imagined: its pale horn was broken, its sharp teeth had fallen out, and an empty hole had been drilled in the center of its brow by the gun blade...even five of its six blood-red vertical pupils had been blinded. The only intact huge eye had its blood-red color eroded by dark red, and the fine blood threads spreading along the iris were like twisted worms, trying hard to drill into its eye sockets and even its brain, trying to erode its last bit of vitality.

At this distance, the beast's single eye was larger than the knight and her horse combined, not to mention the entire head and even the entire body, but the knight's gaze seemed to be looking down from above, a kind of condescending overlooking, which had nothing to do with height, but was a suppression of the soul and spirit. She didn't even worry about what to do if the beast counterattacked before dying, it seemed that she had no way to avoid such a close distance.

Because the girl knew that the beast with its spine broken had completely lost its ferocity, and it probably wouldn't even dare to move, let alone fight back.

Seven hundred years ago, the White Knight Hibberton, Joan of Arc and the rebels joined forces but failed to subdue the dangerous beast. Seven hundred years later, Shino did it single-handedly. This does not prove that the latter is stronger than the former, it only shows that there is something special about her.

The female knight raised the holy spear White Thorn in her hand and gently placed the sharp blade against the blood-red vertical pupil. Although she had long anticipated her own death, when this moment really came, the synthetic monster Chimera still felt a huge sense of despair and powerlessness in her heart. The bloodshot eyeball suddenly jumped, and a human-like fear emerged. Countless insects twisted and spread out, as if to completely tear apart its last eye.

"It's time to finish."

Shino said softly, but not to the beast in front of him, but to himself.

With a slight force on his wrist, the spear blade thrust forward, piercing through the fragile eyeball, accurately and cleanly strangling the last ray of life. No blood flowed out, nor did it roar in despair before dying, but the beast's breath froze in an instant, and then the six eyes closed at the same time, as if closing the coffin for the master's death.

The vitality quickly dissipated and returned to the sky and the earth at an astonishing speed, and the huge body like a mountain began to turn into mist and dissipate. The low hissing sound was like a burning flame, burning its flesh and bones to ashes and burying it in the land that had been deeply hurt by it, and at the same time burying the pale ambitions of all the remnants of the old era, including the Windmill Cross.

Perhaps the uprising war seven hundred years ago has only truly come to an end today.

The female knight raised her head and looked at the ashes floating in the gloomy sky. Although she had defeated a powerful enemy, she did not feel happy at all. On the contrary, she felt empty. A feeling of loss filled her chest and she suddenly could not hear her own heartbeat.

Since the glorious pioneer Baron Vince, the ancestors of the Godstave family have kept their vows until death; the ideals of the Saint Lady, the lofty belief that the White Knight Hibernton fought for and longed to protect his hometown and people; there is also a family heritage that the grandfather exhausted his entire life to pursue, the responsibility that the father Reynard was willing to fulfill even at the cost of the prejudice of a "bigot", and the faint voice of the mother before her death asking herself "don't blame him"... Will all this end with the death of the synthetic monster Chimera?

A faint sigh sounded under the sky.

I think--

The young girl knight's long hair gradually lost its red color and turned into flawless white. Her eyes beneath the mask were once again dyed with a wine-red luster, and a sad emotion was lingering in the darkness: I'm afraid this is just the beginning.

……

"Miss...victorious?"

In the Bolian Manor, the knights of the Gustaf family seemed to have not yet recovered from their shock as they watched the terrifying monster turn into ashes and disperse. They looked at each other in bewilderment. It all happened so easily that they felt caught off guard.

Every knight here knows how important it is for the Gustaf family to completely destroy the synthetic monster Chimera. It can even be said that it has become an obsession rooted in their hearts. They are deeply indebted to the Gustaf family and are willing to sacrifice everything for this mission. Therefore, they appear on this battlefield without hesitation. They thought that tonight would be the time for them to repay the kindness of their master and show the glory of the knights. Unexpectedly, the eldest lady insisted on fighting alone against all odds; they thought that she was alone and weak and would face a tough battle. Even the knights were ready to disobey the orders of the master and rush to the eldest lady's aid at any time. Unexpectedly, the battle ended with unilateral suppression. The terrifying synthetic monster had almost no power to fight back in front of the eldest lady.

Has the girl they have watched grow up since she was a child, unknowingly, grown up to the point where she is capable of shouldering big responsibilities?
After the shock and confusion faded, the young knights were filled with excitement. Although the old patriarch was also a hero, he was old and no longer had the spirit of the past. Only by following such a powerful, noble and benevolent lord could they realize their value as knights, just like the Whitethorn Flower Knights who followed Baron Vince to open up the wilderness or the Pure White Guards who followed the White Knight Hiberton to make achievements. The older knights were very pleased. Some of them could not even control their emotions. Some tears appeared in their eyes. They were too old. They were no longer interested in those merits and honors. They just saw a hope in Shino, a hope to make the long-silent Gostave family great again and let the gradually withering whitethorn flowers bloom again. If one day, the name of Whitethorn Flower will be sung by bards again and remembered by everyone in the countryside, but it will no longer be because of the fame left by the ancestors in the past, but because of the outstanding achievements made by Xi Nuo Qin Gustaf in this new era, then, these old knights who swear to follow the Gustaf family until death can probably close their eyes without any regrets.

"Lord Van Indru, there is a successor."

The old knight Gustav had followed the old master to join the army and had witnessed his high-spirited years and his depressed appearance after being injured. He couldn't help but think of this at this moment. He subconsciously raised his head, looking across the crowd at the old and silent figure in the wheelchair, but found that he was lowering his head, and he looked so thin under the mottled shadows of the trees. The old butler Weber was leaning over, leaning his ear to the mouth of the master, listening carefully to something. However, if you observe carefully enough, you can see a deep sadness in his eyes.

The old knight's heart trembled violently, and he suddenly had a bad premonition, but he tried hard to dispel this premonition and told himself: the old injury of the master has been healed, and the threat of the beast no longer exists. He should be happy, how could an accident happen?
However, amidst the rustling sound of leaves in the wind, the old patriarch's hoarse voice still reached his ears clearly -

"Did she win...Xino?" The old man's figure was as weak as a fallen leaf, which gradually fell in this sad September and merged into the dust and mud.

"Yes, sir." Waver couldn't bear to watch, but as a knight's squire, he had to respond to the master's question: "The lady has destroyed the monster, and the seven hundred years of mission of the Gustaf family has been completed. From now on, the land of Grangenia and the people on this land will no longer be threatened, because the glory of the guardian Gustaf will always protect them."

His voice was particularly solemn, like a priest reading the obituary for the deceased at a funeral. At this moment, the old Van Indreu vaguely recalled that he had only heard this old friend speak in such a solemn tone once in his life. At that time, he was twelve years old and was saved by him on the battlefield. He then swore allegiance to him and has remained so to this day.

Perhaps the knights of the Godafu family are the people in the world who understand best what loyalty until death means.

The old man smiled silently. In fact, in the final stage of the battle, he had clearly seen the young knight pierce the beast's pupil with a spear, extinguishing its last life force. But before he could confirm it, he felt his eyelids extremely heavy. An irresistible force was forcing him to close his eyes and sink into the endless darkness. If it were in the past, the old man would not resist this call, because he had long been tired of seeing all the old things in this world, and it was only because of his obsession that he was struggling to survive. Now that the obsession has been eliminated, what excuse is there for lingering?
No, I can’t…close my eyes yet.

The glorious knight of the Godave family, his proud granddaughter, the daughter of Reynald and Mistyen... was about to return triumphantly. How could there not be someone cheering for her and witnessing her glory on this triumphal parade?
At least I must not close my eyes until I see her return victorious.

The old man didn't know where he got the strength from, he grabbed the old butler's arm, opened his eyes tightly, and the dark red eyes that had been polluted by time flashed with excitement. He said quickly and clearly: "It's not over yet, Weber, the mission of the Gustaf family is not over yet! You have to tell Xino that we are the guardians, the knights of the land of hope, we should protect every person with hope in this land, and never give up the spirit of protecting the weak; Weber, you have to assist her, as well as Gustav, Worzel, Shangquier, Sita, Biberg XIII... You are all her knights, please help her become a qualified head of the family, and never forget why the flag of the white thorn flower is flying! Also, remember to tell her-"

His chest rose and fell violently, and his breathing became short. Weber looked worried and wanted to persuade her, but was glared at by the old man. The majesty of the head of the family would not weaken with age, so he felt awed and could no longer speak words of persuasion. He could only listen to the old man continue to say: "You have to tell her that I have always liked her since she was a child. It was she who helped me find my family and family. I always wanted her to live the life of an ordinary girl, but Leonard and I failed, so she had to bear such heavy expectations... I am not a qualified grandfather and forced her to do many things she didn't like, but Leonard was really good to her. She shouldn't blame Leonard and shouldn't resent her father. If, if there must be someone to hate, I hope that person is me... Hehe!"

He was so excited that his breathing was as hoarse and heavy as a broken bellows without air, but he still held Weber's hand tightly and said, "Tell her that I have always loved her deeply..."

"Master!" Weber suddenly raised his voice and interrupted him for the first time: "I think Miss Shino would like to hear you say these words to her in person."

Say it in person?
Will there still be a chance?

The elderly Vandru Jean Gustaf was thinking in a daze, with an indescribable sense of loss in his heart. At this time, Weber gently pushed his wheelchair and walked out of the shadow of the trees. The noisy voices of the knights could be heard faintly behind him. The old man had a premonition of something at this moment. He used up his last bit of strength to look up. On the long stone road leading to the Bolian Manor, a knight holding a lance was riding on a snow-white warhorse and walking slowly.

The sky cleared up, and the gray clouds were torn apart by a ray of brilliant sunlight. The long-lost light sprinkled on the young knight like gold, making her figure walking towards the light like the dawn of the Shadoli Manor, full of vigor and vitality. At this moment, Van Indru suddenly recalled the scene three years ago. He was also waiting for his son's return like now, but he did not show up in the end. Under the land where white thorn flowers bloomed, an old man's pain and guilt were buried.

Three years late, the knights of the Godafu family finally returned triumphantly.

Tears filled his eyes, and at that moment the old man felt that all those heavy memories had gone away, along with the ideals of youth, the responsibilities of old age, and the self-blame when no one was around in the middle of the night, disappearing at the end of a distant world. A smile slowly emerged on his face, just like the smile he had when he watched the young girl fall asleep in her father's arms many years ago, and he murmured in a voice that only he could hear: "I'm sorry, Xinuo..."

as well as.

"I love you."

Child blessed by the white thorn flower, we have always loved you...deeply.

He slowly lowered his head, as quiet as if he had fallen asleep.

　Give me some meow
　　
　
(End of this chapter)