Chapter 91 - Lament

“You need to get your theoretical knowledge straight as well to enter a dungeon.” I stared at them pointedly.

“I, I know that, but still…!”

It didn’t matter how strong you were, you needed a certain degree of knowledge or death was certain in a dungeon. Then again, if you were at Mayer’s level, there would be no need to worry about such. Your body would do all the work. Nothing could be said about the man’s theory either. He was perfect when it came to dungeons, and the mere thought made me click my tongue softly.

Half-forced into doing more assignments, the kids trudged back to their places. They had lost the ability to refuse. August, who had been quietly listening through it all, quietly expressed admiration. “To my knowledge, you have little experience in dungeons, Vice-captain. And yet, you seem to have a perfect understanding of them.”

“This must be why the captain made me, a level 20 at the time, vice-captain. Because he can use me right away,” I remarked apathetically. I knew, of course, that my reply wasn’t enough to answer his question. August looked like he was about to say more when, suddenly, noise came from outside the window. The sound of a horn signaling the return of an expedition party instantly grabbed everyone’s attention. They were…

“…It appears that team Green Spirits has returned,” August muttered softly. His expression was flat, but I had learned to read his face over the months we’d spent together. I could see the sorrow underneath it. Green Spirits was a squad that was dispatched to clear a mid-level dungeon before I came to Nochtentoria Castle. It was one of the top squads even among the Dark Knights, composed of 2nd Corps members plus one elite member.

Clearing a dungeon normally took up to a week or four days at the earliest. Large dungeons with higher difficulty would take longer, up to three months. Any longer and the expedition would be judged to have failed. It had already been several months since I came to this castle. In ordinary cases, their expedition would more than likely have failed, yet they continued to struggle. At last, we received a report that they had closed the dungeon. Only one person survived, the newest member of the Green Spirits. The sole survivor returned with the last words and remains of the dead.

I put away the papers I was reading and said, “Let’s end theory study here since a memorial service will be held soon. All of you, get ready.” Everyone’s faces darkened. In particular, Sevi didn’t look well. He silently looked out of the window. August and Julieta whispered prayers, making the sign of the cross amidst the quiet. It was a time for mourning.

* * *

The memorial service was held solemnly in the pouring rain. The Dark Knights donned in armor bowed their heads heavily before six black coffins. I listened to the rain patter against their armor as the smell of wet metal pierced my nostrils. To make things worse, the rain fell without ever seeming to stop. Water droplets streamed down the paled faces of the knights as if to wash away their tears. Unfortunately, there was something that even the sound of rain couldn’t drown out.

“Why did you save me, Squad Leader? Why only me…” The sole survivor of the Green Spirits wept before the coffins of their comrade. Everything was being buried in the rain, but the bitter wail that pierced through it rang in the hearts of the Dark Knights. Reverend August murmured a prayer to appease the souls of those gone. Axion in any other day would have remarked coldly that the weak who died in a dungeon couldn’t be helped. Yet today, he looked forward aimlessly, eyes glazed. Even Robur couldn’t hide the sorrow on her face. Upon hearing of their mishap, she had praised the Green Spirits as having died an honorable death befitting of great warriors. The death of comrades, especially that of an elite, had a huge impact.

I glanced at Mayer, who was standing farther in front than me. Outwardly, he was serene, seeming unaffected. The man was like well-tempered steel and wasn’t shaken easily. I could feel that he was enduring through all the sorrow rather than putting on a mask to keep up appearances as the captain of an expedition corps. Or could it be that he had known the Green Spirits would end up like this? If so, then he could’ve avoided this outcome. What could the reason be for not doing so? The words he once said echoed in my ears.

“Draw a line between you and everyone else around you. The members of the corps are only parts that exist for the sake of overthrowing the demon lord.”

Was the death of the Green Spirits a necessary procedure to defeating the demon lord? Was that why Mayer Knox abandoned them without hesitation? My head became scrambled with thoughts. I could only guess at everything as I didn’t know how the Green Spirits ended up in the first playthrough.

“The squad leader shouldn’t have been sacrificed to save someone like me. This is all because I’m weak…! If I were a little stronger. If I were just a little… I’m sorry, Squad Leader. I’m sorry…”

The only survivor of the Green Spirits collapsed, wailing on top of a coffin, weeping endlessly. It made me feel complicated to see him demean himself as a fool who didn’t even dare to die with his squad members. He seemed to feel he was shameless to have survived by himself. It was like seeing the edge of hell. I burned the scene into my eyes until the memorial service ended.