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His mother was cursed and used, and his father was sacrificed as bait to lure in his mother. Ash had been forced to live his whole life ridiculed and cursed for a sin that did not exist.
All because of the conspiracy of someone who only wanted eternal life and the throne.
It was a truth he didn’t want to believe.
But the evidence was undeniable. Ash stared down at the table, his fists clenched tightly.
Old pieces of parchment full of messy scribbles. It was a document that Talos Asgar brought out when confessing the truth, detailing the witch hunt plan from 20 years ago.
Ash spoke as if chewing and spitting out each word.
“Why now, after all these years of silence?”
This evidence was in the very bag that Talos was desperately trying to protect.
A witch hunt was a very dangerous plan, and the king could use and discard wizards like Talos at any time. Talos said that he’d secretly gathered evidence to prepare for an emergency.
This evidence would’ve been enough to prove that the witch was innocent 20 years ago. Nevertheless, Talos Asgar chose to remain silent.
Not only did he participate in the plan that took his parents away from him, he turned a blind eye even though he had the means to prove the truth.
That made Ash’s anger even stronger. Killing intent overflowed causing heat to rise.
“I-I…”
Looking at Ash’s eyes burning with anger, Talos pursed his lips, eyes wavering.
Witches were interesting test subjects that any wizard who was crazy about research couldn’t help but feel curious about. It was also true that he was tempted by the offer of wealth and the opportunity to experiment on witches if the plan was successful.
But he’d never hoped for such an outcome.
So many people were murdered, their corpses forming a mountain. After the bloody storm, the country was filled with grief and mourning.
“I am… I have always felt a guilt that cannot be washed away.”
It was only after seeing the resulting tragedy that he realized what he’d done.
Only then did he come to his senses. The people’s cries turned into hundreds of thorns that pierced his chest.
Among the victims were many of Talos’s acquaintances. He was horrified by Chelsea, who lived in luxury as if he had nothing to do with the tragedy, and felt the greatest guilt as he watched the witch and her young son become targets of criticism.
“I was a coward. I knew that revealing the truth was the only way I could atone, but I was afraid of my sins being revealed… I was afraid that Chelsea would kill me if I tried to reveal the truth, so I went into hiding.”
“Then you should’ve stayed silent until the end.”
Elaine, who was listening to Talos, gritted her teeth. Her eyes were burning as coldly as Ash’s.
Guilty? He actually wanted to atone?
“That’s just an excuse. Do you think you can be forgiven if you tell the truth now?”
She‘d already guessed that the person behind everything was Chelsea, but it was the first time she’d heard the truth spoken aloud.
When Elaine arrived in Seveka that night 20 years ago, the place had already become a sea of fire. The royal palace, where she faced the mad Bella, was also completely engulfed in fire.
Because of that, Elaine didn’t know exactly what happened. When she saw the magic circle that covered the palace grounds, she knew that something had been done to Bella, but she didn’t know that Hasidium I was there or that Lloyd had been sacrificed.
The whole time she was listening to the story, she thought that if Chelsea de Philion was in front of her, she would tear him apart. She’d asked Ash if he was okay, but even she had a hard time controlling her anger.
Part of her wanted to cut down Talos Asgar right away. Even though Chelsea was the one who manipulated everything, the wizard had also contributed to the tragedy.
“…That’s right. These are all just excuses. I have committed a sin that can never be forgiven.”
Talos did not deny Elaine’s words. He lowered his head like a criminal, unable to make eye contact.
“… Still, as funny as it sounds… There was one time when I tried to reveal the truth.”
What kind of excuse was he trying to make now, after he’d just said that he wouldn’t make any more excuses?
“I’m not making an excuse! I only…”
Talos saw their brows narrow and quickly shook his head. He trailed off, hesitating.
Soon he looked at Ash and spoke.
“I owe you… An apology.”
“Apology?”
Ash narrowed his eyes. The only thing Talos could apologize to him for was his involvement related to Seveka.
Of course, there’s no way he could forgive him with just an apology, so what else was there? Had he committed another sin? His racing thoughts were stopped by the words coming from Talos.
“The man who was your knight… I would like to apologize for the death of Sir Walter Lister.”
His thoughts seemed to slow to a trickle. The name that penetrated into his ears was familiar.
Walter Lister. The fundamental reason why Ash had been tracking Talos Asgar. The reason why he suppressed his emotions and faced Talos even though his anger was about to boil over.
“Just now… What did you mean?”
Everything he’d done was all to find Walter’s whereabouts. Even though the shock of the sudden truth about Seveka filled his mind, he still hadn’t forgotten his true purpose for being there.
But what’d happened to him?
“That knight died because of me. It’s as if I killed him, too.”
“Tell me what you mean, clearly.”
Ash grabbed Talos by the neck.
“I sent him a letter.”
After the Seveka incident, Talos Asgar hid his identity and lived in remote places in hiding. He was afraid that someone might recognize him, or that his existence would be revealed to Chelsea.
Meanwhile, Talos couldn’t escape the guilt.
No matter how remote the place, there was no one who didn’t know about the Seveka incident. Wherever he went, he heard the accusations against the witch. Filled with afterimages of the horrific massacre, guilt, and pathological fear, he suffered from nightmares and anxiety every day.
Finally, after an unbearable struggle, he came to a decision.
“The first thing that came to mind was you, the witch’s son. Because it was the witch who was used in our plot, and you were the biggest victim of it.”
“Then why did you look for Walter and not me?”
“You were still young then. Seveka’s truth was too dangerous to convey to a child.”
Instead, an escort knight known to be loyal to Ash. Walter Lister was the only man who served Ash, whom everyone pointed their finger at. Even though he was ridiculed for serving Ash, he did not give up his loyalty. He thought that if it was someone like that, they might be trustworthy.
“But I was still a terrible coward, and I was reluctant to even set foot in a crowded city. In the end, I didn’t have the courage to visit in person, so I secretly sent a letter.”
Is that why Walter went to Maltaigne? Elaine, who had fallen silent, asked the next question on behalf of Ash.
“… What happened there?”
Talos answered, closing his eyes tightly.
“Chelsea… Found out. His assassins came after the knight.”
The assassins tried to kill Talos, the only witness, and Walter, who learned the secret, all at once.
Although Walter and Talos were excellent fighters, they weren’t skilled enough to withstand the large number of assassins. In an instant, Talos’s hut became a sea of fire.
As the two men were gradually outnumbered, the assassins unleashed a spell unlike any they’d ever seen before. A giant fireball burning like the sun threatened to engulf them. And then…
‘Run away, quickly!’
Walter blocked Talos’s path. He tried to protect Talos, who was the only witness to the Seveka incident and had evidence.
He raised his sword, gathering his remaining mana like a shield and blocked the fireball with his whole body.
Talos was able to barely escape using teleportation thanks to the fleeting time that Walther had given him. However, Walter was eventually swallowed by the huge explosion.
“I’m sorry…”
“…”
“Sorry…”
A man, whose face was distorted by burn marks, begged for forgiveness.
Ash’s hand that was holding Talos’s neck, suddenly lost its strength.
‘Mr. Ash.’
‘No matter what happens, I will always be by your side.’
‘My lord is you.’
Walter’s voice rang through his mind.
A big, sturdy, tree-like man who always looked him straight in the eyes, even as a child. The knight who taught him how to wield a sword and the first to show him unwavering loyalty.
‘I’ll be back soon.’
Was that really the last time?
This was the result he’d arrived at after searching and searching for such a long time?
It wasn’t as if he hadn’t considered the possibility that he might already be gone, nevertheless, the glimmer of hope he hadn’t let go of was shattered at this moment.
“Ha…”
Ash covered his face with one hand, lowering his head, taking a deep breath.
“Really… I’m so sorry…”
It sounded like a plea for forgiveness for what happened in Seveka, and an apology for the death of his trusted knight.
Ash didn’t answer.
Elaine didn’t say anything either and just looked at Ash, her face clouded.
In the silence of the damp air, only Talos’ voice, repeating his apology, could be heard for a long time.
