Chapter 277 Volume IV - Chapter 124: Project Completed
After fighting non-stop for a long time... I finally left the battlefield and returned to my room, as usual.
Time was really moving faster than ever. I didn't care so much about anything except succeeding that I could barely keep track of what was happening anymore. I was in and out of battle, the day started and ended at the same time, things were happening too fast...
Still, at least when I came out of the battle, I could relax, even if only for a brief moment. The only time I took time to rest was when I slept for a few short hours one night after fighting for hours or even days... Seeing Rulhan and Durvan also helped me to recover a little.
Now was one of those times. I was going to get at least three hours of sleep so that I could perform better in battle, and that was all I deserved.
I opened the door to my room and walked in. What I found was... different from previous times.
Normally the light was on in the room, but now it was almost pitch black. Rulhan and Durvan would usually be talking to each other. Now... there didn't seem to be anyone inside.
I raised my eyebrows meaninglessly and turned on the room light from the switch right next to the door.
Immediately... I saw two dwarves lying in the center of the room.
Their eyes were closed, their chests slowly rising and falling. They looked tired, and there were countless bottles lined up next to them. They looked like bottles of alcohol. And they looked like they'd been drinking for a while.
I let out a deep sigh. After closing the door, I sat cross-legged on the floor next to the two lying across from each other. I squinted my eyes as I rested my head on the arm on my chin. Then I leaked my mana out of the room and into their bodies.
"Hey, what did you do here while I was gone."
With my words and the sudden mana that entered their bodies, the duo jumped out of their seats. They jumped so suddenly that I was afraid they might accidentally bump into each other. But what I thought did not happen.
Rulhan and Durvan first looked at each other in surprise. Then they both turned toward me at the same time.
"We are going to battle again tomorrow... Why did you drink so much alcohol that you got drunk? It's not good even if it's been a long time."
They waited a moment at my question. Then Durvan's lips curled upward slightly.
"We jus' wanna relax a bit... It's nothin'. Where've ye been anyway? Las' time ye said ye were gonna take care o' somethin' an' disappeared fer days... Now ye've disappeared once again!"
Because I was busy with the Durandal Project again yesterday... And then I went straight to the battlefield, so I didn't have time to rest with Durvan and Rulhan.
What I mean is normal soldiers like Durvan and Rulhan knew nothing about the project. So that I know and working about it is a secret too. Even from them.
"I am interested in secret government business, of course! But don't tell anyone... I don't want to be silenced in my sleep one night, and I don't want you to go through the same thing."
They both laughed at what I said. Then... the night continued as usual with our conversations. They were still very sleepy, though, so they soon went to bed.
Even though the missing person among us made us feel his absence more than enough, there was nothing else we could do. We had no choice but to carry on. So... after a short while of entertaining ourselves, we went to sleep.
*******
In the middle of the battle, for a moment, I felt as if everything was frozen. I didn't move a muscle. Bullets, fireballs, and all sorts of things passed by me, but... I just stood there.
A question popped up in my mind. followed by several others.
Fight... fight... fight... fight... fight...
How long will I fight? When will this damn project end...?
I want to go back... I don't want to fight anymore...
I'm tired of war... I'm tired of seeing blood... I'm tired of seeing someone dying all the time...
I want to go home. I want to go back to Clara, Sue, my friends...
I paused again for a moment, I felt the Absolute Mind clearing my mind, but that was not the reason for my pause.
It was another question that popped into my mind.
Had Gurdas always felt this way? And for years and years and years...
The difference between us is... that he didn't have a chance like me, he didn't make it. This world, the North Holar, me... we didn't let him.
I... I don't have the right to think about that, right? As the one who took his dreams away from him, I don't have the right to think about it, at least not until this war is over.
When this war is over... only then can I relax.
I gripped my sword tighter than ever.
I just need to keep fighting...
I moved again, spotted a group of soldiers, and sighed.
It will end, it has to be...
*******
"Project Durandal is complete, Aiden."
I was surprised when Dorhud suddenly summoned me to his room, but when I finally processed his words in my mind, my eyes widened.
"Completed... So the sword is ready? Is it finished? Can we use it?"
Dorhud smiled.
"Yes, we plan t' take on the final battle in two days. We're headin' straight fer Caleuche's hideout. As the most vital figure in this project, North Holar will do everythin' fer ye once the actual war's over."
That was my goal in the first place. To gain the dwarves' trust, to get to a point where I could ask them for something.
I had done it, and I was perhaps one of the only people who directly helped end this war, because of my contribution on the battlefields and because I was the one who got them to finish the project in the first place, so I had achieved what I wanted.
But I didn't care too much about that.
"Two days later, huh...?"
My whole body trembled with excitement, I just stood there. To think that this war would finally be over... was something much bigger for me than anything I had achieved.
I would finally be able to go back, the burden would finally be lifted from my shoulders.
An involuntary smile appeared on my face. I looked at Dorhud and saw him breathing deeply, as if relieved.
"It's good to see you smiling. You haven't made that face in a long time."
"Of course it makes me smile to know that the war can finally be over. I've been working on it for weeks... months even."
I clenched my fist, yet I suddenly paused, something had occurred to me.
"Have you chosen the person who will wield the sword, is the armor ready?"
As extremely powerful as the modified version of the sword is, it is a single-use sword, and it is also a burden on the wielder because its power output has been increased so much that the mana it concentrates is enough to wipe any living being directly out of existence.
That's why I suggested that the wielder wear a customized suit of armor for it, with the design and runes I designed.
Even so, the wielder will most likely take permanent damage, so the wielder needs to be specially selected.
"Yes. Both the armor is ready and the person who will wield the sword is ready. You may have heard of him, the chosen one is Colonel Vulnar."
Just like Dorhud said, I had heard of this person.
I knew him both from the rumors in the army and from the game.
He was a legend in the army. He was perhaps the best warrior among the dwarves, rumored to be promoted to general soon.
Even though he was a dwarf, his reaction time, his body structure, his strength, his harmony with his armor... everything set him apart from a dwarf. That's what made him a superhuman performer in every battle he fought.
I never saw him face to face because he normally fought on the battlefields where Caleuche was, but in the game... it was different.
Colonel Vulnar was a legend in the game as well as in the army.
"If it's him... Then I don't think it will be much of a problem, but did he really agree to take permanent damage to his body? Or..."
Dorhud knew immediately what I was talking about. After all, the North Holar was a country that used its citizens by force, even though it looked like a paradise from the outside.
"No, he chose to use the sword himself. At least that's what I know, and when I saw him face to face, he didn't look forced. Anyway, the damage is minimal thanks to the armor. Nothing that would prevent him from fighting in the future."
It's still a bit strange... Looks like he's very patriotic. So much so that he doesn't hesitate to harm his own body in order to win this war.
"I see..."
Dorhud smiled again, clapping his hands together, causing a noise to echo in the room and bringing me back to my senses.
"Now... head t' yer room, Aiden. Get some rest durin' this day, brace yerself fer the real battle. Fer the end o' this war."
I quickly shook my head from side to side.
"No, I will keep fighting. Resting now will take me away from the battle, Dorhud, believe me, it is better for me. And don't worry, I won't force myself, you know I'm a cockroach who doesn't like to die."
"I'm in favor of you resting, Aiden. It's okay to get away from the battle, it'll give your mind a rest."
I shook my head, squinted my eyes, and spoke in a firm voice.
"I don't want to. I lost Gurdas, Dorhud. There are thousands... many more who died because of my decisions. I cannot repay them by resting. Besides... a lot of people will keep fighting. And if I sit on the sidelines and rest... I'll never be able to face anyone again. At least not until this war is over, I can't do that."
Dorhud sighed deeply. His eyes dropped, and his expression contracted slightly. His eyes narrowed, and finally he sighed again.
I know he's worried about me. I can see it in everything, but I stand by what I said.
I... I promised myself that after all the people who died because of me, after Gurdas... I can't do anything like rest.
I will fight till the end. The time to rest... will come only when this war is completely over.
"So be it... fine. But ye can always head back t' yer room if yer thoughts change, keep that in mind."
I bowed my head slightly in respect, a slight smile forming on my face.
"Thank you."
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