→ Continental Summit (3) ←
Three days after the summit began.
There was still no consensus in sight as the conflicting interests of each country clashed head-on, resulting in a slow progression.
“I think we should place restrictions on the entry of troops. Think of the anxiety the people will feel when troops from other countries are roaming around.”
“People, huh… Don’t you mean you’re afraid of getting backstabbed?”
“What? Stabbed? What did you just say?!”
“Oops, I was just talking to myself. Did you hear that?”
…No, it was right to say that it was getting worse day by day.
It was a place where people who had keener insight into gains and losses than anyone else gathered.
As such, it was natural that there were also those who pursued practical interests over the dignity they should uphold.
The venue was close to exploding.
Vargo, who was watching the situation, couldn’t hold back his anger and hit the table.
Bang—!
Silence fell upon the venue.
Those who had been engaged in heated arguments just moments ago, those who had been watching the spectacle, and those who had maintained a complete bystander’s stance…
“I hope all of you can keep your dignity.”
Everyone clamped their mouths shut at Vargo’s stern warning.
Vargo scanned the hall.
Then, he added in a low voice.
“Do not test my patience any further.”
It was a clear sign of intimidation, but there was no refutation.
The name of the Holy Emperor, Vargo St. Lore, and the aura flowing out of his body suppressed them.
There was only one person who could lighten the mood.
“Okay, we’re all a little too excited, so how about we take a break?”
People nodded in agreement at Renee’s words, and Vargo, seeing this, said.
“…Let’s have a break for an hour. All of you, get yourselves together.”
Vargo got up and left the venue.
Renee and Vera followed him.
However, no one got up from their seats.
There was no other reason.
It was just that they all lost their tension because of Vargo’s killing intent.
The third day of the summit, and still no consensus had been reached.
***
“There are only a bunch of assholes. Damn it.”
Vargo sighed.
Renee replied with a smile.
“But there are some who are cooperative as well.”
“You mean the elves and those from the Empire?”
“And those from Oben, too.”
Suddenly, a troubled look crossed Vargo’s face.
For one thing, two pairs of eyes came to mind when he thought of Oben.
They were a pair of crazy muscle worshipers that made even Vargo feel taken aback.
After being tormented by them for the past three days, Vargo’s face crumpled as he vented his exhaustion.
“Ugh, I am grateful for their help, but…”
An awkward smile appeared on Renee’s lips.
‘It was bad, indeed…’
Renee also noticed something, given that she had spent considerable time with Vargo in the preceding days in connection with the summit.
— Your Holiness, it’s been a long time since we’ve seen each other. Do you remember me?
— Hmm…? Oh, are you Kalderan from Oben? Hoh… How can a man so frail when you were young grown so bulky?
— You remember me! Oh, this Kalderan is truly honored…
— …?
— No, I shouldn’t be like this. Your Holiness, there is something I really wanted to give you by coming all this way to Elia…
— Your Majesty, here it is.
— Oh, thank you, Grandson!
Kalderan exclaimed passionately as soon as he met Vargo.
And beside him, Hegrion’s voice was almost tearful.
Listening to them was enough to make her feel dizzy, and she could only imagine the strain it must have placed on Vargo, who had to interact with them in person.
Dealing with them on top of his already busy summit responsibilities must have been maddening for him.
“…But at least they’re good people.”
“They are. And the drink from the former king was very tasty. How good would it be if they could just tone it down a little bit…”
Another sigh escaped Vargo’s mouth.
Right next to Renee, Vera spoke, feeling happy to see Vargo in distress.
“They are a strong ally.”
Vargo’s eyes turned fierce at the spoken words, which were seemingly said in a mocking manner.
“Hoo…”
Vera returned the glare, undeterred, and a strange air flowed between them.
“That reminds me, today is the sparring day.”
“Is it?”
“I’ll see you in the evening.”
“Yes, sure.”
A cold sweat ran down the back of Renee’s neck.
Being in the midst of two people so desperate to fight each other made her feel nauseous.
‘…They are exactly the same.’
There was something Renee could feel as the third wheel.
If they didn’t like something, both would resort to using their power in the name of sparring or a lesson.
They were indeed master and disciple.
***
In the evening of that day.
Clang—!
The sound of steel and fists clashing echoed through the training grounds of the Grand Temple.
The surrounding area was already in chaos, and the two people in the center of it all were standing upright, glaring at each other.
“So you can deal with this, huh?”
“It’s because you teach so well.”
“That’s a given.”
Vargo laughed.
Vera huffed out a breath and sheathed the Holy Sword.
Vera had reached a stage where he could now finish the spar on two feet.
Having undergone a substantial and swift development over a relatively brief span, Vera suppressed the swelling of his pride and asked Vargo.
“Are you going to let the summit continue on like this?”
“What can I do? If it keeps going like that, I’ll just give them a good scolding.”
“If they decide to oppose…?”
“Even if they do try and oppose us, what can those weaklings do?”
Vera’s lips curled.
He wanted to retort, but he knew that Vargo was never one to be deterred, so what came out was another adamant expression.
“…Shouldn’t you also be concerned about how this might be perceived externally?”
“What a fool.”
A disapproving laugh escaped Vargo’s mouth.
“Isn’t this what I made myself look like because I was concerned?”
“Do you mean your roughneck impression?”
“Look at the way you talk… Well, that’s not entirely wrong.”
Crack—
As Vargo straightened his back, the sound of bones creaked loudly.
A heightened eye level.
Vargo looked down at Vera and said.
“We are Apostles, the Demigods of this Land. Should we really be caught bowing to the whims of others?”
“…But in reality, aren’t we just human beings?”
“Don’t you realize that it doesn’t matter to them?”
Vera’s gaze pierced through Vargo.
The sight of him slapping his back was indeed that of an old man, but even so, his overly massive physique made him look bizarre.
“You know what? They’re considering you as the next Holy Emperor.”
Vera’s mouth fell shut at the ensuing words.
It was affirmation in the form of silence.
After all, he couldn’t help but notice.
Even though it was a thing of the past, Vera seized control of the slums and united the entire continent’s underworld under his command in his previous life.
It should be obvious that he already knew how to discern the covertly flowing information and the words that emerged from it.
The only reason he hadn’t acted on it was because the place that Vera wanted was not of the Holy Emperor.
“…It’s beyond my capabilities.”
I will live for Renee.
I will be her shadow and stand by her side forever.
That was the life Vera had vowed to live, and that was what he had centered his life around.
“Even if you don’t want it, the world already thinks that way.”
“Do I have to follow it?”
“Are you thinking of running away?”
Vera looked straight at Vargo to try and realize the intention behind his words.
After a long time passed, Vera was able to come up with a guess upon seeing Vargo’s serene face.
“…You want me to resolve this situation?”
The reason why Vargo did nothing about their behavior.
Vera came to guess that the reason Vargo only mediated between them was likely because he wanted him to come forward.
The corner of Vargo’s lips rose crookedly. Along with it, his long beard bristled.
“You’re quick to notice.”
Vera’s brows furrowed.
“Am I correct in understanding that you genuinely wish for me to follow in your footsteps, Your Holiness?”
“It depends on your actions.”
“Why would you…?”
“Isn’t there no one more suitable?”
Vera’s mouth closed shut. A look of disbelief crossed his face.
Then again, he could understand it, so what escaped Vera’s lips was a vain laugh.
An agonizing silence followed.
In the midst of it, Vargo looked directly at Vera and added.
“This is really frustrating. It’s really a shame that you’re the only one worth a damn.”
As usual, the words were meant to berate Vera, but somehow, there was warmth in the tone.
Vera awkwardly avoided Vargo’s gaze.
The occasional look he directed at him was incredibly unfamiliar; the weight of the expectations he placed upon him was so heavy that he found it difficult to meet his gaze.
Vargo turned around.
“Take your time. There are still four days left until the next summit.”
With those words, he left the training grounds.
Alone at dusk.
Vera could only stare blankly into the sunset and continue his thoughts.
***
Two days later on the fifth day of the summit.
Vera looked at Vargo, who sat sullenly while watching the people getting overheated again, and continued to think.
‘…’
He knew Vargo’s intentions and also knew how to mediate between them.
Nevertheless, the reason he didn’t act was because he knew the consequences of his actions.
The moment he actively intervened in the summit, his position in their minds would change.
From being a ‘possible successor’ to the ‘certain next Holy Emperor’.
He would no longer be the Saint’s escort. He would become Vera, the Sword of Oath.
Vera’s gaze shifted to Renee.
A life for her.
An oath for it.
And his heart for her.
Thinking of those, he sought to find justification for this act, but he couldn’t.
Though he had learned much, the only way Vera knew how to rule was still only to dominate.
He only knew fear as a way to stand above others and wondered if that seat was truly meant for him.
Why in the world would Vargo want to hand him over such a position?
His mind grew uneasy.
And with it, an involuntary gasp escaped his lips.
Suddenly…
“Vera.”
Renee whispered.
A white hand reached out from under the round table, fumbling for Vera’s.
Their hands were now touching.
Renee, who brought Vera’s hand to her, wrote on his palm.
The words, written in short sentences, meant something like this.
— Do whatever you want.
Vera’s gaze rose up.
His eyes shifted to Renee.
Renee covered her mouth with one hand and spoke in a very small voice.
“Something must be on your mind, right? It’s written all over your face.”
Vera was left speechless.
He wondered if he had revealed his emotions too openly, but quickly concluded that it was not the case.
Renee had always been looking out for him and was sensitive to small changes, which was why she could see through him.
She was also very perceptive, so she must have known what kind of struggle was happening in his mind.
Vera bit his lip strongly.
He clasped Renee’s hand in his, and soon made up his mind.
Feeling his mind clear all too easily at her words, he almost felt like laughing and thought to himself.
Maybe Rohan and the twins weren’t so wrong about him after all.
Maybe he was indeed a human on a leash for her.
His eyes turned to the round table.
To the beasts growling in pursuit of their own interests.
And then, he recalled again.
A life for Renee. An oath for her. And my heart.
‘…It’s a matter of judgment.’
There was no need to stand behind her and be her shadow.
There were innumerable ways to protect her, and just as many to elevate her to the most honorable position.
He simply needed to become her shield.
A shield that protected not just Renee, but everything she loved.
Although his approach to ruling was limited to fear, it hardly seemed like a significant concern in retrospect.
‘When wasn’t it like that…?’
Even Vargo ruled Elia with an iron fist.
And him beating the Apostles was the same, regardless of whether he did it openly in front of Renee or secretly.
With a light step, Vera stepped forward.
Vargo’s eyebrows rose.
The corner of his mouth quirked up beneath his beard, though Vera couldn’t see it as he looked ahead.
The room suddenly fell silent as Vera stood up from behind Renee.
After glancing around the round table, Vera spoke in a low voice.
“Come to think of it…”
At the round table in the open air.
In that place, under the warm climate of Elia, located at the southernmost of the continent, the somber voice of the man echoed far and wide.
“…There is a way to settle this without having to reach an agreement.”
What followed was a declaration that would end this long and tedious summit.
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