Crown of Thorns

“Light will drive the darkness away.”

Rumors pertaining to that of a warrior, the only one who can solve all this, and the one who can kill the witch, they have spread throughout the world through word of mouth. The rumors added that his Light could not only kill the immortal witch but also bring the miserable world back to its past glorious days.

People recalled the stories they heard from their grandparents a long time ago. In the glory days, there was Light, and the sorcerers, who used its power, stood by heaven. The Light showed its power greatest when darkness had struck the world. However, though it could not win over it, many were able to survive thanks to the Light.

The Light was a symbol of hope for the world to return to its past form.

“Nyx, we’re all here.”

I stood up at Ruadhan’s calm voice. He was reading fortunes with cards on the table, then he reached out and flipped the last card. Death was a little further away in Evan’s future. As long as I was there, as long as there were Yohan and Neriano, who knew of Evan’s true power, and as long as there was an emperor who needed it, death would not befall him.

I followed Ruadhan, who walked ahead across the pitch-black corridor. I arrived in a large space and climbed up the platform alongside the statue of Umbra. It was then when I saw a different Darkness waiting in the dim area.

They were lowering their heads, wearing deep hats, just like me. I deliberately kept them from seeing each other’s faces, just in case. It was also forbidden for them to meet separately.

I shouted at them.

“The Light has appeared.”

Darkness rippled like waves. I continued without giving a moment for their confusion to subside.

“Light threatens Darkness.”

Darkness was lifted off their faces. Even in the dark, their eyes twinkled black. There was a lot of anger about this that might interfere with my work. My heart sank at this moment. Their eyes felt like venomous snakes’ fangs. I felt as if they were going to run at Evan and bite him. Just in case anxiety might seep out of my voice, I took a brief stop. Then, I opened my mouth.

“The Light will be of significant help to the emperor. Did you know that? This is the Light that used to stand by and protect the Son of Heaven in the past. The Light heals, blesses, and purifies. If the Light stays by the emperor’s side, we will not be able to enter the palace, and if the light spreads out to the world, there will be even fewer places for us to stay.”

In the days of glory in the past, there was always a sorcerer who ruled the Light by the side of the Son of Heaven. He healed the emperor to keep him from becoming weak, blessed the palace so that the goddess could be with him, and purified it so that Darkness could not approach the palace.

If the present emperor had his hands on the Light, he might regain his health and vigor. Although he is already an emperor abandoned by the Goddess, it was clear that he would not be easily removed.

Noticing the existence of Light, the Shadows would not spare it in order to avoid interference with our work.

I told them about the purpose of this gathering.

“Find the Light. Find the warrior that the people praise.”

“…But how?”

“The Light will stay around him. As Darkness gathers beside us, Light will be with him. Find the bright and brilliant.”

I added the last words to those who bowed their heads as if they understood.

“…and kill it.”

At the end of my order, the Shadows disappeared one by one. Soon, when there was no one left, I had to lean on the statue of Umbra so as not to collapse. Ruadhan hurriedly asked.

“Are you all right?”

I was fine. I was okay, even if I wasn’t really okay. I should be okay.

He knew. Who the Light is. And what that Light is to me. He was looking at me with a look of understanding, but at the same time, total incomprehension.

“Why on earth did you do this?”

Ruadhan lowered his back. His glasses slid down a bit on his sharp nose, revealing his gray-brown eyes, and they were full of heartfelt concern. He knew. The pain I am suffering as I proceed with my work—the burden on my mind.

And even if I didn’t answer, he knew.

All this was the path that I had created for the warrior.

*

There was a change in Yohan’s behavior.

“Evan.”

“Yes!”

“Don’t let yourself fall off my side wherever we go in the future.”

“…yes?”

Evan couldn’t hide his curiosity. However, Yohan emphasized that he should never, under any circumstances, wander away from him to look around. He seemed quite unsettled.

It was the same when fighting monsters. Originally, Yohan took the lead, and Evan fought in the back row. But somehow, he ended up following after Evan to the back. Thanks to this, the members who stopped the monsters in the front line had a hard time and were more injured than usual. Nevertheless, Yohan did not leave Evan’s surroundings. He was even hurt once because he couldn’t concentrate much on the battle.

Evan fought with great tension, perhaps because Yohan was around. He made few mistakes and, unlike Yohan, was able to finish the battle with few minor wounds. Thanks to Yohan’s presence at Evan’s side, I was able to step forward and try to make the other members get hurt less. After the battle, they could not hide their bewildered looks.

“Wasn’t the monsters’ condition a little strange today?”

“Oh, did you feel it, too?”

“Me too! I felt it, too. Did the monster stop attacking?”

“I’m glad we didn’t get hurt much. But did the monsters eat something bad?”

They exchanged untimely jokes. It also meant that no one was seriously injured. However, the battle still proved to be difficult, and some people were still bleeding, so it was not all peaceful. Some people groaned, trying to disinfect their wounds, while others were relieved that no one died today.

“zero dead, fifty-two with minor injuries, and seven seriously injured!”

“There are many injured today.”

When Yohan grumbled at the unit’s report, Evan, who was wrapping a bandage around his own wound, muttered with a puzzled expression.

“Isn’t it because the Commander is fighting behind?”

And when he tapped his wound, Yohan’s eyebrows knit in obvious pain. Despite his fierce face, Evan continued in a slightly rustic voice.

“It’s very surprising that no one has died from the battles in a while. But wouldn’t it get more serious if we leave things as they are? Today, many people would have been badly hurt if things went wrong.”

Yohan cut him off with a dumbfounded expression.

“Why are you telling me that?”

“You’ve got to stand in front. Because your strength can boost our morale and also reduce our risks.”

“It sounds like a lot of people were hurt because I couldn’t serve as a shield.”

Evan said with a smile.

“A shield? Aren’t you the Knight’s Sword? It’s hard for the rest to move because the sword is behind them.”

Usually, like any Commander responsible for its units, the one in charge stays behind to shout instructions at his knights. This is because if the leader were to die by mistake, everything would fall apart. But Yohan was different. Not only does he hate staying behind, but his style of fighting was also more prominent when he was on the frontlines.

With his very sensitive senses, he quickly noticed where the monsters were coming from with the direction of the wind, just like Evan. While dealing with multiple monsters, he also noticed the monsters he had missed and his men who were in danger.

His powerful and quick-witted abilities were just as good as his keen senses. I thought that if Yohan had been born in the age of glory, he must have become an excellent sorcerer.

Evan asked Yohan with interest.

“Why in the world did you do that today?”

“…Nothing for you to know.”

“Are you going to keep doing that?”

“I’ll have to do as much as I can.”

“At this rate, the next thing you’ll say is that you’ll start sleeping alongside me, as well as accompanying me to the bathroom.”

“Well, that’s a good idea, too.”

“Commander, sir.”

Evan’s face turned white. Then Yohan laughed and tapped Evan on the head. He seemed to know what he was worried about. Evan, a little relieved by his laughter, grumbled with a disgruntled look.

“I can’t fight the way I want to because the Commander is always behind me. I have my own way of fighting, and it’s very uncomfortable with you behind.”

“So that’s why you’re usually hurt? Your way of doing things must be gentle and relaxed.”

Evan was struck dumb at his words. Evan was certainly out of the ordinary today. He fought harder and didn’t get hurt. There was no gap in his movements, and he didn’t make any mistakes this time. I thought it might be because there was a difference between training and real-life practice, but when I heard what Yohan said, I felt a little relaxed.

Evan raised himself up and started to walk away. He grumbled, “Are you fighting beside me to keep me from being intimidated?” At the spur of the moment, Yohan grabbed him with a stiff face.

“Where are you going?”

Evan answered with a startled look.

“I-I’m trying to get this cleaned…”

There was a bloody towel in his hand. It was the same towel that Yohan used to wipe away his blood. Yohan nodded with a small sigh, perhaps realizing he was acting particularly sensitive. Evan left the tent with an incomprehensible look on his face.

I tried to follow Evan but then paused for a moment when I heard Yohan mumble.

“Is there really a witch?”

Even Yohan, who did not believe in the existence of witches, was being shaken. I left the tent, feeling that my plan was going smoothly.

The emperor knows that witches exist. But he doesn’t know that warriors exist.

Yohan knows there is a warrior. But he doesn’t know that witches exist.

But what if everyone was after the supposed warrior? Who would be the one trying their best to get rid of the warrior?

And why would they kill those who shine brilliantly, even at a great risk to themselves?

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