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Chapter 45 Part 1 – This is one of my memories from the previous 「108 times」 about the fall of the castle. In a castle surrounded by flames, I heard an unexpected spell of happiness.

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Aquilegia

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The castle was engulfed in flames.

The long history burned and disappeared in an instant.
Cultures and buildings created by man usually come to an end at the hands of man.
The losers are trampled by the winners, deprived of their human rights, and reduced to objects.
Killing each other is human nature. When the cage of peaceful daily life and morals is removed, people will easily violate, rob, and kill the weak. God created man in his own image. But what did God make man’s soul to resemble? Is it the devil? Is it a beast? Or is it something else?
Thinking this, Matzo let out a deep sigh.
He felt that he was getting old to be so sentimental on such an occasion.
The warrior who had once been hailed as being unparalleled in the battlefield, the protector of women and children, and the defender of Hydrangea, was now disappointed with the people.

「….. Matzo, did all the maids escape unharmed?」

His lord, the young Queen Scarlet, was coughing in the smoke and worried for her vassals.
Or should I say she was the queen?
This castle will fall soon.
Matzo was the only one left to follow her.

Matzo’s heart ached.
The torch in his right hand burst into flames.
The two walk quickly through the empty corridors.
They had to pass through several hidden doors in the castle to reach this place.
But with the flow of smoke that pervaded the castle, it was only a matter of time before they found the hidden passageway.
Soon, an avalanche of rebels would be pouring into this place.

Yet, even though she is no longer queen, Scarlet’s beautiful red hair and crimson eyes still retain their nobility.
For true pride exudes from within, regardless of position or power.
Although she had no luck, Scarlet certainly had the qualities befitting a queen.
It was like she was truly cursed with bad luck.
It was as if the devil was always working behind the scenes to ruin her reputation.

「Thanks to Your Majesty’s brilliant command, everything went without a hitch.」

Scarlet smiled bitterly at Matzo, who stifled his frustration and bowed reverently.

「…. That’s a relief. But there is no need to call me Your Majesty. I took off my crown a while ago. Because it’s a hindrance when escaping. It was a little too heavy for a shorty like me. A crown of wild grass would have suited me better. I am just Scarlet now. So, Matzo, too …..」

Scarlet stopped in her tracks. Her shoulders trembled.

「You can ….. run away now ….. don’t worry about me …. anymore …..」

She choked on her words and clenched her fists.
Matzo looked at his lord’s lonely back with sadness.
She looked like a little lost girl.

She was kind and intelligent, a queen worthy of being called a wise ruler.
She always put herself on the back burner and gave priority to the happiness of others.
She always thought of the citizens and struggled hard without sparing time for sleep.
On her slender shoulders, she carried the future of Hydrangea, which was about to be destroyed, on her shoulders as she fought against the four powerful kingdoms.
Looking at her, it made sense that God would have created human souls in his own image.
But God did not reward her efforts.

「I ….. Where did it all go wrong? …… Why did this happen?! ….. Why …..!」

As Scarlet sobbed, Matzo gently placed his large hand on her shoulder.
The warmth of his large hand permeated Scarlet’s wounded heart.

「Please allow me to touch your shoulder and speak to you. No matter how others evaluate you, Scarlet is the only Queen I acknowledge. ….. Forgive my insolence for asking this, but do you consider me insignificant?」

At Matzo’s question, Scarlet raised her tear-stained face.

「….. No! That’s not possible! Matzo is a better warrior than anyone else!! Even just now, you magnificently fought off one of the five heroes, Rudy, and Ralph the Demon Wolf!! You have protected me and fought more bravely than anyone else!! There is no way you are insignificant!!」

Scarlet’s hard denial of his statement made him smile broadly.

That’s right. This person had always been the kind of person who could laugh off the bad things said about her, but would get angry about the bad things said about others. Nothing had changed since she was a little girl.

「If that is the case, then stop belittling yourself. This warrior assures you. You are a wise ruler. You love this kingdom and care for its people. I, Matzo, have witnessed it all along. You should be proud. You have the virtues of a great monarch. It is only that you were a little unlucky. When there is no luck, there is nothing any hero can do.」

Like a father admonishing his young daughter, Matzo spoke and patted her head.

「….. Oh, stop it. I’m not the little girl I was when you carried me on your shoulders ….」

Matzoh laughed out loud at the sulking Scarlet who had reverted to her tone when she was little.

「Well …. Although your heart is that of a queen, your weight is still no more than a child to me. Here, like this.」

「….. Kyaa!? W-Wait a minute, Matzo …..!!」

Matzo wrapped his left hand around Scarlet’s body and lightly lifted her onto his shoulder and sat her down.
It’s not a piggyback that straddles the neck.
He set Scarlet down on his left shoulder.
The shoulders of his huge frame were large enough for an adult woman to sit on.
He walked with ease as if the weight of Scarlet was nothing to him.
Scarlet clung to him in a panic.
She felt as if she was riding a huge bear or something.

「….. You are so light. In such a light, little body, you have carried heavier responsibility than anyone else. I have always wanted to lend you a hand like this. I am sorry for making you walk alone. It must have been very hard for you. ….. You’ve worked hard.」

Scarlet’s hands trembled as she clung to Matzo at the deep, gentle voice.

「….. I wanted to do something about this kingdom …. I wanted to save everyone ….. but I couldn’t do anything ….. I was powerless …. the people resented me ….. and yet ….. you’re telling me …. that I’ve worked hard …..?」

Her voice was intermittent and mingled with sobs.
Matzo nodded.

「….. Of course. Those citizens are blind. This warrior will accompany you to the end. It is an enviable task for a knight who has been left behind by the times to protect the beautiful and brave queen till the end. When we meet again in the afterlife, I’m sure the members of the Imperial Guards will be envious. Those guys loved such moldy tales of knights. Hahaha, as the last survivor of the Imperial Guards, I must show them what the will of a knight is. I am not the only one who thinks so. The old soldiers who have remained in the castle feel the same way.」

Looking at Matzo winking mischievously and laughing loudly, Scarlet finally broke down and cried out.

「You guys ….. should have left me alone and run away …. because I have nothing left …. I won’t be able to properly thank you ….. but you all risked your lives for me …..」

The tears she had been holding back broke down, and Scarlet sobbed like a little child as she hugged Matzo’s head.

「….. You cry, not for yourself, but for others. That’s why they are willing to give their lives for you. Please understand their feelings.」

The torch in her hand burned quietly.
The faces of the old soldiers, Scarlet’s few allies, flashed through Matzo’s mind.
Scarlet had memorized all their faces and names.
They had risked their lives in defense to let her escape, and even now they were holding off the rebels.
These old soldiers have resolved themselves and are not intimidated by death.
They are smiling, shouting, and falling on the battlefield one after another.
Knowing that they were going to die, the old warriors’ eyes were twinkling like those of boys, laughing and boisterously noisy as they walked to their positions. The sum total of their ages was a bold statement that they would not be defeated by the incoming rebels, some limping, some with the help of their comrades-in-arms.
They could have retired and lived happily ever after surrounded by their children and grandchildren, but they rushed to Scarlet’s crisis once again as warriors.

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