Sinseki Era – 21 Years Ago
Northern Countries – Countdom of Granat
Four days later in the morning, the team led by Hero Himmel safely returned.
One by one, the bodies of the fallen warriors were carried back by the current soldiers.
Under the lead of Count Granat, they brought the warriors to a sealed-off clearing.
This would serve as the resting place for the fallen — beautiful in scenery, tranquil in setting, and backed by a church.
While not perfect, it was an excellent location for a cemetery.
Hero Himmel stood beside the Count, silently watching the warriors lay each fallen hero carefully in their designated places.
After a long moment, Himmel asked the Count how he planned to conduct the burial.
The Count explained his plan:
Great Mage Serie had promised to remain in the Kühl Region for a maximum of five days.
Thus, the purification of the bodies was scheduled for the last possible moment — tomorrow night.
The delay wasn't from negligence, but because the Count hoped that while the souls still lingered, slowing the decay, the living could identify them.
Even before Himmel's expedition, the Count had already summoned the surviving relatives based on the list of fallen warriors, allowing them a chance to recognize their loved ones.
It was best if future gravestones could carry their real names.
Thankfully, many warriors had prepared themselves before battle — carrying identification tokens or inscribing their names onto their armor.
Thus, the identification process wasn't too difficult.
Soon, all the fallen were laid properly in rows.
The Count gestured, and the barriers sealing the clearing were lifted, allowing families to enter.
In the next few breaths, the once-quiet clearing filled with sounds of joy, sorrow, remembrance, and heartbreaking cries.
"Master! Madam!"
Nearby, Miles, the acting president of the Dallemontus Merchant Guild, found the bodies of his former masters. Tears streaming down, he approached the Count to request that he be allowed to bring the couple's remains home for burial.
The Count agreed.
He instructed the guards to place the couple's bodies together, and after Serie's Purification Magic was performed the next night, the clerics would assist in returning them home.
Not only Miles — any family wishing to reclaim their loved ones would be permitted, once purification was complete.
That afternoon:
Mothers found their sons,
Wives found their husbands,
Children found their fathers,
Some searched and searched but found no one, collapsing on the ground in helpless weeping.
"Hero, could you come with me for a moment?"
As evening approached and the crowds thinned, the Count asked Himmel softly.
"Of course," Himmel replied, following him.
They stopped before a warrior's decaying body.
"So, old man... I thought you'd be a bit tougher than this. How'd you end up like this?" the Count muttered.
Looking at the slightly finer armor and the matching family crest, Himmel asked, "Is this...?"
"My father," the Count answered.
"He failed to break through Aura's forces during the battle."
"And when I woke up the next morning still sleeping safely within the city... I realized I was now the Lord."
The Count's tone was calm, laced with a touch of grim humor.
Yet the deep sadness under his composed gaze was unmistakable.
"Old man, you always dreamed of mustering a great army to assist the Empire and defeat the Demon King."
"Now, our Granat family territory has reconnected with the Empire — and the Demon King has been defeated by none other than Hero Himmel here."
"Much more capable than you, really. You always claimed you'd crush the Demon King, yet you couldn't even escape a trap by one of the Seven Sages."
"And now, your corpse had to be brought back by the very hero who actually did what you only talked about."
"When you reach the heavens tomorrow... don't be so stubborn anymore. Sit and chat with Mother — she's been saving up years of words to say to you."
"As for me..."
"Though true peace hasn't fully arrived yet, the world is moving toward it. Let me guard our family's lands for another twenty or thirty years."
Finishing, the Count patted his father's armor twice and stood up, leading Himmel back.
"Count, don't you want to stay a little longer with him?" Himmel asked gently.
"No need," the Count shook his head.
"I've already said everything I wanted."
"The old man hated nagging anyway."
"Besides... it's only a matter of a few decades."
"I'll save up everything I want to say — and when I join them in heaven, I'll let it all out then."
After speaking, he glanced sideways at Himmel.
"Hero, is there anyone important to you you'd want to save words for, to say to them when you meet again?"
"..."
The Count's question made Himmel fall silent.
After a long pause, he smiled helplessly and answered.
"If it were me, I'd probably have to save up my words for a very, very long time before the important one arrives in heaven."
"And the words I'd want to say... are simple. Just three or four words."
The Next Evening
With only a little time left in Serie's promised stay, Count Granat finally requested her assistance.
At first, Serie's face was displeased at the last-minute call.
But when she saw the families tearfully saying goodbye to the warriors, her annoyance vanished.
Turning to the Count, Serie offered:
"Would you like more time? I can stay a few extra days."
"No need, Lady Serie," the Count said with deep gratitude.
"You've already done so much for us. It's better to let our heroes find peace quickly."
"As for the 53 unidentified warriors, we have recorded their features with photographic magic. Should anyone come searching later, they will still be recognized."
"Very well," Serie agreed, reassured.
Once the families were escorted away, Serie extended her left hand.
Without any casting implements, she directly released an immense Purification Magic that covered the entire cemetery in a sacred, glowing light.
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Powerstones?
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