Mistaken Even If It's an Illusion (4)
Sadia, a city in central Tormia.
Here, where the kingdom's widest plains spread out, stood the Westr branch of the Neid family.
Once on the brink of ruin, they rose again when the military firm founded by Neid—Neid Ordnance—exploded into growth after specializing in wartime supplies, and now it had secured its place as the dominant power of the central region.
Of course, that reputation was only the flattering gossip of those who envied the Neids.
The company that had focused on arms manufacturing in its early days took charge of the core of the Elemental Bomb project and expanded its business in every direction. It had become a true conglomerate—the world's most powerful corporate behemoth.
Ranked third among global corporations, with assets totaling 780 trillion gold.
That was the Neid Group's current standing.
"Chairman, we'll arrive at the main mansion in ten minutes."
The coachman opened the carriage window—its facilities and security top-tier—and reported.
"Understood."
Neid, the young chairman of the Neid Group, turned up the collar of his coat and buried his neck in his shoulders.
Liz, sitting on the opposite bench, flipped through a stack of documents and said, "Corporate rank rose a notch. Congratulations."
"Not something I accomplished. The war—the blood and lives—it's a money-fest made by the demonkin," Neid added.
"Lucky that you're Iruki's friend." Liz knew what Neid was trying to say but didn't show it.
It was a contest of endurance.
"Yes. Supplying the holy war was the engine of our growth, but Iruki is the commander overseeing the war. They chose our weapons because yours performed the best. And… the fact that the Neid Group is where it is now is entirely due to your skill."
Normally he would have shrugged at praise from the woman he loved, but this time his thoughts were transparent.
"I know what you want to say." In the end, Neid relented.
"But Liz, I have to go."
He had to fly into the high skies above the capital, Bashka, and drop the Elemental Bomb at the precise moment.
"Sigh."
Liz exhaled, barely keeping the fury that felt like it would drive her mad under control.
"I can't understand this at all. You've led the Neid Group well. Because of the weapons you developed, so many people survived. Why do you have to do everything yourself? What makes you think you're some kind of hero?"
"If I were a hero, that'd be fortunate." Liz slapped her chest in exasperation. "You idiot, think about it. You're going to die. And not in battle—this is suicide."
"I'll pull away right after the operation. In theory, I can survive."
"What if it fails? There's no gear with a hundred percent safety guarantee yet. What if something worse than theory happens?" When Neid chose silence instead of the word death, Liz's face fell.
"Don't do it. As long as you don't do that, I'll give you everything you want. Here—give me all our money. I'll hand over everything we have and we'll find someone else to do it. There must be someone."
Neid's expression hardened.
"Liz, a person's life can't be bought with money."
"Then how about your life!"
Liz's voice thundered through the perfectly soundproofed carriage.
"And me! Your family! The thousands of employees who trust you! Their families! Why are you so selfish?"
She slapped the papers off the bench and strode up to Neid.
"No! I can't send you! Find someone else! If you can't do it, I'll find someone!"
"You know. The craft is perfectly personalized to me. No one but me can pilot it."
"No—you can. Do you think you're the only mage in the world who can handle electricity?"
"Liz."
Neid winced as she hit the mark, but Liz wouldn't back down.
"I know why you're doing this. Shirone, Iruki, you—the three troublemakers from Alpheas School of Magic. Do you think you owe your friends? That you should live easy while they struggle? Or because they shine so brilliantly, you want to shine too?" Neid said nothing.
"Snap out of it, you fool. You're already the best in your own way. You don't have to fight like Shirone or sway wars like Iruki—what you do matters as it is."
"I don't need to shine." It was sincere.
"I knew that back in school. The three of us always knew what we had to do. I was never meant to be the one who shines. That's Shirone's role. Iruki probably knows too."
"Then why try to shine now? Leave it to Shirone. Leave it to Iruki."
"It's the light."
Neid gave a faint smile.
"After you graduated, I became head of the Paranormal Psychical Science Research Society. The only other members were Iruki and Shirone."
Those had been joyful days.
"The three of us once held a presentation. About paranormal psychical phenomena…"
"I know. I've heard that story a hundred times."
Neid recalled school without embarrassment.
"That night, after everyone had gone to sleep, the three of us lay down in the central park and looked at the stars—Polaris."
Neid burst into laughter.
"We were so childish then. Talking about eternal friendship and graduation and all that… But in that moment I felt like I had the whole world."
Rubbing his lips as if to cut off the aftertaste, Neid smiled sadly. "Why was that? Because the presentation went well? Because I could see hope for my future?"
Liz listened silently.
"No. Because there were three of us."
A tremor of the past made the corner of Neid's mouth quiver.
"I don't know why, but in that moment it felt like a miracle that the three of us were together. And now that friend is in pain."
As a participant in the Elemental Bomb project, Liz knew how heavy Iruki's burden was.
"If I hand this to someone else, it just heaps more burden on Iruki. Why me? Because I want to. But the real reason I must do it is…"
Neid's eyes reddened.
"Because Iruki wants it."
Liz had nothing to say.
"He's smart but foolish—he tries to carry everything himself. He won't say anything. He won't even ask for help. But I know. That's my role. I'm the only one who can ease his burden in this situation."
If only Iruki had asked him.
"Should I turn away? Because Iruki didn't ask, I should pretend not to see his pain? I'd rather die. Liz, I can't do that. I love you so much I'd give my life for you, but…"
Neid had already resolved.
"I have to go."
Liz's shoulders sagged in defeat.
"Sigh."
She collapsed back onto the bench and swallowed her tears as she tossed her hair.
The window opened and the coachman announced, "Chairman, we've arrived at the main mansion."
They had bought up the neighboring estates and rebuilt them, so it still took a while to reach the main house after arriving in the area.
Liz calmed herself, turned her head, and pouted. "I heard someone even got married because of this."
Neid finally recovered some of his smile. "Haha, that couldn't be helped. You're included among the survivors, after all."
"Who's saying that now?"
"I love you, Liz."
He teased with a nudge, and though it was a little show, she didn't dislike hearing it.
"Hmph."
When they reached the main manor, Neid's parents, Vollum and Teria, were there to greet them.
"Son."
There was no trace of the terrifying mother who had always glowered at Neid. Greed and envy may be endless, but before incomprehensible wealth and common sense, human emotions were mere trifles.
Neid tried not to think about it.
"Yes. I'm back."
Whether money had changed her, or whether she'd reclaimed her nature amid prosperity, he didn't want to probe.
Vollum extended his hand. "Long time no see. Busy with work?"
"Yes. I have to go right up—urgent business. But Liz will be staying here for a few days."
Secrecy was a condition for those chosen to survive the project, and Liz was an excellent actress.
"Hello, ma'am. I should've come sooner, I'm sorry. While I'm here, please take me to all the nice places."
"Hoho, of course. I've reserved a top-tier restaurant. Go enjoy yourselves."
Teria taking a liking to Liz was a relief.
"Well, I'll go then. Take care, Liz."
After about ten minutes of conversation, Neid bid farewell and turned back to the carriage.
"Ma'am, wait a moment."
Liz hurriedly caught up and spun Neid around. "Hold on. Your collar's wrinkled." She knew it was an excuse, but Neid let her fuss.
"Sorry."
Liz choked up briefly, then smiled. "Just promise me one thing."
"All right."
She smoothed the coat and then gripped the collar with both hands, speaking firmly. "If you're going to do it, finish it properly. Shine as much as you can. Don't stumble around like some pathetic kid from school. Got it?"
Surprised by the unexpected words, Neid tightened his eyes and nodded.
"Thank you."
For letting him leave without regret.
They shared a short kiss, and as Neid walked toward the carriage, a fire flared in his eyes.
'I'm coming, Iruki.'
The bomb's code name was Lucky Boy.
Gepin and Ikael were hiding in the wilderness using Hexa's power, passing the time.
"Why can't we do it?"
Gepin murmured as he lay flat on a mat, arms spread, while Ikael gathered fruit.
"Still hesitating?"
From all directions, Ikael's attendants—the Three-Angle, Two-Angle, and One-Angle Mara—rushed over and knelt.
"I will carry it!"
Ikael blinked, staring at the six hands offered to her.
Ashur of Signals, Rete of Augmentation, Ramus of Electrocution.
The three guardians called Ikael's great protectors were rushing forward with baskets; their eagerness was almost pitiable.
'I am truly lucky.'
Even Anke Ra's direct authority couldn't simply override an angel's prerogative, and yet they had chosen Ikael.
"It's fine. Now that you've left Baekgyeong, there's nothing more to do. This is probably all I can do," Ashur said, bowing his head.
"Just your existence is a blessing, Lady Ikael. Your beauty cannot be reproduced by any odds."
"Oh my, Ashur." Ikael covered her mouth and laughed, while Gepin lay to the side and scratched his belly.
'You sly fellow.'
It was a remark tinged with a little jealousy toward Gepin, but at that level it was cute.
Rete extended both hands. "Give it to me. I'll increase it to a hundred million so Lady Ikael will never have to do rough things like this again."
Rete could increase the value or number of specified objects.
"It's all right. After all, Gepin will eat it. Darling, today's lunch is fruit."
Gepin sat up with hollow eyes. "Lunch is fruit again."
"Want something else?"
Just as Ikael's radiant aura showed a sign of expanding, Gepin bit into an apple.
'That's my fate.'
But his stomach still ached.
"I understand you don't know the joy of eating. But what strength will you get from this?"
"Plenty, I tell you."
Many years had already passed, but Gepin and Ikael still had no children.
'The problem is they're different. Completely different.'
It was fortunate there was no formal incompatibility, but even the mechanism of birth differed.
"You're worried about heirs? I know what that means."
Anyone could become a god.
'IKael is a mind-spirit. Flesh alone has limits. We must use Signals.'
They'd twisted the Law with Hexa, and Ikael had undergone many changes, but the effects were nil.
'My connection point with Ikael is the heart. But even merging with Hexa didn't produce change. It's not that I don't want it desperately, either.'
Gepin watched Hexa spin on his index finger and clenched his fist.
Snap—Hexa cracked.
"Heart?"
Ikael, who had been preparing fruit, turned her head.
"Honey, what's wrong?"
"It's not the flesh."
Simply linking their hearts so they merged into a single signal was insufficient.
"Come."
Gepin grabbed Ikael's wrist—she'd been kneeling and watching blankly—and pulled her up.
"What, all of a sudden?"
"It'll be fine." Gepin turned to Ikael, who followed reluctantly, wearing a meaningful smile.
"You'll like it too." The noblest love in the world: agape.