How To Live As A Third Son Of A Failure [EN]: Chapter 73

Lordain’s form blurred as he lunged at me. I tried to draw my sword, but he was far too fast.

Before I could even grip the hilt, Lordain seized my collar and lifted me.

The movement was impossible to anticipate. I felt the undeniable difference in our skill, his rough hand pressing against my Adam’s apple.

“Speak.”

“……”

I frowned and pointed to my throat, indicating that he was choking me.

Lordain said softly, “Ah,” and loosened his grip.

“Explain.”

“Killing Kerwyn won’t silence that voice.”

“Then what are you saying?”

“It’s just a thought projection.”

“A thought projection?”

“Yes. A thought projection.”

“Whose?”

“Isn’t the source of that voice your wife, who perished during the last major elven offensive of the Tribal War?”

“……How did you know?”

*I see. Having come this far, there’s no point in hiding anything.*

“That offensive failed.”

“I don’t need a history lesson. Get to the point.”

“At that time, there was a knight named Aslahina among the human swordsmen. Are you familiar with her?”

“I know her. She was… unusual.”

*Unusual, huh? If that’s all he knows, no wonder he’s acting this way.*

*Anyway, the pieces are starting to fit together.*

The cause was Aslahina.

The swordswoman Aslahina wielded a weapon that shattered the souls of her enemies.

The souls of those slain by Aslahina’s sword were fragmented. Some of these fragments were absorbed into the sword, and the soul dwelling within emanated a powerful, perpetual thought projection.

Yes.

Aslahina’s sword was a demon sword, the source of her power.

Perhaps Lordain’s wife’s soul was shattered by that very blade.

“It’s merely a thought projection emanating from those who died by Aslahina’s hand. It’s not a curse.”

Lordain roughly set me down.

I stumbled, touching my neck as I continued, “That doesn’t make sense. Countless elves fell to that human woman’s sword. If what you say is true, shouldn’t you be hearing the thought projections of all those dead elves?”

“Your wife must have been of noble birth and high status, making her exceptionally skilled, correct?”

“……”

“Perhaps she was initially held as a prisoner of war due to her rank. But she would have been executed eventually. The elves didn’t negotiate with humans.”

“So?”

“Aslahina likely oversaw the execution herself. High-ranking prisoners would have been afforded a certain respect. Moreover, the fact that she met her end in an execution ground, rather than on the battlefield, suggests she had time to prepare for death, allowing her to leave behind a more potent thought projection than usual. Like the intense voice you’re hearing now.”

“So this voice is……”

“Yes. It’s likely the last will your wife left before her death.”

“How do you know all this?”

“Humans transmit knowledge through books. I learned about past events long ago.”

*The novel I read was also a book, so it’s not entirely wrong.*

Lordain remained silent for a long moment.

He stood there, seemingly lost in thought, perhaps recalling the content of that voice.

Finally, Lordain spoke. Maybe it was my imagination, but his voice sounded strained.

“I can’t hear it clearly. But what I distinctly hear is her cry for salvation.”

“……”

“Dozens of times a day. Whether I’m sleeping or awake. It relentlessly invades my thoughts, preventing me from focusing on anything else.”

“……”

“It doesn’t originate from the continent. The voice is strongest in the Great Forest. But she died on the continent. So, I believed it was a curse placed by Kerwyn.”

“Why would she curse……”

“I heard that Aslahina and Kerwyn were close friends. I thought she was seeking revenge for me killing Aslahina.”

“Wait, you killed Aslahina?”

“Yes. I inflicted a mortal wound during the fortress siege. It’s a lifelong regret that I couldn’t finish her myself due to circumstances.”

Crack!

Lordain, emphasizing his words, crushed a stone beneath his foot.

Then, leaning his arms on his knees, he looked down at me and continued, “Since the Tribal War, I have wandered the Great Forest, searching for her, chasing my wife’s call. For centuries.”

*What must Lordain be feeling, searching for his dead wife for hundreds of years? Just imagining it weighs heavily on my heart.*

Lordain bit his lip tightly, then spoke again.

“Okay. If what you say is true, then you must know. I’ll ask you. Where is the thought projection of my wife that you mentioned?”

Sensing the desperation beneath his low-pitched threat, I nodded.

“I will guide you.”

* * *

Elven Lake.

As we journeyed to the place where Aslahina rested, Lordain and I didn’t exchange a single word.

He was silent because he had waited centuries for this moment, and I was silent because I was contemplating my next move.

*Whether it’s good luck or bad luck.*

Meeting Lordain just as he was targeting Kerwyn was definitely bad luck.

But conversely, it was fortunate that I, Aphen, possessed a clue to what Lordain sought.

Anyway, the important thing is that I bought time. I don’t know how the situation will unfold, but having time to formulate a plan is a great relief.

*That’s right, even if there really is a tomb in that lake, how do I find it?*

I didn’t know the specific method to locate the tomb. Should I simply dive into the water?

Even if I consulted Aphen, the answer wouldn’t be clear. I had to rely on speculation.

“Hey.”

Lordain spoke, interrupting my thoughts.

“Yes.”

“I’m asking just in case, but this isn’t a lie to buy time, is it?”

“I don’t make a habit of gambling with my life.”

“Okay. I hope so. If not……”

Lordain trailed off. I didn’t need him to finish the sentence to understand the terrible consequences.

“I’m asking just in case, but my companions are alright, right?”

After speaking, I glanced at the figures slowly following behind, holding my companions captive.

What should I call them? They were formed from clumps of soil and rocks, each with a unique appearance. But their overall shape was similar, likely for the purpose of bipedal movement.

Dolls? Calling them dolls felt grotesque.

Golems? Yes. Golems seemed appropriate. They constructed their bodies from natural materials and were likely controlled by spirits.

“Well, they might starve to death if too much time passes.”

“Starve to death?”

“Yes. Even if their minds are gone, their bodies remain active. So, it’s best to finish this quickly.”

“That’s obvious.”

After that, we fell silent again.

Lordain was sparing his words because he didn’t trust me.

I kept my mouth shut because traveling with a hostage-taker was an uncomfortable situation.

That uncomfortable journey continued even after we made camp as the day waned.

After a simple meal, we sat facing each other by the campfire in silence.

We didn’t speak for several hours. It felt like I had become the protagonist of an incredibly boring comedy.

Unable to bear it any longer, I sighed and spoke first.

“Lordain.”

“Itang.”

“Yes. Itang.”

“Do you have something to say?”

Itang tilted his head.

“I’m just getting restless.”

“Oh, is that so?”

Lordain nodded.

“It seems you have a question.”

“Is that forbidden?”

“It’s not forbidden. What are you curious about?”

“Why are you trying to abandon the name Lordain?”

“Why the sudden interest?”

*Because I feel like I’m going to die of discomfort if I stay still.* I shrugged, holding back the words that threatened to spill out.

“I was just curious. I heard that the elven race cherishes their names, yet you’re giving it up.”

“Because I don’t deserve to bear that name.”

“Why?”

“You’re curious about everything.”

“You told me to ask earlier, didn’t you?”

“Did I know it would lead to this kind of story?”

“……”

*I don’t know if you’re inviting questions or not, you damn old man.*

As I remained speechless, an awkward silence descended once more.

Then, suddenly, Lordain scratched his chin with his index finger and spoke.

“Do you want to hear it?”

“If you don’t want to talk about it, just don’t……”

“My original lineage was humble.”

*What’s with this old man? I told you not to do it if you didn’t want to.*

I gave him a dumbfounded look, but Lordain seemed lost in old memories.

“But I possessed a natural talent. Thanks to that, I became incredibly strong at a young age. It’s strange. My blood relatives were mere patrolmen with no special abilities.”

“You’re saying you were born with talent.”

“Talent? What does that mean?”

“It’s a term used in the human world.”

“……”

“Anyway, so?”

“Well, opinions were divided. Whether to place me in the Elven Guard or leave me as an ordinary patrolman due to my humble origins.”

“Even with that much talent?”

“Yes.”

*I’ve heard it said. Elven society has even stricter social hierarchies than humans.*

But no matter how you look at it, it’s master-class talent in human terms, so it doesn’t make sense not to utilize it.

“But I was given a chance.”

“A chance?”

“I was able to marry someone with a name.”

“That was?”

“Yes. My deceased wife. Thanks to her, I gained the name Lordain, and eventually, I even rose to the position of elder. But in the end……”

Tap-

Lordain, who had been staring intently at the burning campfire, paused and sighed softly.

“I couldn’t protect her.”

“So, the name?”

“Yes. The moment I failed to protect her, I forfeited the right to bear that name.”

“Wasn’t it force majeure [an event or effect that cannot be reasonably anticipated or controlled]?”

“If it was, I wouldn’t regret it so deeply.”

Regret. It’s a heavy word for someone of Lordain’s stature to utter. What exactly happened?

“It sounds like something happened.”

“It did.”

“Yes. Well, it must be a sensitive topic, so I won’t pry.”

“……”

Lordain, who had been about to speak, clamped his mouth shut.

Then, he began stirring the campfire with a branch for no apparent reason. Judging by his demeanor, he was clearly itching to talk.

“But I’m curious.”

“Oh, is that so?”

As soon as I uttered those words, Lordain perked up and put down the branch.

“If you’re that eager to hear it, I’ll tell you.”

“Ah, yes. Thank you very much.”

“Hmm, you humans learn about history, so you’ll know. During the Great Offensive, the Emperor joined the battle late.”

“Yes. It was possible because Aslahina stubbornly held the defense line.”

“Yes. We wasted a full week on that terrible woman. We should have broken through in a single day.”

Lordain began to speak.

An elf who directly experienced the Tribal War hundreds of years ago is telling the story……

This is a very different feeling.