Chapter 200 – Side Story – The Family Grows # 4

Side Story – The Family Increases # 4

“I can’t…” As expected, there are no records… !”

Lucy fell onto the bed and lay down.

After reading a pile of books for the past few days, it seemed like I was finally exhausted.

Lucy, Psyche, and Milione all looked tired, perhaps because they were fighting against a literal mountain of documents.

Clap-.

I applauded.

On a dark night, the eyes of the wives who were reading books by candlelight were drawn to me.

“Let’s take a little rest.”

Zek-.

I took out the ice cream I had saved in the refrigerator and offered it to my wives.

Late at night.

The cold ice cream I ate before going to sleep had a creepy taste, like I was committing a sin.

“It’s good. “It’s delicious.”

As I watched Milione, who loved ice cream the most, licking the ice cream with her tongue, feeling a little dazed, Psyche rubbed her sleepy eyes and said to me.

“I’m looking through all the data from 20 years ago, but I can’t find any records of the trial. It feels like there is a huge hole in history.”

As Psyche said, we were researching the records of a trial that took place in Barakhan about 20 years ago.

A trial to discuss the treatment of Asha Unizer.

It must have been a large-scale trial that caused an uproar in downtown Barakan, but no records remained.

In the end, it also meant that I had to win on my own without any information that would be helpful in future trials.

“Hyde, I wanted to help, but somehow I feel sorry!”

It was Lucy who smiled sheepishly.

Psyche also stretched and said, as if waking up from her sleepiness that had not lasted for several days.

“We can’t follow Hyde through the door. If this happens, Hyde, you will have to fight alone in the other world without any information or allies.”

That was correct.

And for me, it wasn’t a big problem.

For me, the world has always been a place where I struggle alone.

That’s what human existence was like in the first place.

Look at Kierkegaard.

He looked at the world from the perspective of God and me standing before him.

The world is meant to be lived alone.

Zek-.

At that time, Milione, who was eating ice cream, offered me something.

It was a cross.

It was a necklace with a string attached that could be worn around the neck, but it was brown and had some crooked lines drawn with a knife.

“I picked it up when I came.”

Is this something you picked up on the way?

Soon Psyche frowned.

“Milli! You have to say it right! Hyde, that’s a gift from us. I worked hard to cut the tree. “Lucy made the string by twisting various materials.”

“It’s magic arrowroot! “It doesn’t have any special effects, but it’s strong and won’t break easily!”

I guess so.

It seemed to be a cross necklace made by Psyche and Lucy together.

Soon Milione also added a word.

“I diligently poured the holy water I blessed and coated it. It may be a small wooden cross, but I think it suits you best, Hyde.”

Zek-.

Milione personally hung the cross around my neck.

I felt like I had returned to Hyde, a shabby wooden monk from a long time ago.

It was a time when I was ignored by everyone and often blushed alone.

“It’s good.”

But even though I had such a shabby wooden badge around my neck, I felt good.

I felt like passion was rising inside me, and I felt like I could hit the world like a big rock.

“Hyde, if you wear that necklace, we’ll be together anytime, anywhere. So, no matter what the reason, you must not lose it or lose it! Got it?”

“Okay. Everyone, come here.”

Zek-.

I embraced my wives in my arms.

I loved hugging these warm, soft, soft wives at once.

I felt like a shepherd lying down among the sheep after finishing all the work.

# # #

“Hyde, what is your earliest memory? My earliest memory. Of all the memories I can recall, it is the most distant and oldest. As for me. It reminds me of a horse running through the meadow.”

Asha, holding the two babies in her arms, looked out the distant window as if reminiscing about her past.
She felt like she could see horses running everywhere through her eyes.

“I must have been five years old. I liked the horses running around the world, so I begged the adults to go to the wilderness of Midbar and see the horses. “At that time, I fell from a horse and got hurt.”

Zek-.

Asha showing me the back of her hand

Now I see that the serious wound on the back of her hand remains as her scar.

“They say he fell off a horse and cried a lot. But actually, I don’t remember much. They say the wound had to be sutured with over twenty stitches. “I just remember seeing the horse.”

“…”

“I guess that’s what childhood memories are like. When I think about it now, my memories of when I was five years old are blurry, and it feels like I was dreaming. So, what about the memories of one-year-old?”

Zek-.

Asha looked at the children in her arms.
The children were calm and didn’t cry, just looking around with bright open eyes.

“Will these children remember that they were with me? “Will you remember that I hugged you like this and sang you a lullaby?”

Grumble-.

Asha pushed her chair and stood up.
She walked toward her window, holding her baby.
The window where the stone flew was still broken.

“Can the children recall the memory of being held in my arms and looking out the window at the wide world? No, you won’t remember. I wish I didn’t remember. Because the current situation is too harsh for these children.”

Zek-.

Asha pressed her cheek against her babies’ heads.

“I’m glad I can’t recall any memories from when I was one year old. “I’m glad I don’t have to remind these children of harsh and difficult times.”

The babies were more focused on looking at the world outside the window with their black eyes than feeling the warmth of their mother.
It felt like I was possessed.

What are they looking at?

I recalled a memory from long ago.

It’s the oldest memory I can recall.

Zek-.

Asha finally placed the babies in their cradles.

She said.

“Now it’s tomorrow. What will happen to me tomorrow? Priest. I might really die tomorrow. “People will hate me, and they will judge me accordingly.”

As a prisoner, Asha seemed to be organizing her life with a sense of detachment.
She must have done something wrong to be hated by the world, so she thinks there is no way she can win the trial.
Instead of answering, I looked out the window.

I was wondering if any memories would come to mind.

Asha spoke to my back.

“Priest. Thank you for standing by my side until the end. Even if I lose at trial, I won’t blame you. Instead, can I ask you a small favor?”

“…”

“I hope you will place your hands on your head and pray for the children.”

Is it prayer?

I looked at the children who were fast asleep.

When I reached out to that head, I felt a very strange feeling.

Even though it is so small, it is still a human being.

It was surprising that these beings would grow up to become beings who would one day have conversations and stretch out their shoulders to live in the world.

Zek-.

In the end, I couldn’t touch the children’s heads.

“If anyone is going to lay hands on children and pray for them, it would be better for someone else, not me.”

“No. I wish I were Priest Hyde. “Children will like it that way.”

“…”

Asha was a stubborn person.
In the end, I placed my hands on the babies’ foreheads and finished a brief prayer.

“Live long and healthy. Amen.”

Is this what happened?

Asha seemed a little relieved, and it was getting late, so she went to bed.
I also left the room.

The next day after some time had passed with that feeling.

Asha was given free time in the morning.

She walked through the beautiful stream of Barakhan, holding each of her babies in one arm and escorted by numerous knights and guards.
She looked at the fountain and had the babies pick flower petals from the branches extending beyond the fence and smell them.
Peaceful times always pass quickly, and today was no different.

“Asha. “I have to go now.”

Sister Midnar grabbed Asha’s arm.

1 p.M.

It was the time of trial for Asha Unizer.

“…”

Asha looked at the sky, the earth, the growing plants, and the people passing by on the street.

The thought that today and tomorrow, which are taken for granted by everyone, may not exist for me may have struck me as a new feeling.

“Asha, there’s nothing to worry about. “You will not die today.”

I have never lost in any trial.

Asha would win and survive.

But Asha laughed with an awkward feeling.

She then spoke as if something suddenly occurred to her.

“I thought about it for a long time. I mean the name. Baby’s name. If you give it a name… Actually, I was hesitant because I was afraid I would get too attached to it. But, if today really isn’t the end for us… I think babies should have names too.”

“Is that so?”

“When this child grows up, I hope he becomes a confident person like you. And I hope to become a great priest like you. Hyde. I want to name this child Hyde. Is it okay?”

I felt like my mind became brighter in many ways.

Is there any other name that suits a baby better than that?

“It’s a very fitting name. Your baby will love it too. “I don’t even think there could be a better name in the world.”

As I walked toward the wide square with brisk steps, about a hundred people were already sitting in their seats.

In the center of them was a gallows with strings hanging in a circle.

The executioners wearing black leather masks were standing grimly, holding handcuffs and shackles in their hands, and their majesty was very powerful.

“Death penalty!”

“Hang yourself!”

“Let’s hit them with rocks!”

People full of anger shouted like a swarm of bees as soon as Asha entered.

They threw the things they were holding at us, and if the temple knights hadn’t stopped them, they would have jumped over the wall and attacked us.

“I am Priest Gregory. “I will render the judgment of this trial without shame in calling myself a priest of the Lord Elohim.”

Gregory sat on the high platform of the judge.

And on the jury’s podium, there were people who seemed to have been drawn from all walks of life, including nobles wearing wigs and commoners, regardless of gender or age.

“I don’t think our jury’s thoughts will change even if we hold a trial. “Let’s put everyone to death without wasting their busy time.”

“The crime of seducing Pendragon and starting a war. A sin that endangers the world by giving birth to an unauthorized child. I think hanging is also a merciful action.”

“You’re all busy people. Let’s deal with it quickly and rest. “We are already busy just treating and caring for the scars of war!”

The jury seemed to have already reached a unanimous opinion.

Majority decision.

Is there another system more stupid than this?

I’m only saying this now, but democratic majority rule is a truly foolish system.

The opinion of one brilliant genius gets drowned out by the noise of 99 idiots.

“The majority of people are stupid and stupid. Execution. Hanging! I don’t think so. Ashaunniger is guilty, but he is not guilty of the charge of starting a war!”

I shouted like a genius.

It was only then that people started paying attention to me and someone asked.

“Who are you? Who is it that says such nonsense?”

“Huh, by the way, Asha is innocent? “What kind of stupid thing are you talking about?”

There was not a single one on my side here.

I felt my chest heating up as countless eyes focused on me with blatant hostility.

It was a cross necklace that my wives gave me as a gift.

Suddenly, I realized that I was mistaken, that there was no one on my side here.

Zek-.

I showed everyone the wooden cross hanging around my neck.

“I am Monk Hyde. And he is the defender of all people in the world.”

In an instant, the market became quiet.

Has it been about 5 seconds since then?

Everyone burst out laughing.

“Wooden monk?”

“Old Queen Asha also hired a great lawyer! A wooden monk!”