Re:Zero Kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu (LN) - Volume 20 - Chapter 5.9

11 

 Theresia was surrounded by a dense fog, through which she could see very little and, curiously enough, hear very little. Only once in a while did the screams and moans of the dying reach her ears. 

When that white veil fell over them, they were completely lost. They wandered around, desperately trying to find a way to escape, without seeing each other. All they knew was that somewhere above them something terrible was moving, something they had to escape from. 

She felt herself slowly forgetting everything. She was no longer sure what had actually just happened. 

I think I was in a battle... And at some point I thought it would be better if I withdrew, that I would be more useful there than on the front line... And then I felt strange. 

Theresia didn't immediately realize what had happened. She looked at her arms and legs, but she wasn't hurt. But something was wrong after all. Something had changed. It was as if she had suddenly lost her wings. 

- A blessing... 

She lost them. 

Ever since she became a Sword Saint, she had always sensed the presence of the Sword God somewhere in the back of her mind, even when she had avoided combat for years. Now it had disappeared. The blessing had left her and passed onto someone else. Theresia had no doubt as to whom. 

- Reinhard! 

Just as many years ago her uncle had known that she was the successor, now she was certain that the Sword Saint was her grandson. 

Heinkel will be disappointed... but it can't be helped... 

Theresa could no longer contemplate how her son would fare in this new situation. She was interrupted by a grateful, joyful voice. She trembled at the sound of it. 

- Oh, dear, a woman! Alone, in such a place! How brave you are! 

A smiling girl with platinum hair emerged from the mist. Her gaze was full of mercy and unconditional love. It was as if she had descended into this battlefield from another world. The situation became so strange and unnatural that Theresia was overcome with fear. 

- Oh, I don't think you like me! - said the stranger with a smile. 

Theresia attacked. Normally she wouldn't lash out at someone like that, but the mere appearance of the girl, and the way she acted, made everything in Theresia ring alarm bells. She sensed danger. 

I may not have the blessing, but I still know how to use a sword! 

- I want to understand you," said the fair-haired woman charmingly. 

Suddenly everything disappeared. Theresia felt herself falling, as if she had fallen off a cliff, as if she were drowning in deep water. 

What's going on?! 

She still had time to think about her loved ones. She was worried about her grandson, her son and daughter-in-law... and her husband, of course. 

- Wilhelm... - she cried out, then drifted off into the darkness. She was not to awaken until many years later. 

12 

 Theresia slowly opened her eyes. Someone was leaning over her, almost touching her face. 

- What a sad sight... - she whispered. 

The man had completely grey hair and a wrinkled face. However, she had to admit that he still looked very handsome. She had no doubt that he was her husband, although many years must have passed since the day they had seen each other. 

She sighed deeply. 

She caught sight of the faces of Heinkel and Reinhard. She felt it was them. 

They greet me together, arm in arm... Or have they gathered to say goodbye to me? My dears... 

- Theresia, I... - choked out William. 

It's not nice to show weakness like that. Who saw it, in front of his son and grandson? Where has his austerity gone? His elegance? Well... I know him well, and I know he's always had a certain fragility about him. Lovely. 

- Hey, William... - she said. She was surprised at how young her voice sounded. 

And yet I am already a grandmother! 

She felt ashamed. She felt she sounded like an infatuated teenager. 

They looked into each other's eyes. 

We have so little time, and we waste it looking at each other. It's hard. That's fine. I've already said what I wanted to say. I'm sure Wilhelm understands. He must speak now. This is his opportunity. I've waited patiently for this moment. I knew it would come someday, I just had to wait. I always knew he was one of those men who needed to be given plenty of time. Wilhelm is like that. 

- I have... to tell you something. - he started. - I'm... I'm not a particularly good speaker... I don't know how to convey thoughts well... I know you've suffered because... Because I never once told you... You must have been worried... I... 

- Silly," she couldn't stand it. She laughed. - Did you really not notice? 

She reached out to touch his pained face. 

My arms are so heavy... I have no strength left. 

The one she still had left. she put in wiping a tear from her beloved's face. 

- After all, you've been telling me that all along! 

Did he think I wouldn't notice? That if he didn't say it out loud, I wouldn't guess? 

- Your eyes, your voice, your gestures... It all always said. 

It said how you felt about me. Better than any words. That was enough. 

- I love you. 

I've been lucky in life, from start to finish. I had wonderful brothers, loving parents and close friends. They rescued me, protected me. I met Wilhelm. It's probably not easy for you, but I believe you can make it. Because from beginning to end, I've always... I loved you very much. The only thing I was missing... That's the one thing I wanted to hear. 

Would it surprise you that it was love at first sight? 

13 

 The declaration of love was the last thing she heard before she left. Smiling through her tears, Theresia crumbled into dust in the blink of an eye. Only ashes remained in William's embrace. 

Now he really had lost her forever. His wife's life had ended in his embrace. Wilhelm silently looked at what was left of her. 

- Are you satisfied now? - Heinkel said angrily. He looked at Reinhard with hateful eyes. 

The Sword Saint sighed. 

- Satisfied? Satisfied with what? 

- Don't make an idiot out of me! I saw it myself! Are you happy? Are you?! Congratulations, you've become the only Sword Saint! It turned out that you really were capable of killing your predecessor all along! Anything to get the blessing! So what, are you happy? 

- I don't understand what you're talking about," Reinhard replied coldly. 

- Stop making those innocent faces, puppy! - The furious Heinkel tried to grab his son by the collar, but the young man only needed one graceful step to elude his father. 

Heinkel clenched his teeth, understanding that he had no chance with him. 

- Don't provoke me, you insolent...! - He pointed his index finger at Reinhard's nose and spat. - You can say what you want, but I saw it myself! With my own eyes! How you killed my mother, Theresia! I'll tell everyone! Let them know what you are! That you're not fit to be a Sword Saint! No one will want to call you that anymore! 

The knight was silent. 

- You're not going to let the title out of your hands, are you? That's the end of that! It's all clear now! You're a murderer, you killed your own grandmother! You think someone like that can be the Sword Saint?! The sword of this kingdom?! Ha, this is a joke! Murderer! - Heinkel, panting, brought his face close to his son's face. 

- Forgive me, but I still don't understand. You must be mistaken. I didn't kill my predecessor," said Reinhard calmly. 

- W... what? - ...the Heinkel sputtered. 

He expected chaotic excuses, but Reinhard was simply stating a fact. 

- I confronted a corpse that was a puppet in the hands of the enemy. Someone was controlling them with magic. It wasn't my predecessor... It wasn't my grandmother. You must be mistaken. 

Heinkel first fainted with astonishment, and then burst out laughing madly. 

- And who else was it?! Who if not her talked to my father before he died! - he shouted. He could not control the hatred that burned within him. - It was her... She looked at me and at you with such grief... It was her! 

At this point he was interrupted by the hitherto silent Wilhelm. 

- Come on, Heinkel. 

He pressed the sleeve of his soft jacket to the wound on his leg and tried to staunch the blood. The Death God's blessing was no longer working. 

- You want me to leave it alone?! But, Father! - Heinkel wasn't going to let it go. - You're okay with this?! 

- Stop it, Heinkel... Calm down," Wilhelm repeated. 

He spread his jacket on the ground and tried to sift Theresia's ashes onto it. He didn't want them blown away by the wind. It would be such a sad end for her. He wanted to bury her in a family grave. 

Heinkel finally fell silent. 

The old man stood up with the bundle in his hands. He wobbled, having lost a lot of blood. Reinhard reached out to help him. 

- Don't touch me! - he shouted so that the young man immediately withdrew his hand. He did not even look in his direction. But after a while, Wilhelm calmed down. - Reinhard... - His voice trembled. 

- Yes? 

Wilhelm closed his eyes. 

- Do you regret killing her? - he asked. 

The knight was silent for a moment. 

Perhaps he needs to think about it. Or does he think the question doesn't make sense? Maybe he'll answer me the way he just answered Heinkel? 

- No," Reinhard said at last. - I did the right thing. I have nothing to regret. 

- I see... - said the old Swordsman quietly. - You are right. You did the right thing, I went astray - he added, without even looking at his grandson. 

He turned his back on Reinhard, then spoke again after a moment, but in a completely different tone. 

- Sword Saint, I know who might need your help. Some time ago a certain young man, Garfiel, disappeared from my sight and I'm a little worried about him. May I ask you to help him if you have a moment? 

Reinhard was stunned to hear this oddly worded request. Only after a moment he nodded, then glanced at the Heinkel, which under the influence of his glance tense, frightened. 

Reinhard lowered his gaze. 

- It's dangerous in the city," he said. - Please evacuate to the shelter. We will go on fighting. 

- You think you can order me around?! Get out of here! - Heinkel growled. 

Reinhard turned, bent slightly and shot high into the starry sky, as if he wanted to jump to the moon again. After a moment he disappeared from their sight. This display of superhuman skills only made Heinkel more angry. The man spat with contempt. 

- Father, where are you? - he turned to Wilhelm, who was gathering himself to leave, limping. 

- Leave me alone. I don't want to talk to anyone. 

- Father... 

- You don't have to worry about me. You better think about your own safety. That's enough. - He wanted to show in this way that he cared for his son, but his words sounded harsh and unfriendly. 

He walked away, dragging his injured leg, clutching Theresia's ashes wrapped in cloth. 

Heinkel was left alone. He did not try to catch up with Father or stop him. And once he lost sight of him, he exploded: 

- Shit... Damn...! How, how, how?! Damn him...! - he screamed and tore his hair from his head. He was so furious that he couldn't put it into words. 

In frustration, he kicked the sword he had dropped earlier out of fear. The beautiful blade bounced off the cobblestones with a clang. 

- Damn...! I wish you all would die! I wish you all would die! Die! 

His hateful and sorrowful scream echoed through the Water Gate City. 

That's how the last battle ended.