Re:Zero -Starting Life in Zero

"Forget it, this topic isn't suitable to bring up now."

Phyllis patted her face lightly, quickly changing her mood, and returned to her charming and lively appearance.

At the same time, a group of elderly soldiers wearing old-fashioned equipment marched over in neat steps.

Their armor was covered with mottled scratches, some even rusted, yet it was wiped spotless.

Although the sword in his hand did not have a dazzling luster, it revealed the sharpness honed over the years.

These veterans had gray hair and their faces were etched with the marks of time, yet their steps remained steady and powerful, their backs straight, showing no signs of old age.

Upon seeing this, Wilhelm's heavy gaze softened slightly, a rare occurrence.

He walked slowly forward and nodded to the group of veterans at the head of the group: "Long time no see, old buddies."

"Wilheim, we've come to your aid!"

"It's truly exhilarating to receive this good news before being laid to rest!"

The sky was getting dark, and the last rays of the setting sun had long been swallowed by the twilight. Rows of torches were lit in the courtyard.

In the firelight, Green spotted a familiar, aged face among the group.

He immediately walked quickly toward that direction.

When he reached the side of the line, Green decisively pulled a skinny old man out of the crowd.

"Old man, what are you doing here causing trouble?"

"It's you, young man! What a coincidence! Are you also here to participate in the White Whale Extermination Campaign?"

Father Simon blinked his cloudy eyes, a heavy, bitter smile appearing on his face.

The old man's physique was not as good as it had been in his prime, which caused the armor to hang loosely on his body, like an empty shell hanging on a bamboo pole.

Seeing this, an old soldier standing nearby couldn't help but lean over and ask:

"Old Simon, is this young man your nephew? You two seem quite close."

The other person quickly reached out and covered his mouth, whispering urgently a reminder:

"Shut up, you senile old fool! Have you forgotten that Simon only has one daughter? And she was even... by the white whale..."

He stopped talking halfway through, afraid of reopening old wounds for his comrade.

The old priest, who was usually always joking and unserious, began to tremble uncontrollably at this moment.

He raised his withered, bony hand and revealed a smile that was more like a grimace.

She raised her hand to wipe away the tear ducts that had atrophied with age, but nothing came out.

"It's okay, it's not a secret anymore."

"I have a daughter... I vaguely remember that her name was taken from the real name of the forest goddess, but unexpectedly, that demon even stole the goddess's name as well..."

Those who were originally killed by the White Whale's Forgotten White Mist will have their existence erased, and no one will remember them.

Fortunately, the forest goddess's well-known reputation offset most of the power, allowing Simon to vaguely recall the figure of his daughter.

But unfortunately, old Simon searched his mind for over a decade but still couldn't complete the puzzle of his daughter.

A brief silence fell over the crowd, and even the crackling of the burning torches became clear.

Many veterans gathered around, patting Simon on the shoulder, their eyes reddening, but they couldn't utter any words of comfort.

They all understand this feeling, this pain of not even being able to find a complete place to place their longing.

An old soldier, missing a front tooth, spat heavily, slammed his fist on his shield, his voice filled with hatred:

"Stop being so effeminate! So what if I remember? So what if I don't? All I want now is to rip out the beluga whale's heart and offer it as a sacrifice to my brother!"

His younger brother was a warrior under the command of the previous sword saint Theresa, and died when he was crushed by the white whale.

Fortunately, he was not swallowed by the white mist and lost his memory. After the battle, he recovered his damaged body and was able to be laid to rest.

Another bald old man holding a spear suddenly choked up, his cloudy eyes reddening:

"I think I have a child too, maybe a son, maybe a daughter. The small stool and tableware in the house, and the height markings on the door frame, cut into my heart like a knife."

The torchlight flickered, casting shifting shadows on everyone's faces, adding a touch of tragedy to the already somber atmosphere.

Wilhelm took a deep breath, strode over to Green, swept his gaze across everyone present, and roared in a loud voice:

"All suffering will surely be avenged! This sir before us is Lord Grin! He has brought invaluable information about the White Whale, which will undoubtedly become our sword to slay the demon!"

"Whoa!"

Everyone stood at attention with awe. No one gave any instructions, but they all stood at attention and saluted Green in unison.

"So you're Lord Grim!"

"We will repay this kindness with our lives!"

Old Simon was so excited he was speechless, his wrinkled hands gripping Green tightly.

"I see, Lord Green, thank you for giving me the opportunity to reclaim my daughter's name!"

Wilhelm looked at Simon with concern, and after a moment of contemplation, he pushed Simon in front of Green.

"By the way, Lord Green, didn't you need a bard? Old Simon's singing is no worse than theirs; he'll certainly be up to the task."

Simon looked up in confusion, his tone somewhat anxious.

"A bard? No, Wilhelm, I'm here to be the vanguard!"

He had already seen through Wilhelm's intentions; he wanted to place him in a relatively safe second-line position.

After all, Simon was almost the oldest person present, and he had neglected his training in recent years, making it difficult for him to even wield a weapon.

"I can fight, Wilhelm!"

As Simon spoke, he suddenly took the long knife hanging from his waist, gripped the hilt, and pulled it backward with force.

But that knife hadn't been drawn for years; it had long since rusted together with the leather sheath.

No matter how hard he tried, his face turned red, the blade only loosened slightly and could not break free from the leather sheath.

Old Simon gasped for breath, his chest heaving violently. In the end, he could only throw his longsword heavily to the ground with a thud.

He raised his head, his voice hoarse but firm:

"Even if I had to bite it, I could tear off a piece of its flesh!"

Seeing Wilhelm's indifference, old Simon became angry.

"I have to be the vanguard! Sword Demon, don't forget, I was your captain back in the day... I'm begging you, Wilhelm..."

Wilhelm shook his head helplessly, a fleeting look of emotion crossing his eyes.

"Simon, Lord Green's plan is very important; this responsibility is no less daunting than that of the soldiers on the front lines."

"You...you're not lying to me, are you?"

Simon hesitated, his thin fingers gripping the hem of his clothes tightly, like a child who had lost his way.

Wilhelm drew his longsword and held it up before him.

"Captain Simon, I swear to Theresia, this is no lie!"

Old Simon's momentum gradually weakened, and he nodded resignedly.

He patted Green on the shoulder with a wry smile.

"Sigh... Lord Grim, let's consider this a rehearsal for your wedding. What would you like me to sing?"

Don't let his current down-and-out appearance fool you; he was once a legendary figure who was all the rage in his youth.

His beloved wife was captivated by his soulful singing voice and outstanding talent.

That grand wedding back then caused a sensation throughout the entire street.

Green bent down and picked up the old battle knife, his fingertips brushing against the rusty scabbard.

He gripped it tightly in his hand and slowly pulled the hilt of the knife.

Stab it!

A sharp, piercing scraping sound rang out.

The dull blade was revealed to everyone.

"Father Simon, I will take over the vanguard position. This sword will surely drink its fill of the white whale's blood. You will just watch from afar and celebrate the white whale's death."

……