Free Web NovelChapter 2003: Chapter 2003: Their Respective Endings
Shard put down the teacup and looked at the people at the table who were watching him. As the teacup clinked against the saucer, the Edwards family also turned their gazes towards him.
Shard recounted the last whereabouts of their ancestors, spoke about how the Green siblings inherited the real-life Green Lake Central Island, and narrated the changes on the island after the great battle along with how the Church and Shard himself dealt with it.
The Edwards family listened intently, and when the narrative was complete, Shard stated his final arrangements:
"The Battle of Green Lake is over, and I don’t want to kill any more living beings. Having gained life, we should enjoy another phase of life."
He first looked at the sixth generation twin brothers, the Furen brothers from the Rosicrucian Society and the Edwards brothers from the Mirror Association:
"Soon I will need to handle your memories and arrange for you to leave this island. I apologize for letting you wait for me here for three days. Oh, Wood Edwards and Grass Edwards, please send my regards to the ’Mirror Keeper,’ who contributed significantly to the Battle of Green Lake."
The four of them stood up to express their gratitude:
"We also got a chance to reunite with our mother/father, so we wish to express our thanks."
Regarding the memory handling, that night they all witnessed the close cooperation between Shard and Iluna, and Shard can’t leave this risk. The memory handling would be done by Ciris, as the Cult of the Forgotten excels at this sort of thing.
"Mr. Soren Green, Ms. Helena Green, continue living your normal lives. Treat these past few days as a fun and thrilling adventure in your life. Perhaps when you are old, you will find it interesting."
The siblings also stood up and thanked Shard in the light, for on that night, they were not absorbed by their "ancestor," thanks entirely to Shard and his dealings.
There weren’t many living people here, so Shard again looked at the two fifth-generation cultists, who respectively worshiped the Evil God Dragon Devourer, Nadia Folan from Tyranny Club, and Jarvis Edwards, who was just now their elder.
"Although you both stand on different sides than me, as I said, I have no intention to kill. Ms. Nadia Folan, after your memory is handled, you will also leave here."
The Furen brothers visibly breathed a sigh of relief.
"As for Jarvis Edwards..."
This middle-aged man in a black suit belongs to the category among the Edwards family with whom Shard has the least interaction:
"After handling your memory, you should turn yourself in to the True God Church. I am not a strict person, so you can choose any church."
"I protest! Why can my cousin Nadia leave freely, but I have to turn myself into the Church!"
The middle-aged man stood up to protest immediately, but Shard shook his head:
"Because before the great battle, Ms. Nadia Folan contacted me alone and provided me with some important information."
That was the event encountered on a rainy night before meeting the Demonologist Mr. Sean Asmon:
"Although I dislike cultists, she helped me, so I’m letting her go."
"Ha, don’t make it sound so nice."
With her arms crossed in front of her chest, Ms. Folan looked at Shard: freewebnoveℓ.com
"Don’t think I don’t know you want me to return to the Dragon Feast Cult and pass on information about The Chosen of ’Light’ when necessary."
Shard couldn’t say he didn’t have this thought, but it wasn’t entirely so:
"Then, are you leaving?"
"Of course."
The woman in a floral dress, looking about thirty-five or thirty-six, said promptly.
The one-eyed Edwards brothers wanted to plead with Shard for their father but didn’t know how to begin. Shard saved all of them and refrained from further violence; this was already the best outcome.
The remaining living person was the second generation, Sloss Edwards, but Shard bypassed him and instead looked at the spirits. fɾēewebnσveℓ.com
The matters of the six living sixth-generation individuals had been handled, and among the fifth-generation aside from Megan, Audrey, and the two cultists, only Mr. Nicholas Green remained. The former old ghoul, now turned into an ancient spirit.
He had always thought his ancestor was biased, leading him to refuse to enter the island. Now it seemed his thoughts weren’t unfounded; among the eleven people from the fifth and sixth generations born outside Green Lake, he was the only one genuinely deceased.
The spirits all looked at Shard, and Shard voiced his perspective:
"Those who should leave shouldn’t stay, but I respect each of your choices. If you truly wish to stay, I won’t object, but you cannot leave the Green Lake region. Elder Green, you’ve given me considerable help and information, and I respect your choice. What will you choose?"
The old man looked at his mother, Maria Edwards, then at his children. Shard recalled that on the night of the Battle of Green Lake, he had seen Maria Edwards weep in the ruins of the banquet hall in the giant tree.
He didn’t hesitate for long; these days, he had already made plans for the future:
"I will stay temporarily. Although Soren is married, he hasn’t had any children yet, and Helena isn’t married. I cannot watch as they grow older without... They still need to run the hotel and restore the family’s town glory, and they need my help. I won’t stay forever, at least until the time they all pass away, I will certainly go down that path with them."
"Father..."
"Father..."
The siblings’ eyes reddened slightly, and Shard also felt that this was quite fitting. Elder Green had numerous interactions with him, and even when he transformed into a ghoul hiding in Green Lake City’s public cemetery and ancient graves near Lower Griol Village, he never harmed anyone, always enjoying roasted chicken. Of course, he can stay.
"My priest friend would love to chat with you. He’s also a Master of Undead Studies."
Shard commented with a smile about the loyal clergy members of the Dawn Church.
With matters of the fifth and sixth generations handled, he turned to the four siblings of the fourth generation. They had experienced the changes of the family, spent their childhood in this house, then left the island for their youth, contributing to the family’s growth.
Hohenheim, Edward, Alphonse, Maria—the four siblings must have talked about their future over the past days, and thus didn’t need much thought to give Shard their answer:
"We will continue our journey. This is our destiny."
The three brothers turned into ordinary spirits from their previous ghoul forms. With frequent clashes involving Shard and the church, the previous beastliness and terror were no longer visible.
Shard nodded in agreement, prompting the siblings to each make their final farewells to their children.
"Repent earnestly at the church; when you do wrong, you must face punishment. I taught you this since you were little."
Hohenheim addressed Jarvis Edwards, who initially felt Shard’s arrangements unfair, but after his father’s reproach, he hung his head silently.
"As for you, learn well what you want, but don’t involve in wrongdoings. Otherwise, if it’s not a God Summoner, there are others who will deal with you."
Hohenheim said to his grandsons, and the Mirror Association brothers nodded at their grandfather. His presence as the man who should’ve been the fourth-generation Lord of the Edwards family was very intimidating.
"If the God Summoner needs help, you can lend some assistance."
Edward Edwards, the second son of the fourth generation, said to his daughter. Nadia Folan, despite her dissatisfaction with her father’s sternness, nodded:
"Yes, father, I will consider it."
Edward then looked at his grandsons, who quickly stood up to express their respect:
"Grandfather, we will live well."
"These days, you said you are still not married. I’m truly worried. I don’t care who inherits the title, but you must not remain unmarried."
The Furen brothers mirrored their embarrassment, and even Shard showed a smile.
The youngest daughter of the fourth generation, Maria Edwards, looked at Elder Green, whose soul status showed apparent reluctance.
"Nicholas (nickname), you’re too grown to cry now. Take good care of your children. When you reach the end of your life, don’t forget to tell me what kind of people the next generation has become."
Elder Green nodded heavily, and Maria Edwards then looked at the Green siblings:
"Take good care of Green Lake Hotel and the family island. Even without the Edwards, our bloodline will always thrive here. Our ancestors may have passed, but the family will never perish."
She then smiled and said to Shard:
"You’ve fulfilled the oath we made in the lavender field; thank you for protecting them."
As her words fell, the balance symbol on her forehead, visible only to Shard and a few other special beings, disappeared. Shard experienced a slight enhancement to his soul and body as feedback from completing the oath.
Yet, as soon as her words fell, the third son of the fourth generation, the slender Alphonse Edwards, stared with blinking eyes and asked Shard a question he had held for three days:
"Kid, what is your relationship with my daughters?"
Even though Shard saved him and his family and is said to be a Thirteen-Ring Sorcerer, he still showed no respect to Shard.
Not just one person tried to suppress laughter; it seemed the old man had learned from the Furen brothers and Edwards brothers about some matters involving Shard, Megan, and Audrey.
Shard really wanted to remind the man to show him some respect, but felt slightly guilty and explained:
"In the future, I will marry Megan and Audrey."
Because she didn’t want to engage with men, the witch sitting beside Maria Edwards and Ms. Helena Green suddenly looked up at Shard. However, Mr. Alphonse Edwards was still dissatisfied, glaring more fiercely:
"I’ve heard you have more than one lover?"
