Chapter 112

The Toramde vessel was immobilized. To think the rope they had caught would actually work…

‘They came here after hearing my telegraph signal.’

Her hand, gripping the telegraph machine, was drenched in sweat. Even so, her heart swelled with emotion.

These were civilian boats that had come purely out of goodwill after receiving her signal.

And there were multiple of them. The fishermen from the Pinse Republic, who knew nothing but came to rescue, had put Toramde in a difficult position. Fearing the matter might escalate into an international issue, Toramde couldn’t recklessly fire shells or make threats.

To make matters worse, the Pinse fishermen kept shining their lights at the Toramde vessel. Thus, even in this urgent situation, locating the Toramde vessel was effortless.

“…God is helping us.”

“It’s Benny who helped.” 

Costance corrected the cardinal’s remark. Only then did Rahie, his tense expression finally easing, let out a sheepish laugh.

While the Toramde vessel was held up, their boat continued moving. Trusting Costance’s instincts, the distance between their boat and the Toramde vessel gradually widened.

He turned the extinguished lights back on and chose a stable course. The sight of the interior lights and the surrounding waves made it clear they were almost there.

Just a little more.

Just a little more.

“We’ve reached the Papal States’ territorial waters.”

Cardinal Rahie, who had been keeping watch ahead, spoke cautiously. Even Dr. Rydier, who had been nervously waiting in a corner of the cabin, finally peeked toward the wheelhouse.

The Papal States’ territorial waters were right before them.

Not long after, a white light flashed beyond the horizon. A single small light soon multiplied into several.

“Paladins… Holy Knights have come to greet us.”

The cardinal’s words were correct. A massive ship bearing the flag of the Papal States stood guard over the waters.

Though not as intense as the glowing jellyfish they had seen earlier, the sight of that light brought a comforting sense of hope.

‘Finally.’

For the first time, the sight of a ship as large as the Toramde warship they had encountered earlier didn’t feel threatening.

Following the guiding light, their fishing boat slowly approached the Papal States’ territorial waters.

At last, the boat passed the white flag. They had arrived in the Papal States’ territorial waters, the place they had longed for so desperately.

***

Upon entering the Papal States’ territorial waters, the first thing they did was board the massive ship.

The wind blew fiercely.

Knights in white uniforms appeared to assist the passengers in transferring from the fishing boat to the Papal States’ ship.

Cardinal Rahie was the first to board. Benny, who stepped onto the deck next, carefully observed each priest as they followed.

Their faces showed not joy at having survived, but exhaustion from the ordeal they had just endured.

“Alres, Dr. Rydier.”

Alres and Dr. Rydier were the next to climb aboard.

“Benny.”

She ran into their arms, wrapping them tightly around their necks. Dr. Rydier staggered slightly but soon steadied himself, holding her back and exhaling slowly.

“Little Miss…”

“Yes. We’ve finally made it. Here.”

Their voices carried a lingering sense of disbelief.

Gradually, Benny began to relax. The tension that had gripped her body and mind started to fade. As her body loosened, tears welled up and poured down her cheeks.

She clenched her eyes shut.

Fourteen years…

For fourteen years, she had carried the past and avoided contact with others.

While she had Professor Kandor by her side, Alres and Dr. Rydier had spent those 14 years without a safe haven or a place to hide.

“I’m so glad to be here with you both.”

“…Benny.”

At her tearful words, Alres and Dr. Rydier shed tears as well. The warmth of their breath and touch felt more vivid than ever.

After holding them tightly for a long time, she released her arms at the sound of someone approaching from behind.

“…”

“…”

Her gaze met Costance’s.

Without hesitation, she threw herself into his arms. She buried her face in his broad chest, the man who had given up everything for her.

His homeland, his career, his comrades, and even his honor.

All for the sole reason that he loved her.

Looking up, she gave him a bright smile. Instead of apologizing, she offered a small smile, and his face lit up in response.

“Costance. It’s thanks to you that we made it here.”

“…”

“If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have made it here, even if I died.”

He gently pulled her head toward him, holding her tightly in his arms. Lowering his head, he pressed his nose into her hair. Breathing slowly and deliberately, as if learning how to breathe for the first time, he finally spoke.

“To be honest, I was scared to death. I was terrified that my mistake might harm you.”

He confessed the fear that had been hidden behind his resolute expression. The terror that had loomed large within him was now laid bare.

“Truly, I was so afraid something might happen to you…”

As if trying to confirm this moment was real, he held her tightly. His shoulders trembled. The weight he had been carrying, unimaginable to her, made him cry quietly.

Costance rested his head on her shoulder, clutching her arms.

“Benny, are you… are you hurt anywhere…?”

His voice, trembling and hoarse, struggled to form the words.

“Not a single hair on my head is hurt.”

Her resolute tone brought a sigh of relief from Costance. She lifted his face and looked at his tear-streaked cheeks. The thought of being the cause of his pain tore her apart, but she knew that wasn’t what Costance wanted her to feel.

With trembling hands, she carefully wiped away his tears. The sky was turning blue, signaling the arrival of dawn.

As the light illuminated his pale face, she leaned in to kiss his tear-streaked cheek and embraced his back.

“Miss.”

A man who had been watching from afar cautiously approached.

“I am Cannon Jawit, a knight from the 1st Paladin Order. A Toramde soldier on the opposite side of the Papal States’ territorial waters has requested a final conversation with you and Captain Costance.”

She paused her movements and looked at Jawit.

“…Toramde?”

“Yes. Of course, you may refuse. We can handle it on our end.”

There were things Benny wanted to hear from the Toramde soldier. As she hesitated, Costance took her hand.

“I will be by your side, Benny. You can refuse, or… if you wish, you may have this final conversation.”

Though he respected her decision, his expression showed clear displeasure at the idea of speaking with the Toramde soldier.

“Where would I need to go to speak with them?”

“I will escort you to the navigation room.”

Holding tightly onto Costance’s hand, she followed the knight. Cardinal Rahie, Alres, and Dr. Rydier also moved toward the navigation room to witness the conclusion.

Uncertain of what threats Toramde might bring up, she felt nervous. Could she remain steady?

“Here we are.”

Upon arriving at the navigation room, a wide window offered an unobstructed view. The vast sea stretched out before them, but Benny’s eyes were drawn to the four small fishing boats just before entering the Papal States’ territorial waters.

The four boats, once a source of fear, now seemed as small as toys.

“Will you proceed with the conversation?”

At the navigator’s question, Benny looked at the Toramde soldier holding the radio on one of the boats.

They seemed to be desperately waiting for her response.

“Yes.”

“Please wait a moment.”

At her reply, the radio signal was immediately connected. Once the connection was established, the navigator handed her the device.

“…”

Taking the radio, she looked down at the boat and slowly opened her mouth.

“You said you had something to say.”

– Benny Galinne.

A low voice came through. Startled, she glanced at Costance before gripping the radio tightly.

– NOK-ONE no longer exists.

The words weren’t just for her; everyone in the navigation room heard them as well.

– Did you plan this from the beginning? To manipulate NOK-ONE’s experiments and completely destroy the NOK atom…

“I don’t know anything about that. My father might have known.”

– Very well, then. Our Toramde government will not charge you or Captain Costance with any crimes. Not only that, but we’ll ensure freedom for the doctors as well. The government will no longer interfere in your lives.

The voice on the other end remained calm, unhurried.

– We will compensate for everything we’ve done to you. If there’s anything you need, just ask.

“I know it won’t come for free.”

– …In return, come back to Toramde. Your homeland is here, and so is your country. Don’t you miss the memories, the life, and the people you left behind? Forget about the NOK atom and NOK-ONE. The government will erase you from its records, so you can erase it from yours as well. Don’t speak of it to anyone.

Staring intently at the boat, Benny’s gaze locked with the man holding the radio.

– Toramde has everything. Large towns, public institutions. Whatever dreams you have, you can achieve them here.

“…”

– Toramde is vast.

Though the words clearly disparaged the Papal States, the priests observing the conversation refrained from interfering.

“…Before that, I want a clear answer. About what happened 14 years ago.”

– …

“On the day the researchers left the laboratory, soldiers and agents came to see my father. Something happened there, and my father pressed the emergency button in the lab, dismantling NOK-ONE and causing the lab to explode. He took his own life.”

Costance had mentioned seeing records of this in the agency’s files. If that’s the case…

“What exactly happened that day?”