Published at 3rd of November 2026 6:32 am

Chapter 1272: Scars Of War 3 [Super Gift Bonus Chapter ]

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

How could he live knowing that he was the main reason for his daughter’s death? If only he had rejected her as he had done in the past. If only he had told his daughter no, just as he had always done whenever she asked him.

Then she would still be alive. She would still be his ray of sunshine, she would still be the light within his dark world.

Two years ago, he had lost his wife and son when the Territory his family resided in experienced the usual Monster Tide Invasion. They had survived all the previous invasions, but they had finally fallen victim to one. It was that tragedy that had driven his daughter to set her sights on becoming a Soldier like her father.

That way, she would have the strength and combat experience necessary to defend herself.

But now... he had lost his daughter, losing his entire family in the process. She was the only person he had left, the only person who kept him going and gave him a reason to wake up every morning.

Was there any purpose to life without his family?

The man turned, no longer sparing a glance at the Velkarin Empire Soldiers, and walked towards his dead daughter, whose body had also been loaded onto the open, flat carriage.

"I’m sorry, my sunshine... Da... Daddy failed... failed to keep his promise to you."

He spoke in a broken voice as he held his daughter’s hand. He raised it and placed it against his cheek, his eyes seemingly transforming into clouds themselves as they poured down rain.

His sobbing echoed through the air as he did nothing to hide his grief or cry in silence.

"Dad... dy is s... sorry."

Everyone could only watch from afar, none of them moving closer to comfort him. He was allowed to feel what he was feeling; he was allowed to experience his pain without anyone attempting to suppress it.

As they watched and sympathised with the man, he suddenly took out a dagger from his space ring. Everyone thought he was about to resume killing the people of the Velkarin Empire out of anger, but they froze as everything took a shocking turn.

He raised his hand and slit his own throat, his skin parting like a hot knife through butter. His body shook as blood splattered onto the ground, but even in that state, he made sure that none of it touched his daughter’s body.

Before the light in his eyes could vanish completely, he climbed onto the carriage, interlocked his fingers with his daughter’s, and then breathed his last.

Everyone stood stunned. They hadn’t anticipated this, and none of them could have guessed that the man would take his own life. Even the Soldiers from the Velkarin Empire stood frozen, affected by the atmosphere of grief surrounding the dead daughter and her father.

Just because they had infiltrated the Zarethorne Empire and launched an attack didn’t mean they were emotionless killing machines.

The entire Zarethorne Empire dispatched people of all Life Ranks who possessed various healing abilities. It didn’t matter whether they were Crownstar Life Rankers or Faintstar Life Rankers; as long as they could heal even a scratch, they were sent out.

There was no payment this time. This was an Imperial Edict issued by the Emperor himself.

Although Crownstar Life Rank healers could disobey Imperial Edicts if they wished, that was entirely their choice. However, Crownstar Life Rank healers weren’t as powerful as those who had awakened combat-based abilities.

Consequently, they were generally weaker and could only obey.

However, they didn’t obey merely because of the Imperial Edict, but also because of the scars left behind by the war. They felt sympathy for the injured, the dead, and everyone involved in the tragedy. It took time, but the work continued.

The Empire worked overtime, and even when darkness blanketed the entire Empire, people remained in motion. Lights were switched on, torches were raised, and everywhere remained bright.

The citizens of the Empire didn’t sleep. How could they when millions of people had died for their safety?

They, too, mourned the fallen Soldiers.

The Zarethorne Empire was multitasking at that moment, transporting corpses, sending prisoners to the Capital City, and treating the injured.

Morning came as the sun rose beyond the horizon. Although it was a new day, it couldn’t erase what had happened the previous day. Everything remained fresh in people’s minds, replaying endlessly like a broken radio.

At eight o’clock in the morning, the prisoners of war, the Soldiers of the Velkarin Empire, had been transported to the Capital City. Ordinarily, it was impossible to travel from the borders to the Capital City within a couple of hours, but various means had been employed to expedite the process.

Emperor Zolthemire wanted to show the people that he was taking action. He wanted the masses to have answers to their questions, and personally, he needed to act swiftly and decisively.

No shops, merchants, offices, or companies opened that day. It had been designated as a day of mourning for the Soldiers they had lost.

Consequently, there was no trade of any kind.

Although many citizens hadn’t personally known the dead or injured Soldiers who had fought to protect them, they understood all too well how the world worked. After all, why should a Soldier risk their life for them? Was it merely so they could open their shops and businesses like nothing had happened?

Every Soldier could have chosen to retire, return home, and do whatever they wished, but they hadn’t. They had continued to fight, putting their lives on the line for the Empire and its people. Thus, everyone was grateful, and closing their businesses for a single day was the least they could do to show their respect.

But that didn’t mean the people remained inside their houses. No, they were very much outside.

At that moment, they cleared a path for the Soldiers of the Velkarin Empire, who were bound in chains around all four limbs, their waists, and their necks as they were dragged forward by various horses and escorted by Soldiers.

"You bastards! Why did you have to invade our Empire and kill our people!"

A woman screamed from the sidelines as she threw a rotten egg at one of the Velkarian Soldiers, striking him on the head.

"All of you should be wiped out as punishment for starting this war!"

A man shouted this time, throwing a bottle of booze that shattered against a Soldier’s temple, drenching him in alcohol.

Following that, various angry citizens began throwing different objects at the captives. Some threw tomatoes, others hurled small rocks and stones, while some threw bottles or simply tossed rubbish at them.

Their anger was evident in both their actions and their voices.

Within the world of Crymora, racism didn’t exist, as the very concept was foreign to its people. The Velkarin Empire Soldiers weren’t being treated this way because they were Black.

They had simply invaded an Empire and wiped out millions of its people. Ultimately, however, they had lost. After all, their Emperor was someone who had sacrificed his own wife and newborn son simply to ascend to the throne.

In earnest, the citizens of the Zarethorne Empire had every reason to be angry. They had the right to express their grief and outrage over the devastation inflicted upon their homes and families.

This was simply the routine that followed every war.

If the reverse had been the case, the people of the Velkarin Empire would have stoned captured Zarethorne Empire Soldiers with those very same objects.

As time passed, the captured Soldiers of the Velkarin Empire completed their procession and were all imprisoned. Their fates remained unknown for the time being, but the verdict would eventually be passed.

_____

Bonus Chapter sponsored by _LordOfNothing

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