Chapter 224 Farewell

System notification sounds came one after another, followed by the urgent voice of 857.

[61! Time is limited, so I will keep it short! ]

[This system upgrade came very suddenly, and I didn't expect it. During the update, all sections such as the system panel and the background will be offline. The buff will not be invalid, but the props cannot be used, and I will be forced to enter a dormant state! Although the specific duration of the update cannot be determined, it will definitely not be too long! I will definitely come back as soon as possible! ]

[Lu Yi, you—zi, you must take good care of yourself—zi…zi…zi—]

[I...will definitely come back!!!]

857's voice suddenly stopped. Lu Yi stood there in silence. After a moment, he muttered to himself, "...What kind of flag-like speech is this!"

When 857 comes back, he will definitely teach this artificial idiot a lesson!

…

By the time we returned to Klein Manor, it was almost midnight.

Lu Yi tiptoed in the dim front hall. Suddenly, there was a soft "ding" sound, and the lights came on, illuminating the entire hall.

Astor, who was sitting on the sofa in the middle, looked up at him and said slowly, "You came back so late, what were you doing?"

Astor's tone was gentle, but his eyes were sharp, as if he had seen through everything, which made Lu Yi feel a little guilty.

Lu Yi showed a flattering smile and said nonchalantly: "Brother, you are still awake? Where else can I go? Just walk around..."

"I should have told you that the gap has not been closed yet, and it's still very chaotic outside. Don't run around recently. Stay at home and wait for Bryside to start school."

"Today is a special situation." Lu Yi explained, "I will definitely stay at home honestly from now on."

Astor only looked at him suspiciously.

"You always have special circumstances, Lu Yi, can you guarantee that there will be no special circumstances tomorrow? What about the day after tomorrow?"

"I promise that there will never be any special circumstances, at least there won't be any special circumstances that your brother doesn't know about." Lu Yi said earnestly.

"You'd better keep your word." Astor's expression eased a little.

"Sure! Then... I'll go upstairs first. Brother, you should also go to bed early?"

"etc."

Lu Yi turned around immediately: "Brother, is there anything else?"

Astor pointed to the invitation on the table in the front hall and said concisely, "This is an invitation to the Klein family for the ceremony of the Holy Son of the Holy See. Lu Yi, you will represent the Klein family to attend the ceremony the day after tomorrow."

Lu Yi was slightly stunned. "The ceremony of consecrating the Holy Son of the Holy See? Holy Son? Who? Which Holy Son?"

Rant has only been dead for a few days, where would the new candidate for the Son of God come from?

"It's Rand, Rand Hobbs's initiation ceremony."

Astor said this, his eyes were fixed on Lu Yi, closely watching his reaction.

"How could it be Lant's ritual?" Lu Yi came back to his senses and asked in confusion, "Lant...isn't he already dead?"

"Yes, Rand is dead." Astor nodded.

“It is precisely because Lanter is already dead that the Vatican has no qualms about promoting him to a high position.

"The hero of the Church who sacrificed heroically for the entire human race - this is such a great deed that deserves to be praised and remembered."

Lu Yi blinked and asked, "...Is this irony?"

"If you mean bravery and greatness, that's exactly what I think," Astor replied.

"No matter what the Vatican's schemes are, we should be relieved that at least a hero is given the proper honor and the truth is explained to the people."

Astor looked at Lu Yi deeply, watching him walk to the table in the front hall and pick up the exquisite and gorgeous invitation.

"He is a dear friend of yours, and he will be very happy for you to attend his ordination ceremony."

Lu Yi lowered his eyes and looked at the invitation letter with familiar handwriting in his hand. He recognized the handwriting, it was Wavelin's handwriting.

"I am also very happy to attend this supplementary awarding ceremony. I am proud of him." Lu Yi said softly.

"If you are sad, as your brother, I think it is my duty to lend you a shoulder to lean on for a while."

Aster's voice sounded behind him. Lu Yi turned around and found that Aster had walked behind him without him knowing.

Lu Yi smiled and said, "Brother, are you concerned about me? Don't worry, I am actually..."

"Yes, I'm worried about you, Lu Yi." Astor interrupted him and spoke frankly.

Lu Yi was stunned and couldn't react for a moment.

Astor is not someone who is used to talking about "expressing love". The aristocratic education he received since childhood has made him the most perfect successor of this era. He is calm and strong enough, yet also introverted and restrained enough.

He rarely, or almost never, said so directly, "I care about you." His concern and worry were restrainedly hidden under the same blue eyes, quiet and silent, but full of reliable power.

"No one can deny that it was a huge disaster, a disaster that concerned the survival of the entire Isaiah continent. Many people died, including ordinary people without magic power, monks and archbishops of the Church, warriors of the beastmen and even their king, and your dearest friend Rant.

"Whether you are proud of him or sad about losing him, these are very normal emotions. This is also a long and grand lesson in your life. We are always parting, and the one who stays behind will inevitably bear more sadness."

——Aster was comforting him.

Lu Yi tried to curl the corners of his mouth, but this time he failed.

He must have shown a tearful smile, so that a slight pain appeared in Aster's blue eyes.

Astor reached out and rubbed Lu Yi's head, and his soft golden hair instantly became messy. Lu Yi leaned on his shoulder following the strength of Astor's palm.

Such actions are particularly intimate for the adult brothers, but also have a bit of childishness that makes them less mature and stable.

But it was this cowardly retreating action that gave Lu Yi silent comfort.

He hasn't learned to say goodbye yet.

Whether it's with Paso or with Rand.

Lu Yi didn't want to think about death and separation, but in the past few days at Klein Manor, he would think of his experience as Rant from time to time.

When I was with Waverin at St. Dover College, when I was with Paso in the Orc Forest, when I was with Gary in the Holy Son Selection Tournament, when I was with Captain March and Father Heller in Rosaiqiao, and even when I was with Demon King Arthur in the Abyss not long ago...

These memories were still extremely clear in his mind, but in the past two days, Lu Yi became increasingly aware that everything was over.

Lant Hobbs, who had walked with them, had stopped forever in yesterday.

Paso died, and Rant died too.

After dawn, there was only Lu Yi Klein on the continent of Isaiah, and no longer Lant Hobbs.

It was not only those friends who said goodbye to Rand, but also Lu Yi himself.

He is Lu Yi and also Rand, but from now on he no longer has the identity of the deceased Rand.

When he faces familiar friends again in the future, he will also retreat to become a friend of strangers.

We meet but do not recognize each other, and old friends will never see each other again.

Lu Yi leaned on Astor's shoulder and whispered, "...I'm just still a little uncomfortable and a little sad."

Because he was leaning on Astor's shoulder, Lu Yi couldn't see Astor's expression. He could only hear Astor's voice, which was softer and lower, sounding gently in his ears.

"It's okay, time will heal everything."

“Although I oppose many of the Vatican’s ideas, there is one thing that I firmly believe in.

“Those friends who left us before us are only gone temporarily. In that distant land of Canaan, we will meet them again, cry, hug, kiss, and never part.

"And before that, let us always keep a beautiful place for them in our hearts..."

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