Then… a whisper.
A voice.
A sentence.
Guts was dead. He knew it.
But it wasn't over.
He jolted upright, gasping, as if torn from some invisible drowning.
His muscles were taut. His breath, short.
His heart beat so hard it felt like it might shatter his ribs.
In front of him…
Crusch Karsten.
Upright. Impeccable.
Her posture unchanged, frozen in the exact instant he had left her—three days ago.
A spasm twitched in his neck.
He stepped back. Then again.
No.
It couldn't be.
He had seen Rem die.
He had heard her scream.
He had held her in his arms.
Her blood.
Her final words.
And yet.
She was here.
Alive.
Her eyes, calm and clear.
No wound. No fear.
No memory.
As if nothing had happened.
Guts didn't scream.
He didn't speak.
But in his mind, a single word kept turning over and over:
Again.
Again.
Again.
He stood.
Walked through the camp in silence.
His armor still bore the dust of the White Whale.
His steps were heavy, yet swift.
His gaze locked straight ahead.
He looked at no one.
Answered no greetings.
His mind was already far away.
At the supply tent, he demanded a horse.
— "Count Roswaal has already been informed of the victory," an officer replied, surprised by his cold tone.
— "We're departing at dawn. The camp remains here until morning."
But Guts knew.
He felt it.
He no longer had that luxury.
He no longer trusted the calm.
He thought of leaving alone.
It would be simpler. Faster.
Less time wasted. Less weakness.
Night had fallen.
The camp grew quiet. Soldiers slept. Fires died out one by one.
Guts had finished preparing.
He had spoken to no one.
Not Rem. Not Crusch. No one.
He didn't intend to.
His horse was saddled. His armor still bore dried blood.
He moved in silence between the tents.
Each step heavy, but steady.
He had to leave. Now.
No one must follow him.
No one must die for him. Not this time.
He passed the last lines of the camp, where the forest reclaimed its ground.
Where the mist swallowed the torchlight.
Then he stopped cold.
Two figures stood waiting.
One, upright, solid despite age.
The other, just as upright, but stiffer. Colder.
Wilhelm.
Crusch.
They said nothing.
The old man held his sword in his hand, leaning on it like a cane.
Crusch stared at him, arms crossed in the night.
Guts clenched his jaw.
— "You have no business here," he growled.
Wilhelm didn't answer right away. Only gave him a look.
A look that had seen too many deaths, too many retreats, too many regrets.
— "And you?" he replied calmly.
— "You think going alone will change anything?"
Crusch stepped forward.
Her voice was firm, yet gentle.
— "You're not a man of grand speeches, Guts.
Neither are we.
So spare us the lies."
A silence.
Long.
Heavy.
Then Guts lowered his eyes slightly. Just for a moment.
Not from weakness.
But because he understood.
They understood.
And he couldn't stop them.
Crusch (stepping closer, voice steady):
— "Why leave at such a late hour?
What are you hiding?
Why say nothing?
We're allies, Guts.
You took down the White Whale…
You can't vanish without a word."
Guts (gaze unwavering, voice grave):
— "You'll have to trust me.
The battle isn't over.
Roswaal's mansion is in danger.
Every minute counts."
Crusch (clenching her fists):
— "So it's a secret.
And you planned to face this 'danger' alone?
No reinforcements. No plan.
A silent hero charging into darkness by himself?
Do you want to die, Guts?"
Wilhelm (quietly, stepping forward):
— "I've seen what you are, Guts.
You brought down that cursed beast…
The one they said couldn't be killed.
I owe you.
Lady Karsten… I'm going with him."
Crusch (shaking her head, sighing):
— "You can't go like this.
Not alone.
I'll alert the rearguard.
There are still men fit to fight. They'll follow you.
They'll be your unit."
Guts (voice harder, a shadow crossing his eyes):
— "This isn't just a fight.
It's not a beast.
It's… something worse.
A war in the dark.
You don't know what's coming."
Crusch (calmly):
— "Then don't face it alone.
You've proven you're not like the others.
Let us return what you gave us.
I'll see to the men.
Stay here. It's the least I can do."
Yo, it's the author here.
Here's the first chapter of the final part of Arc 3!
I can now officially confirm — the arc is finally complete.
I've had time to polish it, and I'm already thinking ahead to the next arcs.
I'll probably include a transition arc between Arc 3 and Arc 4.
As for the end of Arc 3, I plan to release it all at once next week — not sure exactly when,
That's all for now — see you next week!