Chapter: 188
“You’ve twisted the structure of your soul.”
“…What?”
“Oh, I’m not saying you’ve become a god. I don’t know any magic that turns mortals into gods either. I could only make it possible for you to ‘absorb’ fragments of divinity. Did you feel any oddities?”
Despite everyone who was with him in those days being dead and all who tried the same failing…
Whether he managed to move until the end and finally kill Abiditas.
And now, in a state where his whole body was being eaten away, even in a situation where it wouldn’t be strange to collapse and close his eyes at any moment…
Why was he still not exhausted?
Why was he still able to move?
“Yes. Even at this moment, you are inhaling fragments of divinity. So, I have no choice but to apologize to you.”
“Apologize? For what?”
An apology signifies a wrongdoing, yet just by hearing those words, it sounded like a good situation. Just looking at the fact that he could continue battling without getting tired while slaughtering the Seven Dragon Lords.
“You know about the curse gained from killing the Seven Dragon Lords, right? You’ve experienced it.”
“Yeah.”
“That isn’t a curse. Ivan. To be precise, it’s closer to a blessing. The mortal body is too weak to bear the blessing of the gods, which makes it appear as a curse.”
Since it wasn’t a curse, he couldn’t be healed by the Saint’s baptism. It was a type of blessing given by the gods.
“A blessing that carves human souls and transforms them into conceptual beings. In other words, those who kill the Seven Dragon Lords take the first step towards ascending to divinity.”
“I’m still at that point…”
“Yes. Just the first step. After achieving transcendent feats and drenching your body in divine blood, you ascend that staircase. Becoming a concept and finally shedding the remaining ‘mortal part’ of your soul. Yes, you too can become such a being.”
Or perhaps, kill the ‘Seven Dragon Lords’ and elevate your feats.
The very essence of the soul would rise, and it wouldn’t be possible to maintain the form of a mortal anymore.
“So, I forcibly dragged you up that staircase. Now your soul will become closer and closer to divinity.”
“What if I defeat that thing?”
“Probably more than assuredly.”
“And how do I defeat it?”
Ivan’s blunt words made Veolgrin surprisingly flustered.
“Aren’t you… angry? I mean, I’ve just made your time limited! Do you not understand that?”
“Was it necessary?”
“…Yes. But…”
“That’s all it took.”
Ivan turned to face forward again. With Veolgrin’s appearance, ‘that thing’ was becoming increasingly sluggish. As if it were wary of him right in front.
He bought himself some time to catch his breath.
“But, Ivan Petrovich. I am now admitting that I have used you. You, your companions, even my daughter!”
Was it guilt? He never expected to see this side from that old elf. Ivan looked at Veolgrin with newfound eyes.
Isn’t it another proof that even elves can’t escape dementia? The sane Veolgrin was not one to appease or feel guilt.
“I used your daughter too. Your relatives… yes, even ‘our’ comrades.”
“What?”
“I just wanted to go back home. It was my only thought. Perhaps these guys could show me the end of this story. Perhaps they could take me out of this hellish world and return me to my homeland.”
He thought he could return if the hero killed the Demon King. So, he willingly played the scout for the Hero Party. Putting his life on the line, smashing the Royal Demon of the Seven Dragon Lords.
That ended in failure, and still, he remained in this world.
Could he return if the offspring of the hero formed a new Hero Party and completed a new story? Teaching these kids well, and finishing the remaining ‘stories’ in this world— could that be possible then?
He made many attempts. He saved many. And with it, many also died.
Yet, he remained in this world.
Kim Sunwoo finally gave up. He no longer spoke. He neither screamed nor complied.
He wanted to return home. However, he still remained in this world. But would he give up? No, he learned many things, but he did not learn how to give up.
So he decided to use them again.
He would save them when they were in danger.
Teach them if he felt their learning was lacking.
Once again at the start of the journey, willingly playing the scout.
He would help them ensure they were prepared for the threats that would occasionally arise.
So…
“I have no right to blame you. Veolgrin.”
“Haha… Ha Ha Ha!!! You’re making me ashamed. Really, really… how is it that these foreigners who have fallen into this world make me feel so pathetic every time?”
Maximilian too, and you. Why so?
Veolgrin covered his face and wept. Soon, when he lowered his hand again, Ivan could feel some kind of ‘determination’ shining beneath his eyes.
“My last determination has settled. As a mere mortal, I cannot help but be swayed by temptation. Forgive me.”
“Just the conclusion.”
“Defeat that thing. After that, I will take responsibility.”
Ivan silently gazed at Veolgrin. Veolgrin, with a light smile, shrugged.
“Right now, this body can no longer interfere with the material. I’m pushing myself very hard.”
But.
Veolgrin trailed off, raising his head. He stretched out his hand. Toward the sky.
A bright star shone between the cracked sky. The celestial air twisted.
The aurora descended, wavering.
What he gazed at was beyond the sky. Among the star clusters, the mana flowing through the entire world. The movements of the celestial bodies. The rotation of the heavens and the hands lurking above it.
Reaching out above, gripping. Grasping again and pulling down.
Crushing the omens of calamity and stirring them back to good omens.
Now the entire world was in chaos, mixing great calamity and great fortune.
So much so that those hands could not dare to reach out to the world—.
“Now listen closely.”
Veolgrin gradually faded away.
Behind the dimming shadow, the stormy snow began to calm down. The night was still harsh, but no more snow fell—.
*
As he was about to step forward, his foot halted. No, his foot tried to move, but his body stopped. As if someone was pulling him back.
Since his sense of touch disappeared, Ivan couldn’t immediately perceive the anomaly.
As his hearing faded, Ivan could not hear the sounds surrounding him.
But as sight remained, Ivan turned his head to look beside him.
“Senior!!”
Dmitri. He was alive. What a fine fellow.
He saw a man who was gripping his shoulder and shouting. Other men lined up behind him.
The emotions reflected in their eyes were vividly visible. Men of Krasilov, who knew no fear.
Everyone here was once those who had entered the Demon King’s stronghold and returned alive. The intimidation of the Demon King couldn’t bind them.
Any trained agent should not struggle to do a second action after having done it once.
These people were all sufficiently trained by Ivan’s standards.
“What’s the total count?”
Thus, the last high-ranking officer of the Cleanup Unit prepared to relay the operation once more.
“There are 31 of us. No total power loss.”
“No, it’s seven hundred thirty-two.”
Ivan turned again to glance at the group coming from afar.
At the forefront, a black-haired elf, hair flying in the rough wind.
With one eye glowing like a hawk, glaring straight at him, grinning fiercely.
That gaze was proof of having faced the Demon King alone and survived.
“Edelplatt Cohenulf, including the Swordsmanship Faction, a total of six hundred ninety-four. We join the battle.”
“You’re pretty bad at numbers. Then why seven hundred thirty-two?”
“Because we’re here too.”
Elpheira answered with a tired smile.
“The Hero Party is originally one body. We will never leave anyone behind again.”
I see.
Ivan nodded calmly.
The snow cleared, revealing the frozen landscape of Idrenhill. A massive branch that smashed through the pillars of the eternal palace shot up into the sky.
Finally, the Demon King was released into the world. But, yes.
The current Hero Party and all those who had faced the previous Demon Kings were gathered here.
This much, it seemed worth a shot.
Ivan nodded at the gaze he felt somewhere in the sky from Veolgrin.
“The imminent task is the death of ‘that thing.’”
Strangely feeling a bit cheerful.
“The top priority is survival.”
So don’t die. Ivan finished with a faint smile.
“The grand strategy is to end the winter.”
*
“Ku Geor. Yes, kill the winter. For there is no eternal season.”
Veolgrin laughed while looking down at his gradually fading form.
“The harsh season of the gods is now ending, and the season of humanity will soon arrive. That will be enough. That will be.”
Really?
Did you truly devote your life to such a noble ideal?
You, the mortal who greedily swallowed wisdom, will that be enough?
Whether it was an hallucination, a whisper from his own desires, or truly a trial given by the gods, none of it mattered. Veolgrin nodded with a smile.
“Yes. A great elf should never be lesser than a human.”
You all shall meet your end in loneliness. No god shall assist you now. All your prayers shall be disregarded. You shall wither away in silence.
“The gods have never answered our prayers, nor have we ever desired divine assistance.”
Veolgrin stated as he gazed at the shimmering sky.
“Moreover, solitude is a testament to standing alone. Those who can walk on their own legs while standing alone are their own gods. Now the mortal world shall finally be free.”
You shall perish. Your soul shall be torn apart and scattered into dust.
“That’s a pitiful farewell. As a parent, one should bless their child’s independence, shouldn’t they? Now be silent. Forgettable ones. Just watch.”
The sight of your child gaining independence for the very first time.
Veolgrin smiled as he looked down at the earth. Fondly watching the rushing people.
Finally cutting off all desires that almost clung to him ugly and laughed.
Yes, do it.
That burden I shall bear. And so.