Book 1 Chapter 546

546.

Berkhia's sword moved.

It adorned the air beautifully, to an extent unbelievable for the sword of an undead who had lost reason.

Bihar's eyes, looking at that sword, sank.

It was clearly a beautiful sword, reminiscent of a flower petal.

But that sword was different from the one Bihar remembered.

Only coldness was felt in the sword energy that used to feel warm.

Kwagagagak-!

The sword energy, scattered like flower petals, mercilessly cut Bihar's doppelganger.

Bihar readjusted the dagger in his hand.

Hwarereureuk-!

A flame aura soared from Bihar's sword.

Hwiooh-!

Along with it, a wind aura wrapped around the flame aura.

'Amazing.'

Chen Xia, who was watching the scene from beyond consciousness, made a surprised expression.

It was Chen Xia who had handed over her body to Bihar.

But her consciousness had not disappeared.

Rather, all sensations felt vivid.

Every single movement.

Every single glance.

Everything felt vivid.

'She resembles young master Leo.'

Chen Xia, who experienced the sword fight between Berkhia and Bihar up close, caught a glimpse of Leo's shadow in both Berkhia and Bihar.

It was truly strange.

Berkhia and Bihar used different sword techniques and movements.

But the rhythm of wielding the sword and the irregular moves to break the opponent's balance.

And even the process of predicting the opponent's movements.

Leo's shadow was strongly felt in their sword fight.

It was a realm she could only see because she had entrusted her body to Bihar.

'She's teaching me.'

Even in this situation, Chen Xia focused her mind, knowing that Bihar was teaching her.

And she further engraved Bihar's every movement into her mind.

Bihar performed an aura step.

Bihar, moving as fluidly as water, burrowed into Berkhia's embrace.

A duel between sword and dagger.

Bihar could gain the upper hand the more he narrowed the distance.

He faithfully adhered to that basic principle more than anyone else.

Bihar, who quickly burrowed into Berkhia's embrace, spread his palm and swung.

Kwaang-! Kugugugung-!

An impact like a heavy rock struck Berkhia's chest.

Due to the shock, the surrounding ground caved in.

But Berkhia didn't even flinch.

'Animus Armor.'

Chen Xia groaned, looking at the magic protecting Berkhia's body.

She had seen Eiran use it.

It was clearly the same magic, but the defensive power was incomparably greater.

"Back then, this was my limit."

Bihar said to Berkhia, who was swinging her sword at him.

"I couldn't move my sick body anymore."

Chae-eng-!

Bihar, who blocked Berkhia's sword, said.

"So it's not your fault, Berkhia."

Bihar's body vanished as if fading away.

For a moment, Berkhia lost track of Bihar's movements.

Chen Xia felt the bones throughout her body being crushed.

It clearly exceeded the power Chen Xia could tolerate.

But Chen Xia gritted her teeth and endured.

'If I lose consciousness, it's over!'

It was Bihar's spirit moving Chen Xia's body now.

But it was only borrowed through possession.

In such a situation, if Chen Xia lost consciousness, Bihar would also lose control of the body.

'I'm used to pain! So endure!'

'Thank you.'

Bihar, who thanked her descendant struggling to endure, moved quickly.

Even in a state of lost reason, Berkhia showed chillingly sharp movements.

It was the power of one who once carried the world and brought about its revival.

'But even so, it doesn't match her original power.'

Bihar's eyes coldly sought out a gap.

The current Berkhia could not defeat someone of equal or greater skill than herself.

And in this place, right now.

There was someone in this world who possessed power equal to hers.

Bihar, who burrowed into Berkhia's embrace, placed both palms on Berkhia's chest.

And he released aura.

Beonjjeok-! Kwaang-!

A massive shockwave erupted again.

Berkhia's body flew up and then tumbled to the ground.

"Aaaah!"

Berkhia screamed and rose to her feet.

But then, as if losing strength, she collapsed in place.

"Aaaaaaaah!"

Bihar's body, which had been smiling bitterly while watching Berkhia scream in pain, fell.

Chen Xia had lost consciousness.

Puk-!

Leo caught Chen Xia's falling body.

"Master… I entrust the rest to you."

"Alright."

Bihar closed his eyes, relieved, looking at Leo who nodded.

Leo handed Chen Xia over to Eiran, who had followed behind.

This side was already concluded.

All that remained was Berkhia.

***

"Aaaaaaah!"

Berkhia screamed.

She hated it. She hated everything.

She cursed the world that had taken away her loved ones.

While cursing such a world, she also detested herself for wanting to burn down the world that her masters had saved at the cost of their lives.

She hated herself for taking the life of someone like a sister.

"Aaaaaaah!"

What was she supposed to do?

What was she supposed to do?

As she writhed in agony like a lost child with nowhere to go.

Teop-

Someone placed a hand on her head.

At that moment.

Hwaak-!

Berkhia swung her sword.

No matter how much shock she had received, she could still strike the neck of someone who dared to touch her body.

The living were hateful.

Just as she was about to act on her instincts as an undead.

"What's bothering you so much, you damn disciple?"

Utteuk-!

The voice she heard was somehow familiar.

"You've done enough… no, you've done very well."

"Ah…"

"Even when it was hard, you did your best. You didn't just do your best, you magnificently accomplished what you needed to do. But…"

Her eyes felt like tearing up at the hand that roughly ruffled her hair.

"Why are you blaming yourself so much?"

It was the voice that always scolded her when she made a mistake.

"Hating the world we saved and trying to burn it down?"

But.

"That can happen. I would have done the same."

But it was also the voice that always took her side in the end.

"Hurting Bihar and causing his death?"

The voice she wanted to lean on when things were tough.

"He said it wasn't because of you. So."

But it was a voice she had never leaned on.

Because she wanted to show him that she could move forward on her own as soon as possible.

She wanted to be someone he could trust and rely on, not someone who caused worry.

'Master Kyle, why don't you ever tell me I've done well?'

'I did.'

'Only once!'

'I'll praise you when there's something to praise.'

'Master Luna and Master Arion praise me often, though?'

'They'd probably say you did well even if you just ate the food they threw at you.'

'Stingy.'

"You did well."

Leo genuinely and gently stroked Berkhia's head.

"You truly did well."

Berkhia's focus returned clearly.

And she stared blankly up at Leo, muttering.

"Master Kyle…"

Leo, taking his hand off Berkhia's head now that she had regained her senses, smiled gently.

And then he promptly slammed his fist into Berkhia's jaw.

"Die! Just die! You caused trouble when you were little, and you haven't changed even after growing up!"

Seeing that, Lunia and Eiran were terrified.

"Hey, hey! Leo! Stop it! She just regained consciousness!"

"L-Lord Leo! Lady Berkhia has had a hard time!"

Lunia hung onto Leo's arm, and Eiran hung onto Leo's waist.

In the midst of it all, Chen Xia, who was being supported, flopped to the ground.

Of course, they didn't have the presence of mind to care about that.

"I'm hitting her because she regained consciousness! I'm hitting her because I had a hard time too! Die! No! Die one more time! You damn disciple!"

"Uwaaaaaah!"

"Calm down!"

Leo's enraged roar and Lunia and Eiran's screams echoed to the sky.

"Even like that… is it okay?"

Chen Xia, who had regained consciousness lying on the floor, sighed and asked.

Her body had reached its limit, unable to even twitch a finger.

-You caused so much worry, you deserve a little beating.

Chen Xia smiled faintly at Bihar's calm voice.

'I guess I shouldn't worry young master Leo anymore.'

***

The entire city was filled with chaos.

The chairman of the council and all the templars, who could be considered the core strength of the council, were suppressed.

Elves who had been in the underground city escaped to the surface.

The group temporarily entered an undamaged house in the ruined battle zone.

Sitting in the living room, Lunia folded her arms and sighed deeply.

"This is going to be a headache."

"Indeed."

Eiran nodded at Lunia's words.

Just thinking about the aftermath gave her a headache.

"What kind of conversation are those two having?"

"They probably have a lot to talk about."

Leo said calmly.

"Berkhia's lingering regrets and Bihar's lingering regrets, in the end, were about each other."

Berkhia became an undead out of guilt for having killed Bihar with her own hands.

Bihar became a spirit out of guilt for not being able to help Berkhia to the end.

Undead and spirit.

Though the process of their revival was different, the reason for their revival was each other.

"Young master Leo's words would be…"

"What is there to teach a disciple who's all grown up?"

Leo propped his chin and said indifferently.

"Even if there were, she would have surely learned it."

At his words, Chen Xia smiled softly.

Lunia, who had been listening to the conversation, said with a sullen voice.

"So, you two have nothing to do with it, is that what you mean?"

"Young master Leo and I just need to return to Lumerin."

Chen Xia said with a faint smile.

At her words, Lunia's fist trembled.

For some reason, it was annoying.

Just then, Berkhia shuffled in.

"Everyone, have you been waiting long?"

"Ah, Lady Berkhia!"

"Have you finished your talk…?"

"Uh…?"

The faces of the three girls who were getting up stiffened.

"Fortunately, there were a lot of ingredients left."

The three girls trembled in terror.

"L-Lady Berkhia. We're not hungry yet…"

"You have to eat a lot after moving around so much. That's how you grow big and strong."

Berkhia, with a benevolent smile, began placing food on the table.

Seeing that, Leo frowned and said.

"That's too much."

"Master, you've gotten very thin too."

Berkhia carefully took Leo's wrist with both hands and made a regretful expression.

"To be so skinny, just bones. I feel like they might break any moment. This disciple's heart aches so much."

'Is she still out of her mind?'

-Master. Your body is still at an age to grow, even if your mind isn't, so you should eat well. I think you need to eat a lot.

Bihar also chimed in with a similar expression to Berkhia.

"You can leave some if you want, but please eat even a little. I worked hard to make it."

At the two disciples' clamor, Leo clucked his tongue.

"Alright."

"You guys shouldn't leave any, okay?"

The three girls' faces turned pale.

"L-Lady Berkhia! Lord Bihar! I am the student council president of a school called Seirun!"

"Oh, I've heard of Seirun too. I heard it's a great place, so being a student council president there must be a high position, right?"

"Yes! Currently, this Eldon is in a very chaotic situation!"

"Oh dear… I'm sorry, because of me."

"No! It's not because of Lady Berkhia! What I mean is… as the student council president of Seirun, I think I need to go right now to sort out this incident!"

"Ah."

Berkhia nodded.

"There's also a saying, 'The more haste, the less speed,' isn't there?"

"Pardon?"

"And if you want to do great things, you need to eat more."

Berkhia took some food from Leo's plate and placed it on Lunia's bowl.

Lunia's face turned white.

And so, the meal began.

It was when the three girls were eating with dazed expressions.

Leo leaned back in his chair and asked.

"I've been wondering something for a while."

Leo's gaze turned to Berkhia and Bihar.

"Why did you two used to fight so often back then? You were good friends normally, weren't you?"

At his words, Bihar exclaimed "Ah…" and then said.

-We fought because of Master.

"Because of me?"

-Yes.

Berkhia said seriously.

"We fought over whether Master should marry Master Luna or Lady Lysinas."

"Why would you fight over that?"

"Why else would we have fought?"

Berkhia and Bihar stared intently at Leo, then made genuinely exasperated expressions.

"Alright, you think you're all grown up, huh?"

Leo gritted his teeth and punished Berkhia.

After a brief commotion.

"This time is nice."

Berkhia smiled softly.

"I wish it could be like this forever."

Berkhia muttered, looking out the window.

Dawn had already passed, and morning was coming.