Book 1 Chapter 693

"Is everyone ready?"

Looking at Dweno's workshop in the distance, Artian said with a serious expression.

"Our goal is to destroy the Legion's records as quickly as possible. So, as soon as we enter the Legion's world, we need to find the shortest path."

At his words, Luke raised his hand.

"Any questions? Luke."

"How do we find the Legion's records within the Legion's world?"

"If you enter the Hero's world through the center of the Hero Dungeon, there will be a place where the spatial distortion is noticeable. The Legion's world shouldn't be much different."

Everyone nodded at Artian's explanation.

"Kal, I'll ask you to take command."

"Yes."

"Alright, let's set off now…"

"What are you doing here?"

"Ah, Dweno."

Artian turned around at the voice from behind and bowed respectfully.

And at Dweno's appearance, Chelsea and Kal's faces stiffened.

"The city is in danger right now. I need you to lend a hand."

Seeing Dweno with an apologetic expression, Adriana stepped forward and said,

"Yes! That's why we're trying to break the barrier so we can request external support!"

"Oh? Is that so?"

Dweno exclaimed and stroked Adriana's head.

"Hey, what do we do?"

Kal asked quietly, and Chelsea bit her lip tightly.

Dweno had memories of conquering the previous Hero's world.

That's why he intentionally hid the entrance to the Legion's world.

To show the people of Ibaldi the future.

Chelsea and Kal didn't tell anyone else.

It was a fact connected to Leo's secret, so they couldn't speak rashly.

They only informed them that there was an entrance to the Legion's world in the basement of Dweno's workshop.

But now Dweno had appeared.

Dweno knew.

The moment they crossed over to the Legion's world.

That the time for the people of Ibaldi would end.

'Dweno will try to stop us.'

It was when Chelsea was breaking out in a cold sweat.

Thump-!

Kal lightly tapped Chelsea's arm.

Chelsea's face, which looked up at Kal, stiffened.

Kal subtly gestured with his chin towards Dweno.

'…Right. That's the only way.'

Chelsea bit her lip tightly.

The moment she made up her mind.

Whoosh-!

Chelsea cast a wind spell with her signature high-speed chant.

A gust of wind erupted and engulfed Dweno.

"Chelsea! What are you doing…!"

"Run to the workshop!"

Chelsea shouted urgently.

At the same time, she manipulated the wind to blow the party members towards the workshop.

Everyone flinched at the sudden situation, but soon entrusted themselves to Chelsea's wind.

It was a very sudden act, but they followed Chelsea's intention.

Because they trusted their comrades.

"W-what is this?! What are you doing?!"

Adriana asked indignantly, and Kal explained the situation.

"Dweno has memories from when we conquered it before!"

"What?"

Adriana's eyes widened.

"He knows that the people of Ibaldi will disappear if we destroy the Legion's records! That's why he deliberately hid the existence of the entrance!"

At those words, all the party members glared.

Iliana hesitantly opened her mouth.

"Th-that means…"

"Yes."

Kal looked back, breaking out in a cold sweat.

There, Dweno, who had been blown away by Chelsea's magic, was getting up.

"It means Dweno will try to stop us."

"…It would be a thousand times better to fight the Giant King."

Iliana whimpered.

***

The dawn night sky.

Dweno, who had been sent flying by Chelsea's magic, got up.

"Hmm."

He brushed off the dust from his body and watched Chelsea running far away.

"That was an excellent high-speed chant."

He heard she was still young.

Yet to memorize such a level of magic instantly.

'If she grows, she might be comparable to Luna in high-speed chanting. I look forward to her future.'

Dweno gave a wry smile at that thought.

'Future.'

Perhaps what he was doing was making their future uncertain.

'It's foolish.'

But he couldn't help it.

The people of Ibaldi.

They were as precious to Dweno as the great heroes.

In his childhood.

He fled his home to perfectly control the curse-like golden flames.

Ibaldi was the place that accepted him.

His people, whom he ultimately couldn't protect.

'This is the moment to resolve this lingering regret after death.'

He didn't ask for much.

He just wanted to show them the sun.

'I trust Kyle.'

A true hero, incomparable to himself.

Kyle would defeat Gias.

Just as he defeated Erebus without ever giving up.

Dweno knelt down.

At that moment.

"Here they come!"

With Kal's shout, Dweno ran at an incredible speed.

Crackling-!

At that moment, Duran stepped forward.

With golden glints in his eyes, Duran swung his sword with both hands.

Blades of lightning chased away the darkness.

Flash!

At the same time, Eliza summoned a Pegasus.

The golden lightning that swirled around was sucked into Eliza's Pegasus.

Seeing that, as Dweno aimed for the two,

Flash-!

Iliana appeared before Dweno with a flash of light.

Then, Luke, Aina, and Habiden thrust their swords from behind Iliana.

'Surprising.'

Dweno was amazed.

When they first met.

They couldn't attack him properly.

But now it was different.

They were trying to stop him with all their might.

"Excellent."

Dweno praised the hero candidates' will.

But…

"Ack?! Aren't you going to dodge?!"

Iliana was momentarily flustered seeing Dweno not even trying to dodge or block her sword strikes.

Yet, the energy imbued in her sword didn't falter.

Clang-!

Four swords struck Dweno's body.

Then the swords bounced off.

"Dodge? Why should I?"

Dweno tilted his head slightly and lightly touched under Iliana's neck with his fingertip.

Thud-!

"Guh?!"

Leaving Iliana, who had fallen backward, Dweno calmly rushed towards the lightning of Eliza and Duran that was attacking him.

Swoosh-!

Intense lightning strikes engulfed Dweno.

But despite that, Dweno didn't slow down.

"What?!"

Everyone was astonished.

Dweno, who easily outpaced the Archi party, stopped in front of the workshop.

"Hmm. That stings."

Dweno rubbed his shoulder and cracked his neck.

"It's a lie! That's 100% a lie!"

"Are you okay, Iliana senpai?"

"Huh, huh?"

To Aina's question, Iliana touched her body all over with a flustered expression.

There was no pain anywhere.

"It's not good to hurt young friends."

Dweno, with his arms crossed, smiled faintly.

"Your attacks aren't that threatening anyway."

"Grrr!"

Duran showed a resentful expression.

Even if what he said was true, he couldn't help but feel resentful.

"So, go back now."

"What if we don't?"

At Chelsea's question, Dweno smiled faintly.

"I intend to incapacitate all of you."

"You said you wouldn't hurt us earlier."

"There are many ways to incapacitate without hurting. For example."

Dweno's gaze turned to Kal.

The moment Kal flinched.

Whoosh-!

Bang-!

At that moment.

A fist flew towards Kal's face.

Artian, who had swung his fist in front of Kal, broke out in a cold sweat.

Dweno had sent an air bullet towards Kal's head with his fist.

He wouldn't die or get hurt, but if it had hit his face, he would have fainted.

"Wow! Professor! Thank you!"

At Kal's words, Artian said,

"Fight with the resolve to kill Dweno, you brats! Your opponent is a great hero who was called the strongest shield before being called the divine blacksmith! Form a formation!"

Artian clenched his fist and stepped forward.

Kal approached Adriana.

"Adriana! Get ready to fight."

"I-I still don't understand! Dweno wouldn't ignore the world's danger… Why? Why?"

Adriana, unable to compose herself.

Seeing Adriana like that, Kal said,

"Dweno is also human. Although he is an exceptionally noble person… he is not perfect."

"……!"

"There's nothing strange about him having something as precious as the world, is there?"

At Kal's words, Adriana bit her lip.

Then, with a determined expression, she stepped to the front.

"You will never break through me. So I advise you to give up."

Dweno said calmly, and Chelsea laughed.

"Unfortunately, our leader is not the type to give up."

"…You've taught them well."

Dweno closed his eyes.

"In that case, I have no choice but to make you give up on your own."

*

The Legion's advance continued without rest.

The full-scale defense battle began.

Ballistae on the castle walls fired endlessly, striking down demons and monsters that got close to the walls.

Mages cast spells.

The warriors of Ibaldi fought bravely.

'Why! Why isn't Dweno here!'

Gias trembled at the sight.

'Could it be… he's not on this battlefield? Did he run away?'

No way.

Dweno was an unyielding warrior.

Gias knew Dweno better than anyone.

Dweno would never run away.

But no matter how he looked at it, he couldn't shake off the thought that Dweno was not on the battlefield in the current situation.

It was then.

Rumble-!

A part of the castle wall collapsed.

The Legion's advance concentrated there.

The mages of Ibaldi hurriedly began to repair the wall.

'Yes! He won't be able to stand by in a crisis like this!'

Dweno must be hiding.

It was about to be proven that his prediction was not wrong.

But…

Only Leo was active on the battlefield.

Dweno's appearance was still nowhere to be seen.

Leo alone repelled the surging Legion.

In the meantime, the wall was barely repaired.

Seeing that.

"Grrrraaaaaahhh!"

Gias roared and began to charge.

As the Giant King moved, as if an earthquake had occurred.

The ground in the surrounding area began to shake.

"Tch."

Leo clicked his tongue, seeing the sight.

"Why are you moving now?"

Arga asked with a surprised expression, and Leo said calmly,

"He's a coward."

An excessively cautious personality.

"Well, thanks to his mistake, I fought comfortably… but that's probably over now."

Leo stepped forward.

"Sh-shall I help?"

At Arga's question, Leo shook his head.

"It's too early for you yet."

"You can win alone, right? You're Kyle! Right?!"

"It might be difficult."

Leo looked down at his palm.

His divine power had not manifested since entering the Legion's world.

The Legion's dungeon itself was Erebus's domain, a nemesis of divine power, so a miracle could not occur.

"Ugh! But why are you so calm!"

Arga tore at his hair, and Leo smiled faintly.

"He's coming."

"What?"

"Dweno is coming."

It was faith.

Faith in someone with whom they had entrusted their lives for many years.

"Absolutely."

Leaving those words, Leo charged towards Gias.

"The surviving hero, Kyle! Where is Dweno!"

Gias roared and raised his giant greatsword.

Seeing that, Leo grabbed Fosteritas and sneered.

"He's hiding to take your head."

"Where are you telling lies!"

A small sword imbued with gray aura and a greatsword the size of a mountain filled with dark magic collided.

-!

Demons in the vicinity vanished into dust.

Among the demons and monsters far away, those whose bodies burst and died began to appear.

"The sound…?"

Despite the incredible spectacle unfolding before him, no sound could be heard.

Arga, who had a flustered expression, suddenly realized that his own voice sounded muffled.

Drip!

"Uh, huh?"

Feeling moisture around his ear, he unconsciously brought his hand to it.

Stickiness adhered to it.

Blood was flowing from his ear.

'What… what kind of brutal fight is this!'

Arga glared.

This was the fight between a great hero and a legion commander.

"Gah! When is Dweno coming? Is it taking a long time to find his artifact?"

Arga stamped his foot.

At that moment, Ennihha, who was commanding the battlefield, clenched his fist.

"Raden."

"Yes! Ennihha-nim!"

"Take over command for a moment."

"Yes? Where are you going…?"

"I'm going to punch that damned dwarf in the face and bring him here!"

Ennihha, gritting his teeth, headed towards Dweno's workshop.