Book 1 Chapter 957

957.

In any era, there exist wicked beings.

Those who harbor the desire to stand at the very top of others, even if it means crushing them.

Fools blinded by that desire, who turn a blind eye to reality.

"It was the same in the era of the Great Revelation."

Demian's eyes sank coldly.

"It must have been the same in the era of calamity."

That is why the hero of the beginning must have executed the traitors.

Inheriting the will of that hero of the beginning, Bihart became the origin of the shadow, and

it must have continued to Demian.

That will has passed down to later generations and continues to this day.

As long as the world continues, the traitors who gnaw at it will not disappear.

But looking at the situation before him, he felt sick.

Refugee City Reisar.

In terms of sheer scale, it was larger than Guardsron.

Even though Guardsron was the world's last bastion, Reisar was called a refugee city for a reason.

Until its destruction, Reisar's population surpassed that of Guardsron.

This was natural, as Reisar was the safest city when countless refugees first appeared.

Demian, who had read the complete Hero Records several times, knew this.

If Reisar had not fallen at this time, then perhaps after the era of calamity ended.

The world might have been rebuilt more quickly.

"No, perhaps the subjugation of Erebus might have been carried out with more preparation from the start."

If that were the case, the great heroes might not have all died on their final journey.

Perhaps they might have all survived.

The great heroes' last journey.

It was a gamble.

A subjugation that had to proceed even though preparations were not fully complete.

An operation carried out because the world could no longer withstand the strain and was on the verge of collapse.

The destruction of Reisar was an event that caused significant repercussions.

A turning point in history that drastically shortened the lifespan of the world.

He had been curious.

What was the cause that turned Reisar, which still had strength left, into ashes.

And now, his curiosity was satisfied.

Countless people, including the lord of Reisar, had sacrificed the people of Reisar as living offerings.

It was outrageous.

"Did they expect to survive after doing this?"

The higher-ups, including the lord of Reisar, would not have done something so preposterous expecting to survive.

No, they would have desired wealth and glory instead.

Those who are blinded by greed and commit acts that lead to the world's destruction are generally like that.

They don't believe the world will be destroyed.

They believe that others, like themselves, are trying to burn the world to ashes for dominance.

They believe in the wealth and glory promised by Tartarus and drive the world to ruin without hesitation.

And they ridicule those who risk their lives to protect that world.

"Many have already been sacrificed."

A chilling killing intent flickered in Demian's eyes.

"Anyas."

"Yes, Demian-nim."

"Execute everyone, including the lord of Reisar, immediately."

"Yes."

"And tell Azonia. The summoning cannot be stopped."

"……Yes."

Anyas's face hardened.

"Still, it won't be summoned in its complete form. I will destroy the summoning circle now."

Gooo-!

Golden flames erupted from Demian's body.

As he raised his hand, the golden aura took the shape of a giant hammer.

"Go. You will die if you are caught in the blast."

"Yes."

Anyas quickly left the scene.

A golden light flashed in Demian's eyes.

Fwoosh-!

The summoning circle also began to emit black flames in response to the threatening aura emanating from Demian.

That was the remnant of Erebus.

Seeing that, Demian curled his lips.

"It seems you're making a last desperate struggle… What a pity?"

Demian struck down the hammer.

"I'm tired of fighting you, you know."

Kwagagagagagang-!

***

"What?"

Kyle's expression turned grim.

"We're going to Reisar."

At Lissinas's words, Kyle spoke.

"Hey, Lissinas. Reisar is…"

"I know. That it's a den of traitors. And I also know that something fishy is going on there."

"……."

"Erebus might be summoned there soon."

"What?"

Kyle, now serious, said,

"Damn it. I need to tell Argon…"

"Kyle."

Lissinas said resolutely.

"We won't abandon Reisar."

"……."

"I told you. We're going to save the world."

Lissinas gave a bitter smile.

"You don't have to carry it alone anymore, Kyle."

"……."

Kyle closed his eyes.

"What are our chances?"

"We have them. We're not trying to defeat Erebus, but to stop him. The children from the future will help. We're not alone."

"I see."

Kyle nodded.

Then, he sighed and slumped onto the chair.

Kyle, closing his eyes and tilting his head back, said,

"Lissinas."

"Why?"

"Thank you. For reaching out to me back then."

Surprised by the sudden words, Lissinas's eyes widened.

Then, he gritted his teeth.

"Kyle."

"Why?"

"Back then… do you remember the promise we made?"

"Promise?"

"Yes. The promise that I wouldn't leave you alone anymore."

"Did we make a promise like that?"

Kyle replied indifferently.

At his curt response, Lissinas burst into laughter unintentionally.

He could see that Kyle knew it, but was pretending not to.

"You know… what if I break that promise?"

"……."

"You'd hate me, wouldn't you?"

At those words, Kyle opened his eyes and looked at Lissinas.

After a moment of silence, Kyle spoke.

"No."

"……."

"I would never resent you."

Although the sudden question might have seemed strange, Kyle didn't ask why.

Lissinas knew this was Kyle's consideration.

"Kyle, you know."

After the era of calamity ended.

Neither he nor Kyle would live to see it.

In that case…

'Isn't it okay to convey this feeling?'

Lissinas was a saintly person, but not without his desires.

He had dreamed of living with Kyle in an era of peace.

Until then, he had not intended to confess his feelings.

He knew that if either of them met misfortune, it would return as a greater wound.

But now that he knew the future.

Could he be a little greedy?

'Isn't it okay to convey my feelings?'

Of course, he had hinted at it many times, but the fool before him hadn't understood.

While he was glad, he also felt resentful.

'Yes. I'll convey them.'

But now, there was no need to hide his feelings.

"Why?"

"That I… you…"

*Bang*!

"Ugh! Luna-nim! Welcome back!"

The door burst open and Luna entered.

Luna, who had a triumphant expression, spotted Kyle and perked up her ears before running towards him.

"Kyle!"

Smiling brightly, Luna quickly climbed onto Kyle's lap.

"You're heavy, get off."

"Don't be dramatic."

"Why are you clinging to me like this all of a sudden!"

Kyle pushed Luna away.

But Luna just smiled and hugged Kyle's neck.

Seeing this, Lissinas stood up and pulled Luna off.

"What are you doing?"

When Luna glared at him, Lissinas smiled faintly.

"That's what I'd like to ask you?"

An unusual atmosphere flowed between the two.

Seeing that, Kyle thought.

'Whatever it is, I'll probably get caught up in it and won't end up well.'

It would be best to leave.

Just as Kyle, judging this, was about to slip away to his room.

"Heh."

Luna suddenly smiled smugly.

At that attitude, Lissinas's eyes twitched.

"Yes. Yes. I, with my magnanimous heart, should understand it all."

Lissinas frowned at Luna, who was puffing out her chest.

"Understand what?"

"I mean, I can understand you lurking in the shadows, hiding your emotions."

"I've never hidden my emotions."

"Oh my. A lie."

"It's just that this idiot couldn't figure it out."

"You hid it from me!"

Luna had confided her feelings for Kyle to Lissinas many times.

That's why her sense of betrayal was great.

"That's…"

"But I've decided to understand."

Luna smiled faintly and poked Lissinas's chest with her finger.

"My heart is wider than yours."

Lissinas's eyes trembled.

Then he smiled coldly.

"It's just that you're too foolish to notice."

"What! Fool?!"

Luna hated being called a fool.

She was, after all, a peerless archmage, a rare elf who was far from the word "fool."

Having never been called a fool, she had almost no immunity to the word.

Of course, if anyone else had said this to her, she would have dismissed it as a cheap provocation.

But if the opponent was Lissinas, it was a different story.

She was genuinely offended because he treated her like a fool.

Seeing Luna's eyes flare up, Lissinas said,

"Yes. Foolish elf."

"Grrr! Take that back! You sneaky lizard!"

Luna, provoked, lunged at Lissinas.

"You hid it because it was a cliff, right?! Afraid of being rejected!"

"Shut up! Stop saying vulgar things!"

Watching the two clinging to each other and fighting fiercely, Kyle decided to leave.

As he opened the door to sneak out of the room.

Leo, standing at the door, said,

"Lissinas-nim, Luna-nim. Kyle-nim is running away."

"Where do you think you're going? Thinking about it, it's your fault in the first place!"

"You damn human! Come here!"

"What did I do wrong!"

Kyle, grabbed by the two and dragged back into the room, shouted.

Leo closed the door without hesitation.

Lunnia said,

"Aren't you going to stop them?"

"I can't."

In the first place, Leo had expected this reaction between Luna and Lissinas.

Leo replied firmly,

"They'll calm down after a while. We can talk then."

At those words, Elena said,

"But your past self will be in trouble with Lissinas-nim and Luna-nim during that time?"

"It's better than what I'm going through now."

Leo replied shamelessly.

"You. If Lissinas-nim and Luna-nim find out the truth, you won't be safe."

"As long as they don't find out."

Seeing Leo smile faintly, Elena thought.

'He's so annoying. Should I just snitch?'

"Elena. If you tell them, you know, right?"

Leo said immediately, as if he had read Elena's mind, and Elena clicked her tongue.

***

"Something has happened in Reisar?"

The eyes of the Death King, Hell Kaiser, twitched.

His subordinate, Archduke of Perpetual Mourning Artkhhan, bowed his head.

"Yes. It is said that the lord of Reisar and his followers are being attacked by unknown entities. Furthermore, there has been an incident with the summoning circle."

"Hmm… Is it Guardsron?"

Hell Kaiser's expression showed annoyance.

"It must be. But even if they found out, it's too late."

At those words, the Death King stood up.

"Yes. A fire that has already started cannot be extinguished."

The Death King's crimson eyes gleamed.

"Summon the legion commanders."

A wicked smile spread across the Death King's lips.

"From now on, we will bring down the flames of the great disaster upon Reisar."