Book 1 Chapter 965
965.
The white wolf roars.
Golden aura erupted from the Brave held by Arion.
Arion, whose golden eyes gleamed, pursued the Lich King.
In Arion's golden eyes, two timelines appeared to overlap.
The first was the present.
The second was the future.
Whoosh-!
Arion, moving at an imperceptible speed, swung his sword.
A golden light traced a path through the air.
Kwa-ga-ga-ga-ga-gang-!
The Lich King's reviving body was destroyed again.
The Lich King, who had barely managed to protect his essence, wore an astonished expression.
'He sees the future?!'
It was impossible.
Even Erebus, who possessed countless powers, found it impossible.
Even if it wasn't the distant future, just frequently seeing the short-term future was enough to send shivers down one's spine.
Literally the realm of gods.
No, it was a realm far surpassing gods.
“This beast dares to……!”
Wham-!
Before he could even finish his sentence, Hell Kaiser’s face was once again split in half by a golden flash.
Whoosh-!
Arion once again pushed off the ground, pursuing Hell Kaiser.
A clear future was visible.
‘What exactly is courage?’
Arion, weaving through demons and monsters, voiced his question.
He had wondered for a long time.
What courage truly was.
Why his friends told him he possessed great courage, even though he was always terrified.
At crucial moments.
Perhaps it was because he could be brave.
‘If so, why was I able to do that?’
The strange courage that arose when there was nowhere to run.
Why couldn't he always be like that?
He pondered it, but there was only one conclusion.
‘Because I'm a coward.’
Arion was afraid of many things.
But after facing death.
He was freed from those countless fears.
In his final journey, he was the first to entrust his burdens to his friends and close his eyes.
Afterward, countless ages passed, and with Leo's help, he was able to see glimpses of the future.
And he also gained the fortune of encountering an opportunity to overcome his past wounds.
Arion had nothing more to lose, but.
Arion was still a coward.
‘Perhaps… it's because I saw the future.’
A blue sky he had never seen in his lifetime.
The dazzling sun.
The moon shining beautifully in the night sky.
And even the captivating starlight.
The future was radiant with countless landscapes Arion had never witnessed.
So much so that he felt it was unfair countless times not to be able to enjoy such things.
But even before that, he felt a fear that this beautiful world might be lost.
It was a future he couldn't enjoy himself, but… he feared that those who would live in that future might have it taken away.
‘I am a coward.’
Wham-!
Demons and monsters fell and bled in Arion's wake.
There was no hesitation in his sword.
His appearance, single-handedly shaking the battlefield, was almost godlike in combat.
‘But I am also a hero.’
Burdened, people in the future called him a hero.
Even though he felt he didn't deserve to be called that.
At the final moment.
He sacrificed himself to save his comrades, but.
Wasn't that also ultimately the result of him running away?
‘But… I can't just hang my head.’
The burdensome title of 'hero'.
Even the phrase 'a symbol of courage that doesn't suit him'.
He had to bear it all.
‘Because Kyle is still fighting.’
For his friend who was still fighting alone, Arion decided to try and find courage.
Arion still didn't know what courage was.
But he knew what he had to do.
In a future he could not live in.
Arion, reborn as a true hero, stopped his charge.
Before him stood the terrified Lich King.
The source of fear comes from the unknown.
And the current Hell Kaiser could not possibly comprehend the beastman before him.
Going back in time.
The present Hell Kaiser had no way of understanding a hero completed in the distant future.
“You…… what exactly are you?”
Arion grinned at Hell Kaiser's question.
“A hero.”
Flash!
A golden sword strike plunged into the crown of Hell Kaiser's head.
Overwhelmed by Arion's power, which far surpassed all expectations, Hell Kaiser in the hero's world met his demise.
“How does it feel? To face death?”
To Arion's taunting question, Hell Kaiser thought in his fading consciousness.
‘This guy, why does his wagging tongue sound so much like the surviving hero?’
***
“My goodness……”
Licinas covered her mouth.
Her gaze was fixed on Arion, who was striking down Hell Kaiser.
‘Is that… Arion?’
The terrified appearance he always had was nowhere to be seen.
Arion, reborn as a complete hero, was the ideal hero personified.
Kyle also widened his eyes at the sight.
In Agon's case, the hand holding his sword trembled.
‘Arion…….’
Agon smiled faintly, looking at his disciple who had reached a realm he couldn't fathom.
‘You've really… grown so much.’
The moment he thought that.
Thud-!
Azonia landed atop the city wall.
“Master… ah. Lord Agon.”
Azonia smiled awkwardly and looked at Agon.
“……”
Agon, looking at Azonia whose brown hair had somehow turned golden, murmured.
“Yes. It was you… Azonia.”
“Huh?”
Azonia wore a bewildered expression.
“Many times… many times you came to save me and the children. Yes… that's how it was.”
At that reaction, Azonia's eyes widened.
Damian, who was being carried on Azonia's back, also showed a surprised expression.
Just then.
Thud-!
Leo, carrying Luna and Dweno on his shoulders, landed beside Azonia.
“Phew.”
“Kyle! Is it really okay to leave Arion alone?”
Leo answered Luna’s question.
“Yes. He's mentally complete right now.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means he also remembers the future. So you don't have to worry. He'll come back calmly.”
Leo, who knew Arion's ability to see the future, reassured Luna.
“I see. So you were the surviving hero?”
Agon nodded, looking at Leo.
At those words, Leo looked at Agon with a slightly surprised expression.
“You also came with Ar.”
“Lord Agon, your memory…?”
“Yes. It's returned. How fascinating.”
Agon murmured, looking down at his hand.
In the memories that resurfaced, Agon and the orphanage were saved.
Of course, he knew it was a lie.
Something akin to a dream.
But…
“Thank you.”
“……”
Even if this was a lie.
This emotion, at least, was real.
“Thanks to you… I was saved.”
“……”
To Agon's gratitude, Leo said.
“I think you can express your gratitude once everything is over.”
Leo looked at Erebus, who was letting out a roar.
Gwoooooooh-!
Ku-gu-gu-gu-gu-gung-!
The ground cracked, and black magma surged upwards.
Seeing that, Leo opened his mouth.
“Azonia, Damian.”
“Yes, Lord Leo.”
“Can you two, along with Lord Agon, hold back the demons of Tartarus?”
Arion had dealt with the Lich King.
Furthermore, Erebus wasn't even summoned in a complete state.
But even so, the current situation wasn't good.
Still, an enormous number of demons and magic beasts were aiming for Raisar's city walls.
Moreover, even if the ritual wasn't fully summoned and he couldn't use his full powers, their opponent was Erebus.
If they made a single mistake, they could be defeated in an instant.
Damian replied to Leo's words.
“Lord Kyle. Don't ask if we can hold them back; just tell us to hold them back.”
Thump-!
Damian plunged the blade of the axe he was holding into the city wall.
“We will hold them until the Great Heroes subjugate that damned guy and return.”
His manner of speaking, revealing his determination, was like a painting.
“It would have been good if there was a canvas.”
Dweno grumbled, stroking his beard.
“Wow! He's really dependable! You said he was like Dweno's direct junior, right? Do I not have any juniors?”
When Luna asked with sparkling eyes, Leo answered instead.
“You do.”
“What? Really, what kind of kid is it? Have you met them?”
As Luna's eyes rounded, Leo nodded.
“Someone exactly like you.”
“Like me?”
“Yeah.”
“Hmph. Must be a really smart and pretty kid then.”
“From what I see, it sounds like an insult?”
“Pfft!”
“Heh!”
Azonia and Damian burst into laughter without realizing it.
Luna glared at the two of them.
Just then, Licinas and Kyle approached the wall section.
“Ah! Licinas! Mission complete…”
Luna smiled brightly and waved her hand.
But Licinas didn't answer; instead, she ran straight up and drop-kicked Leo in the solar plexus.
Then she climbed onto the fallen Leo, grabbed him by the collar, and shook him violently.
“This damned human is making a fool of me?”
Dweno said, looking at the fiercely growling Licinas.
“Woah, woah. Calm down, Licinas. You'll really kill him if you keep that up.”
Dweno pulled Licinas back, calming her down.
Luna squatted beside Leo, smiling sweetly as she looked down at his face.
“What is it?”
“Surely I'm better than that violent dragon, right?”
“You and Licinas are both the same.”
Just as Luna was about to retort to that remark.
“The future seems quite peaceful, I guess.”
Kyle said, a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
“Seeing how spaced out you are. So much so that I can't believe it's me.”
At Kyle's murmur, Luna's eyes rounded.
“Kyle. This isn't spaced out; it's mellowed out. Look, you try to relax your eyes like your future self. You'd look much better, you know?”
“You're telling me to make such a foolish expression?”
Kyle let out a small laugh.
Leo, who had been watching them, brushed off the dust and stood up.
Then, looking at Licinas, Luna, and Dweno, he showed a truly apologetic expression.
“I'm sorry.”
“What?”
“Seeing myself from a third-person perspective, I realize you all must have gone through a lot. Even I find myself insufferable.”
“You've grown up, haven't you.”
“Ahahahahaha!”
Dweno expressed admiration, and Luna clutched her stomach, laughing wildly.
“Licinas. Tell this guy something.”
At Kyle's words, Licinas made a sullen face, then soon took Leo's hand.
And then, with a slightly softened expression, she said.
“It's enough that you know.”
Kyle scrunched up his face.
Just then.
Whoosh-!
Arion returned with a golden flash.
“Guys! I'm back!”
“Arion, are you hurt anywhere?”
Licinas checked Arion all over.
She worried if Arion, who had returned alone from the perilous front, had any injuries.
“Yeah, I'm fine, Licinas. What do we do now?”
Arion, who answered with a clear smile, asked Licinas.
At that, Licinas glanced at Leo.
“Why are you looking at me?”
“You know the future.”
“Even if I know the future, this is something I don't know, so I don't have the answer either.”
Leo said, looking at Erebus.
“Isn't finding the answer the leader's role?”
“……”
At those words, Licinas looked at Erebus.
“Arion on the front line. Dweno and Kyle, cover Arion. Luna and I in the center. The rearguard… Leo, you take care of it. Let's subjugate him.”
Everyone nodded at Licinas's words as she formed the battle formation.
As everyone prepared to fight against Erebus.
Swoosh-
Leo held out a sword to Kyle.
“What is it?”
“It'll be useful to you right now.”
What Leo handed over was none other than Posteritas.
Kyle took the sword offered by his future self with a puzzled expression.
And then his eyes widened.
“This is…?”
“It's our dedicated sword, made by Dweno.”
“Don't you need it?”
“Me? Well.”
Leo chuckled.
“Because I've suffered far more than you. I don't need it as desperately as you do.”
“…You're certainly insufferable.”
At that remark, Leo snickered.
Then he pulled something out of subspace.
“Do you still have that in the future?”
A tattered, old, jet-black cloak.
“Yes.”
Flutter-!
Leo draped the cloak around himself.
The cloak fluttering in the wind caught Licinas's and Luna's attention.
“When I wear this, I somehow feel at ease.”
Leo looked at Licinas and Luna.
“Because I can feel their thoughts.”
A cloak they had made, wishing that he wouldn't get hurt anymore.
He didn't know it then, but now, just that sentiment made him grateful.
As Leo smiled faintly, looking at them, Luna murmured blankly.
“Licinas.”
“Why?”
“Why did he get so cool? Don't you think he'll be charming a lot of women in the future?”
“…He was cool from the start.”
“You're smitten.”
“Hmph.”
“Anyway, it bothers me that he'll probably charm a lot of women one way or another.”
“……”
Licinas didn't answer.
Luna also said nothing more.
It was because she felt a lump in her throat from that affectionate gaze directed at them.
Just then.
“Sentiments? Snap out of it. You seem to have forgotten over time, but did you forget how much they nagged you even if it was just slightly torn?”
Kyle said, scrunching up his face.
At those words, Licinas and Luna felt their mood plummet instantly.
“……”
Leo, who had been looking at them, said to Licinas and Luna.
“Sorry.”
“What? Why are you apologizing? Did I say something wrong?”
“Truly sorry.”
Leo, completely ignoring his grumbling past self next to him, spoke with sincerity.
Seeing that, Dweno said.
“Arion.”
“Why?”
“You should no longer resemble that idiot.”
“Why?”
“When an adult tells you not to resemble someone, you answer 'Yes, sir.'”
“Dweno. You sound like an old fuddy-duddy.”
“…That damned guy has utterly ruined the kid, after all.”
Dweno lamented, looking up at the sky.