I feel like the overwhelming aura of the magic is going to crush my shoulders.
However, regardless of the immense presence I sense, I haven’t finished growing yet, just like back in the day.
As anxiety starts to creep into Lucius’s mind…
He clenches his teeth tightly.
“I need to pull myself together.”
If he collapses here, who knows what could happen to Cheon Ha-rang and Cheon Mu-myeong?
Of course, having experienced even a fragment of Cheon Ha-rang’s might makes Lucius wonder, “What if?”
But he soon shakes his head.
The Demon King is an endlessly born existence due to a single ‘concept.’
The only ones who could seal him are those who carry the ‘will,’ like Cheon Ha-rang or Camilla.
For example, the Hero and the Saint.
In the past, people sacrificed countless lives because they didn’t know this fact…
As Lucius rummaged through his memories, he shook his head roughly.
“There’s no time for that kind of thinking right now.”
It’s more important to hurry and arrive.
Lucius hastened his steps.
Then, a scene unfolded before Lucius’s eyes.
It was undoubtedly a landscape that made one believe the Demon King had returned.
The ground that had been flat was now deeply cratered, resembling a cliff.
The wind that brushed against Lucius’s cheek was so strong that it was hard to believe this was ‘the end of the world.’
“…What the.”
Lucius’s pupils began to tremble as if an earthquake had struck.
While he blankly observed the surrounding scenery, he faintly spotted two figures.
Cheon Ha-rang and Cheon Mu-myeong.
Lucius let out a small sigh of relief.
“At least it’s not too late.”
He checked their condition roughly; though there were blade marks on their clothes, it didn’t seem like they had been in a major fight.
The magic presence that had been felt had also suddenly vanished.
It might be overly optimistic, but perhaps they had managed to fend it off.
Just as Lucius breathed a sigh of relief, Elia’s voice filled with suspicion reached his ears.
“Lucius?”
“Yes, Saint.”
With some tension eased, Lucius slightly curled his lips and opened his mouth, but the words from Elia were enough to give him tension again.
“I think there’s a sheath nearby that Camilla mentioned…?”
“…A sheath, you say?”
No matter how much Lucius trusted Elia, that was nonsense.
With narrowed eyes, Lucius gazed beyond the thick fog at its center.
What was there could indeed be something Elia might mistake for a sheath.
“…How did that get here…?”
However, that was not a sheath.
Instead, it was something Lucius was all too familiar with, unlike anything called a sheath.
The weapon used by ‘that guy.’
The ultimate weapon that had melted down several magical items and had been reforged.
Lucius’s brow furrowed deeply.
Brilliant light, unlike anything he had seen before, was radiating from his body, and within it, there was also a red killing intent.
*
With narrowed eyes, he stared at the floating staff in the air.
…What on earth is that?
It dares to restore itself after being struck by the sword I created solely for the purpose of destruction; space warped upon contact with Nameless, and strange fragments were left in the Disciple’s body.
Everything was incomprehensible.
As he pondered what to do about the staff, Nameless took hold of my shoulder with a solemn expression.
“Master.”
“Yeah, I know.”
With a slight wave of my arm to dismiss him, I sighed heavily.
Thanks to the Heaven-splitting act, the sensations I caught sharply detected the presences of Lucius and Elia, approaching at an unprecedented speed.
I had no doubt this was my fault.
My head throbbed.
…How am I supposed to explain this again? I already have a headache with the issue of the staff.
At least it’s good to know that it’s a staff and not a sheath.
What if they felt a suspicious energy and I failed to destroy it? How would I explain that?
Well, if things go south, I can just run away.
I nodded lightly.
Just in case, I kept my internal powers dormant.
I didn’t pour everything out, but it was still one of the powers I wanted to keep hidden.
Also, it’s a technique to cut through the heavens, to slay a god.
There was nothing good about getting caught by the Hero and the Saint who follow that god.
I let out a deep sigh.
Still… I could ask the Saint about the fragments embedded in Nameless’s body.
“That one thing is good.”
“Pardon?”
“It’s nothing.”
After briefly chatting with Nameless to kill time…
Suddenly, a loud male voice echoed from afar.
“Are you alright!”
Of course, the identity of that voice was Lucius.
Wanting to answer, I waved my hand vigorously.
“Everything’s fine!”
I could see the small face of Lucius visibly relieved.
Hmm, seems he genuinely thought it was a serious crisis.
I felt a tinge of guilt for making him worry, but I tilted my head instead.
…Why are they coming this way like that?
Elia was clinging to Lucius’s shoulder, swaying back and forth.
Her complexion was pale, almost looking like she might vomit…
Oh no… is she about to throw up?
Mine was turning pale as well.
“Wait! Lucius! Come slowly! Elia! Elia is—!”
At my shout, Lucius cocked his head in confusion.
“What do you mean! Huh?!”
Upon checking Elia’s complexion, he immediately stopped in his tracks.
…They call themselves the Hero and the Saint? The future of this world is truly dark.
Once Lucius safely arrived at our side, he gently placed Elia on the ground and approached with a serious expression.
“Cheon Ha-rang.”
“…You’ve come?”
His narrowed eyes seemed to convey a desire for some explanation or at least an urge to clarify the situation.
I fumbled my lips.
…I hadn’t really thought about how to respond yet.
Of course, I had a few thoughts in mind, but I hadn’t settled on anything.
As I pondered how to convey my ideas…
Lucius nodded knowingly, opening his mouth.
“Are you alright?”
“Uh, well, I guess.”
I averted my gaze slightly at Lucius’s seemingly sincere concern.
…Should I say it?
Honestly, if it were the shards lodged in my heart instead of Nameless’s, I could have dealt with it alone.
But since this could affect Nameless’s life, I guess I need to say something.
After hesitating just a bit, I glanced at Nameless to ensure he wouldn’t hear.
I caught a look of bewilderment on Nameless’s face.
…I’m a bit reluctant to tell him.
What parent would want to say to their child, “You might be gravely ill”?
Of course, I wasn’t a parent, but I was in a somewhat similar position, right?
That’s how horrifying this feeling was.
I hesitated, finally opening my mouth.
“…Nameless’s body might… not be alright.”
“…Is that so?”
Though I hadn’t directly stated the main point yet, the atmosphere around Lucius darkened at my words.
It seemed he had something in mind.
I couldn’t say it was similar to my concern, but it wasn’t terribly surprising either.
I continued to try to keep a positive spin on the situation.
“Um, do you see the staff at the center?”
I pointed a finger toward the staff floating in the air.
Lucius followed my finger, stopping at the point I indicated and nodded.
“…Yes.”
For some reason, I sensed a hint of loathing in his voice, but I didn’t think too much of it.
For me, Nameless’s condition was a priority.
“Since Nameless made contact with that thing, he seems to be cursed with shards embedded in his heart…”
“…Nameless did?”
Lucius’s mouth dropped open in shock.
“Did he already come into contact with that?!”
“Huh? Isn’t that so?”
With a forlorn expression, Lucius bit his lip and then, without a word, began to slowly approach the ground where the staff lay, the center of the crater.
Watching him, a sense of unease and impatience flickered across Nameless’s face.
Nameless came close and gently tapped my shoulder.
“Master, shouldn’t we stop him?”
“What does it matter now?”
But I couldn’t help but feel relieved.
To be honest, that wasn’t the sheath we were looking for, and this kind of behavior from Lucius might lead to a positive direction in healing Nameless’s body, right?
In other words, it was better than nothing.
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