Chapter: 195
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BAM, KWAANG*. It was a feeling as if the shock was penetrating through the skull, even after being reinforced with all the power of mana.
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Alexander barely swallowed the blood boiling inside him as he reached out with trembling vision.
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“Still…” he muttered, grasping the mana. He quickly finished the incantation as if breathing.
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– Hooook, KWAANG!!
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With that, he swung his fist and buried it into Ivan’s abdomen. KWAANG, with a loud explosion, Ivan’s body jolted up.
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However.
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– KWAJIK!
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Before the explosion’s aftermath could settle, Ivan’s grasp moved again, slamming his head onto the deck.
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“Don’t you realize that the structure of this world is wrong!! I have seen and heard of your world!! Colonel Petrovich, were you not also from that world!!”
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– KWAANG!!
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There was no response. Alexander spat out blood and shouted.
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“Even with the deaths of hundreds of thousands, history must move in the right direction!! It is not right for a small number of strong to oppress the majority of the people—!!”
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– KWAANG—!!
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Once more, with another strike, Alexander’s vision turned dark. His survival instinct barely managed to keep his head attached.
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“The gods’ interference was even agreed by Veolgrin! Now that it’s the era of man, the light of this world must shine for the absolute majority—!!”
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– KWAANG!!
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Ivan still did not answer. Like a machine, he simply gripped Alexander’s head, smashing it against the ground. The fact that Alexander was even able to endure was a testament to his training.
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Under the tremendous impact that could crush even decent steel armor, Alexander clenched his jaw and broke the incantation with both hands.
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– KWA-AAANG—!!
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Ivan’s body jolted once more. This shock seemed to push him back a few steps, as if even he couldn’t shake it off.
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Finally freed from Ivan’s clutches, Alexander stumbled from the shock and gripped his sword again.
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It felt like his brain was shaking. In reality, his sense of balance was completely off. Clenching his teeth, he held the sword tightly and spoke.
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“…I will show you how to return. I will tell you how to get back to your homeland, Ivan Petrovich. Don’t you miss your home? You must have family and friends as well.”
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“…”
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Ivan was checking his physical state without answering. The killing intent surrounding him still loomed heavily, leaving the frozen crew around them unable to move a step.
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“This is not your world. Your devotion is misguided. Leave the affairs of this world to its people, and you must return to yours.”
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With a thud, Ivan lightly loosened his grip. Watching that, Alexander fell silent. He had no will to converse. It would even be better to persuade a golem than this.
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He was the one who returned alive from a battlefield where he believed he would never return. Now he stood here in a state of perfect health when it was thought he would definitely have died this time.
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From the start, he should have left no aftermath.
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Alexander reached out toward the charging Ivan and lightly flicked his fingertips.
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“Neither the Demon King, nor the Heroes, nor you should exist in this world. The life of a caged being, born for the amusement of the gods, has come to an end, and our world needs no new gods to rule!!”
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The world that was being played with for the amusement of divine beings must come to an end.
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At this point, as the end seems visible, the structure of society, where a small number of strong rule over the vast majority, must also crumble.
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At this moment, when the general population has hit rock bottom due to the great war with the demon kind, individual rights have risen higher than any point in history.
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Through yet another war, society must be restructured to build a state governed by the people—.
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“You should have understood! The world you have lived in was my ideal! A world without transcendent beings… a world where the power and ability of individuals can earn their own honor and position….”
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A long time ago, before the war with the demon kind arose, the young Alexander, the Crown Prince, read the memoirs of a certain individual that was deemed forbidden by the church.
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He gained information about the ‘other world’ at that time. He received confirmation through direct conversation with Maximilian. Exploring ancient ruins, interpreting the artifacts of the lost Age of Myths, he acquired knowledge.
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This world is wrong.
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It is a cage made for the amusement of the gods.
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However, even if the influence of the gods is eliminated, what about the existence of mana?
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Mana is an omnipotent substance that can make individuals into superhumans. As people bloom their mana, they can stand against thousands of their own kin alone.
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As long as such asymmetric power is in the hands of individuals, the very structure of nation-states would crumble like a castle built on sand.
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The appearance of the Demon King united the demon kind. They glorified power, so it would have been relatively easy.
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But what if Maximilian, that great man, had been more cunning and selfish? What form would the world have taken?
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A society that must rely on the mercy and morality of transcendent individuals is malformed.
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Thus, no one should stand over another. Alexander sincerely believed that, acted for it, and finally stood here.
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“The war against the demon kind, all those who have sacrificed because of it… yes, precious sacrifices. But that was the sacrifice for the future of hundreds of millions… for the thousands of millions of children that will be born! Ivan Petrovich, if you lived in such a world, you must surely understand me!”
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Ivan did not stop. In an instant, he leaped and reached for Alexander, who was preparing a spell.
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“If not, do you have a better alternative? I want to reshape this world to be better—!!”
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Alexander did not stop speaking and reached out. The spell was completed, and a violet flash appeared before Ivan’s eyes.
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It was the spell he was most confident in. Illusion. A mind sorcery delicately crafted enough to affect even an Elf.
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Even a member of the Hero Party could have their eyes deceived by this level of skill.
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“…”
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As soon as he recognized the illusion, Ivan halted on the deck.
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And soon.
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– Tch.
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He clicked his tongue.
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– Tch, tch.
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With his eyes closed, he turned his head toward Alexander.
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“Shasha liked chocolate cake.”
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“…What?”
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“Polina started saving money to gift silk hangers to her fiancé, and Nikolai liked the scent of musk perfume. Anna often knitted socks for her daughter.”
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Tch, tch. Clicking his tongue, Ivan moved toward Alexander.
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With his eyes closed, showing the illusions of various monsters, engulfed in flames, laying darkness in front of him, deceived by the terrains of cliffs and mazes.
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Even utilising tangible pain in his illusions, if cut by a knife within, the pain would be replicated, and if burned, the searing agony would follow.
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In the meticulously distorted view of both sight and touch, Ivan walked precisely toward Alexander as if measuring steps.
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“Chernobika liked roses.”
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Before long, Ivan reached out and grabbed Alexander by the collar.
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The illusion magic that could deceive even a Hero Party.
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Having received the best education in the nation, learned magic from the most brilliant scholars, and gained experiences through diversions in the world.
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Thus, even a Hero Party could be fooled by such mind sorcery.
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Ivan slowly opened his closed eyes. Countless illusions swayed, hostile environments rushed from all directions, and he couldn’t even gauge the flying black figures between reality and illusion.
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The burning flames felt like they genuinely burned his skin, and the sensations of being cut and stabbed were not different from reality.
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Immediately beneath his feet lay an abyss, and the empty sky loomed where his grasp held nothing.
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But.
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In the demon realm, which had turned into a magical landscape, the king of the Seven Dragon Lords. In that environment, the man who had to be forward as a scout for the Hero Party could be assured to be superior in at least one skill.
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Walking toward a goal. No matter what the environment, finding a path precisely.
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That alone was his unique role that the Hero Party could not achieve.
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“…Spare me. I cannot die like this. I have become the last chance left in this world….”
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“I remember everyone I killed, however.”
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Ivan’s blue eyes stared emptily into the void.
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“However, you. I will not remember you.”
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Edel said that every mortal will die one day, but their memories will remain, and in them, even the dead shall live on eternally.
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Ivan had no intention of conceding more time to this man than today.
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The incessant grudge, the age-old vengeance, the mourning for those who have left, and the nightmares that haunt him every night.
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Towards all those things, at last.
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The man of Krasilov silently reached out.
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Somewhere in the empty void, a hand came to a stop. The rough, trembling hand struggled to loosen his grip.
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Ignoring it, he moved his hand.
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With all his strength, he squeezed the hold he had.
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“Ugh, Hrrgh,” a small sound echoed.
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“NO! STOP!! Not like this…!!”
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The suppressed groans and screams pierced his ears.
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In the distorted view of the illusions, vague silhouettes appeared.
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The faces of those who had left, the dead comrades gazed at him, just as they had every night, looking through the dark window.
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Silently, the dim forms stared at him.
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“Ivan Petrovich!! You shall not return to your homeland! You, the intruder from another world. You shall ruin this world!! Even if I die, my work will never be finished, I—!!”
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Ugh, crack.
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The sound of dry shattering echoed from within his grip. He felt the strength withdrawing from his hand that had been striking his forearm.
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The illusion was shattering.
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The faces of his comrades looking at him cracked and slowly began to crumble.
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In the empty void, the figure of a man slowly appeared. Ivan did not loosen the grip he held but squeezed down harder.
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– Ugh.
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Finally.
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Wet and drenching hands shook off the gooey fragments from between his fingers.
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Ivan looked at his comrades with an emotionless face.
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“Is that… Yere, Yermov?”
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“Elpheira, check for any mana response from this corpse. We must confirm if there are remnants of revival, transference, or illusions.”
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Leaving behind a hazard is a foolish act.
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“Dmitri.”
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“Yes, sir.”
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“Cut off the wrist of that one. We’re returning to the homeland.”
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“Yes, sir.”
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Revenge is meaningless, but Alexander’s death itself would help to solidify the legitimacy of the Krasilov throne.
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“Oswald.”
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“Yes, Ivan.”
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“I must remain here to be the eyes of the Council. Whatever actions the Elf Council takes in the future, we must know first.”
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“Yes….”
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With the queen dead and the milestone gone, the elves are no different from ticking time bombs. It’s uncertain where they might explode, and predicting their repercussions is quite burdensome.
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Since Alexander was hiding behind the Elf Council, the future actions of the Council cannot be anticipated.
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“Rundis.”
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“Yes… sir.”
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“Contact the homeland. A level of anti-aircraft artillery capable of sinking aerial battleships must be completed. Krasilov will provide support, so preparations must be flawless.”
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“Yes.”
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Assuming that all the elves turn against their nation, significant effort will be needed to arm Tylesse.
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And finally.
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“Lucia.”
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“Yes, Your Excellency.”
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“Do you remember what I told you before we depart?”
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“…What?”
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“I told you that you should be able to take my place in my absence. Do you remember?”
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“…Yes, I remember.”
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“Now is the time. Take charge until we return home.”
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With those words, Ivan crumpled down.
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As Lucia rushed over, having been quietly listening, Ivan collapsed into her arms, closing his eyes.
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“He’s exhausted. He must have gone through a lot.”
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Dmitri chuckled softly and nodded.
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“I told you to live long, did you forget?”
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“No.”
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Ivan carefully answered.
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“Instead of just living long, you should have lived well too, Colonel.”
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“And so I have.”
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The grumbling voice lightly scolded him.
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Hearing that voice after so long made him tremble a bit.
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He knew it was a dream, but even if it were a dream, he was glad.
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“Will you promise me one thing?”
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“…Anything.”
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Kim Sunwoo reached out, shaking at empty air a few times.
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Weakly, he dropped his hand, grasping at the ground as he replied.
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“More than living long and well, just one more thing.”
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“Okay… okay.”
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“Live happily.”
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“…I will definitely do that.”
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“For my sake. For our sake. A hundred times… no, a thousand times.”
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“Chernobika.”
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Kim Sunwoo waited for a moment. There was no instance where that same voice called out again. He decided to wait a little longer.
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Even as a long time passed again, no voice called to him.
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Left alone in a dark place, gripping the dirt floor tightly while sobbing,
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Kim Sunwoo answered with a cracked voice.
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“I will. Definitely… and, just one more thing. I promise to do one more thing for your request.”
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No matter what happens. No matter the moment.
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Even if I slaughter all the Seven Dragon Lords in this world, and finally like Maximilian. Even if I find myself unable to control due to the circumstances and must isolate myself.
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Even so, regardless. Even in that moment. Without fail.
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“I will remember.”
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All of you.
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No mortal can live forever.
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But yes, in memories. We will be together forever.
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“Without fail.”
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Kim Sunwoo stood up and wiped his disheveled face.
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Ivan Petrovich quietly opened his eyes.
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“Without fail.”
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Ep31. I remember.
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