*
Am I seeing things?
Drake had one thought that kept circling in his mind.
“Are you alright, Master?”
Several black knights were pointing their swords at the omnipotent Demon King.
Just a moment ago, the tide of battle had clearly been in the opponent’s favor.
But suddenly, other-worldly versions of Lee Soo-hyun appeared and cleaved one side of the black cloud’s shoulder in half.
“Yeah, still kicking!”
“That’s a relief for everyone.”
In truth, they were all completely exhausted without even having the strength to lift a finger.
Drake smiled, trying to act fine even while receiving healing from Schartines.
“To toy with me—this is quite an impressive illusion.”
Black Cloud clutched his shoulder wound and surveyed the men wearing black helmets.
They all bore severe burns on their faces and wielded different swords.
“While I commend you for reaching the realm of the Mind Sword, the presence of multiple swords means you’re likely just an illusion.”
He firmly believed he had been deceived by an illusionary formation.
The Mind Sword was the manifestation of one’s will within.
He had never heard of someone creating more than one.
What Black Cloud was using had been a transformation from one.
It must all be fake if he could control so many Mind Swords.
“An illusion? Do you see this as fake?”
“…What?”
With those words, the black knights approached once more.
Using the surroundings as stepping stones, they soared into the sky.
Root-like appendages and branches reached out to catch them.
It contained the essence of spring from a wooden sword inscribed with “Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter.”
──KAAANG!
The black knights continued to slash at the blossoming cherry trees.
“I should have thought your ability to wield swords would have been nullified by the power of incompetence…”
Black Cloud spoke as he met blades with Lee Soo-hyun from another world.
Normally, he should have weakened due to the power of incompetence that erases talent.
“I’ve never been good with swords, to begin with.”
Did he have more accumulated effort than that Grand Sword Master Drake?
Black Cloud parried the consecutive attacks from the other black knights surrounding him.
“My blood is boiling! It’s been so long since I’ve fought someone this strong!”
“No way! I’ve been hopelessly weak!”
The cherry blossom tree had already shed its blossoms, and fresh leaves sprouted out.
This was the essence of summer in春夏秋冬.
The suffocating heat began to make everything shimmer and melt around them.
“It’s like the flowers are falling, so, One Sword Falling Flower.”
“……?!”
A slicing attack wedged in at that brief moment.
“That’s… the technique of White Lily Master…”
“You know White Lily?”
It was a technique that even Lee Soo-hyun was familiar with.
Pink petals danced as a clean, straight sword path was drawn.
Compared to the techniques of Celestial Demon White Lily, it was different—it involved cherry blossom petals instead of lily leaves.
“Indeed, I’m your father.”
The wooden sword transformed again, this time exhibiting the essence of autumn.
A cutting wind, like cold air, poured out around them in attacks.
“If you want to kill me, show me your true abilities, black knights!”
CHING─!!
Standing his ground while his feet slid back, blood sprayed from cuts on his skin and cheek.
Defending against the sharply penetrating attacks was all he could manage.
If he truly was the father of White Lily, that would make him Mir’s grandfather.
Should he even kill this man? Such thoughts troubled Lee Soo-hyun.
At that moment, someone stepped in front of him.
“No, you’re not the real father of White Lily!”
“Drake. You spoil the fun.”
The Grand Sword Master Drake intervened in the battle.
Still bloodied and gritting his teeth against the pain, he spoke.
“White Lily’s father is a good man!”
He tried to break through the autumn essence with a Void Slash.
As if rebutting Black Cloud’s earlier words, he yelled into the fray.
During the Demon God Wars, he was face-to-face with the Demon King and the Ten Heroes.
“…That is indeed true.”
“Junior! Don’t be fooled by a snake’s tongue like that!”
If he really was White Lily’s father, he would have told others about it by now.
Though some may have remained unchanged across different world lines.
“That Demon King has told Locke that each soul is different, and the real father of White Lily is not that man!”
Others exist whose very essence is completely different.
Drake swung his sword to protect the other Lee Soo-hyun as well.
When the omnipotent Demon King was resurrected, White Lily didn’t show any signs of surprise.
“But in my world, such a thing occurs. I must revive my deceased daughter.”
The father who had desperately tried to save his already dead daughter.
The Black Cloud before him was a different person from White Lily’s true father.
“Would someone like that join a Hero Church to commit murder?”
“I had no choice. I had to prevent the birth of the Grand Sword Master and the Sage.”
Lee Soo-hyun clenched the hilt of his sword and began to pressure Black Cloud once more, as he had done before.
“…….”
To resurrect his daughter on the backs of others’ sacrifices!
Knowing that White Lily had fallen victim to the power of incompetence, he still did not help her.
That person is definitely not a normal father.
If he truly cherished the White Lily present here, he would have helped her.
CLANG─! KAAANG─!
The sound of metal clashing echoed as iron met iron.
It was clear that one sword was made of wood, yet the sound from the Mind Swords was discordant.
“This is tiresome. Must I show the difference in skill before you’ll give up?”
The omnipotent Demon King spoke as he faced the attacks from Drake and the black knights from another world.
“In truth, trees shed their leaves in winter.”
An icy chill emanated, freezing the air around them.
The blizzard-dark landscape seemed to freeze time itself.
“Falling Tree in Cold Weather.”
QUAAAAAANG─!!
A chilling sensation that felt as if her body was breaking apart.
The image of a massive glacier fracturing and raining down upon them loomed.
“…Junior.”
“I understand.”
Recognizing the attack, Lee Soo-hyun and Drake locked eyes and nodded in unison.
The aim of the Grand Sword Master Drake’s swordsmanship was to kill the concept of the opponent.
“Yeah, I figured you would learn it someday.”
“I am your disciple, regardless of what anyone says.”
It was now the moment to pour every ounce of power as a swordsman to kill the opponent.
“UWHAHAHA!! You speak well!”
Master and disciple held their swords in the same stance, preparing to unleash their ultimate techniques.
“I will find the opening with foresight; now charge ahead!”
The sage Azmodius used magic to project the two while guiding them to avoid incoming attacks with his foresight.
The black knights in helmets, wielding various abilities, opened the path.
“This tedious misfortune ends here!!”
Their combined efforts converged.
SWISH──.
Lee Soo-hyun and Drake managed to slice Black Cloud’s neck.
*
“Why, why… can’t I be overtaken by the world line where I lost?!”
The Magic Hat gasped heavily, spewing blood onto the floor.
It seemed he couldn’t comprehend what was happening.
By now, he would think that the world line where all of his comrades had died was supposed to envelop him.
He likely saw only that as the ‘Grand Route’.
“How could you… how could you summon the versions of yourself from other world lines?!”
“Because it’s obvious! My Grand Route is not yet complete.”
But he had finished preparing for that.
[Drake♡Azmodius 100% ‘NEW!’]
The come-to-life message finally appeared before him.
It looked like the omnipotent Demon King Black Cloud had been defeated, thus connecting the two.
At the same time, the dense darkness surrounding them faded away.
A clear blue sky without a dark cloud emerged.
“Multiple Soo-hyuns…?”
‘Me’ in black helmets filled the academy.
None other than my comrades defending each other.
Pina was so moved by the sight that she even shed a little nosebleed.
“It will fade soon.”
[All love lines have been satisfied!]
Now that the Grand Final Route was completely realized.
As Pina said, the other-worldly version of me is destined to disappear.
“Just a little more to go. Keep going.”
“Even if we failed, you must not as well, okay?”
The people I brought were mostly those who had lost their lives in other world lines.
As they vanish while encouraging me, the black knights said,
“Thank you, brave warrior from another world.”
“Licht…”
Among them was even the original owner of the vessel I possessed in my first run.
He may have regained his original persona, gently tapping my shoulder in another’s tone.
“I should have died originally. If we can meet again later… let’s be friends then.”
Licht flashed a bright smile, his figure dissolving like a mirage, somehow looking relieved.
[Grand Final Route achieved.]
[EVENT CG: 「<Grand Hearts Academy> – Grand Final Ending」 has been collected!]
The Grand Final Ending.
That grandiose name finally brought about a happy resolution.
“…….”
Looking around, I saw the couples I had brought together holding hands, encircling the Demon God of Truth, the Magic Hat.
“No, no, no… this… must be a dream… am I… really winning…?”
Instead of mourning their companions’ deaths, they appeared indifferent.
“You worthless scum!! You were never needed from the start!!”
He formed a massive joker behind him, absorbing the corpses of the Demon Kings.
Its size grotesquely swelled.
Had he still not let go of his greed?
His booming voice echoed through the center of the academy, causing the ground to tremble.
KWAAHAHAHA!! KWAAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
The Magic Hat appeared, adorned with bizarre tentacles sprouting from its body and boasting multiple heads, eyes, and mouths.
Cthulhu.
Cthulhu.
Resembling an outer god from mythology.
Even as it consumed the corpses of my comrades, it aimed to devour me, manifesting terrible consequences.
“Pina, would you let me draw my sword one last time?”
“Sure, got it.”
Around me, nine types of Mind Swords were gathered.
From the first belief-based one I created to the Ideology Helmet, gifted to me by the Nameless Saintess when I was her, each one in its own right.
“One Thought, Pure Love.”
Thus, the last Mind Sword I had to draw was just one.
A Mind Sword capable of definitely killing the Demon God of Truth, the Magic Hat.
A rough iron sword, which I had often called my “Pure Love Infusion”, fell from the sky.
“I believe in love.”
“I will protect love.”
Pina and I began to run toward the same goal with our swords drawn.
The Magic Hat attempted to crush us with its colossal octopus-like arms.
“Go now! I’ll handle this burden!”
Locke swung a massive axe, severing an octopus limb.
Thanks to that, we avoided a massive attack and were now able to approach it.
We kept targeting those parts of the Magic Hat’s body that were stuck.
Just as a toy soldier made of playing cards blocked our path.
“… I aspire to the extreme! Remember, Licht?”
“She aims for the flow that goes on infinitely. Junior.”
A magic cast like bursting a giant champagne bottle from a 3D Magic Circle combined with the swordsmanship of the White Lily, whirling it all apart.
Thanks to the technique from the cursed spring dragon and the hunter who loved her, a path had finally opened.
I slightly nodded toward Dennis and White Lily.
Then, a massive shower of thorns descended from the sky.
The green sky turned black as countless thorns fell like arrows.
“Junior, you must show him there are those who surpass him!”
“Pina, love is always noble! Keep it up!”
The vampire couple, Nex and Schartines, blocked the incoming attacks while speaking.
With violet flames instantly igniting the thorns and the miraculous healing of the Saintess curing all existing wounds.
Now, the Magic Hat’s legs became visible.
As I attempted to climb up it, it swelled and burst, as if rotting.
The Magic Hat’s clones…!
Like Pina’s glass magic, it created numerous copies of itself.
As I tried to pierce through that immense force, it began to rain down on us.
“UWHAHAHA!! Junior, you know my catchphrase, right!!”
The Grand Sword Master, living for revenge against his family, appeared with laughter that sounded like he had just consumed an iron train.
He mixed the Void Slash with Dragon Kill, erasing clones faster than anyone.
“Healthy body… healthy spirit, isn’t that right, Drake?”
The demon who had been misunderstood as a liar.
After him followed the sage, who explained to us the way to foresee the future.
We advanced toward the Magic Hat’s head, following the illusions she displayed.
With every step I took to hold back the threat she posed, a fiery sensation surged in my heart.
If it’s now, I can do it.
The one creating glass clones was at my side, giving me strength.
It was time to settle this long-standing feud.
“No matter how you struggle, you cannot defy fate!!”
The Magic Hat, noticing me climbing up its own body, shook it forcefully to throw us off.
At that moment, two figures armed with spears appeared, showcasing dazzling spear techniques.
Both had identical black hair and displayed northern spear techniques.
“You’ve made some good friends, Soo-hyun!”
“Right! If you upset Pina, there’d be a bounty on your head in the north!”
A warrior from another world who had never found someone to love.
The grand duchess, frozen with a heart of ice, immobilized the creature’s body.
Before us appeared the increasingly familiar smiling face.
Its hideous visage began to come ever closer.
Seeing us approach, the Magic Hat attempted to flee.
“Licht, I detest the arrogant who feign grandiosity while being insignificant!”
“Helmet guy, Pina! Continue to do your best. You must stay true to your feelings!”
Before us were the clueless blonde warrior and the tsundere genius mage.
““Give him a proper blow!!””
Kainel and Ariel, utilizing their ultimate techniques they hadn’t used last time, aimed for its face and obstructed its escape.
Pina and I finally reached the location of the Magic Hat’s true body.
“This cannot be happening!! This is my world, created for me, from your efforts!!!”
Still failing to grasp the situation, the Magic Hat wrapped in its delusions kept spouting absurdity.
“No, this is the world wherein you exist for me, I made an effort for you.”
I turned to Pina, returning its previous words back.
“A boy who could not believe in love has begun to believe in it.”
“A girl who lost her emotions has learned what love means.”
Belief and affection.
I created a sword to substitute for Pina’s tear.
She crafted a glass armor to help me remember.
Even if I lose my memory, even if I’m in another world, it wouldn’t matter.
What I had thought was coincidence had been destiny all along.
Misunderstanding became interest, interest became greed.
Emotions that began with friendship transformed into love.
“All of this is for your happiness.”
I made all the Mind Swords float to launch an attack against the Magic Hat.
“All of this is to make you stronger.”
Pina unleashed clones of the Nameless Saintess and Black Rose to assault it.
““We’ve drawn our swords.””
The emotions that had only ever run parallel finally merged into one.
The crossed paths of the Hero of Conviction and the Hero of Affection.
“Forever.”
“Only you.”
“I will love you.”
Symbolized the pure love of Pina and me.
“AAAAAAAH!!!”
Unlike before, blood gushed out as the Magic Hat’s existence began to dissolve.
Now that the Grand Final Route was complete, it was no longer immortal.
“This… this is just a lie…!!”
Even on the verge of breath, the Magic Hat desperately tried to heal its wounds with cards, but it was a pitiful sight.
It was like trying to scoop up spilled water.
“That won’t happen.”
“That’s right.”
Pina and I continued plunging our swords into it, no matter how much it struggled.
For such love couldn’t be covered by lies.
“This—this doesn’t make sense!! How can I, one with the power of the Demon God, be losing!!!”
The Magic Hat quickly became rags, reduced to dust.
“…Love is inherently nonsensical.”
“Fufu, I think so too, Soo-hyun.”
We exchanged glances, preparing our final blow.
“Lies!! Lies!!”
As the Magic Hat finally couldn’t accept its defeat, I raised my sword high.
“This is the miracle born from retrying.”
“This can’t be happening—!”
SWISH!
I decapitated the Magic Hat’s head.
“It is the Grand Final Ending.”
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