Chapter 610 – Drowning (1)

Antonium, capital of the Empire.

“……Is it over?”

I couldn’t help but ask in disbelief.

The vividness of the battle still sent shivers down my spine.

One by one, players checked their messages.

It wasn’t just a leveling up message.

[You have acquired the achievement, ‘Defeating the King of All Things.’]

“I, I defeated a real dragon!!!”

Just as Seoul, the Land of the Anomaly, had fended off the attack of the Evil Dragon, the Arcana Continent had succeeded in defending Antonium from the rampaging Evil Dragon.

But, as the players said, they were veterans.

“It’s not time to get excited yet. Didn’t you see how the dragons tore through the dimension? There’s no telling when or where another one will show up, or how many!”

He had a point.

As proof, there were no new messages of ‘negative emotions’ and ‘strange malice’ spreading across the Arcana continent.

Harkon opened his mouth.

“Indeed, it’s not over yet.”

And yet.

As a commander, he had seen the progress of the Holy War Alliance.

Against a dragon they hadn’t even dared to contemplate in the past.

What a clean victory.

“Would I be lying if I said I wasn’t worried, Shahin?”

Shahin Dune shook his head at Harkon’s question.

“Well, I don’t want to lie because I feel the same way, Harkon. But there is one thing. There is only one worry that never leaves my mind.”

I could tell without having to listen to the backstory.

“…..Lord Hoyeol.”

I knew that only he could resolve the malice and negative emotions that were overflowing.

But at the same time, Harkon had also witnessed a different side of Hoyeol.

Shahin Dune shrugged at Harkon’s silence.

“Well, I know there’s nothing we can do about it, but we can at least pray, can’t we? For Claudi to come through this ordeal unscathed.”

After saying that, Shahin Dune swallowed a bitter laugh.

“That’s a funny thing to say, Shahin.”

Seorn Continent.

The day his home was destroyed by Bael.

On that day, he abandoned his faith.

If the god he believed in had existed, he would have at least pretended to fight back against Bael. However, such an appearance or phenomenon has never shown itself on the Seorn Continent.

On that subject.

‘It’s like clinging to a god you don’t serve.’

For Shahin, it was as if he had no reason to believe. Dragons, as the adventurers said, could tear dimensions and move through space at will.

Shahin faced a practical problem.

This is not my home.

He gazes out over the landscape of Antonium, a place he grew to love during his stay.

It was a city that never lost its vitality, even in extreme circumstances.

…grip

Finally, Shahin clenched his fists.

‘Unfortunately, I cannot go out to look for you.’

I wanted to be of strength to you.

I wanted to protect you and your ideals.

Like Harkon, Shahin could see it in his eyes.

He had won a victory over the evil dragon, but it was not a victory.

The presence of elves at the northern gates of Antonium.

The adventurers have joined.

Garmond Phil.

Without the support of that dishonest merchant.

‘The walls would have fallen long ago.’

That said.

It meant that I couldn’t leave Antonium now.

To sort out my complicated feelings.

Shahin’s eyes narrowed as he surveyed the battlefield.

Red eyes.

The symbol of the Dune clan, the one that gave him incredible vision in battle, had seen something.

Perhaps it was because of them.

The corners of Shahin’s mouth twitched upward, though his expression remained serious.

‘Still, I see nothing to worry about, Claudi.’

seuseuseug.

Yes.

Shahin’s red eyes had seen.

A giant figure in the sky, leaping through space without sound or movement. There was no word to refer to something like that on the Seorn Continent, but on the Arcana Continent, it was called this.

“Please give him strength.”

Shahin spoke softly.

“I believe you, Iron Castle.”

Wiiiiing.

A space leap.

Wiiiiing.

Another space leap.

Wiiiiing.

Even if it wasn’t, I was still feeling dizzy from earlier. It was the wind aboard the Iron Castle, which was blasting through the vast Arcana continent at full speed.

“Are you all right, boss Baek?

“Eum.”

“I’m fine.”

“You don’t look all right with your pure white face…….”

“It’s Baek.Yi.Seol, when was my face ever not white?” (tl/n: Baek = White.)

“ ……..You must be fine, seeing as you’re making puns.”

Baek Yiseol wiped the corner of her mouth and tried to regain her composure.

But if it were easy, would I, Baek Yiseol, have lost face and become nauseous?

In that sense.

“euheum.”

King Yusra, Hakuna was amazing.

-“This is probably an aftereffect of the possession.”

Nam Cheolmin had a point.

At this moment, the three of us who had suffered from the [possession] were the only ones with headaches. Baek Yiseol stuck her tongue out at Hakuna, who was pursing his lips tightly.

“I don’t know how you’re holding it together.”

Hakuna wasn’t suffering from a normal possession.

The demon that possessed him was the Seven Deadly Sins of Greed, and according to Nam Cheolmin, the more powerful the demon, the greater the aftereffects.

‘I can’t help myself.’

Pride, the ultimate reason.

I strain my eyes and take a look at the panoramic view of the Arcana continent passing by.

Possession was a fucking experience I never want to go through again.

Baek Yiseol opened her mouth.

“I think we can just keep moving forward like this.”

I never thought the possession experience would be useful in this situation.

At this moment, Baek Yiseol could see a flow of ‘strange malice’.

The dwarven leader, Chainwalker, spat out an exclamation.

“To be able to read the flow when none of magic tools are working, and even when you’re leaping through space! Did you say you are an adventurer, Baek Yiseol? You have outstanding talent!”

Some might say it’s making a fuss.

But Chainwalker was sincere.

Chainwalker’s gaze is focused on Hiel, albeit for a fleeting moment.

‘Hiel wasn’t able to sense the presence of the Commander-in-Chief either.’

I interpret that as.

‘That probably means that the Commander-in-Chief doesn’t want our involvement.’

Chainwalker knew it was blasphemous, but he couldn’t help but be pleased.

Even if it meant going against the will.

Even if it meant suffering the consequences.

Because I decided it was better than regretting it later.

‘Why, at times like this.’

Baek Yiseol gritted her teeth.

Who are the Dwarves?

Considering the value of dwarven-made items.

They were like living nuggets of gold.

If I had any sense, I would have flashed a smile to win their favor……!

Right now, Baek Yiseol didn’t even have the mental strength to show any emotion.

“As for how it looks, I don’t know.”

Demon King, Gremory.

The Seven Deadly Sins of Lust, a mixed-blood demon with blood mixed with Lust.

In other words, a trespasser in the anomaly realm.

Baek Yiseol was possessed by Gremory.

Though she didn’t realize it.

‘But I can see it. Mr. Hoyeol, I wonder where the commander-in-chief is.’

Thanks to this, Baek Yiseol was able to see the Eye of the Storm.

She could look into the eye of the storm.

And then.

Wiiiiing.

The noise of the final spatial leap ended.

The Iron Castle was the Eye of the Storm.

The Iron Castle was able to encounter the ‘Claudi Territory’ on the Arcana Continent.

“…My Lord?”

And Hiel trailed off.

She knew it was blasphemous to even entertain such a thought.

But gradually it began to make sense.

Why she couldn’t feel her master’s presence.

His hair was a brilliant silver.

And his stiff posture was still his own.

She could not sense her mother’s blessing on him.

I could not help but wonder.

The scenery seen through the window of the Iron Castle was extremely dangerous.

As if Pride, who always threatened her master, was not enough, and Bael’s grip was revealed.

“Without my mother’s blessing……!”

My lord may not be able to withstand it.

Hiel decided that way and made up her mind.

I will transfer the blessing of the First World Tree to my lord.

If the blessing is lost.

I will revert to a lesser forest spirit, a nymph, but I don’t care.

She clasped her hands together and began to pray.

“ …… What the hell, bastard?”

Nam Taemin’s astonished shout reopened Hiel’s closed eyes.

Parr.

Hiel’s pupils fluttered precariously as she thought she knew her master better than anyone else as his alter ego.

“Why.”

Nam Taemin’s voice trembled even more violently.

“The demon bastard took the place of the Commander-in-Chief…?”

*

Oh, no.

‘I honestly thought I could hold my own, Grandfell.’

But you are far beyond my common sense, Bael.

Demon of the First Throne.

Pride looked at his tattered flesh.

“ …… I’m sorry. I have soiled your clothes.”

It was patriarch’s clothes, soaked with his own blood. You have been unable to tolerate dirty things since you were young, but for some reason, it feels like you are only doing things that will make you hate me.

seueug.

“Wait, Bael. We don’t have much time left, anyway.”

Pride turned to Bael, who was reaching for him again.

This time, he put all his remaining power into his command.

The hated power of Claudi.

Yes, I spoke it, mimicking my father.

“Don’t you dare disturb me, stranger from the demon world.”

Purr.

Immediately, countless veins sprouted in Bael’s grasp.

He froze in place.

Pride was in agony from the recoil, but it didn’t matter.

“It’s a power that no longer means anything to hold onto.”

Pride looked at Grandfell.

He had lost too much blood.

Proof that his life force was fading.

His vision was blurring, but he recognized his expression.

“You must have a sullen expression on your face, right? Just like you did when you were little.”

Yeah.

I’ll admit it, Grandfell.

It was all about my greed.

“I just wanted you to be happy. Happiness isn’t a word that comes naturally to those of us born with damned blood……. but still, I hoped for one thing.”

So now I tell you the truth.

“I just wanted you to not go to hell, Grandfell. If I could burn in hell on your behalf, I would. Because that was the only goal of my life. Somewhere along the way, I lost sight of you.”

Pride laughed bitterly.

“Grandfell, you are the true Claudi.”

I’m sorry, Grandfell.

I haven’t been a good older brother until the end.

Even though I know what I’m doing isn’t right.

-“Sweet things like this are not good for your health, Grandfell.”

-“But brother……!”

-“Wouldn’t it make my heart weak to look at you with those eyes? I know it’s early, but …….If you really want to eat it that way, let’s take this opportunity to learn some etiquette. Are you interested in the ‘tea’ I’m drinking? , Grandfell?”

In the end, nothing has changed since I was young.

This time, too.

I have no choice but to lose to you.

“I, Pride, will give up my authority as the head of the family.

Patter.

The life that was built on Claudi’s power that he gained after becoming the head of the family is being extinguished.

Because it was a body that had already reached death.

Pride immediately turned to dust and began to disperse, as if it were something that should not exist in this world.

The legs.

The waist.

And now the nape of his neck.

“This is the last time, Grandfell.”

When he could still find his voice.

Pride spoke to his one and only brother.

His true feelings.

“No matter what choice you make, I love you, my brother.”

Mouth.

Nose.

And eyes.

“…?”

In the fading vision, Pride could see it.

His last words.

The tears running down Grandfell’s cheeks at those words.

Therefore.

“……!”

That’s all you need to know about this ugly brother.

Please don’t be sad.

Grandfell.

[The true head of the great family, Claudi, appears.]

[‘Fear’ occurs in the ‘Grasp of Bael’ The First Throne.]