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Chapter 370
A Picture Drawn with Childlike Innocence
A blue sky, indifferent, and red covering half the view.
That red wore a="That red had two golden-glimmering eyes attached and was smiling.
Ferda only blinked his eyes, then finally opened his mouth.
"Is this... Heaven?"
"It's the Serdes Continent."
Е̌n̂ǔm̄а
"I see."
She answered so sweetly with that honeyed voice that he forgot his words.
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While looking at that face, he belatedly pulled out the greeting he'd forgotten.
"I pay my respects to the Grand Duke."
"I meet Mr. Ferda."
Her hand was caressing Ferda's face.
Е_ň um̃ а. і d̆
The soft touch transcended reality; no matter how he thought about it, he couldn't feel that he was alive.
Just as he was about to fall into those seductive and sweet five senses, Ferda realized reality wasn't like that.
He turned his head and lowered his gaze.
The battle was over.
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As expected, many deaths lay on the ground.
"Did many people die?"
Е̇nū_m̌ а
"Yes."
At that, Valdrova smiled sadly.
"Many people died. To protect this place..."
Ferda only then realized.
She's sad but forcibly hiding it, smiling like that.
"I'm sorry."
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Ferda also sank into sorrow at that.
"I tried to save people for you... but I couldn't save everyone."
"Mr. Ferda."
"Until the end... I couldn't do anything."
"Mr. Ferda."
"I'm a failure. I'm sorry."
Еn.üḿ а̃
He sinks into the depths of guilt.
"Mr. Ferda."
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Her hand grabbed Ferda's face.
His view was completely blocked by Valdrova.
Their golden eyes met each other.
"I... want to have a child."
W e̊ bǹó_v̇ е l̂ Е̊ n̆u̇m̂_а
Ferda's heart stopped.
He even forgot what he was thinking.
The only thing he realized in that moment was the fact that Ferda had completely become Valdrova's.
"A child... you say?"
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He asks back like a fool, wondering if he misheard.
"Yes, a child."
Е ñǔ m̄ а . іd
A refreshing scent flowed from her mouth as she spoke like singing.
"The child Mr. Ferda wanted so desperately."
Her hand caressed Ferda's cheek.
She carefully traced the beard marks left on his cheek.
"And now a child I want too."
He didn't think she was just forcing herself to match him.
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Valdrova is sincere.
Even if she weren't, he would believe it.
He didn't want to ruin the joy of this moment.
"I... want to give birth to a son who resembles you."
"...That won't do."
Ferda flatly denied it upon hearing those words.
Е num̊á
Valdrova's shoulders flinched, having been immersed in sentiment.
"Huh?"
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"A son resembling me is no good."
"Why? I'd like a child resembling you."
"He'd just do terrible things to you."
Ferda knew his own flaws, so he didn't like the idea of a son resembling him.
Е n ům̆ á
"He'll obviously upset you, so a son resembling me is no good."
Valdrova knew his virtues, so she wanted a son resembling him.
"But if he resembles Mr. Ferda, he'll be smart and help me well. He'll become a reliable boy."
"What's so reliable about a kid who can't even run properly and gets out of breath?"
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Ferda said that, then proposed to her.
"How about a daughter resembling you instead?"
W е bn о.v̄еl̈ Е̊n ú m а̄.
"That's no good. If she resembles me, she might be indecisive and frustrate Mr. Ferda again."
"But she'll be warmer than anyone. And definitely a beauty too."
Valdrova's face turned bright red.
This situation where what each wants crosses.
Yet, as if such an argument was truly enjoyable, a warm smile spread across Valdrova's face.
Ferda reached out his hand to her face.
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Valdrova carefully pulled that hand and brought it to her own cheek.
A soft, smooth, jade-like face.
The fire wrapping her skin seemed to seep into Ferda's every cell and melt them.
He thinks it every time, but she's too good for him.
"Then how about this?"
Valdrova, feeling Ferda's touch, proposed.
E n ǔ m â
"How do you mean?"
"We mix half and half."
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Using her finger like a teaspoon, she stirred the back of Ferda's hand as if mixing.
"We make a perfect child by mixing Mr. Ferda's wonderful sides and my warm sides."
"Will it work out like that?"
"It will."
Èn u mă. ĭ d
She makes an excited face and shakes her head. Red hair falls like silk thread, tickling her neck and face.
"Because with you and me, us together, such a pretty child will surely be born. Even if not, I'll love that child."
Ferda opened the cabinet hidden in his heart.
Inside was the dream a seven-year-old boy, when an angel still lived, had drawn with colored pencils.
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A dream that seemed trivial, yet he'd never thought he could achieve.
The boy who became an adult laughed looking at that picture.
Ẅėb̂ň ò_v е̄ l̃ Eňü mа̄
He smiled a brilliant smile he'd believed he'd never make in his lifetime.
The horrific traces of the battlefield no longer shook those two's hearts.
Now, only the two of them drew their world, their future.
* * *
Around the time news spread throughout Hestia that the defensive battle had been won.
The expedition finally arrived at the Demon King's Castle.
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"Finally... we get to see this place."
"The Demon King's Castle we only heard about..."
The Devil's Land is deep with corrupted demonic energy, but this place was on a different dimension.
Terrible demonic energy poured out, threatening not to enter.
But they couldn't just turn back obediently to such threats.
Considering the incidents and environments they'd gone through to reach this harsh place, they absolutely had to enter.
Е̂.ṅūm̃a. i d
"Is this the start, I wonder?"
Rize, the team's pillar, asks.
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He gripped the staff in both hands tightly, triggering protective instincts.
"Maybe so."
Erica answered like that.
Rize, like the other members, had no idea what would happen from now on.
Ёn u m ӑ
'Well, I don't properly know either...'
She glanced at Alberto.
He just looked up at that castle like the silent young man he still was.
They walked to the main gate.
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As Alberto said, there was a door filled with complex spell formulas.
"What kind of spell formula is it, Captain?"
En ů m̃ а̂. і d
"Simply put, if you forcibly open this door or apply shock, the castle will designate them as intruders and become even more troublesome - that kind of security magic."
"It's been abandoned for a long time anyway, and there are no demons blocking us, so just forcing it open..."
"No. You must absolutely not touch it. The castle itself is a tremendous enemy."
Erica said firmly.
Only Erica, who had experienced it, knew how troublesome the castle itself was.
No, perhaps two including Alberto.
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That's why he would have made such a proposal.
"Then shouldn't we detour somewhere other than the main gate? Why did you come to the main gate?"
"Because there's someone who'll unlock it."
The silent Alberto opened his mouth.
He gave a glance to the man in the robe, and the man, no less silent, finally revealed his identity.
Everyone was shocked by that identity.
Е ń ü m̌ ā.і d̀
"You're Zed Swallow?"
"Aren't you a wanted criminal in the Grand Duchy?"
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"I'm not a criminal."
That defense was done by Erica.
"I couldn't tell you all, but Sir Zed was carrying out a secret mission. There was necessary commotion in the process."
"Ah, I see."
Еn.ůma . і d
The expedition nodded, accepting it.
Since the Captain they trusted said so, it was only natural to believe it for now.
"Sir Zed."
"...Let's finish this quick."
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Zed's eyes turned red.
Then the magical powers composing the spell formula unraveled and broke, and the main gate's security magic was released.
Ӗ ň ŭ m а
"As expected, the Red-Eyed Tribe's eyes are good."
Words with bones in them.
Alberto said that and took the lead inside.
They were walking inside the Demon King's Castle.
With each step, it echoed inside the corridor, empty like a cave.
That echo wrapped around the expedition in an eerie, tingling form.
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When they finally stood before the audience chamber, it revealed its true colors.
"...This far is right, I suppose."
Alberto suddenly stopped and looked back.
"I won't permit stepping foot in here any further."
"What do you mean, Sir Alberto?"
The expedition asked him with bewildered faces.
E ñǔmа̃ . і̌ d̀
Is he making a bad joke now?
But his armor and posture showed unfiltered sincerity.
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"Today the Demon King will ascend the throne again. Once the Demon King ascends, you lot really can't be in this castle."
"What nonsense is that?"
"Why would a dead Demon King suddenly appear?"
"Thinking the Demon King died is your delusion. What if that guy is still alive?"
W̊ e b́ n оv̂ е l̃ Е nüm̄_а
The expedition members' heads spun.
But they could identify that figure without much difficulty.
"That can't be... You mean you're Ibretius?"
"Correct. I was called by such a name."
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"You son of a bitch!"
"You deceived us?!"
Е̌ n ǔ m а .id
Everyone's weapons pointed at Alberto.
"No need to be seized by betrayal. I was dispatched for the continent's peace. Even this expedition leader knew that well."
"Is that true?"
All eyes turned to Erica.
Erica nodded.
"Yes. This matter is a solution reached by sharing methods with Regent Ferda."
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"But the Demon King's rebirth..."
"Everyone. You may think the process coming here was harsh, but until now, it was only very easy and simple matters. Past the back of this Demon King's Castle, there's a truly demonic realm where monsters have settled. Those monsters are determining their hierarchy even now. Once that hierarchy is completely established, it'll spread into the most dangerous situation."
"But the Demon King is a demon, and demons might bring back the tragedy of the Dragon-Demon War again—."
"That won't happen. At least not immediately."
"How do we believe your words?"
"What if you don't?"
Е̌ n ù m а ..і̆ d
Alberto let out a short 'heh' laugh.
"Then can you guys kill all the monsters beyond and go back?"
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At Alberto's words, everyone shut their mouths.
"Your purpose is to control the monsters. If you kill me now, you can add one more line to your resume, but ultimately you'll only bring greater chaos to the continent."
"..."
"If you don't believe the demon's cowardly scheme..."
W̌ е̄ b̆ṅ o v̆е l È ñůḿ.а́
He willingly raised his club and said.
"I'm prepared to see useless blood."
Then a strange vortex began to swirl around Alberto.
That energy assimilated into this sticky demonic energy and grew even larger, overwhelming everything.
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They knew Alberto was a considerably strong knight, but that was just him holding back to fit in.
Once he revealed his true colors, they knew he was at a level they couldn't even deal with.
W е b̀ n̂ оv́е l̀ Е̂ǹum̈a
No one could muster useless stubbornness.
Alberto lowered the club he was holding again.
"So listen to me. This will be the last mercy I can bestow in this castle. This castle doesn't move by my will."
"What do you mean?"
"The throne of this castle activates everything the moment you sit. This castle is a castle for demons, and you lot are uninvited guests. You know this castle's notoriety, so you'll have studied a lot of data, right?"
"..."
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"But don't think you only have what you've grasped, like all adventures. I haven't fully understood this place either."
He shouldered the large club and pointed his chin at the side door.
"If you go in there, there's a report. Things worthy of being the reward for this harsh expedition will all be there. I'll generously give you two hours. Take everything you want and leave here."
Eastern items are precious.
That's a fact well known by those who've frequented the auction house.
How precious would items in the Demon King's Castle be?
Еnumа̊.і.d
It was a more than sufficient reward to slightly wash away the lingering bitterness.
Seeing them all enter the report room, Alberto turned his body and headed for the audience chamber.
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"Alberto, no, Ibretius."
Erica called that name and asked.
"Is this really the best?"
Even having come this far trusting him, she needed certainty.
Е n̄u m̄ а̇
"Only I can bear this place."
Alberto said that and opened the audience chamber door, entering inside.
Kung—.
The door closed firmly, and Alberto's presence could no longer be felt.
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Completely cut off from the outside.
Alberto, who entered the audience chamber, walked along the worn carpet.
E n̆üm_а̃
He remembered what this castle's heyday was like.
Once a splendid and magnificent place, everyone looked up to the throne and offered their emotions.
But now it was no different from ruins, full of cracked and broken traces everywhere.
Ibretius looked at those traces and recalled.
The scenes of the final decisive battle with the 12 expedition members felt vivid.
Until the moment the Hero drove the Holy Sword into his own chest.
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Tracing those memories, what he felt was,
'There's nothing.'
No emotions remained.
He was practically a moving corpse, after all.
Alberto reached the end of the carpet and removed his helmet.
The Moving Fortress, Alberto, was no longer in that spot.
Ẅе́ b́n о̆v ӗ l̆ Е̊ṅ ú m̂ а
The one-time Demon King Ibretius removed his helmet and looked up at the throne.
High up there, a man was visible.
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A man stuck like gum in his heart, even after living like a corpse for so long.
That man was smiling.
-Thank you, my friend.
That man said that.
Е̇nu m̄ ӑ._і̌ d̆
Even knowing it was his own illusion, it felt as if he was right here.
-Because you took this seat, I was able to go comfortably.
"What's there to be thankful for, between friends."
Ibretius remembered.
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Godwin had approached him, who no longer felt meaning in life and was trying to fall.
He asked.
Ẁеb n̈.о v̌ e ľ Én ů m̃а_
How can I comfort your heart?
He answered.
Deliver the words I couldn't finish to my wife, somewhere in Hell. That's all.
Godwin listened, nodded, and disappeared somewhere.
Until then, he thought he was ignoring a trivial wish.
A few months later, he returned again.
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Reeking of sulfur all over, he returned and answered like this.
He says he loves her too.
If someone else had said that, he might have thought it a lie.
But seeing his face, he knew there was no deception to briefly fool him.
His soul was saved from the darkest man.
From then on, he became Ibretius.
Е ṅü m а̊
As Demon King, he commanded monsters and demons.
Just as Godwin threw himself into Hell,
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Now it was Ibretius's turn to throw himself for Godwin.
"Now you rest comfortably on the other side."
Ibretius ascended the throne and reached out to Godwin's phantom.
The familiar man's form disappeared, and a crown woven of deep darkness was held in his hand.
W̄e b n о̂v е l Е̄n u m̀а
Ibretius wore the crown and sat.
Long ago, that was his seat, so there was no awkwardness.
The moment he sat, an eerie light rippled and spread throughout the Demon King's Castle.
The Demon King's Castle's light returned, and from the highest spire, a wave of energy spread, covering the entire Devil's Land.
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At that moment, the screams and howls of monsters spread throughout the land subsided.
Before Chaos's order was completed, absolute order settled in the Devil's Land.
Е̊ ñ ǔ m̃а
The Demon King, Ibretius, had returned.
* * *
The expedition all returned safely and were welcomed.
Though they left a lingering bitterness in one corner of their hearts, through the reports heard while returning, they knew that promise was true.
He would keep the monsters seated in that deep darkness right there.
For the time being.
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That's why no one spoke of Ibretius's return.
They knew that sometimes peace can be maintained by hiding uncomfortable truths.
Above all, because through this expedition they could obtain the Eastern treasures they'd longed for.
That was the same for the man who'd lost everything.
Traitor, Zed Swallow.
But returning to the village, no one pointed fingers calling him a traitor.
W̄ ě b̊ n ӧ v̆ е̊ l̆. Ӗ n um ă
He'd gone to the expedition risking his life, and thanks to that, he could return as Ferda's secret agent.
"You're back."
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Ferda greeted him at City Hall.
His expression wasn't like someone who'd returned home.
Ferda, just in case, said to him.
"I'll keep the promise. I'll prepare it right now."
Е́ n̄uḿ a
"I don't think you'll break your promise. What I'm worried about is..."
The only one he thought of now.
Ferda knew who that was.
"She's in the Merchant Association Director's Office right now."
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"..."
"Go on."
E̊ n ū mа
Zed ran there without a shred of hesitation.
The time had come to face the woman who'd driven a dagger into his chest.
