Chapter 72

While Yohan was dealing with Irolwel’s condition…

The situation in the western part of Demon Forest was becoming increasingly threatening.

It was a kind of dual-power system. With Dragon King Endros awakening from a long slumber opposing Langwang Yohan, who had been popular in the west, the demons were splitting into factions and fighting each other.

It wasn’t all-out war yet. Dragon King Endros still hadn’t fully awakened from his sleep, and Yohan was distracted by Irolwel.

However, there was no denying that implicit factions had formed among their subordinates. The monsters carefully weighed which side – the king of the old era or the new generation’s king – would be more advantageous to join…

When walking through the forest paths, if they encountered a monster from the opposing faction, they’d often exchange sharp glances. Some deliberately wrecked the other side’s hunting grounds or subtly encroached on their territory to apply pressure…

Just as the conflict between the Dragon King’s forces and Langwang Yohan’s forces was intensifying…

“Roar! Roar-roar!”

“Huh? What’s wrong, Skaface?”

“Roar-roar!”

“…What?”

An incident occurred that foretold further escalation of the conflict…

“The orc group got wiped out… by those guys?”

“Roar-roar!”

“Wha-! Let me see then! Gaaaaah!”

One of Yohan’s orc groups had been annihilated by the Dragon King’s griffins.

Yohan was furious. Even though he had been neglecting things while focusing on Irolwel, he was rightfully enraged that one of his groups had been helplessly slaughtered.

“ROOOAR!”

“We’ll pay them back exactly what we received! Grrrr…”

Yohan quickly found some griffins resting somewhere in the west. Thanks to inquiries among his monsters, he located their hideout sooner than expected.

Griffins, with eagle heads and wings, and lion bodies, are powerful enough that an ordinary human couldn’t even stand before them. But even such griffins couldn’t handle Yohan, who had grown strong under Irolwel’s care.

On the day Yohan found the griffins, one of Demon Forest’s power players met their end. From that moment on, the conflict in Demon Forest escalated dramatically. While it still wasn’t full-scale war, the two sides kept escalating reprisals against each other.

Naturally, Human King Yohan was at the center of this conflict…

Irolwel didn’t approve of Yohan’s actions…

“Yohan, don’t do that.”

As usual, Irolwel lay in bed while Yohan pressed her thin wrist. Their finger thicknesses were almost identical…

“What?”

“Revenge only eats away at yourself.”

“But I can’t just sit here. They’re looking down on us.”

“So what if they find us a little amusing?”

“…”

“Yohan, please. If you don’t have the power to overwhelmingly defeat the Dragon King, stop this conflict. Too much blood will be spilled.”

Irolwel’s voice was considerably faded. Outside the hut, she’d stiffen up over the power struggle with the Dragon King faction, but inside, she’d feel a stabbing pain in her chest…

Even so, even Yohan who’d die for Irolwel…

“No way.”

“Yohan…”

“The orcs are dead. That’s not all. The trolls’ hunting ground was destroyed by fire magic, and Old Ren lost his only grandchild.”

“But they’ve suffered greatly too, haven’t they?”

“They started it. If we back down now, how will we compensate for our losses?”

“Compensate… Yohan, revenge isn’t something that can be done under such pretenses.”

“…My wording was off. Anyway, this is justified retaliation. Since they attacked us first, we need to inflict equivalent damage! Only then will the spirits of those who died unjustly be appeased!”

“That won’t make them stop. Rather, they’ll charge at us even more fiercely out of rage. In the end, all that will remain are wounds that won’t heal.”

“No matter what, we can’t keep taking losses. If someone harms others, they need to be prepared to be utterly destroyed themselves!”

Though Yohan, known as the Human King, had already caused countless “reprisals,” he couldn’t accept Irolwel’s advice…

We’ve come too far to stop now. We’ve shed too much blood that can’t be washed away. That’s what Yohan believed…

“I told you, I won’t.”

“Yohan…”

“You… pushed me away too.”

This could have been the tantrum of a young boy who hadn’t yet matured mentally…

Irolwel hadn’t accepted Yohan’s confession of love. Rather, she couldn’t accept it…

Yohan didn’t understand why, and began to rebel against Irolwel’s words while caring for her…

A common tantrum, but on a scale that could sway the western part of Demon Forest. A petty revenge from a boy hurt by having his feelings rejected…

“For how long do you think this can go on?”

“What do you mean?”

“When you attack them, Yohan, and they attack you, Yohan, and you retaliate again, Yohan… This is a fight that can only disadvantage you. Please, stop it already.”

“Haa… Irolwel…”

“Revenge works like that. Unless one side completely gives up, the cycle of revenge never stops.”

“Then we’ll make the Dragon King give up.”

“There you go repeating the same thing. By the time that happens, Yohan, you’ll have shed too much blood. Not just you – everything around you will be swept up in the aftermath of sin.”

“…Why should you care what happens to me, Irolwel?”

Griiip…

Yohan’s grip on Irolwel’s wrist tightened. A faint moan escaped her delicate teeth.

“Kya…!”

Even though he hadn’t meant to hurt Irolwel despite his anger, Yohan was startled and loosened his grip.

“Ahh! S-sorry! D-did it hurt a lot..?”

“No… It’s fine… Yohan.”

“Ugh… I’m really sorry… I lost my temper for a moment…”

He wasn’t that angry. Just a bit heated, enough for a tiny bit of strength to enter his fingertips.

Even that small amount made Irolwel feel pain, showing just how frail her body had become…

“I’m sorry… Really sorry…”

“Yohan, come closer.”

“Eh…?”

Yohan kept bowing his head, unsure what to do. Watching the young boy silently, Irolwel smiled gently and opened her arms, then hugged him warmly.

“My most beloved child in the world.”

“Why are you doing this…”

“Will you still not stop this revenge…”

“Uh…”

“Yes, I see…”

Irolwel’s palm stroked Yohan’s head. That pleasant sensation felt wonderful to Yohan…

“KUUAAAAAAAK!!”

“Yohan? Yohan!”

“You bastards! I’ll tear you apart!!”

Yohan burst into the hut, slamming the door open. He carried a corpse in his hand.

Irolwel, who had been resting inside, asked in a startled tone. Yohan grabbed a stone club inside the hut and replied.

“The dragon king’s men! They killed Skaface!!”

“!”

The trembling in his voice clearly showed the anger Yohan harbored. This was beyond mere tantrums…

“You bastards did THIS to him!! You disgusting bastards!!”

Yohan hadn’t thought much of his relationship with Skaface.

He had treated him kindly because Irolwel had connected them, thinking it didn’t matter if he disappeared.

But bonds are truly frightening things. The bond formed through sharing food daily, occasional head pats, and even conversations was much stronger than Yohan himself had anticipated.

“Irolwel…”

“Don’t stop me! This time, I’ll crush these bastards’ lineage! Make sure they never bother us again! I’ll exterminate them completely!”

Yohan stomped forward step by step. With every step, fiery energy rose. His bloodshot eyes stared ahead as he headed toward Dragon King Endros’ camp.

The frail Saintess Irolwel could only watch his retreating back. Knowing any words would fall on deaf ears now.

She quietly accepted the fate before her…

After leaving the hut where Skaface and his children’s corpses lay, Yohan immediately went to the forest occupied by the Dragon King’s forces and began devastating the terrain with his club.

When the orcs died, Yohan killed the griffins – receiving proper blood-for-blood retribution.

But now it was different.

“KYEEEEEEEEK!”

“RAAAHHH! Die! All of you die!!”

The Dragon King still hadn’t fully awakened. Meaning there was nothing that could stop Yohan.

KWAAAAAAA!

Yohan’s club was like a tank of destruction. Anything that blocked its path was crushed to pulp, bones shattered.

The rapid physical development from being born human and growing up, combined with multiple evolutions from healing with Irolwel’s holy power, made his strength immense.

Even Tom Wildboar, who used to hold his own against Yohan months ago, now fell instantly if Yohan just stepped near him.

BOOOOM!

Yohan stomped the ground forcefully. Having restrained his power until now to avoid shocking Irolwel, he unleashed it freely in this area where it wouldn’t affect her.

The ground where Yohan stepped sank as if hit by a meteor. The surrounding land bulged up, the earth twisted, and cracks began forming.

The strength Yohan possessed was extraordinary. Monsters fell helplessly. Occasionally flying demons would breathe attacks at Yohan from the sky.

WHOOSH!

But when Yohan swung his club one-handed, their breaths became weaker than breezes. The wind pressure generated by the club created a dominating whirlwind in the sky. A whirlwind that mercilessly tore apart the wings of winged monsters.

There were many notable flying demons, but there was only one peak. And Yohan was that peak.

Nothing could stop the rampaging Yohan. Mountains that served as many monsters’ homes exploded under Yohan’s punches, scattering debris everywhere like a volcanic eruption.

The giant river cutting through Demon Forest, which was practically lifeblood for most monsters, became filled with blood. The red-colored water became undrinkable, with floating monster corpses creating islands of death on land.

All of this was accomplished single-handedly by Human King Yohan. Even Yohan didn’t know his strength had reached this level.

Had the Dragon King been awake, the outcome might have been different…

“GRAAAAAAAAAAAH!”

As Yohan let out a victor’s roar, terrified demons abandoned the battlefield. It was a perfect victory.

Yohan felt secretly proud after winning the battle. As he had told Irolwel, he had thoroughly stamped them down so they couldn’t rise again. Now there would be no more troubles from retaliations, allowing him to peacefully take care of Irolwel.

Though conflicts might arise again when the Dragon King truly awakens in the future, that’s a problem for another day. For now, he wanted to enjoy this excitement and satisfaction.

Most importantly, he wanted to share this good news with Irolwel as soon as possible.

Yohan hurried along with heavy footsteps toward the hut where Irolwel rested. Feeling no regrets about having sufficiently avenged Skaface.

However, the hut he arrived at with such cheerful steps…

“Eh?”

Whoosh…

Only remnants of something exploding remained. The place where the hut once stood was unrecognizable.

Both its “contents” and the structure itself had turned to ashes.

“Irolwel.”

Thoughts stopped. Logic, brain activity, speech – everything ceased.

Taking one step toward the explosion’s remains, it felt like an unreal dream.

“Irolwel. Irolwel. Irolwel. Irolwel.”

Thud, thud, thud, thud! Yohan’s steps quickened. Before he knew it, he was running. The “remains” grew larger in his vision.

“IROWEL!!!”

Thud!

Finally reaching the “remains,” Yohan collapsed to his knees.

The “remains” weakly lifted their head to look at Yohan’s panicked face.

“Yohan… you came…”

“N-no… This, this isn’t right…!”

“At least I got to see you… I’m glad…”

“Why, WHY! How did this happen!”

Yohan hugged the “remains” with both arms. They were so small, so tiny.

Whether caught in the explosion here or not, the lower half was gone.

Even the upper body was missing an arm, barely holding on to life.

Irolwel…

“AAAAAAAAAAH!!!”

A scream close to a wail escaped. In Yohan’s shaking vision, several large insect corpses could be seen.

Giant Bomb Beetles.

One type of monster aligned with the Dragon King. Capable of massive explosions.

Realizing this, Yohan’s mind instantly pieced together what happened here.

The Dragon King’s monsters had targeted this place from the start. Knowing he always stayed here guarding a frail human whom he cherished greatly.

They killed Skaface to lure him away, then sent in Giant Bomb Beetles to explode the hut along with the human.

Completely manipulated.

Though they too suffered near-annihilation level damage.

Does that matter?

He had lost the most precious thing in the world.

All because of his own fault.

“I’m sorry…”

“Irolwel…”

“I should have listened to Irolwel… I’m really sorry…”

Hot tears streamed down Yohan’s eyes.

“When you said not to seek revenge, when you said it would eat away at me around me… I should have listened! I’m really sorry…”

“It’s in the past…”

“But! Look what happened to Irolwel!!”

Yohan tightly embraced the upper body that was all that remained of Irolwel. Though it likely caused pain, Irolwel managed a faint smile and returned the embrace.

“It’s okay.”

“Everyone makes mistakes.”

“This incident will be an opportunity for Yohan to grow even more. I already knew I wouldn’t live long and would die eventually, didn’t I?”

Irolwel’s earnest whispers reached Yohan’s ears.

“Uuuh…!”

“Do you understand, Yohan…?”

“I… can’t! Of course not listening to Irolwel was a mistake, but I’ll avenge Irolwel! Those vermin! I’ll kill every single one of them! Everyone involved!”

“No, Yohan, that’s not it.”

Irolwel’s hand slowly moved to touch something that survived the explosion – a silver cross.

“You said it yourself, that revenge is for comforting the spirits of those who died unjustly.”

“S-so now I’ll avenge Irolwel’s death…!”

“No, Yohan. You’ve already finished all the revenge you needed to do, including Skaface’s. And let me make this clear right here – if Yohan takes revenge for me, I’ll truly be sad.”

“!”

“Let me be the one standing at the end of this cycle. That’s enough, right? I don’t want Yohan to take revenge for me. The way to comfort my spirit is for Yohan to stop seeking revenge and live happily. Happier than anyone else in the world. Can you do that?”

With a pure and clean smile, Irolwel gently asked.

Who could refuse such a request at the bedside of someone dying?

“Hnnngh…!”

“Yohan, answer me. Time is running out…”

The floor is hot. Blood, tears, and bodily fluids mix to stain it.

“But… How can I be happy in a world without Irolwel!”

“It’s okay. Don’t worry. Time heals all wounds. One day, Yohan will forget about me.”

“No! It won’t come! I will absolutely never forget Irolwel! If I ever feel like I might forget, I’ll just die! How can I forget Irolwel!”

“Thank you for saying that…”

Her breathing grows weaker. Yohan’s tears soak Irolwel’s chest.

The boy buries his face in the woman’s cleavage and sobs uncontrollably.

The woman moves her trembling left hand to stroke the boy’s head.

With her right hand, she places the silver cross in the boy’s large grasp.

“Yohan… My most beloved child in the world…”

“Now, stop this meaningless revenge…”

“May you always be happy. May you find simple happiness in fields of bright flowers. May the grace of the benevolent Lord be upon you…”

And with that prayer,

Irolwel closed her eyes that had been trying to stay open.

Eternal rest descended upon the woman’s body.

Holding her remains in his arms, the young savage boy cried loudly, sobbing endlessly.

His cries continued for a long time…

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