Chapter 105

If only.

If only, that is.

Separate from someone’s prediction of having already seen such a future,

what if the situation tilts towards its worst form?

And…

While considering all those factors.

What if there was someone who believed he would definitely not die?

Or rather, someone who believed his life would never come to a meaningless end?

But what if that belief was betrayed?

Exactly what kind of expression would they wear then?

What thoughts would they have, and with what mindset would they perceive the situation?

The rising foam seemed to illuminate the past, yet also appeared to highlight an entirely different world.

The boy who had taken up the Sacred Sword anew and become a warrior,

and the girl bound by fate to kill the warrior.

However, separate from all that.

The one who, in some sense, tied the two together…

The Holy Son.

If it turned out that the seemingly sleeping youth would never awaken again…

No, if he had already become so…

Would someone just quietly watch that happen?

Just be a mere spectator?

……

The black-haired boy lying on the frost-covered ground like he was asleep now seemed unlikely to ever reopen his bright, shadowed eyes—eyes resembling gold.

His breath had ceased long ago, his heart had stopped much earlier, and warmth was gradually dissipating.

And…

The scene…

The Golden Girl watched it as if gazing at some distant world.

Because the fierce battle between the warrior and the Demon King meant absolutely nothing to her.

It was outside her interest.

However…

The reality that the child before her eyes would never open them again…

Surprisingly…

It seemed to deliver a profound blow to her as well.

-I don’t peer into the future.

Long ago, the Great Demon King once asked whether knowing the future would be good or bad,

towards his followers—who were both disciples, limbs, and subordinates—

posing such a question.

Back then, most expressed that knowing the future would be beneficial and desirable…

except for her.

If my attempts are predetermined before I even try?

Then what’s the fun in living?

What motivation would I have?

If something is destined to happen regardless of my wishes?

Isn’t it about being bound by that knowledge?

Yet, because I know, I can change and fix things too.

But…

What you lose outweighs that.

Here again, is it for myself or for others?

Depending on the purpose, the tone might differ…

But my own sense of accomplishment, passion, happiness, and joy would become extremely scarce.

Grandeous somehow gained the ability to glimpse the future.

Because of that, he lived every moment steeped in despair.

Even so, he couldn’t let go.

I don’t know exactly what he saw,

but eventually, he threw himself into that future.

Though he handed some vision to his comrade, it was vague.

Ordinary humans have limits, no matter how much they train.

Time limitations.

Limits of perseverance and endurance.

Limits of character and morality.

And…

The biggest problem would likely be the limits of earnestness and willpower.

Even if given ample time, one’s foundation remains at rock bottom.

Due to lack of effort.

That effort involves enduring pain so intense it feels like burning oneself, tearing apart one’s soul, crushing it, and breaking it.

Enduring extreme monotony…

Bearing absurdities that strip away humanity, emotions, and reason…

All must be endured.

Still, beliefs and justice must not collapse.

It’s fine if justice slightly bends.

However, it must not ultimately tilt towards evil.

In any case, learning swordsmanship isn’t something ordinary people can typically do.

Just judging by stance and movements, it’s amateurish.

Yet, through harmony of resolve, specialties, and characteristics, this transforms into an unparalleled vision.

Her guiding him through countless trials, even making him kill Karriell in dreams, was simply leading him via shortcuts.

What she sought was only trust.

Faith.

And Karriell, perhaps due to the contract or because it was the only thing he could offer, responded with earnest belief.

Promises? Thoughts? Words?

None of that was necessary.

Only actions mattered.

And Karriell answered through action.

Thus, his growth was… very natural.

The Demon King thought.

-Did he ripen too soon?

What a lamentable life.

Still, our contract will be fulfilled as is.

You won’t find salvation even in death.

Most associated with you will experience extreme misfortune and despair due to karmic ties.

Despite resisting so fiercely against that,

ultimately, you couldn’t finish the race.

Where did it go wrong?

Not obtaining Elbat?

There must’ve been some strategy Grandeous had in mind.

Wasn’t reaching that point the issue?

No matter how I think about it, one step was missing.

She thought that.

-…

Is there nothing to be done?

Leaning her face close to his cold one, she stared at him as if looking at her reflection on the water’s surface.

-Just one thing, I’ll grant.

Now you’re not here, so you can’t witness it.

-To the ones left behind, consider this my congratulatory message.

Touching his cheek with her hand, she seemed to dissolve into Karriell’s body.

And after a while…

The boy who rose had begun to glow golden all over.

No, it wasn’t just him.

“Huh?”

Louilin noticed the strangeness first since the ground was starting to turn gold, and that color was spreading up her legs.

Within seconds, Louilin’s entire body began emitting a golden glow.

It wasn’t just her.

The entire surrounding area started changing, as if paint was spreading, turning everything gold.

“What… What is this?”

As Luciri panicked, Leo couldn’t hide his bewilderment.

Simultaneously,

the battle ended forcibly.

Bodies wouldn’t move.

And that included…

“Why…?!”

Even Minette, inheritor of the Great Demon King’s legacy, wasn’t exempt.

Somewhere along the way,

golden pillars had started filling the surroundings, making it feel like the world itself was turning gold.

However, the sky, still stained white by Minette’s frost storm,

eventually began transforming into bright gold as well.

At that moment,

the golden boy, Karriell, spoke.

“Sing a dirge.”

Whether screams or cries, even wailing would suffice.

Rejoice if you wish; enjoy it if you want.

“To teach you how useless lifelong anguish and torment truly are.”

To those who hadn’t yet lived a lifetime,

the Demon King of Wisdom,

the Golden Demon King,

granted them lifetimes equivalent to tens, hundreds, thousands, ten-thousands.

“As you experience this, ponder: What is reality? If a dream feels real, is it truth or falsehood? Which ‘me’ across these existences is the true me? Solve that puzzle, and you shall be freed.”

Who am I when I’m an ant?

Who am I when I’m a butterfly?

When I’m a wolf?

When I’m a fox?

A snake, a toad, a fish, a bird, a bug…

A golden throne emerged from the ground.

Sitting there effortlessly, the golden boy rested his chin,

waiting a whole day without sleep.

As the sun set and rose again,

someone finally arrived.

Intent on hiding their identity, they wore a plain gray coat.

An exceedingly disrespectful outfit for meeting royalty,

yet she didn’t reprimand.

She merely greeted.

“You. I almost fell asleep waiting for you. Such tardiness is quite grave.”

With silver hair and golden eyes,

once seeming so naive but now incomparably mature,

he looked beyond comparison to his former self.

Truly,

as if heaven itself crafted perfection in aesthetic form.

Karriell’s handsome appearance was influenced by this.

This, perhaps, was the epitome of perfection.

“Is this really you I know?”

“If your guesses lean toward the worst-case scenario, then yes.”

“I exist here.”

“And you’ve returned to stand before me.”

The gold within Karriell’s body seemed lethargic.

Ruelde and Partyna, facing him, appeared deeply confused about how to process the situation.

Certainly, upon accepting that he was the Golden Beast,

they became mentally fortified.

The more perfect the warrior, the farther they drift from humanity.

Let alone,

his father’s nemesis, an ancient Demon King possessing his son’s body?

Such nightmares should not exist.

“Is this what you’ve done to my son? Did you manipulate and use him until he became like this? And now you’ve taken Karriell’s body as well?”

“Firstly, I lack ambition. From the start, I dislike resurrection or stealing other people’s bodies. This is not my doing.”

“…Do you expect me to believe that? Someone of your caliber?”

Though tempted to draw his sword against it,

this was still the body of the child born from him and Hermine.

Through this body,

these lips,

it spoke.

“I’m here to reveal why this boy reached this state. That’s all. Want to kill me? Then go ahead. You won’t hear anything then. And no matter where you strike—neck or heart—it won’t affect me.”

Don’t you realize?

“I’m already dead. What regrets could I possibly have?”

“…Will I falter because of your manipulative words?”

“I’ll speak only the truth. Let’s make a pact if you wish.”

She smirked.

But to Ruelde and Partyna, it probably looked like Karriell’s smile.

How unnervingly creepy it felt.

Worse still, the gold-drenched earth and sky instilled immense fear.

“What have you done to the people here?”

“In light of the boy’s demise, there must be consequences. Isn’t this fair enough?”

Not necessarily because of death.

If anything, that incompetent Legion Commander deserved punishment.

That gloomy, dense fool.

Had Bargo willingly stepped away from this scene,

and had she possessed Karriell’s body when she did,

he would’ve experienced hell on earth.

The domain had already spread throughout the village.

As if transformed into statues of pure gold,

the entire village had changed thus.

More terrifying still,

all of this was genuine gold.

Is this mercy? A blessing?

Or perhaps the ultimate curse?

“Well then, let’s begin the story.”

Nothing special, really.

“A tale of immense regret you’ll carry in your hearts forever.”

Previously, Karriell briefly confided why he couldn’t commit suicide in front of his parents.

Ermine’s power rendered any half-hearted fatal injuries useless.

And if he quietly ended his life somewhere she couldn’t reach,

she’d never see their remorse or despair.

But what if…

Unlikely as it may seem,

if they showed disappointment or disdain toward his attempt?

That too would’ve been horrifying.

Though purely hypothetical,

‘Don’t worry.’

Fortunately, time decays.

So, I’ll briefly act as a bystander for you.

How this hero reacts to the story,

most likely, he’ll bury it with his wife.

Still, sooner or later, Ermine will inevitably hear it.

You may be invincible,

but that applies only to you, Ruelde.

“So. First, let me explain how I came to meet Karriell.”

Your ancestors, those sinful souls reduced to spirits,

pitied the boy’s plight and led him to me.

Otherwise,

there was no one else around to save him. After careful deliberation, they made that judgment.

After all, their means to help Karriell were extremely limited.

Why did Karriell accept the Golden Beast, the sworn enemy of his father and a public enemy of the continent?

And why…

“Why did you harbor such resentment toward us? Why did you run away? Why did you aim to fulfill Grandeous’ will? The reasons were simple.”

Gold then,

revealing Karriell’s deepest thoughts which he could never express even if reborn,

spoke as if performing a monologue.

“Why didn’t you love me? Why didn’t you show me any attention? I didn’t ask for much…”

I just wanted your approval.

I didn’t want to be scolded.

I wanted praise.

Like any child, I wanted a normal parent-child relationship.

Love and being loved.

…I just wanted to live that way.

“When I was truly struggling, you scolded me. Even though I pleaded for your trust, you never believed in me. Can you imagine how I felt back then?”

It felt like I was abandoned by the world.

It felt like the world collapsed.

When even my own parents, who brought me into this world, negated my existence,

how could I hold onto hope?

“What do I have left? Anything?”

“I just wanted to endure until Mother gave birth to my sibling. I feared shocking her, even though she’s strong. So, I held on. It was incredibly difficult, painful, agonizing, but I worked hard to endure.”

By then,

even breathing and interacting with people was exhausting, painful, burdensome.

I doubted everyone’s intentions, everything felt ominous, everything was anxiety-inducing.

Everything was overwhelming.

Then, I suddenly realized.

Maybe it was because I was a broken vessel.

Shattered into pieces, some crushed into powder.

I was no longer capable of holding water or anything else.

I felt utterly sorrowful, powerless.

Thinking about it all was unbearable.

I didn’t want to recall anything.

I didn’t want to think about anything.

All I wished for was…

to breathe a little easier.

“When will I ever become a son you can be proud of? To prove this life isn’t meaningless, to gain your approval, there’s no other way now than to bring you down, right?”

Not just you.

I wanted to proclaim to the entire world that criticized me.

I wasn’t wrong.

It’s nothing extraordinary, but I just wanted to shout it out clearly:

Why do you judge me according to your whims?

I’m me.

Is taking even that identity away from me really what satisfied you?

What am I?

Expected to be competent despite memories of the past I can’t recall,

then betrayed arbitrarily.

I truly felt like…

I was nothing.

“I can’t manipulate mana. My body isn’t healthy. I keep catching colds, and I’m perpetually listless. What can I do?”

I trained until I spat blood and studied late into many nights, working harder than anyone.

But it still didn’t work.

Effort alone wasn’t enough.

So, I asked for a solution,

but all you said was, “Why can’t you do it? Keep trying, and you’ll succeed.”

Even that simple request, after days of deliberation,

was it just childish whining to you?

Our relationship must’ve been broken long before we realized.

“It’s possible I was your regret.”

I’m sorry for being born.

And now…

“As you can see, this boy is dead.”

Karriell’s tone had shifted, reverting to the enigmatic and authoritative demeanor of the Golden Beast.

“Here’s your choice. If you wish to hear more, cut off my head now. Then I’ll conclude everything here without hesitation.”

“…Is there still more you wish to say?”

“Of course.”

Gold laughed.

“This was only what happened before leaving Rutania. Don’t you want to know what happened afterward?”

“…”

Just hearing this much already feels overwhelming.

Yet, I’m curious and, at the same time, don’t want to hear more.

Rather, I’m afraid.

Even if there was nothing terrifying in the world before,

now, this gold seems insignificant compared to the dread.

Just understanding Karriell’s inner thoughts and circumstances,

that alone terrifies Ruelde.

“…”

Though seemingly addressing Ruelde, Gold gazes elsewhere.

Partyna, the girl, appears to be half-unconscious already.

She must’ve cherished Karriell deeply.

But it was misguided, twisted, and misplaced.

‘Is it solely their fault?’

A sense of unease arises again.

Was there something inevitable that drove him to this?

Or was it intentionally manipulated to lead him here?

“…”

Whatever now.

I’m not a vengeful spirit.

Nor am I burdened by someone else’s will, belief, or grudge.

How could a dead man like me bear such burdens? Ridiculous.

So, this behavior now is uncharacteristic.

Probably influenced by Karriell. Normally, I shouldn’t be doing this.

Lacking a physical form makes me exceptionally vulnerable.

“Well. Since you seem interested, let’s continue. Now… Karriell, after leaving Rutania and arriving at Carriel Fortress… let me tell you that story.”

About inheriting Carriel’s will,

the connections formed there and how they parted ways.

“That story will be quite thrilling.”

The Demon King resumes his role as storyteller.

For a short yet long period,

the tale continues.

The narrator laughs,

while the listener grows only more despondent and despairing.

A truly absurd play unfolds.

Within it, the Demon King whispers a dirge inwardly.

Rest easy we cannot,

for we made such a pact.

Still, I wish you were less weary.

The most tragic thing in the world is fatigue.

Pain feels doubly heavy in a state of exhaustion, and suffering deepens.

Ultimately, losing oneself,

only agony, regret, resentment, and despair remain.

Eventually, even resignation vanishes, leaving only futile struggles.

We, judged and punished without mercy,

shall be tormented endlessly.

Repentance demanded.

Judgment proclaimed.

Punishment enforced.

Because you erred.

Thus, you deserve this suffering.

There is no mercy in this world.

Only cold, rigid principles prevail.

Despair and cowardice coexist.

If you truly feel wronged,

…blame anything but ■.

Only that.

The original sin you bear unilaterally.

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