Chapter 98

‘What the hell am I supposed to do with this?!’

Bargo’s ultimate attack failed too.

But Carriel countered it.

As if time itself had frozen, everything stood still—but not that.

It reacted to his movement.

It wasn’t perfect, but one thing was clear: the strike he unleashed had been deflected.

And as a result…

It felt like space itself swelled and then contracted.

It exploded.

Intense lightning tore into the ground.

Its aftermath hadn’t even subsided yet when black lightning split into tens of thousands of bolts, recklessly burning and scorching everything in sight.

But that wasn’t the intended target.

Originally, all the power generated from this should have been directed at one singular target—but something went wrong.

‘What kind of trickery is this?!’

Even this got deflected somehow.

He couldn’t comprehend it.

About twenty paces away from Carriel,

Bargo’s body lay dragged across the ground, his entire form smoking intensely as though scorched by some unseen force.

From far away, Carriel appeared collapsed, but realistically speaking, he should’ve been reduced to dust by now.

Indeed, the land around Carriel was charred beyond recognition, sparking violently as proof of the incredible power unleashed—but the actual target, Carriel?

‘He shouldn’t survive this without being bizarre.’

Yet these kinds of beings, acting like they were granted divine favor, somehow manage to cling to life even in half-dead states.

Among the warriors and heroes called upon, those who’ve died and come back aren’t rare.

Looking at it this way, this kid must already be among them.

If so, cutting off his head or piercing his heart—or blowing him apart—would confirm his demise visually.

After all, once before, Bargo pierced his heart, and here he is again!

‘Not gonna let that happen again….’

Just as Bargo rose to charge toward Carriel,

he noticed his feet wouldn’t move.

“…?”

The ground froze beneath him.

Steam rose faintly from his breath.

Despite the heat radiating from his whole body, akin to embers crackling, an unsettling chill intensified.

“Hmph!”

The ice clinging to his legs cracked noisily.

It was merely shattered frost and frozen fragments—but still.

Taking a few steps forward,

a wall of ice suddenly emerged in front of him.

“What the—”

This wasn’t normal anymore.

Was someone interfering?

Where?

It appeared.

From within the icy barrier.

A humanoid figure made entirely of ice, resembling an ethereal spirit, emerged mysteriously.

However.

It was nothing more than an obstacle right now.

Without hesitation, Bargo thrust his spear, tearing through the ice maiden.

Both her and the massive ice wall behind her crumbled effortlessly like fresh snow.

But.

The scattered shards.

Ice fragments reassembled themselves.

“Hmm?!”

Suddenly, icy humanoids grabbed his ankles and legs.

Instantly, cold spread up his limbs, freezing them solid.

Reforming mid-air, the icy apparition lunged at Bargo.

But.

Even that dissolved under invisible strikes and flashes of light.

“Childish tricks.”

Bargo slammed his pitch-black spear down.

Crimson lightning swept around, generating fierce steam.

But even the rising steam froze mid-air, forming a prison of ice.

Just as Bargo was about to act,

dozens of hands gripped his entire body.

“!!”

His body froze almost instantly.

But the encircling current melted the ice binding him.

Spinning his spear like a windmill, scattering electricity, Bargo barely managed to leap into the air—but she was already there.

Chunks of hail transformed into arrows and rained down on him.

Dodging them all, Bargo soared upward again only to face something entirely different.

Like a queen of snow, formed perfectly out of ice as if sculpted,

she materialized abruptly in mid-air, grabbing Bargo by the neck.

Her shattered hand reformed immediately, gripping both his throat and chest tightly.

“What are you trying to—!”

His words trailed off.

Involuntarily, his body crashed into the ground, frozen stiff.

In an instant, every limb was locked in ice, completely immobilizing Bargo.

The woman’s icy gaze watched him intently.

Finally, her icy form enveloped him entirely.

Bargo froze solid.

Though frozen, his body retained the posture of suppressed rage.

Encased in ice.

However, this wasn’t the end for him.

Just a delay.

Proof of this came quickly.

Red currents pulsed through the ice, breaking free violently.

In moments, Bargo thawed out.

“Cough! Gasp!”

But Bargo wasn’t fully recovered either.

For a brief moment, his heart stopped, and tiny ice shards had entered his system, causing significant internal damage.

Moreover, after expending immense mana and vital strength focusing solely on defeating Carriel,

his reserves were nearly depleted.

Even before this, he’d pushed himself hard battling the Demon Realm forces.

Damage from the holy sword? Barely an issue.

Still, exhaustion was evident.

“…Is the deal still valid?”

Addressing the void, Bargo rose unsteadily with a disgruntled expression.

“…”

Carriel remained sprawled where he fell.

An easy kill now, one might think.

But striking at him now would leave no room for retaliation.

Engaging him revealed an unnatural phenomenon orchestrated by its mastermind—a calamity incarnate likely.

‘Why are you here, I wonder?’

Perhaps related to the sword?

Maybe prophecies drew other watchers here—not just him.

There could be many.

So, having such entities involved isn’t surprising.

But their interference raises questions.

“Hmph.”

Briefly sighing, Bargo glanced around cautiously for any subordinates caught in the fray.

Nothing remained intact.

Rundown market stalls, boundary markers, signs—all vanished without a trace.

He’d visited here incognito several times.

Now, probably never again.

‘Won’t be coming back anytime soon.’

Even remnants of the Demon Realm forces grew cold and disintegrated.

Like ash scattering in the wind after burning wood.

Likewise, this place would never return to its former state.

Eventually, Grandeous’ sword was drawn.

Its true nature—a holy blade.

Its owner—an unknown boy.

Still, he likely poses little threat to me for now.

Though later, he may block my path.

Not today though.

“If we meet again, it won’t be like this.”

Addressing the void, Bargo released a burst of crimson lightning and leapt into the sky.

His small frame shot straight into the heavens.

Watching him, one couldn’t deny his superhuman capabilities.

“Geez, he left already?”

Events unfolded rapidly.

Before anyone realized, both their mentor and Leo were caught in the enemy’s attack.

Even though they were somewhat distant, they fell within range.

They lost consciousness instantly.

Gradually regaining awareness, everything appeared eerily white and frozen.

Not only that.

Luilin witnessed firsthand how the mighty final Legion Commander’s devastating techniques were rendered powerless.

What happened here?

Crunch crunch.

Amidst the silence, leather boots stepped on frosty ground.

A girl approached, leaning on a cane.

Rugged yet durable white dress.

Brown shawl draped over her shoulder wrapping around her waist.

A woolen scarf completed her outfit.

Sky-blue hair.

Eyes even whiter than snow.

The girl walked slowly towards them.

Only.

“…?”

Wait.

Her legs…?

She leaned on her cane, but unlike before, she moved differently.

Since some point,

she walked normally using both legs while holding the cane in her left hand.

It was Luines.

Why is sister here?

Setting aside doubts momentarily,

Luilin scanned the recovering group and turned her gaze towards where Carriel lay.

The ground around him alone was darkened, seemingly dead.

“Looks like he got pounded pretty bad….”

“Leo? Are you alright?”

Luciri and Deyk also regained their senses late.

Leo, despite staggering, managed to steady himself eventually but looked bewildered scanning the surroundings.

“Where are we?”

“You’re still sleepy? Where else? So…”

Suddenly,

Luciri also seemed puzzled glancing around.

This snowy scene, though familiar, carried an alien feel.

“Miss Luines?”

By now,

she had approached a few steps closer.

The cane in her left hand hovered unsupported in the air.

Yet the sky-blue girl stood effortlessly in place without any discomfort.

“Leo Tedeo. From Tedeo Village. Right?”

“Uh? Yeah… didn’t I mention it last time…?”

Still confused about the situation, Leo wore a vacant expression, but Luciri, sensing danger, desperately pulled him up by the collar.

Fixated on Luines, she monitored every move.

“How did the church lady get here?”

“…”

Deyk adjusted his fallen hat, equally baffled, but Luines simply stared silently at Leo.

Then she gazed at Luilin, Deyk, Luciri, and finally back at Leo.

And again,

towards Carriel lying nearby,

then towards the holy sword.

The radiant yet now softly glowing white blade in Leo’s hand clearly revealed its essence.

But what Luines sought confirmation of was…

its appearance.

Exactly as it was when embedded in the ground earlier,

it now seemed reborn, shedding its old skin like a snake or cocooned butterfly.

No.

That must’ve been its original form.

“Didn’t you ask the sword where the Demon King you were looking for was and who they were?”

“…”

Why bring this up now?

“So, what did the sword say?”

“Well, there wasn’t really time to ask…”

“…”

Gazing softly at Leo clutching the sword,

Luines tilted her head skyward.

“My name is Minette.”

“Yes?”

“I have a younger brother named Lou. We’re blood relatives, but due to our foolish parents, neither of us knew until recently.”

Why this sudden confession?

Confusion lingered briefly.

Then Leo glanced around again.

The area whitened by frost, though beautiful,

felt unbearably cold and cruel to Leo.

“Does the sword know the answer?”

The voice of the sword could be heard.

When Luines, or rather Minette, heard it,

she felt her heart freeze in shock.

Until now, no one had ever spoken such words.

Some wished the sword had been drawn sooner.

Venus.

Had he drawn it, perhaps he would’ve accepted the absurdity willingly.

If only Venus had drawn the sword instead,

Minette herself wouldn’t be hesitating now.

When she learned Leo hailed from Tedeo Village,

her hand slipped accidentally because of deeper thoughts.

Had she visited the village when he wasn’t there?

But listening to him suggested otherwise.

That day, apparently, the weather was unusually poor.

Being a forest guardian, he preferred staying indoors.

Seeing an injured bear, he treated its wounds, she heard.

Then… escorting the bear back to its natural habitat,

he cared for its cubs and ended up falling asleep in a cave.

Whoever hears this story might dismiss it as ridiculous fairy tale nonsense,

but pinching him lightly would surely follow.

But that day happened to be

the very day she visited Tedeo Village.

Shortly after their departure,

he returned to the village.

Minette wasn’t mistaken.

Simply,

their target wasn’t present within the village.

Thus, the contract remained incomplete,

and it was put on hold until now.

Without anyone telling her,

she instinctively understood.

Once more,

fate arrived.

For instance, the enemy they sought to destroy,

the existence they feared and aimed to crush in its infancy,

was the newly born hero.

Still, confusion persisted.

Undoubtedly, it stemmed from that person.

Leil, the boy.

A boy filled with ominous intent.

Fearful and pitiable.

She couldn’t tell.

Silent observation seemed to reveal everything.

Facing him terrified her deeply.

Perhaps, he could’ve ended her suffering by drawing the sword.

She hoped so.

Ultimately,

through his guidance, Leo drew the sword.

What kind of jest is this?

Is fate truly so cruel?

Or perhaps discussing fate here is unnecessary?

“That… Piness says he doesn’t know anything like that?”

Piness? Is that the sword’s name?

The legend of Grandeous. Stories. Fairy tales.

So, that wasn’t the Elbat he carried after all?

…Actually, it’s irrelevant anyway.

Initially, she cared little.

To Minette, the sword meant nothing personal.

“It’s fine. I know because of me.”

“Huh? How? Why now?”

“Leo.”

With Luciri’s help, Leo finally stood up.

The group began watching her, Minette, warily.

“You should’ve figured it out by now, right?”

“…”

True. Leo wasn’t clueless.

He just didn’t want to admit it.

At the sight of her…

“When the Demon King of Wisdom invaded our world, he took all but one of the Great Demon King’s legacies, right?”

Some were handed over to humanity through traitors joining the Human Alliance, finding their rightful owners eventually.

But a few remain unaccounted for.

“I guess I was unlucky enough to qualify as one of its inheritors.”

A biting wind carried frost, swirling like tiny gemstones, spreading bone-chilling cold.

“And people call us this.”

Since they inherited the legacy of the Great Demon King,

aren’t they the Demon Kings themselves?

But since they aren’t fully legitimate or complete Demon Kings,

let’s call them casually: Junior Demon Kings, Heirs to Demon Kings.

Or more formally, Successors of the Great Demon King’s Legacy.

“You were searching for a Demon King, weren’t you? That’s probably me.”

I was looking for you too.

“Although I didn’t expect our first meeting to be like this.”

Yes.

“I’m your enemy. Leo.”

And unfortunately,

“I must kill you now according to the contract. Can you accept that?”

“…”

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