‘Oh yeah, I forgot you were here. Our reliable and loyal Templar Gen.’

I had forgotten him until now.

‘Tens and thousands of years ago and even at this moment…’

When I was the Priest of Prophecy and the Honorary Cardinal of the Sacred Democratic Country, he was the knight of friendship who always tried to protect me.

He was a true friend who followed me and abandoned everything he had.

Just like a priest showing blind faith in their god, he believed in me blindly.

He lived for the honorary cardinal and the Priest of Prophecy. He turned his back on everything for me.

Obviously, I didn’t like the pig porridge and the moldy room, and I wouldn't be able to say anything if he were to cut ties with me. After all, I scolded and yelled at him many times.

Despite that, he helped me in his own way, so there was no way I would be able to forget about him. Our time and memories as friends were already engraved in my soul.

‘I wasn’t the only one who hadn’t forgotten it.’

I was sure he could still remember me. He was also forging his own path while waiting for me with Father Draktaris. I was sure he had realized that it was the wrong path, though, as he had obviously made a contract with the demon.

When the dirty and nauseating Bahamut accepted the demon’s seed for his sinister plan, it was highly likely that Templar Genny was there as well.

Just like how Templar Simon had transformed into a spider and Templar Extra transformed into a bull, I was sure he had also offered his body to a demon.

Of course, Templar Gen looked different from the others.

He looked markedly different from the three.

There was light inside him, and that light existed to protect the Angel of Sacrifice.

Despite knowing that the demon would gnaw away at him, Templar Genny still accepted that power and there was only one reason behind that decision.

He wanted to have the power to fight Templar Bahamut—the true evil.

His back looked pitiful in my eyes, and I knew that I was not imagining things.

“I'm sorry, Father. I mean… Priest of Prophecy,” Genny said.

“Templar Genny…” I mumbled.

“I’m really sorry… for greeting you in this form,” Genny added.

“It’s not your fault, Templar Genny. That… Your appearance—”

“I’m really sorry… for forgetting about you until now,” Genny interrupted me.

‘Ah, is that what happened? That’s actually better for me.’

“But you remember me… now, Templar—” I pointed out.

“I couldn't recognize you, even though you were just next to me. I… apologize for that,” Genny interrupted me again.

“Gen…”

“I’m really sorry… for not listening to your voice… when you were asking for help,” Genny added.

‘So that’s how the story goes.’

“It’s fine, Templar Gen. You don’t have to—”

“I’m really sorry,” Templar Gen interrupted me once more.

I was sure he wanted to apologize, as I was always around him, but he hadn't noticed my cry for help.

Surprisingly, this was not part of my plan.

‘It makes it seem like I planned this out.’

He reached that conclusion himself. He thought that I simply decided not to talk about what happened in my past life because I didn’t want to hurt him.

He was telling himself that I was trying to protect him.

I was sure he was really embarrassed, and I couldn’t imagine just how frustrated he was feeling.

Tens and thousands of years ago, he was weak, so I decided to keep the painful secret to myself in order to protect him. Even now, however, he was still too incompetent to do anything and could only watch from the sidelines until now.

“I’m sorry… about everything,” Templar Genny repeated.

“You don’t have to apologize, Templar Genny. You’re here now, aren’t you?” I told him.

It was his turn to protect the Angel of Sacrifice, the Priest of Prophecy, the Honorary Cardinal of the Sacred Democratic Country, and the God of Sacrifice and Revival.

‘Now it’s your turn to protect me, isn't it?’

“It’s my turn… to protect everything I have,” Gen mumbled with a sorrowful expression.

‘This boy is pretty strong. He has also reached a whole new level.’

His form and mana showed me that his evolution stemmed from darkness.

He had a clean and neat form, unlike Templar Spider, Templar Extra, and Bahamut's grotesque appearances. However, he didn't look pretty.

He looked kind of cool because he was a wolf, but his appearance made it obvious that he was a beastly wolf. Instead of radiant holy power, he was wielding a nauseating mana, and his blood was black instead of red.

The only difference I found was that…

‘He hasn’t lost his mind.’

He could think properly.

It was something that even Doom Doom Hyun-Sung couldn't achieve.

Doom Doom Hyun-Sung's face was hideous, and he'd lose his mind, but when he was sober in his Doom Hyun-Sung form. Templar Genny was like that. He did not look like he had lost his mind, even though he was in his demon form.

‘Maybe that’s why he was a bit stronger.’

I had no idea what exactly had happened or what he had gone through when he turned into a demon, but I had to give him credit for being able to control that power rationally.

He was basically wielding a weapon that could not be controlled.

Templar Gen's faith in the God of Sacrifice and Revival and his faith in that light was what created this situation. There was probably some mental growth as well, and he had to have awakened while recovering his memories as Templar Genny, which led to the current situation.

‘Our Genny is reliable.’

Obviously, I had to sympathize with his desperation and growth.

“Templar Gen,” I said.

I sympathize with the fact that he had no choice but to accept the darkness despite living with the light.

“

Heuk… heuuuk…

” I cried.

I was proud of him for growing stronger while overcoming tremendous mental pain and betrayal.

“Gen, it’s dangerous!” I shouted.

I was crying because he was brave enough to show his hideous side to me.

“I-I’ll provide support!” I offered.

The battlefield returned to its state earlier.

Commander Jin seemed a bit startled by the fact that a monster capable of grabbing Bahamut’s attention had appeared, but he wasn’t incompetent enough to just stand by and watch.

There were many ways to support Templar Gen against Templar Bahamut.

The monster in the shape of a wolf cast spells, swiped its claws, and moved fast around Templar Bahamut to grab the latter's attention. The way he used his claws made me think like he was them as if they were a sword.

‘The biggest issue is that I can’t support him with holy power.’

"

Roooooooooooooooar!

"

Bahamut was also confused by the appearance of an unexpected enemy.

When the two monsters clashed, a powerful shockwave erupted. The wolf instantly realized that he could not beat Bahamut in a contest of strength, so he stepped back.

However, the nauseating fool seemed to be quick-witted, which proved to me that he had yet to lose his mind completely.

And that was when a cloud of mist engulfed the battlefield...

‘Mist Summoner Cheon Kwan-Wi.’

Now that I thought about it, where had he been?

“Hee-Ra noona,” I said.

‘Ah, she already left.’

There were two soldiers next to the Red Mercenary, so she had to have decided to leave this up to me. It had been quite a while since I saw her Goddess of War transformation, and it was as amazing as the first time I saw it.

BOOM!

Nauseating Bahamut and the Red Goddess of War punched each other. Bahamut flew into a wall with a thunderous boom. A massive clump of mana struck Bahamut's head, and a deafening explosion reverberated.

‘It’s Ha-Yan.’

The giant wolf bit Bahamut’s neck, but Bahamut swung his hand, sending the wolf flying into a wall.

Another thunderous explosion echoed, and it was so loud I felt like my eardrums were going to burst. Draktaris and his spirits unleashed a wave of holy light, and Bahamut roared in response.

His roar was strong enough to resist the wave of holy power.

The area ahead of us was slowly but surely transforming into ruins amidst this extraordinary battle.

“C-C-Can we really that this is… our battle?” one of the spectators mumbled.

It was like watching humans fight from an ant’s point of view.

Whenever Bahamut swung his arm, the terrain would change. The same thing happened every time the mages cast their spells and whenever the wolf made his move. A battle between top-tier adventurers seemed like child’s play compared to this, and I felt like no one had any business staying here except for transcendents.

To ensure minimal damage, the expedition members retreated frantically. They had no choice but to retreat, as they were useless here.

“

Dieeeeeeeeeeee! Die!!! Die!!!

You disgusting monster! D-D-Die!” Jung Ha-Yan screamed. Her mana seemed bottomless, and it was all thanks to her Heart of Magic. A myriad of spears made out of mana pelted down on Bahamut.

Bahamut took out the spears sticking out of him before charging at the Red Goddess of War.

“

Hahahahaha!

”

"Roaaaaaaaar! Roooooooooooar!

"

Bahamut opened his mouth, and a pitch-black mana converged before his mouth.

“Hee-Ra noona! Breath! Breath!” I shouted.

Templar Gen kicked Bahamut's head, forcing him to look away.

Swoosh!

BOOM!

The pitch-black Breath missed the Red Goddess of War, but the floor beneath them collapsed upon getting hit by the pitch-black Breath. The transcendents fell down, and I instantly felt weightless.

Someone had cast flight magic and protection-type spells on me, and I was sure these spells were from Ha-Yan.

The problem was that there was another raid beneath us.

The order to retreat was given immediately, allowing Colonel Smith and the others to hide, but it wasn’t the case for the bull. Templar Bahamut grabbed the monster and tore it apart before drinking its pitch-black blood.

“You disgusting bastard,” I mumbled.

Bahamut was still pursuing that disgusting power even if it meant drinking the blood of his subordinate. A large horn burst out of him, and two giant arms shot out from his back.

“Bahamut… will…”

The bull's head muttered as it rolled on the ground.

"

Rooooooooooooooar!!!

"

Bahamut swung his fist, and the Red Goddess of War was blasted away.

The mana he had unleashed created holes in the wolf’s body, while Jung Ha-Yan unleashed her spells on Bahamut, but it was too weak to penetrate the latter's tough outer shell.

𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

The monster roared, and the Underground Temple collapsed.

It wasn't a strange sight, as this was a battlefield of transcendent beings.

Despite that, I was taken aback by Bahamut's strength.

“Bahamut! Bahamut!

Heuk

! Please… Please break free from the demon. You have to overcome it!” I shouted. I had to attack him mentally. “Overcome it! Don’t lose! You have to find your true self!”

Jung Ha-Yan knocked on the circular barrier that she cast on me.

I probably looked like I was trapped inside it.

Before anything could happen, I saw a distant sunset.

*An illustration of Lee Ki-Yeon is included on the next page.

wooden spoon: It’s an illustration of Lee Ki-Yeon in a wedding dress!

Hikari's Thoughts