“Y-You ungrateful…

cough…

” Gregory coughed.

“...”

“Do you know how much… Father Lee Ki-Young—

cough…

” Gregory mumbled.

I felt like my mind had gone blank, but my body was moving on its own. As soon as Gregory collapsed, one of his guild members charged at me with his sword.

“

AAAAAAH!

You piece of shit!”

While I[1] was staring at Gregory, an arrow flew from somewhere and struck his temple. Gregory's scream was cut off, and he fell to the ground.

I heard people taking out their weapons and casting spells.

It was obvious what was going to happen.

A fight was about to break out between Gregory’s party and my allies.

“

AAAAH!

”

“Kill them all! Hurry! Hurry! Kill them! Shit… hurry up and get rid of them!”

“You jerks! How could you!”

“Mr. Gregory! Mr. Gregory!

Ahhh!

”

“Call for a priest! Request for help from the surface!”

“Get rid of the signalman first! Hurry and cast Dispel!”

“

AAAAH!

”

‘Damn it, I wasn’t planning on taking it this far. However, I really have no choice. This is all for the Federation.’

I had to do this to change the Federation.

‘We can’t keep living as the Democratic Country’s pets.’

My headache was throbbing in pain as I justified my actions by saying that this was all for the sake of the bigger picture.

Some people would call me a criminal, but this was the only way.

I had no issues with Gregory obtaining power. I wouldn't have made this decision if he hadn't told me that he was going to hand over that Mythic spear to Father Lee Ki-Young.

If Gregory had been more

open-minded

, I wouldn't have killed him. There would be no reason to do that, after all.

The spear was a relic of the Democratic Country, and Benigoa was using it a long time ago. It was a historical item. The spear was capable of changing the continent, the world, and even history itself. If it were an ordinary spear, I'd be satisfied with just finding it like Gregory, but this spear wasn't just an ordinary spear. ℝ�

It was a treasure that would never appear again.

There was nothing more idiotic than presenting this to the Democratic Country when this could help the Federation get back on its feet. The spear was priceless, so I simply sacrificed something small for the greater good.

‘What a foolish man.’

Gregory was a man who could only see what was right in front of him.

Incompetent idiots like him were the reason the Federation became what it was today; he had reduced the value of the Federation by transforming himself into a dog. Despite that, he hadn't been able to contribute anything to the continent.

If he were a bit smarter, the Federation wouldn’t be in this sad state.

He was obsessed with the small achievements rather than looking at the bigger picture.

If he had known better, he wouldn’t have been on the ground right now.

This wasn’t a crime. I had simply gotten rid of a traitor—a dog of the Democratic Country.

I nodded and walked away as if I were being possessed.

“

Ahhh!

”

“

Cough!

”

“Help…”

“You… traitors! You criminals…”

I walked amidst those insults.

The scales of the battle had already tipped to us, so there was no need for me to join the fight. Our opponents were exhausted after fighting the monster, and they weren't prepared for our ambush.

The ambush happened in an instant, and the battle was already ending before they could even react.

I could hear and feel strange and unpleasant

splashing

sounds, but for some reason, the blood-soaked ground felt sacred to me. I strangely felt uplifted when I saw the spear beckoning at me.

I stretched out my hand and felt it instantly.

“This is it,” I said.

So this was what it felt like.

I could feel explosive power coursing through me.

“

Haha

… this is it!”

I could finally see what the world looked like in their eyes.

If one wanted to stand above the continent, one had to be at least this strong.

It felt like I had become a transcendent being.

There was a wall between humans and transcendent beings, but the spear in my hand helped me overcome that wall.

Right now, I was above everyone else.

I was a protagonist, and I was on a whole new level compared to the people here.

My encounter with this relic was like a scene from a novel. It meant I still had things I needed to do on this continent, and it proved that I didn’t have just a supporting role.

I swung the spear. All I did was swing it once, but the space before me was torn apart.

I looked back with a smile, and I saw my comrades looking at me while covered in blood.

“Squiat…”

“...”

“What… do we do now?” they asked.

“Don’t let this affect you. We did the right thing,” I reassured them.

“...”

“It was the right thing to do. I feel bad for their tragic ending, but we had no choice. Think carefully about our goal, Raynan of Extinction.

"Our goal is to protect the peace of the continent and return the corrupted continent to its original state. We won't be able to change anything without power, and

we've

just obtained that power,” I explained.

“Looks like you’re not planning on delivering that weapon to the honorary cardinal. Is there even a way to hide it?” they asked.

“Of course. What’s done is done. Thankfully, the surface has yet to hear of this news, and it's probably because of that barrier. That idiot, Gregory… he dug his own grave.

Wheeew

,” I said.

“So what’s our next plan, Squiat?” they asked.

“I just want all of you to remember this. What happened here was an accident. Before we arrived here, Gregory and his party were already fighting the monster. We joined the fight, but we couldn’t save them. I think it’s best if we say that,” I told them.

“I don't feel comfortable about this,” one of them commented.

“But it’s necessary. It’ll be the end of us if we leave like this, so please check if there are Goddess’ Mirrors nearby. Raynan of Extinction, go to the entrance and prohibit entry to anyone. Robinwood of Frenzy, I want you to clean up this place so the rangers won't be able to find anything,” I ordered.

“Got it.”

“Understood.”

He was reliable. He could easily ruin the traces so that the rangers would have no idea what had happened. He could make it look like Gregory and his guild members were annihilated by the monster.

‘It’s a race against time.’

And that was when I saw someone moving...

“

Whoo… whoo…

You… dirty bastards…”

“...”

“Y-You ungrateful fools! You dirty hypocrites!”

𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Gregory got up slowly with a hole in his chest. Obviously, he was badly wounded. He was so wounded that he was actually dying. His breathing was ragged, and he seemed like he was at his limits just by standing in front of us.

“How could you… betray… Father Lee Ki-Young—

cough…

How?!” Gregory questioned.

“It would have been great if you hadn't stood up, Gregory,” I said.

“How could you…” Gregory repeated.

“...”

“...” “Stand back, everyone. I’ll be with him in his final moments. He was a corrupted fool who turned the Federation into what it is today, but he’s also a great man who has contributed a lot to the Federation, so killing him with this spear is the least I can do for him,” I said.

“How dare you!” Gregory shouted.

‘You’ve become weak, Gregory.’

No, I had simply become stronger.

I was overflowing with so much power that I couldn’t contain it.

The giant in front of me was once a powerful man who dominated the Federation, but he looked like a child in my eyes right now.

Seeing him charge at me like a fool with his wounds reminded me of a herbivore charging into the mouth of a tiger.

I didn't even need to use my powers, as I was a transcendent being, while he was just a dying human being. There was a

boom

as my spear and his gauntlet collided.

I saw his gauntlet crumble to pieces.

“All I can say is that I’m sorry,” I said.

“You… asshole… Father Lee Ki-Young—he…

“Father Lee Ki-Young this, Father Lee Ki-Young that. Is that all you can talk about? You saw it as well, didn’t you? That… monster,” I asked.

“I didn’t… see anything. That wasn’t…

cough

… Father Lee Ki-Young. Do you know how much he… this place… us…” Gregory mumbled.

“It’s people like you who ruined the Federation, Gregory. Have you ever considered the fact that those who were too busy following him around are the ones who have put the continent in this state? Everyone is turning a blind eye to it. They know, but they’re feigning ignorance. Does this look like a normal situation to you?” I asked.

“That’s because… the continent… needs him. You… fool…” Gregory said.

“What did you say?” I questioned.

“The reason… everyone… decided to forget what they saw on that day, and why… they didn’t bother talking about it… is that… they believe in him.

"The continent… still needs him, and we believe that… he’ll lead us to a bright future. The reason the heavens… sent Father Lee Ki-Young back to us. The reason he came back… to the continent…”

“You’ve clearly been brainwashed,” I told him.

“Squiat…”

“...”

“...”

“There aren’t… that many people…

cough

… who are willing to… sacrifice themselves… for others. For the underprivileged people… Father Lee Ki-Young…” Gregory paused.

“...”

“He’s… the continent’s…”

“You’re crazy, Gregory. You’re crazier than I thought,” I said.

He was dying, but something about his gaze put me in a really bad mood.

“The continent… still needs… him… He’s the one… who will lead… us… on the right path…” Gregory continued.

“...” “

Cough… cough…

We must repay… for his kindness… We must offer the spear… to repay the kindness we received…” Gregory said.

“...”

“We owe him a debt of gratitude…” Gregory added.

“Idiot,” I said.

“

Ah… ahhhhhhhhh!

”

The dying fool suddenly took a step forward.

A deafening

boom

echoed, and I was pushed back a little, but it didn’t affect the situation.

I turned to the side and attacked him with the spear.

Gregory was blasted into the wall where we found the spear.

Rumble!

The wall broke, and Gregory disappeared inside the wall.

“Damn it.”

“...”

“Damn it!”

I looked behind the collapsed wall and saw what looked like an abyss.

Gregory had fallen into the pitch-black abyss.

***

Clang.

“Are you okay, Father Lee Ki-Young?” Commander Jin asked.

“...”

“I’ll… get the glass cleaned up for you,” he added.

“...”

“Is something troubling you?” he asked.

“It’s nothing. I just… felt… uneasy… for some reason. It’s nothing, Commander Jin. I’m sorry for worrying you guys. I… made a mistake,” I[2] said.

1. Squiat's Point of View ☜

2. Lee Ki-Young’s POV ☜