Chapter 1209. The Demon King of Sunset’s Castle, the Final Story (2)

He was confused. Our Hyun-Sung was really confused right now.

"My conviction and Rohen’s will would never... ever submit to you,” I declared.

“...”

“I will never back down from fear, terror, violence, or evil,” I added.

“...”

“The light always fights the darkness. My death will not be the end, but the starting point for those fighting for justice. Mankind will not be frightened, hide, or tremble in fear,” I said.

It was only natural for him to be confused. It seemed like my soul was switched out with someone else's soul, but I definitely sounded like Lee Ki-Young. It was a sight seeing him move his mouth without saying anything.

It was to the point that I questioned if he had forgotten how to talk.

“Yeah, it’s settled,” I said.

My eyes had not even an ounce of doubt as I looked straight into his eyes without surrendering to the Monarch of Sunset’s terror and violence. Naturally, I closed my eyes slowly, and I smiled quietly as if I had already accepted death.

I looked like my work was already done.

I had sent out two beacons of hope for mankind. Even though I would no longer be here, I managed to keep the flames of hope alive. In my eyes, there wasn’t a death more satisfying than this one.

‘It’s a sacred, and honestly, a beautiful death.’

Sacrifice was the greatest symbol that defined Lee Ki-Young. My soul was different from Lee Ki-Young's soul, but my identity was the same as his. Sacrifice—I knew nothing except for that word.

‘I think I’ve swayed him quite a lot.’

Of course, I had a pretty good idea of how this was going to end. Obviously, Kim Hyun-Sung wouldn't acknowledge me, as it was hard for him to accept the idea that not only had our shared memories disappeared, but my very soul was switched out as well.

He would never accept the fact that his close friend had changed. After all, he had rejoiced, mourned, and lived together with me.

I had spent quite a few life-or-death situations with him as well on the continent.

It was even more unacceptable if he believed that the original was being tortured somewhere else.

I had no idea why, but Kim Hyun-Sung thought that Lee Ki-Young was always in pain, which was probably why I kept thinking about those scenes.

“...”

“Kill me,” I said.

That was why I knew that the confusion and ignorance clouding his mind would soon turn into anger. I wasn’t sure if he was simply taking out his anger or if he was frustrated with himself, but...

‘I-I think he’s going to come at me soon.’

'Wait, maybe not.'

He looked as if his lips were getting dry. He didn’t seem like he was going to harm me right this instant, but it seemed like he didn’t have enough time to process what was happening. He was questioning whether I was really Lee Ki-Young or not.

He was also questioning what he was seeing right now, and he was thinking whether he was really going crazy or not.

“

Whoo... whoo...

”

He seemed to be having a hard time breathing, and there was doubt in his eyes.

“N-No. This is wrong...” Kim Hyun-Sung mumbled.

“...”

“No... that can’t be true. I’m... right...” Kim Hyun-Sung said.

‘He’s getting angry now.’

I was the real expert when it came to Kim Hyun-Sung.

“D-Don’t make me laugh! Don’t!” Kim Hyun-Sung shouted.

I knew him better than anyone.

“Where is he?! Damn it! Where the hell is he?!” Kim Hyun-Sung shouted.

“What...”

“Where’s Mr. Ki-Young?! Y-You... shit... where the hell...” Kim Hyun-Sung mumbled.

“...”

“Who the hell are you that you’re acting and thinking like him? Who the hell... are you?! You bastard! You’re a fake... so why... why?!” Kim Hyun-Sung yelled.

“I don’t understand what you’re saying...” I said.

“What are you after? Why are you going this far?! Who the hell are you?! Why are you here? Where’s Mr. Ki-Young... and why is someone like you! In that body?!

Haa... haa...

Why... damn it!

Ahhhhh!

” Kim Hyun-Sung screamed.

He exploded like a volcano, destroying everything around him, but for better or worse, he seemed hesitant to touch me. Perhaps he had realized that this was the real body, as he avoided options like putting a hole in my stomach.

Of course, I believed that he refused to do anything like that, as he was still traumatized by that incident. I wouldn't say that he was considering the possibility that I could be the real one. In addition, he once

did

make a hole in me.

I truly looked like Lee Ki-Young, so he wouldn’t dare lay a finger on me. Instead, he started crying. I realized it was time to appeal to him emotionally. Under normal circumstances, people would start pleading once they had vented their fury.

“Please... please tell me where he is. Please...” Kim Hyun-Sung begged.

“...”

“I... just can’t... please...” he mumbled.

“...”

“Please. You know where he is. I’m sure you know. Tell me what the hell is going on?! I’m not... asking for anything difficult. Return him... Return him! Damn it!” Kim Hyun-Sung shouted.

The more he pleaded, the angrier he would become.

“Tell me!!!” Kim Hyun-Sung yelled.

It’s like I was watching Kim Hyun-Sung’s one-man show.

He had to be really out of his mind, as his emotions were swaying back and forth rapidly. Despite his desperate and pitiful look, I wasn't going to turn away from the light.

And then...

‘By now, they should be done channeling.’

A transparent barrier enveloped me, and I was flung to the right against my will.

“I can’t hold out much longer!”

It took them quite a while to cast their spells, so they had to have channeled quite a few powerful spells. Countless magic arrows went flying, and I heard sharp objects cutting through the air. Massive blocks of ice descended, and stone pillars shot up from the ground. Fire and water manifested, sweeping across the battlefield like a tidal wave.

The mages’ ability to turn what looked like Collection Manager Hwang Jung-Yeon’s techniques into spells was admirable, but seeing the swordsman cut through all of the spells with his sword was even more astonishing.

How could I not be astonished when a being in human form was subduing multiple natural disasters at once?

“Miss Ha-Yan!” Kim Hyun-Sung called out.

“...”

“That bastard is a fake! Damn it! Miss Ha-Yan,” Kim Hyun-Sung said.

“H-H-He’s not a fake! I’m sure of it!” Jung Ha-Yan shouted.

“Damn it! Just trust me! He’s a fake!” Kim Hyun-Sung repeated.

“G-Go back! Y-You don’t know anything!” she told him.

“Why don’t you believe what I’m telling you?! He’s a fake! Shit! Are you not going to find the real version of Mr. Ki-Young?! Even now, he’s... Damn it!” Kim Hyun-Sung yelled.

“...”

"Stop... stop getting in my waaay!” Kim Hyun-Sung roared, swinging his Sword of Sunset. Dozens of undead creatures rose and blocked their path. Of course, the summoned undead creatures were cut down like tofu, and the brief opening allowed the mages to cast another round of spells.

Boom! Kaboom!

I heard loud explosions...

“Miss Ha-Yan!” I called out.

“

Eeek!

I-I can’t take this anymore!” Jung Ha-Yan shouted.

Jung Ha-Yan gnashed her teeth had one hand stretched out toward Kim Hyun-Sung while her other hand was stretched out toward me.

Han Sora looked utterly exhausted from supporting her all this while, but she remained a key force for one side of the massive wave of magic.

"Can you really not see it?! That’s—"

“

Eeek!

G-Go back already!” she shouted.

Jung Ha-Yan, who was desperately holding back Kim Hyun-Sung, had to have received some kind of warning. The fight was obviously intended to help me get away, but the prolonged battle itself was meaningful.

‘Let’s run.’

“O-O-Oppa!” Jung Ha-Yan called out.

Instead of answering her, I forced myself into a hole in the wall.

‘Damn it.’

𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

I instantly got stuck between the walls, and I struggled a lot. Fortunately, I managed to squeeze my way out of it.

Boom!

A large explosion occurred, and I saw Kim Hyun-Sung stretching his hand toward me.

However, a mana giant got up and swung its arm toward him.

‘Item #11: Ice Dust Clock.’

A biting cold pervaded the surroundings, but Kim Hyun-Sung protected himself using his wings.

‘Item #9: Aegis’s Shield Fragment.’

The arm he stretched out was blocked by the shield fragment, but the fragment was easily destroyed. However, I knew that mages could easily make use of even the briefest opening.

‘Infernal Magic Golem.’

As soon as it materialized, it was split into two.

‘It’s extremely weak.’

Although it had yet to recover completely, it was still a bit surprising how easily the golem had died. After all, it once instilled terror in the hearts of the expedition team. Would it have been a bit more helpful had it been in good shape?

‘Damn.’

I only used Aegis’s Shield Fragment once, but it looked as if its durability had already been pushed to its limits.

“Give him back, you bastard!” Kim Hyun-Sung yelled.

Boom!

There was a loud roar as if something was charging at the Demon King’s Castle. I heard another

boom,

but I didn’t have the luxury of time to figure out the reason behind the explosions.

The explosions were nonstop, and then...

Kaboooooooom!

A spear-wielding knight riding a massive dragon broke the wall and charged at Kim Hyun-Sung. The knight couldn't inflict massive damage, but they managed to push Kim Hyun-Sung away using their weight and mass.

‘Dummy Hye-Jin?’

As soon as the dragon’s horns collided with Kim Hyun-Sung, the knight clad in blue armor looked at me. Perhaps it was just me, but it felt like time had slowed down. Her blue eyes were clearly transfixed on my eyes.

“You...”

She passed me in an instant. The knight pointed her spear at the Monarch of Sunset and quietly prepared for the next attack.

“And who the hell are you...?” Kim Hyun-Sung questioned.

“...”

“Why... why is everyone... getting in my way... damn it... Why won’t you just leave me alone... Why are you doing this... I just want to find him... I just want him back...” Kim Hyun-Sung mumbled.

The knight got off the dragon and charged at the swordsman with her spear.

The massive dragon sank its fangs into my collar and threw me away.

“Hey, you! Stop!”

I heard someone calling out to me, but the explosion drowned out the voice.

‘Is she trying to help me? Awesome.’

I looked back and saw the swordsman holding up the knight by her throat.

‘Huh?’

Just a moment ago, I wasn’t thinking about anything.

‘Huh?’

A scene depicting a knight looking at me while nodding slowly played over and over in my head.

‘Huh? Huh?’

An uncontrollable whirlwind of emotions raged within me. The scattered puzzle pieces I had in mind instantly assembled themselves in my head. It felt like I was recalling memories I wasn't supposed to recall.

[Sub Guild Master.]

‘Huh? Huh? Huh? Huh?’

[You see.]

‘Huh? Huh? Huh? Huh? Huh?’

[The truth is...]

‘Wait...’

[Actually, I’ll tell you when I return.]

‘Don’t go.’

[S-Sub Guild Master! The truth is...]

“Let go of her!!! You bastard!!!” I yelled.