Chapter 1215. The Demon King of Sunset’s Castle, the Final Story (8)

“Who the hell are you guys... You! Y-you bastards!!” Kim Hyun-Sung roared.

An overwhelming wave of malice and indescribable rage erupted.

Craaaaaaaaaaaaack!

I[1] heard a loud noise, and then I felt like the sunset had devoured the world.

His attack targeted everyone, and mana-filled attacks that could instantly disintegrate one's body, even at the slightest touch, were flying everywhere.

It was a display of pure, overwhelming violence, and it was something I never experienced even in my first life. Although it wasn’t my first time encountering a demon lord, I instinctively realized that he was different from the others.

My instincts were warning me that he was dangerous and that he was fundamentally different from anything I had ever faced. If it wasn’t for the voice echoing in my head, the attacks all over the place would have struck me long ago.

I knew that would have been the case before I could even comprehend it.

‘Hmph.’

Like a memory I could recall anytime, I knew where his attack was coming from and how to dodge them. It was interesting. It was strange that I could see all these, but Lee Ki-Young's ability to perfectly read the battlefield was just absurd.

‘I think he really is a monster.’

The Monarch of Sunset was a transcendent being, and I had no intention of denying that truth. He was a monster that clearly existed beyond my comprehension, but Lee Ki-Young... he... was beyond the realm of "comprehension" itself.

‘This is impossible.’

It was so absurd that I got goosebumps all over my spine. I had no idea why, but the Monarch of Sunset went crazy. He lost all sense of reason and was throwing out random attacks.

I could feel that not even the Monarch of Sunset himself understood why he was going crazy, but William was somehow reacting to all of his attacks. Mana-filled attacks flew wildly in all directions, yet William moved as if he could read their trajectories as well as where the next attack would come from.

William analyzed the relentless waves of attacks and created enough space for himself to move in. Lee Ki-Young managed to calculate something that not even a supercomputer could calculate.

A member of the Flower and Fertility Familia held up the shield that he obtained after defeating the Gatekeeper of the Dark Shield, and I saw everyone standing behind him.

Boom!

The shield was capable of blocking just one attack. The shield shattered after withstanding just one attack, and the shielder was blasted away as well. However, the expedition members managed to move forward.

"I’m sure you’re already aware, but the Monarch of Sunset is going crazy right now."

“...”

“

Tch

. You think I don’t know that?!” I shouted.

"The reason I chose this place as the stage is that there’s plenty of cover. You can make use of the terrain here. I thought it'd be a good idea to have extra shields to take cover with. You can also use the terrain here to weaken his attacks before they can reach you."

‘I wonder if he knew that the Monarch of Sunset would go crazy.'’

"But you can only stay here for three minutes at most."

“I understand,” William said.

"You have no choice but to take advantage of the terrain. It might not be the best example, but..."

“Yes?”

"The Demon King of Sunset’s Castle is your tank. There’s no time for breaks. You have to move now."

“Melody of Agility!” No Dam-Hye cast.

“Windy Steps!” Nam Goong-Seon cast.

I wasn’t the only one who was influenced by Lee Ki-Young.

We were in a three-way connection, but he had also influenced the other party members. They cast spells and raised their shields at the confusing moments, but for some reason, their random moves allowed the allied forces to obtain the advantage.

The pillars that had just collapsed somehow blocked some of the oncoming attacks, and the debris from the collapsed ceiling defended the entire party by cutting them off from the enemy.

“Aren’t we... going to counterattack?” I asked.

Obviously, I felt like doing something. William followed Lee Ki-Young’s orders without any complaint, but I could gradually see passion in his eyes.

His eyes seemed to be saying that he wanted to fight.

It was strange because he wasn’t like this in my past life. To put it bluntly, he was like a machine. It wasn’t that he was cold or indifferent. I'd say it was like William was a program.

A pack of idiots born only to serve the goddess’s will, and he was someone who knew nothing beyond religious laws and creed.

That was my evaluation of William back then.

I thought he would never improve and would remain the same forever. He seemed like he disliked change and was obsessed with being the perfect disciple. He never turned a blind eye to injustice, and he always fought for light and justice. He was also always willing to raise his sword for the greater cause.

Aside from those, however, he had nothing.

And he died with nothing in his first life.

While calling out to the goddess, he raised his sword and fought in a battle he wasn't supposed to fight in. Obviously, I thought he was a fool because there was no other way to describe him. In the distant past, I stared at him from afar and mumbled, saying that he was a fool. I had forgotten that his pitiful sense of faith once saved my life.

‘That idiot...’

He was completely different from the current version of William.

He was so different that I couldn’t believe that they were the same person.

“You want to fight?” I asked.

It wasn't because of justice or some pitiful doctrine. What I saw in his eyes was unmistakably an unknowable drive to fight. If someone else knew William from his first life, they would have the same reaction as me.

The same William was showing a will to fight...

The fool who knew nothing but the Goddess of Flower and Fertility was baring his teeth at someone...

"You’ll fight, but only after moving to the next location..."

“Okay,” William answered.

It had to be because of Lee Ki-Young.

‘Lee Ki-Young... just what are you...’

After reaching our next destination, I walked with William.

"He’s going to come soon. Be ready."

The Monarch of Sunset moved to the next location as well.

I suddenly found myself in sync with the idiot of the Flower and Fertility Familia.

‘The neck.’

Obviously, I aimed for a vital point.

‘Did he figure it out?’

The monarch stepped backward and dodged my attack as if it were nothing before slashing out with his sword. I had long gotten tired of seeing the sunset covering his sword, and I wasn’t panicking at the oncoming attack.

I knew that the idiot would steer him off course, after all.

I slashed at the Monarch of Sunset’s right hand as if I were diving toward him, and I heard a loud explosion.

A wave of ominous mana swept across the air.

I would have died if I had taken that hit, but the fact that I was so close to death made me focus on the battle even more. I never dreamed that I would be assisting William.

I didn’t want to admit it, but he was an impressive partner.

Whenever he swung his sword, I would prepare for the attack after him.

Whenever he was in a defensive stance, I would move forward to cover him. William drew flowers on the battlefield, and the flowers that decorated the skies became specks of light that flew toward the enemy’s face.

The Monarch of Sunset blocked those attacks so easily, but it was clear that he was struggling to defend his lower half.

‘That’s it.’

He used his wings to protect his lower half.

‘Damn it. Has he caught on?'

“Who the hell are you guys...” the Monarch of Sunset asked.

“You’re just saying the same thing...” I complained.

“Focus on the battle, Woo Hyo-Yeol,” William said.

“You focus on the battle. I—"

“Your eyes... Who the hell are you, you bastards?!” the monarch roared.

“

Hmph.

”

It was probably just me, but I felt like his attacks were a bit too focused on my face. He wasn't swinging his sword anymore, but he stretched his hand out toward me while blocking our attacks.

Yeah, it was like he was trying to gouge my eyes out.

“

Whoo... whoo...

” I panted.

“

Pant... pant...

” William panted as well.

Boom! Kabooooom! Crack! Crack!

William was laughing, even though he could die at any moment.

‘I admit it.’

I was laughing as well.

‘Yeah, I admit it.’

It was fun, and that was the only way I could describe it. I had always thought of myself as someone who enjoyed battles, but there was something different about this one.

"Be careful."

“I know,” I said.

Joy. I would always feel joy in a battle where I could potentially lose my life. Even though two prey were charging at the predator, I was enjoying the battle. I was out of breath, nervous, and sweat was rolling down my face, but I couldn’t stop laughing.

“

Ha... hahaha! Hahahaha!

”

"Focus."

“

Aaaahh,

you bastards!” the monarch yelled.

‘When did I start changing?’

When did I start changing? I had no idea what exactly had changed about me, but I definitely changed. I was starting to find purpose in things I always considered bothersome and meaningless. I had never imagined that this would happen someday.

I had never imagined that I’d have comrades and friends someday, and I definitely never thought that I’d worry about someone else someday.

“Lee Ki-Young,” I said.

He changed me. This was undeniable.

“

Argh!

”

“Focus, William,” I said.

“

You

focus,” William said.

I focused, and my vision instantly became clearer, allowing me to track the monarch's movements. I had been relying on Lee Ki-Young for that, but I had just realized that I seemed to have awakened. My senses had become even more sensitive.

The heightened senses that I felt in my first life had awakened.

I was burning up, and the fiercer I burned, the hotter my blood became.

“I can see it,” I said.

‘That’s because you’re a genius, Mr. Hyo-Yeol.’

'Yeah, I’m a genius.'

William started walking again while gritting his teeth. He was growing as well, albeit just a bit. It was like he understood, more desperately than ever, that he had to move forward.

The will to fight and... desperation.

I didn’t need to explain what he was desperate about.

‘Will I be able to go back?’

Could I go back to a time without him? Could I go back to the time when I couldn't see anything at all? Of course, I had nothing to worry about because he was the type to keep his promise.

Kaboooooom!

Boom! Kabooom!

"What are you doing?! Move!"

“Damn it,” I mumbled.

I was blasted away somewhere. I gripped my sword and tried to stand up, but...

“Erm...”

"..."

I saw... a familiar figure.

“...”

"..."

I was secretly in denial.

‘He... always keeps his promise.’

Something had destroyed the familiar figure, but their hands remained clasped together.

‘You... always keep your promise.’

“You...”

It was a familiar... face.

1. Woo Hyo-Yeol’s POV ☜