Chapter 1218. The Demon King of Sunset’s Castle, the Final Story (11)

‘Damn it.’

I[1] had a general idea of what happened. Why Woo Hyo-Yeol transformed into that, and why Mr. Lee Ki-Young wasn’t saying much about it.

I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, but I already knew the answer.

I didn’t want to admit it... and I wanted to keep denying the truth, but I couldn’t think of another reason why he lost his sanity.

I didn’t know him well, but I knew he cared about Mr. Lee Ki-Young. His promise to bring him back no matter what and saying he would protect his honor were things the Woo Hyo-Yeol I knew wouldn’t say.

‘Maybe... maybe Mr. Lee Ki-Young...’

I wanted to ask.

I wanted to yell right now, but this wasn’t the time for that.

The intense battle was still ongoing, after all.

‘How did he end up looking like that?’

I had never felt that kind of energy before. Although it was similar to the 21st Legion, its essence was different... There was something a bit off-putting about that mana, and I was sure I was familiar with that mysterious mana as well.

I couldn’t ignore the possibility of him being under the influence of the being inside Mr. Lee Ki-Young. No, that was definitely the case.

‘The power that might destroy Rohen and...’

“Malice,” I mumbled.

‘The monster in the abyss that I saw in my dream.’

And the saint sealing that monster...

I felt like the puzzle pieces were slowly falling into place. The Monarch of Sunset was strong. Actually, calling him a demigod wasn’t even enough to describe him, and he stood apart from mere mortals.

He possessed such overwhelming power that I couldn’t believe he had stacks of various penalties on top of him and was mentally unstable.

That same monster was fighting Woo Hyo-Yeol right now.

Despite being a mere mortal, Woo Hyo-Yeol was fighting against a demigod.

My assumption that the being inside the saint was influencing him was far from baseless. The power said to be capable of destroying Rohen, the continent, and even dimensions was by no means an exaggeration.

I couldn’t imagine just how fast the frail saint’s body, which contained immense power, was deteriorating, but one thing I was sure of was that he was suppressing that being.

Why did the Saint of Flower and Fertility approach Woo Hyo-Yeol?

Why had he been staying around him?

I was sure Woo Hyo-Yeol had accepted his decision.

I was merely guessing at first, but I was able to figure out the truth during the battle with the Demon King’s Castle’s Collection Manager. I was sure I was connected to the Saint of Flower and Fertility as well, but he probably never thought of me more than that.

The saint chosen by the Flower and Fertility Familia and the warrior he had chosen.

I wasn’t in the picture in the first place. I held no grudge about not being chosen because the Saint of Flower and Fertility was able to see things others couldn't see.

“

Whoo...

” I sighed.

Woo Hyo-Yeol was clearly a genius, and all he needed was time. Unlike me, he was clearly someone who could take a step forward. The existence inside the Saint of Flower and Fertility possessed incredible power, and he was suppressing it.

Actually, I wouldn't say that he was suppressing it. He was probably refining it and purifying it. He was a vessel. I wasn’t sure if he knew that or if he realized it later, but he was definitely summoned to Rohen to be a vessel.

Woo Hyo-Yeol... had to have become a monster after receiving power that had yet to be purified. The Saint of Flower and Fertility... died before he could complete his mission. I was definitely correct.

“

Ha... haha...

Damn it... crazy... Who the hell... would do such a thing...”

He drifted to Rohen, risking his life for the warrior he chose.

“Who the hell! Would do something crazy like this...”

The one who wanted to live more fiercely than anyone else. The one who had been looking at the world with sparkling eyes had met his end.

That was his role and mission...

“

Ha... hahaha... haha...

”

After a lifetime of living in pain, his final chapter was death. It was so ridiculous that I was at a loss for words. I couldn't believe... that this was the world he desperately wanted to protect. I couldn't believe that this crazy place was where he had to lay down his life...

“O Goddess... w-what... is happening? Why... why... must he face that kind of end?” I questioned.

[The Goddess of Flower and Fertility is looking at you with pity.]

“How... how... could a single person’s fate be so cruel...” I asked.

[The Goddess of Flower and Fertility says it’s not your fault.]

“For... what reason...” I mumbled, but I didn’t hear a voice.

I couldn't hear the Saint of Flower and Fertility’s voice either.

“Is Hyo-Yeol oppa... okay? Mr. William...please say something. Did Mr. Lee Ki-Young say—”

“Mr. William.”

“Mr. William!”

My hands and feet were shaking. I knew I had to suppress my anger, but I couldn’t stop feeling angry and sad. I felt helpless. I was furious at Rohen, and I couldn't hide my hostility toward the sunset...

“...”

[The Goddess of Flower and Fertility advises you not to have any foolish thoughts.]

“I won’t do anything that will make you feel worried,” I reassured her.

[The Goddess of Flower and Fertility...]

“I’m going to put an end to this, not as a disciple of the Goddess of Flower and Fertility, but as the Forsaken Saint’s comrade,” I vowed.

I entered the channel where I was never disconnected. I couldn't hear any loud noises. I couldn't hear anything, not even the Goddess of Flower and Fertility or the other GENIUSES.

For some reason, it felt like my field of vision had widened.

I looked around slowly and saw some ruins.

The ashen sunset had settled over the battlefield.

This was the world he wanted to protect.

I was sure this image of Rohen wasn’t what he had in mind, but it didn’t look any different in my eyes. He had died for a rotten world.

I wanted to crush this damned continent right now. I wanted to tell myself that... I no longer cared and that the fate of Rohen was none of my business, but at some point, I held my sword up.

“Mr. William.”

“Mr. William! We’ll go with you.”

I waved to stop them. My insides felt like they were rotting away, and everything here was disgusting enough to make me vomit, but... I found myself moving without realizing it. I was moving toward the end of the story.

I wanted to end the story that he wanted to write.

For the sake of the continent that the Saint of Flower and Fertility wanted to see.

"Mr. William. What... are you..."

What I saw before me was a monster who was being attacked nonstop. It had lost its sanity and could only scream wildly.

“

Keeeeeeeeeegh!

”

Ridiculously enough, I had to save that monster.

“You stupid... fool,” I mumbled.

I couldn't believe that saving a monster with enough power to annihilate Rohen was my final mission...

‘It won’t be easy.’

As soon as I took a step forward, the Monarch of Sunset’s eyes landed on me. Despite the fact that he was attacking the monster, his eyes were on me. When I took another step forward, he unleashed his mana toward me.

An intense wave of sword energy with the same hue as the sunset pervaded my line of vision, making it difficult for me to block the oncoming attack.

Unlike the two who were beyond human, I was a mere human. The aftereffects of their so-called fight alone were already overwhelming for me. I blocked the sword energy while gritting my teeth, and it felt like my insides were being turned upside down.

Next...

Claaaank!

Next...

Claaaaaaaaaaank!

Instead of moving forward, I was being pushed back, but I had to keep moving forward.

Just then, I noticed an open path.

‘Ha... haha...’

It looked like it was just a wall, but I saw a shortcut cutting across it. I was already at my limit. I couldn’t really move, but it wasn’t to the point that I couldn’t use the shortcut.

I still couldn't hear anything.

“Mr. Lee Ki-Young,” I said.

"..."

I was sure he was thinking about what to say. My vision instantly narrowed again, but when I charged into the sunset as if declaring that I wasn’t going to back down, I saw the shortcut again.

The Saint of Flower and Fertility didn’t want me to head into that place.

It was funny, but that was enough to comfort me a little. I was sure he was also aware of the fact that we needed to save Woo Hyo-Yeol, and I was the only one who could fulfill that role.

I repeatedly drew a crimson flower, and the more flowers I drew, the more energized I felt. I couldn’t move one of my arms, and my legs weren’t really functioning anymore. I was getting dizzy because I was bleeding profusely, so I had to grit my teeth to stay conscious.

It wasn’t painful, and I knew this level of pain was hardly worth mentioning. I felt like a tattered rag, but compared to the pain that the Saint of Flower and Fertility had to withstand, this level of pain was nothing.

“

Whoo... whoo...

”

My breathing gradually became heavy, but I didn’t stop moving. I knew I was moving slowly, but I told myself that I couldn’t stop.

‘True faith. True faith.’

I recalled the voice that once uttered such words.

The Saint of Flower and Fertility had changed me.

The time I spent with him in his dream was more painful than anything else, but it helped me reach my current heights, and it strengthened me.

Death... was such a scary experience that just imagining it made me feel uncomfortable, but it also helped me grow.

It was funny, but it was fun as well.

“I truly believe we’ll get the ‘And everyone lived happily ever after’ ending.”

I really want to reach that ending as well. I wished that everyone would live happily ever after...

“Once you start believing in that, your worries about tomorrow, fear of nightmares, and doubts about whether you’re walking on the right path or not will all disappear.”

'Yes, I think you’re right. Strangely, all my worries and doubts seemed to have disappeared.'

I couldn't really understand the meaning of the so-called "true faith" that he had mentioned at the time... so I just nodded, but now, I felt like I finally understood.

'Faith. True faith...'

I saw an explosive wave of mana rushing out of the Monarch of Sunset. His target was Woo Hyo-Yeol, not me. I used my remaining strength to move. I opened my arms and put my energy into my legs.

I wasn’t sure if my weak body could endure it, and I was worried that the light would pierce me and drag him along with it, but I gnashed my teeth again.

Kabooooooooooooom!

Instinctively, I knew that my story would end here.

I thought I wasn’t scared of dying... but I was afraid.

I thought I had already overcome my fear of death...

However, it was clear that the reason I managed to withstand those deaths at the time was that I knew I would wake up with the Saint of Flower and Fertility the next morning.

If I were to close my eyes here and open them again... I hope... I hope... I'd go back to the beginning again.

I knew it was ridiculous, but...

“I wish the start... could happen again,” I mumbled.

'It doesn't matter how many times I'll die.'

“I wish... the start... could happen... again...” I repeated.

'I won’t run away this time...'

“Beginning... again...” I said.

'I’ll nail it perfectly next time...'

“could... happen...” I mumbled.

'I wish the start could happen again...'

“Happen...” I said.

'I wish the start could happen again...'

I gnashed my teeth and stared at the monster Woo Hyo-Yeol.

“Get... ahold... of yourself... you... idiot...” I muttered as if saying goodbye.

I hated it.

1. William’s POV ☜