Chapter 389. Side Story 1. The Two Friends (4)

It didn't take long for suspicion to harden into certainty.

Cain had never been good at anything except swordsmanship. He might have thought he was good at acting, but once doubt took root, every detail became painfully obvious. For Halo, it almost felt as if Cain wasn't even trying to hide it.

Caron was using techniques that only Cain could wield—openly, brazenly.

"Hey, you fell for it when I was young, didn't you? That means I acted well," Caron said.

"Damn it, that's because—who would ever think about their friend getting reincarnated as their grandson?" Halo snapped back.

"It could happen," Caron insisted.

"Only lunatics think like that," Halo said.

Halo smiled faintly now as he drank with Cain—no, Caron. They'd led an expedition deep into the Demon Realm, and the long-awaited moment of vengeance was right before them.

The Demon King of Sloth and the Demon Queen of Lust had already been absorbed by Caron, and the Demon King of Havoc had fled into Void's Domain. They finally had a brief moment of rest.

Halo looked at Caron, who no longer bothered to hide his identity, and let out a quiet chuckle.

"Maybe I should've kept my mouth shut to the very end," he said. "Watching you act was kind of funny."

"Hah. You bastard, still as sneaky as ever," Caron said with a smirk.

"I should have recorded you," Halo teased. Mocking Caron was always entertaining.

Perhaps it was because Caron had lived an entirely new life. This version of him was different in many ways. In the past, Cain had been the ultimate pessimist—someone who never even thought about the future.

Sure, in his previous life he'd had a sense of humor, but it was mostly the bleak kind that came from being a slave.

"You said we'd travel once the war was over, right?" Halo asked while chewing jerky. "So where do you want to go?"

Caron drank straight from the bottle, wiped his mouth with his sleeve, and said, "Let's wander around and rob some bandits. Pirates too."

"Does the Queen approve of this?" Halo asked.

"As long as we don't touch anyone under the Queen's pirate crew, she said we can beat up whomever we want. Think of it as cleaning up trash," Caron answered.

Queen Kynda Reynolds was a difficult woman. She was unaffiliated with any nation, but unmatched in spear mastery. Her pirate crew was the same: Powerful, loyal, and terrifying.

Being called the Queen of the Sea wouldn't have been an exaggeration for her. And for some inexplicable reason, she was extremely fond of Caron. When they shared a drink last time, the Queen had said that if she had a daughter, she'd marry her to Caron.

She'd also insisted repeatedly that Caron was born to be a pirate. Even back when he served as Commander of the Imperial Guards, Halo had thought Cain was insane. But now that nothing restrained Caron, he'd become a perfect lunatic.

And all the incidents Halo could never understand suddenly made perfect sense now that he knew that Caron was Cain's reincarnation.

"Halo," Caron said. His voice suddenly grew serious, and he looked as if he was about to say something important.

Halo nodded, and responded, "Go on."

"I'm going to send as many people home alive as I can," Caron declared. "Don't stop me."

His voice brimmed with resolve.

Caron carried a sense of responsibility heavier than that of anyone Halo had ever known. He had always been like that, and after reincarnating, it had become even stronger. Caron's words were harsh, but his eyes always turned toward those around him—always watching, always protecting.

Caron refused to lose anything precious ever again. That determination bound him tighter than any curse.

Even though the Malevolent Emperor's shackles were gone, Caron now wore a new one—responsibility—and it clung to him like iron. And that was something Halo could never break for him. It had been forged from the memories of two lives.

"There's no reason for me to stop you," Halo told Caron. "Sending home even one more person is good. But promise me one thing."

"Let me hear it," Caron said.

"Among the people you save... You must include yourself. Do you understand?" Halo said.

That was what scared Halo. He feared that Caron would burn himself alive if it meant saving everyone else. That he would die again before ever living freely. Before ever tasting a normal life—an ordinary happiness.

Caron simply snorted, shrugging, then said, "If I die and everyone else lives, that's a good deal. Worth it."

The idiot made no attempt to hide his intentions.

But Halo couldn't let Caron die here—not again. If someone had to stay behind, had to make the sacrifice, it had to be Halo himself.

He believed that he'd lived long enough. And all he wanted was for Caron to be freed from everything—just once. Halo wanted Caron to live like everyone else, to enjoy the mundane, and to let go of the weight on his shoulders.

That was all. But Halo didn't say any of that, because he knew that his fool would only throw himself into the fire even faster if he did.

"Let's just drink," Halo offered. Without waiting for an answer, he pushed another bottle toward Caron.

Caron scrunched his brows as if disappointed, then asked, "What? You're not going to stop me?"

"You already died once, so a second time isn't much," Halo said dryly.

"Actually, I already died twice," Caron said. "Once as Rael Leston, once as Cain Latorre."

"Well then, feel free to die a third time. Not my problem," Halo replied.

If the moment came, he would gladly shoulder that burden and throw his life away. He had to.

Caron deserved a better life—a happier one.

Halo raised the bottle, making a silent vow to himself.

For some reason, the alcohol tasted unusually bitter tonight.

***

Even so, Halo was glad he'd tried to live kindly. The so-called gods had granted his final wish.

"...Halo," Caron's voice trembled as he stared at Halo.

A pain so terrible it felt ready to tear Halo's body apart at any moment surged through him, and yet a faint smile still hung on his lips.

He looked at Caron and laughed.

"Caron," Halo said, "what you're feeling right now is exactly how I felt fifty years ago. The betrayal, the rage... all of it."

The battle was over. The Demon King of Void would vanish here, and the long war would finally bid its farewell.

Never in Halo's life had he been so grateful simply to still be alive. If he'd died earlier, he knew that Caron, that idiot, would have had to do what he was doing now.

"You think I didn't know you planned to blow yourself up like this? You're a long way from outsmarting me, bastard. This time, you can be the one to feel betrayed," Halo said.

He had no regrets. He'd lived long enough. He had built a family, led his Ducal Family to prosperity, and by some miracle, even reunited with his friend. If that wasn't a fine life, he didn't know what was.

Whoosh!

Halo forced the power of Void into the fake being wearing his friend's face. A deep violet light swallowed both of them at once.

The fake Caron, who had been struggling just moments ago, went limp. He'd no doubt lost consciousness. Unable even to scream, the copy scattered like dust in the wind. Compared to him, Halo remained unusually calm.

Perhaps the gods had intended to give him a moment to say goodbye to the real Caron. Halo's mind hadn't yet faded.

"Halo, you mad bastard..." Caron shouted, his voice cracking.

The revenge Caron had wanted for so long was finally accomplished. Yet he couldn't bring himself to smile. He looked utterly pathetic like that. Halo thought Caron was an idiot and wanted him to at least smile.

"It's not your fault," Halo said through the crumbling storm. "It never was your fault. This was mine to bear from the beginning."

There wasn't much time left. Soon, Halo would die. Nothing would change that.

He'd once wondered what he would feel when death finally arrived. Now that it was here, he felt strangely calm.

"I've never felt more alive than I do right now," Halo said. "So don't you dare cry. You'll just look uglier if you do."

He'd said what he wanted to say. He'd achieved everything he had hoped for. That made him one lucky man.

Caron looked at Halo with trembling eyes. The bastard had never once shown tears before, and yet here he was, crying now that Halo was dying.

"Is this really the path that makes you happy?" Caron asked.

"Ah, and what was it you said back then? 'At least I'm less miserable now,' wasn't it? What a pathetic answer that was," Halo replied with a short laugh.

At the end of a life, old memories surfaced. The day Halo drove a sword through Cain's chest. Cain had shouted something just as stupid back then, blinded by fury.

Thinking of it, Halo couldn't help letting out a loud laugh. He met Caron's blue eyes squarely and continued, "I'm not 'less miserable' anymore. I'm happy—truly happy."

Ssshhhh.

The Void consumed the last trace of the fake Caron, and now it was Halo's turn.

Dust poured endlessly from Halo's body. His life, devoured by the Void, flaked away and drifted toward the sky.

There was no undoing it now.

"Caron," Halo called.

Step.

He walked toward Caron, even as malice whispered its venom into his ears.

"You can still live."

"Cut down your friend. Take his body and survive."

"Become the god of a new world."

But those honeyed lies found no purchase in Halo's heart.

After all, he'd never been happier.

"Are you crying?" Halo asked softly.

"You stupid bastard," Caron muttered, his voice breaking. "Why did you...?"

Halo laughed faintly and said, "That's why we're friends, isn't it? Because we're both idiots."

He looked into Caron's blue eyes. They were the same shade of blue as his own.

Halo felt nothing but joy—joy that he could leave Caron behind in the world, joy that he could give Caron freedom at last. He thought to himself that he had never been this happy.

"...Any last words?" Caron asked quietly, his voice suddenly steady.

Halo thought about what final words he should leave. He had never thought much about it, but there were a few things he wanted to say.

"Go easy on the family and the boys, will you?" he said.

"...Anything else?" Caron asked.

"Hmm," Halo thought for a long while.

A farewell didn't need to be extravagant. A few plain words were enough.

"Keep moving forward. Until you're sick of it. Got it?" he finally said.

No one could hold Caron back anymore. Halo hoped Caron would walk freely, without hesitation.

Caron was his oldest friend; a steadfast friend he could trust with everything. Even without him, Caron would protect the Ducal Family—their family—and their friends. Caron was more than capable.

Caron clenched his fists and nodded.

Sssshhhhh.

The power of Void seeped fully into Halo's mind, and its voice echoed through his head.

"Leston finally grants peace."

"A long wait has ended."

"The story that repeated endlessly... ends here."

Crack.

With those words, Void swallowed everything.

It had been a life without regret. Smiling, Halo embraced his final moment.

***

Halo wondered if this was the afterlife. A colossal tree stood before him, and from the cracks in its bark poured a pure white light.

"...I didn't exactly live the kind of life that deserves heaven," he muttered.

It was peaceful—unrealistically so.

Halo was certain that he had died. And yet his consciousness hadn't scattered.

While he stood there, overwhelmed by the impossibility of it all...

Step.

A woman carefully stepped out from the great tree. She looked at Halo and smiled brightly.

"Halo Leston," she said, "the continent was saved by your sacrifice."

Realizing who she was took no effort. The massive tree, the pure mana radiating from her...

"World Tree," Halo said. It could only be her.

The World Tree nodded, her smile warm and luminous.

"You were very fortunate," she said. "Your soul shattered, but I managed to gather the pieces before it was too late."

"I died," Halo said quietly.

"Yes. You cannot be resurrected. Halo Leston is dead," the World Tree said.

"Then why...?" Halo asked.

The World Tree stepped closer and gently took Halo's hands in hers, then said, "You saved countless lives. As the one who governs life, I wish to grant you a gift."

"I didn't do it to be rewarded," Halo said.

"I know," the World Tree replied.

She stopped directly in front of Halo and looked into his eyes with gentle warmth before saying, "You cannot return as Halo Leston. But a new being can be born. I will give you a choice—that is my gift."

"...A choice?" Halo asked.

"In a short while, your granddaughter will conceive a new life," the World Tree explained. "I have not yet chosen which soul to bestow upon that child. And just in time, a brilliant soul has found its way into my hands."

Halo understood immediately. He replied, "Are you telling me to be born as my granddaughter's son? As my great-grandson? That makes no sense..."

"And at the same time, you would be Caron Leston's nephew," the World Tree added with a mischievous chuckle. "Is it not a perfect opportunity to tease your friend for the rest of his life?"

She smiled playfully as she presented the choice.

"...Could you give me a moment to think?" Halo asked.

"Hmmm. I thought you would accept without hesitation," the World Tree replied.

"No, this is... This is a matter of dignity. Being reborn as my own great-grandson is a bit..." Halo trailed off.

"You'd get to turn the tables on that friend who loved to mess with you," the World Tree suggested.

"Well... That is tempting..." Halo said.

"I will give you thirty minutes," the World Tree offered.

"Ha..." Halo sighed.

In the end, he had no real choice.

***

And so, Halo reincarnated.

As a prince of the Orias Empire, the son of his granddaughter—in other words, the great-grandson of Halo Leston.

Or, to phrase it more clearly...

Halo became the nephew of Caron, his dear friend.