Chapter 297

Every story had to come to an end. Whether it was a fairy tale ending with its characters finding happiness or a heroic saga where the demon king was slain and the hero triumphed, proclaiming the greatness of virtue—the pages had to inevitably turn to a close.

However, unlike characters in a book who vanished after fulfilling their roles, those who lived in reality did not simply reach an ending. Even after defeating their enemies or achieving their life’s goals, they had to continue burning through their days, waiting for death’s scythe to fall—an end that came equally for all mortals.

Laila, the Empress, was no exception. Even after the final battle had long passed, she remained bound to a relentless schedule, just as harsh as before. Perhaps because she was “One Beloved by the World,” she could sit for hours in an uncomfortable position without suffering from cramps or aches. But aside from brief moments for sleep and bodily needs, she dedicated every waking second to governing the empire.

Laila let out a weary sigh as she tossed aside the document in her hands. “Honestly, I’m starting to think that making Arcadia a Holy Empire was the worst mistake I could have made. I did this to myself.”

The pile of paperwork on her desk only seemed to grow taller by the day. No matter how much she worked on it, it never decreased. In fact, it felt as if more was piling up even as she worked through it. And that was no illusion.

Even with her Transcendence Tier body and a mind that had reached Class 7, which allowed her to think at speeds far beyond normal comprehension, she was barely keeping up. For an ordinary person? They would have worked themselves to death a dozen times over.

“If I don’t get an heir soon, I won’t even be able to retire... Am I really going to be stuck doing this for decades? I’m so tired...”

She had meant to ask if her old companion felt the same way, but as Laila glanced at the empty chair in the corner of the room, she could only smile bitterly.

Antonius, the Court Mage who had stood by her side since the coronation, had perished in that battle. And yet, at times, she still forgot he was gone. Of course, with the world now free of true threats, there was no need to find a replacement.

Feeling the weight of melancholy creeping in, Laila turned to the clock and decided to indulge in a ten-minute break. She called upon the one companion she could always count on—one whose mere presence would have made anyone else recoil in shock.

“Leonard.”

The moment his name was spoken, the transcendental being answered. A dazzling light bloomed in the heart of Eterna’s palace, in a space so sacred that even the heads of the Three Noble Houses required permission to enter. Emerging from the iridescent glow was none other than Leonard, the one who had become a god.

This was hardly the first time. In fact, it had happened dozens of times before. But true to his role as Arcadia’s divine protector, Leonard maintained the utmost respect in his greeting.

—What is the matter?

“I’m bored.”

—...Your Majesty.

Though he wasn’t chained to the same desk all day, Leonard was just as burdened with endless duties. Repairing the cracks and distortions in the world’s laws, which had been neglected for millennia; patrolling the dimensional barriers that still weren’t fully restored; assisting in the reconstruction of the devastated Underworld; and purging the lingering corruption left behind by the Outer Gods—he was constantly busy stabilizing the ecosystem and natural environment.

And despite his work as a god, he hadn’t abandoned his human connections. He often visited the Cardenas family, ensuring that their legacy endured.

Heather, who had lost an arm in the final battle, now had a perfectly healthy body thanks to Leonard’s healing. William, Belita, and Dillon—survivors of their generation—still gathered from time to time to reminisce about the past.

“You seem to be moving about much more than I am. Tell me about your recent travels. The Cardenas family seemed quite lively when I last saw them. Did you do something for them?”

—Something like that. Unlike mages, who are content to spend their lives locked away in research, knights always seek an enemy to test their swords against.

Those who pursued the path of martial arts could never fully detach themselves from the cycle of struggle. Even Leonard, now a Deification Tier martial artist, acknowledged that truth. Unlike magic, which had many purposes beyond battle, martial arts existed for combat. And if there was no threat to challenge, then even the art of self-defense became meaningless.

For this world, the issue was even more severe than in the Central Plains murim. Unlike the martial artists who sought enlightenment and liberation through spiritual cultivation—those who viewed even themselves as obstacles to be overcome—the people of this world honed their skills for survival, for the sole purpose of defeating powerful external foes. This was a path forged over nearly a thousand years for entirely different reasons. Theirs was a strength born out of necessity, not introspection.

—It is time for a change. Instead of seeking out enemies, they must now turn inward and find a reason to grow stronger beyond opposition. I’ve written a martial arts scripture to guide them.

As one who had reached the Deification Tier, which was known as the Life and Death Realm in murim, Leonard had reached a level akin to that of Bodhidharma or Lu Dongbin. With his knowledge, he could create an entirely new system of martial arts optimized for this world and lay the foundation for a thousand—no, ten thousand new techniques.

The Cardenas lineage, blessed with exceptional talent and physical prowess bordering on that of otherworldly species, would have little trouble mastering them.

Laila listened intently before asking, “Do you visit the Underworld often?”

—Yes. Though I have entrusted its control to Hades, it is still more efficient for me to personally oversee the connection between the living and the dead.

After the final battle, Hades had reclaimed his throne as the King of the Underworld, establishing a proper realm for the dead. The Asphodel Meadows, once empty, now teemed with the spirits of the fallen warriors from the last war and countless others who had perished for various reasons.

But even as a True God, Hades was not as powerful as the Chief God he had been in the ancient era. Managing the Underworld alone was a monumental task. If the dead were not properly guided, they could linger in the living world and eventually turn into Undead.

—Elysium is functioning well. Cruella, who was appointed as its overseer, seems well-suited to the role. I hear Hades even offered her a posthumous contract.

Laila’s eyes sparkled with interest. “Oh? Does that mean she might become a god of necromantic magic?”

—If she ascends to a lesser divinity, she will likely embody the divine essence of funeral rites. Considering she already acts as a guide for lost souls and reunites the dead with their families, it would be a fitting role.

“The God of Funeral Rites, Cruella. How amusing.”

Cruella had never been as close to her as Antonius, but she was still one of Laila’s most trusted subjects. Knowing she was thriving made Laila smile. But talking about the afterlife inevitably led to thoughts of those who had not been found.

Laila’s expression darkened slightly. She hesitantly asked, “And what of Simon and Antonius? Have you found them?”

Most souls, regardless of how they had perished, found their way to Elysium, where they could live a second life. Laila had hoped the same would be true for them.

But, as always, Leonard shook his head.

—No, we have not found them. Simon, as the material used for Adam Kadmon, had his soul completely consumed. And Antonius erased himself entirely through barrier magic. Hades believes they have returned to Gaia.

“Returned to Gaia...? What does that mean?”

—According to Hades, anything that ceases to exist in both the living world and the Underworld is taken back by the Primordial God Gaia to rest in eternal slumber. At the very least, they are not suffering.

“...I see. That’s a relief.”

She had prepared herself for the possibility that they were truly gone, but hearing it aloud made it feel different. Sensing her sorrow, Leonard gently changed the subject, shifting to lighter stories. After all, there was still so much to talk about—such as the current whereabouts of Drake, leader of the Wild Hunt.

—When Hades reclaimed his throne as the King of the Underworld, he managed to retrieve Drake’s soul, which had been endlessly plummeting in the abyss. Since he had absorbed some of Poseidon’s power, Hades plans to appoint him as a lesser divinity of the sea, granting him dominion over sailors and adventurers. Who knows? One day, he might rise to become a god who governs the entire ocean, just like Poseidon himself.

“A mortal who ascends to godhood through adventure and great deeds... I can already imagine all the reckless fools throwing themselves into the sea, chasing that dream.”

—There is a need to explore the open seas, and there is also a limit to how many people the empire can support within its borders. If they turn their eyes to the ocean, it may not be such a bad thing.

This world consisted of one massive continent, numerous scattered islands, and an endless ocean. Even though Arcadia had achieved total dominance over the continent, there were still many uncharted territories left to explore. Due to the prolonged wars fought on multiple frontiers, the empire had never had the luxury of looking beyond its immediate borders, and there were still several unknown islands beyond the outer seas.

Although they were small in comparison to the continent, some of these islands were large enough to accommodate entire kingdoms.

As she listened, Laila nodded in understanding, then let out a deep sigh. Her short break had already come to an end.

“Ten minutes have passed... Thank you for keeping me company.”

𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

—There is no need for thanks. Please call upon me anytime.

A faint glow flickered over Leonard’s form before he vanished completely, leaving not a single trace behind. The ability to traverse thousands of kilometers in an instant without the use of portals and magic was an act that could only be described as divine authority. Yet, Laila simply picked up the documents she had momentarily set aside, looking completely indifferent to his exit.

“Ahh... just one day... I wish I could take a break and play for just one day...”

Thus, another day passed in the Holy Empire of Arcadia, the same as always.

* * *

Disappearing from the imperial palace in Eterna, Leonard streaked across the sky at nearly the speed of light and headed toward the dimension connected to the Middle Realm. The gates of the Underworld, a place that only those with proper authority could pass through freely, opened to welcome him.

The sky had once been a swirling mass of dark red clouds, but it was now a muted shade of gray.

It’s a hundred times better than the grotesque, writhing crimson sky of the Demonic Realm.

Leonard recalled the sky of the Demon Realm—a sight that had stirred a visceral sense of revulsion deep within him—and slowly descended to the ground.

The resilient stalks of asphodel bent gently beneath his weight without breaking. It was as if he were constantly maintaining the Grass Wandering Art. Stepping lightly through the vast field of ghostly white flowers, he crossed the River Styx and made his way toward Elysium, the paradise where fallen warriors resided. The place had been named after the utopia of old legends.

After walking leisurely for several minutes, he arrived at his destination.

Unlike Hades’ palace, there was no Cerberus standing guard. However, a lone man stood before its entrance, keeping watch with a commanding presence. His stance exuded the unmistakable aura of a seasoned warrior.

“It’s been a while,” the man said, his voice carrying both familiarity and warmth.

Leonard, too, did not bother to conceal his own sense of fondness.

—It has been a while, Sir Wade.

Wade was a warrior whose legend had been etched into history. In the final battle, he had slain the Outer God Balor, single-handedly reenacting an ancient myth.

When the long-hidden truth of their deeds was finally revealed to the world, the knight commanders of the House of Cardenas became widely celebrated figures, and among them, Wade was hailed as one of the three greatest war heroes.

Fortunately, he had only met his end after Hades had regained his full divine authority as a True God—meaning his soul had been safely preserved, rather than fading into oblivion.